"I believe we start by learning to express
ourselves creatively in the physical form. If we
pursue this passion with courage, diligence and
discipline, we come to the realization that we
are the canvas: - and as such, are both the
creator and the creation. Creativity then becomes
who we are, not just what we hang on the
wall.”
Ann Gadd from the Preface of The Collector’s Guide to Art and Artists in South Africa. Chase Publications for the South African Institute of Artists & Designers, Cape Town, 2003.
My message (to myself and others), is simple: “Man know thyself.” (from Oracle of Delphi) In order to pass on what I have learnt, I have written six books on diverse subjects such as the feet, relationships, habits and the spiritual stages of development in fairytales, which are now being translated into 13 languages. I also write articles for a number of publications.
In addition, I facilitate “Create Yourself” transformational art workshops for corporations and individuals and until recently, I was a Reiki practitioner and teacher, counsellor and later added Footology to the process. As an artist, I use my sheep character to mirror the human condition. The paintings have been well received and I am glad to have created something to laugh about, to many people across the world.
Art has a profound potential to transform, which is why, for eight years I ran “Create Yourself,” art workshops. Art had healed me on many levels and I saw its potential to do the same to others. I was giving a workshop on the chakras, when I introduced some art exercises into the program. When I saw how incredible art can be to shift and transform, I developed a workshop that would assist participants in becoming more conscious of themselves through their creations and through the exercises, let go of what no longer served them or manifest what they needed. For the past year however, I have taken a bit of a break from workshops and seeing individual clients, focusing instead on writing and art.
Life for me has held many miracles, the birth of my children being the greatest. However others, such as the manifestation of a huge pile of drawing paper in my driveway, the day I wanted my pupils to do BIG paintings (to this day there is no logical explanation for its appearance). Then there was the time when I was walking alone on a storm swept beach, feeling afraid because of the financial circumstances I was in. Suddenly, on the top of a wave, as it smashed to the shore, was a crisp dry R100 (our largest currency note), - just the universe reminding me what my fear had made me forget. These and many more small miracles have served to fill me with awe and huge gratefulness at what is potentially out there for each and every one of us.
There have been many books written about the emotional/mental causes of disease, however I was looking for earlier warning signals that something was out of balance before the full-blown disease manifested. Becoming aware of my client’s habits provided the solution, as I started seeing the connection between their habits and their emotions. Habits, because of their repetition, are constant indicators when we are stressed and what form they take, indicates what type of emotional issues are wanting our attention. I have written three books on habits: Healing Habits, the first book followed by The Girl Who Bites Her Nails and The Man Who is Always Late and The A-Z Guide to Common Habits.
As the name suggests, Finding Your Feet, lists A-Z issues of the feet, such as bunions, cuts, corns etc and gives both the physical and emotional reasons for their occurrence, together with case histories to illustrate the issues and suggestions for healing.
It was while I was researching fairytales which involved shoes for Finding Your Feet that I realised in the tale of Cinderella (with her glass slipper), the seven spiritual growth stages of the chakras and their archetypes were represented. Reading other popular fairytales revealed the same stages. This explained why fairytales had survived for hundreds of years - because of the truths they contain. This lead to writing the book, Climbing the Beanstalk – the hidden messages found in best loved fairytales.
The area most of us struggle with in life is our relationships, which is why I chose this as a topic for my latest book. Why do we choose the partners we do? Why do we end up disliking the very person we once loved? The fragile balance in relationships fascinated me. The same principle in all healing: balance is to be found in our choice of partner. The book explores dual archetypes in relationships, goes into our history and why it repeats and looks for ways to bring ourselves and our relationships into balance. What Went Wrong with Mr Right? will be launched early 2009.
Websites: General: www.anngadd.co.za
Paintings: www.artforewe.co.za
What went Wrong with Mr Right – Findhorn Press, UK, 2009
Climbing the Beanstalk - The Spiritual truths in Fairytales Findhorn Press, UK 2007 ISBN:978-84409-094-5
A-Z of Habits Findhorn Press, UK 2007. ISBN:978-1-84409-100-3
Finding Your Feet – How the soles mirror the soul Findhorn Press, UK 2006 ISBN 1-84409-081-7 or ISBN: 978-1-84409-081-5
The Girl who bites her nails and the man who is always late – What our habits reveal about us. Findhorn Press UK, 2006. ISBN 1-84409-073-6
Healing Habits, Kima Global Cape Town, 2003 ISBN: 0-9584493-5-X
Ann Gadd from the Preface of The Collector’s Guide to Art and Artists in South Africa. Chase Publications for the South African Institute of Artists & Designers, Cape Town, 2003.
My message (to myself and others), is simple: “Man know thyself.” (from Oracle of Delphi) In order to pass on what I have learnt, I have written six books on diverse subjects such as the feet, relationships, habits and the spiritual stages of development in fairytales, which are now being translated into 13 languages. I also write articles for a number of publications.
In addition, I facilitate “Create Yourself” transformational art workshops for corporations and individuals and until recently, I was a Reiki practitioner and teacher, counsellor and later added Footology to the process. As an artist, I use my sheep character to mirror the human condition. The paintings have been well received and I am glad to have created something to laugh about, to many people across the world.
Art has a profound potential to transform, which is why, for eight years I ran “Create Yourself,” art workshops. Art had healed me on many levels and I saw its potential to do the same to others. I was giving a workshop on the chakras, when I introduced some art exercises into the program. When I saw how incredible art can be to shift and transform, I developed a workshop that would assist participants in becoming more conscious of themselves through their creations and through the exercises, let go of what no longer served them or manifest what they needed. For the past year however, I have taken a bit of a break from workshops and seeing individual clients, focusing instead on writing and art.
Life for me has held many miracles, the birth of my children being the greatest. However others, such as the manifestation of a huge pile of drawing paper in my driveway, the day I wanted my pupils to do BIG paintings (to this day there is no logical explanation for its appearance). Then there was the time when I was walking alone on a storm swept beach, feeling afraid because of the financial circumstances I was in. Suddenly, on the top of a wave, as it smashed to the shore, was a crisp dry R100 (our largest currency note), - just the universe reminding me what my fear had made me forget. These and many more small miracles have served to fill me with awe and huge gratefulness at what is potentially out there for each and every one of us.
There have been many books written about the emotional/mental causes of disease, however I was looking for earlier warning signals that something was out of balance before the full-blown disease manifested. Becoming aware of my client’s habits provided the solution, as I started seeing the connection between their habits and their emotions. Habits, because of their repetition, are constant indicators when we are stressed and what form they take, indicates what type of emotional issues are wanting our attention. I have written three books on habits: Healing Habits, the first book followed by The Girl Who Bites Her Nails and The Man Who is Always Late and The A-Z Guide to Common Habits.
As the name suggests, Finding Your Feet, lists A-Z issues of the feet, such as bunions, cuts, corns etc and gives both the physical and emotional reasons for their occurrence, together with case histories to illustrate the issues and suggestions for healing.
It was while I was researching fairytales which involved shoes for Finding Your Feet that I realised in the tale of Cinderella (with her glass slipper), the seven spiritual growth stages of the chakras and their archetypes were represented. Reading other popular fairytales revealed the same stages. This explained why fairytales had survived for hundreds of years - because of the truths they contain. This lead to writing the book, Climbing the Beanstalk – the hidden messages found in best loved fairytales.
The area most of us struggle with in life is our relationships, which is why I chose this as a topic for my latest book. Why do we choose the partners we do? Why do we end up disliking the very person we once loved? The fragile balance in relationships fascinated me. The same principle in all healing: balance is to be found in our choice of partner. The book explores dual archetypes in relationships, goes into our history and why it repeats and looks for ways to bring ourselves and our relationships into balance. What Went Wrong with Mr Right? will be launched early 2009.
Websites: General: www.anngadd.co.za
Paintings: www.artforewe.co.za
What went Wrong with Mr Right – Findhorn Press, UK, 2009
Climbing the Beanstalk - The Spiritual truths in Fairytales Findhorn Press, UK 2007 ISBN:978-84409-094-5
A-Z of Habits Findhorn Press, UK 2007. ISBN:978-1-84409-100-3
Finding Your Feet – How the soles mirror the soul Findhorn Press, UK 2006 ISBN 1-84409-081-7 or ISBN: 978-1-84409-081-5
The Girl who bites her nails and the man who is always late – What our habits reveal about us. Findhorn Press UK, 2006. ISBN 1-84409-073-6
Healing Habits, Kima Global Cape Town, 2003 ISBN: 0-9584493-5-X
Ann
Gadd
