Personal Testimonials
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MARION - ALBURY
I was emotionally dead and had physical problems.
I was doing so much to help clear my whole past situation, but without doing a Phoenix Seminar I would have been years, trying to clear and get direction in my life.
I had spent years believing and being made to think I had a 'problem' or problems associated with depression.
I had more issues than the Australian Post Office.
The bottom line was I didn't love myself and I gave everything I had away to others.
At Phoenix I became aware of who I was and the best thing of all - I found out who I really was.
And I now love myself.
I am able to give out to others now but respecting myself first.
I no longer seek to be with people who aren't uplifting spiritually & Emotionally.
My health has improved in so many areas.
And it feels good to belong to the human race.
Having said all of the above: I feel free to be myself at 47 years old.
Words cannot describe the JOY I now have in my heart
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LEO - ALBURY
I feel I need to put my thoughts or should I say feelings to paper and tell you how gratified I am having completed a (Pheonix Rising) Workshop.
Please understand that my torment and anguish was more than I could deal with when I first arrived and also I had been in this state of mind for possibly 20 years on and off. I can now move forward in my life and will never go back to the Leo that was, no matter what presents itself in my life.
While I still feel sad, I am also experiencing elation with inner calm. My heart is a glow and warm, my feelings about myself are strong and best of all is that I feel I can now give to people something they may be less fortunate to have. I now feel I understand me for who I am, what I am, and where I want to be. I feel the need to help others, love others and give to others in an unconditional way.
The despair from my past is now a blur, while it is no longer the devil from within, it is something I can now understand and deal with in a way that I will never be able to thank you for.
To some up my feelings from the weekend I would like to say this.
I came from ugliness to beauty, I came from despair to elation, and my heart came from sadness to joyfulness. To all the people who attended the weekend I hope from deep in my heart that they received the gift that I did or at least the ability to have experienced some of the amazing feelings I felt both Saturday and Sunday. This is only the beginning of a long journey for me and I look to the future excitedly.
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JAN - GOLD COAST
My name is Jan, its five years since I was introduced to Phoenix Rising and every day I am thank full for that introduction and the changes that it has bought to my life. I grew up in a loving family environment but where there were many things left unexpressed. After loosing my mother to cancer in my late teens there seemed to be few who I could turn to for advice. I married Roger and we have two beautiful children, Marty 20 and Purdey 22. During the course of that first weekend workshop the questions that arose for me started me on a whole new direction. I have faced many challenges in my personal growth and now love the woman that I am. I have learnt to see my qualities and gifts and to share them freely with others, but best of all I have learnt to love myself. I learnt about my destructive thought patterns and my “reaction” to events. The work that I have done on myself has had a ripple effect through my family and friends
2001 saw me attending Graeme & Gayles Body work training. 2002 saw us sell our home and move interstate to participate in Facilitator Training. This was the best year of learning I have ever had. I am now able to confidently support others in there own personal growth through self-realization, giving me many rewards and great joy, this has led me on to Studying Kahuna Massage, which is my passion. Roger and I have begun teaching other couples about the cycles of relationships and how they can make positive changes in their own relationships.
I look forward to meeting with you soon. Love Jan
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ROGER - GOLD COAST
My name is Roger I grew up in a family where boys were discouraged from showing any emotions. I then moved to employment in the engineering and agricultural industries where men were tough and where it was considered a weakness to show emotions. After attending the workshops and with encouragement, help and love from Graeme and Gayle I came to the self realization that my old beliefs were not serving me and it was time to make changes in my life. This seems to be a life time away from where I am now being able to freely express my emotions anywhere, anytime
I have been married to Jan for 27 years and 6 years ago when I first attended a workshop, my relationship was on rocky ground. Using the tools I learnt from Graeme & Gayle we have been able to rebuild our relationship with a sound foundation based on honest and open communication. I have seen a positive flow on to our children, parents and many friends.
Choosing to close our engineering business in the Northern Territory and moving to Albury too train as a facilitator with Phoenix Rising has been another major life change for me. My self esteem, self confidence, focus, purpose and direction, and awareness have all taken many steps in a positive direction. As a result of my own growth I have many skills to share with people I meet as I travel my life’s path.
Attending Graeme’s Bodywork training set me on the road to learning massage and further body work, which I now am able to enhance by incorporating my facilitator skills, giving clients an understanding of what there body is telling them. If you want to do something for your children attend a workshop for yourself, the flow on effect to your family is awesome. Lots of love to you Roger .
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SUSAN - DALLAS
My name is Susan and I was fortunate to travel to Australia from my home in Dallas, Texas to participate in a 9-day workshop in November 2004. The Phoenix Rising workshops had been recommended to me by a friend and whilst I was excited to be traveling to Australia to attend I really had no idea how big the impact on my life it would be. I had been through several other counseling sessions and did not feel I had worked through the issues I wanted to.
With my experience of meetings and mixing with groups of people I was surprised how quickly Graeme and Gayle were able to put me at ease. I went on to get to know the others attending the workshops on a non-superficial basis and moved onto feel like these people were my family. I never felt judged as no one in the group was and that is a great gift.
I came home free of the anger I had left home with. I gained life long friends and a sense of inner peace. It has definitely made me a better parent and friend. My communication skills have improved and there has been a huge boost to my confidence and I no longer feel needy towards others in my life. I became more aware of who my authentic self is. I also learnt to be more open minded and empathetic to other peoples problems and issues.
I am more peaceful within myself and best of all have a much closer relationship with my family especially my children. Instead of running away from them to do other things I can now spend quality time with them and enjoy being a mum. I recommend this workshop to anybody. Those who go through a weekend journey or 9 day workshop will have emotional growth. I cannot wait to go again and look forward to taking my children to a weekend.
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ALAN - MELBOURNE
I first came across Phoenix Rising during the breakdown of my relationship. I was fairly skeptical and had found the counseling that my partner and I had previously was not really working. In a nutshell, Phoenix Rising taught me to take responsibility for my actions and showed me some patterns that I had been running since childhood. Ones that I was not really aware of, that were causing me problems in my day to day life. The most valuable gift I gained was intimacy with my immediate family. From the outside, you would have looked at out family and said we were loving, kind and very close. That was true to a degree, but we mostly talked about the “regular” things, never about the deeper problems we were all going through from time to time.
I now know my family intimately, I know the “real” people they are. Their strengths, their weaknesses, their hopes and fears, and that is worth the world to me. I can pick up the phone and call them and talk about anything and know I have their love and support. I have since done 3 years of facilitator training with Graeme & Gayle and have assisted on over 150 weekend workshops and twelve 10 day programs. Something my mum said to me recently, really hit home. “One thing I know, is when your Dad and I have passed on, you kids really have each other to rely on. I replied “That has a lot to do with Phoenix Rising mum” to which she replied “I know” I was a bit of a lone ranger before and now I realize it’s really OK to ask for support when I need it.
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KATRINA - PORT HEADLAND
Hi my name is Katrina Christensen and I wanted to share this story with everyone, I have been looking for the answers, 33 years trying to find where and how to fit in to this lifetime. In searching for the quest I have been to many workshops trying to find a way to express my spirituality and truth to others, I was blooming quite well taking the correct turns and meeting some beautiful people. Along the road, I married my husband Wade of 12 years, with whom I now have open, communicative and loving relationship. We gave birth to three aware well-balanced little souls to share our lives with. Then at 30 decided to have an adventure and moved to the end of the earth “Port Hedland” WA. This is a harsh, Arid environment, yet somewhat beautiful when connecting with the Mother. It was vital for me to reach into the depths of my being to keep my head above water and to remember whom I was and what I believed in yet somehow I forgot…and started to sink.
Until that November weekend in 2002 my family and I met Greame, Gayle and Phoenix Rising for a weekend workshop, this was to change my life forever and to once again remember who I was, To see my truth and open the orchid of my heart. With all the nurturing love from Greame Gayle and their beautiful Support team my family unit began to capture some strength that had been lost, Emily 10, Aleshiah 8 and Caleb 5 expressed their issues lightened their loads and danced around in their true expression as children. With the knowledge awareness and tools we were given, we were able to take them away and put them into practice for day to day living .our lives have blossomed and continue to strengthen.
Greame taught me to never be afraid of who i am, what I believe or how to express myself. Gayle mirrored allthat is beauty, and thankyou Noela for your honesty and confidence. My passion is to learn and share all the knowledge I have so as to work with others, I am so grateful to you Graeme Gayle and all of phoenix, thank you for coming in to my life and helping me to remember So my journey continues…
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LORRAINE - NORTH EAST VICTORIA
Lorraine is passionate about the study of Mind and personal growth. Ever since she was young she had a thirst for knowledge and a questioning mind. After years of working hard trying to hold together a solid and stable path through life in what most would call a typical, normal environment she hit a crossroad that would change her life.
Lorraine’s marriage ended followed by a series of what she calls “interesting and painful” choices and her life spiralled out of control. Through a chance meeting with the dynamic Noala & Erol Davis she was introduced to the work of Graham & Gayle O’Brien and Phoenix Rising. This turning point enabled her, with the compassion and expertise of Phoenix Rising, to face inwards and look to her past for answers to many painful and stressful concepts that habitually repeated themselves in her life. Facing & owning self limiting beliefs, destructive patterns, childhood trauma, addictions, fears and self abuse were all part of this journey for Lorraine. There would be no going back and this work would propel her further and further to embrace the ancient philosophy “Man know thy self”.
It is through this work that Lorraine has experienced a complete renewal of her life. Everything from how she processes thought, feelings, response and perception of life has shifted and her life is an example of how someone can make profound change.
Lorraine has worked as a facilitator and counsellor for several years and continues to study and learn from a variety of modes. It is her belief that Phoenix Rising is a fulcrum in self development and personal growth encompassing an enormous range of resources from all teachings, both scientific and esoteric. The dedication and commitment from Graham & Gayle O’Brien, Noala Davis and Phoenix Rising is beyond reproach and Lorraine supports and respects their work unconditionally. Her gratitude to this work and these selfless people is immeasurable.
For over 30 years Phoenix Rising has become a foundation in which anyone can safely begin to question their thoughts and beliefs on life and gain a better understanding of why their life is the way it is. For Lorraine, it is a great honour and privilege to serve as a facilitator with this organization that has supported her from the brink of self destruction to the freedom she experiences in her life today. Her journey never ends and Phoenix is still right there beside her, supporting every step of the way.
For Lorraine, this is a life’s work with no destination in mind or no end in sight.
Lorraine shares her life with partner and best friend James, two “bright and shiny” sons Tom and Jack, and lives in the beautiful countryside of North East Victoria.
For further information contact our National Co-ordinator
Noala Davis
02 6041 5000
0402 304 577
Gayle O'Brien
0438 888 486Jane Young - Gold Coast
0448 888 486
Phoenix Rising Australia ABN 48 010 395 936
PO Box 3396 Albury NSW 2640
www.phoenixrising.com.au