Richard Stuttle

Category: Insights

Anatomy, Physiology and the 11 systems of the human body
What are the 11 systems of the human body?

Anatomy – Structure of the body or biological organism. This includes plants and animals. Multiple parts which usually work together to produce a particular function.

Physiology – Functions and processes in relation to the structure (anatomy) in this case the human body or living organism.

Another area to mention here is Pathology, which is the study of the nature of disease and its consequences.

Chemical – Atoms and molecules which are the basic building blocks of matter. Some atoms such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, calcium, nitrogen, and sulphur which are all essential to life. Some more commonly known are DNA which contains our genetic makeup and individuality. Another important element is glucose which circulates in the blood for energy.

Cellular – At this level molecules combine to form cells which are the simplest structural functional unit in the body. There are many kinds of cells in the body which make up the different systems of the body.

Tissue – These are a specialised group of cells which work together to perform specific functions. There are four basic types of tissue in the body, each has many divisions.
- Muscle tissue
- Connective tissue
- Epithelial tissue
- Nervous tissue
Organ – These are specific structures which are recognisable and made up of two or more types of tissue and perform specific functions.

Systems – Organ systems play a specific role within the body, there are 11 systems throughout the body which have specific functions. Systems can be made up of multiple organs which have a common function.

What are the 11 systems of the human body
1. Integumentary System (Skin, Hair, Nails)
This system looks after our immunity and helps to protect the body from external invasion. It helps regulate temperature and eliminates some waste through sweat and oil secretions. Importantly it also makes vitamin D and detects sensations like touch, pain, heat and cold.

2.     Skeletal System (Bones, Joints)

The function of the skeletal system is primarily to support and protect. It provides a solid surface area to attach muscle and aids body movement. It also produces blood cells and store minerals and fats.

3.     Muscular System (Cardiac, Smooth, and Skeletal Muscles)

Smooth muscle (involuntary), skeletal muscle (voluntary), and cardiac muscle (involuntary and autorhythmic) and associated cartilage and tendons (connective tissue). This system produces body movement and stabilises body position, it can store and move substances within the body, generate heat and pump blood around the body.

4.     Lymphatic System (Red Bone Marrow, Thymus, Lymphatic Vessels, Thoracic Duct, Spleen, Lymph Nodes)

This system maintains fluid balance in the tissues and transports dietary fats. It is also part of the immune system which responds to infection.

5.     Respiratory System – (Nasal Cavity, Pharynx, Larynx, Trachea, Bronchus, Lung)

Internal and external breathing, supplying oxygen into the body and expels carbon dioxide. Regulates acid-based balances and is responsible for the production of sound.

6.     Digestive System (Oral Cavity, Oesophagus, Liver, Stomach, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Rectum, Anus)

Major parts of the gastrointestinal tract; mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, and anus. Responsible for the breakdown of food and the elimination of solid waste.

7.     Nervous System– (Brain, Spinal Cord, Nerves)

Generates nerve impulses (action potential) to regulate all body activities. The three major parts are the;

·      ANS – Autonomic nervous system

·      PNS – Peripheral nervous system

·      CNS – Central nervous system

Part of the homeostatic control of the internal and external environment.

8.     Endocrine System– (Pineal Gland, Pituitary Gland, Thyroid Gland, Thymus, Adrenal Gland, Pancreas, Ovary, Testis)

Main job is to regulate the body activities through hormone production. It’s also part of the homeostatic control. There is a correlation to the 7 main chakras.

9.     Cardiovascular (Circulatory) System (Heart, Blood Vessels)

Responsible for the supply of oxygen and nutrients to all cells around the body. The removal of carbon dioxide and other waste products from all cells. Control of temperature and fluid balance.

10.  Urinary System (Kidney, Ureter, Urinary Bladder, Urethra)

Produces, stores and eliminates waste product urine. Regulates the volume and chemical composition of the blood, regulation of acid-based balance and mineral balance. Also, the production and regulation of red blood cells.

11.  Reproductive Systems

Regulation of reproduction and other carnal body activities through hormone production.

Our system connected to our chakras

Endocrine System – Pineal Gland, Pituitary Gland, Thyroid Gland, Thymus, Adrenal Gland, Pancreas, Ovary or Testis.

Chakras – Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, Crown
There is a direct correlation between the endocrine system and the chakras not only in placement in the body but also in function.

1.     Chakra – Root V Testis and Ovary
The first Chakra, the root is a where we ground ourselves to physical life. We find stability and security in our world. The body areas are that of reproduction and physical pleasure which go to ground us in the physical world. The areas and linked with protectivity surrounding family and friendships.

2.     Chakra – Sacral V Reproductive Organs
The sacral is the second chakra, located below the navel and represents sexual energies. This is a similar area to the reproductive organs. This area is also where energy builds up from relationships, repressed feelings and emotions around creativity and passion.

3.     Chakra – Solar Plexus V Pancreas
The 3rd chakra is the solar plexus and represents will power, personal responsibility and self-esteem. The pancreas is responsible for secreting substances for digestion which can be translated into understanding and processing. It also regulates insulin around the body. It’s an energy centre where power in generated and processed.

4.     Chakra – Heart V Heart
The 4th chakra is the heart and it self-explanatory, the heart chakra is a vital part of the body’s immune system and relates to the healing properties of the heart. The heart is associated with the circulatory system and the Thymus Gland. It’s the centre of love, group consciousness and spirituality.

5.     Chakra – Throat V Thyroid Gland
The throat is the 5th chakra and associated with the respiratory system and thyroid gland. It’s the centre for sound and communication. The chakra relates to self-expression and speaking. Talking openly and creativity.

6.     Chakra – Third Eye V Pituitary Gland
The third eye is the 6th chakra and relates to second sight, psychic and mediumistic abilities. Higher intuition and clairvoyance. This chakra speaks of second sight and seeing the world from a different perspective. The pituitary gland is said to be a gateway for dreams and is directly linked to the brain and the body’s nervous system.

7.     Chakra – Crown V Pineal Gland
The crown chakra is the 7th chakra and governs the top of the spinal cord, brain stem and central nervous system. The pineal gland, cerebrum and is a gateway to spiritual wisdom. It is thought of as the connection to the spirit world and your higher self.

The chakras are now pretty much redundant in the new body system but they are a good guideline for interpretation and understanding placement of feeling.

Written by Richard Stuttle
January 11, 2025
What is the definition of good health?

There are many aspects to the meaning of “what is good health”. When we talk of someone’s health, we automatically assume physical health, this is not wrong. The closer we look we start to see that there are many aspects of health that are all intertwined. In many cases illness or an unhealthy lifestyle can manifest physically.

Aspects of health to consider are…

Physical injury – very often a broken bone can be seen, a pulled muscle or torn ligament will result in a limp or the is person unable to move freely.

Illness – this covers a wide range of possible illnesses and cannot always be seen physically. Symptoms are normally described by the individual and can be subjective.

Disease – symptoms manifest physically, some part or organ of the body is not working correctly. This can include infections, genetic defects, and environmental problems. Symptoms can also have an effect mentally reducing the individual to limited ability and movement.

Mental health – not always seen but can result in very serious conditions for the sufferer. These can sometimes be from an imbalance of chemicals in the body. Symptoms can manifest in the form of self-inflected alcohol or drug abuse. Eating disorders or self-harm.

Spiritual health – people are not always aware of their spiritual health and when they are suffering. People can take advantage or add pressure to someone’s spiritual wellbeing. These can be seen in the energy and auras of the individuals and cause symptoms that manifest physically and emotionally in people.

Emotional health – this can take the form of abuse and reduce the persons physical and mental health. Abuse can result in complete loss of confidence and self-belief which can be incredibly damaging to the sufferer.

Environmental health – as we have seen recently with Covid-19 which was classed as a pandemic. A disease which affects people across multiple continents. An endemic is a disease which is always present in the population or epidemic which is a disease which spreads rapidly and unexpectedly through a population.

The world organisations definition of health is: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Traditional Medicine and Energetic Healing

Traditional medicine generally treats disease or injury in isolation, if someone is unlucky enough to break their leg doctors will x-ray, assess, and treat in the best way possible drawing on their knowledge of proven methods. This is likely to be through surgery and pinning or a cast and setting the leg in position so the body can naturally heal. Once the bone is fused back together physiotherapy will rebuild strength and mobility within the leg.

Other aspects that may require attention with a broken leg can include, trauma and compensation by the rest of the body. Confidence, mental health, and energetic wellbeing. This I feel is where holistic therapy and healing can make a significant difference.

Spiritual or energetic healing treats all aspects of the human conditional, body, mind and soul. It is a channel or flow of energy through the healer to the client. The best course of treatment after treating the leg itself will be different for every patient or client. Some may experience real energetic unbalance, for others it might be mental health.

If a client is receiving healing and the healer will have explained that the healing will go to where it is needed the most, the patient will be open to the consideration that there may be more trauma that requires healing other than just the broken leg. This can offer a different mindset or open their thought process to the rest of their body removing focus solely from the leg.

Spiritual or Energy Healing also offers an empowerment to the patient. The practical aspects of the healing process, talking to the patient, support from someone outside the medical profession. This can be very welcoming for anyone undergoing medical treatment.

I truly believe that a combination of complimentary and alternative medicine can offer the best results to anyone who is ill or finds themselves needing treatment.

Written by Richard Stuttle

January 11, 2025
Long term recovery from serious illness
A story of recovery from longterm illness

When I first got admitted to hospital (Bacterial Meningitis and 1.3cm brain abscess) the pain was so intense all I could feel was the trauma within my body. It took over and I was 100% human, descendant of mother earth. The painkillers, antibiotics and high dosage drugs took the pain away, my body started to slowly repair itself. I felt completely disconnected from who I was before, it felt like I had separated my mind from my body and soul.

After a few weeks in hospital the doctors felt my body was healing and I could continue my recovery from home. Walking through my front door, I felt like everything was slightly different, I was no longer connected to my processions or my home itself. I felt like I was an observer in a place I knew well but did not recognise. I was home but a part of me was experiencing my old life as an observer.

Over the following weeks, administering intravenous antibiotics from home I began to rebuild my strength. My body was healing, I could feel a reconnection to loved ones and the world around me. I started to feel myself again. I understood my mind had become so focused on the life of my body it had blocked out the parts that weren’t essential for my survival.

A story of recovery from longterm illness: One step at a time

It took time for me to build up my strength again, going from walking slowly around the block to longer walks down to the beach. I felt that I had lost a little of who I was, a had the realisation, “My body is ill not my soul.” I had somehow forgotten who I was, there was a part of me that was gone and maybe it was meant to be. Afterall, I am incredibly lucky to still be here! Life is about evolution, letting go of things that don’t serve you and moving forward. I walked on the beach and paddled in the cold English waters. My body felt the pain in my feet and not my soul.

Physically I was recovering well, but mentally and emotionally it was different. I could feel my thoughts physically, it was difficult to understand. I sensed emotion in different areas of the body. In my head the greatest sensitivity, every emotional surge had a physical reaction. It’s not pain but a build-up of pressure, like the contraction of blood vessels before a release. There’s a wave of energy running over my body which offered an energetic knowledge that felt to me closer to the knowing of truth.

I could feel the same within the people around me. The distinction between feelings and emotions, feelings were in the moment and offered an insight into myself and the world around me. Emotions were the build-up of feelings over time both positive and negative. I needed to process my emotions; it was hard to understand but I knew my level of sensitivity had dramatically increased.

One step forward

Finally, I was clear off all medication. I started to do more. It didn’t take long before I felt myself going backwards. I had anxiety, no confidence, and a constant awareness that I wasn’t as quick minded as I used to be. I had always thought of myself as mentally strong and had overcome a great deal of adversity over the years. I withdrew and started to cut people out of my life. I didn’t want the responsibility or to feel their emotions, I could feel the trauma they were going through in their lives. It was becoming too much for me.

I simplified my life as completely as I could. Finally, after forty-five years I gave my body the respect it deserves. Meditation and stretching daily, eating healthy and spending quiet time with my own thoughts. I had to accept the person I was now, in one way new and improved. Another unbelievable experience that I had made it through.

The other side was letting go of the past, the person I used to be. Over time I was happy to do just that, but the biggest thing was time. The doctor initially said six to twelve months, I thought I’ll be fine in six! I didn’t even consider my mental recovery, the PTSD and paranoia of every little ache and pain.

These conditions are real and incredibly serious, belief and mindset I feel has a lot of do with recovery. I found myself thinking about what I believed in life. Why we are here? What is our purpose? What are my talents? What is important to me? What have I achieved and what did I never get to achieve? Considering these questions in a quiet space really helped to build myself back up and create a strong foundation for mental recovery.

What is working for me

We are never the same person from moment to moment, it can be incredibly difficult to define who we are and what we want out of life. Most of us are too giving and this can sometimes be at a detriment to our own wellbeing. Its only after you become close to death do you really consider life. I took everything for granted which I think is completely natural. Been forced to slow down allowed time to think and process.

A few things that I feel really helped

Daily Action
- Do something creative – give yourself permission to do creative things and see what you can come up with.
- Enjoy nature – whether walking on the beach, tracks though woodlands or just down to your local park. Enjoy fresh air and the great outdoors.
Thoughts and contemplation
- Taking time in the silence – processing your own thoughts and feelings, allowing them to pass though freely.
- Acceptance of who you are now – I think we all have an idea of ourselves from who we were many years ago.
- Appreciation of self – we are so lucky to be part of this world, know and appreciate the aspects of yourself.
Written by Richard Stuttle
January 11, 2025
Inspiration from Isolation

All artists paint in an altered state. As soon as they pick up a brush, they move into a different space where freedom and inspiration are intertwined. 2020 has certainly been a year that no one expected, which threw up many challenges. For many, harnessing their creativity during lockdown was a way to mentally escape from the restrictions which were placed upon us.

For me, painting has always been an outlet where I could process information, explore new directions and feel a connection not only with myself and loved ones, but also people in the spirit world. I found myself feeling things that were not always from myself.

My curiosity led me to explore further, around 20 years ago I came across Spiritualism and started to learn about the spirit world. This explained made sense of the sensations I would feel when painting.

Taking up a Challenge

I came across a competition ran by The College of Psychic Studies and thought it a wonderful opportunity to join with other artists who are consciously aware of their connected relationship with art and spirit.

A blank canvas can be somewhat daunting for many artists, but I have always seen the limitless potential of what could happen. Many pictures are already painted in the mind before the artist puts brush to canvas. The daunting part for me was always: do I have the necessary skills to do the work justice?

With a wide brief of Inspiration from Isolation I had no idea what I was going to paint, the image formed over a few days and I soon covered the canvas with a largescale landscape, many points of reference appeared in the work relating to spiritualism and the spirit world. It was something I hadn’t tried in this way before and I found it an interesting experience. I also considered the other artists who were also in their studios working on pictures inspired by the spirit world and following the brief. There was an interesting connection between us all whether we were aware of it or not.

I was very lucky to be a finalist in the competition and had the opportunity to see the incredible work done by other artists. I feel this way of working through art is a beautiful way to connect the spirit world and our world. They say a picture paints a thousand words, but it can also contain a thousand emotions and connections to bring us all closer together.

Spirit Art

When talking about spirit and art, it’s important to mention spirit art in a more traditional sense, drawing accurate and recognisable portraits of loved ones in the spirit world. Firstly, incredibly important to be able to draw, portraits are incredibly difficult, a couple of millimetres can change a face completely. Combining the skills of portrait painting with high level mediumship is a rare combination. We can look at some of the great spirit artists like Frank Leah and Coral Polge. If done to this standard, what incredible proof of the existence of life after mortal death. To be able to offer an evidential communication from a spirit communicator to a recipient, combined with an accurate portrait of the spirit communicator is incredible.

How people choose to develop their art with the spirit world is up to them and for me should always be a combination of inspiration from spirit and hard work. The better tools and skills we have as artists and mediums, the more spirit can use to share love, healing, knowledge and evidential communication.

Written by Richard Stuttle

January 11, 2025
Prayers for a Divine Service

In a Spiritualist Divine Service there are generally three prayers for a divine service spoken.

An Opening Prayer to set the tone and energy for the service. A Healing Prayer, to offer healing to loved ones and people in need. Each service is brought to a close with a Closing Prayer. This is to offer thanks for the service, and thanks to the congregation and the spirit world for their participation.

Prayers for a Divine Service

Opening Prayer

Please take a moment to find your quiet space and offer thanks as we open in prayer.

“Father God, divine spirit.

We gracefully accept your healing power and take a moment for our loved ones whose stresses of mind and body may be eased through your divine energy.

Help us to adopt a more positive and helpful way of thought, bring us into closer harmony with those around us and our life’s purpose.

Let us offer thanks for this moment and the opportunity to work with the spirit world. May we experience the upliftment of spirit as we connect two worlds with love and harmony, to bring comfort and healing to everyone in need.

May the good lord bless us all.

Amen”

Healing Prayer

Please take a moment to offer thanks for the healing prayer.

“God, Heavenly Father

May we be thankful for our blessings, grant our loved one’s relief from pain and protect them from sickness in the days and years ahead. We ask for your healing energies to offer guidance and inspiration to people in need. Your healing thoughts for anyone affected by manmade or natural disasters.

May our love for the earth sustain us. Our trust and belief assist in opening a channel for healing, both here and in the spirit world. Allow us to be conscious of our strengths in all times of need and offer a shining light to others when they need it the most.

Love is eternal, please allow our positive intensions and influences to inspire our community. To help us unite the world the name of healing and peace from this moment forward.

We leave them in your loving care.

Amen”

Closing Prayer

“God, Heavenly Father.

We thank you for this wonderful service.

We have felt your love and offer our eternal thanks for helping us to follow our true pathway.

To the spirit world who always supports us, we offer our love in return. May your passion and wisdom continue to guide us.

We offer healing to others as you heal us. We ask for your protection and we will protect others. Following this service, guide us so that we can all go forward with confidence and take one step closer to our divine purpose.

Loving spirit, we bless you as you bless us.

Amen”

Prayers have far greater meaning than just the words spoken, they help to unite the congregation and bring people together. For more information about prayer please take a look at – What is the purpose of Prayer?

In its simplest form, prayer within a Divine Service is far more than a sequence of spoken words; it is a bridge between intention, energy and connection. Each prayer — opening, healing and closing — plays a role in guiding the congregation through a shared experience of alignment, reflection and renewal. Prayer has the ability to unite people, deepen awareness and invite a greater presence into the space, allowing the congregation to move together within a field of harmony and purpose.

When approached with sincerity and from the heart, prayer becomes an active exchange rather than a passive ritual. It offers an opportunity to step beyond the surface of everyday thought and connect more deeply with both the self and the spirit world. Prayer is not just something we do within a service, but something we carry forward, allowing its influence to shape how we think, act and support others long after the service has come to a close.

Prayers written and recorded by Richard Stuttle

January 11, 2025
Chasing Rainbow – The Stolen Future of Caroline Ann Stuttle – The first chapter

Chasing Rainbows by Richard Stuttle

The call that changed our world

It was the end of another amazing winter season in Meribel, my third in
The Three Valleys. I’d first visited in 1999; it was now April 2002. I’d been
working as a chef, alongside a host, and ski guide, running a chalet for
eighteen guests. It was hard work and it felt like it had been a long season.
The snow had turned, making it very wet and slushy; the lower runs were
muddy and, in many places, unpassable. I had packed up my knives and we shut down the chalet. Our boss was happy, and we had all finally finished work.

I loved Meribel. It ticked all the boxes: stunning surroundings, wonderful snowboarding, like-minded people and cooking for a living. It was a completely different lifestyle to anything I had done before. My picturesque five-month escape from everything that was really happening in the world. The beauty of the French Alps was completely inspiring, and I enjoyed the instant connection between seasonaires (people working during the ski season). We all worked the winters out of choice, everyone had a deep-rooted passion for the mountains and a love for extreme winter sports.

This season was no exception. Some of my best days were spent riding around the mountain with friends and hitting the snowboard parks. Once we had our fix for the day, we would jump on the final lift of the day up to the top of the Saulire, which was one of the main summits in Meribel. We would ride down the short distance to a place we called The Hut; the views were breath-taking. We could see for miles in every direction, straight down the valley to Moutier or over towards Saint Martin and Les Menuires. To our left was Mont Vallon, with the peaks of Val Thorens far beyond. The Hut was a happy place for many seasonaires. We used to chat about the day and watch the last few people making their way down the piste, like ants following each other trying to find their way home. We’d enjoy the changing colours of the mountains as the sun slowly made its way towards the jagged horizon. It felt like paradise. When we saw the ski patrol riding down, it was our cue to move. I always enjoyed the final run, before either heading back to get ready for work or calling in to the Rond Point, a bar just off the piste, for après-ski.

Though the season was over, I was in no rush to return to reality. I was looking forward to a few quiet days relaxing before driving down to the south of France, where landscape painting and time on the beach awaited. Painting was in my genes thanks to my father who is an artist. My watercolours and oil paints were ready and I was looking forward to painting the wonderful colours and landscapes of the Côte d’Azur. I was craving the sea, especially after five months in the mountains, and I yearned for sand between my toes and the smell of fresh salty air. This love stems back to my childhood, family days out at the seaside and holidays abroad. My sister Caroline and I would spend many hours building sandcastles on the beach and splashing around in the sea. It was always a magical place for us. Every time I sank my feet into warm soft sand and closed my eyes something was triggered inside; it took me back to those special memories and put a smile on my face.

A lot of friends had already started to leave the resort, some going home, others onwards for their next adventure. It was exciting but at the same time sad to say goodbye, although I knew many of them would be back next year. Life was good and chefs were always in demand. It was one of the reasons why I got into hospitality, restaurants and hotels were always looking for decent chefs, I could get a job anywhere.

The end of the season was a time of contemplation, I was thinking a lot about what the rest of my twenties was going to bring: travel, different experiences and finding out what I actually wanted to do with my life.

It was 4:30 a.m. when my mobile rang. I was in bed, but answered. No one I recognised, their voice hesitant.

“Mr Stuttle?”

“Yes?” I replied, snapping out of my sleepy haze.

“I am from the police and I am afraid I have some bad news.”

A thousand thoughts flooded through my mind in that split second, but even if I had another 614,962,476 seconds to guess what he was about to tell me, I would never have got it. At the time, my naive mind knew bad things happened in this world, but never to us or to people we knew.

“It’s about your sister, Caroline.” His voice was now solid and very serious.

Caroline was on a gap year in Australia with one of her best friends. What had the kid got herself into now? Probably arrested for something stupid or ran out of money.

The officer continued, “I’m so sorry to have to tell you this, but Caroline has been involved in an incident and she is dead.”

I sat bolt upright. Surely, I wasn’t understanding this correctly. “Are you joking? What the hell are you talking about?”

“There has been a serious situation in Australia, and I am so sorry to have to tell you. She has lost her life. I am here with your mother, Marjorie.”

I could hear uncontrollable sobbing in the background, which sounded like my mother, but I had never heard anything like it before. In those few moments my whole world shattered, and our lives were changed forever.

“We are here at your home. Please don’t worry, we will make sure we do everything we can for your mother. One of my colleagues is with your father in Scarborough.”

“I don’t understand. What’s happened to Caroline in Australia?” I asked.

“I am afraid I don’t have many details at the moment. All I know is that there has been an incident on a bridge, Caroline has gone over the railings and unfortunately lost her life. Her friend Sarah is safe and with the police in Bundaberg.”

“OK, I will be home as soon as I can.”

Hanging up the phone, I just stared at it. I had no idea what to do with myself, no idea what to think. I was stuck in a French ski resort and it was still the middle of the night. Absolutely nothing I could do until morning. I felt completely powerless.

After a few moments my mind caught up, still trying to process the conversation. There was no way this could be true. What the hell had just happened? I slumped down on the edge of the bed, numb and in complete disbelief. I couldn’t feel anything. Looking down at my fingers, they had no sense of touch, nothing felt real. I couldn’t comprehend what I had just heard. I felt lightheaded and burst into tears. Just a few hours ago, before I went to bed, the last five months had been some of the best times of my life, but now they meant absolutely nothing.

A feeling of shock took over my body, I took some deep breaths and tried to steady myself. Standing up, I paced the room and kept repeating, “What the… has just happened? What was she doing on a bridge, how the hell has she gone over the railings? I can’t believe this. Caroline is dead? She can’t be dead.”

Hands shaking, I rolled a cigarette and smoked it until it burnt my fingers. It sent my head spinning and my thoughts were immediately with Mum and Dad. What the hell were they going through? Surely none of this can be true. I had no idea what was going on, no details, no way of finding out any more information and no way of being with my family.

In those life-changing few moments, a piece of my heart had been ripped out and I knew could never be replaced. If you break a china pot, it’s possible to piece it back together but you will always know it’s been broken even if you can’t see the joins.

At that time, I was relatively innocent to grief and loss, seeing but not truly understanding the cruelty and pain death can bring. Up until that point, 1985 had been the worst year of my life with both my grandfathers and my uncle dying. I was eight years old and took it very badly. I remember crying and being comforted by Mum as she tried to explain, they were old and had enjoyed a full life. Over time, I was able to come to terms with it, although I still felt that childhood sadness sometimes. This was completely different, something I knew instantly that I would never get over no matter how much time passed. Caroline was just a girl with her whole life ahead of her; she was my little sister.

I had no Internet access. I was completely cut off from the outside world; originally that had been part of the appeal. I stood on the balcony, looking out at the silhouette of the mountains. It was deadly quiet. There were still a couple of hours to go before the sun would break the horizon. I felt like nothing was real any more; I was in limbo with only time to think. I just couldn’t believe she was dead; how could she be? She was a strong and feisty young lady. How could she have been taken away from us? I replayed the phone call in my head, “I’m so sorry to have to tell you this, but Caroline has been involved in an incident and she is dead.” This couldn’t be right, maybe the officer might have meant something else, he might have been mistaken? It could have been some other poor girl; deep down though, I knew it was true.

Chain-smoking cigarettes, I thought about our lives as brother and sister. I always believed we had been brought up the right way, loving parents, a traditional family with a normal life. Never wanting for much, we took pleasure in the simple things. We didn’t deserve this happening to us. I now realised, just like in the rest of life, ‘deserve’ has nothing to do with it. I always thought of our childhood as special, we were lucky as a family. Living in Huntington, York, our primary and secondary schools were both within walking distance and many of our friends lived just around the corner.

Mum and Dad had always pushed us to be active; Caroline was a member of the local gymnastics club and I thought she was really good at it. Mum and I would go to pick her up and watch as she effortlessly jumped and span around the floor. We both loved swimming and would go to the pool a few times a week for training. When we went on holiday, we were water babies and loved snorkelling in the sea or splashing around in the pool.

These memories all came flooding back like an incoherent movie playing in my mind at double speed. My emotions were all over the place. I didn’t know what I should be feeling and couldn’t work out what I was actually feeling.

I remembered our lives growing up. Dad was an artist by profession and loved showing us different animals and insects that lived in our garden. Butterflies were our favourite. The life cycle from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly was extraordinary and fascinated the pair of us. I remember Caroline and I being amazed by how this transformation took place and we desperately wanted to see a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. Dad in all his years had never seen it happen. One day, Caroline came running into the kitchen. “Dad, Dad, I’ve seen it.” We rushed outside and saw a red admiral butterfly sat flexing his wings on its empty chrysalis. She was always the lucky one, so I just couldn’t understand it. Why hadn’t she been lucky this time? All the scrapes I had gotten into over the years and I was still here. It just wasn’t fair.

She had such a caring nature which she got from Mum, who’d been a nanny in her early career. I had never met anyone who gave so much love so willingly to everyone she met. Sometimes we could both be very naughty, but for us it was of course always unconditional love, no matter what we did. Sometimes Caroline would go and see Grandma for dinner and chat incessantly about everything that happened at school and with her friends. They both loved spending time together and Grandma used to joke, “I love Caroline, but she has worn my ears out and I need a rest after every visit.” Sundays were always our family day. Mum used to cook the best Sunday roasts with all the trimmings, apart from the beef, which was always overcooked. I never realised at the time but when I trained as a chef I understood, medium rare and well rested. That’s how beef should be cooked and that was the end of it. It became a long running family joke.

Grandma, Grandad, my aunties and uncle all lived locally. Dad would go to work in the morning but was always back in time for lunch. We would eat early afternoon and catch up with the week’s news, Caroline always liked to be centre of attention and would tell us everything that she had been up to in excruciating detail. After lunch, and fully stuffed, the older family members would have a little rest and could be heard snoring in the living room. As Mum always managed to use every pan, bowl and plate in our kitchen, it always looked like a bombsite. It was mine and Caroline’s job to wash up. A worthy trade as Mum’s food was amazing, despite the beef. We would do it together, we were a team, and the kitchen would always be spotless after we had finished.

Still waiting for the sun to rise above the mountains, I remembered these times, it pulled on my stomach and made me feel physically sick. Of course, we weren’t perfect and like most brothers and sisters when we were younger, we sometimes fought like cat and dog. Deep down we always loved each other dearly. My head was spinning, tears brought me back to reality as they streamed down my face. I needed another cigarette.

There was still an hour to go before anyone would be awake. Taking a long drag, I thought about how over the last few years we had become great friends. When I was in the UK, we would regularly meet in York for coffee and were never lost for conversation; we could talk to each other about anything. I would give her advice like a good big brother should. It was one of Caroline’s big dreams to go travelling and I remember when she and Sarah were planning their Australian adventure. She was so excited and had been organising everything for months down to every last detail. When we discussed all the things she was going to do, her face would light up. She could hardly contain herself and looked so alive. Why didn’t I talk more about staying safe instead of just making jokes about how the hell was she going to manage without her hair straighteners? I am sure I said, “Be careful, make sure you look after yourself and each other.” I now felt it was nowhere near enough, but Australia was considered a safe place to visit.

I would have done anything to have had one more coffee with her. I loved her so much and kept getting flashes in my mind of the moments we shared. Once I accidentally trapped her fingers in the car door and never properly apologised. I was only a kid, but it haunted me now that I could never say sorry or apologise for anything I had ever done. She was gone. It hit me again like an avalanche, she was dead. We wouldn’t share anything again in this world… ever.

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January 11, 2025
The Originality of Thought

Original thought is completely necessary. As individuals, we must come to our own conclusions and arrive at our own truths. It doesn’t matter whether that truth is a widely held belief or not, if a conclusion has been reached in the mind of the individual, then it’s necessary. It’s a far more powerful truth than that of believing a truth arrived at by others.

Through learning and experience we come to know our own truths, these can change over time as we gain more knowledge and deeper understanding. In this moment of our evolution, we believe we’re as evolved and intelligent as we have ever been, but simultaneously completely ignorant and utterly stupid.

How could it be any other way? Look back 5 years, are you smarter now? Do you cringe at some of your thoughts, beliefs and conversations? Only with this awareness and willingness to change what we have previously perceived as known truths we can reach originality of thought.

Confidence in experienced knowledge and false truths is one way our mind navigates, using each point as a stepping stone to arrive at our own thoughts and conclusions. There is no point regurgitating the thoughts of others or reciting chapters of books or speeches from our peers. They are not authentic and have no weight to us, they are empty as we did not arrive at our own conclusion and we do not fully understand what we are saying. A false truth said with belief is far more powerful than a widely held truth that is not fully understood.

There is an old idea, in order to reach the top of a mountain, you must first complete the climb. Without going through the full process for yourself you will never fully appreciate the view from the top. The feeling and emotions attached to someone else’s journey will never be as authentic spoken by the voice of another.

Arriving at Original Thought

A challenge in itself and incredibly difficult. Every method of learning is unique to the individual, but spending significant time in meditation and study will help. An idea or thought to be fully understood, first needs to flow through the creative and logical process centres in the mind. It needs to be dissected, analysed and viewed from every possible angle. It needs belief to be added, feelings and emotions wrestled with and attached. It needs time to process, filtering through every aspect of self and our head, heart and gut. Only then will it start to become authentic to the individual. We then have the ability to speak our original thought with great passion and impact.

Many times, I have read a passage or listened to a podcast and only weeks, months or even years later felt a ‘eureka’ moment. Something has finally finished processing, clicked in my mind unlocking a greater understanding. Further study is still required, asking yourself the question, ‘How do I feel about this?’

Greater knowledge and inspiration can offer new insights, spending time in nature or speaking with others can also be trigger points. It must be felt, authenticity only comes to a thought with the addition of ‘emotion’ and ‘knowing’.

Conveying Original Thought

Undergoing this process is not for the faint hearted. An individual may feel it’s their responsibility to share their new insight and original thought. This is where another process must begin. There is only the mind of the individual who understands it to that degree. This becomes a new starting point and asks the question how can I share this information to others who have not all been through a similar process and reached similar conclusions?

There is an old strategy in marketing content. Take a page of text, reduce it to a paragraph, reduce that to a sentence, reduce again to a tagline, reduce again until you finally end up with one word. In one word the same message as the whole page should be conveyed.

How is this possible? It is not just saying the word, it’s the conviction, sentiment, knowing, feeling, energy and truth which is also conveyed when the word is spoken. All of this should be passed on gracefully and freely, and others will be able to connect with parts that resonate with them. It becomes their starting point on their journey to the realisation of their truths and their originality of thought.

Written by Richard Stuttle

January 11, 2025
What is the Purpose of Prayer?

Prayer is a major part of most religions and can be seen in many ancient civilisations including Mayan, Egyptian and Greek, dating back far beyond 4000 BC. Praying has been considered a powerful force and a way to offer thanks to God and Mother Nature depending on the religion and belief system.

What is the purpose of prayer? Prayer is a way to communicate with God and connect your soul with the divine. It enhances belief for many. Prayer is a conversation, a way for connecting with the divine and listening for a response. It is quite possible to have a conversation with God and must always be considered a huge privilege. To have the ability to talk to the creator and undergo the realisation that a spark of the creator’s energy is in oneself.

Prayer offers a moment of inner reflection. It offers time for the individual to understand more about their feelings and a moment to feel thankful for life itself and the blessings bestowed upon us. It’s a way to be completely honest with oneself and offer forgiveness to ourselves and others. Compassion can come through understanding and reflection.

To understand the power of prayer, it must be understood that it is relevant to the belief, honestly and intent in which it is done. Just like with every other action in life. Prayer must be done with love and appreciation. It must be from the heart. Empty words will do little to change anything but done with love and passion, prayer can be extremely powerful.

What is the purpose of Prayer?

One example of this utter dedication and love for God has been represented in sculpture by one of the greatest artists and sculptors in history. In 1647, Gian Lorenzo Bernini was commissioned and began work on the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. This became a defining work. The story of St Teresa is well known, “Teresa of Ávila was a nun who lived in 16th century Spain, at the height of the Reformation. She wrote about her visions in several books, including this description of the scene Bernini depicted: Beside me, on the left, appeared an angel in bodily form…. He was not tall but short, and very beautiful; and his face was so aflame that he appeared to be one of the highest rank of angels, who seem to be all on fire…. In his hands I saw a great golden spear, and at the iron tip there appeared to be a point of fire. This he plunged into my heart several times so that it penetrated to my entrails. When he pulled it out, I felt that he took them with it, and left me utterly consumed by the great love of God. The pain was so severe that it made me utter several moans. The sweetness caused by this intense pain is so extreme that one cannot possibly wish it to cease, nor is one’s soul content with anything but God. This is not a physical but a spiritual pain, though the body has some share in it – even a considerable share.”

The utter dedication St Teresa had for the love for God was all consuming. That power has huge potential to make a difference in our world, not just with belief but also a physical different if harnessed correctly. Prayer, if done with the whole heart, can heal the sick, fix the broken and change our world.

If the power and connection is understood then the realisation and act of praying can help to build bridges, improve lives and help our soul continue on its journey of evolution. Regular prayer is beneficial for our mental state in a similar way long term meditation can benefit our lives. A moment in prayer can harmonise our energy and body, it can allow us to connect with the God within ourselves and boost our confidence. It can also offer an alternate view of ourselves, others and our world. It’s a way to be thankful for life, everything we have and hold dear.

Prayer can connect people in this world, it’s a shared belief, when people pray together, they are also connecting with each other. This can create a psychic link with people in our world, recognising and connecting through the divine spark within each of us.

Praying together as a group or congregation invites the presence of God into the room and helps to increase the faith of everyone present. People who feel touched by God’s presence have more confidence in themselves and strive to live their life’s purpose.

Some of the philosophy of Silver Birch came through the mediumship of Maurice Barbanell, in the book ‘The Teachings of Silver Birth’. When asked about enlisting help from those in the spirit world his reply was, ‘If you pray with sincerity, you make yourselves, because of the act of prayer, accessible to higher forces. The mere act of prayer opens up the soul. You must pray with your hearts, souls and minds. Mere requests are not prayers. Prayer, truly understood, is a great spiritual exercise. I can best explain it all by saying that prayer should always be regarded as a means to an end, not the end itself.’

This answer confirms that prayer done with mind, body and soul can have great power and make a big difference in the lives of the individual, as well as lives of the people that prayers are aimed at. Prayer in itself is only part of the journey and should be done regularly, with conviction, in order to make the difference in people’s lives and the evolution of one’s soul.

Written by Richard Stuttle

January 11, 2025
Listening to your Head, Heart and Gut

Find out how to listen to yourself – Life’s journey is full of challenges. We have an incredible number of decisions to make along the way, and sometimes our decisions have a greater impact on our life plan than we can possibly imagine. How we make decisions very much depends on our stage in life. The older we get, the more we begin to believe in ourselves, the more we begin to trust our knowledge, feelings and emotions.

It’s not always evident at the time the impact our choices are going to make in our lives, only when looking back in hindsight are we able to see the fork in the road.

How to listen to yourself

It can be beneficial to understand more about our three main decision-making centres in our bodies and learn how to listen to yourself.

Use your Head

Our minds develop as we grow, learn and have experiences. It is the job of our mind to weight up the pros and cons of any situation and offer us a balanced view. Our mind will always play devil’s advocate, laying out logical reasoning for both sides, sometimes the pros out weight the cons by a long way making the decision easy. Other times, our mind can offer an equally balanced rational for both sides, this is when we turn to others for advice or turn to one of the other decision-making centres in our body.

Follow your Heart

Your heart will always follow your desires. Many rely on their heart to make important decisions, the old saying goes ‘follow your heart’. Although it is worth mentioning that your heart is governed by the feeling of the moment. It wants what you want, but your heart cannot see long term, it lives for now and can cloud judgement. This is when conflict occurs, your head says one thing, logically the best and most rational choice when your heart desires something different. People become unsure whether to follow their head or their heart. This is where listening to your third decision-making centre can be beneficial.

Rely on your Gut

We still don’t really understand why we get feelings in our gut, but it seems in many cases your gut can see the bigger picture. It’s the job of your gut to keep you alive, it also sees the grand plan for your life. It’s the centre of your body, the energy point for your emotions and knowing. If your head and heart are unable to make a clear decision, then your gut reaction is normally the one to go with.

There’s a very crude method to check your decision’s but it can sometimes help. Take a coin, heads is decision A and tails decision B. Flip the coin. If you feel a pull in your gut or extremely disappointed them the decision is not right. Alternatively, if you feel happy and excited then the decision is right.

Life is complicated and of course its never just that simple, all of this also depends on the stage of life we find ourselves. Sometimes there are things we don’t want to do, but it’s the best decision for us. Widening perspective and considering the bigger picture is important. In many cases we need to take small steps to where we want to be, many choices are just for a short time. Our head will tell us it’s the right decision to get us to where we want to be in life.

Ultimately, all decisions are yours and yours alone. Take in as much information as you can and consider to your head, heart and gut. You will be able to make informed decisions for your life and future.

Written by Richard Stuttle

January 11, 2025
What is the difference between Attunement, Sitting in the Power and Meditation?

As part of personal development people will undoubtedly come across the phrases ‘attunement’, ‘sitting in the power’ and ‘meditation’. These are three energetic practices and altered states of awareness that have very different uses. Spiritual practitioners will need to be accomplished in each practice and understand the fundamental differences between them.

Altered States of Development

Sitting in the Power

This starts with the basic practice of sitting in your own energy and building your own power. It can begin with a light meditation, a focus on the energy centres within your own body, especially the root chakra and solar plexus. People will be able to build the power within themselves to help them work in day-to-day life and prepare to work with spiritual energies. Experienced practitioners will be able to build their power quickly and recharge their bodies. They will also become aware of how their power builds, where it emanates and best practices for them.

The purpose of sitting in the power is to understand your own power and energy, finding out methods and techniques that work for you as an individual. It’s akin to recharging yourself from your own point of divinity, tapping into the spark of God within yourself to find and expand the truest form of your own energy. Sometimes the case may arise that a person is feeling fatigued. Sitting in the power can help to restore and recharge energy to carry on with the tasks in hand.

Attunement

The word was first used by Lloyd Arthur Meeker. ‘Attunement was the early term adopted by practitioners of energy medicine, originally developed by Lloyd Arthur Meeker (1907 – 1954) and his colleagues. Meeker taught and practiced Attunement as a central feature of his spiritual teaching and ministry, Emissaries of Divine Light.’ The term was associated with syncing with specific frequencies that can offer a different sensation and awareness of an alternate reality. When a spiritual practitioner speaks of attunement they are describing tuning in to different vibrations and energy levels, specifically when linking with the spirit world. People become aware of different vibrations and are able to attune their vibration to match, which in turn creates a link so communication can take place.

The purpose of attunement is so that mediums and energy practitioners are able to differentiate between different frequencies and the subtle differences between communicators. If teaching or working in group sessions, then the practitioners need to be able to attune to the energy of the group. It’s important to note tutors must attune to a teaching mode stabilising the energy with the students a in order to enhance learning.

Meditation

Meditation can be used as a starting point for both sitting in the power and attunement. From a light state of meditation people can choose to focus on their own power or attunement to other frequencies. Meditation can also be used for self-healing, finding information, understanding more about self and linking with the global consciousness. It can offer a route to increased awareness of other vibrations of energy.

Meditation has many purposes, for the individual it can be a starting point for self-development and self-discovery. Practiced meditators can journey to a deeper understanding of their subconscious mind. Living in our hectic and sometimes chaotic world, meditation can offer a way people can reduce stress, release and reset their energy. It has been scientifically proven that meditation can reduce stress. Many levels of meditation can offer a place of relaxation, opening to inspiration and a level of harmony where practitioners can harmonise with themselves, our world and be inspired by the spirit world.

Understanding Self

All three states of being are incredibly important for understanding yourself, your power and the different frequencies that surround us. Each has a very specific use and takes a long time to master, it is widely known that people don’t often feel the real benefits of meditation until years down the line. Sitting in the power and attunement are practiced in a specific way to help with the connection of self and others.

Written by Richard Stuttle

January 11, 2025