LifeWize-Life Coaching Prison
Facilitations
by George-Gabriel
For most people prisoners are forgotten locked up criminals
and dregs of society.
It is only when we start to work with them in prison when
we realize that so many of them have an inherent desire
to change their lives and behaviour for the better. Efforts
by LifeWize healers and life coaches have shown to offer
life skills and emotional tools to enable inmates to make
positive changes in their lives. The example of the rehabilitated
inmates extend from prison into their families and communities,
cultivating more functional lifestyles and a decrease in
crime in our country. Criminals are as much victims to
their circumstances as the community to theirs. However
it is time that we all let go of our “victim consciousness” and
step into our full power as creators of “what works” consciousness.
Though workshops presented to prisoners, LifeWize offers
a programme addressing mental, psychological, emotional,
spiritual and physical areas, using a range of healing
methods and modalities. The workshops facilitate the connection
with life values and to change sensitive and painful memories
to a learning experience. The healing programmes connect
with the “inner child” in an individual to
gain back the innocence, playfulness and the desire to
discover new ways of looking at life circumstances. Children
learn predominantly from example shown and very little
from what they are told. They form their belief systems
through their own experiences and perceptions by observing
behaviour of adults. In our experience, many of the inmates
had non-existing or very undesirable father figures, resulting
in an inability to take responsibility for themselves and
for others, failing to practice respect, kindness and loyalty,
and to provide for their families through honesty and integrity.
The mother figures were often victims of abuse.
Inmates are offered the guidance to transform these undesirable
belief systems into a functional one, by claiming back
their power and creating a life philosophy that benefits
everyone.
The results of the programmes are overwhelmingly rewarding
to both the inmates and the presenters. We see inmates
come back to life, become more honest and respectful, and
taking responsibility for what they create and choose in
their lives. He inmates are like wondrous sponges in absorbing
the life changing knowledge. There is an enormous sense
of joyful gratitude from them for what is shared in a caring,
nurturing and dedicated atmosphere.
LifeWize began this uplifting work at Leewkop Maximum
Prison in November 2005. In July 2006, LifeWize workshops
were also presented at Baviaanspoort Medium Prison.
In July 2006, 12 healers/life coaches and administrating
personnel were involved in this project. This team of excellence
included healers/life coaches from a wide variety of modalities
teaching through the concept of “we are One”.
The healing modalities that were offered included mind
power, basic healing, spiritual teachings, energy healing,
recreational work with labyrinths, music, a psychologist
specializing in psycho phonetics, art & creative workshops,
inner-Goddess initiations and counselling, Chi-gong meditations,
and a production line of handmade crafts. The intention
was to eventually take this project into all the prisons
in South Africa, working with inmates as well as officials
working in prison, and to support ex-prisoners.
The Department of Correctional Services were “unable” to
assist in funding this project, regardless of the fact
that they derived all the benefits. We healers carried
100% of all the expenses and donated our time for free.
There were also a lot of night-time work included, continuously
creating, designing and writing new programmes, suited
for the ever changing developments in the prisoners’ life.
For LifeWize to continue with this rehabilitating, exciting,
life changing and successful work, it relied on financial
assistance from the South African Government. Investing
in this unique project would have made the difference between
a successful and crime-free or a collapsing and crime-ridden
society. Unfortunately due to political priorities funds
were not forthcoming, and bureaucratic trivia created by
the Department also caused insurmountable obstacles.
The following are excerpts from letters written by inmates
who attended LifeWize programmes (initials were changed
to protect the identities of inmates):
TM: Frankly speaking, I thank the Almighty for blessing
us with the Soulhealing Seminars given by George-Gabriel.
The counselling programme has revived my self-esteem and
boasted my self-worth. I now feel confident about myself.
Personal healing through music is a unique counselling
programme as all participants are treated with respect,
regardless the reasons behind their imprisonment. All the
techniques that I learnt from the programme work wonders
for me.
QK: I never knew that music can change a person’s
life, but I must admit the kind of music that I have listened
to during this course has touched my inner feelings. While
I was attending this course, I have said goodbye to alcohol,
cheating, aggressiveness, dishonesty, and being abusive.
I would like to say thanks to this course. Now I can be
a better father for my children and I can lead by my example.
RK: For the past six weeks since I have attended the Soulhealing
course, I have seen a lot of change in my life. I have
come to learn that in order to gain respect you first have
to give respect unto fellow people. I have learnt to be
more open and honest towards other people. I also realized
that if you want to teach or show your children something,
you have to lead by example, and not just tell them verbally.
I appreciate what I have gained through this course.
JJ: Imprisonment is a hard and painful experience, which
when one is faced by it, it may mean the end to a life.
Ending does not mean that one dies but only switching to
a new way of life. This transformation course does exactly
that, it is my renaissance. I shut a chapter of my life
that breeds pain and bring about a new me by simply acknowledging
that a lot of wrongness transpired in my life. Through
the chakras (energy centres in my body) I have awakened
an inner person. I am in contact with myself. I feel safe
and secure. This also makes me committed to life. I am
prepared to protect all souls around me. This has prepared
me not to hurt others in any way and to respect the use
of my sexual organs.
CM: I would like to say, since I was born, I never came
across such a wonderful course like Personal Transformation
through Music and Movement. It has changed my life in many
ways. For instance, before I attended this course I was
not feeling well. I could not be able to sleep at night.
Every day I was thinking many things and at times all through
the night too. Actually I was feeling depressed. After
receiving meditation and lessons about chakras, instruments
and dances I was feeling well again. I also quit smoking
and sleep peacefully now. My goal at the present moment
I am studying Gr. 5 music theory with Unisa. I want to
be a musician to read and write music, to compose and also
to teach music. This course helped me to focus and concentrate
on my studies. In what I have achieved in this course,
it is how to dance, trust, creativity, loyalty, commitments,
love and happiness. I thank you.
RK: What I liked about the course was “going deep
into our Souls and resolve unresolved matters. The balances
work 110% and allow me to have inner peace. Truthfully,
I loved everything I’ve learned about kinesiology.
It is of utmost importance and relevant in my life. It
made me realize how little I know about myself, my needs,
and my body in whole. Today I’m proud to mention
that I’m a better person to the extent that I know
and understand myself better. I call it Soul Healing to
the core, the moment of truth, because that’s what
it does. It has learned me to be true to myself.
DR: What I enjoyed most was “the kinesiology course
has provided guidance on daily activities in human life,
developing my telepathical communication skills, building
my self-esteem, responsibility, confidence, flexibility,
ability to set boundaries, and psychic abilities that enables
me to see and hear beneath the surface of what was really
meant or shown in a situation. I can change the world through
the power of positive thinking and by surrendering to my
spiritual destiny. I will use what I have learned at any
time whenever I feel for maintaining the health of specific
organs and body function. I shall use all practical tactics
and strategies I have learned to help other people and
myself whenever it is necessary. I wish the course should
be taught to other prisons as well, to benefit inmates
who need to see changes on their lives.
PR: Since I went through the kinesiology workshop, I’ve
learned the good things in life and to respect other people
and understand them. I’ve learned to balance other
people around me. Since this workshop started I can manage
to face problems and how to solve these problems and to
help the next person. I’ve learned to live positively
everyday and create good things. I have learned anger management,
self-esteem, self-control and live by the virtues of life
that will keep me safe, happy and loving. I would like
to thank you Gabby for your time and the perseverance.
If you were in my shoes, you were going to feel the therapy
that you have done, and the changes in my mind and my life.
BM: Since attending the Soul Healing Seminar with George-Gabriel
I have come to terms that I have to take responsibility
of my thinking and my well-being. I now know that my belief
is the most powerful energy. I can now change my mind and
believe. I never knew before that the are three total powers
in life which are very important to know. The Total Freedom
of Spirit, Freedom of choice and Power of creation. I can
now see people from a distance and listen to them and sense
that they are coming from love or fear. I am now familiar
with the definition of love. I know and practice to show
love by example to people not by words. I have learned
that I don’t have to dominate or manipulate people
as this is an illusion and that the Soul claims its freedom.
I know the solutions for life’s misperceptions, ignorance
and how to eliminate fear.
CC: First and foremost I would very much like to thank
George-Gabriel who presented and conducted this phenomenal
project. I never knew that I possessed so much power in
me. Before I engaged myself with the Soulhealing seminar
I was once a very short-tempered, self-centred and anti-social
person. But as I learned the values and precept of how
I should conduct myself in everyday situation and I now
know what am I capable of in times of crisis and of happiness.
It made me see a new meaning in life. I am so sure and
proud to say I am in this world for a reason and it is
up to me how I play my cards without having to hurt others.
I learned how to cope with anxieties and depression, how
to face the toughest challenge and how to break the hardest
barrier. The seminar really had an impact on me.
DC: I would be grateful to forgive someone I thought I
would never forgive in my life. But after attending the
Soulhealing seminars I am definitely sure I am going to
do it. This friend of mine betrayed me. This was the worst
betrayal I ever came across in my entire life. We used
to be the best of friends. We were like brothers. We shared
our friendship together. But when I was arrested, things
started to change between us. It was never the same. He
started to avoid me, never answered my calls. What made
things worse was that he was busy having an affair with
my girlfriend. Things were happening fast as I was behind
bars and defenceless, I chose that I would never forgive
the two of you then for the rest of my life. But since
attending the Soulhealing seminars I have come to terms
that you have to forgive and forget as a human being and
look forward to the future. So now I forgive my friend
and my girlfriend.
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