How I became a counselor/healer

My journey into the Macrobiotic lifestyle began over 20 years ago as a quest to regain control of my failing health. As I reflect over the past 2 decades of my life, I realize that this journey was not simply a matter of chance or a freak accident.

Rather, it was the path chosen for me by the Universe.

In the mid 1980s I lived in South Jersey with my husband and our three children, and worked as an architectural designer. My journey began one summer when I got stung by a wasp while vacationing in the mountains of the Gran Sasso in Italy. As a result of this sting I experienced an anaphylactic shock and nearly died. Soon after this incident I began experiencing epileptic seizures. Over the following 3 years I visited countless doctors and began taking various anti-seizure medications. The adverse effects of these medications were numerous and grueling, such as my gums bleeding. I remember crying while brushing my teeth in the morning, and as I swallowed the prescribed pills. This was the turning point. I refused to be a prisoner of these medications for the rest of my life. I decided to make a big change in my lifestyle and concentrate on self-healing through Macrobiotic principles.

My determination to self-heal was strong, and I became fully focused on accomplishing this goal: I started cooking rice, beans, land and sea vegetables, and miso soup; I went to Macrobiotic lectures anywhere I could find them; I studied all the Macrobiotic healing books I could get my hands on; I attended Macrobiotic cooking classes; and I took Yoga lessons that helped to relax and heal my body. I resigned from my architectural job and re-directed my artistic creativity into painting colorful designs on canvas and preparing macrobiotic food.

Not long after beginning this mission, I noticed that the macrobiotic lifestyle was working. The food helped to ease my digestion and I soon began to regain strength. My body learned how to relax again, and my thoughts became more balanced and calm. Although I continued to experience seizures now and then, I no longer took any medications. I had my last seizure 4 years after I started following the philosophy and lifestyle of the macrobiotic healing diet. I have not had any more problems of that nature since then.

Over time, macrobiotic cooking evolved not only into a lifestyle I enjoyed with family and friends, but also into a healing career. In the early years, when my friends would visit my home, they liked the smell of the food I was cooking. I started sharing this new type of food with them and it was very well received; some even joined me in the macrobiotic healing adventure. Everyone noticed how much better I looked, and how much healthier and stronger I was. They then started bringing their friends who were experiencing health issues to eat at my house. As the year passed, through word of mouth, people started approaching me for advice and for macrobiotic cooking lessons. At this point I completed a certification course and became a macrobiotic counselor.

My path to becoming a Macrobiotic healer took yet another turn during a trip to Japan, where I was attending a celebration for the 100th birthday of Giorge Oshawa (the founder of Macrobiotics). It was during this trip that I met Philip Kusnic, a counselor and shiatsu teacher from Paris. His knowledge of the healing power of shiatsu massage fascinated me, and I threw myself into learning his techniques. Over the next two summers, Philip and I performed consultations together at my family hotel near the Adriatic Sea in Italy. Learning the massage techniques came very naturally to me, largely because of my study of human anatomy in art school in Italy. My love for the human form is well expressed in the many bronze sculptures I have made over the years, and continue to make today.

These days, my focus is on live human bodies, helping to get people well. From my first shiatsu client, to the current people I counsel, there is always a noticeable improvement in health of the person receiving treatment. Depending on the illness, a series of four massages makes a big difference in the sufferers’ body, and when the massages are accompanied by a change in diet, a healthier state is achieved in a matter of weeks. The massage also helps me to assess the patient’s illness. Therefore, whenever possible I perform a shiatsu massage (as well as provide dietary recommendations) as part of my counseling sessions. However, for individuals that live very far away (even in other countries), I have done many consultations online that have been very successful in improving the individuals’ health.

In addition to shiatsu, I have continued my studies and expanded my healing techniques by introducing energy healing. I have studied the art of pranic healing, through Chakra cleansing and emotional blockage release with the Emotional Body Code.

I also, provide personalized instruction in macrobiotic cooking techniques and the preparation of basic foundation foods. This is to reestablish balance in the vibration of the individual.

I share my story as a token of hope for the many people that are suffering and seeking self-healing options. Everyone’s case is unique, of course, and embracing the macrobiotic lifestyle is a gradual process that must be done responsibly; any drastic change without medical supervision is never advised. The key point is that Macrobiotic healing principles have successfully helped many individuals to find the path back to health.