Dr. Elsi Meyer on freedom, weight loss and the soul’s compass

An educational psychologist writes about incorporating energy healing into her psychology practice, avoiding the yo-yo effect, and a home that overflows with children.

Image above: Elsi on the Amazon river during a trip to Peru.

1 Which freedoms did you relish when you were growing up?

The freedom to move around on my bicycle is one I often recall.

I remember cycling to the sports grounds, where I spent many enjoyable hours. The tennis courts were close to our home, and the memory of being there with my friends is still strong in my mind. The early morning ride to school was special, and my friend whom I joined each morning on the way, often recalls this when we introduce each other to friends.

I recall the fresh early mornings, before leaving for school, when we went out and ate fruit from the trees in our garden. Today I realise what a privilege this was.

2 You’re a life-long learner. Apart from your doctorate in psychology, you have attained many other qualifications. Which of these had a significant impact on your personal journey?

Learning the basics of energy healing was a huge shift in thinking to me. And then the challenge of narrowing it down to a form suited to a psychology practice was another exciting journey.

After that I included expressive arts in my practice. Even though I am no artist at all, this was a home-coming experience for me. It just felt so right.

Elsi having fun at a restaurant in Peru

3 One of the things you’re interested in and work with is weight loss. What about this complex topic fascinates you?

Weight loss is an opportunity to let go of more weight than the weight registered on a bathroom scale. The way we (my husband and I) do it, does not involve a diet that causes weight loss, but a meal plan that restores physical and emotional health. The weight loss follows almost immediately, not due to any restriction of food, but due to a healthier metabolism. It is a holistic approach.

That is why, when people stick to it for several months, they will find that they can eat more socially without going back to old health issues. They do not experience the yo-yo effect that we see after fad diets, where people lose weight quickly and gain it as soon as they go back to old habits.

4 Tell us a little about your family.

One interesting aspect of our life is that my husband and I do not have children of our own. But our home often overflows with children. They know they are welcome, and we love the relationship with them, their friends, or spouses. I hold these relationships very close to my heart.

Some of them have children now, and that brings another source of richness to our life.

Here Elsi explains how to reconnect your mind and your body.

5 Creative expression feeds your soul. Please tell us more.

We live in a world where we guard our expression to fit the norm. This is different from avoiding expressing personal opinions to avoid hurting the feelings of others.

In a life driven by reason, people feel safe when everyone agrees to use the same set of rules to live our adopted lifestyle. It feels even safer when we all reach the same logical conclusion.

While this seems to be unavoidable to pursue a successful career or make things easier for our children at school, there is a downside to it as well.

The soul has a very distinct inner compass, called discernment. If we suppress our natural need for free creative expression, we deactivate a highly intelligent - and no small - percentage of our souls.

When we allow creative expression back into our lives, the inner compass comes alive again. It is called spiritual intelligence, and we recognise it in how people act with spontaneity, excitement, self-assurance, and enjoyment of life. 

Elsi explains how conscious journalling can help us accept and express our emotions and follow our inner compass.

6 What is your view of synchronicities?

This question ties in so beautifully with the previous question. I do believe that synchronicities happen more often when people’s inner compass is in good working order.

It somehow keeps us safer, keeps us from harming ourselves and others, and guides us to be in the right place at the right time.

A huge proportion of synchronicity happens unconsciously; we do not always realise it as it happens.

7 What brings you joy?

Certainly, good friends and a nice chat over coffee or wine and good food. I am not too fond of big parties, but prefer smaller groups, where we can see and share each other’s souls.

Witsand

8 Presenting retreats is your next step. Please tell us more.

Absolutely. We are a group in a village in the Western Cape that is looking into ways we can present retreats. The place has a very special energy to it, with the huge Breede River flowing into the ocean. Apart from planning superb events, I am certain that the experience will be amplified in the beauty and splendour of Witsand.

Contact details

Dr. Elsi Meyer is an educational psychologist trained in hypnotherapy, a kinesiologist, teacher, and author from Pretoria.

Tel. 072 6166 949

Website: https://elsimeyer.co.za/

Email: elsi@elsimeyer.co.za

Thumbnail image: Unsplash

Photograph of Dr. Elsie Meyer: supplied