by Bernadette Curtin BA, MA Fine Art RMIT, Australia
Many years before I had heard of Universal Medicine I had decided to stop drinking alcohol because I felt awful even after a small glass of champagne or wine. I realised that I could still have a great time without it and that I didn’t need any props to give me more confidence, make me more sociable, or provide more ‘Dutch courage’ when in large gatherings. I enjoyed not feeling flat or having a headache the next day.
Then I began cutting down on coffee, which I loved – especially the social aspect with a sister, girlfriend or three. I discovered that I felt more vital and didn’t need the coffee to enjoy another’s company.
Next went cheese – my mother told me her doctor had suggested that it can contribute to migraine headaches, as well as chocolate. Again, there was more noticeable improvement with my health and wellbeing.
I stopped watching violent movies and sensationalised TV as I was aware of the dark energy that took hold in my body – and also how I was affected by others’ anger and depression.
My life was looking very good. I had a loving husband, I lived in a beautiful part of the country in a lovely house, I loved my practice as a painter and art tutor, and I had a wonderful family and friends. So what was missing?
Well, there was a difficult relationship with my son, which was a times very painful for both of us.
But there was also this persistent underlying feeling that this wasn’t ‘it’. I had tried a variety of alternative therapies, read new age books promising much, and was almost convinced that my life was really great compared to how millions on the planet are living!
How arrogant is that?!
Then I noticed how my son was changing, transforming and becoming the beautiful gentle man I knew he always was. He spoke of a guy called Serge Benhayon. I thought I had better go along and check this guy out for myself. By now I was very sceptical, as Byron Bay has its share of gurus. However, several friends whom I respected had also been attending presentations by Serge.
It has been over four years since I began to attend his talks and workshops.
How has my life changed?
The way I wake up in the morning, enjoying how I feel in my body with my dear husband beside me. The way I shower and dress – staying with myself as best I can, the way I prepare for the day with a gentle breath meditation, the stillness I enjoy when painting or drawing, the joy I experience with those I work with – it is no longer about what I am doing but how I am with what I am doing.
I have always enjoyed cooking, but now there is a deeper awareness that if I am cooking with love, consciously present and not checking out, the food will nourish with the energy that has gone into the preparation.
Gone is the anxiety or fear of growing older, along with regrets about not being younger (love this one!) – as I now know I will have a beautiful quality of life if I keep living this way, I sleep well, and there is more.
I realised that although I was doing my best with life, there was so much more to life than being comfortable. Learning about energy and how it works, taking responsibility for my physical, emotional and psychological health with practical simple ways and techniques that are based on energetic integrity, as well as having sessions with Universal Medicine practitioners, meeting many inspiring people also on their path to true harmony and joy, learning how to nurture and love myself, respecting others’ choices – all have changed my life from being ”Great” to being love-filled, expansive, and true. I feel that I am truly living now, with purpose, rather than having a good existence.
Thank you to Serge Benhayon and to all the Universal Medicine practitioners who are so inspiring in the way they live life with integrity and love, dedicated to serving others as their equals.
The Truth about Universal Medicine 
“I feel that I am truly living now, with purpose, rather than having a good existence.” Reading your words Bernadette I have a feeling of deep settlement and appreciation of all that is offered through The Way of The Livingness.
We have been reminded how fundamental it is to live a life with purpose in all we do, for the all.
The whole thing about comfort is it’s just as imprisoning as suffering, except that you don’t realise you’re imprisoned because it feels good. At least the person in suffering usually wants to get out, to make changes and to be free, but comfort requires such a deep honesty because we could literally have it all, material comfort, family support, work, friends, etc, but still feel it’s not it – and it’s not, until we return to soul. And then when we do, there another level of comfort to confront, our life is so amazing because we live with soul so we can fall back into comfort, or keep growing and evolving because so many others don’t yet live that way.
I recall the last time I drank a glass of champagne, probably 5 years ago, I was left feeling smashed for 2 days. To recall how nauseous, hungover, exhausted I felt makes me shudder. I couldn’t go through this again. At that time I was visiting a sibling in USA and it took a couple of my days out of my trip but, I forced my body to continue.
The things and pressure we place our bodies under, is incredibly disregarding. Why do we then, keep doing these things? I ponder on this often, I think of the things I have done and I realise why I had done them on the first place, as already stated by you, because something was ‘missing’.
Well that ‘something missing’ is being found now, and that’s me, it is that simple. Getting to know more of me, just like peeling the onion skin and revealing the middle. Because everyone has one.
True richness of life has nothing to do with how comfortable we make our life to be. We can tick as many boxes as we like, but we can still feel as though something is missing.
“… if I am cooking with love, consciously present and not checking out, the food will nourish with the energy that has gone into the preparation.” Thanks Bernadette, I am not quite bringing this level of attention to my food preparation and cooking, looking forward to implementing this now. I love what you share here also “I feel that I am truly living now, with purpose, rather than having a good existence.” We can seemingly have it all but still feel that it is not ‘it’, and having a sense of purpose from living in connection to our soul brings a depth and richness to life the outer world cannot.