Previous Newsletters

27 November 2009

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- Hindsight is 20/20 ~ Why is that?
- 22nd International Holistic Vision Conference
- Vision Improvement Books for Sale

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! 
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

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HINDSIGHT IS 20/20 ~ WHY IS THAT?

It is such a common expression, at times I even say it myself:  "Yes, with hindsight, I easily see how I could have done this differently."  And then I will likely sigh, and someone will joke about my 20/20 hindsight.  Does that ever happen to you too?  It usually doesn't occur to us that perhaps we can cultivate this hindsight and enjoy it as our permanent way of seeing.  Why do we not see things with the same clarity before the event?  

It becomes easy to understand the concept of clear hindsight when we consider what we learn from the Bates Method.  As Dr. Bates pointed out, our vision is largely mental, and any fears, worries, dislikes, or negative expectations cause mental strain.  In turn, this mental strain then distorts our vision.  

As anyone preparing for some important test will tell you, negative emotions are likely to surface to some extent, especially right as the deadline draws close.  The way we deal with those emotions influences how well our preparations for this test will go.  

Picture yourself in such a situation - remember something that has recently been stressful for you.  Feel the anxiety you had right before this 'test', and notice how it affected you.  

Now jump ahead in time and see yourself breathing that proverbial 'sigh of relief' after the test is over and done with.  

Do you notice that, when everything is over and done, your anxiety has gone too?  

Those negative emotions are no longer in your way, and therefore your mental strain has dropped considerably and you are able to relax.  This relaxation allows you to have a much clearer picture, literally as well as figuratively, of what you just went through.  You can easily see where you made any mistakes, and you know how you could have done it differently.  The overall picture is that clear.  If only we could turn the clock back by an hour, a day, or however much is needed, and we could do it all over, and this time, with that magic 20/20 hindsight, we would do it better. . .  

Well, we can do that!  Perhaps not for past events, but we can help ourselves do better in future.  All it takes is a bit of imagination, which happens to be one of Dr. Bates' favorite tools for vision improvement.  As you approach your next deadline, or test, and you notice the worries, or fears, or negative expectations creeping in, recognize them as just temporary emotions, and then imagine what this test would be like if it was EASY.  Simply let this new scenario run through your mind.  See yourself being happily surprised by how easy the test is.  Imagine how comfortable you are when doing it.  Notice how your whole body is relaxed, breathing smoothly, with an easy focus on the task at hand.  You are working very effectively and calmly.  

You are using your happy, relaxed, 20/20 hindsight to work through the present moment.  This enhances your actual vision, relaxes your breathing, focuses your mind, and allows you to perform at your personal best level, regardless of external conditions.  

So, if your vision needs a little improvement, simply start using your 20/20 hindsight!

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report from the 22nd international holistic vision conference
4 Weeks ago about 80 people came together in the beautiful location of Spa, Belgium for the 22nd International Holistic Vision Conference.  Meir Schneider gave the opening lecture on Friday afternoon, and he happily took everyone outside onto the lawn where the bright sunshine helped stimulate peripheral vision during tennis ball juggling with central vision occluded.  Sylvia Lakeland from Portugal and Mikolaj Markiewicz from Poland joined forces to talk about the epidemic of myopia in schools, pointing out that an increased awareness by children of how their eyes feel, helping them to relax any tension they notice, and providing playful visual training can make a huge difference for the better during the school years.  Their talk resulted in a gathering of about 20 vision teachers that evening, all keen to join them in initiating a real change in school systems.

Saturday's topics by a variety of teaches included Acupuncture and Eye Diseases, Variations of Relationship, Yoga Nidra, Ayurveda, EFT, EMDR, and AcuLight Vision therapy.  This interesting day was followed by a Gala dinner and dance, where a magician played his cards faster than anyone's eyes were moving! ☺  Sunday morning had me somewhat nervous, as I was to give the closing lecture of the conference, after the German trio of Sabine, Stefanie and Marianne enlightened everyone with their vision expertise. 

Thankfully I was able to imagine that it would all be easy (using my 'hindsight'!), so I simply got up on stage and talked about my passion for Dr. Bates' work.  My talk was very well received, and although it was not recorded you can read my own notes of this lecture here. 

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VISION IMPROVEMENT BOOKS FOR SALE

A new addition to my website is that the vision improvement books that I currently have for sale are now listed on the books page.  If you wish to expand your library a little by adding books that can help improve your vision, then come take a look!  Whether your interest is in the older books from Bates himself, or one of the more recent publications, the Visions of Joy bookpage may just have what you are looking for. . .

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

11 August 2009

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- Report from the Raw Health Expo in Santa Rosa, CA
- Original 1920 Bates books for sale (and more)
- "Stop staring" by W. H. Bates, M.D.

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! 
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

REPORT FROM THE RAW HEALTH EXPO IN SANTA ROSA, CA

Two weeks ago I attended the first 'Raw Health Expo', organized by John Kohler in Santa Rosa, CA.  John did an excellent job at bringing great speakers together at this event to provide top notch health information for everyone there.  I was scheduled to speak on both days, and was delighted with the huge interest that people showed in natural eyesight improvement.  In the first talk I explained the steps required to overcome the need for glasses and contact lenses.  The room was so full that latecomers were standing in the doorway!  For the next day's talk I was allocated a larger room, so the same large crowd was now able to sit comfortably.  This talk was about the physical and mental strains that we can let go of to improve our vision.  Both talks were very well received, and I am so grateful for the many compliments received afterwards. 
It has been 10 years since I went to a similar health expo in San Francisco where I first met Thomas Quackenbush and bought his book Relearning to See.  From my total ignorance about vision back then to being a well known vision educator myself now has been a huge learning curve.  I totally love the positive changes this 'visionary' career has brought into my life and I love passing on my passion for natural eyesight improvement.  My thanks to all who care to listen and who come to see better for themselves!

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ORIGINAL 1920 BATES BOOKS FOR SALE (and more)

I have been lucky to find some of Dr. Bates' original first edition books from 1920.  These hardcover issues of Perfect Sight Without Glasses are becoming rare and I notice them being sold on internet for $200 or more!. . .  

I currently have 5 copies for sale.  Two of them are in near mint condition, two are a little tattered but very readable, and one is 'in-between'; in good condition.  Prices range from $40 to $150, depending on the state of the book.  This may be a good time to secure a copy for yourself!

Another excellent book that is hard to find and tends to be extremely expensive is Margaret Corbett's last book of the three books she wrote: Quick Guide to Better Vision.  In this excellent book Margaret summarizes her many years of experience as a successful Bates teacher.  Two copies are available at the moment, for $65 and $85.  Feel free to search the internet and compare prices; these are great value!  

Lastly, Janet Goodrich's book Natural Vision Improvement.  Also 2 copies available, for $35 and $39. 

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Stop Staring
By W. H. Bates, M.D.
It can be demonstrated by tests with the retinoscope that all persons with imperfect sight stare, strain, or try to see.  To demonstrate this fact: Look intently at one part of a large or small letter at the distance or nearpoint.  In a few seconds, usually, fatigue and discomfort will be produced, and the letter will blur or disappear.  If the effort is continued long enough, pain may be produced.

To break the habit of staring:

(1)  Shift consciously from one part to another of all objects regarded, and imagine that these objects move in a direction contrary to the movement of the eye.  Do this with letters on the test card, with letters of fine print, if they can be seen, and with other objects.

(2)  Close the eyes frequently for a moment or longer.  When the strain is considerable, keep the eyes closed for several minutes and open them for a fraction of a second--flashing.  When the stare is sufficient to keep the vision down to 2/200 or less, palm for a longer or shorter time; then look at the card for a moment.  Later mere closing of the eyes may afford sufficient rest.

(3)  Imagine that the white openings and margins of letters are whiter than the rest of the background.  Do this with eyes closed and open alternately.  It is an interesting fact that this practice prevents staring and improves the vision rapidly.

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BETTER EYESIGHT MAGAZINE COLLECTION ON SALE

The above text from Dr. Bates comes from the June 1930 issue of Better Eyesight magazine.  The entire collection of unedited Better Eyesight magazines is currently for sale for only $59.00!!  Take advantage of this summer discount and have all this inspiring eyesight improvement information at your fingertips, easily searchable on your own computer!  See the download page for details.

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REMINDER:

The 22^nd International Conference for Holistic Vision takes place in Spa, Belgium, and you can attend a workshop there with me in which we will explore the physical and mental tension you can release to improve vision.  30, 31 October and 1 November 2009 are the dates to keep free!

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

29 May 2009

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- Esther's current schedule
- Dr. Bates writes about glasses

☺

WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! 
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

ESTHER'S CURRENT SCHEDULE

After much travel in the first 5 months of this year it is nice to be at home for the next few months, yet there are still a few trips to let you know about.

- The Raw Spirit Fest is coming to Santa Barbara, June 5-7, and I will be attending this weekend festival.  

- Esther will be speaking at The Raw Health Expo in Santa Rosa, 25-26 July. 
I will also visit relatives in Benicia around that weekend.  Anyone in the Santa Rosa or San Francisco areas who would like to reserve some time for vision or breathing lessons is welcome to contact me to set up an appointment.  

- As a reminder, the International Holistic Vision Conference will be held in Spa, Belgium this year, October 31 to November 1.  I will be giving a 3 hour workshop as well as presenting a talk at this conference.  

Thanks to all those in Chandler and the Phoenix area of Arizona who have started improving their eyesight this month!  I have received some very positive feedback already, thank you.  

It was a great experience to teach more than 20 people in the two weeks I spent in Arizona, and I look forward to hearing from more of you regarding your progress.

Special congratulations goes to Prateek (age 8) who rapidly became his baseball team's best pitcher after getting rid of his glasses a few months ago.  Excellent work Prateek; keep palming!

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 DR. BATES WRITES ABOUT GLASSES

"GLASSES CANNOT REMOVE STRAIN"
"The wearing of glasses cannot remove the strain. If it did, the eye would become cured and glasses would no longer be necessary. As a matter of fact, once a person starts wearing glasses, the strength of the lenses may have to be increased steadily.  Yet when people break their glasses and go without them for a week or two, they frequently observe that their sight has improved.
The human eye resents glasses. Every oculist knows that patients have to "get used" to them -- sometimes they never succeed in doing so."  (from an article by Dr. Bates in The Bridgeport Telegram, 9 March 1922)

"GLASSES KEEP UP THE EYE STRAIN"  "It is a mistake to believe that even though the glasses do no good they cannot do harm.  Glasses keep up the strain.  A person wearing glasses for myopia has to strain all the time in order to make the eyeball elongated sufficiently to fit the glasses."  (Better Eyesight magazine, September 1922)

"WHAT GLASSES DO TO US" 
"After people once begin to wear glasses their strength, in most cases, has to be steadily increased in order to maintain the degree of visual acuity secured by the aid of the first pair."
"As refractive abnormalities are continually changing, not only from day to day and from hour to hour, but from minute to minute, even under the influence of atropine, the accurate fitting of glasses is, of course, impossible.  In some cases these fluctuations are so extreme, or the patient so unresponsive to mental suggestion, that no relief whatever is obtained from correcting lenses, which necessarily become, under such circumstances, an added discomfort.  At their best it cannot be maintained that glasses are anything more than a very unsatisfactory substitute for normal vision."  (Better Eyesight magazine, July 1920)

"QUESTION.  I cannot yet read or write easily without my glasses.  Can I harm my eyes by trying to do so?"
"ANSWER.  You cannot harm your eyes by reading and writing without glasses if you stop often to rest them by closing or palming.  Even if the use of the eyes without glasses produces pain and fatigue the injury is less than from the wearing of the glasses."  (Better Eyesight magazine, November 1921)

"As a general rule it is best for the patient to discard glasses. In some cases of extreme myopia, where going without glasses entails too great a hardship, good results have been obtained by gradually reducing the strength of the glasses worn as the vision improves, but the treatment is then prolonged."  (From an article by Dr. Bates in the New York Medical Journal, 8 May 1915)

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, and please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

31 March 2009

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- Life... is a school ~ A personal update
- Esther's current schedule: Ojai, Esalen, and Arizona
- Rest ~ by W.H. Bates, M.D.

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! 
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

LIFE... IS A SCHOOL ~ A PERSONAL UPDATE

Last year I made a choice to teach fewer group classes and spend more time on my writing projects.  This personal choice was later reinforced by the serious illness of my young niece, who was diagnosed with leukemia last August.  As her illness progressed and the daily updates from my family became more intense, I found it more and more difficult to reach out to help others, and so I slowly slipped into even less teaching.  During this period I found that a way to help me stay relaxed was to study Dr. Bates' writings in more depth than I had done before.

As the Bates Method in essence is all about rest and relaxation, absorbing this message over and over proved quite helpful to me.  In the past two emotional months, I have re-read the entire collection of Better Eyesight, the magazine that Dr. Bates published monthly for eleven years.  

My niece unfortunately passed away earlier this month and has likely found her rest and release from pain.  I am now beginning to come out of my little 'cave' and am resurfacing in the world of teaching natural vision improvement with new motivation, as well as inspiration to take this work as far as I can possibly take it.  With the inspiring contents of Dr. Bates' magazines fresh in my mind, I am noticing that it has become easier to help people who have come for help with their vision recently.

I am glad to continue on this path and to look forward to helping many more people regain their visual clarity in the most effortless way.

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ESTHER'S CURRENT SCHEDULE

April 2: A free talk on Natural Eyesight Improvement at 'The Oaks' in Ojai, CA.  7:30pm.

April 12-17: Free Your Breath, Free Your Life, taught with Dennis Lewis at Esalen Institute, CA.

May 2-17: Private classes in Chandler, Arizona.  Preference will be given to those who are rescheduling appointments made for the beginning of March, yet others who are interested in lessons are invited to inquire also.

October 30-November 1: International Holistic Vision Conference, in Spa, Belgium.

The most up to date schedule is always available on my website.

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REST
by W.H. Bates, M.D.

All methods of curing errors of refraction are simply different ways of obtaining rest.

Different persons do this in different ways.  Some patients are able to rest their eyes simply by closing them, and complete cures have been obtained by this means, the closing of the eyes for a longer or shorter period being alternated with looking at the test card for a moment.  In other cases patients have strained more when their eyes were shut than when they were open.  Some can rest their eyes when all light is excluded from them by covering with the palms of the hands; others cannot, and have to be helped by other means before they can palm.  Some become able at once to remember or imagine that the letters they wish to see are perfectly black, and with the accompanying relaxation their vision immediately becomes normal.  Others become able to do this only after a considerable time.  Shifting is a very simple method of relieving strain, and most patients soon become able to shift from one letter to another, or from one side of a letter to another in such a way that these forms seem to move in a direction opposite to the movement of the eye.  A few are unable to do this, but can do it with a mental picture of a letter, after which they become able to do it visually.

Patients who do not succeed with any particular method of obtaining rest for their eyes should abandon it and try something else.  The cause of the failure is strain, and it does no good to go on straining.

(from Better Eyesight magazine, April 1920)

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, and please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

11 January 2009

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- Playing outside can prevent children becoming nearsighted
- 22^nd International Holistic Vision Conference
- Esther's current schedule
- Dr. Bates' advice to overcome nearsightedness

☺

WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! 
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

PLAYING OUTSIDE CAN PREVENT CHILDREN BECOMING NEARSIGHTED

This week an article was published in the Daily Mail about research done in Australia that links the amount of time children spend outdoors in sunshine with a much lower risk of them developing myopia (nearsightedness).  "Spending two or three hours outside each day halves the chance of developing the condition." 

Professor Ian Morgan, of the Australian Research Council's Vision Centre, said:

"We're seeing large increases in myopia among children in urban societies all around the world - and the outstanding common factor may be less and less time spent outdoors.  'The idea that reading makes you short-sighted has been popular for a couple of hundred years. But recent data shows that the time spent indoors is a more important factor."  You can read the full article here.
Esther's comment:
I totally agree that more time spent outside is healthy and good for our vision, and this goes for ALL of us, not just children.  Part of the article unfortunately is incorrect and it just repeats a long-standing myth that myopia is caused by an eyeball that has 'grown excessively'.  Myopia is not caused by eyes 'growing excessively'; it is simply due to eye-strain, and releasing that strain will bring the eye-ball back to its normal shape and clear vision.

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22^ND INTERNATIONAL HOLISTIC VISION CONFERENCE

The details for the Holistic Vision Conference in Spa, Belgium have now been posted on their website.  
I will be presenting the following workshop and lecture during this conference:

October 30 - Half day pre-conference workshop:
"The Physical and Mental Tensions We Can Release to Improve Vision"

November 1 - One hour lecture: 

"Relax into Seeing, Relax into Life"

Along with many other workshops and lectures this promises to be a great conference! 

Join me and many other vision educators in the beautiful town of Spa, Belgium and be inspired to improve your vision!   To register please visit the conference website.

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ESTHER'S CURRENT SCHEDULE

Besides the obvious trip to Europe for the above mentioned vision conference in October, I will also be in Europe for most of February.  Anyone who is interested in taking a class in London, England between February 2 and 20, please contact me in the next few weeks to set up an appointment.

The month of January is now  pretty much booked full, so for those of you in Southern California, I am already taking appointments for March.

The weekend of February 28-March 1, Lizzie May and Kevin Wooding, two wonderful vision educators from England, will be coming to Ojai to teach a workshop on natural eyesight improvement!  Join us!  Details will be on my website soon.

April 12-17 will see me back at Esalen Institute for another week of teaching 'Free your Breath, Free your Life' with Dennis Lewis, who is the author of several books on Authentic Breathing.  If you could do with some 'serious' rest and relaxation, along with gentle breathing work, than this is an excellent opportunity to do so in one of the most beautiful locations on the Big Sur Coast!  

Check my current schedule at any time for the latest information.

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DR. BATES' ADVICE TO OVERCOME NEARSIGHTEDNESS.
Question:  I can read with no trouble but cannot distinguish things at a distance, especially the features of people.  What would you suggest?

Answer:  You are nearsighted.  The imagination cure is the quickest and most satisfactory cure of myopia.  Use two Snellen test cards (= eye charts), one held at one foot or nearer, or at a distance where you can see it best; the other placed at five feet or further.  Look at the first letter of one of the lines of the near card and with the eyes closed remember it for half a minute or longer.  Then look at the same letter on the distant card at five feet or further and imagine that letter for not longer than a second.  Then look at the near letter again for part of a minute, close your eyes and remember it, and then glance at the same letter on the distant card for not longer than a second, and imagine it as well as you can.  Alternate.  When you become able to see the bottom line on the distant card, place it a few inches further off and repeat.

(From Better Eyesight magazine, January 1926)

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, and please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

6 December 2008

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- European Conferences
- Praise for Emily Lierman
- Holiday Sale & New Item for Sale
- Happy Holidays!

☺

WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! 
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

EUROPEAN CONFERENCES
I recently attended the First British Natural Eyesight Conference, held near London from 23 to 27 October.  About 50 teachers and students of the Bates Method came together to spend a few days learning all about natural eye care!  I very much enjoyed seeing 'old friends' again, and making new ones too! 

For those of you who would love to experience a weekend of immersion into natural eyesight improvement with such a wide variety of teachers and like-minded people, please mark your calendar for the 22^nd International Holistic Vision Conference, to be held in Spa, Belgium, from 30 October to 1 November 2009.  I will be one of the speakers at this conference, and I very much look forward to meeting you there!

For more information on the Belgian conference see the events page.

And if you live in Europe, please keep an eye on my travel plans; I will be back in 2009 to teach more classes!

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PRAISE FOR EMILY LIERMAN

The quote below is taken from the book "Stories from the Clinic" by Emily C. Lierman.  Emily was Dr. Bates' assistant and later his wife.  I have great admiration for this amazing lady, who so clearly showed that one does not have to be an eye doctor to get incredible results with the Bates Method.  Emily's stories of her experiences are inspirational!  All her 'Stories from the Clinic' are included in the Better Eyesight magazine collection that is available from Visions of Joy.  

"... an old lady with absolute glaucoma in one eye, totally blind with no perception of light, visited the clinic to obtain relief from an agony of pain.  Many doctors had previously advised the removal of one or both eyes, which has been for many years considered by regular physicians to be good practice.  It has also been taught that no operation or treatment can cure the blindness resulting from absolute glaucoma.  Mrs. Lierman was told that it was a hopeless case, but was asked to try to relieve the pain.  She immediately treated the woman, and much to my surprise not only relieved the pain, but also improved the eye until the patient became able to see at the distance, and to read fine print without glasses!

Of course, her work attracted attention and criticism.  A prominent physician was sent one day to investigate.  We told him the facts and a number of patients were treated for his benefit.  He was very much interested in an elderly colored woman with cataract.  This patient became able to read diamond type from six to fourteen inches from her eyes without glasses.  The doctor, himself, was wearing glasses for distant vision and a stronger pair for reading.  Mrs. Lierman treated him, also, with much benefit.  From his personal experience and from his observation of the treatment of the patients by Mrs. Lierman, he was convinced that the method was one of great value.  He had been sent to condemn, and remained to praise."

William H. Bates, MD
(From the introduction to Stories from the Clinic, by Emily C. Lierman, published in 1926)

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SPECIAL SALE FOR THE HOLIDAYS! 
The complete and unedited Better Eyesight magazine collection - unbeatable value!

If ordered before 20 December 2008, it will be yours for only $69.00, that's a $30 discount! 
This unique collection is a true treasure house of information, with detailed guidance on how
Dr. Bates and Emily helped their patients overcome a huge variety of vision challenges.  

More information on this book is here.

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NEW ITEM FOR SALE
For those of you who so enjoy the benefits of palming, but find their arms getting tired well before their eyes are really rested, I can now offer a new aid:  The Mindfold® This is a very comfortable cover for the eyes with an adjustable Velcro strap and foam padding around the eyes.  It provides complete blackness regardless of the amount of light you are in.

26 September 2008

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- Editorial in Networking Times
- Three group classes in California
- Europe group class & Conferences
- Radio interview recordings available (3)
- Improve your Eyesight; a quote from Dr. W.H. Bates

This newsletter can also be read online at www.visionsofjoy.org/newsletter.htm  

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! 
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

NETWORKING TIMES Editorial about Visions of Joy
The editorial in the current issue (September/October 2008) of the Networking Times magazine mentions Visions of Joy!  Josephine, the editor, writes how -after just one lesson- she improved her eyesight and no longer needs reading glasses!
You can buy a copy of this excellent magazine at your local Borders or Barnes & Noble bookstore, or order it online from www.networkingtimes.com.
The editorial itself can also be read on their website, simply click on the leadoff title 'Visions of Joy' in the 3^rd column on the homepage.  Alternatively, read it here.

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UPCOMING CLASSES in California

- Hollywood:  Saturday 27 September, Vision Fundamentals Level 1 from 1:30 to 4:30pm
- Granada Hills:  Tuesday 30 September, Vision Fundamentals Level 1 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm
- Anaheim:  Saturday 4 October, Vision Fundamentals Level 1 from 1:30 to 4:30pm

Registration and pre-payment are required for these workshops.  $59 includes a vegetarian meal.
To register for any one of these classes, call Randy Ellis at (310) 869 1500.
Or you can register and pay by Check, Credit Card, or Paypal on www.naturalhealthgroup.org

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NATURAL EYESIGHT IMPROVEMENT CLASS in The Netherlands
From 8 to 30 October I will be in Europe. 
Due to family circumstances my teaching schedule will be limited, but I will teach one Vision Fundamentals level 1 class in Brunssum, Netherlands, on Saturday 11 October from 1 to 4pm.
For details see www.visionsofjoy.org/nederlands.htm#les

-  I will also attend the First British Natural Eyesight Conference, held near London from 23 to 27 October.  It is still possible to register for this event.  Come gather with teachers and students of the Bates Method; spend a weekend learning all about natural eye care!

-  If the above conference is too short notice for you, then make a note of the 22^nd International Holistic Vision Conference, to be held in Spa, Belgium, from 30 October to 1 November 2009!

For more information on both these conferences see: www.visionsofjoy.org/classes.events.htm

Esther will be back in California at the end of October.  Local classes will resume in November

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RADIO INTERVIEWS
Currently there are three radio interviews available.  Two from this year and one from 2006.
Listen to Esther talk about regaining clear eyesight naturally.  Plenty of hints, totally free!  J
The first two are about 1 hour, number 3 is 29 minutes in length.
1.  www.tropicwaveradio.net/shows/tropicwaveradio.html#S click on the show for 27 August.
2.  twmarchives.com/bwr/audio/raw-health-talk/rht_2008-3-18.mp3, has their show of 18 March
3.  audio/Esther-Interview-JAN-2006.mp3  Recorded in January of 2006

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IMPROVE YOUR EYESIGHT

"One of the best methods to improve the vision is to regard a letter of the Snellen test card with the eyes open, then close the eyes and remember or imagine the letter better for about ten seconds, open the eyes and regard the letter while testing the imagination of the letter for a moment.  By alternately regarding the letter with the eyes open and closed, the imagination of the letter improves in flashes.  By continuing to alternate the flashes improve and last longer until the vision becomes continuously improved."

William H. Bates, MD
(From: Better Eyesight magazine, June 1925)

☺

Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, and please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

1 September 2008

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- New phone number for Visions of Joy
- September group classes
- "Blinking" by W.H. Bates

This newsletter can also be read online at www.visionsofjoy.org/newsletter.htm  

☺

WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! 
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

NEW PHONE NUMBER.
Due to intermittent cell phone reception here at the farm, I now have a landline phone. 
The new number is: 1-805-640-1955
I appreciate that you have first read the FAQ before calling with any questions!

☺

UPCOMING CLASSES
Last month's classes were a great success; everyone who attended experienced better vision during the class!  Here is a line-up of classes planned for this month.  Come and See !! 

- Culver City:  Thursday 4 September, Vision Fundamentals Level 1 class (6:30-9:00pm)
- Hollywood:  Tuesday 16 September, Vision Fundamentals Level 1 class (6:45-9:45pm)
- San Fernando Valley:  Tuesday 23 September, Vision Fundamentals Level 1 class 

Registration and pre-payment are required for these workshops.
To register for any one of these classes, call Randy Ellis at (310) 869 1500.   
You can pay by Check, Credit Card, or Paypal on www.naturalhealthgroup.org

☺

BLINKING
By William H. Bates, MD

The normal eye when it has normal sight, blinks quite frequently.  By blinking is meant closing the eyelids and opening them so quickly that neither the patient nor his observers notice the fact.  The moving pictures have shown that in some cases the eyes were closed and opened five times in one second.  This is done unconsciously and is rather more than I can do consciously.  Blinking is necessary in order to maintain normal vision continuously, because if one consciously prevents blinking the vision for distance or the ability to read fine print are modified.  It is interesting to me how blinking, which is so necessary for good vision, has been so universally ignored by the writers of books on diseases of the eyes.  Blinking is a rest, it prevents fatigue, and very important, it improves the sight, and helps to maintain good vision more continuously.
(From: Better Eyesight magazine, November 1923)

☺

Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, and please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

1 August 2008

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- New address for Visions of Joy
- 8 and 9 August, Virtual Health Expo
- August group classes, and a Radio interview
- "Practicing" by W.H. Bates

This newsletter can also be read online at www.visionsofjoy.org/newsletter.htm  

☺

WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! 
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

NEW ADDRESS.
As of 30 July my new address is:
Esther Joy van der Werf, 10239 Ojai-Santa Paula Rd, Ojai, CA 93023
The phone number remains the same for a while: 1-818-307-0655

On a personal note:  My move has gone smoothly and I'm enjoying my new space!  
As some of you know, it has been ten years since I quit my highly paid NATO job in Germany and I started roaming around the world.  I have always been thankful for that major change in my life, even during times when finances were tight.  Instead I became richer in friends, freedom, and a large variety of wonderful life experiences. 
The first place where I felt very much at home (back in May of 1998) was on a large organic farm in Australia.  I really wanted to live there, but I was unable to immigrate to Australia at that time, and the USA became my second choice.  Over the years I have traveled in 40 of the 50 states, lived in a wide variety of locations, but never found another farm quite like the one in Australia, until now...  Coming to the appropriately named "Full Circle Farm" feels to me like I have finally come home.  I am thrilled to be part of this farm's community and very much look forward to growing my personal roots here.  
I will continue my teaching work as before, because inspiring people to improve their vision and their breathing remains my passion.  I look forward to being of service, both here on the farm, and to all of you out there on your individual paths to clarity.

☺

VIRTUAL HEALTH EXPO
Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August 2008.  Attendance is FREE !!
Anyone who is interested in natural health education will likely find something of interest at this unique online health expo.
Attendance is really simple; you can view the entire expo from the comfort of your home!
Simply visit http://www.vbmse.com/vBMSEAug_8_2008/index.php
For a preview, go here: http://www.vbmse.com/vBMSEAug_8_2008/attendees.php

Esther will team up with her colleague Kate Keilman of StressAway.com. 
Look for us under 'Natural Eyesight Improvement', Booth number 410.  See you there!

☺

UPCOMING CLASSES
- Culver City:  Saturday 16 August, Vision Fundamentals class (1:30-4:30pm)
- Orange County:  Tuesday 19 August, Vision Fundamentals class (6:45-9:45pm)
Registration and pre-payment are required for these workshops.
The cost of the Culver City workshop is $50 if paid by August 10, or $55 if paid by August 14.  
The cost of the Tustin workshop is $55 if paid by August 10, or $60 if paid by August 15.   
To register for either one of these classes, call Randy Ellis at (310) 869 1500.   
You can pay by Check, Credit Card, or Paypal on www.naturalhealthgroup.org

RADIO INTERVIEW
Stuart Spangenberg, host of the webradio show "Solutions to Aging", will be doing a second interview with Esther about regaining clear vision naturally.  This one hour interview can be heard live on the internet on Wednesday, August 27, at 5pm Pacific time, 8pm East coast, or in their archives for some time following the show. 
To listen, go to http://www.tropicwaveradio.net/shows/tropicwaveradio.html#S

☺

PRACTICING

A GREAT many people have asked, "How much time should one devote to practicing the methods of central fixation in order to be cured of imperfect sight without glasses?"

The answer is--ALL THE TIME.

One should secure relaxation or rest until one is perfectly comfortable and continue feeling comfortable as long as one is awake.

The feeling of relaxation or comfort can be obtained with the memory of perfect sight.  Even if one cannot remember perfect sight one can imagine it.  All black objects should be imagined perfectly black.  All white objects observed should be imagined perfectly white.  All letters observed should be imagined perfectly and everything that is seen should be imagined perfectly.

To imagine anything imperfectly requires a strain, an effort, which is difficult.  Choose the easy way.  Imagine things perfectly.

If you try to imagine an object as stationary you will strain and your sight become impaired.  All day long the eyes are moving from one point to another.  Imagine that objects are moving opposite to the movement of the eyes.  If one does not notice this one is very apt to strain and imagine things stationary.

One can practice properly for ten minutes and be comfortable.  That does not mean that all the rest of the day one can strain and tear one's eyes all to pieces without paying the penalty for breaking the law.  If you are under treatment for imperfect sight be sure to keep in mind all day long from the time you wake up in the morning until you go to bed at night the feeling of comfort, of rest, of relaxation, incessantly.  It is a great deal better to do that than to feel under a strain and be uncomfortable all day long.

William H. Bates, MD
(From: Better Eyesight magazine, October 1922)

☺

Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, and please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

11 July 2008

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- Visions of Joy is moving to paradise! (also known as Ojai, California.☺)
- Important 1921 article by Dr. Bates now available for free download.
- Tips to reduce Computer eye strain.
- Travel plans: Oregon postponed, and dates for Europe now confirmed.

This newsletter can also be read online at www.visionsofjoy.org/newsletter.htm  

☺

WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! 
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

VISIONS OF JOY IS MOVING TO OJAI, CA.
I'm getting ready to move to the town of Ojai, which is located in a beautiful valley, about two hours northwest of Los Angeles.  I have liked Ojai from the very first time I went there for a raw foods retreat in 2002.  I visited this town several times since then, and always felt right at home in this community of like-minded people.  So I'm delighted that I have found a great place to live (on an organic farm!), and I am very much looking forward to moving at the end of July. 

I will be taking a short break from teaching in order to accomplish this move, but rest assured that classes will resume as soon as possible.  The e-mail course continues to be available without interruption!

NOTE: The last group class in Woodland Hills is coming up next Tuesday, July 15th. 
If you live in the L.A. area, and have delayed taking a class so far, then this class is for you!

☺

IMPORTANT ARTICLE NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE.
Over the past month I have been reading all the articles that Dr. Bates wrote between 1886 and 1923 which were published in various medical journals.  I find all of Dr. Bates' writings immensely interesting, but one article stood out for me and made me wish that all eye doctors would read it...  
"A Clinical and Experimental Study of Physiological Optics" was published in the American Journal of Clinical Medicine in July 1921.  It's probably not an easy article to find anymore, so I've decided to provide it for free on my website (see the download page). 
From now on any serious student of natural vision improvement can read it, print it out, and share it with their eye doctor!

☺

"The foregoing experiments, combined with my clinical experiences, taught me that all of these conditions are due to a functional derangement in the outside muscles of the eyeball and are, therefore, both preventable and curable.  I have since then been able to cure or improve all such cases, no matter how high their degrees or how long their duration.  If the treatment has been continued long enough, the patient has been cured.

The cause of the abnormal action of the muscles has been shown to be a strain, or effort, to see.  This strain originates necessarily in the mind.  Therefore, all methods of treatment have for their object the attainment of mental relaxation.  This is accomplished in various ways." 

William H. Bates, MD
(Excerpt from: "A Clinical and Experimental Study of Physiological Optics", July 1921)

☺

Have you visited the Visions of Joy website recently?  (Yes, this link will work now!). 
The following is a little gem that you may have overlooked in your exploration of the website.  From the Solutions page:

TIPS TO REDUCE COMPUTER EYE STRAIN
When you work with computers a lot, you may notice that your eyes tire out quicker.  In order to see better at the computer, all the information given on Visions of Joy's See Better page applies, i.e. Relax, Blink, Breathe, and use Central Fixation, which is the awareness that only a small detail in the center of your field of vision can be seen best.  The rest of the screen, as well as your peripheral vision, is seen with less clarity.  Staying aware of your peripheral vision while working at the computer will greatly help your eyes relax, as will the purchase of Stress Away software, available through Visions of Joy and through stressaway.com.
Another great program that reduces computer eyestrain is SwingWindows (free download!).  Set it for a small, slow, circular or oblong motion, and imagine that motion continuing even when you switch SwingWindows off! 
Good posture will reduce neck tension and improve breathing.  Looking away from the screen on a regular basis will give your eyes a change of focus, which they'll appreciate. Having your computer near a window will allow for more distant focusing when you look up, while any movement outside may distract you from that strained habit of staring at the screen with tunnel vision...

☺

TRAVEL PLANS
The dates for my trip to Europe have been confirmed! 
I will attend the Natural Vision Conference near London, England, 24-26 October 2008.  Details of this conference are on the website. 
I will arrive in the Netherlands on October 8th and I will likely teach a Vision Fundamentals class in Brunssum later that month.  Watch coming issues of this newsletter for details.

My plans to visit Oregon have been postponed due to the upcoming move.  A future newsletter will announce when this trip gets rescheduled.

☺

Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, and please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

2 July 2008

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- July class in Woodland Hills
- Website changes and additions
- Summer is here! A few words about sunlight
- Travel plans: Oregon, and Europe!
- Better Eyesight magazine collection on sale

☺

WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!   I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

Summer is here and the Southern California valley where I live is heating up nicely. I like the sun and the warmth, but still, there are limits to my comfort zone in heat.  So during the middle of the day I will choose to be indoors somewhat more than usual.  This is good news for you all, because it will help me keep my commitment to speed up the work on the book that I'm writing about my passion of improving eyesight naturally! 

Blurry print magically disappears.
Between all that writing I also continue to help people with their vision.  One lady in her 40s recently approached me for a lesson to help her get rid of her reading glasses.  I gave her a page of standard size text, and she held it at her normal reading distance.  Without her reading glasses the print appeared blurry. For the next 5 minutes or so I told her how to relax her eyes more and more while she looked at a page of text that was held only a few inches from her face.  This simple practice gives the focusing muscles a chance to work without any interference from habitual strain, resulting in clarity returning in an effortless way.  
I find that this practice often helps people's near vision, but her response to it was one of the better ones I've heard, so I'm sharing it with you.  When she once again looked at the same standard size text at her normal reading distance, her immediate remark was: "Where did the page with blurry print go??"  The text appeared totally clear to her now, and her complete surprise at that was delightful.  I'm happy to report that she has not needed to use reading glasses at all since her session several weeks ago!

☺

JULY SCHEDULE OF CLASSES IN WOODLAND HILLS, CA. 

Vision Fundamentals Level 1 will be held on Tuesday evening, 15 July, from 6 to 8:30pm. 
Join us as we delve into natural ways of improving vision so you get to experience the joy of seeing clearly with your own eyes!  This class is for beginners and those who want to have a refresher on the essentials for vision improvement.  You'll be taking off your glasses or taking out your contacts in this class and get to experience your first improvements that will prove to you that vision really can get better.  I hope to see you here in Woodland Hills on Tuesday night!  For details on this class and to pre-register for a discounted price, please visit www.visionsofjoy.org/classes.group.htm 

☺

"If you learn the fundamental principles of perfect sight
and will consciously keep them in mind
your defective vision will disappear." 

William H. Bates, MD 

☺

ON THE WEBSITE... 
Have you visited the Visions of Joy website recently?
You may be surprised; it has had somewhat of a transformation!
A much more user-friendly menu bar on the left has replaced the old menu bar at the top.
I hope you like it and I think this change makes it easier to navigate the increasing number of pages that provide extensive information on improving eyesight naturally.  

You can now listen to a 'new' half hour radio interview which was recorded in January of 2006.  
I was still living in Maine at that time and this interview was done for 'Best Day Ever'.  I only recently figured out how to add audio and video to my website, so you finally get to enjoy this!  

Also, you can watch a short video clip of George Parker who took a class with me about 5 years ago, and who now still enjoys perfect eyesight at age 52.  Meeting George again was the type of amazing 'coincidence' that shows we truly live in a small world, because he and his wife live in Connecticut, he took my class in New York, I had since moved to California, and we met again on a hiking trail in Arizona...    Watch this 30 second video clip  

☺

SUMMER SUN... 
Yeah, Summer is here!  That means more sun for all of us in the northern hemisphere, yet many people are afraid of sunlight these days.  However, it is a mistake to shun the sun, because the sun itself does not harm your eyes when you know how to use it in a healthy way.  The problem is mainly the strained reaction to bright light which comes about from not spending enough time in the sun to begin with.  

Dr Bates said: "It is not light but darkness that is dangerous to the eye.  Prolonged exclusion from the light always lowers the vision, and may produce serious inflammatory conditions."

He also wrote: "Some children with myopia may be unable to stand bright light.  Many doctors prescribe dark glasses for the benefit of such cases. In my experience, the wearing of dark glasses or the use of other methods to reduce the glare of strong daylight or artificial light is an injury rather than a benefit.  One of the best methods to relieve or prevent the intolerance of all kinds of light is to encourage the individual to become accustomed to strong light."  

Dr Bates' advice for getting accustomed to strong light was to not gaze directly into the sun but to look at each side of it alternately.  In this way you allow the rays to shine on the eyes at an angle.  Begin your sunning practice when the sun is low in the sky, and do not push beyond your comfort zone.  Allow your eyes to blink as much as they want, or close them whenever the light does feel too bright.  When done on a regular basis (10 -30 minutes per day), sunning the eyes helps overcome light sensitivity and allows you to reduce your dependency on sunglasses.
Come to a class for a more extensive sunning practice, and I'll show you how easy it can be to overcome light sensitivity. 

"I regularly do the sunning and am no longer so sensitive to bright light. It's going really well." 
- Al Boyd, California 

"I am proud to say that I am not sensitive to light any more. Sun light does not hurt my eyes. Thank you so very much :-)"
- Shane G, Western Australia 

"I now enjoy my sunning a lot and miss it when there's no sun. I even enjoy being outside more."
- Regina Lindemann, the Netherlands 

☺

ON SALE... 
For a limited time, the Better Eyesight magazine collection is available at a discount!
Order now and save $20 off the full price. Instead of $99.00 you only pay $79.00 for this incredible resource. 
Visions of Joy Students continue to receive a substantial 50% discount on the Better Eyesight Magazine collection, which contains the best information available in the world on natural vision education.  

☺

TRAVEL PLANS 
Yes! Another visit to Europe!!!   From 24 to 26 October there is a Natural Vision Conference near London, England, which I plan to attend.  Details of this conference are on the website.  
A visit to Europe would not be complete for me without also visiting the Netherlands, so there is a good chance that I will teach another class in Brunssum this year.  Watch coming issues of this newsletter for more information. 

Oregon is on my travel itinerary for this summer.  It will be nice to escape the Southern California heat for a few weeks and see old friends in Oregon!  This will be from August 21 to about September 10th.  Anyone in the Salem area who is interested in taking this opportunity to learn about natural vision improvement is welcome to contact me for more information. 

Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, and please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

Issue #3, 19 May 2008

Welcome to issue #3 of Visions of Joy News!

Hi!

TELECONFERENCE THIS WEDNESDAY EVENING!

If you would love to improve your vision and don't know where to start, or you don't have a teacher in your area, 
than this teleconference opportunity is for you! 

When:   This Wednesday evening May 21^st and next week Wednesday May 28^th.
NOTE:  These dates have changed!  Now scheduled for Wednesday evening June 11th and 25th.
Time:    From 7:30pm to 8:30 pm Pacific Time
What:    Join me by phone as I talk about how you can overcome blurry vision naturally.
Cost:     $79.  RSVP required.
Register in advance by calling Energetic Solutions at (714) 374-1988 or by visiting energeticsolutions.net and click on the Visions of Joy class in the column on the right side.

Topics covered will be:

-          -    The differences in use of the eyes between people with good vision versus those with blurry vision.
-          How to rest the eyes
-          Sunlight and eye health
-          How to use an eye-chart to improve vision
-          What our eyes need most
-          Tricks to improve vision naturally

I look forward to having you join me in this conference!

☺

JUNE SCHEDULE OF CLASSES IN WOODLAND HILLS, CA.

There are now 3 classes scheduled for June:

Saturday 7 June from 1pm to 4pm:  Vision Fundamentals Level 1.
Sunday 8 June from 6pm to 8pm:  Reading without Glasses at any age.
Saturday 14 June from 1pm to 4pm: Vision Fundamentals Level 2.

For details on these classes and to pre-register for a discounted price, please visit www.visionsofjoy.org/classes.group.htm

☺

"If you learn the fundamental principles of perfect sight
and will consciously keep them in mind
your defective vision will disappear."

William H. Bates, MD

☺

ON SALE...

For a limited time, the Better Eyesight magazine collection will be available at a discount!  
Order now and save $20 off the full price.  Instead of $99.00 you only pay $79.00 for this incredible resource.

Visions of Joy Students continue to receive a substantial 50% discount on the Better Eyesight Magazine collection, 
which contains the best information available in the world on natural vision education. 
Check it out at www.visionsofjoy.org/download.htm#BEMcomplete

☺

Enjoy your path to clarity!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development