Finding Your Feet – How the Sole Reflects the Soul By Ann Gadd

Review by Sally Teixeira

The title intrigued me from the start. Finding Your Feet seemed to imply that I was going to discover aspects of inner confidence in myself, as much as learn how to read the many conditions of the feet. And I wasn’t disappointed. This is no ordinary book.

The picture of peaceful feet on the front cover invited me in and I was greeted with a quote from Hermes “This is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth: As below, so above; and as above so below. With this knowledge alone you may work miracles.”

The author Ann Gadd, gently pulled me into the world of feet, showing me how they reflect our whole being, how this was recognised by ancient cultures and how many other therapies also take the unity of mind, body and spirit to be essential for true healing to take place. She also tells of her own journey into reflexology and describes how her feet changed as she went through her own emotional stages.

In Section One of the book, Ann Gadd answers the question “How could our feet be mirrors of our souls?” By taking you through the Fibonacci Code and the Golden Mean Ratio it becomes clear how everything around us and within us is perfectly related and reflected in the outside world as well as within our own bodies. She then moves on to the chakras and explains where and how they are reflected on the soles of the feet and linked into the toes. Ann also includes the emotional expression, related body parts, element, lessons, relationships and appropriate colour of the chakras. The diagrams and bullet points make it all clear and easy to understand and it is also great to go back to as a quick reference guide.

Ann then takes us into the realm of feelings. Inviting us to connect with our own feet and the emotions they arouse within us. Learning to love our feet is a direct lesson in learning to love every aspect of ourselves.

The Chapter entitled Soul Searching starts on the more practical side of foot reading and reveals the meaning of the different shapes and colours found on the feet. Now that we have some basic foot reading skills, Ann goes on to talk about the importance of relating to the person that is bearing their soles and soul to you. She covers subjects such as listening, intuition, the role of questioning and compassion. This was a lovely chapter to read as Ann’s deeply caring nature really came across and I was left fully aware of the importance of honouring each individual and their choices.

Section Two is an A-Z of foot reading! It addresses all the common conditions you can find on the feet, from amputated toes to gout, splinters, corns and wrinkles. Each condition is fully explored with Ann offering the key issues of the condition and then going into more detail about the physical causes, the origin of the words and the all important emotional causes. What I really loved, was the accompanying case study for each condition. It helped to clarify how and why the underlying emotions manifested as the physical condition and it also highlighted how important that compassionate and professional relationship with the individual is. Each case study ended with a paragraph on how the individual’s healing was brought about, emotionally and physically.

This book is a great insight for anyone who is interested in healing through the feet. It will open doors for any reflexologist looking to learn more about the emotional messages behind the condition of the feet but also offers a great starting point for anyone wanting to start foot reading.

What struck me most is how Ann Gadd’s deeply compassionate nature and her love for people, feet and reflexology continually emanates from the pages. I was left feeling comforted and secure in the knowledge that I am more than just my physical body, and that I have the ability to understand my issues and health simply by understanding the messages in my feet. If I listen to these messages and act upon them, I am embracing my own healing and acknowledging my existence as a spiritual being.

Thank you, Ann for such a special book!

You can find out more and buy the book directly here: Findhorn Press and Amazon

Ann Gadd lives in South Africa and is an artist, writer, Reiki Master, transformational counsellor and speaker as well as a reflexologist. She is the creator and facilitator of Create Yourself Art Workshops, which delve into the transformational power art can have on the mind/body connection.

www.anngadd.co.za
www.artforewe.co.za


Other Books by Ann Gadd:

What went Wrong with Mr Right
Findhorn Press, UK, 2009

Climbing the Beanstalk - The Spiritual truths in Fairytales
Findhorn Press, UK 2007 ISBN:978-84409-094-5

A-Z of Habits
Findhorn Press, UK 2007. ISBN:978-1-84409-100-3

Finding Your Feet – How the soles mirror the soul
Findhorn Press, UK 2006 ISBN 1-84409-081-7 or ISBN: 978-1-84409-081-5

The Girl who bites her nails and the man who is always late – What our habits reveal about us.
Findhorn Press UK, 2006. ISBN 1-84409-073-6

Healing Habits
Kima Global Cape Town, 2003 ISBN: 0-9584493-5-X