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Jaylee Balch
In my formative years my folks and I lived in a caravan on the Wankie Game Reserve in Rhodesia, now known as Hwangie G.R in Zimbabwe. My father was an engineer and contracted to a mine in the area....view moreIn my formative years my folks and I lived in a caravan on the Wankie Game Reserve in Rhodesia, now known as Hwangie G.R in Zimbabwe. My father was an engineer and contracted to a mine in the area. I have memories of my dog yanking my diaper off every chance it had, and I remember that my bath times were in a galvanized tub in the African bush. The only nightmares I ever had were the sounds and visuals of lions, and they were the recurring themes in my nightly sojourns. My mother told me that the lions would circle the caravan at night and growl loudly, so I suppose that it was impossible not to remember them at some level of my being. Those night times would impact me for decades.I was grateful that they were the only bad dreams I had. Being young in Rhodesia was a blessing and yet it came with anxieties known only to those who may have lived in war-torn countries. I still have the vivid memory of bombs going off in the local airbase near my grandmother's house, of guards at the farm gate and the military convoys rolling into town. As part of a family living on the periphery of the terror of that war, we endured the personal tragedy of terrorism as we lost loved family members during and as a result of the war.Shutting out such war torn images was relatively easy as a child living in the wondrous gift that is Africa, for Africa is the living juxtaposition of the absolute beauty of nature versus unforgiving harshness. This strange diversity is, to this day, a source of powerful and beautiful moments that I will cherish. To be a child and see leopards hunt their prey, to see a herd of antelopes in full flight and to see a myriad of other moments of pure connection with the animals and land that is Africa, this was a gift. I felt so alive under the African stars— no artificial lights, only the purity of the light from the stars to guide me.From as young as I can remember, I would inhale books of every genre and without thought, take note of each author's style, liking some and disliking others. Little did I know that I was forming myself and carving a path for my future as an author. I am sure they gave birth to the many wondrous fantasies I experienced. Even as a child I loved to climb to the top of mountains to be closer to those African stars. I had to be on top of the world, able to see everything for as far as the eyes could see.At nine years of age I was taken to Scotland on holiday. It was the land of my ancestors and grandparents and I never wanted to leave. It was so breathtaking and beautiful to me that I return whenever I get the chance. Deep down, even today, I still feel the pull of the Celts.When we left for South Africa I was twelve, and leaving my grandparents and my home did not go down well for me. I spent a great deal of time sitting and reading at school, for I was certainly not popular or memorable. School bored me witless—though I later learnt that I was actually very intelligent in many unconventional ways—and I preferred to spend my time in the realms of the imagination. I became introverted to some degree, and my focus and energy were refocused into a decade of competitive swimming through state championships.I stopped swimming when my grandmother had a recurring dream about an accident I was to experience. Eventually I accepted her dream as the prophetic message that it was, and a new chapter of my life opened. My new journey began with the admission of one of my family traits, a trait that was discussed only in private—prophetic phenomena.This discovery of the world of prophetic phenomena has certainly been significant in my life. Initially it helped me to understand things in a new way—like my dreams, which I later learnt were prophetic, my feelings about people, visions I had that came true, and things I heard that no one else could hear. I sought understanding through spirituality and God, and even after learning everything I could there, I felt that there was more to know and understand. Thus began a quest for knowledge into many religious and spiritual paths. I walked a long path with a revival church, and still today I have an open heart for worship. But I learnt that, in some religions, my abilities were not welcomed with open arms.I tried to marry for all the right reasons, and even had two children, dogs and a house. When my children were four and five years of age I was very adventurous with them. I would encourage them to sit in the long grasses of a game reserve and close their eyes. They learnt to call the zebra, animals that are very curious and would stroll over to see these two tiny beings sitting in faith. We hunted for dragons in strange forests and they even climbed the chain ladders of the highest cascading waterfall in the world. It was suggested to me that they were the youngest ever to do this—I will never know. All the classic stories of childhood I retold to them in my own unique way and my daughter, now grown, has asked that my version of the story of creation be shared with the world for its humorous unfolding. Well, we shall see.But normalcy was never to be my destiny and my family life fell apart. It was in the despair of this ordinary and uneventful life that I began to write, by hand, my first book. I wrote over five hundred pages! Still, it sits on the computer needing a massive overhaul. I then completed a double degree in psychology and communications, and though I found it tedious and limiting, still I studied.Then, through a friend, I came to meet the Tao Grand Master in Johannesburg. I was open and intrigued and I needed to know more about the way, the truth and the life and why I was born in the first place! From my first church I learnt that I was loved and would always be looked after, and from the Tao way I learnt that there was a way and there was a truth and it could be found within. This did not seem to conflict with my earlier upbringing, so I embraced it, for it included my Christianity and seemed to make it a whole lot bigger. I have wonderful memories of my times with the Tao community and their gentle ways and great cooking.But secretly, I knew something else. I was ready to embrace happiness again, and I had for a long time used my prophetic ability to 'see' if there was anyone out there who would understand me. I had caught a glimpse of Australia. I thought it was near impossible for me, a single mom stuck in a one-horse town in Africa, to meet such an exotic creature. But providence was kind and I was led to a chance meeting on a boat on a river in Africa. Here I met my present Australian husband and best friend. This was to be the beginning of no ordinary journey, for contrary to popular opinion, I left everyone and everything behind. With this Aussie, I found myself exploring new lands and a whole new world in pursuit of my quest for understanding myself and learning my destiny.My choices were controversial, no doubt. I fought long battles within myself and often thought that I should return to the expected programming of motherhood. But when I thought of settling down to normalcy something in me cringed, so I stood strong and kept going. Was I a diligent mother in the ways I could be? Yes! I returned each year to spend months at a time with my children, bringing loads of gifts. I called, sent cards and presents, and yet still I knew that I was standing against an army of people who loved them. But I was also quietly standing for something I needed and wanted, too.It was in Australia that I met a Tibetan Lama through my husband. This was no ordinary Lama, for this was to be one of the most enlightened beings on earth I had ever met and most likely would meet. Through these meetings I learnt much about myself and about how I exist in this world. As I spent times with him my understanding grew and enhanced my previous teachings, magnifying them with the knowledge that at every stage with every teacher of each spiritual discipline, the highest regard of Christ is made known. I learnt the ways of the mystery schools of Tibet, and this Tibetan taught me about the path of the inner Christ.This changed everything!Suddenly, I was given permission to breathe, to actually exist and have an impact in the world. After four thousand or so books that I had read searching for the truth, I now knew a few facts that were irrefutably the cornerstones of learning, and I had to surrender into my destiny or my soul’s purpose.I did a Master Hypnotherapy certification with a highly recognized school in North America, and through encouragement from the Lama, began to work with animals in different ways, mostly calling them in from the wild by using my gifts. I have called wolves to my side, held hummingbirds, been massaged by raccoons, trained chipmunks and their families, called orcas in strange places and other of Africa's wild life to me. I have hypnotized sharks and swum in strange waters with rare creatures. My own chickens climb up my leg and sit on my shoulder, and the butcher birds sit on the window sill and listen while we speak and prepare food. I have called snakes, and I am now working to love and call spiders. In the past it has been difficult to love these creatures due, in part, because one of my abilities is to know that, each time a spider appears and gives me a fright, someone or something will pass from this world. This, I think, makes Cornelius, one of the main characters in my books, all the more interestingFinally, I was climbing Table Mountain in Cape Town with a really good friend who is a deeply spiritual man, a film maker who works with wild life, and he gave me the opening lines of a story that he told to his son. My imagination took those few sentences and went to the moon and back. This was the beginning of the Tomas of Terra trilogy. Across the globe there is an army of people who care for the earth and wish to make changes that bring about, not only a positive change in the earth herself, but a change in the people of earth so that they can become the custodians of a bright future.That is my task, my destiny and my soul’s purpose.When I sat down at my desk to take a peek through the door our friend had opened, I discovered the Liminal realms and all its folk. What took me aback at first was that the Realm inhabitants were rushing at me, trying to be in my book, wanting to be known on earth. I’m sure this must sound like the ravings of a mad person in a living reality, and half of that is true! But they were eager to make themselves known, and definitely to be involved and to be a part of the changes on earth. I had to reassure them that they would all be known through my books, but that they had to be patient and allow me to write a story and bring them in when their turn came. This is why the first book is loaded with creatures introducing themselves. Thankfully, I have managed to quell their enthusiasm and they understand that their stories and their parts in the unfolding of the changes will be made known within time.They will not have to wait long. I have completed the first trilogy in the saga of Tomas and am currently completing the second. I have also written ten children's books and a number of other similarly focused novels. I have a collection of poetry and wedding vows that I have written, and I plan on releasing all of these to the public within time.Like the characters in my stories, we must all be patient.This is my story, and I'm sticking to it.She combines her talents with her husband Paul, in their focus to empower people and bring healing to those who need it. Having spent years as a professional graphic designer, she used her talent to design their book - The Energetic Anatomy of a Yogi - for the world to see. As a photographer, the pictures in her first co-authored book are from her own collection. As a fiction author, she encompasses her imagination into meditations and teaching children.I look forward to meeting you in person!Jaylee Balchview less
Books by Jaylee Balch
The Laughing Contest The Energetic Anatomy of a Yogi Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBright Wings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings