New Orleans Outreach Project

“Lessons in Using Lindwall Releasing Anytime and Anywhere”

November, 2007

By Jeannie Whyte

Lindwall Releaser since 1979

A Sign Describing the Sunflowers Planted to Detoxify the Soil
also Describes the Sense of Heritage in New Orleans

This is my third trip to the flood ravaged Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans since February 2007. Each time I am amazed at the resiliency of the human spirit. Progress is slowly arriving to those who have lost family members, friends, and everything they owned that had been in their families for generations. There is a speci?c culture to New Orleans that is unique to this city and it important to understand that the people who lived in New Orleans prior to Hurricane Katrina have also felt this deep loss in their cultural music and traditions that are important for creating a sense of “belonging” and restoring a sense of “home.”

Returning To The New Orleans Women's Shelter

As I entered the new location of the New Orleans Women's Shelter, I didn't know who might be there since the volunteers had changed since my last visit in August. However, as I entered the back door, it was unusually quiet. I stepped in and looked around at this space that was so much cleaner and more modern than the last Shelter where rats had been found in the sofa one day when a resident was cleaning.

As I looked to the left I saw a new playroom for the children and new washers and dryers. Calling out to anyone who might hear, I said, “Hello” in a half- questioning manner. But no one answered. I stepped further into the home, and yes, I can call this a home, not just a Shelter for women survivors of Katrina. The volunteers who run this Shelter work hard to make this building feel like a home for those who have been through so much trauma and are returning to try to reclaim their heritage.

Then I saw the kitchen! It had two new stoves and all new appliances with real cabinets, not just open shelves falling off the wall. But then I saw her!!! It was one of the residents I had not met in person, but who had seen the ?yer I had left behind on my last visit in August. She had called me after coming to the Shelter and was feeling overwhelmed by all she was facing on her return “home.”

She was now 8 months pregnant, had 2 other young children and had returned to New Orleans after having been relocated during the evacuation to California. She had made the decision to leave her abusive husband in California to return to her real home, New Orleans. However, she was now facing the cold, harsh reality of the devastation of not having a home for her children, limited possibilities of finding employment and she was soon to be the single mother of 3. As quickly as our eyes met and even though we had never met in person, we immediately recognized each other and threw our arms open to embrace the other with a hug and a smile! (I couldn't hold back the tears that quickly came to my eyes as we embraced). It was as if we had been friends for years. It was wonderful to put a face to the voice that had been on the other end of my phone. I asked her how she was doing and she said she had so much to tell me but needed to put her children to bed and would be back in a few minutes. She left to tuck in her children and I looked around to find anyone else that might be here at the Shelter.

I went into the living room and saw the new ?oor and furniture that was not falling apart at the seams. I thought to myself, this was a much better place to welcome home the brave women who were returning to reclaim their heritage and rebuild their lives. Then I heard footsteps behind me and saw a familiar face! It was a young long-term volunteer I had worked with in August who had been relieved of his constant physical pain during our “Releasing” session! He looked well, even though he had been hospitalized again since my last visit. A little thinner, but his smile was brighter than ever. I found this quite amazing with all he had been physically enduring after injuring himself and requiring a 4 week stay in the hospital where he had almost died after an operation that left him with a 2 inch wide scar that ran from his heart to below his navel and left him in constant pain. He didn't have time to chat just now, so we set a time to meet later in the week.

The woman I had been talking to earlier returned after tucking in her children for the night. She was in the kitchen again and was obviously not in the same mood I had witnessed a few moments earlier. She was cleaning the kitchen and something was bothering her. I asked her what was going on and even though we had had a very open discussion during our previous discussion she seemed reluctant to open up to me now. So, I explained that this was a perfect time to use “Releasing.” She looked at me quizically...and I continued to explain that “Releasing” wasn't just for workshop settings or private sessions. She then started to open up and explain what had happened that week. I gave her the “Release” statements as she continued to open up and explain other events that had happened since we had talked during our phone session a few weeks earlier. She kept busy cleaning and talking and I continued to provide her with the “Release” statements that tore away at the negative emotions that had built up inside of her psyche. This went on for about 30 minutes and then all of sudden, she stopped, looked straight at me and exclaimed, “I had no idea you could do ‘Releasing' like this when you are feeling so upset! I really feel so much better. Thank you!” Needless to say, she was calmer now and even looked more relaxed and ready to head off to bed where she could rest comfortably after letting go and neutralizing all the negative feelings she had pent up inside. I explained that she could also teach her children how to do “Releasing” when they were upset and what a wonderful gift this would give to them at such a very young age. She said she would de?nitely begin using “Releasing” with her youngsters as well as herself. She hugged me goodnight and thanked me for helping her and teaching her that the use of “Releasing” could be used done anywhere and at any time!

The lesson each of us can learn from this is to remember to use “Lindwall Releasing” at any time you feel out of balance, ?lled with negative emotions, or upset in anyway and any place. It's easy and makes you feel better immediately with no negative side effects!!!

Thanks to all of you who have kept New Orleans in your prayers. Please continue putting the City and its residents in your prayers of love and light. The City still needs volunteers and donations of supplies and money. If you would like to volunteer, go to www.volunteermatch.com. And if you'd like to donate to the Lindwall Foundation's New Orleans Outreach Program, send your tax deductible contribution to the address on our website or contact us at our e-mail address for personal assistance on how you can donate to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.