Ann Naimark: “They were all leading to the same thing – Love and Relationship”
Explore Ann Naimark’s unique approach to healing through love and spiritual connection
Ann Naimark shares her journey of integrating spirituality into psychotherapy, emphasizing persistence, support, and love, while inspiring others to connect with their inner light and pursue their spiritual paths.
Ann Naimark is a beacon of inspiration in the realms of psychotherapy and spiritual exploration. Her profound understanding of the human psyche, combined with her deep spiritual insights, has made her a transformative figure for many seeking healing and enlightenment. Ann’s work is a testament to the power of persistence and the importance of support, both from the people around us and from the spiritual forces she refers to as Source Light. Her unique approach to therapy, which integrates spirituality, has not only set her apart in her field but has also brought about significant positive changes in the lives of her clients. Ann’s dedication to helping others find their inner light and love is evident in her practice and her writing, making her a cherished guide for those on a journey of self-discovery.
Ann Naimark’s literary contributions, particularly her book “A Touch of Light, Opening to the Love That Is You and All Creation,” have garnered widespread acclaim and multiple awards. Her writing is celebrated for its conversational style and the practical wisdom it imparts, encouraging readers to explore their own spiritual paths. Ann’s ability to weave her personal experiences with universal truths about love and connectedness has resonated deeply with her audience. Her work not only inspires but also empowers individuals to embrace their sensitivity and pursue their passions. Ann’s influence extends beyond her books, as she continues to touch lives through her YouTube talks and meditations, guiding many to connect with their inner selves and the world around them. Her contributions to both literature and therapy are invaluable, and her journey serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of love and relationship.
Ann Naimark’s work beautifully blends spirituality and psychotherapy, offering profound insights and compassionate guidance that inspire and transform lives.
What do you believe has been the key to gaining such recognition for your work, and how have your recent projects contributed to this success?
Persistence. And support. I had a wonderful publisher who guided me all the way through my writing of the book; editing, publishing, and continues to support me still with ideas to promote it. I have taken others’ suggestions and pursued them. I love having others help me especially in areas I know nothing about. And I’ve felt the support of Source Light. When I feel a bit of calm urging to go in a direction from another person and that corresponds to a bit of Light inside me, I follow that star.
And I persist. Not every venture produces immediate discernible results. But I feel that my book was guided by Source. I didn’t follow a program (that was suggested to me by my publisher or others). I wrote when I felt the nudge of Light. And I try to live by paying attention to that nudge and following through with it.
“I love having others help me especially in areas I know nothing about.”
How has your approach to psychotherapy evolved over the years with the integration of spirituality, and what impact have you observed in your clients as a result?
Many of my clients would say that no one was talking to them about their spirituality (which included other therapists they had been to). And they wanted to address that because they thought that that part of them was important to their mental, emotional, physical health. I always felt that we need to address those four aspects of ourselves to live a healthy, whole, happy, fulfilled life. So, I was happy to talk to them about their spiritual lives.
This evolved over the years to at times working with clients using Light meditations, sometimes guided by me. After our meditations clients would almost always feel calmer, clearer, more peaceful. And I encouraged them to always find those techniques that worked for them, no matter what the origin (e.g. any religion, spiritual discipline, nature). So, clients became happier with their lives and have been able to make their lives their own.
“When I feel a bit of calm urging to go in a direction from another person and that corresponds to a bit of Light inside me, I follow that star.”
Can you share some insights or experiences from your own spiritual journey that have significantly influenced your work as a therapist and writer?
Many things have influenced me in my own spiritual journey. I began my adventure in my 20’s. I explored a myriad of spiritual disciplines. I have learned from all of them.
What I realized was that they were all leading to the same thing – Love and Relationship. Relationship with Source or All That Is or however one calls the creative force. That we all come from Love. We have love within us as us, no matter how buried it may be. We may not feel it due to our wounding.
I have learned that our relationship with ourselves, our parents, our friends, our partners, our children, nature, creation, Source, is all about connectedness.
I found as I did my own therapy and spiritual work, that the more I healed, released the negatives that I had accumulated for one reason or another, the more I felt and lived as joy, as love, in peace, in freedom (as a person), in gratitude. And that I could help others feel those same feelings and create the life they wanted to live.
This was possible because I sought out relationship in my spiritual work – with angels, other Light Beings created by Source, ascended masters like Jesus, teachers here on earth. I have had unlimited support on my journey because of my connection to so many wonderful beings.
And because of my relationship with my therapist, who helped me incredibly to uncover and heal emotional/mental wounds.
So, I try to live, work, write about relationship and love; love of self, brought about through the love of Source, and love of all creation. And let others know how they are loved and how precious they are.
“I try to live, work, write about relationship and love; love of self, brought about through the love of Source, and love of all creation.”
Your book, A Touch of Light, Opening to the Love That Is You and All Creation, was released in 2022. What inspired you to write it, and what key message do you hope readers take away from it?
Years ago, my dad said I should write the story of my life. At that time, I thought, why? Why would anyone want to read about my ordinary life? Then a few years ago I began to have vague urgings to do just that. And then I was talking with my friend, Ron. He was having the same vague urgings to write the story of his life. And so, we began, supporting each other’s process.
The point of the book is to encourage folks (like with my psychotherapy) to pursue their own passion in spirituality. What speaks to them? What opens their heart? I feel that there are many ways to connect with Source energy. Just as there are many cultures. My sense is it’s all about the same Light, the same Love. And your unique take on it is precious and needed in this world. That all of our diversity creates a marvelous tapestry of creation here on this planet.
As someone who leads meditations and communicates with Light Beings, how do you guide individuals who are new to spiritual exploration in connecting with their own inner light and love?
We find out what speaks to them. Is it nature or a church or something they’ve thought about for a long time but never pursued? The idea is that Light/Pure Love creation is always speaking to us in a way that we can hear or feel or see. It’s individual according to our nature.
Listen to your gut. What are you drawn to? Get quiet. Use breath work to help center yourself. Sit by a river or under a tree by yourself and listen to the wind, the water, the birds, your inner voice. What do you feel? Some of us are drawn to church. What church makes you feel great? And keep at it. Keep listening inside. If your feel like taking a right turn, try it out. You can always come back to the original place. And maybe the right turn is there to add to your information/experience, not switch it.
You also host talks on YouTube. What topics do you find most resonate with your audience during your YouTube talks, and how do you decide on the themes or subjects you cover in your videos?
The title of our podcast is Love Lights the Way (named by my son!). The aim of it is to empower people physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I interview people who I feel are helping others in one or more of those ways and who have interesting personal stories about how they came to do the work they do.
We have our first podcast uploaded so far (‘Dying Made Easy”). We have had good feedback on that one. It gives people good information for them to use when they are in a similar situation. We are in the process of editing other podcast sessions we have recorded. They will be uploaded as soon as they are complete!!
In A Touch of Light, you discuss the importance of living in day-to-day awareness of Source. Can you elaborate on some practical steps or practices that readers can incorporate into their daily lives to achieve this awareness?
Find a time every day, if possible, to spend quiet time with yourself. Five minutes is good! I meditate every day. The time varies according to what I am doing that day. I love to give it an hour if I can.
Go into nature – walk somewhere with trees, a creek, river, ocean, wilder than the city. Parks are good. Let nature soothe and speak to you. We are nature so the more we can be in it, connect with it, we will be more connected to Source. Nature is created by Source energy.
Find music that helps balance and calm you. There are a lot of musical pieces that soothe the soul. I use works from Jonathan Goldman or Stephen Halpern or others who create their music to harmonize the chakras or balance and align the energy fields. Much of the classical music does this too. What resonates with you? Or is it vocal music, maybe with beautiful harmonies from a choir – I love the One Voice Children’s Choir or the Stellenbosch Choir from South Africa. There are many others.
Taking time for yourself is the main thing. Do you need to spend quality time with your dog or child or partner. What opens and nurtures your heart? Source is Pure Love. What helps you connect with Love?
“Find a time every day, if possible, to spend quiet time with yourself. Five minutes is good!”
The book mentions releasing non-helpful mental and emotional patterns. What are some common patterns you have observed in your work, and how do you guide individuals in overcoming them?
Many of us didn’t get the nurturing we needed as kids. Because our parents didn’t know better – they most likely didn’t get it themselves. We are mammals. So as babies we need to be touched and tended to in a good enough way. Not perfect because that relates to anxiety in the caregiver. We want the baby, young child, to experience imperfect, but good enough caregiving. That way they learn to trust that, even if the parent is not right there instantly when they need them every moment (when they are hungry, wet, cold, etc.) that the parent will come and take care of them. They can count on it. The first task (according to Abraham Maslow, psychologist) of the baby is learning to trust. Everything else in development builds on that. When trust occurs, the baby is calmer, happier, and begins to grow inner security. They begin to learn that they are valuable and loveable.
When we don’t have the nurturing we need we develop defenses. When we are cold or hungry as a baby and no one comes repeatedly, we may get angry or sad and lose hope. These feelings can persist throughout life sometimes buried deeply in the unconscious. We may develop persistent negative ideas about ourselves in response to those feelings/experiences. We may try to counteract the uncomfortable feelings with behaviors that dull the emotion we don’t want to feel. Like we may become an angry child and throw tantrums trying to finally get attention! We may decide that we’re not good enough (this is a very common struggle with folks). We may become depressed. We may feel that we’re too much for others to handle. We may get into addiction to soothe the pain. Those are a few of the struggles we could have.
I like to get to the core of the issue if people are willing. I use EMDR (eye movement desensitization and restructuring) to uncover and heal deep wounds. We also use EFT – emotional freedom technique (tapping on the acupuncture points while connecting to the pain). These two styles help to shift emotions and thoughts to those that are healthier while healing the pain inside. We also can use writing, art, any kind of creative venture where someone can express how they feel. The latter I encourage folks to do on their own anytime to keep working on it.
You talk about loving and accepting one’s sensitive nature as a gift. How did you come to this realization in your own journey, and what advice do you have for others who may struggle with embracing their sensitivity?
I’ve come to see it as a gift. I found in my own journey that when I listened to my gut or some vague inner feeling that felt good, that I was led down a path that supported me. I once lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I had a vague feeling to move to northern California. There was nothing concrete or substantive about it. My sister lived there, but she was doing her own life. I noticed the feeling but didn’t act on it. It persisted for a year; it never left. So, I decided to follow it. I moved to northern California. When I arrived in San Francisco I could feel that here was my new home. And I have never left except for a short time living in Arizona. It was the right move. That’s only one example.
Many people have been told “you’re too sensitive!” And so, they may not like this part of themselves.
The dilemma in a person gets to be that they try to shut it down in order to be acceptable to others. So, we explore what that sensitivity gives them – more information about the world, for instance. More connection to their inner guidance once they trust it.
As a result of being told they’re ‘Too much’ or ‘defective’ because of this good sensitivity, a person feels bad about themselves and sometimes tries to please others to try and get some positive energy and affirmation coming their way.
But really, that doesn’t work. Because it’s always only coming from outside them. It’s temporary. The inside doubt about themselves persists.
So then, if a person wants, it becomes the work of growing themselves, not to please others, but because they want to feel good about themselves and find their truth. It means learning about healthy boundaries, loving yourself, releasing the negative input you got over your lifetime.
Working in therapy or some other style is very helpful. Because we don’t see ourselves clearly. Having a third person who is objective and caring to guide and support us on our journey of self-discovery and healing makes things much easier and quicker.
Your journey from feeling unfulfilled to discovering a deep connection with love and creation is truly inspiring. How has sharing your personal story in A Touch of Light impacted your relationship with your readers and your own personal growth?
It’s been truly an amazing journey! I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback about the book and that’s affirming and heartwarming for me. People have said they appreciate the conversational style of the book and the ideas in there that they can experiment with in their own lives.
My publisher sent an email about applying for a book award. So, I did. And started applying for a number of them. I have gotten 5 awards so far. And that’s amazing and also very affirming. Recently I received two beautiful reviews for the book. I was on the front cover of a magazine. I never expected any of this to happen. It has blown me away as I receive these affirmations. I am humbled and grateful. And it has allowed me to receive love more fully. I was always active, always helping others (even as a kid helping to take care of my siblings). My career has been about that too.
The people who are creating a movie inspired by the book have also been affirming and I am grateful to them.
Not everyone will like what I have written. But that’s ok. Everything doesn’t resonate with everyone.
So, to receive in a beautiful way is very good for me. We can’t breathe out without breathing back in again. It helps me balance my energy, my yin with my yang. It helps me relax and let the love in. Not only from my meditations (which are only getting more powerful) but from people in the world. This has helped me to grow more as a person. I am fed by others and so am more whole.
