Who Was Syd Banks?

Mind and wellbeing, of course, come under health. Feeling good in your head is just as important as the endorphin rush of working out or stepping on the scales and seeing you’ve lost 15 pounds!

What triggered today’s thoughts was reading a capable new book by Michael Neill. It’s called The Inside Out Revolution (published by Hay House, 2013).

The whole book is to introduce a little-known spark of psychology (even I had never heard of it) called “The Three Principles”. It’s nothing to do with the Three Commitments of Pema Chodron or The Three Agreements of Don Miguel Reiz. Let me explain.

This new psychology was founded by a Scottish welder called Syd Banks (the other Scottish welder we all know is comedian Billy Connolly, right?) Apparently Banks had an enlightenment experience and was able to pass this on usefully to others; not all gurus can. Michael Neill came across the teachings and went off to the commune training in Canada. Apparently he found it really good. I know Michael Neill’s work and so I read the book with a receptive mind.

I’m not going to try and précis the work of Michael Neill or Syd Banks. But I will share with you The Three Principles, because I find them inept and a little confusing. Perhaps there is something in the way it is taught that makes them so successful in practice. I do not dispute that they work well for those engaged in the work; many healing transformations have taken place. Continue reading →