Previous Newsletters

17 August 2020

Visions of Joy News!

- 20th Anniversary of Visions of Joy!
- A new podcast interview with Esther
- Practical Advice for Tired Eyes
- Macular Degeneration – An Ophthalmologist finds the cause
- Upcoming Events
- Optimal Eyesight continues to receive 5-star reviews

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!  I hope you enjoy this irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

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20th Anniversary of Visions of Joy!
It is exactly 20 years ago today that I completed the Natural Vision Educator training with Tom Quackenbush in San Francisco.  It’s been an amazing two decades in which I continued to learn and grow.  I’ve had lots of fun, met hundreds of colleagues, traveled extensively to teach vision classes in 20 states and 10 countries, attended 20 professional conferences, and I somehow managed to help twice as many pupils as students see better over the years... ☺

A sincere THANK YOU to all who have contributed to my journey, whether as colleagues, students, friends or family; you’ve made these two decades super special!  I trust the coming decade will feature lots of Better Eyesight League podcasts (see below) and I plan to continue teaching and spreading natural vision improvement farther and wider.  Stay tuned for updates via my (still dinosaur, but extensive) website and via this (still irregular, but useful) newsletter.

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A Podcast Interview with Esther
Here is an excellent new interview about my work of helping people improve their eyesight naturally. This is probably the best podcast I've had the pleasure of doing so far. Lucas of Quax Podcast had great questions, which helped make this interview a real pleasure to listen to. Enjoy!

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Practical Advice for Tired Eyes
With Optimal Eyesight finally published and then Ms Corona reducing my workload for a while, I finally had time to write an article again!  Here are my top seven tips for visual relaxation to keep your eyes free from strain.  Enjoy.  

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Macular Degeneration – an Ophthalmologist finds the cause
Thanks to a listener of One Radio Network, I recently came across the work of Chris Knobbe, M.D., an ophthalmologist who specializes in treating macular degeneration.  His research points to diet at the root cause of macular degeneration, and, once you understand the cause, it follows that both prevention and cure have a much better chance of success.  Here are several links to Dr. Knobbe’s work for anyone interested in keeping their eyes (and body) healthy for a long life.
Book: Ancestral Dietary Strategy to Prevent and Treat Macular Degeneration
Videos: Video 1 on ARMD and diet and video 2 (40 minutes each)
Website: www.CureAMD.org

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Upcoming Events
- Better Eyesight Podcast completes its first year!  Each month, exactly one year after its original publication, your hosts Nathan Oxenfeld and myself, along with guest readers from the international holistic vision community, read one of Dr. Bates’ original Better Eyesight magazines.  You can simply listen in, enjoy learning the traditional Bates Method from this wealth of material, and you can even take part in the monthly magazine discussion as a "patreon."  This 'event' runs from July 2019 to June 2030. (Yes, 2030, that's not a typo... ☺)
Come join us for the next ten years! 

- AVE 5th Professional Conference - 1-5 October 2020
Due to Ms Corona, we have moved this conference into an online format, which means many more colleagues will be able to join us this year!  This is an event for vision educators only.

- Holistic Vision Summit on World Sight Day - 8 October 2020 – Free Event!
This event is open to anyone: it is for those completely new to vision improvement as well as for seasoned students and teachers alike.  Various speakers (including Esther) are followed by the world premier screening of the documentary Vision 2020: From Eyesight to Insight.

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Last, but not least, Optimal Eyesight continues to get 5-star reviews like this one which was posted by Kay on Amazon last week, and I just want to share it with you, along with my congratulations to Kay for this wonderful result! 
Clear Vision!
This book is amazing! I am seeing daily vision improvements and went from -4.00 diopter glasses to now going all day with just my naked eyes.♥ Esther teaches you how to overcome your self-limiting beliefs and how to relax to clear vision.♥♥♥

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, please share it with your friends!

Enjoy your path to clarity.

Love,
Esther

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement  

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12 December 2019

Visions of Joy News!

- In memoriam - Dr. Roberto Kaplan
- Optimal Eyesight - Hardcover version available!
- A new radio interview with Esther
- 2020 - Events and new group classes to look forward to

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!  I hope you enjoy this irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

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In memoriam - Dr. Roberto Kaplan
The entire vision education community was stunned at the news of Dr. Roberto Kaplan's passing two days ago.  Roberto had presented a passionate lecture and led a workshop at the recent International Holistic Vision Conference in Germany, and none of us who attended this conference would have guessed that he'd no longer be with us just two months later.  He was very well-known in the vision improvement world and authored various books - The Power Behind Your Eyes, Seeing Beyond 20/20, Conscious Seeing, and Seeing Without Glasses.  As a community, we send condolences to his family, and we are grateful for the many years Roberto devoted to helping countless people see better without glasses.

Group photo taken by Roberto Kaplan at the 2019 conference.
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Optimal Eyesight - Hardcover version available!
I'm delighted that the hardcover books have arrived and look absolutely beautiful!  These hardcovers are printed with 28 pages of color illustrations.  If you would like to order a copy of Optimal Eyesight or any other of my books and would like it to arrive before Christmas, please order soon! 

Optimal Eyesight is also available in the following stores: 
In Ojai, CA - Rainbow Warehouse, and Poppies Art and Gifts, both on Matilija Ave. 
In Montecito, CA - Tecolote Book Shop, at 1470 East Valley Rd.
In Santa Barbara, CA - Chaucer's Books, at 3321 State Street.
Besides Amazon.com, other bookstores that carry it are: Barnes and Noble, Alibris, AbeBooks, Better World Books, IndieBound, and Book Depository.
In the Netherlands you'll now also find it at bol.com.

ERRATUM:  Unfortunately, after going to print, I found an error in Chapter 23 of Optimal Eyesight - it's in a paragraph which I originally wrote correctly but then doubted my knowledge when an eye doctor's claim contradicted what I had written.  So I thought about the difference, got myself thoroughly confused, "corrected my mistake" and had the books printed, only to then find out I was right all along and I shouldn't have "corrected" anything...  Oh well; live and learn.  You'll find the erratum on my website.  Books ordered via Amazon.com on/after November 15 have the correct paragraph, and the already printed color-illustrated paperback and hardcover books now have an insert with the correct text.  My apologies to the early buyers - please check the corrected text!

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A new radio interview with Esther
Patrick Timpone of One Radio Network interviewed me a few weeks ago. You can listen to this fun and informative talk which includes some questions from the audience.  Plus, you will find several other of my TV and radio interviews here.

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2020 - Events and new group classes to look forward to
2020 is the year of good vision!  Take your eyesight to the next level and attend some classes, workshops or conferences that will improve your sight!  My schedule for 2020 is now up on my website, and although it may look a little bare right now, new group classes will be added in the very near future, so check back soon for more.  As of 14 December I will be taking a few weeks off for self-care, which will allow me to come back in full force in the new year.  Don't worry; I will be checking email regularly to make sure any orders get mailed to you as soon as possible. 
I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season, and great vision in 2020!

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, please share it with your friends!

Enjoy your path to clarity.

Love,
Esther

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement  

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6 November 2019

Visions of Joy News!

- Welcome!
- Optimal Eyesight receives great reviews!
- Interview about reversing astigmatism
- Save the dates - 2020 vision conferences

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!  I hope you enjoy this irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

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OPTIMAL EYESIGHT RECEIVES GREAT REVIEWS!
(AND IT'S NOW AVAILABLE WITH COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS!)
Those who pre-ordered the Optimal Eyesight paperback with color illustrations have already received their books in the mail.  If you have been waiting for this book to become available, you can buy it now!  See www.OptimalEyesight.com for ordering information.



Also, you can already pre-order the hardcover book with color illustrations, as I am expecting those to arrive on November 22nd.  And I'm making you a special deal for the hardcover book!  Anyone who pre-orders the hardcover book by November 21st will get free shipping within the USA, or $5 discount for shipping costs abroad. Go here to purchase Optimal Eyesight.

Great reviews from readers of OPTIMAL EYESIGHT:
I bought your book & was impressed by how reasonable and easy-to-absorb it all was. I started on my path with the Janet Goodrich books, and your book finally made me realize that her approach to sketching induced a new kind of strain. Tom Quackenbush's book was the best until I read yours, and it's head and shoulders above--far more practical, clear, actionable.
I wanted to let you know that I’ve already gotten a ton of benefit from your book. In particular, I finally understand and can successfully practice swinging and blinking in ways that decrease the strain, and which improve acuity measurably, for a while at least.
C.J., Chicago, IL

I wanted to let you know that I started reading your book yesterday. Wow! It's the best book I've ever read on natural vision! I've read lots of Bates stuff & at least 10+ books by various authors. I'll post a review on Amazon when I finish it. I absolutely love your conversational style as well as your simple approach. I've already started incorporating your ideas & know that I'll be seeing improvements soon.
I read more last night & I'm even more excited! This book is truly a treasure & will be my "go to" from now on, not only for me but for my family members as well.
I've read Thomas Quackenbush's book at least 3-4 times so I can only imagine how many times I will read yours as I find it MUCH MORE practical. So practical that I probably won't need a Skype session with you. Of all the books I've read on Bates, this one has really "clicked" for me as you've managed to confirm many of my thoughts on the topic as well as answered all of the questions I was going to ask you on Skype! All the other books I've read have left me with more questions than answers. Thank you so much for the time & energy you put into this project. It's certainly a beautiful legacy in many ways!
Brenda Peter, Preston, CT

The first glowing reviews are coming in on AMAZON too!
"Momto6" gives the book 5 stars and writes:
Best book on improving your natural eyesight!
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would! Of all the many books I've read on restoring natural eyesight, this one is the best by far. The author did an outstanding job conveying her years of knowledge in a very conversational, warm, simple as well as practical manner. I walked away from the book with a lot of peace and confidence knowing that if I pick 1 or 2 techniques that help relax my eyes then that is enough for now. I can always go back when I need some new "tricks" as this book has everything I'll need to guide me to the "finish line". Initially I was put off by the price of the book, but the breathing exercises alone are worth every penny. Buy it. You won't be disappointed!!  

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INTERVIEW ABOUT REVERSING ASTIGMATISM
Last year I was interviewed by my colleague Nathan Oxenfeld on the topic of reversing astigmatism. Astigmatism is a common condition in the eye which can create blurred and double images. It is typically treated with glasses that have a "cylinder" ground into the lenses. This only reinforces the problem, but there is a better solution - a way of releasing the strain that caused the astigmatism so you can see with clarity again!
If you have astigmatism and want to know what causes it and how to overcome it, please watch this video interview; you'll gain a much better understanding of it than you are likely to get from your eye doctor. 
(p.s. Optimal Eyesight has a whole chapter on reversing astigmatism too...)

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SAVE THE DATES: 2020 VISION CONFERENCES
There will be two vision conferences in the magical 20/20 vision year of 2020!
The first Latin-American holistic vision conference takes place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 21-24 February 2020 and is open to the public. You'll find details on this conference here.

The other 20/20 vision conference will be held in Litchfield, CT, USA, from 30 September to 4 October 2020. Although this one is mainly for Vision Educators, the Saturday of this event (3 October) is open to the public and we'd love to see you there! More information can be found here.
I will be speaking at both of these conferences, so save these dates if you are interested in joining me for either one.

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, please share it with your friends!

Enjoy your path to clarity.

Love,
Esther

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement  

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21 September 2019

Visions of Joy News!

- Welcome!
- Optimal Eyesight is now available on Amazon!
- Classes in Europe in September and October

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!  I hope you enjoy this irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

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OPTIMAL EYESIGHT IS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!
Yes, that's me in the above photo: proudly showing off the proof copy of my new book!  Since its recent launch as e-book, Optimal Eyesight has now also become available in paperback on Amazon.com and can be purchased through them in many countries around the world.  Due to printing costs on Amazon, this paperback book has all gray-scale images.  Amazon's "Look Inside" feature for this book will be available in a few days, so you will soon be able to 'browse through it' before you place it in your cart. 

In one more month the color-illustrated version of Optimal Eyesight will also become available and can then be purchased here on my website.
I will send out a reminder about this around October 21st, so keep an eye on your inbox...  

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CLASSES IN EUROPE IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
I have arrived in the Netherlands and will be teaching group classes in Castricum and Harderwijk this week before continuing on to Germany to give a workshop at the 27th International Holistic Vision Conference held in Oberursel, near Frankfurt.  The Harderwijk class is full, the Castricum class still has a few spaces available, as does the weekend workshop in Italy in October. Here you'll find details on these group classes in the Netherlands and Italy, while the conference information is here and at https://ikgs2019.de/. 

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Wishing you all a happy equinox!

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, please share it with your friends!

Enjoy your path to clarity.

Love,
Esther

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement  

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4 September 2019

Visions of Joy News!

- Welcome!
- New book release – Optimal Eyesight is Ready for You!
- Esther’s Updates 
- Classes in Europe in September and October
- Join the Better Eyesight League

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! There has been a long absence of newsletters, and there are many new subscribers.  I hope you enjoy this irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

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NEW BOOK RELEASE – OPTIMAL EYESIGHT IS READY FOR YOU!
The reason you have not received any newsletters from me for more than two years is that I promised myself that I would finish my new book first, and then tell you all about it!  Well, TODAY IS THAT DAY: Optimal Eyesight is coming out into the world!  

Today would also have been my late colleague Robert Lichtman’s 50th birthday.  Known to me as Bobby, he was not just a colleague, he was a dear friend and my brainstorming partner for anything to do with eyesight improvement and the Bates Method.  Bobby’s passing in February 2015 is part of the reason that I felt I had to make a more serious attempt at finishing my book, as he was unable to finish writing his masterpiece.  Bobby is still very much missed by his family and by me, but today, we celebrate his life, with the release of my new book, called Optimal Eyesight – How to Restore and Retain Great Vision.  My book is dedicated to Bobby, in gratitude for his influence on my work. 

I hope Optimal Eyesight will help you understand better what creates blurry vision, how to release eyestrain that contributes to visual challenges, and how to take good care of your eyes naturally.  I have found that using the techniques described in the book, nearly everyone can overcome the need for glasses or contact lenses or much reduce their dependency on such crutches.  As the paperback book is at the printer right now and will be available in just a few weeks, today I release the e-book in PDF format, which is available from my website – as of NOW!  Go look at it here; purchase the e-book now or wait a few weeks for the paperback or hardcover, and when you’ve read it, let me know what you think!

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ESTHER’S UPDATES
Besides the major update of my new book coming out, there have obviously been a ton of things I could have reported in the last couple of years.  Now that book writing is no longer at the top of my to-do list, I will gradually catch you up on a few things in the coming months.  In brief: I lived through the Thomas Fire which surrounded my home in Upper Ojai in December 2017 and I spent months helping to clean up the mess it left.  I also “enjoyed” a couple of concussions, the more recent one slowed my life down for many months this year, but I am glad to say I have recovered from that too.

The Visions of Joy website is about to become mobile-friendly, so bear with me as that is being converted and you’ll soon have a better experience visiting me online. 

Last year I quietly published another e-book – The Bates Method View of Strabismus/Squint, which is available as a PDF e-book and can be ordered by clicking on the title of the book.

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CLASSES IN EUROPE IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
Next week I fly to Europe and will be teaching group classes in the Netherlands and Italy, plus I will give a workshop at the 27th International Holistic Vision Conference held in Oberursel, near Frankfurt, Germany. 

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JOIN THE BETTER EYESIGHT LEAGUE
This summer I teamed up with my colleague, Nathan Oxenfeld, to re-start the Better Eyesight League which originally was started by patients of Dr. Bates in March 1922.  The League’s aim back in 1922 was to educate the public and spread Dr. Bates’ methods throughout the world.  Instead of monthly gatherings in Dr. Bates’ office in New York, the 2019 version of the League is a modern podcast, which you can join from anywhere in the world.  Its aim is the same – to educate the public and spread the word that eyesight can be improved naturally.  Each month’s podcast includes a reading of one of Dr. Bates’ Better Eyesight magazines, exactly 100 years after its first publication.  We started in July 2019 by reading the very first magazine Dr. Bates published in July 1919.  We plan to continue each month for a total of eleven years, until all 132 of Dr. Bates’ Better Eyesight magazines have been read aloud and can be listened to at your convenience.  Come join the League – head over to our podcast here: https://www.bettereyesightpodcast.com/ and https://www.patreon.com/bettereyesight

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, please share it with your friends!

Enjoy your path to clarity.

Love,
Esther

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement  

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21 December 2016

Visions of Joy News!

- Welcome!
- Happy Birthday to Dr. Bates on Friday!
- Esther’s Updates
- Special news for vision teachers
- Congratulations!
- Bad diet can lead to blindness

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

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HAPPY 156TH BIRTHDAY TO DR. BATES - 23 DECEMBER 2016
I like to send a newsletter on Dr. Bates' birthday, but as I will be traveling to Europe for Christmas you are receiving this a few days early. Now that my new book is closer to getting done I appreciate Dr. Bates' wisdom more and more as I keep digging back into his extensive written legacy. I expect a grand revival of the Bates method in my lifetime, so, watch this space!

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ESTHER’S UPDATES
I have traveled a lot this past year, which cut down on sending newsletters, but I expect next year you will hear from me a bit more often! You'll see the 2017 schedule is now up on my website.

The Optimist magazine with whom I made the online video course on 'How to improve your eyesight naturally' tells me it is their best-selling program, and they will be promoting it again in January 2017. It has been getting great reviews as many people find the advice provided to be very useful and applicable for their own vision. You can still get a 10% discount through my website until the Optimist tells me that code is no longer valid, so get it now...

For those of you who wonder what happened to Tom Quackenbush's website, Tom has retired and is taking time for himself after over 30 years of teaching the Bates method. I am grateful I trained with him and wish him all the best for the future.

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SPECIAL NEWS FOR VISION TEACHERS
The Teacher Training in Italy in July 2016 was a huge success and I'm receiving requests for more continuing education courses. I would love to teach this 5-day class in the USA in the coming year and an update regarding that will go out to current teachers on my list. If you would like to have a class in Europe again too, please email me.

Along with my dear colleague Rosemary Gaddum-Gordon, a new VETI (Vision Educators Training Institute) teacher certification training is being planned for 2018. This is a complete course for anyone interested in becoming a vision educator. If you want the best possible start in a rewarding new career, this course is for you! More information will be posted here in the new year.

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CONGRATULATIONS!
People so often tell me of their wonderful vision progress that it is normal for me to hear about eyesight improving, but for many people it is not. So I will share a few recent stories from my students.

* Congratulations to Mariëlle in the Netherlands who took part in the video course I created this year. After watching 3 of the 4 sessions and practicing relaxed ways of seeing she wrote: "I already have some results from relaxing and trying not to stare etc. (start: 5 / 40 and two weeks later: 5 / 20 +3). Regards, Mariëlle C."
Mariëlle started the course with -2.00 diopters of myopia combined with -0.75 of astigmatism. The numbers she provides show that she more than doubled her vision acuity in just two weeks, a great result!

* Congratulations to Anne Olson in Oregon, USA, who took the email course this summer. She says:
"I have noticed a significant improvement in my distance vision in general. Improvement in my vision as measured by a vision chart has been slow but it is there! This is a great class with a lot of good content! A great compilation of Bates Methods activities and techniques combined with individualized attention from an experienced, warm, and thoughtful vision improvement instructor!"
Anne is in her late 60s, her eyes have been highly myopic (-8D) for most of her life and she had double vision. She also was dealing with cataract in one eye. Natural Vision lessons solved the double vision issue she had and during the 3 months she took for this email course her vision acuity significantly improved from right eye 5/100, left eye 5/200, to seeing 5/40 with each eye.

That’s why I love my work! These are just a few recent examples and, as you may know from previous newsletters, they are not the only success stories. Congratulations go to all my students, even if only for having an open mind and a willingness to try something different. Not everyone sees fast improvements, yet many benefits become evident over time, and every step is so worth-while. Keep enjoying your path to clarity!

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BAD DIET CAN LEAD TO BLINDNESS
A 14 year old boy in Perth, Australia, was going blind and a variety of local eye doctors and hospitals could not help him until his mother took him to a specialist in Sydney. The professor they met there had worked in Kenya and was familiar with symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency. As it turned out, the boy's problem was his fussy eating habits since age 5 - nothing except chicken, potatoes, dry bread and Coke - which had left him so malnourished he was going blind.
You can read the full story here.
Most diets are not that bad, yet many people have a hard time giving up one of the biggest nutritional roadblocks to good vision - an addiction to sugar and artificial sweeteners. In a recent class with a student in Wisconsin I explained that her sugar addiction did not need to be hard to overcome. She had tried to quit sugar in the past, had felt deprived, and failed to stick to her good intentions. There is an easy solution! I view the sugar issue this way:
Your body does need sugar, and a sugar craving is a built-in warning signal when you run low on this essential fuel. Yet what your body is truly asking for is sugar that comes with all the trimmings - a wholesome helping of vitamins and minerals - which are supposed to come along with the sugar! Fresh fruit is what your body truly craves; fruit is the original answer to a sugar craving. When you answer that craving with empty calories from refined sugars, you are starving your cells from what they were hoping to get, so you stay hungry for sweets, and you head for disaster instead of health. Once you switch to using fresh fruit whenever the sugar craving pops up, you are feeding your cells what they truly need - sugar and an impressive line-up of additional nutrients. When you choose fruit to satisfy the sugar craving you will soon find it easy to stay away from the artificial sweeteners, and you may find the cravings for sugar-laced junk foods become less and less as your body becomes truly nourished by the minerals and vitamins provided by fresh fruit.
With this point of view on the sugar issue my student has found new inspiration to overcome her sugar addiction. She finds switching to fruit makes total sense and she does not feel deprived this time around. I expect she will succeed and she will be able to maintain her steady progress to clear vision because she is now getting the nourishment her cells have been asking for.

If you are diabetic and have learned to 'fear' fruit, please first read Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book "The End of Diabetes". My dear friend Bonnie recently switched to Dr. Fuhrman's "Eat to Live" diet and within a few weeks her doctor took her off insulin and within two months he declared she was completely cured from diabetes!

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, please share it with your friends!

I wish everyone happy and healthy holidays!
Enjoy your path to clarity.

Love,
Esther

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement  

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14 April 2016

Visions of Joy News!

- Welcome!
- Esther’s Updates
- The new EYEPORT is available now!
- Special news for vision teachers
- To fail to see requires an effort – W.H. Bates, M.D.

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time! We have about 200 new subscribers so far this year, so I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

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THE NEW EYEPORT IS AVAILABLE
Since the original Eyeport went out of production in 2014 I’ve had many requests for them that I could not fulfil. Thankfully the Bernell company has started to make an improved version, called the Eyeport II, with a tripod stand and USB power connector. For those not familiar with the Eyeport, it is a vision training machine that uses red/blue lights to stimulate relaxed focus and shifting in both eyes which helps with a variety of functional vision challenges, especially promoting binocular vision. So if you wanted to buy an Eyeport but missed out before, here is your chance to get one now!
The first units have just arrived here in Ojai and can be mailed to you this week! They cost $269.95 plus postage. You’ll find more information about the Eyeport here.

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ESTHER’S UPDATES
I was excited to see that my book Read Without Glasses At Any Age (along with its Italian sister Leggere Senza Occhiali) recently passed the 1000 copies sold mark. I’m currently working a lot on the new Optimal Eyesight book for those with myopia and astigmatism, and will keep you up to date when I get closer to its publication date.
Coming up are a few vision improvement workshops - one at Centrum Bubishi in Brunssum, the Netherlands (25 June), and one at Montegrotto Terme near Venice, Italy (2-3 July). Inquire for more information.

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SPECIAL NEWS FOR VISION TEACHERS
Today I also sent a newsletter just for vision teachers. It has information on the continuing education seminar that I will give in Italy (11-15 July, at Montegrotto Terme near Venice); plus an invitation to the 3rd Professional AVE Conference in Boulder Colorado (15-18 September) and a link to the 84th International Conference on Light and Vision (syntonics) in Indianapolis, 7-11 June 2016. If you receive this email but not the vision teacher edition, and you are a teacher who would like to receive these special updates, please email me.

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TO FAIL TO SEE REQUIRES AN EFFORT
To fail to see requires an effort. When the patient regards the letters which are so blurred and indistinct that he cannot tell what they are, he is always straining, trying to see, either consciously or unconsciously. People are cured of their imperfect sight when they cease to strain, stare, or make an effort to see. When I explained this to one of my patients, she said that I was wrong, that the only way she could see was by means of an effort. I had her test the facts. When she looked at the Snellen test card at ten feet, she could not read it with normal vision. At five feet her vision was better, but when she made an effort, her vision became much worse. The same was true when she regarded letters at a nearer point, three feet, two feet, or even one foot. An effort to see always made her sight worse. She had to demonstrate the facts repeatedly before she was finally convinced that her vision was good only when her eyes were at rest and no effort was made.

W.H. Bates, M.D., Better Eyesight magazine, September 1926

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News, please share it with your friends!
Enjoy your path to clarity.

Love,
Esther

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23 December 2015

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome!
- The Optimist - Magazine Article and Online Video Course
- Esther’s Updates
- Congratulations!
- Pinhole Glasses offer
- Celebrating Dr. Bates’ birthday today

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

This is the first time that the Newsletter is sent out via Mailchimp. This automation allows you to easily subscribe and unsubscribe, change your email address if you want, and it saves me time, so I hope it works well!

It has been five months since the last newsletter, and that makes this one rather filled full with new items! I have been so busy that it’s been a challenge to keep up with emails, but I hope to catch up during this Christmas break, so if you are awaiting a reply, it will come soon!

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THE OPTIMIST - MAGAZINE ARTICLE AND ONLINE VIDEO COURSE
The Optimist magazine recently published an article on the Bates Method and they invited me to offer an online video course for their subscribers and my students. I have not done this before and am excited to create it! The course will be in four segments; four Fridays in a row, starting 29 January 2016. I will cover many vision improvement techniques to help a wide range of functional vision issues, and each session will end with a chance for participants to ask questions. If you are interested in taking part, you will get a 10% discount if you sign up through Visions of Joy!

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ESTHER’S UPDATES
2015 has been an incredibly busy year with a few remarkable ‘firsts’! - My book ‘Read Without Glasses at Any Age’ saw its first translation (into Italian); I organized my first vision educators (AVE) conference; and I traveled to Spain for the first time to speak at the International Holistic Vision Conference last month.
Coming up in 2016 are the above mentioned online video course (another first!); a few vision improvement workshops - one at Centrum Bubishi in Brunssum, the Netherlands, and one in Camposampiero, Italy (in June / July); a teacher training week (11-15 July) in Italy; the 3rd Professional AVE Conference in Boulder Colorado (16-18 September); and a new look to the Visions of Joy website which will become mobile-friendly! More things are in the pipeline, they will be announced later on. Yes, I’m keeping busy...

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CONGRATULATIONS!
People so often tell me of their wonderful vision progress that it is normal for me to hear about eyesight improving, but for many people it is not. So I will share a few recent stories from my students. There are more from the past 5 months but I will l limit it to just five to keep this section ‘short’.

* Congratulations to Kimberly Wulfert in Ojai who I met at an event in Santa Barbara. We got talking, she bought my book Read Without Glasses at Any Age, and she started to lower the power of her reading glasses by herself. She sent an email recently just to say: I’m doing pretty well at 2.00 lens now, started at 3.25. I’m so happy about this!

* Congratulations to Jane B. in England whose vision steadily improved while taking the email course. She wrote this after completing the 5th lesson:
Dear Esther, This whole process is so exciting! My vision seems to be so much better when I am outside walking, it seems almost that everything in the distance is clearer than it was when I was wearing contacts. I don't know how that can be! But it is such a joyful feeling. I have walked a lot this week along the coast, and love looking at the rocks, pebbles and the waves with such clarity and depth.
Love, Jane

* Congratulations to Nalini R. (52) in Tomales, CA who took the email course and wrote:
Hi Esther,
Vision is continuing to clear. I've been working on the computer without glasses and my vision improves daily. One day at the computer I tried putting on the -3/-2.5 pairs of glasses and my eyes nearly rebelled! I could feel the headache and eye strain coming back. It feels like my eyes are willing to clear if I just don't put glasses on them...
I can feel my eyes starting to move naturally on their own now too. I understand what your student from Spain meant by that. [Nora U, see July 2015 Newsletter.] I go for long walks in the morning past sheep farms and this morning I was amazed at how my eyes just realized how to move and see clearly.
Thanks for everything, you have my eternal gratitude...
Nalini

Congratulations to J.K in Idaho who I wrote about in the March 1 newsletter. He sent this update in August:
Esther,
I hope you remember me as its been a long time since I last contacted you; its me J, the kid from Idaho. I have some good news to share with you, as I have been enjoying the fruits of relaxed and effortless vision.
I am proud to announce that I can read the 20/15 line from 20-22 feet away ( I measured). One day my right eye could even pick out a few letters on the 20/10 line! It is truly amazing how well you see when you don't try to see!! Thankfully the habit of trying not to see is already very strong within me, and only very rarely do I find myself trying to see ( which I quickly correct).
I have also had a few more bonuses using this relaxed vision. I have several floaters in both eyes, which, as you can imagine is very annoying. This new relaxed vision, gets rid of them virtually instantly, using blinking, shifting, and trying not to see. Now only very rarely do I see my floaters!! Let me tell you its very nice to look up into that sapphire blue sky and see nothing but endless blue, minus those floaters!! I am also not as sensitive to sunlight as I used to be, sunning really helps.
I would like to thank you immensely for all your help and all the information on your website!!!
J.

Congratulations to Ulla Y. in Finland who proves that vision improvement does not always come quickly but it is worth the wait and persistence pays! On 19 August 2015 she wrote to me:
Dear Esther! I have to tell you these great news!
I started with you in December 2013. My vision then was
Both eyes: 3 / 40
Left eye: 3 / 50
Right eye: 3 / 80
This morning it was for the first time
Both eyes: 3 / 5 (!!!!!!!!!!!)
Left eye: 3 / 10
Right eye: 3 / 10
I'm so happy with these results!! I think my vision might be about -2 & -2,25 right now. (Ulla started at -4.50 and this improvement equates to going from 8% of normal vision to 60% with both eyes in less than 2 years; a huge improvement. ~ EJvdW)
The process with my vision seems to be veeeeeeeery slow (there have been times I'm wondering if anything is really happening?!), but this 3 / 5 gives me new confirm that yes, it's all the time going on. I've been very conscious and enthusiastic about this process all the time. My eyes are every day in my mind. Things are clearer and I've been meditating regularly :)
All the best for you, Huge Thanks again,
I'll tell you more great news again!! (even though, it can take time ;)
Love, Ulla (Finland)

That's why I love my work! These are just a few recent examples and, as you may know from previous newsletters, they are not the only success stories. Congratulations go to all my students, even if only for having an open mind and a willingness to try something different. Not everyone sees fast improvements, yet many benefits become evident over time, and every step is so worth-while. Keep enjoying your path to clarity!

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PINHOLE GLASSES OFFER
One more time I offer the new style pinhole glasses at a discount, only while supplies last, or until 31 January 2016, whichever comes first!
Go look at these new style of pinhole glasses, with smaller pinholes than I have seen before, which increases your focal range. This makes them more usable for both near and far vision. Also, the greater number of holes creates a better field of vision with considerably less interruption from the black plastic. Go see!

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In honor of Dr. Bates’ birthday today (23 December), I just want to point out some research that was published in an ophthalmology journal in August of this year confirming what Dr. Bates said more than a century ago, namely, that if you put glasses (or lenses) on a myopic eye, it will only get worse over time!…
This medical paper clearly states that continuous correction of myopia results in a linear progression that increases myopia at a rate of 0.2 to 1.0 diopter per year. No exceptions. That is what the use of these crutches do to your eyes!
As soon as I get the complete research paper I will post it on my website, for now the abstract will have to do, you can read that here.

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement  

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22 July 2015

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome!
- AVE 2nd Professional Conference Report
- Congratulations!
- Esther’s Updates
- Quick Cures – by Dr. W.H. Bates

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

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AVE 2nd PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE REPORT
The Association of Vision Educators 2nd Professional Conference was a great success! I am glad I decided to organize this long overdue gathering with the aim to deepen our knowledge of the Bates method so we would all go home as even better and more effective teachers. With 24 colleagues, 8 lectures, 2 workshops, two Q&A sessions, morning yoga sessions, a business meeting and some social time too, we achieved what we aimed for. To be among colleagues from five different countries was a real treat for everyone, especially for those who got to experience a professional conference for the very first time. For me, seeing many familiar faces again and getting to know those new colleagues was a joy and an inspiration, and we all got so excited that the next conference is already being planned for September 2016 in Boulder, Colorado! A few photos and even a short video impression of this year’s conference are on this website and at the Facebook event page.

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CONGRATULATIONS!
People so often tell me of their wonderful vision progress that it is normal for me to hear about eyesight improving, but for many people it is not. Nor do many people pay attention to elders among us who have perfect eyesight – but I notice and ask questions!

* Congratulations to Terre H. (74) in Santa Barbara who I recently met. This spritely lady has never in her life needed glasses, and still sees well at all distances. I asked for ‘her secret for good vision’, and she replied: “just using it.” She will purposely read any letters at any distance just for good practice; she uses good light so her eyes don’t have to work too hard, and her diet is healthy: no junk foods. She thinks she has been lucky, yet I think she has managed to keep her eyes nicely relaxed and healthy with her good habits, and it just goes to prove that losing your vision after age 40 or 50 absolutely does not have to happen!

* Congratulations to Nora U. (41) in Spain who completed the e-mail course in May. Nora was using -2.00 glasses before the course but considered increasing the power to -3.00 to be closer to her full prescription of -5.00. Instead she ended up using her glasses less and less and stopped using contact lenses completely. Half-way through the course she wrote:
“Suddenly, doing sunning and while moving right and left, my eyes understood that they were free to move. That there were no contact lenses to take care of… and I have been able to feel the freedom by moving them right and left without the fear of feeling pain. Esther, it has been marvelous !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, my eyes know that they are free to move!! And, I also felt how this is related to the neck and head movement! I am very happy and while I am writing you, I cannot stop SMILING !!!!!!!!”
At the end of the course Nora sent the following feedback:
“One of the results of this course is that I have been convinced on the importance of living without glasses because my goal is to improve my vision in a natural way. When I started the course, I was resistant to use the eyechart. I did not like it. I could not see it as a vision feedback tool. In my opinion, the way you introduce the eyechart; its use as a feedback tool, is great!!!! I wanted to improve peripheral vision and with this course, I achieved it! In relation to periphery, I found very helpful the lesson where you talk about computers. Thanks to you, I have adapted my computer (put it higher so that I do not need to change too much my body posture; free neck/head and breathing). And now, my eyes do not feel tired as they tended to feel before doing this course. Sharing your experience and writing as if you were with me helps a lot. You write as you were talking to me. Thus, when reading, is like listening to Esther talking to you. You are very clear and direct. And this is very helpful!”

* Congratulations to John A. in Ojai CA and Paula R. in Redmond WA who each called me on the same day earlier this month to tell me they passed their vision test at the DMV. John did so without glasses despite his vision acuity being worse than required just one week before his test when he came to see me for a lesson. Paula passed with a reduced prescription which at first worried her, yet with a little encouragement she too came through the test successfully and both were quite relieved to get their driver’s license renewed.


That's why I love my work! These are just a few recent examples and, as you may know from previous newsletters, they are not the only success stories. Congratulations go to all my students, even if only for having an open mind and a willingness to try something different. Not everyone sees fast improvements, yet many benefits become evident over time, and every step is so worth-while. Keep enjoying your path to clarity!

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ESTHER’S UPDATES
It has been a bit of a crazy busy year so far, but summer is here and things are calmer and writing work on my new book is going well.

While my first book Bates Method Nuggets celebrates its 5th birthday this month, the 2013 book Read Without Glasses at Any Age has its first translation ‘sibling’ and is now available in Italian as Leggere Senza Occhiali A Qualsiasi Eta’. You will find it on Amazon.com and Amazon.it. Incredible translation work was done by Dr. Giovannella Pattavina who has benefited from the Bates Method so much for her own eyesight that she became an enthusiastic promoter of the Bates Method in Italy! Thank you, dear Gio!

As far as my travel plans go, I will be in Europe in October-November 2015. I will teach in Treviso/Camposampiero area in Italy from 16 to 28 October, and in Madrid, Spain at the International Holistic Vision Conference held 30 October to 2 November. Exact dates for Brunssum, the Netherlands (in early October) will come once I have booked my flights, and details about that will be sent in a Dutch newsletter soon.

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QUICK CURES
To promise any patient a cure is unwise from a scientific standpoint. In my work I take particular pains to make the patient understand that I do not expect or guarantee a cure in any case. The most I say to them is "Yes, I have cured people much worse than you, but that is no guarantee that I can give you the slightest benefit."
This seems to eliminate a certain amount of subconscious antagonism on the part of the patient, who may consciously say that he desires to be cured, but deep down in his heart feels unconsciously, "I don't believe you can do it with my help, and I am quite sure you can't do it if I oppose you."
Quick cures have their disadvantages. A patient feels that since his benefit came easily, now, with his good sight, he can go off at any time he likes and have a spree, in which he stares and strains and uses his eyes to his heart's content without any danger of a relapse. He forgets that all persons with normal vision can acquire imperfect sight at any time.
Personally I am very much upset every time a patient surprises me with a quick cure, because of the favorable criticism which may follow and which is seldom desired by the attending physician. If we could only practice quick cures in favorable cases and not have to struggle with the obstinate ones, things would get along perhaps better.
It is well to bear in mind that most quick cures happen when least expected and we do not always know what particular thing accomplished it.

W.H. Bates, M.D., Better Eyesight, April 1925.

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement  

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30 July 2014

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome!
- Packing up - Moving a quarter mile...
- Esther’s Europe travels
- Congratulations!
- Practice all the time – by Dr. W.H. Bates
- Pinhole Glasses - Special offer continues

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

PACKING UP - MOVING A QUARTER MILE
After six beautiful years at Full Circle Farm in Ojai, I have found a wonderful new place to live, right across the road! This week I am packing my many eyesight books and my few other belongings and will take them across the road on August 5th, ready for a new chapter of my life. My new home has a great teaching room which I very much look forward to using!

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ESTHER’S EUROPE TRAVELS
I will be in Europe September-October 2014, with the Netherlands as first destination. See the Dutch newsletter for information on classes in NL.

Italy is also on my schedule, with a teacher training weekend (4-5 October) and a weekend group class for beginners in the Bates method (11-12 October). Both will be held in Camposampiero, near Venice. I will teach in English, translation into Italian will be provided. Teachers from other countries are also welcome to the teacher training workshop. (Contact me for information).

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CONGRATULATIONS!
I have been meaning to add this section to the newsletter for some time, because people so often tell me of their wonderful progress that it is normal for me to hear about eyesight improving, but for many people it is not. So I will share a few recent stories from my students.

* Congratulations to Nick D. (60+) in Los Angeles who had one lesson some years ago, but was too busy to implement what he had learned. Unfortunately he was laid off from work recently, but has used this free time to finally relax, including his eyes, and he now reads small print without glasses! He called yesterday just to say “thank you!”, and I really appreciated that. ☺
* Congratulations to S.T. (age 10) in New Jersey who had first tried “boring and frustrating eye exercises” which did not help her vision at all and she was prescribed glasses. In May she started learning the Bates method with a few lessons on Skype which brought some exciting improvements in her sight and her glasses have not been needed. ☺
* Congratulations to Gio P. (30+) in Italy who no longer has bags under her eyes and is experiencing clear vision on a regular basis now! ☺
* Congratulations to Laurie S. (50+) from Santa Barbara who did not expect she had made much improvement in her first week of using the Bates method, yet at the start of her second lesson she easily read a line extra on the chart for both near and far vision, and by the end she had improved her near vision from reading 15 point font at 28 inches (arm’s length) to reading 12 point font at 15 inches and 10 point font at 20 inches. She surprised herself! ☺
* Congratulations to Alan T. (60+) in Ojai who after one vision session got rid of his glasses as well as years of major neck tension. A happy side-effect of the Bates method! ☺
* Congratulations to Z.M. (10) in the Netherlands whose eye doctor has now confirmed that she no longer needs an operation to straighten her eye, because it is straight all by itself these days! I helped her undo some eye muscle tension last October, which she quickly adjusted to. It has helped her keep her eye straight since that one hour we worked together! ☺

Now you know why I love my work! These are examples from just the last few months, and they are not the only success stories. Congratulations go to all my students, even if only for having an open mind and a willingness to try something different. Not everyone sees fast improvements, yet many benefits become evident over time, and every step is so worth-while. Keep enjoying your path to clarity!

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PRACTICE ALL THE TIME
A great many people have asked, "How much time should one devote to practicing the methods of central fixation in order to be cured of imperfect sight without glasses?"

The answer is—ALL THE TIME.

One should secure relaxation or rest until one is perfectly comfortable and continue feeling comfortable as long as one is awake.

The feeling of relaxation or comfort can be obtained with the memory of perfect sight. Even if one cannot remember perfect sight one can imagine it. All black objects should be imagined perfectly black. All white objects observed should be imagined perfectly white. All letters observed should be imagined perfectly and everything that is seen should be imagined perfectly.

To imagine anything imperfectly requires a strain, an effort, which is difficult. Choose the easy way. Imagine.

W.H. Bates, M.D., Better Eyesight, October 1922.

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PINHOLE GLASSES – SPECIAL OFFER - CONTINUES
Until the end of August 2014 I continue to offer the second pair of pinhole glasses for only two dollars! Go look at the new style of pinhole glasses, with smaller pinholes than I have seen before, which increases your focal range. This makes them more usable for both near and far vision. Also, the larger number of holes create a better field of vision with considerably less interruption from the black plastic.
Get them now!
Offer valid until August 31st or until sold out, whichever comes first…

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement  

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15 August 2013

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- Read Without Glasses book - Offical Publication TODAY!
- Esther's 10-week trip to Europe
- "Reading" by Dr. Bates

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

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READ WITHOUT GLASSES BOOK - OFFICIAL PUBLICATION TODAY!
I am delighted to announce that the official publication of Read Without Glasses at Any Age is today!

Imagine easily reading menus by candlelight and impressing your friends by doing so with your own healthy eyes, free from crutches. Or imagine no longer peering over glasses to see people across the room. Won’t that be nice?!

If these thoughts appeal to you, this book is for you! Whether your age is 46-ish or 86+, and even if you are only six and just learning to read, this book can be a valuable tool for helping you get past your reading challenges. The methods outlined in this book are simple, easy to learn and just as easy to apply. It does take some time and persistence, but the rewards are huge – a return to natural clear vision, healthier eyes, and easy, glasses-free reading.

Read Without Glasses at Any Age will be available as of today, Thursday, August 15th. You can choose to buy a paperback or an e-book.
The paperback price is $21.95 in the USA, while the e-book is US$19.00.
Read Without Glasses at Any Age will also be for sale on CreateSpace.com (in the USA for $21.95, in the UK for £14.99, in Europe for €16.99). An Amazon kindle version will likely be available soon too.
UPDATE: Amazon now has the book on their website too!!!

Read more information about the new book.

The Amazon/CreateSpace version of the book has black and white illustrations throughout, while in the book sold via Visions of Joy, eight of the images are in color. Other than that they are identical inside. As I will be traveling in Europe from 21 August until mid-November I recommend that you purchase the paperback book from Amazon/CreateSpace unless you order it from me before August 19 or after November 7.

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ESTHER'S TRAVEL TO EUROPE
I am about to go on a 11-week trip to Europe. Visits to the Netherlands, England, Turkey and Italy are on the agenda, all between 21 August and 7 November.
A couple of group classes are being planned in the Netherlands for October, and I will present a workshop at the International Holistic Vision Conference in Italy in November. There is time for private lessons too, mainly while I am in the Netherlands in September and October. Contact me for more information or wait for the Dutch newsletter which will be sent to Dutch subscribers soon.

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READING

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
As by the one, health is preserved, strengthened
and invigorated; by the other, sight, imagination
and mental efficiency are enormously improved.

William H. Bates, M.D., Better Eyesight, May 1926

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

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10 May 2013

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome
- Read Without Glasses book close to publication!
- LED lights better or worse for your eyes?
- Upcoming Events
- Dr. Bates - The First Visit

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

READ WITHOUT GLASSES BOOK CLOSE TO PUBLICATION
The good news is that, after more than a year of delays, the illustrations for the Read Without Glasses book are now complete! I am making a few last changes to the book to incorporate some medical research on the subject, but it will soon be going to the printer, and the next newsletter will have publication information, I promise! You can see a preview of the cover here.

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LED LIGHTS: BETTER OR WORSE FOR YOUR EYES?
ANSES highlights risks from LED lighting
ANSES, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, has published a report entitled (in English): " Lighting systems using light-emitting diodes: health issues to be considered," which focuses squarely on potential problems caused by LED lighting.

The full report is available in French only, but the report summary (in English) says that risks have been identified concerning the use of certain LED lamps, raising potential health concerns for the general population and professionals.
"The issues of most concern identified by the Agency concern the eye due to the toxic effect of blue light and the risk of glare," says the report, adding that the blue light necessary to obtain white LEDs causes "toxic stress" to the retina.
This is from an article by LEDs magazine, you can read more here.

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ESTHER'S SCHEDULE

Arizona Visit In May: I will be in Chandler for a week at the end of May. Private lessons in the Phoenix area are available May 20th through 27th and can be booked now.

Elements Gathering Fest: at the end of July in Santa Barbara, California.

Europe: A LONG visit to Europe this year - from the end of August until early November - with family gatherings in the Netherlands and the International Holistic Vision Conference in Italy, but also with plenty of time for teaching.
If you are interested in having eyesight lessons in the Netherlands or in Italy, please contact me.

Those are the current plans for this year. You can always check for updates on my travel plans and upcoming events.

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THE FIRST VISIT
"In every way possible the fact is impressed upon the patient that he can be cured only by rest; that he must learn to let his eyes alone; that whatever he does to improve his sight must be wrong."

Dr. William H. Bates, M.D., Better Eyesight, November 1921

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I can’t agree more. In essence, vision is simply a process of receiving light.
The more you can be open to all that light, without straining against it or straining to change it, the better you see. Keep that in mind all day long, and your path to clarity will be one of ease and joy.

Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

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5 December 2012

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome!
- Europe Visits
- Arizona Visit in February
- Eyestrain during Sleep
- Happy Holidays

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

EUROPE VISITS
With the British Natural Eyesight Conference, a quick side-trip to Paris, private eyesight lessons in the Netherlands and two group classes in Harderwijk, my recent visit to Europe was very busy!

Next year’s visit may be two months instead of one, which will end with the International Holistic Vision Conference in Italy. I will send more details about this in the summer of 2013.

ARIZONA VISIT IN FEBRUARY 2013
I will be in Chandler for a week at the beginning of February. Private lessons in the Phoenix area are available February 4th through 10th and can be booked now.
Contact Esther for an appointment.

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EYESTRAIN DURING SLEEP
“Many people complain that when they first wake up in the morning, they are tired, that they have headaches, and that their sight is very imperfect. Later on in the day their eyes feel better, and the vision may become normal.

I have examined with the ophthalmoscope the eyes of many people during sleep and found much to my surprise, that most people strain much more in their sleep than they ever do when they are awake. Of course, people when unconscious of their acts during sleep, are not aware of this eye-strain.

The prevention of eye-strain during sleep is usually a very difficult matter. Some cases are benefited just before retiring by palming for one-half hour or longer, or until they go to sleep while palming. Others by practicing the long swing for fifteen minutes, have found that the eye-strain becomes less. In some serious cases with imperfect sight, when the eye-strain is not prevented by palming or the swing, they are often materially benefited by shortening their hours of sleep with the help of an alarm clock. One patient had the alarm set for 3 am. He would then get out of bed and practice the long swing, alternating with palming for an hour or longer with the result that he slept the rest of the night very comfortably, and awoke the next morning with little or no evidence of eye-strain during sleep.

Dr. William H. Bates, M.D., Better Eyesight, November 1924

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Visions of Joy will be closed from December 21st until January 2nd.
I wish everyone a happy holiday season and I hope you get some relaxing sleep!

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

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16 August 2012

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome!
- Testimonial of an 8 year old girl
- Travel plans: Arizona to Oregon road trip, and Europe
- Dr. Bates on Breathing
- Two new 'Bates Method View' e-books
- Become a fan of the Facebook Bates Method page

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

TESTIMONIAL
In July I received a delightful phonecall from the mother of an 8 year old girl in Arizona. She was very excited to report substantial improvement in her daughter's vision since learning the Bates method six months earlier. Read her testimonial here.
Many people benefit from learning the Bates method, but when it comes to children it touches me even deeper. I'm so grateful!

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TRAVEL PLANS
- ARIZONA TO OREGON ROAD TRIP
I will be in the Phoenix area for a few days at the beginning of September. Private lessons are available September 3rd through 6th and can be booked now: Contact me.
My itinerary takes me through Utah and Idaho 7-9 September.

Approximately 10 to 17 September you’ll find me in Oregon, in the Portland and Salem areas. Inquire now if you are interested in a private lesson while I’m there.
Northern California private lessons are possible on my drive home in the week of 18 September.

- EUROPE
The British Natural Eyesight Conference brings me back to Europe at the end of October 2012. On Saturday 27 October I present a talk on how the Bates method helps overcome eye diseases and on Sunday 28 October I give a workshop on reading without glasses at any age.

As usual my Europe trip will include a visit with my family in the Netherlands. This time my colleague Rijn de Jonge and I will teach two group classes in Ermelo on the Bates method. I’ve had many inquiries for a group class in the Netherlands, so here is your chance! You have a choice of 10 or 11 November and each day is intended for people interested in learning how to naturally improve or maintain vision. Maximum of 8 people per day. Register here. More info follows in the Dutch newsletter coming soon.

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DR. BATES ON BREATHING
Dr. Bates learned the importance of relaxed breathing through his own experience. He wanted to be a long distance runner but found that after one lap of the track he was gasping for air. The physical director watched him and told him that he had held his breath the entire distance. Bates realized it was strain that kept him from breathing. He tested this theory and ran 8 miles, making every effort he could, until his vision failed, he fainted and he literally ran himself into the ground. In his next race he started walking as soon as his sight began to fail and waited for it to clear up before running again. Bates subsequently learned to stay relaxed while running, so his breathing remained normal and his sight did not fail. He even ran the New York marathon at age 57.

Bates knew that many people with imperfect sight are benefited by relaxed breathing and that palming often provides an immediate improvement in breathing. A lady with asthma found that half an hour of palming did as much good for her breathing as it did for her eyes. Her vision improved from 20/30 to 15/10.and she was able to resume work which asthma had prevented her from doing for four years.

Relaxation is the key to improving both vision and breathing!
More information on relaxed optimal breathing.

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TWO NEW 'BATES METHOD VIEW' E-BOOKS
I recently added two new titles to the ‘Bates Method View of” series of
e-books. The topics are Nystagmus, and Retinitis Pigmentosa.
With 22 and 26 pages respectively these are easy to read books which give an overview of everything Dr. Bates did for people with these conditions.
Go here to order one or more books in this series.

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BECOME A FAN OF THE FACEBOOK BATES METHOD PAGE
Have a look at the new Facebook page dedicated to Dr. Bates. I add vision quotes there on a fairly regular basis. Become a fan to encourage me to do so!
You can also follow Visions of Joy on facebook.

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Esther Joy van der Werf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org
Natural Eyesight Improvement &
Optimal Breathing Development 

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7 February 2012

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome!
- Visions of Joy's Tenth Anniversary
- Arizona Success Stories
- 'Sunlight for your Eyes' by Dr. Bates 
- Become a fan of the Facebook Bates Method page
- Reading without Glasses book

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

VISIONS OF JOY’S TENTH ANNIVERSARY
Time truly flies when I am having fun; I celebrated Visions Of Joy’s 10th anniversary recently!
On 30 January 2002 I was in Arizona, and had just spent a few days camping in the desert to seek guidance on what I was supposed to do next in my life… I was given a name for my school.
The message was clear enough, and from then on I became more serious about teaching. To be back in Arizona exactly 10 years later, busier than ever with my work, and still very happy about the direction my life took, is something I am very grateful for. Thanks to all of you who have crossed my path in these ten years - you have helped to make it so worth-while!

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ARIZONA SUCCESS STORIES
The last two weeks of January I was kept very busy by a group of about 16 kids in Arizona, (mostly ages 7 to 12) whose parents wanted to save them from the hassle of wearing glasses for the rest of their lives. I worked with each child individually and loved watching the progress they made in a very short time. Here are two examples:

Téa (age 8) told me up front that she hates'tupid eye exercises' because they did not work (and I agree!). Her right eye is excellent, 8/7 (better than 20/20), but her left eye was beginning to lag behind, to the level of 8/30 (20/75). Glasses had already been recommended, but her mother, who hates her own glasses, was hoping to save her daughter from the same fate. Téa, however, was reluctant to try anything remotely like those stupid eye exercises, until I explained that there was a better way to improve her vision. To Téa's delight she saw her left eye's acuity jump to 8/15 (20/40) after ten minutes of palming. Adding a memory technique helped her recognize several letters on the 8/10 (20/25) line. I imagine she still happily runs around with her eye-patch even after she no longer needs it.

Sudhaker (age 11) has had vision challenges since birth and had become ‘one with his glasses’. His prescription was mainly for astigmatism, but he also had a highly dominant right eye to the level of excluding his left eye from taking part in seeing. He loved the bounce-ball I gave him and quickly learned to catch it even with one eye patched. He also got his eyes working together for the first time. We obscured half the chart for his right eye, and encouraged his left eye to see the whole chart. At first half the chart ‘disappeared’ from his view with both eyes open, but when his mother helpfully waved her hand over the side of the chart that was only visible to his left eye, Sudhaker got a taste of binocular vision for the first time. He did extremely well and has great potential to get back to clarity, with both eyes eventually taking an equal part in vision.

I will likely return to Arizona next year in January/February, to continue working with these children as well as help others who I was unable to include in this trip.

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SUNLIGHT FOR YOUR EYES
On my recent visit to Arizona I noticed how many people like to keep their window shades down to keep the hot sun out. I understand about their heat problem, yet the eyes would love to have more light! Even in sun-drenched Arizona many people are ‘sunlight deficient’ and a little more outdoors sun exposure will help bring balance. Here is Dr. Bates' advice on sunlight:

"An important part of the routine activities is the use of the direct sunlight. The patient is told to sit in the sun with his eyes closed, moving his head a short distance from side to side, and allowing the sun to shine directly on his closed eyelids. He is instructed to forget about his eyes, to think of something pleasant and let his mind drift from one pleasant thought to another. Before opening his eyes, he palms for a few minutes."

W. H. BATES, M.D., Better Eyesight magazine, December 1927

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“I have been LOVING the fact that I'm no longer sensitive to sunlight.
Sunshine on my face is an instant happiness boost!”
Saskia P., Sebastopol, California

Read more about sun sensitivity

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BECOME A FAN OF THE FACEBOOK BATES METHOD PAGE
Have a look at the new Facebook page dedicated to Dr. Bates. I add vision quotes there on a fairly regular basis. Become a fan to encourage me to do so!

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READING WITHOUT GLASSES BOOK
I’m excited that my new book “Reading Without Glasses At Any Age” is so close to being published! More details about that soon. Thanks to everyone who has already expressed an interest in this book and thanks for waiting ☺

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 

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19 December 2011

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome!
- A new Facebook page
- Reading without Glasses book
- Recent Holistic Vision Conference in Italy
- An amazed eye doctor
- 'Relaxation from fine print' by Dr. Bates 
- 2012 Schedule has been posted

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WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

☺

READING WITHOUT GLASSES BOOK

My new book “Reading Without Glasses At Any Age” is waiting for the final illustrations but the text is ready so I hope to have publication information very soon! For those eagerly awaiting this book, see the tip below from Dr. Bates to get you started.

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RECENT HOLISTIC VISION CONFERENCE IN ITALY
I immensely enjoyed seeing so many colleagues again at the recent International Holistic Vision Conference in Italy. Plenty of new friends were made too. My thanks to all who attended! I found out that many vision books are available in Italian, and my Bates Method Nuggets book may get translated into Italian as well as Spanish! More info on that in due course.

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AN AMAZED EYE DOCTOR
Cindy recently asked for my help with her nearsighted vision. Her prescription in both eyes was -2.25. Two days after we started working together she visited her optometrist to ask for a lower prescription. As she felt a little unsure about driving at night in the coming dark and wet New York winter months, she decided that dropping half a diopter would be plenty to start with.

Her optometrist was uncomfortable with the idea of giving Cindy contacts below her prescription, but offered to check her acuity. To Cindy’s delight, and to the doctor’s utter amazement, her prescription had already dropped half a diopter to -1.75! So the doctor became willing to give those lenses to her, but Cindy no longer wanted -1.75 and asked for an extra step down. She drove home happily in -1.50s and saw just fine. Congratulations to Cindy for taking that excellent first step to clarity.

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RELAXATION FROM FINE PRINT
A business card with fine print on one side is held in front of the eyes as near as possible, the upper part in contact with the eye-brows, the lower part resting lightly on the nose.

The patient looks directly at the fine print without trying to see. Being so close to the eyes most people realize that it is impossible to read the fine print and do not try, in this way they obtain a measure of relaxation which is sufficient to benefit the sight very much.

The patient moves the card from side to side a short distance slowly and sees the card moving provided the movement is not too short or too slow. The shorter the movement and the slower it is, the better.

Some patients, although the card is held very close, note that the white spaces between the lines become whiter and the black letters become blacker and clearer. In some cases one or more words of the fine print will be seen in flashes or even continuously as long as no effort is made to see or to read the fine print.

W. H. BATES, M.D., Better Eyesight magazine, May 1922

P.S. For best results Dr.Bates recommended doing this as long as possible, even for many hours every day. Vary the hand which holds the card to avoid fatigue. The amount of light is not important.

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2012 SCHEDULE HAS BEEN POSTED
My schedule for the new year is now up on the website and will be updated as and when necessary. There is a distinct possibility that I will be teaching in Phoenix, Arizona, in January. Those who live in that area and would like to have private lessons, please get in touch with me soon.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS, and my best wishes for
a happy and healthy new year filled with clarity!!!

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 

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27 September 2011

Visions of Joy News!

Contents of this issue:
- Welcome!
- Vision Conference in Italy in October
- Reading without Glasses book
- Student becomes teacher
- 'Be Comfortable' by Dr. Bates 

☺

WELCOME to those who receive Visions of Joy News for the first time!
I hope you enjoy this somewhat irregular newsletter about natural eyesight improvement and that you will find it helpful on your personal path to clarity.

☺

For European fans of the Bates method, the International Holistic Vision Conference will be held near Milano, Northern Italy, 28-30 October 2011. I will talk about Bates' work with children and I will give a workshop on reading without glasses. Registration is still possible!

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READING WITHOUT GLASSES BOOK

My new book “Reading Without Glasses At Any Age” is now very close to completion and it just needs a few finishing touches before it is ready to send to the printer. The plan was to have it ready for the conference in Italy, but it will be published soon after that. As preparations for my trip to Europe are now in full swing, the book will be finished after my return home, so watch for a publication announcement in the next newsletter!

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STUDENT BECOMES TEACHER

There is an old saying: When you really want to learn something, teach it!
This summer I received a letter from Alex Svirid, a student of the Bates method in Ukraine. Alex took my email course earlier this year. Since then, not only has he improved his own vision, but he is helping other people improve too, including his optometrist! Well done Alex! He wrote:

“Dear Esther, Two days ago I visited optometrist and checked my eyesight with refractometer. It showed 1 Diopter improvement in two months. I have flashes to about -5D now (I can see clearly at 20cm).
I asked optometrist to try the Method and he agreed. He has hypermetropia and he wears bifocal glasses: +5,5 for close work (lower part of lens) and +2,75 for distance (upper part of lens). His vision was 20/200 without glasses. In one hour he made 5 lines! Sway and swing helped him.”

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BE COMFORTABLE

It can be stated without fear of successful contradiction that persons with perfect sight are always comfortable, not only as to their eyes, but as to the rest of the body. As soon as they cease to be so, it can be demonstrated, by examination with the retinoscope, that their sight has ceased to be perfect. They become nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatic.

Persons with imperfect sight often say and think that they are perfectly comfortable; but invariably such persons experience a feeling of relief when they close their eyes, demonstrating that they were not perfectly comfortable before, but had merely formed a habit of ignoring that discomfort.

The art of learning to use the eyes properly, is, in short, the art of learning to be comfortable. Even the memory of comfort improves the sight, while the memory of discomfort lowers it.

W. H. BATES, M.D., Better Eyesight magazine, January 1922

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Thank you for reading Visions of Joy News; please share it with your friends! 
Enjoy your path to clarity. 

Love, 
Esther 

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