I was the founding editor of LivingNow magazine, in 1989, and the author of the book, Seven Angels Helped Me — They'll Help You Too. This book link takes you to a page that gives you 30% off the book price – just cos you’ve taken the time to explore the detail.

For quite some years, the magazine was read by around half a million people. A whole generation of Australians grew up with LivingNow as their source of inspiration and information. So, while I’m not qualified regarding Asperger’s, except for my own experiences, I’ve had heaps of other useful learning opportunities.

Yep, I probably do – I’ve been through the mill in lots of areas myself. My personality was always difficult for others to understand, and many times I’ve been labelled as having ‘foot-in-mouth disease’. It was not until I found, when nearly 60, that I had Asperger’s, that I was able to relax about my foibles and see the gifts they brought with them.

Does any of that fit with your experience?

Yes, as long as you really participate – and also believe in the existence of a guiding force, a Godforce, if you'd like it explained that way.

Others have observed of me that I’m personally driven by a profound sense of adventure and creativity, am curious, unconventional, and I seek new options. And that you can count on me to bring a surprising new twist to the normal.

Plus, so many people have remarked on my approachable and transparent style, which makes me an ‘open book’. Indeed, some (especially family members) shudder at just how open I am.

They also say that intuitively I understand the ideas and feelings of others.

I reckon I bring a dash of quirky humour to life – but only when I feel safe in your company – or else, weirdly at times, when I don’t feel at all safe.

Maybe you relate to that too…? I think it’s a trait for many Aspies, and at times the reason we put our foot in it is cos we’re the only ones who see the humour!!!

I’d summarise the above by saying that I challenge the status quo, see opportunities everywhere, and enjoy the challenge of working against the grain – even if I embarrass myself from time to time!

They say, "If you meet one Aspie, you’ve met only one Aspie’ – because we have so many different ways of expressing our uniqueness.

However, we’ve probably all had struggles relating to neurotypical peeps, and I’m pretty sure we’ve all been picked on or ostracised at school or in the office.

Well, apart from having first-hand experience of being an Aspie, and a desire to be a perpetual student, and to understand the mysteries of life, it looks like I incarnated to do this sort of thing. Did you read what Stella, the astrologer, said earlier on this page – her last paragraph? 

I’ve developed a simple and yet profound recipe for life, borne of many years of ups and downs in business and my personal life, and based around tools and techniques offered in my spiritual path. This path shares these techniques freely and widely to all and sundry – anyone who wishes to get a deeper understanding of consciousness. I’ve modified some for my Aspie brain and, in return, share them in my free course.

Oh yes, it will be different. To start with, I am always optimistic that everyone has a beautiful, bold personality hidden under a cloak of low self-worth, ‘not-enoughness’, or other hidden self-sabotaging stories.

What's more, I’ve experienced that these stories also cloak us from connecting personally with God. I have developed my own connection with Spirit, mostly with the aid of my spiritual path, Eckankar, since the late 80s.

This will enhance your life and wake you up to the value of acceptance and self-compassion, in addition to a richer spiritual understanding.

1. Does it even exist as a recognised name now?

“The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) no longer considers Asperger’s syndrome a separate disorder. Since 2013, doctors have been instructed to diagnose Asperger’s and autism both as ‘autism spectrum disorders’.” –https://www.everydayhealth.com/aspergers/how-aspergers-different-than-autism/

The site linked just now also gives a comprehensive rundown on the differences between autism and Asperger’s, with the latter being more adept in language, having a higher IQ, and wanting to connect but not knowing how – among other traits.

There's also other interesting data at that site, though personally, I cannot go along with the idea of curing Aspies, and they finish with what seems to be that recommendation. However, maybe they just want us all to ‘get help’ because we can learn to accept ourselves and to really shine as Aspies in the whole community. I hope they mean that. Cos we certainly don’t need curing.

And Prof. Tony Attwood still uses the term: “Asperger’s syndrome is also a term that can be used to seek further information from the Internet and published books, and research articles published prior to 2013. Thus, the term will still be legitimately used by clinicians, parents, teachers, therapists and those with an ASD. The general public and media will continue to use the term, and for simplicity and continuity I will also continue to use the term Asperger’s syndrome.” –https://tonyattwood.com.au/about-aspergers-asd-level-1/what-is-aspergers-asd-level-1/

2. But hang on! Herr Asperger was not squeaky clean

I quote this from my own ‘playbook’ called: The Understanding Asperger’s Playbook, which you can download here.

“It has been proven by looking at old documents that Asperger definitely referred two very autistic children to a dreadful fate that would end in their death at the hands of the Nazis. There’s a backslap from some people who think that, because Asperger’s actions regarding those children were reprehensible, we should therefore drop his name.

“Before judging anyone, I like to try to walk in their shoes. The closest I can come to understanding why he may have acted like he did is to think of all the people who have had to go against their beliefs regarding Covid-19 vaccination simply to keep themselves in a job. Some might say they should have put their beliefs ahead of their fears, but, again, I think you have to walk in their shoes before you can judge.”

You can enrol in my new courses – go to this link for the free course to give you some basic tools and techniques to enhance your life experience, and it may also help you make sense of life if you are inclined to think you incarnated on the wrong planet! 

After doing all the courses, you might like to join a social community group with other Aspies who’ve done the same course – see the answer to the next question.

As Aspies, we understand the contradictory push to be an individual AND YET also to belong to a community of like-minded individuals. We long to experience feeling deeply connected, radically safe, and authentically engaged with others.

Only if you want to, on completion of the courses, you can join a social community group with other Aspies who’ve done the same courses.

Perhaps the best way to describe this group is that we’re all kind of misfits… in the sense that we don’t really fit in all that well in other places. Maybe you’ll find your tribe here too…?

Basically, it offers courses for Aspies:

• a free one sharing practical tips and techniques from my spiritual path
• a couple of paid ones more directly related to enhancing Aspies’ lives (with a big element of acceptance and self-compassion), plus spiritual understanding.

But maybe you’d prefer this set out in a more diagrammatic form. If so, click either of these links -

• An overview of the free course offered by Elizabeth for peeps who wish to explore an open-minded spiritual path
• An overview of the Spiritual on the Spectrum courses for those who wish to strengthen their sense of self, experience acceptance, have a more fulfilling live, and learn how to experience connection with the Godforce

And also, if you mosey around, following links and your whims, you’ll find a few other resources, some free and some paid.

Plus there’s a social group for alumni, if you are interested to join that.

Since I was very small, I had an inkling that there was an energy in the universe that was bigger than any of us, and that it was something I wanted to connect with.

I had a couple of experiences as a little child that reinforced that for me, but back then I had no idea how to be in touch with that Godforce.

During the late 1980s, I found a path that showed me how to connect directly – more of this in the segment on spiritual stuff elsewhere on this page.

But the biggie here is so simple – the reason there’s a spiritual element in the course:

IT HELPS YOU TO FULFIL YOUR DREAMS AND HAVE A MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE!

I totally resonate with your concerns. Aspies are clever enough to pick the flaws in mainstream religious rhetoric – and therefore we look elsewhere for answers.

I explored quite a lot of different religions, paths and isms, but nothing gave me the close connection with Spirit that I was looking for.

Indeed, some quite definitely put a guru or some form of priest between their members and God.

So when I came across Eckankar in the late 1980s, I knew ‘on the inner’ that it was worth looking at. I tell my story of getting into Eckankar in this blog post.

As editor of a holistic magazine, I had insights into so many other paths, and found lots of help for personal development, but no other spiritual path measured up to Eckankar in terms of giving me the wherewithal to connect personally with Spirit.

As Eckankar shares its tools and techniques freely, I share some (slightly modified for the neurodiverse brain where necessary) in these first two weeks. 

You most definitely do not need to join Eckankar – and I’m certainly not gonna push you to do so.

Why not? Basically, because I believe in freedom. In fact, it’s one of my main drivers in this life.

But then there’s also that thing about karma. Eckankar teaches that when people coerce others into any spiritual path, they take on their karma – not for me thanks!

I do not recommend you join Eckankar

Neither do I recommend against it. It’s totally your decision to make. More in this post.

This is what the head of Eckankar, my teacher, says: “You can try it and see if it works for you. If it does, you’ve got gold – eureka! And if not, you haven’t lost anything. You’ve gained information, and it hasn’t hurt you.” – Harold Klemp, How to Find God

So my course will give you a tasty taster – you’ll have gained some practical exercises, as well as information. And you can go on from there and do whatever you fancy for the next course of your life.