In the early 1990s, Dr Louise Livingstone succumbed to viral myocarditis. This enlarged her heart leaving her with numerous physical ailments. Deep in her soul, Louise knew that her heart was urgently trying to speak to her, making her aware that she had been ignoring her heart’s wisdom and guidance for many years. This experience transformed her life, and she began a long journey of recovery; learning to listen to the soft whispers of her heart’s wisdom and guidance. This meant un-learning almost everything she was taught about the world through the contemporary Western approach towards knowledge; along the way gaining an MSc in Holistic Science from the Schumacher College, and a PhD in Transformative Education from Canterbury Christ Church University. Her thesis title is: How can the thought of the heart offer effective ways of engaging with conflict? An imaginal and reflexive study.

Dr Louise Livingstone is the founder of the Heart Sense Research Institute – www.heartsenseresearch.co.uk. Louise runs courses based on the approach that her heart taught her during her research – supporting participants to reconnect with the wisdom of their own hearts, and also to develop a deeper relationship with the natural world. Her work aims to re-imagine the long-forgotten wise and intelligent heart for contemporary times; illuminating through research, contemplative action and nourishing dialogue how the heart as a focal point of compassion, love and kindness, and as an organ of perception and wisdom, is a valuable and vital ally in our world of increasing global challenges, injustice and inequality.