Jo has lived in the North of France, The South of France, and Saskatchewan in Canada, where they worked as a biologist researcher studying micro-organisms & biodiversity. Sad to leave this career in 2015, Jo's health problems brought them back home to North Shropshire, UK, to rethink life.
Dr Jo Scoble. [DPhil. Oxon. mFHT]
With THREE degrees in biology; Bsc. Masters, PhD. Jo is not only experienced in scientific realms, but also in the business world, having spent almost 10 years working in the creative industry (running a very sucessful Etsy shop!).
The Person Taurus (sun), Libra (moon), Leo (rising).
Jo, (They/Them), grew up in a small English village in the North of Shropshire to a Nurse and Doctor. The youngest of three, Jo was always a bit 'senstive' and chronically ill with asthma, allergies and headaches.
"I felt there was always something else there."
In spite of illness, Jo never let anything stop them and was known for their vibrant character. With a heightened sensitivity in the 'magical' and 'other-worldly' from an early age, Jo kept a journal from before they could even write, and when in secondary school, used to mark of days in the calendar divining when something significant would happen. Jo used a pendulum as a young teen and tried to communicate to spirits through writing and mediation.
"Massage has always been a part of my life"
Massages vary within the UK and throughout the world. The most memorable massage Jo had was in Japan when Jo got on the massage table, one table in a line of half a dozen or so. Jo was covered with towels and this older massage therapist jumped on the table and used her knees and elbows to pummel Jo's body. Unforgettable!
"Shoulder-rubs were my thing! I always gave them at work for colleagues and friends. I just love helping people feel better"
Jo moved back to live near their parents (who are still in North Shropshire) and now Jo works from home doing remote Crystal and Tarot therapies and travels to the local salon to give massage.
Overcoming Adversity
- a message from Jo
When you think of a red-headed child with long flowing wavy hair, goofy teeth and skinny as a rake and talking ten-to-the-dozen, you'd be hard-pressed not to immediately think of 'Anne of Green-gables'! Well, I was called that even though I had no idea who she was, I assumed this 'Anne with an E' must be awesome too (and she was!).
I appeared over-confident through my chattiness (Mercury in Aries!) and I was also a little too competitive. I loved playing sports in spite of asthma and always being sick and on various antibiotics for the latest chest infection.
In my teens I struggled with emotions. I was bullied. I took drugs to try and cope and guess what, they helped me feel better (for a short while) until they didn't.
Fast forward to me at 20 years old and suddenly I wanted to learn stuff! I went back to school (on the high of a never ending emotional rollercoaster), and thought “This time I’ll be OK!”. With this new determination, I started studying my A-level Biology and I worked three jobs.
I was diagnosed with depression and given Prozac (as was the custom in 1998). It made me worse.
Over the next 10+ years though my university life I was given three more diagnoses: Bipolar, ADHD, and Autism, all of which I shorten to 'Neurodivergent'. Doctors and psychiatrists tried me on so many different drugs I lost count. None of it ever really suited me. I had to learn to try and help myself using simpler methods, such as; no caffeine, reduced sugar intake, no alcohol, regular exercise and bedtimes.
When I was able, in 2015, took up meditation, and kept journalling as usual. In these quiet moments where I was facing my own scary brain, spiritual musings started to enter and I reconnected with a voice I hadn’t heard since I was a child. I cried a lot and forgave myself a lot.
By the 2020 lockdown I have already found my wonderful online friends and teachers and became an activist and have never been happier.
My life has been a helluva ride and is far from over even though I’m nearing a big milestone, I am actually excited to reach any age as I feel I’m on borrowed time.
The best thing I ever did in my life was not my PhD, although it comes a close second and I’m very proud of finishing it, it is overcoming addiction, and overcoming the mental crises that plagued my life and pulling myself through and learning to live in community. Life doesn’t scare me as much as it used to.
I am not alone.
And neither are you.
- Jo