John, you may recall, is a practitioner of the ancient healing art of reiki and former pupil of the old Redwell Comprehensive School in South Shields.

John served his time as a shipyard electrician, but had a hankering for the sunnier climes of Australia.

Life seemed to be on the up and up for John until he was involved in a near-fatal road accident, and was told by doctors he would never walk again.

Well, John did walk again, but it was in the world of alternative therapies that he found a cure for the excruciating pain he'd had to endure as a result of his accident.

Since then, John has devoted his life to both teaching and practising the healing arts.

John developed his own techniques for reiki and other therapies, improving on ancient traditions by applying them in new and creative ways.

His first book, How To Attune Yourself To Reiki: The Science Of Universal Energy, was a huge success.

An updated and expanded version followed, titled How to Attune Yourself To Reiki: The Cosmology Way.

When I interviewed John, he explained his theory, saying: "The electrical system of the human body is directly connected to our thoughts.

"When we feel happy, we flow with positive energy. It is this positive energy I work with to begin the process of healing."

John accepts that each and every student of his technique could draw different conclusions.

"Two people could read these pages and come to very different conclusions of what reiki really is to them," he said.

"What they will gain from my book is an understanding of how these techniques can benefit them in their own way."

John's success as a healer has taken him all over Australia, and he is always in great demand.

A few weeks ago, I was surprised when a mysterious parcel arrived for me at the Gazette office.

It had been posted down under, and it was from John, though I hadn't spoken to him for a few years.

He'd sent me a copy of his latest book, You Are More Than You Think You Are: The Dream Key And The Symbols Of Knights Templar. It certainly had me intrigued.

In 1999, John had a strange dream in which he saw seven mystical symbols engraved on a stone pillar.

Intuitively, he realised these were healing symbols which possessed awesome potential if only the key to their unlocking could be found.

What followed was an epic spiritual journey.

John slowly pieced together the meaning of the symbols, which had arcane connections with the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, the Knights Templar and, strangely, the deep-seated cause of many human ailments.

I'll give readers details of where they can purchase John's book as soon as they're available.

John continues to heal the sick in Australia, and has gained something approaching celebrity status there.