The Man Behind the Method: Who Was John Mace?
Every great breakthrough has a story. This one begins with an Australian ship’s captain who spent half a century searching for the real cause of human unhappiness — and eventually found it.
A Sea Captain Turned Emotional Scientist
John Mace was, by profession, a Master Mariner. As a ship’s captain, he studied subjects ranging from international maritime law and spherical trigonometry to magnetic theory — disciplines requiring precision, logic, and an ability to understand invisible forces shaping physical outcomes. He had a deeply scientific mind and a philosophical restlessness that would eventually drive him far beyond the deck of any ship.
In his early years, John wrestled with the rigid religious environment of his childhood, ultimately rejecting dogma in favour of a more scientific approach to understanding the human spirit. A turning point came in 1959, when a series of personal experiences confirmed to him the reality of human beings as spiritual, energetic entities — not simply biological machines.
The Research
50 Years of Dedicated Inquiry
John Mace spent 50 years researching philosophy, science, alternative therapies, and spiritual traditions. He trained as a counsellor. He explored many modalities. And he kept encountering the same gap: most approaches managed symptoms rather than addressing the true underlying cause.
After relying on the writings and research of others for 25 years, he reached a pivotal conclusion: if life itself is fundamentally simple and uncomplicated, the real cure for unhappiness must also be straightforward. Complexity, he believed, was often a sign that something essential was being missed.
The MethodJohn Mace believed that happiness, enthusiasm, love, and honesty are not things people need to acquire — they are inherent in all human beings. The negative feelings that cover these qualities are not permanent. They can be removed.
Training Begins — and a Legacy Is Born
John began training the first students in the Mace Energy Method in 1998, operating as principal of The Head Training Academy in Perth, Western Australia. The method was grounded in a principle he called Causism — from the Anglo-Saxon root words cause (to create an effect; to make things happen) and ism (a doctrine or system). He also authored a book on Causism which remains a key resource for understanding the philosophy behind MEM.
His Legacy
The Work Continues
John Mace passed away in 2018. His life’s work continues today through the Causism Institute, now led by his trusted Senior Practitioners and Trainers, Sherrie Hatfield and John Avery, alongside a global network of licensed MEM Practitioners committed to preserving and sharing his legacy with the highest integrity.
Experience John Mace’s Legacy
Curious about the method John Mace spent his life creating? Experience it for yourself.
Book a SessionWritten by Steve Moore, a licensed Mace Energy Method Practitioner certified through the Causism Institute (causisminstitute.com). MEM does not diagnose or treat medical or psychiatric conditions. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.