Features - Part 20

Psychic Workout: Healing Energy

April 4, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Psychic Marin ext. 5113

It’s spring time, and we all know what that means … time for a little spring cleaning!
Don’t complain, because this exercise addresses the magickal aspect of cleaning rather than the grit and grime.

When callers are struggling with “stuck” energy, wanting to create change, or “clear the air,” far too often they are neglecting the energies surrounding them in the areas which they spend the majority of their time — the workplace and at home. Energy lingers like dust on your bookcase. Stagnant and negative energy can affect thoughts, emotions and decision, but a simple exercise can significantly improve ones’ surroundings. What technique will you use?

SAGE SMUDGING
Perhaps the most well know of spiritual cleansing methods is the Native American smudging with Sage. With this technique, light a small bundle of White Sage, known as a “smudge stick,” and briefly let it burn until embers begin to glow. Then by waving or blowing out the smudge stick, extinguish the flame. A steady stream of smoke will flow from the stick, and with a feather or your hand, fan the smouldering sage as you walk throughout your home or workplace. Molecules of the sage attach to the negative energies in the air, and transform them into a more harmonious energy. (Your choice of incense can be supplemented for this exercise).

AROMATHERAPY SPRAY
Do you enjoy a hint of fragrance? Lavender’s well known healing properties can awaken stagnant energy in any room. Place a few drops of Lavender essential oil in a spray bottle, top it off with water, and most importantly, transform the water into sacred water by saying a blessing over it. As you walk through your home spraying the sacred water, silently focus on your intention of healing the home.

FLOOR WASH
We have to mop the floor, so why not make it a sacred chore? Simply prepare your floor wash as your normally would, but the real magick lies in the motion of your cleaning. Move your mop in circular counter-clock-wise motions to banish negative energy, or you may choose to circle your mop clock-wise to invoke, or bring in positive energy. After performing this simple exercise, you will never look at floor washing the same! (This technique can also be performed while sweeping).

CRYSTALS
Crystals are used to absorb, repel or redirect unbalanced energies in the environment. Tiny quartz crystal points can be placed in each corner of a room or in the four outermost corners of a house or workplace to provide continued clearing and protection. Additionally, you may opt to place a few larger quarts crystals near doors for grounding and protection or to act as a guardian of your home.

SOUND
Musicians, and singers attuned to sound vibrational energies will enjoy cleaning with sound. Singing, tuning forks, singing bowls, bells, wind chimes, instrument playing, chanting, and even clapping generate sound waves which transform energy in a room.

Sound vibration soothes negative energies and brings peace to an environment. Begin by creating sound at a slow, rhythmical pace while walking throughout your home or office, circling the perimeter of each room. Begin to increase your pace and sound while feeling an increase of positive vibrations in the room. (This can be an empowering exercise to share with small children that occasionally suffer from nightmares, since it instills a greater sense of control over a potentially negative situation.)

TIPS:
- Perform one, or all the aforementioned exercises.
- Perform a spiritual cleaning when moving/leaving a home or workplace.
- Begin early in the morning, at first dawn to draw in the most rejuvenating energy of the day.
- Clean in silence as you focus on your intentions. Save the radio and sing-along for another day.
- Clean when you are alone. You don’t want random foot traffic from kids or pets disrupting your flow.
- When you’re done, light a small white tea light candle in each room for a harmonious finishing touch.

Faithfully,
Marin

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More on: Body/Mind/Spirit, Features, Psychic Marin ext. 5113

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Inspire Yourself

April 2, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Jen Tartaglione

When you think of the word ‘creativity,’ you probably picture a mad scientist creating a Frankenstein monster, or Jackson Pollack splattering paint on a canvas. Creativity is a broad term that encompasses everything from the arts and sciences to a child crafting a fantasy world on a playground. But what does creativity mean in your life? How can it help you reach your goals?

Put simply, a spark of creativity is enough to inspire us to persevere through hardships and turmoil, whether it’s after a breakup, the loss of a job — or when we’re stuck in a rut. A spark of something new is exciting, and can ultimately set us off on a path that we might not have thought of before. Try these tips to get the creative juices flowing in your life:

Morning Ritual
You may not be thrilled to roll out of bed when your alarm starts ringing, but morning is the part of the day when we are fresh and rejuvenated. Start yours by writing down everything on your mind in a journal — worries and insecurities left over from the day before, interesting dreams you had, or even what’s in store for you during the day ahead.

Whatever is on your mind — write it down, uninhibited. Stream-of-consciousness writing allows everything repressed inside of you the opportunity to get out into the open. This will give you perspective and insight as to the state of affairs in your life, as well as helping you attain clarity about your future goals.

Do Art
You may remember this activity from grade school, but collages are a great way to express yourself as an adult — your likes and dislikes — in your own unique way. Instead of spending big on a new coffee table, why not take your old one and create an interesting spread of your favorite photographs? If you’re into music, make collages of CD artwork and frame them on your walls.

If you really want to do something artsy and fun, make yourself a vision box — decorate a box with collages of things you like, and then keep personal mementos or personal goals stored inside. Whatever it is that strikes your fancy, collages are a simple way to stay inspired.

Wander
Most likely, when you leave your house you know exactly where you’re going, and how to get there — and you probably opt for the shortest route to your destination. But life is too precious to focus on just going from Point A to Point B. Often, when we get lost and allow ourselves to wander, we discover new places we never noticed or new ideas we never got in touch with. Set aside time each week to just wander — go for a walk, ride your bike, whatever.

Make a conscious effort to take in everything around you. Colors, smells, sounds — maybe you never saw the community garden near your house, or maybe you never tried that hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant. Maybe you never noticed the used bookstore down the street. If you set aside the time to get lost, you’re bound to find new things you just never had the time to see.

“Happiness is not in the mere possession of money — it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Creativity is not just about painting a timeless work of art or writing the novel of a generation — rather, creativity is an expression of yourself, helping you to enrich your life with the added pleasures that are unique to you.

More on: Body/Mind/Spirit, Features, Jen Tartaglione

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DreamCast

April 2, 2010 at 12:00 am
By Cortney Litwin

Sophie in Alhambra writes:

In a very brief dream, I am walking outdoors in a quiet neighborhood. It is a beautiful, warm, sunny day. Suddenly, something feels strange in my mouth, and lots and lots of small- and medium-size white butterflies begin to fly out of it and across my face.

I happen to glance across the street and recognize the woman walking on the sidewalk as my best friend. She is smiling at my confusion and amazement at the butterflies coming out of my mouth. I try to carefully brush them away — it is an odd ticklish feeling! I awaken, brushing my face. Please help me understand the message. Thank you, Cortney.

Hello Sophie,

Even with your confusion over the butterflies, the overall feeling of the dream is positive because of the beautiful environment, so this is a dream of encouragement. Butterflies are typically a symbol of transformation, so you may be transforming the way you communicate to others, and your friend is the inspiration for the change inside of you.

Or perhaps you need to say something to her that will transform your relationship. Another way to look at the dream is that you’re in the process of healing something within your body, mind, or heart that has been troubling you. Whatever it is, your friend’s joyful expression suggests she’s supportive of this shift in you and can help you with it.

White is a symbol of purity, so the dream is a reminder to speak from the heart, with clarity and honesty. I also think you have some wisdom to share with others that may surprise you!

Sweet dreams,

Cortney

More on: Cortney Litwin, Dreams, Features

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Surviving Trauma

April 1, 2010 at 5:01 pm
By tracy lyndon

Alice writes:

I was abused by my father when I was 11. I have flashbacks of things he did to me as a toddler. I could never understand why my mother was so off and angry and irritated by me. The day I told her, she ran out of the house and came back with her friends comforting her, and treating me as if I’d done some thing wrong. I’m about to have my 60th birthday, and I have three children. My third I had when I thought I was ready and healed.

After four marriages, my two daughters have all sorts of emotional problems. I was always afraid and felt uncomfortable with them. So far, my son seems to be well-balanced and a lovely person, but he left me to live with his dad when he was 10. I love him more than life itself. He finds it difficult to be with me. I try and do the best I can to appear happier than I really am. I want to see what the future brings.

Dear Alice,

To write openly about what happened at the hands of your father takes so much courage. Child abuse is so pervasive, and yet we are still not allowed to talk about it. Talking about your history and how it’s affected you is a sign of both self-love and a desire for further healing. Your courage shows that there is much hope for you!

As you probably know, abuse shatters our self-esteem, and makes it painful and scary to love and trust ourselves or anyone else. We feel like outsiders, stained and tainted by what happened to us, and certain that no one will accept us as we are.

Even outside of the terrible trauma of your father’s abuse, you were not loved and cherished as the precious, beautiful child that you were, not by your mother or any other important adult. You were, in fact, given the role of scapegoat, because your mother was incapable of handling the truth and placing the responsibility where it truly belonged: on herself. It is often the case with families in which abuse occurs, that alcoholism, mental illness, and neglect are at play, and the child, in an insane mangling of reality, takes the blame for the violence and chaos.

I suspect your parents were repeating the cycle of what happened to them, and acted out all their rage and self-loathing on you. Like a soldier who spent years on the battlefield, you were beaten down, your body and nervous system pushed to their limits. What you are experiencing now is post traumatic stress disorder, and all the anxiety and pain that it brings.

You wrote about attending various forms of therapy, and still feeling unhappy, isolated and not sure what ‘normal’ is. It sounds as if you spend a lot of time pretending you are ok, and trying to appreciate the good that you can. This in and of itself takes a lot of courage, but I am sure makes you unnecessarily exhausted, and is keeping you from a true connection with life, which you so deserve.

I urge you to get back in touch with other survivors in either a support group setting or a 12-step capacity. Please know that you are NOT alone, in the abuse or in the terrible fact that you were blamed for it. Any therapy or 12-step program, like Survivors of Incest Anonymous or Adult Children of Alcoholics that works with the ‘inner child,’ is key to true healing. Even if your parents were not alcoholics, they exhibit all the behaviors, so you qualify.

You deserve a place where you are allowed to be who you are, feelings and all, with supporting and accepting people who are walking the same path. You will learn to re-parent that sad and isolated child who is patiently waiting for your attention. You may in fact have many inner children who are yearning for you to see and listen to them, who cry tears that need to be dried and are in need of warm words and physical comfort.

Healing from child abuse is a lifelong process. Injuries inflicted at such a young age reverberate for decades, so there may be no ‘end’ to this path. Books like Courage to Heal and works on Co-dependence by Melody Beattie can be incredibly valuable aids — however, nothing balms the soul more than three-dimensional fellow travelers who are recovering themselves. You are a brave and loving woman capable of great happiness. I suggest building consistent and strong support from other loving souls who can empathize with and guide you, so that you can blossom and thrive.

More on: Body/Mind/Spirit, Features, tracy lyndon

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Sex Q&A: Psychic Liam

March 31, 2010 at 5:01 pm
By Psychic Liam ext. 9290

Lisa writes:

Gosh! I never thought in my whole entire life that I would be in a situation like this. I’ve been with my husband for about nine years now. I have a best friend that I’ve known for about two years, and she’s been with her significant other for 11 years. The crazy thing is … her significant other and I are in love! Are we just with the wrong people? We just can’t keep away from each other, and want to be together all the time.

I feel bad about doing this to my best friend and my husband. I never really had a connection with my husband, but I can connect right away with my best friend’s man. What do I do? I feel like we are meant to be together. I’ve never wanted anything as much as this for myself in my life, but I don’t want to hurt anyone. Should we stay away, or is it possible that we can have a future together and be happy? Please help me!

Dear Lisa,

Please understand this situation is insane, because love is insane. It is painful, because love is painful. Real love demands much of us, and it is never an easy road when it comes smashing into our lives. Be gentle with yourself over this. There are many people who would nail you and your lover to the nearest tree. They’ll give you tons of advice on how wrong you both are and be only too glad to tell you that you are terrible people.

And not one of them, not a single one, has ever tasted true love as you have. For if they had, they would understand. Love demands that we relinquish control. So, please, just stop fighting. From what I see, it isn’t any use … this love between the two of you is a force so big it will tear you to pieces if it wishes. But I do advise you to move with caution in this affair.

You say you are both with the wrong people, and I will tell you that is not strictly true. Both of you were with the right people for what you needed at that time in your lives. But that is over. Now it is time for the two of you to come together, and it is clear to me that you will be together … but I will warn you that the way will be hard and long. Take your time. I sense your spouse is restless as well — he just doesn’t know how to say it. Everyone involved in this is changing.

I suggest you maintain your love affair in secret for a time and just feel your way through it. Give it time to grow. Your other relationships will come apart naturally, and it won’t take as long as you think. I will not be so bold as to tell you that you will live happily ever after with this man, but let me say this — sometimes, with enough sacrifice, some couples come close. You and your fellow have a whole lot of sacrifice ahead, if you really want to be together. There are great rewards on the other side, if you can make it. I believe you can.

Good luck,

Liam

Do you have question for Liam? Ask here!

More on: Features, Psychic Liam ext. 9290, seasons

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April Fools!

March 31, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Jamie Nishi

Pranksters of the world unite on April Fool’s Day! While the exact origins of this mischievous holiday are unknown, many believe it all started in France with the switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in the 1500s.

April 1 had traditionally been the first day of the new year, and since communication was not what it is today, pranksters would play practical jokes on those not in the know about the date change.

A common practice at the time was placing dead fish on the back of a victim’s shirt and shouting “poisson d’avril!” (April fish). While open to debate, it is believed by some that this practice arose from April’s proximity in the zodiac to fishy Pisces.

Intro to Taoist Healing

March 30, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Staff

The heart and soul of all Taoist healingis the principle of divine order and balance. Everything unfolds with perfect timing. Balance feels like well being when we go with the flow.

For me, the most intriguing Taoist tool is I Ching-based astrology. I Ching astrology doesn’t quite squeeze into the usual astrological models. In fact, some say ‘cosmology’ is a better fit. I Ching astrology is based on the birthday and year, but does not consider the place of birth or include planetary influences. Instead, it focuses on how star light influences our lives and spiritual evolution.

It works with nine principle energies rather than twelve, and each energy visits us for one year at a time beginning at birth. At the end of nine years, the cycle begins again. The nine energies, or wisdom pathways, are called Heaven, Lake, Mountain, Fire, Water, Earth, Thunder, Wind, and Center. Each has an inherent wisdom, challenge, strength, and lesson.

At the New Year, in February, a specific energy arrives, setting the stage for the spiritual theme at play behind our experiences. The trick is to cooperate with the spiritual principle that is organizing and orchestrating the year. Resistance leads to disaster (against the stars). I feel embarrassed to say this, but sometimes I do resist, and then I get retrained.

In 2007, I was in a Fire year. Fire’s wisdom lies in connecting from the Heart and responding from instinct. That year, I excelled at connecting with my Heart and ignoring my ‘gut.’ I clung to what I thought I wanted, and worked very hard to keep it — even though it poisoned my well being. So in 2008, when I entered a Water year, all of my ‘can- live-without-it’ were promptly washed away. I had to acknowledge that a business person had been stealing from me, a three-year relationship ended out of the blue, a business partner unexpectedly crossed over, leaving an important project in limbo, and the list goes on.

Knowing I was in a Water year helped me accept the inevitable and move back toward balance. Water years are geared to teach us to go with the flow or exhaust ourselves until we have to let go and trust. In 2009, I safely landed in the blessedly nurturing energy of Earth.

This year, I look forward to the healing energy of Thunder and the opportunities to communicate — which are now open for me. Looking back, I can see how my life has unfolded so that I could grow in spirit and wisdom. Looking forward, I can use what I’ve learned to help others and to create joy and success.

How have you awakened to healing energy in your life? Tell us!

‘Date Night’ Astrology

March 30, 2010 at 1:00 pm
By S.K. Smith

With the Tina Fey/Steve Carrell comedy Date Night in theaters, there’s little doubt laughs are in store… but is cosmic compatibility in the cards as well? Let’s take a peek into their planetary positions to see!

Scorched Earth
If conflict is the stuff of comic gold, then the stars are promising for this comedy couple — not only is their Taurus/Leo pairing a tough (but possible) one to master romantically, both actors are best known for parts that reflect their Sun Signs to a tee, thereby increasing the odds of antagonism.

Consider that as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, Taurus Tina Fey (born May 18, 1970) gets big laughs for her down to earth neurotic tendencies and food-related funny. Plus, it’s a part that she admits (as the show’s creator) was modeled on herself! Meanwhile, Leo Steve Carrell (born August 16, 1962), has multiple Emmy nods for his weekly bow as Michael Scott — the ultimate egotistical (but well intentioned) attention whore on The Office. Never a truer Leo has hit the small screen. Translation? Odds are that a whole lot of mud will be flung and some earth will be scorched before there’s any hope of a happy ending for this star-crossed screen romance.

Sizzling Territory
On the other hand, there is another result of pitting such polar opposites against each other as romantic comedy leads…

Chemistry!

While a Taurus/Leo pairing requires a lot of compromise to get a long emotionally, the physical draw is inescapable. As a result, no matter how tough it is to make it work when they’re together, attraction is bound to bring them both coming back for more. Plus, with complementary (but also conflicting) Moons (Fey’s is in Libra, Carrell’s in Pisces), these two share similar aspirations – love, leisure, and passion. In the end, while both Fey and Carrell are happily married with kids, they had plenty to draw from astrologically here… and if the result is anything like their cosmically super-charged turns on TV, the results should scream from the screen!

More on: celebrities, Features, S.K. Smith

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