ancestors
The African River Man
During the time of my ukuthwasa (period of initiation to become a traditional healer or sangoma) some decades ago in Southern Africa, my mentor and some other village elders would join our group of ithwasa (sangoma trainees) by the campfire and discuss other spirits. That is, others in addition to those of our ancestors.
We heard many tales of other spirits who control the rivers, oceans and lakes, as well as those who live in the sky and control the rain. There were also stories told of sacred places where spirits inhabited mountains, trees and rocks. I loved hearing those stories from various individuals whom have had unique experiences and felt they had seen and communicated with those various spirits. Continue reading
Journey To The Isle Of Avalon
The Isle of Avalon is a mythical place of healing, psychic learning, crafting, and the life and times of King Arthur. Figures such as Morgan Le Fay, King Arthur and Merlin the Magician are just a few legendary names associated with this Holy Isle. Though no longer here in the physical world, Avalon is still accessible through the inner worlds by way of meditation or immrama, an Irish-Welsh word meaning ‘spiritual journey on the astral plane.’
Avalon was known as training ground for priestesses who dedicated their life to spirituality, and to the Great Mother Goddess. These women trained in the arts of clairvoyance, herbalism, weaving and devotion to the Divine feminine. Continue reading
The Paranormal Power Of Cats
Cats are often depicted in ancient Egyptian art and artifacts. The Egyptians actually worshiped cats as gods, and believed that they took on a spiritual importance. They were considered to be a sacred animals with magical powers.
Ancient Egypt was said to be one of the most advanced civilizations in human history, capable of architecture, that by today’s standards would be difficult, if not impossible to construct. But, did they also possess otherworldly knowledge that has been forgotten?
Some myths and folklore also claim that cats can walk in and out of the spirit world with great ease and at will. It was also believed that when a house cat would disappear, with no plausible explanation, that it had found a portal to the other worlds and is exploring them and will return just a mysteriously as it had disappeared. Continue reading
Healing With Music And Sound
“Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak,” wrote William Congreve in his classic poem, The Mourning Bride. He seems to have understood that music can soothe anyone who might be be stressed out, overwhelmed, anxious or depressed.
Studies indicate that music and sound heal us in a multitude of way, perhaps even at the cellular level. Long-term patients, nursing home residents, and chronically depressed people have been found to experience healing through sound.
Ancient cultures from Egypt to Japan to Australia used the secrets of healing sound. What these long-ago people instinctively knew, we now attribute to the effect of certain wavelengths upon our brains to calm, relax, and heal. As with acupuncture, these sounds may be able to reset our internal balances and remove negative energies. Continue reading
The Magic Of Crystals And Gemstones
You don’t have to be a geologist or gemstone expert to experience the magic of working with crystals and gemstones. Many of us light up when you mention the magic of crystals and gemstones, and we usually have a story to share about a particular stone we own or carry on us for specific intentions, healing, added strength, or protection.
How do the crystals and gemstones work for you? Well, in many magical ways. When you’re drawn to a particular stone, whether it’s the color, texture, shape, or other qualities, the attraction you feel to it is the first stage in the magical process. This attraction is actually the stone’s way of calling you to it, to make contact. Sometimes a stone can be gifted to you by someone, or one way or another just makes its way into your hands. The circumstances upon which you found it, or perhaps how it found you, is just the beginning of a new and magical relationship. Continue reading
A Tale Of Two Wolves
As a child, I always enjoyed parables, and even in my middle years I still like listening to a story that has real meaning behind it. Recently, I discovered a fabulous story.
A young Cherokee child gets into an argument with one of his peers whom, until now, he felt he had been on good terms with but on this occasion, however, felt that the other boy had been most unjust to him.
In anger, the Cherokee boy runs off to seek advice from his wise grandfather, an elder of the Cherokee tribe, who loves teaching his grandchildren all about life. After telling his grandfather of his injustice, the old man wistfully looked at his grandson and said that he too, in his life, had similar experiences that resulted in him feeling great anger. “It is like there is a fight between two wolves going on inside you,” said the old man, “and indeed a terrible fight.” Continue reading
The Legacy Of Limiting Beliefs
So many people live their life with the beliefs of their ancestors. Others just follow like sheep whatever their spiritual community, or the culture that they grew up in, or now live in.
Some people never question or challenge any of the things they have heard since childhood. Some of these limiting beliefs and ideas have been passed down from generation to generation, and have remained the same for thousands of years. Unless we question some of these outdated beliefs or information, we will stay stuck in limited thinking – always inside the box.
Sometimes we stay stuck thinking or feeling only how our parents of grandparents felt and thought. For example, people whose parents or grandparents lived through a great depression, or have had to endure a scarcity food or heat supply, the primary survival necessities, may feel they have to save everything. What if I will need it someday? I paid so much for it and its too perfectly good to discard. What if, what if.