occult
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
The Sins Of The Forefathers
Ancestor worship is a wide-spread belief system, in both primitive and sophisticated cultures. Ancestral healing unfortunately gets very little attention these days, even though some of our patterns and energy imbalances may well stem from our genetic pool.
My first exposure to the concept of communicating with our Ancestors occurred many years ago, during initiation into the Southern African culture of divining and healing. During my training to become a Sangoma*, in a remote area in Southern Africa, time was always put aside for offering prayers to, and for consulting with the Ancestors. My mentor taught me how the Ancestor energies affected their still living relatives, and how, in most African cultures, they are seen as being our link to the spirit world. Continue reading
Dream Symbols
Our dreams have been a source of fascination since the beginning of time. Clients sometimes ask me to help them interpret a dream that’s intrigued them, or which has been of great concern to them. I feel that the best people to interpret dreams are the dreamers themselves, but I will always give my take or feeling on the deeper meaning of the dream, and suggest they take my version on board only if it truly resonates for them.
Many cultures see dreams as life lessons, as a means for our ancestors or loved ones in spirit to connect with, and to communicate with us. Amongst those cultures, much emphasis is placed on dreams as a means of prophecy. Often these dreams are meant to guide us or to warn us of impending danger, but sometimes they are meant to just to show us that we are indeed loved by those in the spirit world. Continue reading
Mediumship Is Not A Psychic Sideshow
Mediumship presented as entertainment is a double-edged sword. The media hype generated by psychic television shows, and live stage performances featuring celebrity mediums, has no doubt contributed much to an increased public awareness of mediumship. It has liberated spiritualism from the stereotype of the 19th century séance by bringing the work of the psychic medium into the public domain, and into mainstream pop culture.
But does mediumship as an entertainment genre do spiritualism and the daily work of psychics any real justice? I am certainly not a purist. Neither am I a traditionalist when it comes to spiritual matters. I tend to shy away from any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism. But having the work of talented mediums dished up as trivial amusement has certainly proven to be a mixed blessing in my own practice as psychic medium. Continue reading
The Secret To Smudging Is In The Smoke
“The secret to smudging is in the smoke.” These were the words of my mentor when I undertook my Ukuthwasa as a shaman initiate many years ago in Southern Africa. I have also come to know that the true intention behind any smudging ceremony is a very significant part of its success.
An initial part of my rigorous training as a Sangoma, or traditional healer, was a self-cleansing ritual using Mphepo, made up of herbs indigenous to Southern Africa.
“Smudging,” simply put, is the burning of certain herbs to create a cleansing smoke bath. The smoke is used to cleanse areas used for rituals and ceremonies, as well as any tools or objects used for such cleansing, as well as to cleanse people. Continue reading
The Ouija Board Is Not A Harmless Toy
The Ouija board is an occult item that you don’t want to mess with, or even try. It looks like something harmless and it’s supposed to be a fun, friendly board game, but using it may open you up to something that could bring harm to you.
My brother once thought it was harmless to try and use the Ouija board to make contact with a good friend we had lost in a car crash. We grew up together, and when we heard that our friend had passed in an accident my brother was very distraught. He was looking for answers as to what had happened and for some mysterious reason so he decided to turn to the Ouija board for assistance. I told him I felt it was not a good idea, since I had read stories at the library about people who used the Ouija board and the disturbing things that happened to them. Continue reading
The Pentacle – Ancient Magical Symbol
Possibly no other spiritual or religious icon in our culture is as misunderstood as the pentacle, or five-pointed star. Many people automatically believe the pentacle is connected to some form of darkness, evil or satanic worship. This could not be further from the truth.
Along with its powerful symbolism in Wicca and other pagan traditions, the pentacle also has roots in Christian and Jewish mysticism, as well as Native American religion.
Over the centuries the symbol has taken on many meanings. Its most lasting symbolism, however, is that of the five classical elements: Earth, Fire, Air, and Water, with Spirit at its head. Continue reading