Mysticism
The Mystical Year Of The Yin Wood Snake
As we settle into 2025, the energy of the Yin Wood Snake begins to take shape, revealing its unique rhythm and influence.
While the excitement of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations may have faded, the true essence of the year is beginning to unfold.
Now is the perfect time to align with the energies of the Wood Snake, harness its mystical power, and set a clear, intentional path for the months ahead.
The Year of the Wood Snake brings a harmonious fusion of intuition, mystery and steady growth.
The Snake, known for its wisdom and transformation, merges with the nurturing and grounding essence of the Wood element this year, fostering patience, adaptability, and a deep connection to our spiritual and emotional roots.
Unlike the impulsive Fire Snake or the analytical Metal Snake, the Wood Snake encourages thoughtful progress and long-term vision, making 2025 an ideal year for meaningful evolution.
In many cultures, the Snake symbolizes rebirth, wisdom and mystery. Its ability to shed its skin represents the release of outdated beliefs, limitations, and habits, clearing the way for renewal. This year invites you to embrace transformation, trust your intuition, and align with the subtle yet powerful energy of the Snake as you enter a year of profound personal and spiritual growth.
The Cautionary Tale Of The Lovestruck Witch
Once upon a time, there was a goodly witch named Wanda. Though she sometimes had a fiery temper, her heart was generally in the right place.
For many years, Wanda lived a cozy life with her partner, Colwyn the Brave, in a happy and fulfilling relationship.
But one day, out of the blue, Colwyn announced that he was ending the relationship. Although he still loved Wanda, he explained that he no longer had the romantic or emotional feelings necessary to sustain the relationship.
But Wanda was no fool. Fee-fi-fo-fum, she knew by the prick of her thumb…that he was lying through his teeth! The truth was that he had decided to dump her for her so-called best friend, Suvanna the Enchantress.
Wanda was devastated. She had dedicated more than two decades of her life to this man, standing by him through thick and thin. And her friend’s betrayal only added further insult to injury.
Realizing the extent of the pain he had caused, Colwyn tried to comfort Wanda, assuring her that one day she would meet someone who would make her much happier than he ever had.
But his words fell on deaf ears. Wanda was heartbroken and very, very angry.
Then she remembered…she was a witch. She could make things happen, especially with the help of her sisterhood of witches.
Did Your Soul Choose Your Life Challenges?
“Oh, why do I have such terrible karma?” or “Why does the universe keep throwing me curveballs?” or “Is God punishing me?” These are questions that clients often ask me when they face struggles in life.
Spirit has repeatedly shown me in many readings over the years that we all have a kind of “architect’s plan” that we design before we incarnate into this life. This soul plan for our life journey lays out the lessons we’re going to learn and the experiences we’re going to have.
This spiritual principle is known by various names (depending on the context or belief system), including our spiritual blueprint, life design, divine plan, life script, soul contract, predestined path, and so on.
I prefer “architect’s plan” because it reminds me of the careful, meticulous planning an architect does when designing a new structure, long before the practical, hands-on construction takes place on site.
Like architects, we calmly and clearly create a plan for our life journey before we incarnate. It is only when we are here in the physical world to embody our plan that we fully experience the intensity and the many dangers and pitfalls that are part of our chosen journey, including all the fear, love, pain, hardship, joy, suffering, and everything in between.
Yes, it is hard to believe that we actually choose to face challenges and difficulties in our lives. But various spiritual traditions and esoteric philosophies tell us that our soul’s path is predestined or planned before we’re born, or at least that we have certain free will choices and options along the way.
Embrace The Wisdom Of Your Inner Crone
The archetypes of the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone are central figures in various spiritual and mythological traditions, especially in Paganism and Wicca, where they represent the Triple Goddess. They symbolize the three primary phases of a woman’s life and the cycles of nature, and are associated with the phases of the moon — waxing, full, and waning.
The Maiden is associated with the waxing moon, representing youth, new beginnings, potential, and innocence; the Mother aligns with the full moon, embodying creation, fertility, abundance, and maturity; and the Crone is associated with the waning moon, symbolizing wisdom, life experience, reflection, and endings that lead to new beginnings.
In Greek mythology, these archetypes are seen in the Moirai or Fates: Clotho (the spinner of the thread of life), Lachesis (the measurer), and Atropos (the cutter). Similarly, in Hinduism, the goddess Kali represents the transformative power of the Crone, who presides over destruction and rebirth. They remind us of the cyclical nature of existence and the interconnectedness of the stages of life.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, embodies the essence of the Crone within the Christian tradition. As Mater Dolorosa (Sorrowful Mother), she is revered as a figure of profound strength and resilience, having witnessed the suffering and death of her Son. Her wisdom, born of enduring immense grief and unwavering faith, serves as a beacon of strength and compassion for the faithful. She is seen as a compassionate and empathetic figure who understands human suffering and intercedes for believers with her love and wisdom.
Psychomanteum Gazing To Communicate With Spirit
There are many approaches to communicating with spirit, all of which ultimately lead to the same result. Among the many mystical tools used to connect with the spirit realm, the psychomanteum stands out as an intriguing method.
A psychomanteum, also known as a mirror gazing chamber, is a small, enclosed space used to facilitate communication with the spirit realm, equipped with a mirror angled to reflect only darkness.
The process involves gazing into the dark mirror to facilitate deep concentration, sensory deprivation, and an altered state of consciousness.
This practice, known as scrying, has its roots in ancient Greek traditions, where similar methods were used for divination, prophecy, and communication with the afterlife. Scrying involves gazing into a reflective surface to see psychic visions or gain insights into the future while in a trance-like state.
Nostradamus, the famous French mystic, used a scrying bowl filled with water in his divination practice. He would place the brass bowl on a tripod and gaze into the water to perceive psychic impressions for his prophecies.
In traditional scrying, practitioners use crystal balls, bowls of water, or even polished stones, but the mirror in a psychomanteum provides a uniquely immersive experience. As the participant looks into the reflective surface, the mirror acts as a mental portal between realms.
A Spiritual Calling To Serve The Animals
My psychic awakening began early, at the age of five. My first extrasensory experiences involved listening to animals and intuitively understanding their needs and concerns. Once I realized that I could communicate with the animals in this way, I began to listen more often to how I could help and support them.
One day, I was playing outside when I sensed an animal calling to me for help. When I turned around, I saw a beagle at a neighbor’s house, shaking his head violently and whimpering. I could feel its distress.
As I approached, I immediately saw the cause of his discomfort. His ears were covered with parasites to the point that he was bleeding from repeated scratching.
Intuitively I instantly knew I had find an ointment, and with the simplicity of a child’s solution, I applied petroleum jelly to his ears. To my surprise and joy, it worked! Relieved, the beagle expressed immense gratitude, and tending to his ears became my daily mission.
My parents later adopted a retired German shepherd from the military. Because of his special training and many years of service, he was highly alert to things around him. His name was Argo, and I was told that he only understood formal commands, so it would be difficult for him to adjust to living as an ordinary “civilian” with our family.
Little did the adults know that I had my own way of talking to the animals. Soon I found myself sitting with Argo for hours, secretly communicating with him. He told me many amazing stories about his adventures as a military service dog. We became inseparable.
Realigning With Your Higher Self
In my readings, I often feel that people’s energy is fragmented — like an incomplete jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. This fragmentation reflects a general disconnection from the core essence of their being: the higher self.
It’s no surprise that modern life pulls us in countless directions, leaving us feeling stretched, overwhelmed, and out of balance. Between the demands of work, family, and personal goals, the balance of work, rest, play, sleep, and spirit seems to have slipped through our fingers.
Compounding this imbalance is our growing impatience and intolerance. We bristle at delays, resist restrictions, and struggle when life deviates from our carefully laid plans.
Yet frustration and impatience only hinder the natural unfolding of our highest good. The person we are waiting to meet or the opportunity we are longing for may not be ready to enter our lives — or, more likely, we may not be ready to welcome it.
When we feel lost, stuck, confused, or fearful, these are signs of misalignment or disconnection from our higher self. This distortion cuts us off from clear inner guidance and spiritual awareness, leaving us adrift in a sea of doubt, fear, and negativity.
Realigning with our higher essence restores the natural flow of energy, inner wisdom, and divine guidance. We rediscover our wise inner genius, the calm confidence that resides within, and the power to live in harmony with our true essence and fulfill our soul plan.