ritual
The Ancient Art Of Possum Bone Casting
I have spent some time exploring ancient forms of divination. It made me realize one can use just about anything, from bones to rocks, or even animal intestines… anything that may be handy at the time!
A few years back a friend of mine moved from Maine to New Orleans. We are connected on Facebook, so I decided to contact her to see how she liked living in New Orleans, and what she was doing for work. Much to my surprise she said, “I’m doing bone readings in the French Quarter of the city.” Well, that certainly peaked my interest.
I have since began studying the art of bone casting. As with anything, I found lots of ideas and several different opinions on the matter.
Using my own intuition, I settled on learning to read possum bones.
But now the question became…where and how does one find some proper possum bones to cast? I have never seen a possum where I live in the state of Maine (even though I’m sure possum is here.)
So, the hunt was on to get me some authentic possum bones to work with. I thought this would be easy; something one might find easily online? I mean, you can find almost everything to buy on the Internet these days.
Well, it turns out that to get the real deal, it is not really that easy.
My sister and her husband winter in Florida. Possums are plentiful in that area, so I hoped they might find just what I wanted. Not a live one, of course, but one in the form of ‘road kill.”
The Spiritual Healing Power Of Water
Have you ever noticed how being in or around water can transform your mood? How calming and soothing water can be?
The sound of the waves rolling in and out on the shore or the sound of rain, for example, can evoke a state of relaxation. Being in the water is even more relaxing, calming, refreshing and cleansing.
Depending on what we need at a particular time and how we use it, water can offer us an energetic reset, so to speak.
Given that water can have such a profound effect on our state of being, it is a powerful tool that we can incorporate into our spiritual practice.
Throughout many spiritual traditions and cultures, water has long been revered as a symbol of renewal, rebirth, release, purification, and tranquillity. The flow of rivers, the gentle fall of rain, the sacredness of springs and the vastness of oceans all remind us of life’s natural cycles.
Water teaches us how endings can wash away the old and create space for new beginnings. Just as water nourishes the Earth and sustains all living things, it also represents the continuous movement of transformation within our spiritual and emotional lives.
In many cultures, ritual bathing or washing with water is a sacred act of purification. Whether it is immersing yourself in a holy river, blessing a newborn with water, or simply washing one’s hands before prayer, these practices all symbolise the release of our burdens and the clearing of stagnant energy. Water invites us to let go of what no longer serves us, helping us to return to a state of inner balance and clarity.
The Real Secret To Smudging Is Your Intention
The secret to smudging isn’t just in the smoke alone. It is powered by your intention. The herbs may help to cleanse the air, but it is your focused energy and mindful purpose that makes the real difference.
This is what I learned from my mentor when I undertook my Ukuthwasa as a shaman initiate many years ago in Southern Africa. 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.
The practice of burning incense or herbs is held sacred by many indigenous cultures. It is aimed at protecting, cleansing and purifying the spiritual and physical bodies, with the smoke being the key to rid one of negative energy.
The intention behind any smudging ceremony is a very significant part of its success. With the focus and intent of the “smudger” fully aligned, spiritual, emotional, physical and mental balance can be achieved.
It may be a good time to smudge yourself, or your environment, when you feel depressed or angry, or feel that any exterior negative energy is affecting you, your surroundings or your possessions. Or you may just wish to ensure or enhance positive energy in spaces used for meditation or healing. Continue reading
The True Meaning Of Spiritual Surrender
When life becomes too challenging, and things begin to fall apart for us, we usually seek spiritual guidance and comfort.
In these circumstances we often tend to hear terms like surrender, release and acceptance. We are told to just let it go and simply be in the moment.
But what does it really mean to surrender? It’s a term often used in spiritual and metaphysical circles. Is there even such a thing? And if so, what does it entail?
According to the dictionary, surrender means to stop fighting and admit defeat. It also conjures up the vision of waving a white flag. But is spiritual surrender truly nothing more than throwing in the towel, and graciously accepting our defeat?
I prefer to explore the meaning of spiritual ‘surrender’ through the metaphor of a painting I made, which is my way of meditating and reflecting on life.
The painting is of an angel and I even named it Surrender. I chose this name, because it is the energy this angel emanates. His pose and posture also symbolizes the act of surrender.
At the time of working with the energy of this piece, I was in the process of leaving the security of a mainstream finance career, to establish myself as a full-time artist, energy healer and spiritual reader. Meanwhile, I was also very busy navigating a family separation and divorce. There were so many major changes in my life, and so much about my future and my life path that remained uncertain and unknown.
A Beginner’s Guide To Moon Manifestation
The Moon is a powerful and mysterious satellite in our sky. It governs the tides, controlling the movement of our planet’s vast bodies of water. Water, as an element, is connected to our emotions and intuition.
Considering that our bodies are 70-80% water, the power of the moon cannot be ignored; its influence runs deep within our cells.
Throughout time, the moon has been seen as a powerful energetic body across many cultures. As we observe the moon wax and wane, it teaches us about the cycles of time and the rhythm of nature. It also provides an opportunity to harness its energy to amplify our intentions of creation and release.
How can we attune ourselves to the rhythm of the moon and use this natural cycle in our practical lives?
First, we must pay attention. With so much going on, most people aren’t even aware when the moon is full or new.
Get a calendar that shows the lunar cycle to make this easier. Once you can easily track the moon’s cycle, you can incorporate it into your spiritual practice.
To take advantage of the moon’s energies, align your intention setting with each phase.
The Full Moon is a great time for setting intentions of release and letting go. This is because, after the moon is full, it begins to wane, meaning the crescent gets smaller and smaller until the moon is completely dark.
Protect Yourself From Toxic Noise And Psychic Junk
How often do you consider the health of your auric space or personal energy field, which is constantly being bombarded with so much negative energy these days. Are you doing enough to protect yourself?
First and foremost, you need to have healthy boundaries. Each of us needs and deserves to have a safe place, a sense of self-worth, and protection from others. Think about what happens to a beach that is battered constantly by waves. It will wear down and eventually disappear. If you don’t have boundaries, your very identity will be like those grains of sand.
Learning to connect back to the Earth and nature is essential to our well-being. This can be as simple as walking without shoes in a natural space, or by keeping plants in your living space. When we are separate from our natural selves, we lose perhaps the most important part of our soul.
By walking in nature, you are literally reconnecting. Like a lightning bolt discharging energy when it strikes solid ground, you are releasing all the negative energies that accumulate in your body. Take a friend, or walk your dog if you have one.
If these energies, and their associated negative effects, are like frantic little animals in the cage of our bodies, we need to find ways to calm them. Centering rituals using meditation, candles, crystals, or whatever individual tradition you may follow, need to be part of your day, just like meals and baths.
A Cuddly Message From Grandma At Halloween
All of us have lost, or will in time lose someone very dear to us. Like it or not, all of us also have to ponder the concept of life after death at some point in our life. Some of us have very strong beliefs on the subject, one way or the other. We either believe in the afterlife, or we do not.
For me the answer is simple and easy. I strongly believe, because of both my personal and professional experiences. For example, I have been visited many times by my grandparents, and I have communicated with many loved ones in spirit in my daily work, when I do readings for my clients.
My grandma often communicates with me in the dream state. She tends to show up when I least expect it, usually to give me a guiding message or to warn me about something. She always has been a worrier, in this life and the next! Right up to the very day she departed this life, she was telling us what to do to keep safe, and she was always giving us good advice. She is very wise.
I was asking her just the other day to give me a sign that she was around, and sure enough, she did. But this time she did not show up in a dream. She spoke to me…through a teddy bear! Yes, indeed.
It is one of those plush toys that makes a cute kissing sound and says, “I love you very much,” when you squeeze it. I was in the tub and this little teddy bear was right next to me, on top of a shelf. After drawing the bath, I was leaning back in the soothing, warm water, letting out a sigh of relief that a long day was over. Next thing you know, this teddy bear goes off on its own, making the kissing sounds and saying I love you, over and over. I knew right away that it was grandma making contact.