wicca
The True Spiritual Meaning Of The Pentagram
Perhaps no other spiritual or religious icon is as misunderstood as the pentagram, or pentacle. The true symbolism of the pentagram, a five-pointed star often surrounded by a circle, is commonly misrepresented.
Contrary to popular misconceptions that associate it with darkness, evil, or Satanism, the pentagram has multiple meanings within various spiritual and religious traditions, most notably within Paganism and modern Wicca.
The pentagram has been a spiritual symbol of significance for millennia, long before its association with modern religious movements.
Historically, it has been used by cultures around the world, often to represent celestial bodies, principles of harmony, or mystical concepts. Its use first appeared in ancient Greece and Mesopotamia around the 1st millennium BC.
It is not widely known that there are significant historical connections between the pentagram and Christianity. Prior to the widespread use of the cross, the pentagram was a popular symbol to adorn the jewelry and amulets of early Christians, often alongside an “X” or a phoenix. This symbol was associated with the five wounds of Christ and also represented the concept of Alpha and Omega united, as the star could be drawn in one continuous movement of the pen.
In contemporary contexts, particularly within Wicca and related neo-pagan belief systems, the pentacle has positive connotations. It’s seen as a symbol of protection, spirituality, and the interconnectedness of the elements. Each point of the star represents an aspect of balance, holistic existence, conscious living, and the cyclical nature of life.
My First Foray Into Ribbon Psychometry
Like “riding a bicycle,” spiritual knowledge and skills, once learned, are never lost or forgotten. Even if you haven’t practiced or used a certain skill for a long time, you can always quickly pick it up again because it is stored in your soul memory.
There is a certain degree of permanence in spiritual growth and learning. Spiritual learning is very different from the acquisition of academic knowledge or vocational skills. Soul growth and spiritual development flows from deeply personal experiences, profound moments of insight, and personal transformations that forever change our soul essence at a fundamental level.
Our soul memory is essentially the memory bank of our higher self. It is like stored layers of enlightenment or the akashic records that preserve all of our acquired spiritual wisdom and abilities, making them readily accessible after periods or even lifetimes of non-use or neglect.
I was reminded of this fact at a recent mediumship event I attended where a medium demonstrated some of the psychic techniques and methods she had relied on in her own psychic development journey.
Decades ago, I attended a psychic development course at the Arthur Findlay College of Spiritualism and Psychic Sciences in Essex, England. During the course we did a fun exercise in which we practiced “ribbon psychometry.”
Protect Yourself From Psychic Scams
Over the past two decades of doing psychic readings, I have heard of many scams and frauds in my field.
It always saddens me when I hear about it, especially when I see firsthand the pain and devastation it causes the victims when some of them come to me for help. I have had to do a lot of clean up and damage control with clients who have unknowingly fallen victim to these types of scams.
Psychic scammers also make my work so much harder and ruin the reputation of authentic psychics everywhere. Psychic-related fraud leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths and makes the public doubt those of us who are genuine and well-intentioned.
To add insult to injury the criminal activity of these so-called “psychics” is something the media loves to report because of its sensational nature. Rarely do you see news reports of legitimate psychics helping to change, heal and even save lives.
With the rise of the internet, smart phones, social media and more recently artificial intelligence (AI), it has become much easier for scammers to defraud their victims in many new ways. Sometimes I feel that there are more fraudsters these days than at any time in my career. Or maybe they are just more visible now?
Navigating Loneliness During the Holidays
The holiday season is traditionally portrayed as a time of togetherness, love, joy, and belonging. We are inundated with media images of families gathered around a festive table, friends celebrating, and communities coming together.
Paradoxically, for many people, this time of year is instead filled with feelings of loneliness, isolation and disconnection.
The root cause is the societal stereotype and cultural assumption that everyone should be joyful, happy, and surrounded by loved ones during the holidays. If you’re not, for whatever reason, it can lead to feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and social failure.
Holiday loneliness is exacerbated by the stark contrast between our actual circumstances and the commercially driven, idealized versions of holiday gatherings and celebrations we see in advertisements, television shows, movies, and social media. This increases feelings of disconnection, low self-esteem, and even depression.
Loneliness during the holidays can have a significant impact on mental health. Feelings of isolation and disconnection during this time of year can exacerbate existing mental health issues and lead to the development of new ones. The constant reminders of togetherness and joy, combined with a lack of social connections and meaningful interactions, can increase feelings of loneliness, leading to emotional distress, feelings of emptiness and hopelessness, and a decline in overall well-being.
The Powerful Practice Of Color-Based Affirmation
Affirmations are known to be a powerful spiritual practice for manifestation, self-healing, and personal empowerment.
What is less well known is that associating your affirmations or intentions with specific colors can greatly enhance your practice by infusing it with the powerful symbolism, purposeful energy frequencies, and mind-altering psychoactive effects of different colors. It aligns our energy vibration more powerfully with the desired effect or outcome.
The practice of color-based affirmation, also known as ‘color therapy affirmations’ or ‘rainbow affirmations,’ draws inspiration from a variety of traditions and disciplines, including spirituality, metaphysics, chromotherapy, and color psychology.
Color has a rich history of symbolic significance that spans all cultures and many centuries.
Ancient civilizations recognized both the metaphysical and therapeutic power of color, while many religions and spiritual wisdom traditions have an intricate tapestry of color symbolism in their teachings and practices. The ancient Egyptians, for example, recognized the healing power of color. They had a sophisticated understanding of color that they used in their temples and rituals.
Full Moon Release Ritual
Tomorrow’s Gemini Full Moon will be the last full moon before the winter solstice. Traditionally also known as the Beaver Moon, Frost Moon, or Mourning Moon, this full moon is a perfect time for introspection, spiritual contemplation and inner transformation.
The November Full Moon invites us to gather our resources, release what no longer serves us, and embrace the transformative power of the changing seasons.
As we prepare for winter within and without, we can cultivate the resilience and wisdom necessary to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The ideal way to do this is through a full moon ritual.
Full moon release rituals have been practiced for centuries in various cultures and spiritual traditions. The goal of these rituals is to create space for growth, transformation, and new beginnings. The phases of the moon are traditionally associated with cycles of growth, decline, and renewal, making the full moon a particularly powerful time to release negative energies, unwanted patterns, and emotions that no longer serve us.
The ancient Egyptians worshipped the moon goddess Isis, who symbolized fertility, magic, and transformation. They believed that the full moon had the power to cleanse and purify.
The Spiritual Symbolism Of The Circle
The circle has a profound and universal meaning in spirituality across cultures and belief systems. It symbolizes a variety of spiritual concepts and offers insights into the interconnectedness of life, the cyclical nature of existence, and the infinite potential for growth and transformation.
The circle represents unity and oneness. It is a symbol of completeness because it has neither beginning nor end. This circular continuity reflects the eternal nature of the soul and the interconnectedness of all living beings.
In Native American spirituality, for example, the medicine wheel represents balance and harmony between all aspects of life, including the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Similarly, in Hinduism, the concept of samsara refers to the continuous cycle of birth, death and rebirth, with the circle symbolizing the eternal journey of the soul.
In Christianity the circle represents eternity and sacred union. It is referenced in the Bible as the shape of heaven, and as the beginning and ending of time. For Christian couples, the unending circle of a wedding ring is also the symbolic expression of their sacred, eternal union.