Metaphysical Musings

Ah, love.  Seems every other person I meet is either hooking up, shacking up, shagging someone new (or two) … or thinking about it.

This means lots of calls for love spells:  “Bind him to me!” “Keep him from looking at another!” “Make her love only me!” “Make him leave his wife!”

Um … a word here, okay?

The word is no.

First, there is the matter of that whole “Free Will” thing we’ve discussed in earlier blogs.  Can’t impose or force your will on another.   At least, not ethically (and I do try ever so hard to be ethical).   And please, I’ve heard it a hundred times … “But it is in his (her) BEST INTEREST to be with me!”  That’s just a sweet way of being completely selfish, and you know it.  WHOSE best interest, again?

I thought so.

Love magick is best worked on yourself – to make you attract what it is you are looking for.  Not so much a who, but what … such as a kind, intelligent, funny, financially stable (okay so a little wealth never hurt!) man or woman who will treat you with care and concern.  A more realistic option.

We like to start with a pink 7-day candle, dressed with a little love drawing oil.  We add energy to charge.   When you bring the candle home, set it where it can remain lit until it burns out.  Put pictures, items – anything that speaks of “love” to you, maybe a statue or picture of Aphrodite or Cupid (a valentine?) around the candle.  Build a shrine to love.  Spray some perfume.  And every time you pass your little love shrine, stand in front of it, close your eyes and see (don’t imagine, really SEE) yourself with someone – getting dressed to go out, sitting next to them at a movie theatre munching popcorn and telling jokes, bringing them home to meet mom and dad.  The point is, you are letting the Universe know in no uncertain terms that you are READY for love.  And that this is the kind of love you are ready and waiting for.

Before you begin, I’d like to suggest you watch my favorite movie in the whole world “Deja Vu” (1998) starring Stephen Dillane, Victoria Foyt and Vanessa Redgrave.  It is fabulous and always makes me cry.  The promo reads “When the powerful attraction that strangers sometimes feel toward one another becomes overwhelming, one’s orderly life-plans can be suddenly and totally disrupted.”

The hell you say!  Now I really love this movie because the stars, rather than being beautiful twenty-somethings, are normal looking people engaged in seemingly normal lives.  But there is a metaphysical overtone that I can’t discuss, lest I ruin the movie for you.  Bottom line:  If the Universe decrees you will be with someone, you WILL be with them regardless of how impossible it may all seem.  And not just in this lifetime – but countless lifetimes before, and more to follow.  The combinations are endless:  Husband/wife, brother/sister, mother/son … finally, you will manage a magical combination that ends in bliss.  Or you will screw it up totally in this life and have to wait for the next to start all over.   Wheee!

Want to make sure you screw it up?  Magically “binding” someone to you … that’s a good start.   I have a couple of horror stories (er, cautionary tales) I can share in a more private forum.  Point being – Set forth your intention and leave it alone.  And while you are waiting, do interesting things.  Read.  Visit art galleries.  Hike in the woods.  Walk on the beach.  Volunteer at a soup kitchen or animal shelter – help others.  Create.  Take a yoga or meditation class.  Change your haircolor.  Learn a foreign language.  Memorize a few good “knock knock” jokes and come to Talisman and tell them to my five year old son – his one joke is getting worn out, and I would appreciate him learning some new material!  And in case you’re curious:  “What do you call a snail in a boat?”  “A Snailor!”  Now, say it fifty million times and see if you can keep laughing.   Uh huh.

But anyway — occupy yourself while your intention manifests.

And before you meet that someone special – that tall, dark, mysterious stranger - you may fall in love with someone else first.  Yourself.

And that’s the greatest love of all, baby!

Blessings all around – Laura

Something kinda sad happened at Talisman last week, and I thought I’d share it as part of this week’s blog while I mull it over in my mind.  Two women came into the shop last Thursday;  one was looking to buy sage and learn how to cleanse her home.  I didn’t ask for details but she looked tired, sad and very thin – her companion was doing a good job of chatting and being cheerful in an effort to raise her friend’s spirits (as any good friend would).  At one point, they asked about psychic “protection” and I asked what Faith path they followed – they were both Catholic and were wearing crosses.  I told them the best protection comes from their personal belief in the Divine – so, if they practiced Catholicism then it comes from the cross, holy water, receiving sacraments, etc.  I suggested they hang a rosary from the corner of their and their children’s beds, mark all doors with a cross using holy water, and pray to Mary for guidance with their children.  About the time I finished my little talk, an older woman came into the shop and slowly walked around, taking it all in –  front to back.  Meanwhile, the three of us were standing at the front counter and the topic of conversation changed over to paranormal investigations.  The chatty friend was telling me how much she enjoys watching the TV show “TAPS” – and as the older woman walked by, she stopped and whispered something in the ear of the other (sad) friend.  She shrugged and gave a little smile as the older woman shook her head disapprovingly and walked out of the shop.  I asked “Do you mind if I ask you what she just whispered to you?” and she told me, “She said that I should just put my faith in Jesus and forget about all this other crap”.  

Okay, then. 

Of course, it was too bad she hadn’t come in just a few minutes earlier and then she would have heard my little speech about Jesus, Mary and living your faith.  Then again, if she was a fundamentalist Christian it wouldn’t have mattered since they have problems with Catholics too.  Many Catholics are unaware that most of the Christian Right does not approve of their Faith practices.  Throughout the eleventh grade, I lived with my dad and his family in Vian, Oklahoma.  The local Baptists (they were ALL Baptists) let me know at every possible opportunity that as a Catholic I did many bad things – for instance, nailing Jesus back up on the cross every Sunday and breaking an important commandment by bowing down and worshipping statues.  Then there was the whole “eating flesh and drinking blood” thing which they had a real problem with.   At one point, frustrated and tired of being asked if I had “Found Jesus” I snapped back “No – but if I do, I will tie a bell around his neck because YOU people keep losing him!” and walked away.

I had no friends in Oklahoma – and it was a lonely junior year in high school.  But I did learn first-hand what it feels like to be a “Faith Minority” and THAT was a valuable lesson.  It made it impossible for me to judge another based on their beliefs because I know exactly how it feels when someone does not understand WHY you believe what you believe but presumes to damn you for it.  And when one person tells another that their beliefs mean they are going to Hell, that is exactly what they are doing … damning them.  That’s an awful lot of power for one person to have over another (an awful lot of power, period).  I would think it is for God to decide for himself – who is going where, and why.  Of course, there IS that one little line in the bible – who said it?  Oh, yes – Jesus.  It is “Judge not lest ye yourself be judged.”

But I digress.

According to statistics, more than 50 percent of Americans have a negative view of people who don’t believe in their God.  Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammed – all spoke of Divine love . Why are we fighting over it?  Why is one person’s God better than another?  What in God’s name is really going on?

In the words of comic writer Dave Barry:  “People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them …” 

Goddess Bless Us All!  Laura

I’m often asked the question “How do I know if I am psychic?” or “How can I develop my psychic abilities?”  First, know that almost everyone has some degree of Sixth Sense – I liken it to one’s sense of smell.  Most folks can smell, many have a heightened sense of smell and a rare few (whom the French refer to as having “The Nose”) can work in the perfume industry as they are able to detect notes of fragrance when a perfumed strip is waved under their nose.  The same holds true of intuition – most have it (think “Mother’s Intuition” or “Woman’s Intuition”); many have a heightened sense and they learn, in time, to trust and rely on their “gut instinct”  – and a few are able to “read” future events. “see” lost children or objects, and/or tune into current situations for others.  

There are times in a person’s life (often occuring for women at puberty and/or menopause) when their intuition or “second sight” can be felt to burgeon.  Additionally, when I am reading a palm sometimes certain lines will speak to intuitive ability.  However, many people do not realize how mundane a flash of intuition can appear to be.  You are thinking of a friend you have not seen in a long time – a moment later, the phone rings and it is that same friend on the other end.   A random song from years ago is playing in your head – you get into your car and turn on the radio, only to hear that same song playing.  I remember once at Talisman having a discussion with Patty (a dear friend and patron) about “John of God” and the quartz crystals he has available on his website.  Patty was asking me about the validity of the crystals, if I thought they were really from John’s quartz mine – and literally seconds later, someone I had never met before walked into the shop and asked if I carried the new book titled “John of God’ then proceeded to pull from her pocket crystals she had gathered when visiting him in Brazil months before!  And she graciously gave one to an awe-struck Patty.   All I could think was “Question Answered!”

When I use these examples in conversations involving the development of intuition many people immediately smile, because it feels comforting to be able to make sense of these “odd” events.

These odd coincidences, when especially meaningful, can also be known as Synchronicity.  This word was coined by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who was in his office with a patient one day discussing Egypt when a beetle known as an Egyptian scarab walked across his desk.  Jung found the word “coincidence” too ordinary to describe an Egyptian beetle – thousands of miles from where it belonged – appearing at the exact moment he was talking about Egypt.  It was a clear sign to Jung that this universe God created is not random and chaotic, but ordered, perfect and patterned – in other words, synchronized.   

Shirley MacLaine, in her amazing book “Sage-ing While Age-ing” discusses this phenomenon at length.  She notes that appreciating the synchronicity of events in your life gives you a deepened sense of identity and self-worth, while it also gives meaning, direction and purpose to your existence.  In its highest manifestation, synchronicity is nothing less than your personal connection to the Divine.  Sometimes these are the most important episodes in your life, incidents that quite literally transform you.  Think of the profound manner in which certain people or pets have entered your life – unavoidable circumstances or a series of coincidences that drew you together.  The right person, the right place, the right time enters your life at a strategic moment, which seems blindingly without logical motivation – I believe this speaks to Divine intervention.  Shirley MacLaine goes on to write that the power of surrender to a guided synchronicity has been the most meaningful lesson of her life.  I completely agree with this thought.  I don’t feel that this means being passive or just “going with the flow”  but rather, recognizing that “what’s meant to be done is easily begun” then rolling up your sleeves and getting on with the task at hand!       

Quantum physicists are working to prove that the gap between science and spirituality is being bridged by the recognition that our visible physical reality is connected to an invisible spiritual reality.  Einstein said, “Men invented time to feel comfortable in space.  But is doesn’t actually exist.  All experience is happening at once.”  He also said time does not flow in only one direction.  In a sense, reincarnation speaks to this at another level – synchronistic events that lead one to believe they have been born and died and born again into this earthly plane.   Again, I believe this to be true.  Dr. Stephen Hawking (noted physicist who occupies the Sir Isaac Newton Chair at Cambridge University in England) said on national television that reincarnation was a distinct possibility because of coincidences which had haunted him since childhood.  Carl Jung, when treating his patients, said the degree of their psychosis stood in direct relationship to their level of spiritual convictions.  Those who lacked religious beliefs, philosophic or spiritual views, had the deepest neurosis.  In his work, Jung concluded that a spiritual instinct is part of the human psyche.

If we valued more our burgeoning spiritual instincts, perhaps many of our “problems” would fall away.  Recognizing and trusting this spiritual instinct could help us relate with more balance to a clearly neurotic society.  Just being aware of a synchronistic event in one’s life is an immediate infusion of spiritual instinct, brought about through individual recognition of the unseen spiritual world.  There is a connection there that gives us comfort – a very fine reason to work to develop our ability to “intuit” as part of our daily life.  These are empowering experiences that inspire us to take up the journey in search of our destiny.  And by keeping a journal, recording events and dreams – the more we pay attention to synchronicity in our lives and record it so we can look at it later, the more we see that our lives will improve and our destiny will unfold as it was meant to be.

This past Wednesday, I had the wonderful experience of sitting with Mr. Bern Richards -  master feathersmith, intuitive and healer.   In addition to purchasing some of his Feather’s Dance handcrafts for Talisman (smudge feathers, earrings, fetishes, altar pieces) I am pleased beyond belief to now have Bern facilitating healings and readings here as well.  He will be at the shop on Saturday, September 5th from 10:00 am until 6:00 p.m.   

Born in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, Bern Richards has spent most of his life exploring indigenous cultures.  After high school, he studied Forestry at Paul Smith’s College.  He joined the Air Force and was sent to Syracuse University to study Russian (in one year, he completed four years’ study of native Russian) then was stationed in Turkey, where he worked in Intelligence.  Exploring Istanbul, he became fascinated with the Sufi whirling dervishes and the poetry of Rumi – which fostered his passion for poetry.  He is, in fact, a gifted poet.

Once he was out of the Air Corps, he opened up his spirituality and traveled to North Carolina and the Appalachian Mountains, where he met the local craftspeople and began selling their crafts, and his own boxcraft, out of a business he called “Mountain Tyme”.   About this time, Bern began dreaming of falling white feathers, which would foretell the next thing he would do or make.  He printed his poetry into booklets and began creating “love bundles” which he added to his own handcrafted boxes.   These bundles (reminiscent of prayer bundles from Native American sweat lodges) contain cedar, sage, sweetgrass, Balsam Fir and sacred tobacco – tied up with red cord and topped with a feather.  The feather is in place to help take prayers higher to the wind and the birds.  Literally thousands of these bundles have been passed since 1972 … all over the world.  The message to all and the key to all healings and comfort, is Love.  

In time, he moved his business into a new space and changed its name to Four Winds, focusing on Native American crafts.  He invited elders from the Lakota tribe to come and give workshops in the space.  None of this is surprising, given that Bern’s mother was German, Dutch and Mohawk.  It was his mother and grandmother who directed his healing work; and through them he became the first man of his lineage to do feather work on deathbed visions.   His mother and grandmother, now passed, continue to visit his dreams to advise and direct him.  

In 1990 he returned north to work at Green Chimneys in Brewster, teaching wildlife rehabilitation and working one on one with emotionally troubled children.  It was there that he connected, through the animal kingdom, with people such as Paul Newman, Ossie Davis, Bobby Kennedy and Fred Rogers.   He went on to spend time in Arizona, then Bern travelled to Prince Albert Park in Saskatchewan, Canada, to learn what he could about a legendary man called Grey Owl.   Grey Owl was an Englishman who dressed and lived like an Indian in a cabin on an island, and wrote five books on conservation.   Returning to Patterson, NY, he opened Beaver Lodge – at which time he met his wife, Gail.  They moved to Arizona for a year before moving back to the area.   The name of his new business is Feather’s Dance.  In addition to his craft work, he gives medicine card readings and feather healings/workshops. 

A reading with Bern does not address prophecy or the suggestion of future events, although most interesting insights from pasts and future do unfold quietly in a session.  It’s more about the animal/bird linkups from soul recognitions to sychronistic events experienced by each individual.  There’s wonderful magic in opening one’s self to the medicine energies to explore your personal journey.  Bern keeps notes during the session, so an individual can remain calm and natural in thought and most receptive to the moment. – the notes are presented after the reading, useful for future reflections.  

I had the privilege of an abbreviated  feather healing during the time I spent with Bern.  While it is true that I do journey easily (heck, with four kids and a business to run – if it wasn’t for astral travel I’d never go ANYWHERE!) I must say the feeling of peace and well-being that immediately flooded my body and mind was glorious.  As Bern worked the feathers over my head, shoulders and back, I saw a beautiful Golden Eagle in profile.  The bird lifted and flew, and I transported to a china blue sky and looked down at a painted desert and flat-topped mesas.  It was magical, and the tranquility lasted for … well, just thinking back on the experience lifts my spirit even now, days later.  I had to laugh to myself when, after Bern left the shop and I looked through the folder of papers he left behind - and I saw his business card for the first time, featuring the same Golden Eagle profile from my vision!  Bern wrote me later that day via email, and offered the gift of a full healing session.  You can be certain I will take him up on this offer and look forward to it with great anticipation!

Bern Richards will be at Talisman, 150 Main Street, Monroe, on September 5th.  Please do stop by to say “hello” and meet my amazing new Brother in Spirit.   He will conduct readings and healings, by appointment (call 261-0047).  A 30 minute reading is $40; 60 minutes is $60 and a one hour Feather Healing is $75.00.

Brightest Blessings, Laura