The Crystal Chick

Crystal of the Week: Heart Chakra Grid

2012-01-29T17:13:00.000-08:00

Since on tonight's PsychicTeacher show, we're discussing crystal grids I thought it would be appropriate to discuss how to set up a heart chakra grid. This is something you want to set up if you're looking to manifest love, heal a broken heart or work on forgiveness.

In a nutshell, you set the crystals up in a heart shape around a center crystal that should be bigger than the other crystals. Ideally, you should use a pyramid, obelisk or heart shaped stone. Under this center stone, place an affirmation for what heart chakra issue you're working on. Put the grid in a place where you'll see it every day. Each day, pray over your grid. Imagine the love, healing and forgiveness coming to you as you pray. As you visualize, so you believe and as you believe, so you conceive. Have faith in these little stones. They will work hard for you, but you have to work hard too!
ASK, BELIEVE, CONCEIVE!

If you'd like to MANIFEST LOVE, use a variety of the following stones:

Green Aventurine
Rose Quartz
Garnet
Rhodocrosite
Sugilite
Pink Chalcedony
Citrine
Amethyst
Garnet
Jade
Amazonite
Watermelon Tourmaline

Affirmations to MANIFEST LOVE:

I attract healthy, happy love to me now.
I am attracting the right person to me now.
I love myself and I attract perfect love to me now.
My partner is the love of my life and we love, adore, support and respect each other.
My marriage is happy, healthy and harmonious.
I deserve love, romance and joy and all the blessings that life has to iffer
I radiate pure, unconditional love and attract that to me now.
I am in a joyful, healthy and a happy relationship with a person who loves me unconditionally and I reflect that perfect love back to them.

TO HEAL A BROKEN HEART:

Select a few stones from this list for your grid:

Malachite
Green Aventurine
Amazonite
Rose Quartz
Rhodinite
Pink Tourmaline
Sugilite
Unakite

Affirmations to help your HEART HEAL:

I deserve perfect love now.
I release past pain and open my heart to trust, forgive and embrace new beginnings.
I embrace the lessons learned from this relationship and am now ready to release the pain and keep the lessons.
I forgive myself and and release any and all cords of energy between us leaving only peace, forgiveness and mutual respect.
I am free to forgive, free to love and free to release any and all pain now.
My relationships are helping me to heal and love myself.
All difficulties between and me are healed now for our highest good.
I am filled with light and love at all times.

TO FORGIVE:

Rhodonite
Rhodocrosite
Botswana Agate
Unakite
Pink Chalcedony
Ruby in Zoisite
Apache Tear
Chrysocolla
Lepidolite
Sugilite
Rose Quartz

Affirmations for FORGIVENESS:

I forgive myself and allow my heart to heal.
I forgive myself and release my past to its highest, healing good.
I forgive my family and send them love and compassion.
God loves and forgives me, and I love and forgive me.
I set my past free and embrace this new day.
I forgive you completely and freely. I forgive you and let you go wishing only the best for you and your highest healing good.

How To Connect With Your Spirit Guide

2012-01-25T17:41:00.000-08:00

"How can I connect with my spirit guide?" If only I had a dollar for every time I'm asked that question. The short answer is one you're probably not going to like to hear -- you already are. Our spirit guide is with us from before we take our first breath until well after we take our last one. We communicate with them in subtle ways every day.

Before we're born, we create a life plan for our soul growth. We include in it all the people we need to work out karma with, all the triumphs and tragedies we need to experience to learn our life lessons, and all the people and events are put in place for us to teach and share our own gifts and talents. Our main spirit guide, our life guide, has a copy of this life plan at all times. When we veer off path, we'll know it. Our spirit guide will make sure of that. We'll feel lonely, isolated, disconnected. We'll have a lot of second doubts and nothing, and I mean nothing, will go our way. For example, I've rarely met a divorced person who didn't feel a strong pull to not get married on their wedding day. That's their spirit guide talking to them. We humans are really good at ignoring these subtle signs. We'll choose to drink or eat too much or take drugs or hide behind work, stress and self-created drama to avoid looking at the plain truth -- we've gone off path.

When we're on our path, we'll know it too. For one thing, things will go smoothly, we'll feel connected and even if times are hard, we'll have a solid sense of faith inside us to act as a compass through a difficult but necessary time. Sometimes, we're on our right path even when we're experiencing the darkest times. How can you know the difference? It's a feeling, an inner knowing. It's truth. If you're lying to yourself, you're off your path. Period.

Our spirit guide will speak to us through inner nudgings, ideas, inspired thoughts, repetitive messages that just pop into our head such as "call so and so" or "talk to this person." Their language is one of synchronicity and coincidence. Follow the signs and you'll receive your guide's presence more strongly each day. Remain open, ask for help and keep seeking truth.

In order to more directly communicate with your guide, practice meditation. Take 10 minutes a day to sit in silence and allow yourself to just be. Any thoughts that come into your mind, attach a balloon to them and visualize them flying away. If this is too difficult for you, try a guided meditation. I have a CD called Meet Your Spirit Guide that uses a guided meditation to help you meet your guide.

Ask and you shall receive. Ask for a deeper connection with your guide. But, and here's the tricky part, let go of any expectation. Put out the request and then "walk away." The more we want something, the stronger we repel it.

Take some time each week to sit in nature. Take a walk in the park or on the beach or sit in your back yard and talk to your guide. This will create an energetic path which your guide can use to teach you how to effectively communicate with him or her in the future.

Pick a sign and ask your guide to show this to you. Our guides and loved ones are allowed to communicate with us through:

1) Nature
2) Music
3) Electricity
4) Metal

So some easy signs to choose from would be a red bird, a dragonfly, a bee, a particular song, a penny or a dime. State the sign and then set a deadline. For example, "Please show me a purple flower by Friday." And then be open to seeing a purple flower in real life, or in a card someone mails to you or on a display sign at a store. I'll give you some examples I've heard from clients. One of my clients left my office and asked her guide to show her a turtle. She drove to meet one of her clients and the street the woman lived on was called Turtle Hall. After that meeting, she stopped at Starbucks and noticed an article in the newspaper on an upcoming turtle release. Then she drove to meet her next client and in front of the building was a water fountain with a turtle in the middle.

Another client asked to see a frog and that weekend when she was out for her morning run, she tripped over a frog -- a real, live frog. Then someone gave her son a stuffed frog as a birthday present the next week and later that week when she was flipping channels, she came across three shows on frogs. Three. What are the odds of that?

Communicating with your guide this way builds a strong relationship and can make following your life path a bit simpler. Let's say your sign for your guide is a yellow flower. You're trying to decide between two jobs and the decision is difficult because they're both good jobs. So you ask your guide to show you a yellow flower at the site of the right job for you. When you drive to the interview for the second job, the interviewer has yellow tulips on her desk. Voila! Your guide has answered your question and helped you stay on path.

It's not a question of how you communicate with your spirit guide as much as it is that you communicate with your guide. Put the intention out there, don't push it too much, be patient and soon you'll be on your way to "remembering" your guide and building a wonderful relationship.

Why I Love Reiki

2012-01-23T10:18:00.000-08:00

I'm teaching a Reiki I course on February 3, and I received an email from someone who said, "I think I want to take your Reiki class, but I'm not sure. What will Reiki do for me?"

Reiki has changed my life. Literally. It's opened my eyes to the mystery of healing, of energy, of divine assistance. Back in 2004, I had no idea what Reiki was -- couldn't even pronounce it. Then one day, I was at a crystal show with my dad and this woman walked up to me and said, "I am sorry to bother you, but my guides keep telling me that you need to learn Reiki." I had no idea what she was talking about and so she explained that it's a form of hands on healing. I still didn't understand but because this woman wasn't even a Reiki teacher herself and wasn't trying to sell me anything, I knew her motivations in approaching me were pure and honest. So I began to research Reiki. Even though this was only seven years ago, there was precious little to go on. I ordered a few books from the library because my Barnes and Noble didn't have one -- not one -- book on Reiki.

A wonderful series of coincidences led me to my first Reiki teacher, Annie Miller, and I felt so blessed to have met her. We were a small group -- just four of us -- each as new and naive as the next. We learned the history of Reiki and that we would be attuned to it. What did that mean? I wondered. After the attunement process - a moving experience of gentle quiet while my Reiki Master worked over me -- I felt this warmth rush through me and fill up my palms. We all felt it in the class that day and were amazed. My Reiki teacher looked nonplussed. "That's the Reiki. Now that you're attuned to it, it will be with you always. Hands on, Reiki on."

She told us to do Reiki on ourselves every day for 21 days. I learned the hand positions, even buying a large poster and hanging it up on a wall near my meditation spot to help me remember. Every night I would sit there and do Reiki on myself. After the first week, I began to see things. Flickers of light out of the corners of my eye at first and then full on blinking white lights around people. Sometimes I would see colored lights. They appeared to me as little flashes of purple or blue or green or pink. I was told that the white lights were people's loved ones in heaven watching over them and the colored lights were their angels. I felt honored to see these things.

When I received my Reiki II attunement, I started to see actual people, people I had loved and lost. The first person I saw was my dear friend George who showed me someone getting shot in the neck. "Look up," he said. But I couldn't. I couldn't look up at the person's face. I was too scared. How stupid I was, how scared. If only I had known not to be afraid of my intuition. Two weeks later my husband was shot in the neck by an escaped criminal he'd tried to apprehend with a taser.

A week after my husband's shooting, he was still in a coma and I discovered I was pregnant with my third daughter. She was a complete surprise to me, a total blessing. I couldn't stop throwing up that week. Whenever I held my husband's cross in my hand that was covered with his blood, I would throw up and so the nurses suggested I take a pregnancy test. I remember thinking how grateful I was that I had just received the Reiki II attunement. Even though I was a bit of an emotional mess at that moment, I knew I could send my daughter Reiki the whole time she was growing inside of me.

When my husband finally came home a month later, I learned to set up a crystal Reiki grid and did Reiki on him every single day. He healed a little bit each month.

A year later, I was led to my Reiki Master teacher, a wonderful, warm hearted woman named Gloria Spackman who has a true love for Reiki and helping others. She taught us how to heal people with Reiki in the past and present. We learned how to do Reiki "surgery" and how to pass on the gift of Reiki to others. And so now I'm a Reiki teacher too, and I could't feel more honored.

Every time one of my children falls and gets a scrape, I put my hands on the cut and think of my teacher's words. "Hands on, Reiki on." My husband calls me his electric blanket because the warmth of Reiki energy runs through me all day and night. It's a wonderful feeling. Sometimes, I'll be getting ready to do Reiki on someone and I'll feel nervous because it's still cold in my office and my fingers will feel cold. But then I draw the symbols on my hands and feel the warmth rushing through to my fingers. It's a truly miraculous feeling.

Most people cry when they are on my table receiving Reiki and they always get embarrassed. But I tell them not to. Reiki is like the Drano of healing techniques -- it clears us out, gets rid of all the negative "stuff."

I love that Reiki isn't affiliated with any belief system, that anyone -- young or old -- can receive Reiki. Even babies have received the attunement. I love that there's no ego in Reiki. It's never about the healer, you never have to do anything to pass on Reiki. You just have to be in a position of allowing and let the Reiki energy flow through you.

Reiki has changed my life. And I hope if you're inspired by this post, you'll consider letting Reiki change your life too.

Crystals For Abundance

2012-01-22T17:56:00.000-08:00

Tonight on PsychicTeachers, we're discussing ways you can increase your financial abundance. If you missed the show, check out the archive on iTunes.com. Just search Psychicteachers -- all one word.

If you're looking to increase your financial vibration so that you attract more money, look to crystals to help you. The following is a list of crystals that will help your debt fly out the window and your checking account begin to fill up!

Citrine: The stone of success. This stone helps us to attract money and KEEP it.

Green Aventurine: The stone of Luck. Green Aventurine will help increase your luck!

Pyrite: The gold stone. Pyrite helps us to believe in our own ability and worth so that we can healthily attract money

Rose Quartz: The love stone. This stone helps us to love ourselves so that we can attract money without doubt or self judgement and criticism

Tree Agate: This stone will help us to grow the money we already have.

Moss Agate: This stone will help you to increase your confidence and success enabling you to get that job, raise or promotion.

So what should you do with these stones? You can create a money grid with them, you can keep them in your wallet, you can place them in a plant on your kitchen sill over an affirmation that reads "As this plant grows so does my wealth." You can keep them in your money corner of your home which is the opposite left hand corner from your front door. Be creative with your use of the stones, have faith that they will work hard for you, set your intentions on increasing your money and watch the money flow increase.

What Happens If Your Crystal Breaks?

2012-01-18T06:27:00.000-08:00

I received this question today and thought it would be a great topic to discuss here on my Blog. What do you do if your crystal breaks? There is so much information out there on this topic and, unfortunately, few of the experts actually agree. Some say you should bury the stone. Others say you should place it in a bag of sage for several months. Some believe you should no longer use the stone. Based on my experience with stones and what I've learned in my meditations, here is my opinion:

If a crystal that is meant to protect you breaks, then this is often seen as a warning. These crystals include turquoise, jasper, malachite, hematite, moss agate and a few others. I had a malachite worry stone that I treasured greatly. One day, for no reason, the tip broke off. I was devastated and refused to believe anything bad would happen. I superglued the tip on and still have that piece of malachite today! Still, two weeks later my husband was shot in the line of duty. If a protective stone breaks, it does not necessarily mean something negative will happen to you. My experience could have been just a coincidence. Who knows? Either way, take it as a sign to be more careful. But I would highly advice against supergluing your crystal back together :)

If a crystal that is meant to do something positive breaks, then it means you're supposed to share it. Rose quart brings love, for example, so if that breaks it means you need to share your love. Smokey quartz clears away negativity and depression. So if it breaks, I would share it with someone you know who is feeling down right now. I have a piece of smokey quartz that is self healed. Sometimes our crystals will heal themselves and this stone then becomes a powerful stone to help you to heal yourself.

If a stone breaks that is meant to be healing such as a green stone, then again I would think about someone in my life who is feeling under the weather and I'd share that stone with him or her. I have a kyanite stone that I love. Most nights I sleep with it under my pillow because kyanite will help cleanse your chakras while you sleep. One morning I awoke and saw that a blade of the kyanite had fallen off. I thought this was odd but didn't think any more about it. That afternoon, I bumped into my neighbor who told me he had to have tests done on his throat after doctors had discovered some nodules. I quickly ran inside and grabbed my kyanite blade and gave it to him.

Sometimes a stone breaks and we don't really know why. I had wanted a Lemurian crystal for so, so long. In 2005, a client brought me one she had purchased at a gem show, and I fell in love with that stone. I spent the next 6 years searching for the perfect Lemurian. I never really found it, but last summer when I was vacationing in Asheville with my family, I stopped in at Points of Light and found a lovely Lemurian. It had a little bubble of clear quartz that looked like a window into another world. I loved this little quartz and carried it with me everywhere and to all my readings. Three months later, I was walking into my kitchen to grab the phone. I had the Lemurian in one hand and when I reached for the phone, the crystal dropped and broke into pieces on my hard tile floor. I was devastated. I called my crystal guru friend Joel and he told me to place it in a bag of Sage to let it heal from the break. I did as he instructed but my heart felt a bit sad. I wondered if I wasn't spiritually ready for the Lemurian. I worried if it meant something bad might happen like when my Malachite broke.

Months went by and I didn't try to replace my Lemurian. Then one day, a package arrived in the mail. Inside, under heaps and heaps of tissue paper, was the most beautiful Lemurian I've ever seen in my life. It's over four inches tall and two and a half inches wide. It's a Buddha Lemurian crystal which means there's a perfect image of the Buddha sitting in the middle of the stone. I had read about this type of stone and wondered if such a thing could be possible and now here it was -- in my hands. It even had rainbows sprinkled throughout it. There was a lovely note from my friend Joel. He said he'd gotten the message when my Lemurian broke that it was time to give his Lemurian to me. This stone, he said, had been found outside a cave in Brazil. And on its long journey, it had somehow come to me. I couldn't have been happier. He apologized for the delay in getting the stone to me, explaining that it was difficult to part with. And staring at that majestic crystal, I could definitely understand why he didn't want to part with it.

Now I have the Lemurian crystal I've always wanted; actually it's so much better than any crystal I could have dreamed of. So when crystals break, try not to get scared or worried and know that it means it's just time for you to share your stones or receive new ones. Crystals are meant to be shared, not coveted nor kept in boxes. Still, when I receive the message to pass on my Lemurian to its new owner, I will be very sad indeed.

Open your heart to crystals and be ready to experience subtle and profound changes that will take your breath away. Crystals are hard working light workers who always leave their caretakers better people than when they first met.

Crystal of the Week -- Diamonds

2012-01-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

Diamonds are more than just pretty engagement rings; they’re powerfully strong crystals that can help us charge through tough times and face down our deepest fears. The Greek word for diamond, adama, means invincible.

Unlike most stones that are comprised of at least two elements – the perfect diamond is made up of just one – carbon. It’s completed its evolution and is perfect, strong and whole just as it is. In the scale of hardiness, it’s the only stone with the highest rating of 10. A clear diamond is perfectly reflective and holds within it all the colors of the rainbow making it a stone of limitless potential to its wearer.

Diamonds are the hardest natural mineral in the world. They crystallize deep in the earth’s surface, as much as one hundred miles down, under millions of pounds of pressure. For this reason, it’s said that diamonds can help you face high pressured situations with calm, dignity and ease.

Historically, people have attributed many miraculous claims to the diamond – none of which have proven true. Alchemists believed diamonds could make the wearer invisible. Some said they cured insanity. Others believed that two diamonds placed together and watered with May dew would make the gems mate and have offspring. In 1534, doctors tried to cure Pope Clement II with a mixture of powdered gems, including diamonds. Mary, Queen of Scotts, wore a diamond that was supposed to protect her from poisoning. Unfortunately, no one gave her a stone to protect against beheading.

However, it is known that diamonds symbolize faith and longevity in love. Because of their hardiness, diamonds bring to the wearer strength, fidelity and courage. They’re also great amplifiers of energy. So if you’re feeling ill, angry or sad, do not wear your diamond because you’ll just amplify this energy. It’s believed that when your diamond gets cloudy or murky looking, it’s time to take a good look at your emotions. Diamonds tend to cloud up when the wearer is feeling run down, sad or angry. They can also get cloudy when it’s time for us to take a good, hard look at our marriage. It’s important, therefore, to keep your diamond cleansed. Simply running it under water or soaking it in jewelry cleanser will help.

The diamond is associated with the crown chakra which means it will help us get in touch with our spirituality. Because of its clarity, diamonds help us to cut through any chaos in our life to see the seed of the problem, allowing us to finally hear the still, small voice within.

My Guide's Lesson on Forgiveness

2012-01-13T03:49:00.000-08:00

I just woke up from the most vivid dream. I was walking down a street with my guide; he was being quiet as always and I was yammering away. We bumped into a friend of mine from high school. She is someone I haven't seen or thought about in a very long time. I hugged her and asked her how she was and suddenly she started pouring her heart out to us. She said she'd been trying in recent years to forgive her brother and father for sexually abusing her. I was shocked. This woman was always happy, upbeat and kind to everyone she met. I had no idea she'd had to deal with this. I hugged her again and was about to tell her how forgiveness takes time, but it's worth it and how you can't forgive someone just once. It has to happen over and over. But my guide just made this dismissive wave in the air with his hand and said, "You don't need to forgive them. You need to forgive yourself."

And then I woke up. It's so true, what he said, isn't it? Sometimes, we're the last person on the list of forgiveness when, really, we should start with ourselves. We always blame ourselves, even when the notion seems outrageous. I've worked with other clients of sexual abuse, and I've seen them wrestle with a lack of self-forgiveness. I've seen mothers of addicts beat themselves up because they should've known about the drugs or stopped it or practiced tough love sooner. I've seen husbands fall to tears when their wives cheat on them believing that if only they'd played less golf or watched less TV, this wouldn't have happened. I've seen teachers fall apart after a student committed suicide because the teachers felt they should have seen the signs.

We all do this. It's safe to beat ourselves up -- we've been doing it long enough. But just for today, practice being gentle and kind to yourself. And let's all take a moment to forgive ourselves -- to embrace ourselves with unconditional love and allow ourselves to bask -- even for a moment -- in the joy of this love. I think it's the closest we can come to knowing God's love for us.

Are You Intuitive?

2012-01-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

I believe we're all intuitive, that our intuitive ability is a natural sense -- not some spooky, weird "I-see-dead-people" sixth sense, but a real, natural ability. Read the information below to see where your intuitive strength is.

You might be CLAIRVOYANT if:

You dream in color
You visualize things easily
You love to read
You prefer directions to be written down for you
You may feel a tingly in your forehead from time to time
You see flickers of light or movement frequently out of the corner of your eye
You have precognitive dreams
As a child, you saw a ghost
As a child, you had an imaginary friend
You tend to say things like, "Do you see what I mean?" or "Can you picture that?" or "I don't like the look of that."

You might be CLAIRAUDIENT if:

You've woken up and heard your name being called
You hear a subtle ringing in your ears from time to time
You find that songs will randomly pop into your head
You learn best by hearing information
You tend to say things like, "That doesn't sound right" or "that has a good ring to it" or "sounds good to me"

You might be CLAIRSENTIENT if:

You get strong gut feelings about people that turn out to be true
You feel sick to your stomach around negative people
You feel happy and light around positive people
You dislike crowds and large social settings
You tend to say things like, "That feels right to me" or "I got butterflies on my first day!" or "I have a good feeling about this."

You might find that you're strong in more than one category. Most intuitives are predominantly one CLAIRE with strengths in one more area. Start to pay attention to your dreams, to songs that pop into your head (listen to the lyrics), to situations and people that "feel" either good or bad. Intuitives need to learn to trust their first impressions, their gut feelings. Take time every day to sit in silence for five minutes -- even if it's just in your car. Unplug from the radio, your cell, your iPod for at least five minutes every day and just listen.

Things that will temporarily stunt your intuition:

1) lack of sleep
2) red meat because it's very grounding. After a full day of readings, I will often have a steak just to help me come down to earth again :)
3) feeling actively angry at someone
4) being worried about a situation in your life
5) for some people, dairy tends to calm their intuition down

Things that will increase your intuition:

1) meditating
2) prayer
3) crystals
4) Reiki
5) getting plenty of rest
6) eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water
7)practicing forgiveness
8) releasing anger through the power of surrender
9) releasing judgement, choosing instead to feel compassion for others, especially those that push our buttons
10) trying to release the little daily things that make us angry -- the slow car in front of us, losing our car keys as we're about to run out the door, the woman at the check out who writes a check and uses 57 coupons

Numbers 7 - 10 are not easy nor are they ones I've mastered myself. But I think just trying to practice them will help you to create a space in your psyche for your intuition to flourish.

Also, read, read, read. Not only will reading about spirituality and intuition help to increase your own psychic abilities and enhance your life in general, but I've noticed that when we read books on intuition, we tend to have more psychic experiences. For example, I lent my dad (who does not believe in reincarnation simply because, in his words, "it's exhausting to think of coming back") a book on past lives, and he called me to say that he'd dreamt about a life he lived in Germany during WWI.

For some good book recommendations, check out my website (thecrystalchick.com) and click on Recommended Reading. Also, check out archives of my podcast PsychicTeachers with Deb Bowen for weekly tips on increasing your intuition. (Just go to iTunes, search PsychicTeachers, all one word, and you'll find us!)

When Reality Slaps You in the Face

2012-01-06T09:37:00.000-08:00

As we navigate our way through this new year, I'm sure many of you have made some great resolutions and set some wonderful goals for yourself. I just want you (and me) to be prepared for the moment when reality will slap us in the face and say, "Really? You really thought you could do this? Are you kidding me? Who do you think you are?"

When (not if, but when) this happens to you, your job is to stand up to this illusion of reality and say, "Hell yes I'm doing this and there's nothing you can do about it."

That's the only way to accomplish really hard stuff -- face it, force your way through it and plow on.

Reality slaps me in the face all the time. Last year when me literary agent said, "Your writing is too dark for me; I don't think I'm the right fit for you," I had to go teach part 2 of my Manifest Your Destiny class. I cried the whole day and the entire drive to the studio. But I taught that class, even though I felt like an impostor the whole time. I was honest, though; I told them how I had manifested every goal I'd ever set for myself except getting my novel published. And I used that example to show people how when we really, really, really, really want something we'll never manifest it because we want it too much. Part of manifesting is learning how to let go. Surrender is the key to everything.

There are days when I like to pretend that my marriage is normal and just like everyone else's, that my husband doesn't have a brain injury and nothing has changed. I can over look the twice daily doses of medicine, I can write off the debilitating migraines as just a headache. I can pretend that most grown men need to take naps. But then reality will slap me in the face. One week into my kids' Christmas break, for example, he set the alarm for six am and woke us all up saying, "It's time for school." He'll forget appointments and then blame me for not reminding him. If I ask him to run the bath for the kids, he'll forget to turn the water off. He says inappropriate things all the time because part of having a brain injury means you don't have that filter -- you know the one that tells you when to shut up. Once we were having dinner at our favorite restaurant and were shocked to see a friend of ours walk up to take our order. She had an excellent job as a Pharmaceutical Rep. Mike said, "You're our waitress?" She smiled and said, "Yeah, I got laid off when the company merged, so I thought I'd work here until something opens up for me." And Mike said, "Wow, that really sucks. This is all you could find?" It was at that moment that I kicked him under the table to which he replied, "Ouch! Samantha! Why are you kicking me under the table?"

Oh good grief.

Yes, reality slaps me silly sometimes, but I still forge on.

My husband Mike, who spent 14 years working the poorest of poor projects as a police officer and had to witness daily things we don't ever want to know about, has a habit of saying, "Well, that's reality."

This morning, I made him turn off the news because I didn't want my children to hear the news story about the three girls killed in the Christmas fire. "Turn that off," I said. "I don't want them to see that." And Mike replied, "Why not? It's reality." Well, so is murder and molestation and all sorts of mayhem, but it's not my reality. I don't have to invite it into my home.

Like the title of one of my favorite teen movies proclaims, "Reality Bites." It really, really does. And we all have to face it. We can not hide from reality. The fact that your dad has no idea what love is and will never really be able to show anyone love will not change and that does suck. The fact that your wife left you is terrible. And you who lost your job a year ago and can't pay your mortgage this month, that is reality and it's not changing.

Ah, but here's where hope begins to sprout its eternal wings. Because while the facts may not change - my husband isn't going to wake up tomorrow with a healthy brain and no good Samaritan is going to pay your mortgage -- what will and can and must change is how we confront reality. We have to face it not with dejected shoulders and a, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Life does suck" attitude, but with a new face -- one bent on optimism and hope, possibilities and miracles.

Take me, for example, if my husband hadn't been struck by that bullet, I might never have found the courage to do this work. Because I ignored the dreams I'd had for weeks prior of someone being shot, I vowed to never again ignore my intuition. In addition, I now handle all the bills, investments, major decisions, and, well, everything. Given that I was raised in a home where my mom never even wrote a check in her life and given that I was once voted The Girl Most Likely to Sit Poolside at the Club, I think that's a huge victory. I now know how to fix a clogged drain, a broken toilet, and can put together any toy in any box. I can pick up every bug that comes in my home and take it outside instead of whining, "Mike! Come quick!" I can also look people in the face who are dealing with similar situations and say, "You'll get through this. I know you will."

These are huge triumphs for me. Really, they are. I used to be someone who wanted to be taken care of. My childhood was very difficult, and when I met a big, handsome cop, I practically fell into his arms and said, "Save me." Now I'm the one who saves him -- as much as I can -- and when I can't (refer back to waitress story), I just try to laugh it off. Back off Reality; you're not as scary as your bark.

So, the moral of this story is that when reality barks at you, BARK BACK.

What Do Our Guides Think Of Us?

2012-01-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

I love hearing from people's spirit guides. They have all sorts of different personalities. Mine is strict and a bit serious. But some of you have guides who are hilarious or maternal or sympathetic. Some are a bit nagging and can even be pushy. Others are quiet and patient, preferring to remain firmly in the background.

The first guide I ever communicated with made me laugh out loud. I was taking an intuitive development course, and the teacher instructed us to work with a partner and try to connect with his or her guide. I was partnered up with a quiet, older woman who had never attended the class before. I held her hands as instructed, closed my eyes and allowed the teacher to guide me on a meditation to meet her guide. I have a place I go to when I meditate -- my crystal cave. So I pictured my crystal cave with the crystal bridge to the other side and mentally asked my partner's guide to show up. Almost instantly, I saw a tall, white, very thin man walk across the bridge. He had a long, grayish white beard and sparkly blue eyes. He was wearing an old, worn brown robe with a simple rope belt. He had shoulder length, thinning grayish white hair. He smiled at me. I asked him his name and he said, "Archibald." I asked, "Archibald?" He nodded, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Yes, but she can call me Archie," and then he bowed to me and revealed his monk's tincture, a perfect circle of baldness, "Or Baldie." I laughed out loud because it was such a funny joke and a joke I could never have "imagined" myself.

When I asked him if he had a message for my client, he said, "Yes, tell her it's time for her to go back to her gift, to doing this." Wanting more validation, I asked what she did now, and he showed me a business card with the word "Weddings" written in calligraphy. My partner said she was a wedding planner and that she used to give readings more than 30 years ago.

Archibald still remains for me the clearest and most accurate contact I've ever had with someone's spirit guide. I felt as though I could have talked to him all night. He gave me validation after validation after validation. Sometimes, I've wished he were my guide instead of the stern, strict Native American man who always appears to me with his arms crossed in front and a slight frown on his face. Oh well.

Yesterday, I met a lovely, joyful guide -- a little Indian yogi man -- who said the most wonderful thing about my client. When people come to see me in person, I like to begin by doing Reiki on them. These moments of silence are needed for me to communicate with the client's guide. I always ask the guide for the same information each time -- my client's soul purpose and life lessons. This time, the woman's spirit guide was a chatty one and he said, "Tell her that her strength of spirit inspires even us over here sometimes."

That really struck me. Can our guides and angels be inspired by us? I asked myself. Well, why not? Sometimes humans do, experience and endure amazing things with great strength and love. When I sat down to talk with my client it was revealed throughout the hour that she'd lost her husband and then her son had passed in a tragic car accident. Yet, the woman before me had a beautiful smile and a wonderful, joyful energy. I could see how her strength could inspire people everywhere -- even on the other side.

It's something to think about, isn't it? What does your guide think of you?

2012 By the Numbers

2012-01-03T20:55:00.000-08:00

I thought it be fun to look at the upcoming year through the eyes of numerology.

2012 is a FIVE year (2 + 0 + 1 + 2 = 5) which means we can expect a lot of change, adventure, travel and some upheaval too. The number 5 energy is only happy when it's changing things up, so you can expect surprises this year.

Now, let's look at your personal year by the numbers. To find it, all you have to do is add your birth DAY plus your birth MONTH plus 2012. So, if you were born on January 1, you would add your numbers this way: 1 + 1 + 2012 = 7. If you get a double digit number, simply reduce it to a single digit by adding them together. If you were born on December 23, for example, your numbers would look like this: 12 + 23 + 2012 = 13. Then you would add 1 + 3 = 4. You are in a 4 year.

Here's a look at what the numbers mean for your year.

If you're in a personal year of 1, this is a year of new beginnings for you. This is a great year to start something new, to venture out, to begin again. This is your year to take a leadership position, to be number one at what you do. When we're on a 1 year, we often want to do everything ourselves, so don't forget to ask for help.

If you're in a personal year of 2, this is good year to meet someone, to fall in love or to join a partnership. The 2 year also involves taking stock of your relationships and determining which ones are and aren't working for you. A 2 year is often an emotional year where we take a step back and evaluate ourselves more closely. It's the year to focus on intimacy and affection. Don't be afraid to open yourself to love.

If you're in a personal year of 3, this is the year to put yourself out there. Three is the energy of the creator, so it's a great year to work on any creative project. This is a year of great socialization, meeting new people, networking, making great contacts and fulfilling goals you've been working on since your one year. It's also a great year to work on your appearance, to dress up and feel good about yourself from the inside out.

If you're in a 4 year, this is a great time to put down roots, find balance in your life and sharpen your knowledge. Four is the number of the teacher, so it's a great year to learn something new or to become a teacher, coach or mentor for someone. Because fours love their home, this is an excellent year to tackle some household projects. Do some painting, get new kitchen counters or turn that attic into a guest room.

If you're in a 5 year, prepare for lots of adventure. The motto of a 5 year is plan for nothing because everything might change at the last minute. It's a great year to travel. This is not, however, a good year to make commitments.

If you're in a personal 6 year, this is the year to make commitments. It's a great year to get married or have a child. The six year presents a great opportunity to settle down. You'll also find that you're a magnet for other people. Sit back and relax. After the five year you just went through, you deserve the rest!

If you're in a personal year of 7, this is a great year to explore your spirituality. Seven represents the seeker. It's also a great year to try counseling or therapy because you'll feel more thoughtful, more introspective this year. You'll be asking the big questions, evaluating the past, and going within. A good therapist can help you navigate this inward journey. You might find that you need more alone time this year, and that's okay. Just be sure to make your faith life a big part of this year's plans.

In a personal year of 8, you just might find yourself coming into money. Eight years are years of working hard, but you'll get the payoff of a better paycheck in the end. Your focus this year should be on working hard, saving for the future and planning your investments. In our eight year we have to be careful about our health. Make sure you take good care of yourself this year. Eat well, get plenty of rest and exercise.

If you're in a personal year of 9, this is the year to clear away what's not working for you. Often referred to as the Garage Sale year, in our 9 year, we take stock of our lives and walk away from friendships, relationships, jobs and other situations that aren't working for our betterment. This is also a great year to do some physical cleaning. Clear out your garage and attic this year or organize your photos. Nine is also the spiritual number of completion, so this is a good year for things to come to a conclusion. If you've been waiting for a promotion to come through or waiting for a divorce to be finalized, it just might happen in your personal year of 9.

Whatever year number you find yourself in, I wish you a great one!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

A new year is upon is, and so I thought I'd take a moment to wish you all very happy New Year and to share with you some of my new year traditions. Each New Year's Eve, my family and I take a moment on that day to write down everything we want to get rid of from this year, everything we need to release and forget. We write these down and do not share them with anyone else. After placing them in a fireproof bowl, we burn the paper and say a little blessing asking God to take away these situations while allowing the lessons to remain. Then we share with everyone at the table our goals, hopes and aspirations for the new year.

This year we made homemade fortune cookies. They were so fun and easy. My children wrote and decorated the fortunes including phrases like, "You will be fortunate in everything this year" and "Health and happiness are your constant friends in 2012."

Tomorrow we'll eat black eyed pea salad for good luck. After church, we'll go have brunch and take a walk on the beach. Somehow, I have to start my new year next to the ocean. And we'll eat cake baked with a lucky coin. Whoever gets that piece is sure to have good luck all year long.

However you spend the first day of this new year, I hope you take some time to send out your positive intentions, to focus on your blessings, and to really enjoy the feeling of a new beginning.

Happy New Year!

Would You Want Martha Stewart As a Friend?

2011-12-29T22:01:00.000-08:00

I did a reading yesterday for a woman who said, "I don't really know why I'm getting a reading. Everything is perfect in my life. I love everything about my life. I'm happy in my marriage, my job, I have great friends." And I thought, "Me think she doth protest too much." But I understand where she's coming from because I'm a reformed perfectionist. Maybe some of you reading this are too. It's not easy being a perfectionist, and we have to ask ourselves, "Who are we being perfect for?" Because in all reality, no one likes a perfect person. I mean, really, would you want Martha Stewart to be your friend? Would you feel comfortable having her over for dinner? None of us wants a perfect friend. So why do we so often try to be viewed as perfect?

There is no need to be perfect or to be seen as perfect. That is not nor should it be our goal in life. Drop any illusions you have of needing to be seen as perfectly happy, perfectly beautiful, perfectly wealthy, perfect, perfect, perfect. It's exhausting!

Why do we tear down people in our society who are viewed as perfect? Why are Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Anniston on the cover of magazines every week with terrible titles like "Angelina off to rehab" or "Nanny tells all and it isn't pretty" and "Jenn still pines for Brad." Because we know they're not perfect. We know that the image Hollywood presents to us is fake, and sometimes it's a relief to see this proven so. It reminds us that none of us is perfect. None us gets out of life with a free and easy pass. That knowledge comforts us in our difficult times and reminds us that we don't have to be perfect, and that's okay.

People trust and like people who are real and honest and genuine. And in all truth you are perfect just the way you are. Really. We are, each of us, on our path, working our goals and life lessons and dealing with the trials and tribulations of life's ups and downs. We are doing the best we can, and that's perfection. We are all okay just as we are.

Manifesting Your Best Year in 2012

2011-12-27T16:28:00.000-08:00

Another year is soon upon us, and so a great energy is swirling around us asking us, "What do you want to bring into this year?" If we don't consciously answer this question, if instead we focus on what we don't want this year, then we will unwittingly invite all sorts of negative "stuff" into our new year. There are two times when the energy is ripe for you to create your best future -- the new year and your birthday. So take advantage of this time to begin really envisioning what you want your life to look like at the end of 2012.

Where do you want to be living? What will your home look like?

Who will you be in a relationship with?

What will your present relationships look like?

How much money will be in your bank account?

What vacations will you have gone on at the end of this year?

What will your career look like in 12 months?

What will you look like at the end of 2012?

How will you feel at the end of the year?

Really take some time to visualize, feel and see the answers to each of these questions. Write down at least 10 goals for this year -- not resolutions. Those get broken too easily. Write down goals, things you plan to accomplish and achieve. Visualize each of these goals coming true. Make it part of your daily ritual.

And also, be prepared for some not so great things. The universe will always test you. Always. When you set a goal, it will say, "Really? Are you sure you want this?" I'll give a simple example to prove this. My family and I wanted to adopt another dog last year. Our dog Gretchen was so friendly and social that we wanted her to have a little friend. So I set the goal. I visualized the dog and I surrendered it to the universe. We did not get the first three dogs we put in applications for. I was sad each time, but I knew the right dog was waiting for us. I remember standing in my back yard and saying aloud to God, "I know the right dog is out there for us. I give this to you. Please send the right dog to our family." And I'm not kidding you, but right then three coon hounds came running into my yard. It was like the turkey stealing scene from A Christmas Story. I just laughed and said to God, "Not these dogs." The dogs eventually returned to our neighbor behind us and the very next day, a client called me and said she had an 8 week old Yorkshire Terrier that needed a good home. Were we interested? Those first three dogs we had our hearts set on were just the universe's way of saying, "Do you really want this?" I guess it's a good thing too because we really don't want everything we think we do.

Which reminds me of the Rolling Stones song. "You can't always get what you want, but you just might find that you get what you need." There have been a few things I've tried to manifest without success. And that's okay too. Those things weren't part of my plan. Part of being a good manifester is learning to surrender.

But first you have to have vision or you'll be like an actual rolling stone and who knows where you'll roll? A palace? A sewer? Who knows? Proverbs (29:18) says, "Where there is no vision, the people will perish." If you don't have a vision for your life, you will slowly perish.

Of that I am sure. You will perish -- slowly -- without a vision for your life. How many people do you know who just exist without actually living their lives? They go to work, sure, and pay their bills, vote in November too but they have no life to them. Do you know how many people I had to buy for this year and had no clue what to get them because they have nothing in their life -- no interests, passions, or hobbies. Nothing but work and family. No vision for themselves, for their lives. Ugh. It's depressing.

So, take some time this week to create a vision for your life or at least for this year. You'll be glad you did and so will your friends come the next holiday gift buying season!

Here are three things to remember when trying to become a magnet for good things:

1) Be grateful. Turn your "have to's" into "get to's." Instead of saying, "I have to work late today." Try, "Thank God I get to work late today. It means they need me and so my job is safe and secure."
Every morning, before your foot hits the grounds, try to think of three things you're grateful for in your day to come. For example, "I'm grateful I get to have lunch with my friend. I'm thankful I packed the kids' lunches last night. And I am so thankful that I have nothing to do after work today."

2) Be optimistic. Habits take time. Try to break any negative thought programing you have. You know my motto -- fake it til you make it. Really, this glass half full thing really works. Try it for 21 days. That's how long it takes to make anything a habit. Avoid negative people, negative movies, shows and news. Read positive books and magazines and hang out with other positive people. Even if you live with someone who's negative, try taking mental breaks from them. Treat them like a boarder in your home from time to time so that you can have a break from their negativity. Don't argue with them, don't defend your new positive way of thinking. Just let them be and focus on yourself, your positivity, your growth.

3) Love yourself. This is really the most important. We can't manifest a thing until we love ourselves. We can only manifest to the degree with which we think we deserve our good. If you don't think you deserve that much, well, you won't get that much. It's that simple. Like attracts like and love attract love. If you're feeling love and loving and lovable, that is what you will attract to you.

If you don't love yourself -- truly and unconditionally -- you will manifest very little. So if you do nothing else this year, please promise that you will fall in love with you.

Crystal of the Week -- Chiastolite

2011-12-23T18:56:00.000-08:00

In honor of Christmas, I've chosen Chiastolite as the crystal of the week. Known as "the Cross Stone," Chiastolite is a fascinating stone because a cross shape grows naturally inside the crystal. No matter how you cut it, there is always a cross shape present. Chiastolite helps people going through very significant changes -- a scary move, a divorce, loss of a loved one. And because it helps us to become cognizant of the birth, death and rebirth cycles of life and nature, it's a great stone for someone getting ready to transition. If you know someone in hospice, Chiastolite is a good stone to give them as a worry stone because it will help to calm their fears as they prepare to move on.

Chiastolite is great to meditate with if you're arguing with someone because it helps us to see all side of an issue.

It works to strengthen all chakras, especially the root and sacral chakras. As a result, it's a good stone for encourage balance, grounding and creativity.

This is a good stone to give to teenagers because Chiastolite will balance hormonal moods.

It's excellent for psychic defense. Legend says that wearing Chiastolite protects against curses and ill wishing.

Your other crystals will benefit from Chiastolite because it works to energize the stones around it. Carnelian will cleanse the stones around it; whereas, Chiastolite will charge up the surrounding stones.

Chiastolite helps to reduce fear and anxiety. Physically, it will assist issues with blood disorders, blood circulation and blood pressure.

Do We Choose When We Die?

2011-12-22T05:19:00.000-08:00

This past July I had a very vivid dream where I woke up, walked into my kitchen and saw my aunt (still alive) and my mother-in-law (already transitioned) standing in my kitchen. I hugged both of them and marveled at how beautiful and young my mother-in-law looked. She looked at me just as excitedly and said, "Your aunt has wonderful news for us. She's decided." I remember feeling very happy and hugging my aunt. She looked relieved but a bit scared too. I stared into her eyes and said, "Are you sure?" She nodded. I hugged her again and said, "This is the best decision you can make for your family and you're very brave. When will you transition?" She said, "In the next five to seven months."

When I woke up, I told my husband and he said, "No way. She's only 61 and is in perfect health."

I agreed with him and hoped my dream was wrong. My aunt had just welcomed her third grandchild and had just retired from a long and tiring career as a nurse. But two weeks later, we learned that my aunt was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She passed away this week, exactly five months after I had that dream. It's left me with more questions than answers. Do we really know when we're going to die? Do we really have any say in it? And if you could choose the date of your passing, why would you pick a few days before Christmas? And how could any of this be the right decision for her family?

I have no answers for these questions -- only more questions. But after the meditations I've been doing regarding my clients dealing with their elderly parents coupled with this experience, I am starting to wonder if we do have some say in our passing. I got the feeling that my aunt was strongly advised to die when she did and that if she hadn't her illness would have been a huge burden on the family. Could it be true?

When my husband was a police officer, I worried about him a lot. He would always say to me, "You have nothing to worry about. I'll fight my way back from heaven. I'll will myself to live." He said this with such conviction that I almost believed him. And years later, he proved this to be true. No one, not one doctor, believed he'd survive the shooting. And he faced one catastrophe after another in the hospital from complications with the tubes to pneumonia. But he fought every one and came back to his family.

So, I don't know, maybe we do have some say. This thought goes against everything I've ever been taught by my faith, and I'm going to have to sit with it for some time or just surrender it to one of the mysteries of life.

Crystal of the Week: Pietersite

2011-12-18T17:40:00.000-08:00

I just bought a piece of Pietersite today. I'm not proud to admit that I bought a gift for myself while out shopping, but this particular stone just called to me. It's not the prettiest stone out there -- that's for sure, but it does feel wonderful. Its energy is calming, soothing and very reassuring.

Pietersite is named after Sid Pieters who discovered the stone in 1962 in Namibia. This is a highly spiritual stone that assists the seeker on reaching loving levels of high vibrations while meditating. The stone will help you reach the Akashic records and especially works on past life recall. Peitersite will help you remember why you incarnated in this life time.

As humans, we can often feel alone and separated from others, when in reality we are all connected. Wearing Pietersite helps us remember that we're from a source of love and are still a part of that love.

It connects you to your own inner guidance and helps you to hear the guidance of your spirit guides and guardian angels rather than listening to the opinions of those around us. If you were emotionally manipulated by a parent or authority figure, Pietersite works to break that manipulation allowing you to be truly independent. If you made vows of poverty or celibacy in a past life, Peitersite will help to break those bonds.

Pietersite will open the third eye while stimulating the pineal gland so it will support an increase in spiritual visions and psychic development. Judy Hall says Pietersite "promotes walking in your own truth." Cassandra Eason believes that Pietersite will "help you soar spiritually, especially if time for yourself is limited or too often cut short by other people's crises."

Letting Go Of Life -- Helping Our Elderly Loved Ones Transition

2011-12-17T20:09:00.000-08:00

I've said before that my readings tend to lump together in themes. I'll have a month of clients going through divorces. And then another month of clients enduring job loss and layoffs. For the past two months, I've dealt with clients who are care taking a parent. The stress and emotional turmoil this care has on the son/daughter and his/her family is overwhelming. I keep encountering adult children who have met their limit and yet because of love, guilt and a desire to be a good child, they keep on keeping on. My clients are dealing with parents who have many needs. They are in assisted care facilities or living with their adult children and requiring round the clock care. Some of my clients have parents who need more assistance and are refusing that help insisting that they only want their children's help.

I did a reading recently for a woman whose mom had several health problems and had been home bound for the last nine years. My client was worn out from taking care of her mom. She had put off dating after divorce and hasn't been on a vacation in almost a decade. When I asked her guides why the mom was still here on this earth when she clearly had no quality of life, they told me that her soul had contracted to leave earth when she was 83.

"How old is your mom?" I asked my client.

"88."

Her guides said that her mom was staying longer than she was supposed to because she liked being taken care of. She felt as though she'd earned it and wasn't budging. When I relayed this to my client, she said, "Well, that makes sense. My mom had to take care of her little brother when their mom died and then she took care of dad through years of MS. I guess she feels it's her turn."

I did a reading for another client whose mom just got more and more belligerent as the years passed. When I tuned into her energy, I sensed years of resentment built up because she'd spent her life taking care of others and not herself. She'd abandoned her nursing career and hopes of becoming a doctor to raise a family and subconsciously resented her family because of that. Now she spends her days insisting that her children drive her to her appointments, pay her bills and literally handle all aspects of her life.

It's a terrible way to live for everyone involved.

I've heard similar messages to that over and over -- parents who feel as though they've earned the right to be taken care of even though it's at the expense of their children's time, money and emotional stability. Many of these parents are stubbornly refusing outside help and insisting that only their children can help them.

If you're dealing with this, please know that you're not alone and that you're going to need help. If your parent(s) won't let you hire help, then you can get help through counseling, reaching out to friends and scheduling lots of breaks for yourself.

Some of the parents I tune into are simply afraid to die, and so they're desperately clinging on even though their quality of life is severely lacking. One grandfather came through in a reading recently and said, "I was afraid to live and I was afraid to die. Tell my granddaughter not to make the same mistakes." Then he showed me PSALM 118:24. When I looked it up in the bible, I took in a breath as I read: "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." What a perfect message to bring back from heaven, I thought. This day, this one day, is all that is guaranteed to us. We can't worry about the future or regret the past. We have to just rejoice in the present and see it for the gift it is.

If you find that you have a parent or loved one who is afraid of dying, try praying with them to remind them of their link to spirit. Give them or read to them books that affirm the beauty of life in all its forms. Some I would recommend include:

Life After Life and Glimpses of Eternity by Raymond Moody

Visions, Trips and Crowded Rooms by David Kessler

Glimpses of Heaven by Trudy Harris

What's Behind Your Kindness?

2011-12-16T18:39:00.000-08:00

I overheard a woman talking the other day about how angry she was because she'd held a door open for another woman who never thanked her. "Just kept talking on her cell phone and breezed right through that door." Her friend remarked, "I hate it when that happens. As if we have nothing better to do than hold the door open for people." The woman nodded enthusiastically. "I know! So you know what I did? I yelled after her, 'You're welcome!'"

I had to smile to myself when I heard this conversation because it used to be one of my biggest pet peeves too. I mean, really, it is very rude to not say thank you. But, still, it begs the question, "What's behind your kindness?" Are you being nice to others for what you'll get back in return? Are we really that tit for tat? I'd like to think not. I try to be nice every day. I try to reach out and help others when I can and what you do or do not do with that kindness is none of my business. I'm nice to people because I like being nice - not because I want to be seen as nice nor because I need to receive that kindness in return -- although that's nice to.

I know the thrill of a "thank you." And it is wonderful, but ultimately that's not why we are supposed to do kind things. Being kind and helping others is for US, not those we help. When we act every day from a place of love, it's we who benefit.

I received an email this week from a woman who wanted to know how she should handle Christmas. "Every year, I buy presents for my family, but they don't buy me anything in return." When I asked her why she continued to buy them presents, she said, "Because I love to!" So I told her to continue doing so and not expect anything in return. "But I can't have them to dinner and hand out gifts to them because that will make them freeloaders." Yikes and that comment will make you sound like Scrooge. We give not to receive. We give simply to give and hopefully to grow in that space of kindness that presents itself whenever we put ourselves in a giving role.

Every time we help someone, give of ourselves to others and share of our time and talents, we remind ourselves that we can do this, that we have the money, time and talent to share. And the more we realize that, the more we grow -- in money, time and talent. Life is a circle. What you give out comes back to you. Like attracts like. If you give with strings attached, you'll receive with strings attached. If you give grudgingly, you'll receive in a very limited capacity. If you feel as though you have nothing to give, you'll receive nothing.

Picture a circle of kindness -- a beautiful rainbow of ever changing and free flowing energy -- and place yourself in that circle. Then say, "I joyfully open my arms to receive my good so that I may share freely with others. Use me, dear God, to do your will today and every day."

And when you find yourself in a position to give, surrender all expectation of how that kindness will be received. And remember -- when you give to others, it's you who receives.

Crystal of the Week - Pyrite

2011-12-11T19:24:00.000-08:00

Even though this crystal is often referred to as Fool's Gold, there's nothing foolish about this powerful stone. Pyrite derives its name from the Greek "pyr" which means fire -- an apt name for a stone that will light a fire within you to turn your thoughts into actions. Pyrite helps to increase one's self-confidence. It grows naturally into cube like formations. Its square shape acts as a shield protecting its wearer from negativity from within and without. The golden color works to protect you from depression as it helps to increase your physical and emotional stamina.

Because of its strong protective elements, it makes a great gift for someone working in a dangerous job.

Pyrite is also a great stone to place in your money corner as it will help to draw abundance to you. It's known as a stone of financial luck too, so carry a small piece in your wallet and visualize money coming your way!

How To Deal With Angry People

2011-12-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

I've come across many people this month who are angry for wrongs committed against them. These people have a right to be angry, but there must come a time when we ask ourselves, "Why am I still in this fight?" Most of these arguments are unspoken because there's so much water under the bridge. As we approach the stressful holiday times, these undercurrents of anger can feel very intense.

But here's what I'd like everyone to consider: if someone is being mean to you and is acting in such a way to make this painfully clear, who wins if you get angry, upset and hurt in return? THEY DO. And you lose.

More importantly, why even join in the battle?

People who maintain a negative, angry attitude are sad and depressed and insecure. Trust me, angry people are never happy people. Yes, we all get angry and anger can be a great motivating source. But I'm talking about the people who always choose anger, passive aggression and negativity over all other emotions. These are people to be pitied and prayed for not ones who should be allowed to hurt us.

And let me make this very clear -- if an angry person is hurting you, it is your choice to remain hurt. We have a choice in every, single situation we face. Never forget that.

Why does this family member dislike you or that co-worker despise you? Who knows? And, more importantly, who cares? You have better things to do with your time and energy. Do not allow them to suck your energy dry because if you let them, they will.

If you find your blood boiling around these angry people, if you find yourself talking incessantly about the person to others, then you can bet that you too have caught the angry bug.

To make yourself immune from the angry bug, remember these tips:

Someone's anger toward you is NOT a reflection of you. Their anger only reflects poorly on them. What they think of you is none of your business. Really. Anger is born of jealousy, insecurity, hatred, regret, unforgiveness and deep depression. It is not rooted in your actions but rather in their shadow. When you can see this, really see this, you just might find that you feel sad for this angry person and might even feel compassion for them. That is the goal.

When dealing with the angry person, do not allow yourself to be pulled into their angry vortex. If they brag, let them. Congratulate them too. If they try to one up you, give them the lead. I think this might be what Jesus meant when he said the meek shall inherit the earth. For it is in doing so that you will truly win. What is your prize? Peace, love and joy.

Crystal of the Week -- Angelite

2011-12-04T17:49:00.000-08:00

Known as the Angel Stone, Angelite with its heavenly blue color will assist you in making a deeper connection with your guardian angel. Angelite assists in releasing blockages from your chakras. Cassandra Eason recommends rubbing Angelite on your palms and soles of your feet to remove these blockages and allow energy to flow more freely. It can assist any sound healing therapy.

Angelite encourages peace, healing and serenity. It protect the wearer from cruel and negative people. In Eason's book The Illustrated Directory of Healing Crystals, she writes, "Angelite will return bad wishes as waves of compassion."

It helps the wearer to increase their ability to forgive while helping to combat and face down fears.

Angelite will increase your compassion for others and help to raise your vibrations. With its nurturing energies, it's a must have for healers.

Crystal of the Week -- Green Aventurine

2011-11-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

Green Aventurine is a heart healer, money generator and bringer of good luck. Wow, can a stone really do all that? Green Aventurine, when placed on the heart, will help you begin to slowly heal from any grief, regret or anger. When placed in the money corner of your home or carried in your wallet, it is said to bring more money into your life. Green Aventurine makes a great worry stone because it will help calm your nerves and bring a sense of good will to your aura. If you're going to buy a lottery ticket, lore says you should do so while holding a piece of green aventurine. When wearing Green Aventurine, it is said to help you attract loyal friends to your life.

Many crystal healers call Green Aventurine the shamrock of crystals because it is believed to bring so much good luck into your life. The name "aventurine" comes from the phrase "a ventura" which means "by chance," so why not take a chance and check out Green Aventurine?

Surviving the Holidays

2011-11-27T06:18:00.000-08:00

The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year but are more often than not fraught with stress, anger and tension. By December 24, most people feel broke, worn out and ready for a new year to begin. For starters, we are expected to spend so much money -- on family, teachers, neighbors, charities and all the tips for the postal workers and sanitation men and women. There are some weeks that I see those men and women ringing their bells for the Salvation Army, and I remember what one of my former students would say, "Honey, I ain't giving to charity. I am a charity." Then there are all the extra parties, cookie exchanges and secret Santas. There's the money and time spent hanging decorations and sending out cards to people.

And then there's the family.

All those people you can successfully avoid throughout the year suddenly descend for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and all the rest. Instead of an afternoon at a birthday party or a picnic reunion for a couple of hours by the shore, over the holidays we're often faced with spending days and days with our family. Not an east task for many of us.

So how can we survive the holidays feeling relaxed, poised and even, dare I say it, joyful? It all begins with FAITH.

F: Forgive and forget. Just for the holidays. My friend has a great saying: Do the hard work in the short term for a big payoff in the long run. Sure, your brother might drive you crazy, but this time of year is not the time to rehash old wounds. Keep the peace and you and your family will be rewarded with a sense of unity to last for a lifetime.

A: Accept people as they are. My friend Joanne has a sister who insists on serving like Martha Stewart. Everything is made from scratch with herbs grown in her garden. The china is used, the silver is polished. My friend resents all the fuss and time she has to spend in the kitchen helping her sister. However, I'm sure her sister hates going to my friend's house where the policy is always, "Help yourself; server yourself." We are all different. If we were the same, we'd never learn and grow. Both these sisters can teach other patience and tolerance if they can just learn to accept each other's different way of serving dinner.

I: Ignore mean people. They are all around us and sometimes they are in our own families. Mean people hate the holidays, and it brings out the worst in them. A mean person in my family will literally try to start fights by discussing contentious issues such as politics and religion or bringing up past hurts that have never been fully resolved. The only way to deal with these people is to ignore them. And when they try to start something with you, just smile, nod and deflect. "I don't really have an opinion on Obama, but I sure do love your new camera. Can you take a picture of us all after dinner?" And then walk away.

T: Take breaks. Lots of them. Texting is a great stress relief. I text hilarious family comments and responses to my friends back home, and then they text back providing a much needed tension break. I take walks too and insist on going alone. Make sure you have a friend that you can unload with. It's important to have a safe person to release your stress to. This person isn't always going to be your spouse, especially if your source of tension is with his/her family! Pick a neutral friend and tell them your stress stories. Just be sure to be there for your friend when she has to deal with her family.

T also stands for Talk. Talk to your family members. Really talk to them. I'm always amazed at how my family and I can make small talk about nothing, literally nothing, for hours. We discuss current events, politics and celebrities but never our own selves. We're current on each other's kids lives and their activities but when it comes to the story of own lives, nothing. And we are each fascinating people. I have great stories to tell, for example, about talking to the dead and what the other side looks like. My husband has great stories to tell about arresting people or helping families through the holidays. And yet, when we go places, no one really asks us questions about us. I am amazed each time I go to a party how I can literally "interview" someone for almost an hour, and yet they will never ask me a question about myself in return. It's so odd to me, but it happens all the time. This year, take the time to ask meaningful questions.

H: Have fun. Seriously. The holidays are supposed to be about family and friends and happy times. And I've found that the best way to be happy is to make your own happiness. Find something every day that you can do for yourself to make you happy. It could be a good holiday movie, a lovely book to come home to, a game of cards with someone, a warm bubble bath, a vigorous workout, getting a manicure. For me, it's doing something creative. As long as I have time every day to knit, draw or write, I am a happy girl. I love to bake with my daughters and make ornaments with them too. Christmas music always makes me happy. The other day, I went to the library and checked out a dozen books on holiday crafts. I was so happy sipping my tea later that night and planning all the things my girls and I could make together for Christmas. It's the simple things that bring the most sustaining joy. Find yours.

And don't forget to remember the meaning behind all these holidays. It's not about money. If you can't afford a gift for someone, do not get stressed or overwhelmed. One of my favorite gifts is a little book mark that has one of my favorite quotes on it by Cicero: A room without books is like a body without a soul. The person who bought me that bookmark knew I loved books, so that gift meant so much to me. It really is the thought that counts.

To help my children remember why my husband and I are snapping at each other as we untangle lights, or why I tend to yell at the tape dispenser that never works, I bought a beautiful gold hat box a few years ago that we place under the tree each year. Then I take construction paper and cut out dozens of crosses. Whenever my girls do something nice for someone, they write it down on one of the crosses and place it in the box as their gift to Christ. It's just a small and hopefully meaningful way to help them remember that this month is not about who gets the biggest and best gifts.

Keep your expectations minimal. Forget the Norman Rockwell Christmas. And in return you may just feel as if this is the most wonderful time of the year.

And for those of you in particularly stressful families, check out these tips from a gal who knows where you're coming from:

1) Send lots of love, light and prayers to the dates on which you'll have to be with your family. By sending extra energy to that date, you'll provide a cushion of good energy to encircle that event.

2) Surround negative family members in pink light. It really works. Just imagine them being wrapped in thick pink cotton candy and watch as their negativity begins to soothe. Just don't forget to wrap yourself in pink light too!

3) If there's someone in your family who always gets under your skin, take a moment before you speak to them to say inside your head "I love you." This will soften your tone and bring lots of love to the situation.

4) Place a crystal cluster near the family gathering -- either on the dining room table or the sideboard. Crystal clusters help groups to get along and work together.

Good luck to all of you reading this. And remember this, you are not alone. You have your guides and angels watching over you. Ask for their help too. Ask and you shall receive. I wish you all a joyous, peaceful and happy, happy holiday season.

Crystal of the Week -- Azurite with Malachite

2011-11-13T14:01:00.000-08:00

Azurite -- a beautiful cobalt blue stone -- is often found growing with or on malachite -- a lovely stone with waves of green. Together, azurite with malachite is a powerful stone for those wanting to develop their psychic abilities. It works to clear your psyche of negativity and allows you to experience fully the emotions of compassion, forgiveness and trust. It helps to dispel worry, resentment and regret. Place it on your third eye to help open the 6th chakra while saying, "it is safe for me to see."

The ancient Egyptians believed Azurite with Malachite could aid spirit communication.

Azurite with Malachite will greatly assist your meditation practice allowing you to reach higher levels of spiritual awareness.

Cassandra Eason asserts that Azurite with Malachite works to help people dealing with cancer.

To use, either wear it to increase your vibration or meditate with it on your third eye.

Embracing the Ego

2011-11-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

I've been getting the message for several of my clients this month that it's time to let their light shine, to embrace their ego. What? Some of you might be thinking. I thought I was supposed to kill my ego, denounce my ego. I thought EGO meant Easing God Out. Yes, I used to as well. But not so much anymore.

If my husband's doctor didn't have an ego the size of Texas, could he have cut a Y shaped opening into him and pumped his heart back to life? I am thankful every day for that amazing doctor's ego.

I am so grateful that Martin Luther King, Jr. had the ego to say, "I have a dream."

Thank God that Ghandi had the ego to think that one man starving himself and speaking out could save an entire country.

Without Steve Job's huge ego, we wouldn't ever know the words "app" or "podcast" or "iPad." His ego has made this world a much better place.

Thomas Jefferson's ego may have led him to have an affair with his slave Sally Hemmings, but I'm grateful that his ego also led him to say, "All men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

His original line read "the pursuit of property" but after John Adams' and Ben Franklin's suggestion, he changed it because even they knew that "things" aren't our right, but rather happiness is. It's our right to be happy, to be free, to have a life that makes our soul sing.

In order to have these things, to embrace these inalienable rights, we have to embrace our ego. We have to enfold it within ourselves and OWN IT.

This week, I read for a client who was thinking of writing a book. I told her I saw it being a big seller. I said, "I think this is going to be big." She paused for a beat and then another. Finally, she said, "I do too, but I'm afraid to think that. I mean who am I?"

Who are you? You are a child of God. You are created in the image of your Creator. Each and everyone of us is a reflection of God. God is reflected in my mediumship ability. God is made known in your ability to teach people to read. And in his ability to manage people and make them work as a team. And in her ability to raise and nurture an amazing family. And our Creator is reflected in his talent for inventing things and her knack for making people feel so good about themselves. Each of us, everyone of us, is a reflection of God and when we denounce ourselves, limit ourselves and belittle our talents, we're denouncing our Creator, belittling the light within us.

I used to think I wasn't a good person if I thought I was a good person. How crazy is that? When someone complimented me, I would belittle it. "Oh, thanks. I got this on sale at Target." Or "No, anyone else would have done the same thing." No. No more. I am a good person. And not everyone else is. And it's okay to think that.

You are a good person and you have a right to live your dream, a duty to fulfill your purpose so that you can make God's image manifest in you.

I used to recoil when I would read all those new agers who said we are God. I would laugh and think, "Really? So I created this universe? I created myself? Give me a break."

I still don't believe I am God.

Far from it.

But, my favorite, favorite book, The Interior Castle by Theresa of Avila, has this thesis: God is within us and we can only find God by searching inside of us. She wrote this in 1577.

So am I God? Are you? No.

But God created us and is reflected in us. We are made in God's image and it's our job to reflect that by fulfilling the purpose we were created to do and surrendering to that.

Sometimes, part of that surrendering includes owning the fact that we're wonderful and talented and great. And that's okay.

We must keep our ego in check or else we'll believe we are a god. But we must not kill our ego either. That's just as dangerous as inflating our self worth.

Like everything in life, it's a balance. So please, promise yourself that this week you'll embrace your ego. Give it a try. You are wonderful and amazing and gifted. You are meant to shine and create and be happy. It's your inalienable right.

Signs From My Guides

2011-11-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

I was asked recently to do a television interview about my experiences as a medium. The reporter thought it would be an inspiring story if I spoke about how my husband's shooting and near death forced me to realize what was really important in life and that's how I came to embrace my intuitive abilities. I thought it was a great idea and after talking to her at length, I realized that she was very open to what I did and was not going to try to denounce me or anything like that. There were just a few problems. For one, I'm terrified of being on TV. My husband and I have been interviewed several times to discuss his shooting and recovery and while that was scary, it didn't terrify me because the spotlight wasn't on me. I'm always happy when the spotlight is most definitely not on me. But this time the story would be about me and that was scary. I'm also not crazy about what my hair is doing right now and what would I wear? Just kidding. Well, sort of.

Then I was worried about my children. I don't advertise what I do. I know, I know. I have a website, a blog and a podcast but it's all very small and you have to know about me to find those things. Being on television is for anyone to see, not just people who seek me out. That's a different ball game. So the average person at my church or my children's school does not know what I do for a living, and I like it that way. I do not want them being made fun of.

I polled my friends and family to mixed reactions. Most were pretty nonchalant about it. My husband said, "Do it if you want to. Don't if you feel uncomfortable." Sounds simple, right?

But it wasn't. I wanted to do the show because I do think this work is inspiring and life affirming. But everything else that came with it was too scary. I just didn't feel ready. I knew the answer was no, but I hate, hate, hate to disappoint people. The reporter said she was planning for this story to air during sweeps weeks which meant she'd already gotten it approved by the producer and that they were expecting a lot of interest in the story. So, I continued to toss and turn.

Finally, I threw my hands up and said to my guides, "Look! I can't figure this out. I don't think I should do this, but I feel that I should. You need to give me an affirmative sign."

The next day when I woke up, I lost my voice. Gone. I have a terrible case of laryngitis. I've had to cancel all my readings for today and tomorrow. But, really, I just have to laugh. When my guides give a sign, boy do they give a sign. I had to decline the interview in an email today.

And you know what's really strange? I kind of like not having a voice for awhile. My kids have had to figure out their own fights between each other. My oldest read a book to us at bedtime tonight, and when they talk to me, they whisper just like me. It's so cute and peaceful too!

Happiness is Having No Expectations

2011-11-02T17:48:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl, my favorite book was Anne of Green Gables. I loved everything about Anne -- her spunk, her intellect, her imagination. I loved her so much that my daughter's middle name is Anne with an E. There was one thing, however, I never agreed with Anne about. She had a habit of saying to her best friend Diana, "Happiness is having no expectations." That's not a direct quote, I should add. But she was often saying things like that and it always made me mad. What is the point of life without expectations? I spent half my childhood, okay, maybe more, daydreaming about things I expected out of life. This included mainly people liking me at whatever new school I landed at that year after one of our many moves. I dreamed of the teachers being bowled over by my engaging personality, of boys' jaws dropping open as I walked by, of a teacher secretly sending my essay into her publisher making me one of the youngest published writers ever. I was always dreaming and never, ever living up to reality. The fact that I was a shy, awkward kid until I sprouted slightly up and out rarely effected my day dreams but it did make me sad when teachers overlooked me, boys walked passed me and the really cool girls looked me up and down.

Still, I persisted with my huge expectations. I believed that without them, I would be nothing. I thought in order for one to succeed, one must have a clear vision, a direct path, an instruction sheet for God. "Hello up there. Thanks for creating me. Now give me everything on this list."

While I do believe passionately in setting realistic goals, I no longer cling to expectations. Instead, my goal is to take each day as it comes -- whatever that brings. Rather than trying to change the world to fit my expectations, I'm choosing to change myself to flow with whatever life presents me. This isn't easy, but then, whoever said life was?

Life is as hard or as easy as WE make it. It's our choice. Happiness is a verb; it's something we choose to be or not to be every day.

When hard times hit you, and they will, try not to let them define you. Nothing in my life has turned out the way I planned. Really, nothing. I thought I would be a lawyer, but I fell into teaching. What's that? Oops, now I'm a medium. I thought I'd have two children, but my amazing Chloe came along and surprised us thankfully with her beautiful self. My husband and I had our whole careers plotted out. He even knew the exact date of his retirement. But one bullet from a very nasty man changed everything, literally, everything in our lives. I try very hard to not let that one moment define us. Sometimes, many times, it does. We're reminded of it when he forgets big things and little things, when he's fighting migraines or back pain. I'm reminded of it every time I see a police officer who smiles at me and asks, "How's sarge doing?" But I try to focus on the many gifts and blessings we've received instead: three healthy, great kids, a career I love, love, love and a husband who's healing every day.

So give Anne's way a shot. Try to wake up tomorrow and have no expectations. Just accept life as it comes realizing that how you respond to it is your choice and, more importantly, that you have a choice.

Crystal of the Week -- Diopside

2011-10-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

Known as the Stone of Service, Diopside will help to open your heart chakra to love, forgiveness and trust. This stone helps you to increase your sense of humility and compassion allowing you to be of true service to others. If you've always wondered what your soul purpose is, Diopside will gently help you remember, recover and recall your true gifts.

If you're experiencing an emotional blockage and inability to let go, green Diopside is the stone for you. It releases our mental blocks and allows us to truly grieve and surrender our pain. For this reason, it's sometimes called the Crying Stone.

Many healers recommend Diopside for aspiring writers as it helps to focus writing goals and encourages writers to complete the project with success.

It's also considered a stone of the intellect and will help in academic pursuits. Judy Hall recommends it for the study of mathematics. Cassandra Eason recommends it for people dealing with eating disorders and obsessive compulsive behaviors. If you know an elderly person who's suffering from alzheimer's or dementia, place a diopside on their bedside table. Diopside is also good for children dealing with dyslexia.

Rainbow Meditation

2011-10-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

I've received some emails requesting that I post the rainbow meditation I did on Sunday's show, so here it is. Hope you enjoy! Meditating on the colors of the rainbow will help to balance and cleanse your chakras while raising your vibrations.

Imagine that you’re walking down a lovely meadow. In front of you is the most glorious rainbow. See this rainbow in front of you. Reach out and touch it. Now, take a deep breath and begin to walk through the rainbow. First you walk through the red color. Breathe this color in and feel the fire of life and creation coursing through you filling you with energy.

As you walk toward the orange – the color of a blazing sunset – you feel filled with creativity and sensuality. Your body, mind and soul are at one.

Walking into the yellow light, you feel joyful, courageous and powerful. Your own personal sun radiates out from your center. You feel grounded, centered, connected. The energy from the earth, the sun, the rainbow is filling you with love, light and life force.

As you walk into the emerald green color, your body is filled with love. You feel a force of love growing and healing, awakening inside of you.

Taking a deep, cleansing breath, you walk toward the sky blue ray of the rainbow. You’re reminded of the vastness of the sky and the ocean. You feel an infinite sense of peace and tranquility as the sky blue color soars through your body purifying your thoughts and words.

As you walk into the indigo light, your third eye awakens and you release fully into the colors of the rainbow allowing yourself to trust and see truth for the first time.

Finally, you move into the purple light – a perfect blend of the earth and sky – and you feel the union of the cosmos soaring through your body. You feel at one with the world, with your soul and your higher self. The gate to enlightenment is now opened for you.

Crystal of the Week -- Jade

2011-10-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

Commonly known as the Stone of Luck, Jade is known and prized worldwide for having the ability to increase good fortune. It can teach courage, humility, wisdom and justice. Jade enables us to discover our karmic lessons and aids in past life recall. It's been known to increase our ability to astral travel. A calming stone, Jade helps us to discover who we really are. It's a very protective stone, especially for children. Jade can help with fertility issues and pregnancy fears. Jade is known as the Sacred Stone of China. They believed powdered Jade could cure many ailments. Bridegrooms would present their brides with jade butterflies as a symbol of love. The couple would then drink from a jade cup to ensure fidelity and a happy marriage. The Chinese would put a jade stone in the mouth of a deceased person to ensure a good afterlife.

Physically, Jade helps the kidney, liver and spleen. Doctors in the 1800s prescribed tying Jade around the arm to reduce kidney stones.

Green Jade has the ability to attract money. It will also help to heal the heart center. White and cream Jade soothes the nervous system. Mauve, Lilac and Lavender Jade sooth the nervous system. Yellow Jade attracts friends to us and brings joy and happiness.

There are two types of stones that are referred to as Jade. One is Jadeite and the other is Nephrite. Be careful when purchasing Jade as imitations are often sold.

Protect Your Energy with Sprays and Oils

2011-10-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

I received an email this week that asked this:

"Samantha, I'm intrigued by your Crystal Clear spray. Does it really work?"

Hmm, how did she expect me to answer that? "Shucks, you got me. Nope, it doesn't work. I just sell bottles filled with water."

As a teacher, I'm trained to say, "There's no such thing as a dumb question." :)

Do sprays really work? Short answer - yes. If you don't believe me, don't buy mine. Make your own.

All you need is blessed or charge water, clear alcohol like vodka, and oils of your choosing.

I get my blessed water from the font at my church. But if you're not comfortable with that, you can pour distilled water into a glass bowl and charge it in the sun for two - three hours. Or you can use ocean water. I live near the beach, so often I'll bring an empty water jug to the beach with me and it fill it up.

You want to fill a spray bottle about 3/4 full with the water. Top off with the vodka; this prevents the water from getting that murky smell and allows you to use your spray bottle for quite some time.

Next, you want to choose your oils. Here's a quick run down of what some do:

For general space clearing and to cleanse your auric field: sage, lavender, frankincense and myrrh.

To enhance romance and relaxation: lavender, jasmine, rose, ylang ylang, and sandalwood

To add energy and joy to your space: lemon. This stimulating scent will boost your immune system and works well when blended with other oils.

To stimulate the mind, body and spirit: rosemary. Rosemary for remembrance is a great scent to use when you're feeling worn down and depleted. It acts as an antiseptic so spray it when someone in your home isn't feeling well too.

To cheer you up: basil, bergamot, clary sage and thyme

To balance emotions: bergamot, clary sage

For a good night's sleep: basil, clary sage, thyme, lavender, chamomile

There are all sorts of specific recipes out there for making sprays. Add nine drops of this oil and three drops of that oil, but you might want to let your intuition guide you and use what smells best and feels best for you. For example, when I make my Crystal Clear sprays, the different types of sage are a bit overpowering, so I'll add more lavender and myrrh.

I also add crystals to my sprays. Carnelian is a great stone to add to your spray bottle because one of its main jobs is to cleanse the area its in. So it will work hard to keep your spray bottle and the area it's spraying cleansed and cleared. Clear quartz is also a great stone to add to your spray bottle because it's an energizer. Amethyst, the stone of spirituality, will work well too. Jasper is a good stone to add for protection.

I also add dried sage and sweetgrass to my sprays.

What can you use sprays for? You can use them to cleanse the energy in your home, car and office. You can use them to energetically cleanse your crystals and jewelry.
You can put a Monster Spray label on your bottle and use them to help your children feel safe at night.
You can use sprays to cleanse your bedroom to ensure a good night's rest.

I use my Crystal Clear Spray to quickly cleanse my crystals, my hands, my cards and my office between clients. I spray it in my home every day to cleanse the energy there and I spritz the crystals in my home when I don't have time for a thorough cleanse.

Experiment, spray and enjoy!

Dealing With the Scary Side of Intuition

2011-10-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

I hosted the Psychic Teachers show alone again on Sunday. I am not the best podcast host when I'm alone, so I know I missed some key points I was trying to make. I also have no ability to talk and keep up with the chat room, so I apologize for the negative people who entered the chat room at the end of the show. How ironic that the first time we've had negative people enter the chat room is the time we're discussing negative entities? Coincidence?

Okay, so here's my stance on the dark side:

They exist. In my opinion, they're real. In order for there to be light, there must be darkness. As above, so below. Yin Yang. Black White. Alpha Omega. It's a balance.

Here's the way I view this. I think there's a fight, a literal war going on between the dark and the light. I also believe that most people are completely oblivious to this. They go to work, take care of their families, sit at home and watch TV. I call these people the grays. They're neither good nor bad. They just are. They're fairly self consumed with their own life and problems. "A famine in Africa? Gee, that's too bad. Too bad I can't do anything about it." Those are the grays.

The dark side loves the grays. They're easy to manipulate when needed.

The dark side hates the lightworkers. You all reading this are lightworkers. You're the ones who are searching and reaching for more and learning that you have a purpose and that your purpose involves service and gratitude and living a life of meaning. They can't stand this and will do whatever they can to pull you back into the land of grays. How do they do this?

Lots of ways.

Let's say, for example, that you're trying to get to church each week. They'll make that a problem for you. No one in your family will want to go. When you get there, the pastor/priest will ask for money. Babies will cry the entire time, and you'll think, "Why am I here and not at home with my feet up reading the paper?"

Let's say you decide to take an intuitive development or meditation class to expand your awareness. If it costs money, the dark side might make something occur in your life to make that monetary expense too difficult for you. Or your friends and family might make fun of you for your new interests.

If you start to believe that you have a higher purpose other than working and paying bills, the dark side loves to use doubt to pull you down. You'll have nasty thoughts filled with fear and doubt plague you. "Who are you to think you can pull this off? You don't have the talent/gift/ability/time/money/intelligence (you get the point) to do this. What are you thinking?"

If they fail at all this and you continue on your path of lightness, then they'll begin to stress you out. You might start losing things right before you're leaving the house for your meditation class. You might find that you constantly run late for these appointments and classes. You might get plagued with annoying colds and flus and start to think that you're overworked and overstressed. Maybe it's time to cut back on this spiritual development and just resume my old life, you might think.

If this next step fails, then they'll just try to out and out scare you. You might have nightmares, see shadows dart by in your home or be awoken in the middle of the night with the sure feeling that someone is in the room.

I've had all of these things happen to me. And I did return to the land of the grays. Again and again and again. What can I say? I am a very fearful person. Or was.

I respect the dark side and I think you should too. It's nothing to kid around with. But I try really hard not to fear the dark, for I believe so strongly in the power of the light and my faith. I know my people and my angels will never let me down.

When I was a little girl, I was woken up almost nightly. There was always someone or something in my room. My family jokes that I'm the youngest because my parents were never allowed to sleep alone in their bedroom to conceive another child. I was constantly running to their room in fear.

When I was finally flirting again with the idea of opening up my intuition in my early 30's, I had this amazingly real dream that I now know was not a dream. A man walked into my bedroom. He was older, about 65, very tall and thin and had that rugged look that comes from living life hard and truly. He was wearing a red baseball cap, had bright blue eyes, a bit of steel gray stubble and was wearing jeans and a flannel shirt. His smile lit up my room. I remember sitting up and smiling back and he said, "See? It's not scary when we visit you in your dreams, is it? We've been trying to get you to talk to us for years and finally one of them suggested we try this way." He motioned behind him and I looked to see dozens of people standing in my bedroom. "So, can you talk to us now?"

I nodded and he said, "Good. Can we move this to your kitchen? It's a bit crowded in here."

So I followed them into my kitchen. And do you know what they wanted? They each wanted me to hold their hand so I could relive with them the last ten minutes of their lives. I have no idea to this day why this was necessary. But that's what I did. I reached for their hand one at a time and saw their deaths. I saw one man have a heart attack on his tractor overlooking his land. I saw a nurse driving to work feeling cranky about the long day ahead of her when another car slammed into to her. I saw an old gentleman just slip away into death while his family stood by and watched. He was lying in a hospital bed in the middle of his living room. And Red? He was shot down on an interstate highway by several police after escaping from jail. Even though that's a really bad thing and a horrible death, I still really like Red.

Anyway, after that, spirits visited me most nights. And that's all they wanted -- to make me relive their last moments on earth.

But in between that amazing year, I had some really scary experiences. I had terrible, terrible nightmares.

But then the beautiful things would happen. I'd have dreams where angels visited me and told me to use the light of God's love to literally throw at these negative people. They showed me how this light -- which we all carry in our hearts -- can truly transform people, even the evil ones. It just takes time and lots of love. And I was able to see how my messages brought comfort to people. Several people returned to their faith that year after hearing validations from their loved ones in heaven. There was one woman who emailed me for her mom. "My brother died last year, and I don't know if she's ready to talk with you. Can you talk to me first so I can see what my brother has to say?" Her brother had accidentally killed himself. His spirit was so funny, so giving and so, well, alive. Really, I felt as though he were more alive than I'd ever been. His sister was relieved to hear he was doing well and scheduled a time to talk to his mom. I remember the day of her reading, I felt compelled to go to a store called Khols. I am not a fan of shopping, I don't particularly like Khols, and yet I couldn't get it off my mind. I also don't like to do other things when I have readings scheduled. I don't want to get distracted. But I am telling you I had to go to Khols. When I walked in, the first thing I saw was a display of gem stone heart shaped necklaces. The pink rose quartz heart fairly lit up in front of me. "Buy that for my mom." I turned around. Who had said that? Then I put it together and it made sense. The son wanted me to buy this for his mother, so I did. The mother was so relieved to hear from her son and happy to receive a gift from him. That's the first and only time that's happened to me, that a spirit made me shop for him, but it validated to me that there was so much good in opening up to our intuition if we can trust in the light.

So, back to the dark side. If you are trying to reach for something more than yourself, something beyond your day-to-day "rinse and repeat" life, DON'T let the dark side distract you or scare you.

Here are some things you can do:

1) Call on Christ and Archangel Michael to protect you and clear away the negativity

2) Wear a crystal or symbol of your faith every day.

3) Imagine white light around yourself twice a day -- once upon waking and once upon falling asleep

4) Pray every day

5) Read books on psychic protection. Judy Hall and Ted Andrews have written great books on this subject.

6) Keep walking your path. Don't get distracted. Keep your eyes on the light.

And, just as importantly, trust your instincts. So many have said that the greatest feat of the dark side hasn't been the world wars or cancer or AIDS but rather the belief that the dark doesn't exist.

If you still think I'm crazy, consider what I've come across this month alone:

Four clients have told me they think something negative is in their home. I've received three emails asking me how to get rid of the creepy energy hanging around their house. During a reading last month, I saw something negative attached to a client. I asked her what was going on in her life when she was five. She said, "Oh that's when we moved to the haunted house." I told her what I was sensing and that I didn't think that thing had left her all these years later. She became emotional and said she had sensed that too but couldn't really believe it. This month, I sensed something negative around a client that was causing all sorts of financial troubles. Once, after telling a client about something negative I sensed, I hung up the phone from the reading and was slapped by something. It terrified me. Like I said, I scare easily. Another time, I was asked to help clear a home of something negative. When I came home, I was still scared. Everyone in my family started fighting. Literally. My husband said something snarky to me, my girls started fighting and my dog went to the bathroom on the living room floor. Right there in front of us. I knew then that something had followed me home.

So I quickly put the kids to bed, walked into my bedroom and prayed for Jesus Christ and Archangel Michael to come and help. I said, "I command and demand that you get rid of whatever has followed me home." Thirty seconds passed, and I heard a huge crash in my kitchen. I ran into the kitchen and saw that the five shelves of cookbooks above my kitchen desk had fallen and the spice rack on the opposite wall had fallen to the floor as well. I have lived in this house for 14 years and neither of those things have ever fallen before or since. I knew a fight of some sort had occurred in my kitchen and I knew who won. You could feel the peace and joy in their air.

The light will always win. It just will.

I read once that the ancient Jewish teaching on Lucifer was that he was a teacher. His name meant "adversary." He was sent here to tempt us as a way of strengthening our faith. If you read the Book of Job, you'll see how this works. I like to think that maybe that's true, that maybe all we're here to learn is how to overcome fear so we can love. C. S Lewis always said that he treasured and valued his suffering because without it he wouldn't know joy or happiness. Without the dark, we can't recognize the light.

For more reading on this subject, check out these books:

Return From Tomorrow by Dr. George Ritchie
Hostage to the Devil by Father Malachi Martin
Shadows of the Dark by John Zaffis
The Uninvited by Steven LaChance
Psychic Protection by Ted Andrews
The Art of Psychic Protection by Judy Hall
When Ghosts Speak by Mary Ann Winkowski
Spirit Releasement Therapy by William Baldwin
Spirit Release by Sue Allen

Crystal of the Week -- Amethyst

2011-10-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

Known as the "sobriety" stone, amethyst can help us with increasing our spirituality in a calm, grounding energy. Derived from the Greek word "amethystos," meaning not drunken, amethyst was thought to ward off intoxication. Ancient Greeks and Romans would drink wine out of amethyst goblets believing they could drink without experiencing the inebriating effects of the alcohol.

In the Egyptian Book of the Dead are instructions for placing a heart shaped amethyst on the body of the deceased.

Because of its calming, almost sedative quality, amethyst can aid with any addictive or compulsive behavior.

Due to its lovely purple color, amethyst is a crown chakra stone and can assist the wearer with increasing psychic ability and spiritual awareness. It is said to assist our connection with our angels and guides while protecting us from negative influences. Amethyst helps break up old emotional blocks to assist your psychic awakening. Lore holds that carrying a piece of amethyst will protect you from psychic attack and any negative influence caused by ghosts and negative earthbounds.

Physically, amethyst can help heal headaches, insomnia. It combats nightmares and is known to promote lucid dreaming. It makes a great addition to dream pillows.

Amethyst is such a highly spiritual stone that it can help to raise your vibrations.

It's also known to help people dealing with legal issues, and for centuries has been believed to help ward off attacks from thieves and robbers.

People who constantly wear an amethyst necklace are said to appear more beautiful, charming and successful.

An amethyst cluster is so powerful that it can help heal, charge and cleanse other crystals.

You should keep a small amethyst with your tarot or angel cards to keep them operating at the highest level.

Catholics call the Amethyst the "Bishop's Stone." It's the chosen stone for Bishops to wear because the Amethyst represents wisdom, purity of thought, and humility. Amethyst is also featured in the crown jewels of England and has been worn by every Pope since the 16th century.

Charge amethyst clusters in the moonlight weekly and then place throughout your home to increase your home's vibration and instill a sense of calm within everyone living there.

Finding the "om" in your Home

2011-10-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

So many people that I meet through my work are stressed out, frazzled and exhausted. I think I'm one of them too. Time is flying by us -- can you feel everything speeding up? And more and more demands are being placed on us. Last night I saw some guy on TV talk about how women in particular need to make time for themselves because we're so busy doing everything for our families that heart disease and cancer scares are on the rise for women. He talked about how women have to create a scared space in their home and should meditate or pray for an hour a day.

An hour. Really?

If you add up all the things we're supposed to do in a day -- work, clean, cook, meditate, pray, exercise, socialize and organize for the next day's round of events --well, then, we're out of time.

This blog post is mainly aimed at women and men like me who are trying so hard to juggle career, family and personal needs. This man's advice got me thinking about how hard it is to really find time in the day to stop and meditate for 10 minutes, never mind an HOUR.

I do meditate every day, but rarely do I meditate for more than 10 or 15 minutes. I pray every morning and evening for about five minutes each. So that's 20 - 30 minutes I devote every day for my spiritual enlightenment.

Not impressive, especially for an intuitive.

BUT, ponder these facts:

Jesus never had a family. Buddha abandoned his family (including his new born child) to find enlightenment. Mohammad may have had over a dozen wives, but he still left them for weeks at a time several times a year to meditate in a cave. The founder of the Hare Krishna movement, Swami Prabhupada, "retired" from marriage when he came to the states in 1966 to spread his movement. I love that he referred to it as retiring from marriage and not divorce or abandonment. Abraham didn't become a dad until he was very, very old and so he had plenty of time to seek enlightenment before almost sacrificing his first son. Every major female spiritual leader from Saint Clare of Assisi, Joan of Arc and St. Therese of Avila to Dorothy Day, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, and Mother Theresa did not have to deal with raising a family.

So, please don't be hard on yourself if you're having a hard time balancing it all and finding time to meditate, pray and ponder the meaning of life.

In order to be spiritually mindful, we do not need to abandon our families. Nor do we have to feel as though enlightenment can wait until we've raised our family. To me, the recipe for enlightenment really can be found in raising a family. Don't believe me? Consider these thoughts:

In order to reach a state of enlightenment, you must have faith. What greater evidence of faith can we find in our own lives than through the act of having a child? That shows faith in the continuation of the world, faith in our ability to parent and raise another human being, and faith in a higher power that it can even happen at all.

Enlightenment also requires patience. Watching your child go through the terrible twos will teach the hardest, most impatient person how to surrender. Potty training your child, encouraging them to eat vegetables and painfully helping them sound out words as they learn to read all equals patience.

In order to feel enlightened, we must learn how to be still. How many of you have practiced the power of stillness when you had to tiptoe in their room and steal a tooth from under their pillow? Or have to listen to them tell you -- again -- the moment by moment reenactment of their favorite movie.

Enlightenment requires that we learn to be both teacher and student. With our families, we're constantly teaching them the essentials of life -- how to get along with others, how to have good study habits, how to pray and be an active member of their faith community, how to give back to others and empathize -- but we're also our children's students constantly learning from their pearls of wisdom. My youngest just taught me how to hop on one foot while balancing on a curb going around our cul-de-sac. But seriously, our children are our greatest teachers as they reveal to us our greatest strengths and weaknesses.

The enlightened mind also must have courage which is really what parenting is all about. One must have the courage to discipline, to guide, and to let go when the child is ready.

So to all you frazzled parents out there, don't feel bad about yourself if you're trying to find time to include more spirituality in your life because, trust me, it's already there.

The twenty or so years you'll spend raising your children to adulthood will expand your heart, enrich your soul and provide the perfect opportunity for true enlightenment.

Crystal of the Week -- Garnet

2011-10-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

Derived from the latin word for seed "granatus" garnets can help plant a seed of desire in us that will enable us to grow in passion, health and confidence. This stone is best for increasing self-confidence in our relationships and career. Garnet has been worn for thousands and thousands of years. It's said that Noah carried a lantern made from garnet to direct his ark safely through the flooded waters. Garnet is mentioned as one of the 12 gemstones in the breastplate of Aaron. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans wore garnet jewelry, and knights wore garnet as a protection against death and bad luck.

When given as a gift, garnet is said to instill commitment and fidelity in the heart of the receiver. It's such a protective stone that it's been known to warn its wearer of impending disaster by becoming suddenly dull and lackluster in appearance.

Garnet will help to reenergize the wearer. Because it helps to increase one's self confidence, garnet is a great stone to have on your desk at the office or to wear or carry while interviewing for a job. It makes you more attractive to others and is known to bring good luck to business success.

Because of its lovely dark red color, Garnet is also a romance stone and help can revitalize dull relationships. Keep a cluster of garnet on your bedside table or wear a necklace of garnet to bring passion back into your life.

Since it brings to the wearer true self-confidence, it will help to lesson anger -- always the mark of an insecure person.

Physically, garnets help to normalize blood pressure. Garnet set in gold is said to increase sluggish immune systems and to help people suffering from depression.

Garnet is great for:

Career success
Increasing confidence
Enhancing passion in relationships
Increasing luck in love and career
Protecting the wearer from negativity
Inspires commitment and loyalty
Increases fertility
Overcome depression

Garnet remedies:

1) Place under your pillow while you sleep to help cure depression
2) Place three garnet stones on your desk to ensure success
3) Place two garnets on your bedside table to ensure fidelity and passion in your current relationship or, if single, to attract the right relationship to you
4) Wear in jewelry to overcome depression, increase self-confidence and aid in protection from negativity
5) Place garnet in planters on either side of your front door to protect your home from theft

Increase Your Financial Abundance

2011-10-03T20:58:00.000-07:00

Everyone is dealing with this crazy economy, and I don't think it's getting any better for a good, long time. However, that DOES NOT mean you have to suffer through it. More people became millionaires during the Great Depression than during any other time in the 20th century. WOW! Think about that for a minute. Colonel Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken during this period. Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard began their company in 1939. And statistics show that 10 million millionaires will be created in the next ten years.

So, don't buy into the hype of this economic downturn. What happens in the stock market when the economy tanks? People sell their stocks. They panic and hold on to every last dime. And then what happens? We really start to tank. Everything freezes. Europe is reconsidering their whole economic structure, Greece is in real trouble, and America's bond rating was downgraded for the first time ever.

The reason why I am fascinated by history is because we can learn from it. When we hold on to money, when we panic and freeze, everything stops and stagnates. How many of you remember gas lines in the 70's? Or buying a house at an interest rate of 18%? No one wants that again. So what can we do?

Spend money? Act as though nothing is awry?

No, of course not.

Here's what you can do:

1) Limit frivolous spending if you need to. You just might not need to spend $5 at Starbucks everyday.

2) Start saving some money to appease your worries. Even if you only put $5 away each week, you'll at least feel as though you're doing something to help your situation. Then you won't beat yourself up. Guilt is a huge stagnating force when trying to manifest money.

3) Practice spiritual tithing. Wonderful, amazing, miraculous things happen when we give back to the universe. Tithing does not mean you have to give to your church, although that is where the tradition began. Tithing is the practice of giving away 10% of your income each week. The goal is to tithe 10% of your weekly income to wherever or whomever spiritually uplifted you that week. If your friend really help you out of a bind, purchase a gift certificate for him/her. If you felt moved by a story of a family who lost their home in a fire, contact the news station and find out where you can send a donation. When my husband was in the hospital that summer, I can't tell you how many people gave to us. It was such a relief to not have to worry about money during that time, but the cards and letters and thoughtful gifts that poured in were literally life savers to me. Here's just a brief sampling of what we received: a gift basket including hospital necessities like Chapstick, moisturizes, pen and paper, and a guest book so people could leave messages for my husband. The ladies at the Lancome department send me a basket filled with all types of makeup. We received a lot of gifts for our children which were so very thoughtful. People sent mass cards, books, DVDs, magazines and lots of food. One woman mailed me a check for $100 every month for over six months. I never met her, but I keep her in my prayers always. She'd attach a note that would read, "Buy something special for yourself. Take care of yourself. Go get your nails done and remember to breathe." She always included a thoughtful and appropriate Bible verse.

Be creative with your tithing and have fun with it. Years ago, I interviewed a woman for our newspaper who drove over to a local orphanage once a week to cook them a homemade meal. I met a retired man who spent his free time making and giving away birdhouses. I have a friend who hand sewed blankets for every patrol car in our city to be handed out to children being taken to protective services. A good friend of mine spends her Fridays at the woman's jail teaching them inspiring ways to live their life.

Tithing will change your life.

I read a story once about a woman in the 1950's who worked all week as a maid. She kept trying to tithe 10% but she could never make the numbers add up. So, she decided to start selling boxed lunches at a local factory on her Saturdays off. All the money she made, she promised to God. Soon, she was so successful that she was making well more than the 10% needed. After two years, she quit her job cleaning houses and opened up a very successful restaurant.

4) Visualize yourself with more money. What would your life look like if you never had to worry about money? What if you had enough money each month to pay all your bills, deposit some in savings, invest a bit, tithe your 10% and still had money left over? What would that look like? Remember, if you can't picture it, you can't create it.

5) Remember Suze Orman's words of wisdom: If you need more money, go out and make it. I am probably the Queen of finding and creating jobs. As a teacher for more than a dozen years, I never once took a summer off. I always scrambled to find a job, something to bring in income. Usually, I would pick up extra classes at the community college. Sometimes, I would tutor kids. I worked for a real estate company, I taught workshops, I wrote freelance articles, and for two summers I was the Cookie Lady selling cookies to five area coffee shops. Whenever I couldn't find a job, I would create one.

And finally, some metaphysical tips for creating and bringing in more money:

1) Tie Red Ribbons around all the pipes in your house. This is an old Feng Shui cure. Good chi gets drawn out of our house through the pipes, but with the energy of the color red which vibrates to the number 4 (balance, stability, strength), it stops the good energy from flowing OUT of your home.

2) Keep toilet lids, washing machine lids and bathroom doors closed at all times for the same reason listed above.

3) Find out where your money corner is in your home. There are nine areas in our home which draw in certain energies. Your money corner is located in the opposite left hand corner from your front door. Stand at your front door with your back to the inside of the front door. The farthest left hand corner of your home from that position is your money corner. Place images of money in that corner such as your jewelry box. I have a crystal tree in my money corner to remind me that money can grow on trees :) I also have a lot of green crystals here to draw in the abundant energy. Green aventurine and green jade are especially good choices. Bamboo and jade plants are considered lucky money plants. Make sure you do not have anything in this area of your house that reminds you of financial stressors. This should not be where you pay your bills. This area should also be meticulously clean and cleared of all clutter.

4) Write yourself a check. On New Year's Day every year, I write myself a check. I write down how much I want to make that year. I sign it from the Universe, and I tape it to my bathroom mirror. And guess what? I always come either very close or right on that number. I never surpass it, though, which is a good reminder to never limit yourself. It's tricky because you want to choose a number that's more than you're making now but not so high that you'll look at it every day and mutter, "Yeah, right." It needs to be believable, so you can envision yourself creating that abundance. You'll be amazed at the way the universe responds to this.

5) Practice being happy for other's successes. Maybe you already are, and that is great. But sometimes you'll find yourself at that place in your life where nothing is going your way. And you will almost always have a friend for whom life is going amazingly well. And while you're happy for him/her, inside you might be thinking, "Why not me? Life is so unfair." Practice saying to yourself, "That's for me too and maybe something better." We are all connected. We are all one. When something good happens to one us; it really does have a good effect on all of us.

6) Write down the number eight and place it in your wallet. The number 8 attracts money to us infinitely. If you turn the number 8 on its side, it's the infinity symbol. Once a woman wrote to me and said, "I really want to take your workshop, but I can't afford it now." I told her to write down the number 8 and put it in her wallet. She did and that evening she went with a friend to one of those lottery places and one the exact amount of the workshop!

7) One more feng shui cure -- besides the money corner, the kitchen is symbol of our wealth since food always equated wealth. So it's imperative that your kitchen is always clean. If you can place a small mirror above your stove, that is said to double your prosperity.

Don't let money -- and all the fears and worry that come with it -- control you. Remember -- you are always in control of your money and of how much you make and spend. If you want more money, go out there and manifest it. In the legendary words of Ru Paul, "You better work." Just kidding. Work smarter, not harder. Don't give into the fear. Don't allow worry to rule your life. Surrender your fears, tithe each week to wherever you were uplifted, and know that you are an infinite child of God. You were not created to spend your days surrounded by guilt, worry and fear. You were created to light up your corner of the world. Manifest your abundance and shine on.

The Platinum Rule

2011-09-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

We've all heard of (and try to follow) the Golden Rule -- Do Unto Others As You'd Have Them Do Unto You. Well, I'd like to add another rule -- The Platinum Rule. Treat Yourself the Way You Treat Others or, put simply, BE KIND TO YOURSELF.

So many of the people who come to me for readings are just so darn mean to themselves. People tell me that they hate the way they look, the way they dress, or they're ashamed because they didn't finish college, or they're disappointed in themselves because they aren't as successful in their career or they feel like a failure when their marriage ended. It's heartbreaking, really, when you think about it. We're meaner to ourselves than anyone else could ever be. I have to remind my clients of all their amazing accomplishments. "Yes, you didn't finish college. But that's because your mom died unexpectedly, and your dad needed you to help take care of your brothers. And, you're in college now, aren't you?" My clients will always look at me as though I've made this huge revelation. "Yeah, you're right. I guess that's not so bad after all." Or I'll say, "Yes, your marriage is over, but look at all the amazing things you've been able to do since that divorce. You're running your own business, you're traveling, you're helping other moms going through divorces." And again, I'll see that light of recognition, the one that says, "Oh yeah, I'm not such a bad person."

I hope that all of you reading this can turn around the lens through which you view your life and learn to see the reasons for your mistakes, the lessons from your failures, and relish the joys in your successes. Please make a promise to yourself this week to be kind to yourself. Speak kindly to yourself and about yourself. Accept compliments and own your successes and accomplishments. Start a journal where you right down -- every night -- three things you like about yourself. Try it -- at the end of the month, you'll be a different person.

Crystal of the Week -- Tiger's Eye

2011-09-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

Traditionally worn as a talisman against evil and ill-wishes, Tiger's Eye is a highly protective stone. It helps to ground sensitive, spacey people and can serve as an anchor to those that are afraid of commitment and setting down roots. Tiger's eye with its beautiful brown and golden bands balances the earth's energy with the radiant energy of the sun. It helps us to integrate power into our life ethically and works to show us the difference between our needs and wants.

Tiger's Eye works to alleviate depression and issues with self-worth, self-esteem and self-love. It helps addicts in recovery learn to make the right choices. It works works to calm down and soften the energies of adults with ADD/ADHD.

Because it is so grounding and increases one's self worth, Tiger's Eye will help you attract money and hold onto it with the sure knowledge that you are worthy of abundance.

Placed on the third eye, Tiger's Eye will stimulate psychic development and aids in kundalini rising.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

2011-09-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

You remember that song, right? The one that tells us (over and over) "Don't Worry; Be Happy." I used to hate that song. I thought it was so arrogant. Don't worry. Yes, you might have lost your job, yes, we're still at war with the Taliban, but don't worry. Just be happy. Oh, I know you're mom is sick and doesn't have insurance, but don't worry. Be happy. What's that? Your boyfriend just left you for no reason? No worries. Just be happy.

See what I mean?

It reminded me of all those Course in Miracle people who swear that evil and fear are nothing but an illusion. Really? Tell that to Jaycee Dugar. I don't think she thought her 18 stolen years were an illusion.

Sometimes we have to worry or be afraid because there are plenty of worrisome and fearful things that can and do happen to us. But, and here's the tricky part, we can't make it a habit.

All week, I've met clients who are plagued by worry. And for some of them, they have every right to be worried. But others I've met this week are worrying because that's the only way they know to deal with the unknown. It's almost as though they're putting in time. "Maybe if I worry enough, it won't happen. Maybe my worry will serve as a penance and it will be enough to prevent this from happening." Oh no. Life doesn't work that way.

Earlier this week, a really funny mom came through to talk to her daughter. Her energy was fun, upbeat and positive. She kept repeating one thing over and over. "Tell my daughter not to worry." And then she showed me (like a slide show on speed) how her own life had been spent consumed by worry. "Don't make the mistakes I made. Life is too short." The daughter acknowledged that her mother had been a worrier and that, yes, she had inherited the worry gene too.

Like I said before, sometimes we have to worry -- when we lose our job, or when our loved ones get ill, or when we're faced with a change beyond our control. BUT when you have the comfort of faith in your life, when you truly know what it means to surrender to a higher power, when you're able to see the bigger picture -- that everything, every little and big thing, has a higher purpose and reason -- then you'll begin to see how pointless continued worrying really is.

I worry about a lot of things. I'm worried about our economy. I'm worried about my youngest daughter's complete and continued hatred of any and all vegetables. I'm worried about a client who's facing a serious illness. I'm worried about the 2012 elections. Really, I am. It's going to be messy. However, I realize that there's absolutely nothing I can do about any of these worries - except maybe bribing my daughter to eat a carrot. Just kidding. And pray. I know prayer works. I've seen it work. But to continue worrying about any of these things is akin to turning my back on God. It's like saying to God, "Yeah, I get that you've got the universe covered and all. But I don't trust you. You really messed up with that whole flood thing. And WWII! What? Did you go on vacation for six years? I don't think you know what you're doing. I don't trust you. I don't trust the universe."

See what I mean?

Pardon my silly humor. It's been a long day and I'm very tired, but I wanted to quickly blog about this mother's great message -- don't waste your life worrying. Life is too short.

So again, yes -- you're going to worry. But then what? Practice moving beyond that. Here are some fun activities for the consummate worrier to try:

1) Make a prayer jar or prayer box. Place an angel or several angels or other spiritual representations around it if possible. Write down your worries. All of them. Fold them up and drop them in your prayer jar while imagining the angels taking them up to heaven for you. It's important to get our worries physically out of our body so they don't fester and manifest as physical illness.

2) Write down your prayers. Turn your worries into prayers. Instead of, "What if I don't get another job???" Write down, "I pray that the right job for me presents itself now. Thank you." Have you read The Help? Great read. Remember how Aibileene wrote down all her prayers and they happened? It works!

3) Practice visualization for 15 minutes a day. If you're worried about not having a job, spend some time every day visualizing yourself getting a great job. Really imagine your outfit, the conversation when you accept the job, the salary.

4) Any black stone or smoky quartz is great to hold or wear when you're consumed by worry. You can ask the stone, too, to help you absorb your worries.

5) Watch your words about things you constantly worry about. If, for example, you often say, "Oh no, here comes flu season; I know I'm going to get sick," try to catch yourself and change that belief just with your words. "I am healthy, happy and whole. I am healthy, happy and whole."

Worry can become a habit. But habits can be broken. I won't end this blog by admonishing you to just be happy. But I will say this: to worry is to doubt; to be happy is to trust.

What's at the Root of Your Issue?

2011-09-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

I keep meeting clients who are facing the same problems over and over in one of four main areas:

HEALTH
RELATIONSHIPS
CAREER
MONEY

These recurring problems are almost ALWAYS rooted in a childhood issue. Look at the evidence:

HEALTH: Bob (not his real name) has been dealing with chronic health issues for most of his adult life. He's broken his back, struggles with diabetes, has battled prostate cancer, esophagus issues, and is in the beginning stages of COPD. When I asked his guides why he struggles with these issues, they just showed me the number 10. I asked him if anything significant happened when he was 10. He said, "Yes, I came down with a terrible illness. I was throwing up and couldn't eat for almost a week. I had a headache and a fever. And my parents didn't believe me. They never took me to the doctor." Bob teared up as he spoke about the memory. Believe it or not, I've seen this same scenario many other times with parents ignoring their children's illness OR overemphasizing the illness. Both are dangerous and can lead to life long issues. Bob needs to release his need to prove to the world that he's sick and truly heal. Once that little 10 year old boy is healed and validated, I'll bet he'll start feeling a lot better.

RELATIONSHIPS: When Mary's dad left her mom, she was just 8 years old. She didn't see him again for almost a decade. Today, Mary's on her third marriage and escapes in repetitive affairs whenever the going gets tough. Mary needs to heal that 8 year old girl, forgive her father and embrace the concept of commitment to herself while focusing on learning to love and trust herself which will then allow her to reflect the same love to others. Instead, she's choosing to run from one relationship to another when in reality she's running from the pain of the abandoned 8 year old girl inside her.

CAREER: Jennifer came to see me to help her find her soul purpose. She had a college degree, a master's and a law degree but had never found happiness in any job. Jennifer is obviously bright and committed to obtaining degrees, so why wasn't she happy in any career? Jennifer grew up very impoverished. Her family balanced on the edge of homelessness at least twice during her childhood. She remembers going to bed hungry many nights. Her mother always told her that education was the way out. So Jennifer focused and got her education -- many times. But, she had become addicted to the drama of not having a job, of not having money. For the first 18 years of her life, the most formative years, that's all she knew -- the fear of not having rent money, food or anything left over to pay the light bill followed by the exhilaration of the last minute miracle that saved the day. This is all Jennifer knew. It had become comfortable to her, so she was repeating it in her own life. By leaving job after job, she was running from the safety and security found in building a career. Even though she'd gotten her education, she couldn't let go of the comfort she'd learn to find in the chaotic drama of her childhood.

MONEY: Joe had begun and failed three different businesses. All were great ideas and began as successful ventures. Unfortunately, all eventually failed. Why? As a child, Joe's dad had worked hard as a welder. His mom cleaned houses. Joe was constantly imbedded with certain phrases he couldn't shake: Money is the root of all evil; rich people are mean, stingy, selfish and bad; you have to work hard for your money. When we explored these concepts further, Joe admitted that he felt as though his parents hated wealthy people and he subconsciously worried that if he became successful, his parents wouldn't love him anymore. He was unwittingly sabotaging his own success because he was afraid if he made money that his parents wouldn't love, approve or accept him anymore.

We really are the own creators or sabotagers of our own success. Look at the patterns -- good and bad -- in your own life. Which of the four big ones alludes you -- health, love, career satisfaction or money? Then spend some time thinking about your childhood. Don't focus on what you were taught by your parent(s). Focus on what you SAW, on how you FELT. Discover the root cause of your pattern and watch it disappear almost like magic.

I know that sounds silly, but it's true. Once you recognize the source of the pattern, forgive yourself and send love to yourself, you will release yourself from the cyclical effect of your patterns.

Crystal of the Week -- Herkimer Diamond

2011-09-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

The Herkimer Diamond is so named because it was originally found in Herkimer, New York and is naturally shaped like a diamond.

It's often referred to as "the Attunement Stone" because it helps us to attune ourselves to our purpose which is why it makes a great manifesting stone. Meditate with Herkimer while focusing on what you're trying to attract to your life.

The Herkimer Diamond is associated with the crown chakra and can help us clear and balance our chakras. With their natural double terminated shape, Herkimers work to clear the chakras when placed between the energy centers. If, for example, you're having issues with a close relationship, place a Herkimer diamond between your heart and throat chakra to open and clear these chakra centers allowing you to lovingly communicate more clearly. You can also attuned two Herkimers to help your relationship with your spouse or significant other to be health, happy, and loving. Then give one Herkimer to your partner while you carry or wear the other one.

When placed under your pillow, it will help you recall your dreams.

Herkimer diamonds work great in crystal grids and in medicine bags because they work to amplify the energy of the other stones.

Herkimer's help us to assimilate to change. Wear or carry one if you're trying to get used to a move, a new job or other challenging transition in your life.

Learn To Protect Yourself From Negativity

2011-09-12T19:30:00.000-07:00

Join Deb and me Thursday evening for our Psychic Protection telecourse. Join us on the phone lines from 8:30 - 10:00 pm, eastern time. You'll receive five handouts -- How to Cleanse Your Chakras, How to Strengthen Your Aura, Grounding Techniques, How to Protect Your Home from Negativity and Psychic Protection Techniques.

You'll learn how to protect yourself, your family, and your home from negativity. We'll discuss how to set up a crystal grid for protection and what crystals you should wear for protection. You'll learn how to send positive energy toward a future event to deflect negativity and how to strengthen yourself so that you're no longer susceptible to negativity.

The class is just $25. To register, go to my website www.thecrystalchick.com and click on Payments. Scroll over to Workshops and Click on $25. Once you've registered this way, I'll send you the call in information and handouts.

Life Is a Special Occasion -- Turning Tragedy into Triumph

2011-09-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a moment out to remember all those who gave their lives on 9/11. This ten year memorial is so difficult for America, but also inspiring because it reminds us of how strong and amazing America is. I was driving this morning and listening to Story Corps on NPR. People were calling in with their stories. They profiled the five firefighters who carried out one of the first people from the fires -- a Franciscan friar named Fr. Mychal Judge. He was a chaplain for the NYFD. When first tower collapsed, he rushed to the emergency command post stationed in the lobby of the second tower. He was praying over the injured and administering last rites to the dead. When the second tower collapsed at 9:59 am, Fr. Mychal was one of the first to die. His last words, according to his biographer, were "Jesus please end this now! Oh God, please end this."

Fr. Mychal was known for his special ministry to those often alienated -- the homeless and those suffering from AIDS. Once he cradled a man dying from AIDS, and said, "Do you think God doesn't approve?" He then kissed the man and continue to rock him. He was seen giving the coat off his back to a homeless woman. His friend and fellow priest gave the homily at his funeral and said that once Fr. Mychal said to him, "Do you know what I want? What I really, really want?" His friend said, "No, what?" And Fr. Mychal smiled and said, "Absolutely nothing. I am so blessed."

And what of the people in the plane who willingly overcame the terrorists and saved us from an even more terrifying tragedy? "Let's roll" will forever be remembered as a mark of heroism because of those brave people.

We have to also remember in our prayers today all the people who are still grieving this day -- the first responders who were there and survived, the family of the thousands who were lost, the children who will never grow up with a mom or a dad.

And there's the tragedy, the gaping hole of grief left in our nation's history. Yet, there's also hope and inspiration and triumph because we did not let this disaster ruin us -- neither financially nor spiritually. We came together in beautiful ways both small and large that made the evil the terrorists committed seem almost pitiful. Nothing can tear us down.

My daughters and I were at Hallmark earlier today and their new logo is: Life is a Special Occasion. As I was driving home and reflecting on the memorial today, I thought how true that is. This life, the one that you're living now, is special and fragile and wonderful and a gift.

On our drive home, NPR was playing audio clips of the beautiful changes the survivors of 9-11 had made. There were stories of people reuniting with old loves, of people quitting their jobs to pursue their dreams, others going back to school, and many calling old friends and family members they'd fought with and hadn't spoken with in a long time.

And then there's the question of moving on. How do we move through this event as a country? Can we all learn to forgive? I asked the students in my English class to write papers on forgiveness. They came up with some beautiful definitions:

Forgiveness is compassion in action.

Forgiveness is allowing yourself a new start.

Forgiveness is letting go of resentment and making room for joy.

Forgiveness is finding peace in yourself without seeking vengeance.

Forgiveness is releasing the pain and letting go of the wrong that has been done to you.

Sometimes the inevitable occurs and we find ourselves in predicaments where the only option left is forgiveness.

I especially like that last one because he's exactly right. After the tragedy of 9-11, what else can we do but forgive? It's the only road to tomorrow.

A Lesson in Imperfection

2011-09-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

I had a great day at the beach today with my family. We went sea shell hunting and found many treasures like mermaid coins, shark teeth and even two starfish! I was looking for big shells to turn into candles. My oldest daughter saw a huge shell and ran over to it but promptly dropped it. "What was wrong with that one?" I asked her. She shrugged, "It wasn't perfect."

I cringed a bit inside. I will be damned if I raise my daughters to believe that everything has to be perfect in order to be great and wonderful and meaningful. So, I told her a story of the spirit bead.

Native Americans are known for their intricate bead work. Most pieces, from a woven belt to an intricate headdress took hours and hours of amazing artistry. Still, into these carefully woven row upon row of beads, the women would weave a mistake bead into the piece. They called it the spirit bead and its purpose was to remind us that we're not perfect, that we never can be.

The Persians used to weave their rugs with a purposeful flaw in their nearly priceless carpets for this same reason, and many well known painters did the same thing.

We're not perfect. We never have been. If we were, why would we have to be here, on Earth, in this school? Let's drop the illusionary lure of perfection and just strive to be who we are each day, the best we can.

I think my daughter got the message because we came home with buckets filled with cracked, chipped, broken and beautiful shells.

Crystal Chick's September Newsletter

2011-09-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

Crystal Chick's September Newsletter

Crystal of the Week -- Aquamarine

2011-09-04T17:01:00.000-07:00

Aquamarine, known as the stone of courage, has often been credited with the ability to keep travelers -- especially overseas -- safe from storms and other traveling disasters. Sailors would wear or carry aquamarine as a talisman against drowning. Aquamarine has long been prized as a stone of purity -- dispelling negative forces.

Aquamarine is a wonderful stone for meditation because it calms the minds, clears the aura and aligns the chakras. It also helps us to release judgement and encourages us to take responsibility for our own actions.

Luc Bourgault in his book Secrets of Crystal Healing recommends holding or wearing aquamarine to help you overcome your fears. "You can confront fear," he says, "because it is cowardly. All the time that you run away from it, it will follow you like a shadow. But the moment you turn and face it, it will be the one to run away."

Aquamarine would be a great stone for a therapist, school counselor, or psychologist to have in his/her office because it helps the patient to speak truthfully, face fears and accept responsibility.

Is Psychic Attack Real?

2011-09-01T05:21:00.000-07:00

We've all heard those scary terms -- curses, psychic attack, energy vampires, psychic vampires -- but is there really any truth to them? I don't personally believe in curses. I think they only work if both parties believe in them. And so it's not really about the curse, but the belief.

As for psychic attack, it's real. I've always known this, felt it. We have all felt it. There are even phrases in society regarding this. If your nose is itching, someone's gossiping about you. Tingling ears? Someone's thinking of you.

Our thoughts are real, our intentions have real effects. If you don't believe me, read the post below on killing trees. IBM engineers Bob Fritchie and Marcus Vogel conducted experiments where they sent negative thoughts to plants and watched as the plants died. They tried this experiment in many different ways -- the results were always the same. It didn't matter how far the study participants were from the actual plants. Distance, space and time didn't matter. Energy is timeless. The plants always died. Conversely, when they sent love to plants in the study, they grew and flourished.

In my work, I can always tell if someone still has feeling for an old love. If they're still resenting an ex or despising a boss who fired them or resenting a child who didn't live up to the parent's expectations. We wear this in our energy. Sometimes, I can see these people in their aura. And some of us are carrying a lot of people with us. I have to look at the cords connecting my clients to these people so I can get more information. Sometimes, we are inadvertently sending out a psychic attack and other times, we're the unwitting recipient of psychic attack.

This occurs whenever we are speaking negatively about someone. If, for example, you're angry at your ex and you can't stop talking about him/her to all your friends, family and lawyers, you are psychically attacking your ex. This is really bad karma and will come back to hit you on the head THREE times. Whatever we se`nd out -- good or bad -- comes back to us THREE times. This is called the rule of three and is more commonly known as the Golden Rule.

A client came into my office this week, and I literally saw a man walk in with her. This really freaked me out because I knew he was alive. I don't know how I knew this, but I knew that he was alive and was psychically stalking her. I felt that he was doing this consciously, that he must have known the power of consistent thought and intention. Why did I think this? Because I watched, slack jawed, as he leaned against my table and spoke to me. "I got this," he said, motioning to my client. "I got her. She's all mine."

It turned out that my client had been the victim of a stalker and was still trying to get away from him. This incident really proved to me that psychic attack is real. I can't stress this enough. Be a conscious observer of your thoughts, intentions, and deeds. Also, be aware of what you're listening to. My friend has this amazing attitude about what she allows in to her life. She's very good about refusing to listen to rumors and gossip and hearsay. Last year, she and I were cleaning up after our annual cookie swap. A good friend of ours stayed to help us, and asked, "Hey ya'all, do you wanna hear some gossip?" And my friend said, "If you don't mind, I really don't. By the way, your cookies were awesome. Will you share the recipe?" I remember just standing there in amazement. I never would have said that because I hate to be rude. But my friend never came across as rude. Not once. I would have listened to the gossip, not said anything, and then changed the subject. But she didn't even let it get that far.

Be your own gossip police. Don't let negativity swirl around you. Because it will come back to you in many ways --- you or your family members might battle a lot of infections and allergies, you might lose things, or find yourself the victim of malicious gossip and rumors. This is going to sound weird, but whenever I do participate in negative talk, I lose money. I'll be overcharged at the grocery store, or a five dollar bill will fly away from my wallet into the wind (that's happened twice), or I'll just have a ton of extra expenses. The car will need something new or an appliance in the house will break. The karma that comes back to you will effect you and your family in some way that will always result in annoying and stressful drama.

So, how can you protect yourself from this? Check out books on psychic protection. Surround yourself in white light at least twice a day and definitely before you go to bed. Cleanse your chakras weekly. Check out my chakra cleansing CD for help with this. Wear a crystal for protection every day. You can use any crystal for this purpose -- just cleanse it when you bring it home, sit with it for about ten minutes sending the crystal white light and ask it to protect you from all negativity from within and without. Keep your surroundings clean and organized to reduce a cluttered mind which leaves you more susceptible to psychic attack. Keep your energy clean and clear by surrounding yourself with things and people that make you happy. Practice affirmations. Read uplifting material daily. Avoid negative people, TV, books and movies. Take weekly salt baths. Sage your house often. BE KIND. Really, that's all you need to do. Be kind and that will be returned to you.

Shouting and Screaming Kills People's Spirits

2011-08-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

The men and women living in Solomon Islands of the South Pacific employ a unique method to take down trees. The men surround the tree for thirty days and scream at the tree. They scream insults at the tree for an entire month, and after that the tree dies. It always does. The villagers believe that screaming at the tree kills the tree's spirit. Shouting at living things, shouting at people, may kill their spirit. It's something to think about, isn't it?

Crystal of the Week -- Unakite

2011-08-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

Ack! Those of you who listen to my show know that I discuss a crystal each week; this week I skipped that on the show in anticipation of our guest calling in -- Dr. Pamela Heath. She wrote a book that I really enjoyed called Handbook to the Afterlife. But she forgot to call in. Oh my -- please don't listen to the episode if you normally download because this what you'll hear, "So, um, I guess Dr. Heath can't be with us tonight, so um here's what I would have asked her. So . . ."

But, for all those who DID have the misfortune of hearing me live tonight and wanted to hear about the crystal of the week, here you go:

Unakite is known as the stone of birth and rebirth. With its lovely soft green and dark pink colors, it helps us to grow in love. Unakite is a combination of epidote and red jasper. Epidote comes from the Greek word epidosis which means "growing together." Unakite helps our spiritual and physical selves to grow together. It's also named after the mountain in North Carolina and Tennessee where it was originally found -- Unaka Mountain. It's found in Zimbabwe and Switzerland.

Unakite helps us to release negativity and unforgiveness. Holding or wearing unakite is especially helpful to people suffering from a long term illness as it nurtures the body and soul. A gentle stone, unakite is probably best known for being helpful to pregnant woman and growing babies. Unakite helps the baby to grow healthy and strong in the womb. It alleviates fear and tension surrounding the birth process -- making it an especially great gift for new moms. I often make a bracelet with unakite beads and a St. Gerard medal because he's the saint of expectant mothers. Don't ask me why a guy is the saint of expectant mothers. I just know he's been assigned to help new moms, so I ask him to pitch in and help out whenever I make a unakite bracelet.

If you know someone who is prone to anger, give them a piece of unakite to wear or give them a unakite paper weight to keep near them on the desk or bedside end table as it will help calm their soul and nurture their heart so they're no longer prone to anger. Unakite also works to increase self-confidence, and as we all know, deep insecurity is at the heart of all angry people.

Money, Money, Money

2011-08-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

I love that song by the Ojays. It served as the perfect soundtrack for Trump's show The Apprentice. "For the love of money, people will lie, rob, they will cheat/ for the love of money people don't care who they hurt or beat." There's another song I love even more that I think is sung best by Dianne Schuur but was immortalized by Billie Holiday. It's called "God Bless the Child" and the lyrics go like this:

"Money, you got lots of friends, hanging round your door. But when you're gone and spent in hands, they don't come round no more. Rich relations get crusts of bread and such. You can help yourself, but don't take too much. Mama may have, papa may have, but God bless the child that's got his own."

I see so many, way too many, families fighting over money. I know I've blogged about this before, and so you know my opinion on this matter. Don't fight over money. I don't understand a person who dies and leaves a child out of his/her will. Does that person really think, "Oooh, now I'll show him. When I'm dead, then he'll really be sorry." Really? Is that all you mean to your child? Money? Is that how you want to be remembered? And do you really want to put your other kids in the very weird predicament of getting that money and spending/saving/sharing it knowing that their sibling is feeling hurt, angry and left out? Really? This is how you want to exit the world? God, I'd love to see that life review. I can picture the guardian angel now, "So after a lifetime of accruing money and using it to manipulate others, you then finished your life by using said money to permanently hurt your own flesh and blood. And now you'd like to go to heaven. Is that correct?"

Yikes.

But this week, I met a wonderful soul who bypassed all that pain by taking matters into her own hands. When I connected her with her father, he kept waving a piece of paper in front of me and saying, "Tell her thank you for handling the will." So I asked her, "Were you the executor of your dad's will? He's thanking you for what you did with the will. It's a relief to him that you handled that."

She smiled and sat back in her seat. "No, my older brother was the executor, but I know what he's talking about. Dad left my other brother out of the will because he didn't like his wife. Well, that and a lot of other things. They were never close. But Jimmy and I felt terrible about his decision, so after we settled his estate, we just gave our brother a third of everything. It's been great because now we're all getting along like we did when we were kids."

I was so pleased to hear her say this. I can't tell you how many times I see siblings fighting over their parents' will and it makes me so, so sad for all involved. It's just money. It's an illusion. It's simply a piece of paper we use to trade with people to get things which are also an illusion. None of those things or green pieces of paper matter. It's what we do with those green pieces of paper that matter.

And what we're supposed to do with our money is this: SHARE.

When I teach my workshop on manifesting, I always finish with an abundance exercise. I make everyone stand in a circle, and then I take out a $20 dollar bill, 2 $10 dollar bills, a $5 dollar bill and 5 $1 dollar bills. Then I begin passing the bills out one at a time. After a moment or so, I stop the flow by holding onto the money when it comes to me. When we pass on money, when we share it, we're contributing to the flow. We're giving and receiving. But when we hoard money and hold on to it out of fear, anger, vengeance or just plain stinginess, no one's happy. The flow has stepped, and you're left with a lousy $50 bucks. Yippee.

If you are dealing with this situation in your own life, if someone in your family or step family was purposely or inadvertently left out of a will and are now left with hurt feelings, please consider sharing with them. You will be rewarded with so much more than green pieces of paper.

Crystal of the Week -- Botswana Agate

2011-08-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

Botswana Agate helps to heal repressed emotions. It enables us to focus on achieving our life purpose and goals while absorbing any depression and grief. It allows us to soldier on through times of difficult change and sadness. Carrying a piece of Botswana Agate is very soothing and calming and will work subtly to help us maintain balance and work through grief. Botswana Agate helps us to overcome addictions, especially to smoking. Judy Hall recommends placing Botswana Agate on your third eye chakra to help cut any cords to a partner or parent who is able to easily manipulate you.

If you're experiencing a lot of anger, hold a piece of Botswana Agate and meditate on its banded rays emanating out toward you healing your anger, soothing your aura and sealing you in its protective energy.

I read a crystal book once where the author said he keeps a bowl filled with Botswana Agate and Apache Tear. Whenever someone came to his house who was feeling a bit down, he would give them a crystal to take home. I love that idea!

Botswana Agate is easily found in most metaphysical stores and on the internet; it's also relatively inexpensive.

I Did the Best I Could

2011-08-20T17:52:00.000-07:00

I did a reading today where the client's mother came through. I could tell she had a hard personality, a little rough around the edges. She kept saying, "Tell her I did the best I could." My client chuckled and said, "That was her best?"

Louise Hay in her book You Can Heal Your Life discusses how hard and wonderful it was to realize that, yes, her parents had done the best they could in raising her. She was terribly abused by them, and that abuse shaped most of her life. It wasn't until she could release them through this forgiving thought - they did the best they could -- that she was able to find her true peace.

Parenting is the hardest job out there, and sometimes the treatment we receive from our parents is the best they can give us. Our job is to try to realize that and find the blessings awaiting us there. I believe we choose our parents. All of my children have, at one point, talked about picking me out from up in heaven. They've said things like, "I saw you from up in heaven and picked you." Or "Thank you for agreeing to be my mommy." One of my daughters said, "I asked if you could be mom and God said, 'She already is.'" My youngest often says, "You're the best mommy I've ever had." And I always laugh and say, "Well how many mommies have you had?" She just laughs back.

I'm not always the best mom. I get angry and testy and impatient. But I try, and I know that I really am doing the best I can. Is it possible that your parents -- with all their flaws, warts and all -- were doing the best they could too? Maybe. Perhaps. Probably.

It's an interesting fact to wrap your head around, isn't it?

For those of you who read my blog where I discussed my grandmother, she expressed the thought that she really hadn't known the effect of her negativity and had done her best. And you know what? I really believe her.

Sometimes our best isn't good enough, but should we get credit or give credit to someone who's at least trying? Extending the olive branch of forgiveness is scary and wondrous and fraught with questions:

If I forgive my parent(s) does that mean I'm saying what they did is okay? (No)

If I forgive my parent (s) does that negate all they did to me? (No)

Sometimes, what we're really asking is this -- who will I be if I let go of all this?

All you can do is try. Nothing good comes from holding on to anger and everything great comes letting it go.

Crystal Grid for Addictions

2011-08-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

No, I am not attempting to write a blog on addictions or how to use crystals to overcome addictions. The big A word is too big for all of that. But, here's what I do know -- in order to overcome addictions, you need a whole team. You can not, can not, can not do it alone. And anyone who says they can is, well, an addict.

You need the support of your people -- family, friends, significant others. You need a grounding in faith. You have to have faith in something other than you and whatever you're addicted to. I believe you need to have the desire to surrender -- your will, your addiction, your needs to this higher power.

But, like I said, I don't want to write a blog on addiction because I'm not trained in that area at all. However, a wonderful mother emailed me recently and asked if I could recommend some crystals for her son who is struggling with addiction. Ah, I thought, that is something I could do.

In my unprofessional and unstudied opinion, there are three types of addicts:

1) The Angry Addict -- they are mad at themselves, mad at the world, mad at God. When they drink, snort, pop a pill, or shoot up, they are giving themselves permission to be more angry. "It's not me baby, it's the (fill in the blank). This is the weakest and most pathetic addict.

2) The Woe Is Me Addict -- they are sad, depressed and so angry usually about a painful trauma they can't or won't get over. They use drugs and/or alcohol to numb the pain. Watch out for these addicts. They like to suck people into their drama and damage.

3) The Weak Addict -- these are the people who are a bit weak in the heart. They're empathetic and get very upset by the harshness of the people in the world around them. The weak addicts use alcohol and drugs to escape everything.

What I know about addicts is this: YOU CAN'T HELP THEM. You really, really can't. You can't save them either. They have to come to this realization on their own. They have to hit rock bottom, and unfortunately, rock bottom is different for everyone. Toward the end of my father's battle of addiction, I was praying not that he'd stop drinking, but that he'd hit rock bottom. Thankfully, he did. He went to rehab and has now been sober for 24 years. I still have dreams that he's drinking. I dream that he comes to my house slurring his words or that I get a phone call that he's gotten a DUI. And I'm sure my dad still battles the addiction inside himself. But I am so proud of him, of his near daily attendance for almost 30 years at AA meetings, and of what he taught me about how to overcome.

Here's what you can do for addicts: PRAY. That's where the crystal grid comes in. Setting up a crystal grid for someone is a wonderful way to actively pray for them, to send conscious light to them and their situation, and to intentionally call on their team for help: their guides and angels and loved ones in heaven.

So, here's how to set up an addiction grid. You'll need to get several stones. I've listed a lot below, but make the grid your own. You want to makes sure you have crystals to help with addiction, protection, courage and love.

For addiction: amethyst and/or amber

For protection: black tourmaline, black onyx, jasper or black kyanite

For courage and finding oneself again: citrine

For endurance and the ability to obtain our goals: sodalite

For love and forgiveness - especially of self: rose quartz and/or sugalite, rhodocrosite or rhodonite or chyrospace

For our angels' help: petalite or angelite or celestite or selenite

For balance in our moods: lepidolite and blue kyanite

To absorb depression and sadness: smoky quartz or botswana agate or apache tear

You'll need a pyramid or obelisk shaped crystal for the center. I think amethyst or rose quartz works best for this issue. Then place the stones around it in a circle. Underneath the center pyramid or obelisk stone, place a photo of the person you're praying for, and under that place a small piece of paper with an affirmation written in the present tense such as " experiences a positive life changing healing that enables him to overcome his addictions, helps him to accomplish his soul purpose and fosters an unconditional self love of himself. This or something better. Thank you."

In the grid I've created, I've placed an amethyst pyramid in the center. Directly above that and moving clockwise to the right, I've placed the following stones:

Smoky quartz

Jasper

chiastolite

sodalite

amethyst

blue kyanite

citrine

amethyst

rose quartz

amethyst

lepidolite

amethyst

black tourmaline

sugalite

amethyst

pink petalite

chevron amethyst

You'll notice I scattered amethyst throughout the grid to enable the addiction healing. Amethyst is the best stone for helping people overcome their addictions.

For those of you out there dealing with an addict in your own life, please don't forget to pray for yourself and to get help for you too. Often, you have a harder job than the addict. I can't say enough about Al-Anon. Find a group that suits you. It might take a few tries, but it's worth it. When I was in high school, I went to my first Al-Anon meeting and saw three kids from my high school who were dealing with same thing I was -- a parent addicted to alcohol. We were all mortified to see each other. I ended up driving 45 minutes to a meeting in New Canaan where I knew no one. What a relief! Those meetings give you the tools needed to face life before, during, and -- just as importantly -- after the addict stops using. Make no mistake, all are equally hard stages. And you as the codependent can't conquer any of those stages alone either.

My other piece of advice to people dealing with addicts is this: TELL EVERYONE. Shout it from the rooftops. My is an addict. There is such power in that. When my dad entered rehab, my mom made us tell everyone that dad had food poisoning and was in the hospital. You really are only as sick as your secrets. I tell everyone about my dad and not because I'm ashamed but because I'm so proud of him. Shine a light on this nasty thing called addiction and like a cockroach, it will scurry away to find another dark corner of the world.

Oops I Did It Again

2011-08-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

Tonight I attended my monthly Mandala drawing class. I love this class and the teacher, Meg McGrew. Each month she gives us a theme. We meditate on the theme and then draw a mandala on that theme. So maybe that's why I made my huge ethical error tonight. I left there and was feeling all relaxed from the meditation and breathing exercises and decided to stop at my local grocery store. At the checkout, the cashier was complaining to the guy bagging my groceries. "My soccer team sucks," he said. "We're going to crash this season."

And all of a sudden I felt a strong, very strong, grandfatherly male energy around him. This happens from time to time, and I usually ignore it. But then the bagger walked away and it was just the cashier and me. He put the last bag in my cart and I blurted out, "You'll start winning after the third game."

I froze.

I had NOT intended to say that.

"How do you know?" He said softly.

I suddenly realized that I sounded like a creep, like a gypsy fortune teller. "You vill vin zee game on Saturday. I see it through my crystal ball."

I felt my cheeks burn red. I muttered, "I'm a medium and your grandfather's with you." Then I pushed my cart and practically ran out of there.

I wanted to tell him that I thought he was named after this grandfather. I wanted him to know that he was meant to be on a losing team because it was guiding him toward his soul purpose -- uplifting the underdog. He had a useless coach and this had a purpose too; he was meant to be the mental/emotional coach for his teammates. I could have talked to him for a very long time. That's how strong this grandfather's energy was. But . . . and here's the important part . . . I had no right to. He hadn't asked for that.

I still feel bad about what slipped out, but, wow, that grandfather's energy was really, really strong. So, to all you fellow intuitives out there, don't meditate and shop. It's a dangerous thing!

Hope you all had a happy and drama free day.

Crystal of the Week - Amber

2011-08-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

Amber isn't really a crystal. Rather, it's the fossilized resin of extinct pine trees. It used to be called sap-stone. It also used to be called electrum because it can be a source of static electricity. It will attract small bits of paper to it when rubbed. Often believed to be a stone of protection, Roman gladiators would hang Amber from their weapons and armor. Amber is an ancient stone with many Greek, Roman and even Lithuanian myths surrounding it. Amber was given as a gift in The Odyssey, and has been found in Stone Age archeological sites and ancient burial chambers.

Amber is known as a protective stone of cleansing, purification and healing. Just as a tree connects the earth with the sky, so too can Amber (tree resin) serve as a bridge for you, enabling you to make significant spiritual connections. It's holds life force energy in it and will help to safely ground you and protect you along your spiritual journey.

When worn with turquoise, it's known to have calming effects and would work well to help calm anxious individuals.

It's a great stone to wear or carry when you're battling depression as it helps us to release our connection/reliance on superficial aspects of our sadness so we can focus instead on the lessons learned and the blessings that have ensued.

Because it's a second chakra stone, Amber works to increase your creativity and fertility.

It is known to be a good luck charm for people getting married.

Amber is believed to have the ability to draw out negativity and helps us heal both physically and emotionally.

When In Doubt -- Eat Chocolate

2011-08-12T19:58:00.000-07:00

Since my last post on Mercury Retrograde, I've heard from many, many of you who are experiencing similar issues. I've gotten a lot of questions about what mercury retrograde is and how it effects us.

Mercury Retrograde occurs when Mercury decides to travel backwards. Since Mercury is the planet of communication, when it goes backwards anything that involves communication -- travel, contracts, email, letters, electronics, discussions with others, meetings at work -- can all go awry. Mercury usually retrogrades three times a year. Last year, it retrograded four times. Ouch.

Mercury will travel direct again on August 26. It's important to be aware of the retrograde periods. It's not a huge deal. Every planet -- except the sun and the moon -- retrogrades. But Mercury is like your annoying little brother. He enjoys upsetting you. That's why I think it's important to at least know when the retrograde periods are so you can prepare yourself. Some astrologers refer to a Mercury Shadow phase and believe that we can feel the effects of Mercury Retrograde 2 - 3 weeks prior to its actual retrograde date.

Mercury's next date to retrograde and wreak havoc? Are you ready for this? November 24. Yes, Americans, you read that correctly. Thanksgiving Day. God help us all. It will go direct again on December 14. All I can say is this: I will have all my Christmas shopping done by November 23. You might think I'm crazy, but I did it last year, I can do it this year. And I will practice LOTS of deep meditation before my family arrives on Thanksgiving. Let's start sending light to that date now!

In the meantime, there's always chocolate.

Here's my favorite chocoholic recipe for those of you who love chocolate and peanut butter combined -- perfect lovers of sweet and salty in my studied opinion.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies:

1) Make the brownies: You can either use the recipe below. Be forewarned; it's a very rich recipe. Alternately, you can use a mix.

Brownies:

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 tbl. water
2 cups of chocolate chips, divided
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baling soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13 x 9 in pan. Combine sugar, butter and water in a microwavable bowl and microwave for 2 - 3 minutes until butter is melted. Stir in ONE cup of chocolate chips. Stir gently until chips are melted. Stir in the vanilla and set aside. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl. Beat eggs one at a time into chocolate mixture. Slowly incorporate the flour. Stir in the remaining cup of chips. Spread batter into pan. Bake 25 - 30 minutes.

When the brownies are done, set them atop the oven. Then take a 12 ounce jar of peanut butter, put it in a microwavable bowl and melt it in the microwave. Pour over the warm brownies. Place this in the refrigerator to cool.

While that's cooling, make your ganache. Place 9 - 12 ounces of chopped chocolate in a bowl. Heat about a cup of heavy cream on the stove. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir until melted. Then pour over the peanut butter. Place the pan back in the refrigerator until firm -- about an hour. Then cut into tiny, tiny bite size pieces because, trust me, these are very, very rich.

Enjoy!

Mercury is Retrograde

2011-08-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, mercury is definitely retrograde. Here's an overview of how it's wreaking havoc in my life:

1) My cell phone shuts down for about an hour whenever I read a text or try to reply to a text

2) My printer broke

3) My Reiki Master class had to be cancelled because 75 % of the attendees can no longer attend

4) A really fun event I was looking forward to this weekend has been cancelled

5) And then this:

Yesterday, I was at a bakery with my children picking up a cake for my father-in-law's birthday. I was wearing a tank top with a tea length summer dress with spaghetti straps. It's very 1950's looking -- nothing awry about it -- or so I thought. An elderly lady walked up to me, patted my back and said to my children, "Girls you should tell your mother not to show her bra in public." I was mortified! A tank top is NOT a bra. My children's eyes bulged and my temper fumed. "This is not a bra," I explained. "But thank you for your opinion." Oh, how I love living in the pseudo proper South.

I also had a very old man cut me off on a major road and when I beeped my horn, he flipped me off -- for five minutes. He literally drove in front of my with his hand out the window waving the bird at me. For five minutes. I only beeped my horn out of instinct. I had to slam on my breaks, my five year old was thrown forward. My groceries sloshed around in the back. I mean, really?

Then we stopped at the bank, and another elderly lady comes up to my youngest and literally runs her fingers through her hair -- YIKES -- and says, "Look at all this curly hair. I bet they hate it."

No lady, what we hate is random strangers feeling like they can touch us and then make passive aggressive comments about our hair.

What's with me and old people this week? I am trying to respect you for living so long and all, but hey, help me out. Make it easy for me to want to respect you.

I am praying that your first week with Mercury in Retrograde is going a whole lot better than mine.

Crystal of the Week: Watermelon Tourmaline

2011-08-07T20:34:00.001-07:00

Watermelon Tourmaline is the ultimate heart healer. It heals depression, sadness, regret and guilt. Watermelon Tourmaline encourages a sense of calm as it reduces fear. When wearing the stone, it cleans your aura and helps you to link to your higher self. The vibrations of this stone encourages patience and balances male and female energy. It will help you heal from old trauma as it removes imbalances, sadness and guilt. The green tourmaline will enhance your life force; the pink tourmaline heals and soothes your soul.

Watermelon Tourmaline is a great stone for kids who are having anxiety issues. It works to heal rescued pets who have experienced trauma. When placed in a room, it will reduce friction in large family gatherings.

Watermelon Tourmaline is called "The Stone of the Healers" as it helps healers to heal.

Live Your Dream Now

2011-08-06T18:17:00.000-07:00

In a reading I did last night, the client's guides and angel kept saying, "Tell her to live her unlived dream. The time is now." I hear this message often, and when I do, the client usually tears up and says something like, "Oh, I've always wanted to (fill in dream) but then there's (fill in excuses)." I want to make something very clear: God places our desires in our heart. We don't just simply want to paint or act or sing or write. Your desire to be a doctor or mother or life coach is not simply created inside you. It's placed in your heart by your creator because that's what you're supposed to do with your life. It's your soul purpose; it's why you were created. To turn your back on your dream, in my opinion, is to turn your back on God.

Follow your passion and it will lead you to your life's mission.

Tonight in church, our homily was on how God doesn't scream at us through earthquakes or great winds. Rather, he whispers in our heart.

Take a moment this weekend to find a moment of stillness. Go within; listen to your heart. In the whisperings of your heart, you'll discover yourself, your purpose, your path. What is God trying to tell you?

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -- Marianne Williamson

Who are you not to shine?

It's your purpose to shine.

How will you light up your corner of the world?

An Easy Way to Give Back

2011-08-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

I met an amazing woman this week who has found a great and easy way to give back and help others through this difficult economy. When she's at the grocery store, whenever she sees something that's Buy One Get One Free, she buys two, stores the free one in a box in her pantry. When the box is full, she adds a home baked treat like brownies or cookies and an uplifting note of encouragement, and then brings it to her local domestic violence shelter. This is a great and economically painless way to give back and help others. Pass it on!

Just Give Him the Ring and Tell Him It's From Me

2011-08-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

Tonight I connected a lovely client with her mother who passed on a message that made me laugh but that also made a lot of sense. One of the things she showed me was a small pearl ring surrounded with tiny diamonds. I asked my client if she recognized the ring. "Yes," she said, "but I lost in a move, and I've always felt terrible about that." Her mother shook her head and waved it away. She showed me a local jewelry store in our town that often sells antique jewelry. I heard her clearly say in my head, "Tell her to buy another one that looks like it and give it to her oldest son. I want my grandchildren to have something to remember me by." I could see this son marrying and having a daughter. I think she wanted her grandson to give this to a future great granddaughter. She said again, "Tell her to get a new ring. Just give it to him and tell her it's from me."

I love this message I heard tonight because it reminds me of what I always hear in my readings from our loved ones in heaven: REMEMBER ME. Tell my stories, honor my life in some way -- no matter how small. This mother didn't care that the ring was lost. The ring wasn't the thing -- it's what the ring represented -- family, tradition and love.

My grandmother was not the baking pies in the oven type. She scared the living you-know-what out of me to be honest. She was tough and often mean and rarely had time for me. When we would visit her, she'd put me in the front parlor with a pack of playing cards and leave me there while the grown ups talked in the living room. When she died, I barely felt a thing. That was when I was twelve. Years later, when I was taking intuitive development classes, I woke up one night and saw my grandmother. I followed her to my living room. She was dressed terribly in an old, faded print dress. Her face looked wrinkly like I remembered it, her hair was still that steel gray color cut short. She reached out to me with open arms -- something she'd never done to anyone while on Earth -- and said, "I'm so sorry for the way I behaved on Earth. I didn't know. I didn't know. Pray for me?" I promised her I would. The next morning, I called my mom and asked her to call everyone in the family to pray for Grammy. I prayed and prayed. I said rosaries for her and lit many candles. About a week later, I woke up and saw that my grandmother was again in my bedroom. I followed her out to my living room and noticed that she was dressed in a navy blue Chanel suit. She looked young -- about 35 -- her dark blonde hair was swept back in a chignon, and she wore makeup -- again something she never did when she was here on Earth. She radiated love and said but two words to me. "Thank you" and then she was gone.

My grandmother had lived a tough life. She worked in a factory for over 30 years, married an alcoholic and single handedly raised four children -- two of which were twins (my mom and my aunt). When she was a young girl, her little sister ran across the street to meet my grandmother coming home from school and stood in horror as her little sister -- just four years old -- was killed by a speeding bus. If you add up all those things, I think I'd be a little bitter and mean too. I started to feel compassion and real love for my grandmother.

When I was at my mom's house visiting a little after Grammy said thank you to me, I saw my grandmother's jewelry box -- a very small box lined in velvet, trimmed in marquisette depicting a young girl sitting at a vanity table. Grammy had very little jewelry -- none that I can think of except her wedding ring, a pearl necklace and a cameo. I asked my mom if I could have the jewelry box and she said, "Yes, of course." I love to look at the box and think of my grandmother -- finally at peace and happy in heaven. God knows, she deserves it.

This year, my mother gave my oldest daughter Grammy's cameo. I know she'll cherish it because she'll be raised not with stories of my grandmother's bitterness but rather of her strength, of how she managed to endure so much tragedy and leave this earth with four healthy children and 14 grandchildren who will remember her as a woman of faith who endured.

That's all they want from us. For in remembering them with fondness, we're honoring them and in doing so, we're allowing them to continue to flourish and grow in heaven.

Making the Connection with Our Loved Ones on the Other Side

2011-07-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

I did a reading the other day for a lovely young woman whose father had passed years ago when she was very young. What fascinated me was his repetitive insistence that he'd never stopped watching over her. He really, really wanted her to know that even though he'd been gone for years, and even though she'd only known him for five years, he was her father. He loves her and is still watching over and protecting her. It was a beautiful message, and then he added a request. He wanted her and the family to talk about him more. I hear this often; it's not an egotistical request. What they mean when they request that is this:

The more we remember our loved ones -- not through grief and sadness (that's an important point) -- but through joyous memories and funny stories, the easier it is for them to connect with us. This woman's father presented me with a great metaphor. He said pretend that there's a wilderness of forest between heaven and earth. Every time we look at a photo of our departed loved one, tell a great story about them, wear a piece of their jewelry or remember them on their birthday, they come to us through that wilderness and each time they make the pathway to us clearer and stronger. This means that the link, the connection, between them and us is made stronger each time thereby making it easier to link in with our energy and show us signs that they're around us and are more able to help us with situations in our life.

For me, this made a lot of sense. For example, my grandparents are all deceased, but I never really knew them as they all passed when I was young. Being a medium, I have made contact with them but sparingly and very rarely. However, I was very, very close to my mother-in-law. And even though she's been gone almost four years, I feel her presence around us quite often. I know this is because I'm constantly telling my kids stories about nana. We celebrate her birthday and I often call my sister-in-law on the anniversary of her passing. I always think of her on holidays. I ask her for help a lot. We have photos of her around and, because she's buried right by our church, we "visit" her on Sundays. In fact, it's my little five year old who insists every week after mass that we say hello to Nana. We walk over to where her ashes are buried and the girls will lay down flowers or show her a picture they drew. A few weeks ago, my five year old said, "I know she's not really there. I know she's in heaven. But going there is like picking up the phone to call her." I like that analogy.

So, please, take the advice of that lovely father. Honor your loved ones in heaven often and you'll make that link that much stronger and easier for them to connect with you.

How To Grid Your House For Protection -- Part 3

2011-07-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

It's important to grid your house for protection. This will eliminate negative things and people from coming near your home. Here's what you'll need:

1) Four - eight black stones such as black tourmaline, hematite, or obsidian.

2) A bag of sea salt

3) Optional: Four St. Benedict Medals and a pound of tumbled rose quartz

Find the four outermost corners of your property and bury a black stone in each corner. Option: Bury a St. Benedict medal with each black stone. The St. Benedict medal has a latin prayer on the back that protects against negativity. The reason why I said you can have 4 - 8 stones is because some people like to place a stone in each corner next to the house and then a stone in each corner of the property. It's up to you; to me, it's all about intent.

Then, take your bag(s) of sea salt and pour salt around the perimeter of your house. Then walk to your property line and pour a bag of salt along this out perimeter. Option: bury a rose quartz every few feet or so around the perimeter of your property so that you're also gridding your house in love.

Say a prayer of intent for your home and property. Ask your guides and angels to continually watch over your home.

And that's it! Your home is now protected from negativity.

Extras:

Place a row of magnetized hematite under the outer lip of your front door. This will draw any negativity into the stones from the people entering your house.
Place flowers in planters flanking your front door. Bury just under the soil in each planter seven chakra stones such as jasper, carnelian, citrine, green aventurine or rose quartz, blue lace agate, sodalite and amethyst. This will attract balance, happiness and prosperity to your home.
Clean a pound of selenite, amethyst or clear quartz. Ask that these stones work to protect your home and keep all of you safe. Then place a stone above the inside window frame of your house.
Bury a circle of citrine, green aventurine and rose quartz around your mailbox to encourage positive mail.
Bury a perimeter of green stones, any green stone, around your garden to ensure healthy growth.

How To Clear Negativity From Yourself, Your Space and Others -- Part 2

2011-07-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

Here's how to sage your house:

Get a bundle of sage and a bowl to hold any dropped ash and embers. Try to be home alone. Personally, I only sage my house when my kids and pets are not home. Make sure all the windows are closed. Stand in the center of your home and call on your highest guides and angels. Ask Christ and Archangel Michael to help you clear the home of any and all negativity. Then, light the sage and starting at the front door, motion the smoke around the perimeter of the door and say, "I seal this home in love and light. May only peace, health, joy and prosperity abide here." Then begin to walk around your home. Keep the sage bundle lit the whole time. In the corners of your home, say, "I break up and dispel all negativity here." Pay special attention to the rooms that you spend a lot of time in such as the bedroom and the kitchen. Don't forget to sage closets, attics, basements and the garage. Finish the clearing in the center of your home. Once again, call on your guides, angels, Archangel Michael and Jesus Christ to continue clearing your home. Set an intention for your home such as, "Our home is a place of peace, tranquility, joy, love and laughter."

Wait about 10 - 20 more minutes and then open at least one window.

You should plan on doing this about once a month -- a little more or less depending on the energy in the home.

For daily cleansings, make a sage spray or check out my Crystal Clear spray on my website which is made with three types of sage, lavender, frankincense, myrrh, sweet grass and cedar soaked in holy water and crystals. I spray my house, myself, my family members, and my crystals with it daily. It works!

Tomorrow, I'll discuss how to grid your property for energy clearing and protection.

How to Clear Negativity From Yourself, Your Space and Others

2011-07-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

I've blogged about this before and written about it in my newsletters, but from all the email questions I receive about getting rid of negativity, I think it must bear repeating. The best way to clear negativity is to start with you. Keep your thoughts positive, your words kind and your actions intentional. Don't allow negative people into your life. If they're already there -- for example, your parents, spouse, boss or siblings -- then limit your time around them. Don't take their actions or words personally. This is a lot harder than it sounds, but with practice, it does get easier. Trust me. If I can do it, anyone can.

Every morning and evening, put white light around yourself, your loved ones, your car, your house and place of work. Imagine the white light weaving itself around your town, state, country and eventually around the world. If you have trouble visualizing, see yourself jumping into a white puffy cloud. Or, when you're showering imagine the water is white light washing away all your negativity and filling you and surrounding you with light, love and peace.

It's important to keep your home a negative free space. Keep it clean. I can't stress this enough. Cleanliness really is next to Godliness. Okay, just kidding. But really, a lot of bad mojo gets trapped in the dust bunnies. Keep live plants and/or fresh flowers in your home. Get rid of all fake plants and silk flowers -- that's a feng shui no no and it stagnates the energy flow in your home big time. Try to have a water fountain in your home -- preferably near the front door. If you don't have a water fountain, a fish bowl works well. This keeps the energy clear and clean in your home and increases prosperity. Keep crystal clusters around your home. This increases group harmony, decreases fights and helps everyone in the home to work together. With five people and three pets in my home, I can truly attest to the validity of these hard working crystal clusters. They work!

Amethyst Clusters -- increase spirituality. Helps everyone get along with a sense of one for all, all for one mentality

Citrine Clusters -- helps increase everyone's happiness and ability to work together.

** Place an amethyst cluster next to a citrine cluster on your bedside table if you'd like you and your partner to have better listening and communication skills together.

Rose Quartz Clusters -- Increases the feelings of love for each other

Clear Quartz Clusters -- Increases the group energy. So be careful with this cluster if one of the people in your family is negative because it will increase that negative energy unless you ask the clear quartz cluster to work only to increase positivity.

Flourite Clusters -- work great in kids' rooms because they're known as the student stone and help kids do their homework

Any green cluster quartz will work well in the kitchen to increase good food, good conversation and prosperity. In Feng Shui, the kitchen is the center of prosperity.

Don't forget to place crystals in your bathrooms too. Bathrooms can be big energy drains. Amethyst and green aventurine work well in bathrooms.

To further reduce negativity in your home, play calming music as often as possible. Sound can absorb the negativity in your home caused from fighting and yelling.

Tomorrow I'll discuss how to sage yourself and your home.

Thank You For Helping Me Believe

2011-07-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I met a client who was one of those people that make me work extra hard. I used to be curious as to why non-believers came to see me for readings. Why bother? What are they looking to prove? It's really hard to read for non-believers because their negative energy throws up all sorts of road blocks. So she came into my office, sat down across from me and crossed her arms, giving me that, "Yeah? So what now?" expression. Uh-oh.

Everything I asked her was no.

"Do you work with kids?"

"No."

"Oh, I keep seeing you helping kids."

"I'm not a teacher."

"Okay, hmm, that's odd. I just keep seeing you and kids, you helping kids."

She shrugged.

"Well, I guess I got that wrong. What do you do for a living?"

"I'm a pediatric nurse."

God help me.

"So, doesn't that mean you help kids?"

She shrugged again.

That's how the whole hour went. By the time she left, I was so drained, I felt like canceling the rest of my appointments. I remember calling my sister on the drive home and ranting away into her ear. "People like that make me want to quit!"

Six months later, she scheduled another appointment. She was a bit better, but not much. Over the next several months, she bought gift certificates for her mom, dad, and brothers plus two friends. Then this week, she came in to see me for a reading. She was much more relaxed this time, and reading for her was a pleasure, a breeze. On her way out the door, she paused and said, "Thank you for helping me to believe."

I walked over and hugged her. I said, "Thank you too." I'm sure she wondered why I said thank you, but I wanted to thank her for reminding me that I should never judge someone too quickly or too harshly or at all for that matter. I shouldn't have taken her tough exterior personally but rather as a reminder that my job is to simply deliver the messages. What the client does or doesn't do with that information is not about me nor is it any of my business.

When you do this work, you're simply the mailman. I never know what happens to people after they leave my office or hang up the phone. I don't get the end of the story. But this week I did, and I was humbled.

Opening Your Intuition With the Three C's

2011-07-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to open your own intuition and learn how to trust those gut feelings and intuitive hunches you get, look no further than the three C's. You can open your intuition when you can be:

1) Compassionate
2) Connected
3) Cooperative

The famous medium Gordon Smith teaches that in order to be truly psychic, you must be sincerely compassionate. You need an open heart, an empathetic soul and a sympathetic personality. When we're compassionate toward others, we're in tune with those around us. We're NOT judging, blaming, envying, or comparing. We're simply feeling.

In order to be intuitive, you have to feel the sense of connection to all things and people around you. I'll give you a simple, some might say silly, example to illustrate this. The other night, my daughters screamed because there was a spider in their room. I picked it up with a tissue, took the spider outside and placed it on a bush by our front door. My husband laughed hysterically at me. I said to him, "That spider has a white aura all around it. That's the spark of God within it which means God created that spider just as He created you and I. Who am I to kill God's creation?" I really thought for a moment that my husband was going to call our family doctor. He looked as though I'd gone insane. Maybe I have, but really, ever since I opened my third eye, I really can see a white luminescent glow around every living thing -- bugs, trees, flowers. That luminescent glow is around me and you too. It's our God spark.

Carl Jung proved the connection between all of us through his teachings on the collective unconscious. Alexander Graham Bell beat Elisha Gray to the patent office for the invention of the telephone by a few days. Several people sued J.K Rowling for creating Harry Potter, for they believed they had had the same idea. Maybe they had. We're all connected by the universal collective unconscious. For example, every single religion shares a creation story and every major religion shares a great flood story. Coincidence? Of course not -- we're all connected.

Tap into this sense of connection in your own life. Tonight, walk outside and spend some moments just looking at the moon, breathing in the air. Close your eyes and see if you can hear more than ten sounds. Walk around your yard, touch the leaves, feel the grass on your toes. When you're talking to your friend, really listen. Don't think or judge or question or try to come up with your own story. Just listen. Really listen. Do something creative this weekend. Bake, plant a vegetable, play with clay, paint or just color in a coloring book with a little person.

The third step in opening your intuition is cooperation. I mean this literally. Stubborn people who are always right will never be really good intuitives. They might get hunches now and then but nothing consistent or reliable. Intuitives have to learn how to bend, to go with the flow and how to cooperate with all types of personalities here and on the other side. I've met all kinds of people doing this work -- living and dead -- with whom I've had to be very cooperative. There was the woman who said, "I don't care to talk to any dead people, I just want to know how I can get my boyfriend back." Or there was the older lady on the other side who refused to speak to me because I saw that she was an alcoholic. Or the man that asked me to prove to him on the phone that I was psychic before he scheduled an appointment. Cooperation also means being open to connecting with your loved ones, guides and angels and realizing that "it takes two to make a thing go right." You have to learn to raise your vibration and they have to learn to lower theirs. This takes practice, meditation and prayer. But, I promise, it is worth it because when you begin to see the connection between all of us through the eyes of a compassionate, corporative soul, a whole new and wonderful world opens up to you.

Learning to Receive

2011-07-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Lately, I'm meeting so many people who are limiting themselves through poor self-esteem and incorrect views about money and success. Try this little exercise: open your arms wide and say aloud, "I am ready to receive." How does that feel? Did it feel fake? Were you able to open your arms wide? Keep doing that exercise until it feels natural.

We're taught so many false views about money -- that it's evil and corruptible. We see people like Bernie Madoff and believe that is what happens to people who cultivate money.

So many people believe the wealthy are selfish, mean, cheap, rude and narcissistic. While that may be true of some wealthy people, it's also true of some poor people. We can't use blanket statements like that and make them true. I have many wealthy clients who use their money to assist their family, friends and community around them. Several of my clients have paid the mortgages for their families, many are paying for their nieces and nephews to go to college. Some have funded their family and friends' business ideas. I had one client who told me just before Christmas, "I'm feeling really good today. I made a nice donation to my church anonymously and it made me happier than anything ever has." I knew this client went to my church, but I didn't say anything because I knew the gift was supposed to be anonymous. On Christmas day, our priest -- with tears in his eyes -- told the story of how a person had anonymously donated $50,000 and said, "Please use this to help those who are suffering from this economic downturn."

Think about the good that has come from money -- the charities, the grants, scholarships. Think about how happy you can make people with a bit of generosity -- an extra tip, a nice gift for a friend just because, an anonymous gift to someone in need.

If you had an abundance of money right now, what would you do? After you paid off bills and debts and still had plenty of money left over, what would you do? I'd like to think you'd share it. So reflect on this thought: the more you're able to receive, the more you're able to give.

John Randolph Price has a great book called The Abundance Book which helps people to disassociate from the negative beliefs about money that have been ingrained in us all. For example, the original words from the bible about money are not "Money is the root of all evil" but rather "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil." There's a big difference there. When we love money rather than the joy and generosity of spirit it can bring us, then money can corrupt. But when we embrace money for what it can do for others, then we're able to receive.

So go ahead, open your arms wide to receive and then pass it on!

Random Acts of Kindness III

2011-07-07T20:12:00.000-07:00

This is a great story anonymously posted in Random Acts of Kindness about forgiveness and learning to forgive ourselves:

I went back to Vietnam last year. I'm not really sure why I went -- it just seemed important that I go. When I think about it now, I think I went back to try to find something that I had lost there 23 years ago. It was a very strange trip, very disorienting. So much had changed and so much was exactly as it had been. I was there for five days, and most of the time I just wandered around in a fog -- to places where I had spent time, places I had fought. On the last day, I was taking a cab to the airport, and the taxi driver started talking to me. He obviously knew I was American, and he asked me if I had fought in Vietnam. When I said yes, I was overcome with grief. As I handed him his money at the airport, he held on to my hand for a moment and said, "I was your enemy, but now I am your friend."

On the flight back I felt more alive than I had in years. If that cab driver in Ho Chi Minh City could hold my hand as a friend, then maybe I could be my friend as well.

Getting Through a Divorce

2011-07-06T20:58:00.000-07:00

So many of my clients this week are in the process right now of dealing with a divorce. Even when amicable, divorce is never easy. I believe going through a divorce is like going through a death. It's the death of a relationship and your family as you know it. This is a painful thing which is why I always tell my clients to mourn the divorce like it is a death. Give yourself the proper time to grieve. Expect to go through the five stages of grief Elizabeth Kubler Ross identifies:

1) Denial
2) Anger
3) Bargaining
4) Depression
5) Acceptance

I find most people get stuck on anger and depression which is sad because it makes us rack up more negative karma. Twice this week I was told that my clients were going through their divorce because they'd fulfilled their karmic contract with their spouse. Their guides recommended that they accept this, forgive themselves and their spouse and move forward. Easier said than done, I know, but still very good advice.

If kids are involved, it's imperative that you try to remain amicable with your ex-spouse. No matter the cost to you, your dignity or your sense of justice -- the kids come first. Check out a great book that discusses this called The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce -- The 25 Year Landmark Study by Wallerstein, Lewis and Blakeslee and What About the Kids? Raising Your Children Before, During and After Divorce by the same authors.

Divorce can present us with an opportunity for some important life lessons -- forgiveness, independence and courage are just a few examples.

Our loved ones on the other side do witness our relationship troubles. They see the pain we're going through and feel for us even though they know the panoramic view of the situation. For example, they might know that in two years you're going to be happily in love with a new person or that in six months the court dates will finally be over. They might also know that this is a karmic debt you're balancing with this spouse. Sometimes, the divorce isn't part of our life path, and they know that we're creating new karma that will have to be dealt with later. Still, they know how hard it is to go through a divorce -- no matter what the reason is. However, God gives us all free will -- even our loved ones on the other side -- so if you want their help, you have to ask. Give your grandmother, your aunt, your dad (whoever is over there for you that you love and trust) permission to help you.

And lastly, be gentle with yourself. As I said earlier, divorce is never easy. I'm a big fan of talking with a therapist as you go through this life changing situation. I think kids, too, can benefit from this. I know prayer works. Talk to God, talk to your angels and guides and loved ones. Pray for help, courage and strength. And know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you can and will get through this, and you'll be a stronger person as a result.

Old Salem Ghost Story

2011-07-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from a trip with my family to Old Salem village in Winston-Salem, NC. It's a completely restored 18th century Moravian village with surprisingly few ghosts lingering around. One ghost story, however, did catch my eye because it's not scary -- just very evidential. One night, a sickly gentleman checked into Old Salem's tavern. He later died that evening, and because he had no identification on him, the tavern owner told his employees to put his saddle bags in storage and bury him in the stranger's section of the cemetery.

But just days later the employees started complaining of hearing strange noises, things moving and seeing a ghost reaching out to them in the hallway. Each time, the employee would run and tell the tavern owner who did not, of course, believe in such foolishness. About a week after the stranger died, a female employee of the tavern keeper ran into his office and said, "He's there! The ghost! He's in the hallway." The tavern keeper had had enough of these alleged haunting, so he slammed his ledger book closed, walked out into the hallway and almost into the ghostly figure of the stranger who had died in his tavern. But the tavern keeper was not a man to turn tail and run. He stood his ground and said, "What do you want?"

The ghost said, "Please, write this all down." The tavern keeper went to his office, retrieved a piece of paper and wrote down all the ghost had to say. He told the tavern keeper his name and gave him his brother's name and address in Texas. "My family must know what happened to me." The tavern keeper gave him his word and the ghost disappeared.

Now, the tavern keeper could hardly believe what had just happened to him. Still, a man's word is his honor, so he wrote a letter to the man the ghost had called his brother and told him about the untimely death of his brother and mailed it off. A few weeks later, a letter arrived confirming that he was indeed the brother of the ghost and asked that he send his saddle bags and any other belonging to the Texas address.

The tavern keeper never again referred to talk of ghosts as foolishness.

Letting Go of Control

2011-06-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

I meet a lot of clients who are upset about a situation in their life that is beyond their control. Their spouse cheated. Their child is dating someone they don't approve of. Their mother refuses to move into assisted living. The husband won't look for a new job. The wife can't stand his family. The boss gives praise to everyone but my client.

But here's where many people get stuck because they want to change the situation. They want to go back in time and make the spouse remain faithful. They want to pick who their child dates and marries. They want to have full say over where mom lives. They want to make their husband get a better job and insist that the wife learn to love the in-laws. They want to shake the boss and make him sing their praises to one and all.

Yeah right.

Life doesn't work that way. And it's not supposed to. Life's challenges aren't presented to us so we'll learn how to fix them. We face difficult situations so WE will learn to change. Your spouse has cheated? Now you have a great opportunity to learn courage, independence and forgiveness. You don't like who your kid is dating? Now you have a great opportunity to learn how to set healthy boundaries.

If you find yourself stuck in what I call a perpetual temper tantrum -- I don't want my life to be this way! -- give yourself a time-out and then learn not to change the situation or the people involved but to change yourself. Your soul will grow, your relationships will flourish and you'll be very, very happy.

One Loved Woman

2011-06-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

I did a reading recently for a woman who has many close loved ones on the other side. Her mother transitioned a year ago, and she came through first to thank her daughter for caretaking her at the end of her life. She showed me the daughter in the hallway outside her hospital room talking to doctors and signing something. Then she said, "Tell her thank you." My client had to make the difficult decision to end treatment, and her mother was grateful she'd done so.

But then something funny happened. I "saw" two men, one older than the other, fighting over who would come through next. "You go first," the older said. "No, you." Back and forth. I waited patiently and finally said, "One of you needs to step forward." I was saddened to learn that the two men were my client's husband and father. She was a lovely young woman who had lost too many people in her life. The father was so excellent at giving me symbols. I love it when the energy jives like that! It was one of my easiest readings. I just had to "read" the symbols. He showed me five fingers. He had five children and my client had five children. He showed me a football jersey and a cowboy. His favorite football team was the Cowboys. He showed me a tattoo and the number 2. My client said that two of her brothers had a tattoo in honor of their dad. I saw a phoenix rising and she said one brother also had a tattoo like that. The reading continued like this with the father just easily flowing from one validation to another.

Then the husband stepped through, and I understood why he needed to go last. He was still emotional over his passing and had a lot of love to pass on to his wife. Sometimes they "press" their love on to me and I get to feel the amount of love the person in heaven has for the person sitting next to me. It's lovely when this happens, but it's hard to remain objective. I have to remove myself and my emotions from the reading or else I'll mess up all the signals.

He showed me his wife riding a horse and I said, "Did you just go horseback riding for the first time, ever, I think?" and she said, "Yes! Just last weekend." I thought that was a great and unique validation to come through with. He showed me her wedding ring and bent it into a new shape. My client said she'd recently had her engagement ring changed to a circle and placed in a new setting surrounded by their children's birthstones. He passed on many other personal and practical words of validation and advice.

When I experience readings like that, I'm almost on a high all day. It has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the client and his/her people on the other side. I think the strength of a good reading has to do with personality. Have you ever met someone and tried and tried to talk to them, but walked away feeling depleted of energy as though you were pulling teeth? Some readings can be like that. Or you might go to a party and have a nice time talking to a new friend. Most readings are like that. But sometimes you meet someone who's personality is so amazing, it lights up the whole room and makes everyone laugh and feel better. Great readings are like that, and I feel grateful whenever I can experience that. The stronger the love, the stronger the connection. The stronger the personality, the stronger the reading.

Today I feel very grateful for the gift of love -- it's truly eternal and limitless.

Random Act of Kindness -- 2

2011-06-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

Excerpted from Random Acts of Kindness -- An Illustrated Celebration

"Two years ago, a sixty-eight-year-old woman was the victim of a burglary. She lived simply on a fixed income, and the only item of value -- her television set -- was stolen. After saving for nearly a year, she bought a new one. Then, returning home one afternoon after visiting her sister, she found a police officer waiting for her. Her home had been burglarized again, and her new TV set, that had taken her almost a year to save up for, was gone. This left her scared and shaken.

This time, though, the story turned out differently. The police officer negotiated a deal with a local electronics store that resulted in a brand-new television arriving in time for her 69th birthday.

Just Because They're Family, Do I Have to Love Them?

2011-06-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

Family relationships can be our biggest source of happiness or pain. We choose our parents, our families, all of it because we have karma to work out with them. We don't choose our family because we'll be so happy with them. Often, that is far from the case. Our families of origin help us to work through lots of past life karma and set the tone for how we deal with all of our future relationships.

Many of my clients have difficult relationships with their mom, dad, brother or sister. I've met many people who haven't spoken with their family in years, and I've met many others who stay in touch with their negative family members out of a sense of obligation and duty. In my opinion, neither option is ideal.

I remember once a priest at our church explained the commandment that reads: Honor Thy Mother and Father. Here's a summary of what he said: Honor your mother and father means that you'll take them to the doctor if they're sick and feed them if they're hungry. It does not mean you should willingly stay in a bad situation with dishonorable parents.

That put a lot of things in perspective for me. Just because someone in your family is mean or rude or untrustworthy does not mean you have to run away from them or put up with them. What it does mean is that you have to learn how to set boundaries and limits with them while learning how to love them and forgive them FROM A DISTANCE. If someone is always negative toward you and creates animosity within the family, you are not under any obligation to put up with that.

Here's what I recommend:

1) Don't take their actions and reactions personally
2) Don't let them push your buttons. Switch the subject, smile and walk away.
3) Be honest. Don't engage in passive aggressive behavior or avoidance techniques. Tell them how you feel honestly. "I don't call you because I find your words hurtful. But I love you and I'll be here for you when you need me."
4) Erase your expectations. If this hurtful relationship is with a close family relative like one of your parents or siblings, try to drop any expectations of a close and loving connection.
5) Prepare to mourn this relationship at many different times throughout your life -- births, graduations, marriages, holidays and birthdays. But recognize during these difficult times that you're learning important lessons from this person and protecting yourself in the meantime.
6) Send them love and prayers. Give your relationship with this person to God and ask your higher power to heal this relationship for the good of both of you. I always recommend daily or weekly bathing the person in pink light. Just imagine the family member in your mind's eye and picture wrapping them in pink light. This infuses their aura with love and forgiveness while softening interior anger.
7) Be open to forgiveness.

If you're having problems with a family member, don't judge yourself or them. Just recognize it for what it is: a wonderful opportunity to learn very hard lessons.

Random Act of Kindness -- 1

2011-06-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

I bought an inspiring book this week called Random Acts of Kindness -- An Illustrated Celebration. It's very uplifting, and so I thought I'd share some of my favorite stories. Here's one:

"A few years I had managed to screw up my life so badly that I found myself without a home and without hope. I'm ashamed to admit it, but even then I was so absorbed by my own self-pity that all I could think of was begging enough money to buy the cheapest drink I could find. One day I was sitting in front of a store panhandling when a woman walked by with a small boy in tow. She ignored my pitch and hurried away. As I watched them go down the sidewalk, the small boy broke free and came running back. He stood in front of me, fumbling in his coat pocket; he pulled out a five-dollar bill -- what was almost certainly more money than he had ever held before -- and handed it to me. I was completely dumbstruck and just sat there staring at him with the money in my hand. By then his mother had returned, and with tears in her eyes gently led the boy away. He turned back once to wave, and then they were gone. I don't know how long I sat there, but I have not had another drink since."

Wow -- isn't it amazing how one simple act of kindness can have such an enormous impact on a life?

Why We Die When We Die

2011-06-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

I've heard in so many of my readings that the timing of our death is not coincidence. We die when we've fulfilled our purpose on this earth for this lifetime. It's that simple. For some people this takes four years, for others it takes forty-four years and for some it can take up to 100 years. But if you're still here, it simply means you haven't completed your life's mission yet.

Most people like to die alone. When loved ones stand vigil at the bedside, they can unwittingly keep the dying person here longer than they need to or should. So, often they'll wait until you leave the room -- even for just a lunch break -- to pass on to the other side.

I also hear in readings something along these lines: "I know the timing of my death wasn't great, but when you get over here, you'll understand why I had to go then."

A few months ago a father came through and told his daughter that his death prompted her to make some significant life choices -- including starting a family and changing a job. Last week a mother came through to her son and said she had to go when she did to help him fulfill something he had not done in a past life. Her death provided the inspiration he needed. Children often come through and say that their passing helped their parents to teach others about faith, grief and surviving tragedy.

I've also noticed that our pets seem to pass at specific times. They tend to move on when we're going through or are about to go through significant life changes. It's as though they helped us get so far and that's all they were supposed to do. Our dog passed away two days before my mother-in-law died. Our dog, a gentle doberman, had come into my life to help me with mothering and she passed away just before my second maternal role model left this world. It was as though they were both saying, "You're prepared to do this on your own now." My friend lost her dog of almost 15 years right after she decided to leave her husband. I knew the dog had helped get her through the difficult final stages of her marriage and had then chosen to move on.

It's never easy losing a loved one. It doesn't matter if they're 99 and lived a great life. Death is hard. But we can facilitate our grief process by finding comfort in a few facts:

1) No one dies alone. No one. We always have our guides, loved ones and angels with us during that time. I remember doing a reading once for a woman who lost her husband to a drowning. He showed me his angel and his grandfather were with him under the water and escorting him all the way to heaven. It doesn't matter how quick or unexpected our passing is, we don't make that transition alone.

2) There's always a reason for why we die and when we die. No one dies in vain. I'm always assured that all will be made clear when it's our turn to be on the other side. But, in general, people pass because they've fulfilled their mission on earth. It doesn't matter how short that life was -- every life has a purpose and a reason. I've done hundreds of readings where aborted souls come through explaining that they came to their mother at that time to serve as a wakeup call. Most, if not all, aborted souls know they'll be terminated prior to coming to earth. Their mission is to help the mom, not themselves.

3) We can help our loved ones die an easier death if we tell them it's okay to go. Don't hold on to your dying loved one. It's unfair to them and can hinder the ease with which they transition. And, please, please, please don't fight with family members after a loved one has passed. They see this and it always pains them. If you want to honor them and their life, don't fight.

4) They will contact you through signs and dreams. The speed at which they can make this contact depends on the level of your faith and grief. If you don't have faith in an afterlife, it's almost impossible for them to penetrate your aura to come into your dreams. If you're burdened with grief, they also can't penetrate your aura. Skepticism, sadness, and depression puts up a grayish cement wall of thick energy around the person making it nearly impossible for them to feel anything from their guides, angels and loved ones. If they died tragically or after a prolonged illness, it might take them some time to learn how to come into your dreams. Just be patient.

And finally, rest assured that:

5) You will see them again. You will.

Letting Go of Worry

2011-06-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

There are many emotions that I consider dangerous -- fear, anger, worry, guilt, shame and hate. Some of these are necessary emotions at times of our life. We need to feel fear when walking down a dark alley so we'll stay alert. As I mentioned in a previous post, anger can be a source of motivation. Guilt has its place too; without it we would be near sociopaths. But like everything in life, everything must be in moderation.

Worry, however, has no positive function whatsoever. Within worry is held all the negative emotions -- anger, fear, guilt, shame and sometimes even hate. It's the mother ship of all negativity. I challenge you to tell me one good thing that has ever come from you spending your time worrying.

Some people truly believe that if they worry enough about a situation that it won't happen. This is the most ridiculous thing that I've heard, and I can say that because I used to be one of those people. If I had a test coming up, I'd worry about passing it and felt that if I didn't worry, I might not pass it. I know it makes no sense, but worry in and of itself makes no sense.

Others believe they can make a situation better by worrying about it; it's a way for them to feel better about their poor choices. I have a friend who gossips a lot and almost always gets caught. She'll then call all her friends and worry over her decision to spread the gossip. "I didn't mean to tell Susan that Christy lost her job. It just slipped out. I mean, that happens, right? I'm not a bad friend; I was just worried about her. Right? You would have done the same thing. I just wanted Susan to pray for her. I am right, aren't I? What do you think? Oh God, this situation is killing me. I feel so bad."

Here was my advice to my friend: "You gossiped. It was wrong. Now you feel bad about it. Instead of gossiping about worrying over gossiping, just fix it. Apologize to Christy and learn a lesson." Aren't I a fun friend to have?

Some people learn to worry from their families. It's like an inherited gene that spreads like a virus. I know whole families who worry over everything -- money, health, relationships. And you know when a worry wart's biggest worry appears? When everything is going well. How many times have you heard someone say, "Everything's going so great now; I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop." Or they'll lament about Murphy's Law. Who the hell is this Murphy character anyway? We should rename him Debbie Downer.

Anyway, what I hate (and yes, I'm using that negative word intentionally because I really hate worry and what it does to people) about worrying is that within its realm lies deep insecurity, a total lack of faith, belief and trust in ourselves, those around us and our higher power. If you truly believe in God (however you term that), then you would not waste your time worrying. Because when you have true faith, you have total knowledge that there is a rhyme and a reason to everything that occurs and doesn't occur in our life. In my readings, I'm shown this over and over. People come through and tell my clients why they had to die or why the client is going through a divorce or a job loss. Every day, my experiences teach me that life is in perfect harmony. All we must do is tune our instrument and play along.

Now, I understand that worry will never permanently leave us. When my husband was fighting for his life in the hospital nearly six years ago, I worried that he would die -- but only for about a day. Then I surrendered completely to God's will. I prayed that he would live. But I also prayed that God would give me the strength to handle any outcome. I kept my prayer positive -- I never said, "Don't let him die." My mantra was "Let him live." And I kept my interior dialogue hopeful as well all the while surrendering my fear and worry to God.

When I was doing a reading for a good friend years ago who was worrying over a long and arduous adoption process, I saw a picture of Mother Mary in my mind's eye. She showed me worries landing at her feet that she then gathered in her arms and turned into birds. She said that prayers were turned into roses that gathered around her and filled heaven with beauty, but that worries surrendered to her in her name were turned into birds.

I've always cherished that message and have used that image many times myself when worry threatens to dampen my spirit. I simply give it to Mary. Usually, I'll see a white bird that day as confirmation that my worries have been taken away.

If you find yourself bested by worry, practice praying more to increase your sense of trust and faith. Write down your worries to get them out of your body. Ask, "What's the worst thing that could happen?" Because when we face the worst thing in our mind's eye, the very worst, it's extremely freeing to know that even that terrible scenario could be handled with the grace of our faith. Begin to look around at the world through new eyes and see the rhythm of nature, the harmony of our life. Dive in to your life -- not with fear or worry -- but with trust and zest -- and go with the flow.

Letting Go of Anger

2011-05-31T17:21:00.000-07:00

For the past two weeks, I've come in contact with so many angry clients. I actually had a woman bang my table (my glass table) repeatedly when I told her that the man she was in love with did not reciprocate her feelings. Another client told me I was wrong when I suggested to him that fighting over money was not a good way to honor his parents on the other side. I went blueberry picking this morning with my daughter and walked to our designated spot behind a woman and her daughter. The woman kept reaching out to pick and eat blueberries as we walked. One of the workers said, "Ma'am would you mind not picking those? They're still maturing." I had to spend the next twenty minutes listening to the woman complain bitterly to her daughter about the nerve of that employee. Really? What about the nerve of you to pick food you won't pay for? I felt like asking. She seemed to represent a metaphor to me for many of the clients I come in contact with -- people who are angry at situations and circumstances they can't and shouldn't control.

If someone doesn't reciprocate your romantic feelings, don't get mad, get moving. Why waste your energy on that? When I was in the dating world, if a man I was interested in wasn't interested in me, my first emotion was never anger. Disappointment, maybe, but then I'd shrug it off and move on.

If your family member is withholding money from you that you feel owed from a will, remember this: IT'S NOT YOUR MONEY. It's money your parents earned and gifted to you and your siblings. It's a gift. It's nothing you worked for or earned. It's a gift. Don't spend time, karma or anger over the trivialities of money. If your sibling steals or takes most of the money from an estate, fine. It's done. Get over it. You can either 1) sue and spend all your money in litigation while earning bad karma, spewing negativity all around you and inviting lots of anger and hate into your life or you can 2) let it go. It's their karma. Let them deal with it. Take what's gifted to you, be thankful for that, and MOVE ON.

If you're angry because a spouse left you/cheated on/hid money from you, you need to recognize that you're doing no one any good by stewing in anger. Does it suck that this happened to you? YES. Is anything good or positive going to come out of all this anger? NO.

Anger settles in our heart and stomach and causes all sorts of problems with heart, stomach, liver, colon and gall bladder issues. It will manifest itself physically in nasty ways. Emotionally, anger is like a cold virus. It's easy to catch. Think about that. When you're angry, it makes the people around you angry. Your kids, your friends, your co-workers. Soon no one will want to be around you.

I have a client who's often angry. His first response to most everything is to be pissed off. I think he feels like he won't be a victim if he responds to everything with anger. It's his blanket, his comforting way to protect himself. But he has very few friends. His wife is leaving him and his kids are scared of him. When I try to point this out to him, he gets angry (what a shock) and starts to angrily defend his right to be angry.

Ugh, it's exhausting. I can't stand angry people.

Anger has a place in our life. We need to experience anger because it does protect us and it can be a great motivating source. St. Augustine said, "Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are anger and courage. Anger that things are the way they are. Courage to make them the way they ought to be." But here's the key: we need to learn to move quickly from anger to courage. Holding on to anger serves no useful or healthy purpose.

Meditate today on letting go of anger. See it like a black crow just flying out of your heart. Just let it go. It's really the only way. Let it go. And if you can't, pray for the courage to be strong enough to rise above the need to marinate in anger. Staying in an angry state is the mark of a new soul. You want to grow, to move beyond that. The best way to do that is through surrender and acceptance.

Some practical suggestions for getting rid of anger in your life:

1) Start seeing a therapist so you can constructively get your anger out in a healthy situation
2) Exercise every day
3) Write in a journal to get your feelings out of your body
4) Practice forgiveness. Send the person you're angry with pink light for love and forgiveness
5) Pray for peace, acceptance and the ability to let this go
6) Do something every day for someone else. Get the focus off yourself. I've always said the key to happiness is not focusing on you -- your needs, your wants, your anger -- but on service. That is, after all, why we're here.

To Tell or Not To Tell? That is The Question

2011-05-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

Almost every day, I receive a message from loved ones in spirit for random people I encounter throughout the day. The woman ringing me up at the grocery store had a loud mother telling me that the cashier needed to watch out for her son and the kids he was hanging out with. But more often than not, it's just an average, ordinary message. "Tell her I love her and that I'm okay." In church on Sunday, for example, I sat next to a lovely elderly couple. There was a brother in spirit trying to connect to the woman next to me. All he wanted her to know was that he was safe in heaven and that he loved her. That's it. I could get no other significant validations. I told him I wouldn't do it. I couldn't freak out this poor lady in church of all places with a message from her deceased brother. If he had something like, "Tell her that her grandson in Iraq is coming home safely this September," I could have worked that into a conversation after mass.

That message actually did come through once, and I was able to deliver it without the person really knowing where it came from. I can be clever and sneaky in conversations when I need to be, and I find that most people don't really question me when I tell them I have a good feeling about something. I've used the dream excuse many times to pass on messages to acquaintances. "I had a dream that you were going to get that job." Or "I had a dream that your angel told me your mom was going to pull through her surgery with flying colors."

But to randomly walk up to an unsuspecting woman after church and tell her, "Hi! My name is Samantha and I'm a medium. Your brother is here and he just wants you to know that he's doing great in heaven. Have a great day!"

I don't think so.

And so I wished her well after church and walked away from her.

I feel terrible when these things happen because I know if I were in heaven, I'd seek out any and all mediums to let my family know that I was happy, well and okay in heaven. I know they want their families to have that validation, but unless I get something specific -- like a name, a date or something important coming up or going on with the family -- I'm not going to risk looking like a fool or sending them into possibly more grief just by bringing up old memories.

Still, it haunts me, literally, when I refuse the spirits. I feel bad for them, but what can I do? Unless they can use their energy to communicate more specifically with me, I feel like my hands are tied in these situations. What's your opinion? Have you shared messages with unsuspecting strangers? Or do you agree that it's better to be discreet when possible?

LIVE LARGE!!

2011-05-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

I hope you get a chance to listen to the Psychic Teacher's radio show I did this past Sunday with my special guest Jill Large, owner of LIVE LARGE. You can also catch it either by going to www.blogtalkradio.com/psychicteachers or going to iTunes and searching Psychicteachers (all one word). It was a great show because Jill is so amazing and inspirational.

On November 4, 2009 Jill gave birth to her son and became a mother for the very first time. But just 10 days later her husband, JJ, would suddenly die in his sleep. She had to endure the stressors of being a first time mother with the painful tragedy of losing her husband and best friend. While most new mothers are indulging in a bit of pampering as friends and family come by to visit the baby, Jill was busy planning her husband's funeral. But Jill chose not to wallow in sadness and grief. She relied on her husband's life philosophy, LIVE LARGE, and decided to honor him by encouraging others to make the most of their lives, to live large and dream big. So she created Live Large and now makes T-shirts with that logo and pendants as well.

Jill knows JJ is just a thought away. She feels his presence around her often, hears special songs and sees his sign for her -- a rainbow -- when she needs to "hear" from him. JJ's bright light and loving heart that he shared with his friends and loved ones while he was here on Earth continue to inspire and brighten the lives of those he touched. But now, through Jill, other people can be inspired by his philosophy and Jill's amazing attitude. Why let life get you down when you can embrace your joy -- however transient or permanent it may be -- and live large?

As she raises their son alone, she knows that JJ's enthusiasm for life and her own courage and strength will guide their son through all the twists and turns of his own path.

Jill is a client of mine whom I've met on several occasions; her resiliency and true grace in the face of this loss is truly inspiring. I hope you get a chance to listen to the show so you can see what I mean.

For information on ordering the T-shirts and pendants, please contact Jill at jill.large@gmail.com

What are you waiting for? LIVE LARGE!

Nursing Homes in Heaven

2011-05-17T16:42:00.000-07:00

My very good friend lost her grandmother a year ago. She was very elderly and had lived for many years in a nursing home. When she died, my friend kept asking me if I felt her around. But I didn't. Periodically throughout the year, my friend would ask, "Has my grandmother touched base with you yet? I keep asking her to check in with you to let me know she's okay." But I never heard from her. It got to be a bit embarrassing because I'm sure my friend was beginning to doubt my mediumship abilities. When she went through some very difficult times over the holidays, I meditated and purposely reached out to her grandmother. Nothing.

Then, a week ago, her grandmother popped into my meditation. I was shocked and relieved and happy! She said she'd been in a nursing home in heaven for the past year resting and adjusting to her new life. "I haven't left the nursing home and haven't been able to reach out to anybody. It was a lovely, restful and idyllic time." She had no idea about the trouble her granddaughter had been going through and was very distraught. "Please let her know I'm going to be helping her now that I know."

I called my friend right away, but she wasn't home. I didn't want to leave a message about this. What would I say? "Hi, it's Samantha. Your grandmother finally made contact. Call me!" Um, I don't think so.

But this grandmother was suddenly a constant presence by my side. I'm sure my friend thought I was suddenly her strangest friend because normally I hate to talk on the phone and prefer to see my friends in person. But this day, I called my friend four times. Finally, she returned my call. "What's wrong?" she fairly screamed in my ear. When I told her about her grandmother, she said, "Oh my God. She died a year ago today."

So, if you haven't heard from or felt the presence of a loved one on the other side, rest assured that they may be in a nursing home of sorts in heaven.

Beautiful Message of Forgiveness

2011-05-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

I was doing a reading for a woman recently and kept seeing a man on a motorcycle, but my client said she never knew a man who owned a motorcycle. However, throughout the hour long reading, this man stayed in her energy field patiently waiting to get his message through. Finally I said, "I've got to let this man come through. He died while riding a motorcycle. I think a car hit him by accident." My client looked suddenly shocked and said, "Oh my God! I think I know who that is. A few years back my niece hit a man on a motorcycle and he died. She's felt just terrible about that." And that's when I heard the man's message so clearly in my head: "Tell her I forgive her. It's okay. I'm okay."

I was amazed first at his message of forgiveness and second at his ability to come through to me. Usually, a spirit needs to have a link to the client. That's why a famous person, for example, doesn't randomly show up. There must be a link between the client and the person on the other side. But here, the link was tenuous at best and yet there he was -- so insistent and patient all at the same time to pass on the timeless gift of forgiveness.

My client promised to pass the message on to her niece and the man faded from her energy.

Limitless Thinking

2011-05-11T18:51:00.000-07:00

Almost every day, I walk five miles with my friend and on those walks, we not only counsel each other through highs and lows but we witness things that teach us about nature, life and people. There's a silly woodpecker who's always pecking away at a tin roof. I call him our little neighborhood Forest Gump. There's a red tailed hawk who circles us most mornings and then flies away. We always hear the coo, coo of a lonely Carolina Dove. And there are three cats at various stops along the way who always leave their driveway to greet us -- quite a privilege if you know cats :)

But there are other things I see that disturb me greatly. Homes shut up on beautiful sunny mornings, their blinds closed against the light. Houses without a single glimpse of shrubbery aligning their perimeter. Or, worse, homes with hedges that cover half the windows and trees that are crying out to be trimmed. I always wonder, "if your yard is such a mess, what could the inside of your home look like? And if your home is in such a disarray, what is the state of your mind? Your soul?"

This past weekend, we walked by a house having a yard sale that was filled with junk -- used clothes and broken appliances. People were picking through the discards, and I thought, "This is limited thinking." Now, there's nothing wrong with browsing a great yard sale, but it led me to think about how so many people limit themselves, their desires and their goals.

Don't limit your thinking, don't limit your checkbook, your possibilities. When you do, you're telling the universe, "This little, tiny bit is enough for me. Thank you. Don't give me anything more."

My husband and I love to attend the Parade of Homes every year. It's fun to look at homes decorated to within an inch of their lives. We get a ton of great ideas for our house and always come home feeling inspired and hopeful. When I asked a friend to join us this year, she said, "Oh no, I could never do that. It will make me want things I can never have."

I have another friend who brags, "I never buy anything full price. Everything I own was bought on sale."

A family member often says, "Don't trade the devil you know for the devil you don't know;" meaning don't change, don't go beyond what you know. Stay where you are. Don't move. Life is fearful.

And don't even get me started on the common catchphrase, "You can't have your cake and eat it too." Who the hell wants cake they can't eat???????????????????????

Have your cake and eat it too. Enjoy every bite. Life is wonderful and limitless. The universe responds to us with the same energy we send out. If we send out fearful, limited energy, that's what we will get in return. But if we send out abundant, giving, hopeful energy, THAT is what we'll get in return.

Don't limit yourself in any way -- not in your home, your clothes, your job, your vacations, your expectations, your hopes and your dreams. Never say, "This is enough." We are created from a great and wondrous, limitless source. We are meant to achieve, succeed and grow. To do otherwise is to slap God in the face. It's the same as saying, "Gee, thanks for giving me life, but I'm not really going to do anything with it."

Whenever I feel limited in my thinking, I start giving anonymously. I tithe more at church, I give waitstaff extra tips, I hand money over to homeless people and sometimes, just for fun, I buy really pretty cards, stick a five or ten dollar bill in them, sign it from "Your Guardian Angel" and then I open the phone book, close my eyes and ask, "Who needs this card?" The first name my finger alights on gets the card. It's a ton of fun and affirms that even when we're feeling limited, we're not.

Think of this: the more you make, the more you earn, and the more you can give back to others and return.

Did I just rhyme? Yikes, it must be time for me to have a bountiful and limitless rest! Hope you all are having a great week!

The Haunted Tea Pot

2011-05-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

I did a reading this weekend for a lovely new client. I felt some heaviness around her home and couldn't pin point the source. It just felt like a blanket of sadness was hanging about her and depleting her energy. I asked her family members on the other side to help me out and they showed me a teapot. A teapot? I asked. They nodded. Okay.

"Do you have an antique teapot?" I asked cautiously.
"Yes," my client said. "It's handle is broken, so I have to get it fixed."
"Well, I'm not sure how to say this, but there's a little old lady attached to that teapot. She's hanging about your home and stealing all the good energy for herself."
"Oh! What should I do?"

I advised her to get rid of the teapot. In addition to being an avid antique collector, this client was also a very gifted intuitive. The two do NOT go hand in hand. If you enjoy collecting antiques, please remember to put white light around yourself before entering the store. When bringing home any antiques -- or anything previously owned -- sage it outside first before bringing it in your home.

I know it sounds weird that people get so attached to their things that they don't go into the light. I can hardly believe it myself, but it happens all the time. So, please, if you're an avid antique hunter or yard sale scavenger, remember to take precautions first. Yes, one man's trash is another's treasure. But just remember, you could be bringing home a lot more than "treasure."

Here are some signs that a ghost is inhabiting your surroundings:

1) an increase in illness -- especially upper respiratory infections and ear infections
2) more fighting among family members
3) depleted energy
4) an increase in general sadness and depression
5) things -- like keys, remote controls and phones -- temporarily disappearing only to reappear later
6) always feeling watched
7) either a desire to leave the house a lot or a desire to stay in the home all the time

For more information on how to rid yourself of a pesky house guest, check out this great read: When Ghosts Speak by Mary Ann Winkowski

Life is Too Short

2011-05-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

Many of the readings I conducted this week involved me encouraging people to finally live their dreams. Your passions -- to heal, to create, to teach, to intuit -- are your passions because you're meant to live them. Please re-read that sentence. God puts those desires in your heart because you're supposed to fully reveal them, experience them and share them. He/she doesn't put those desires in your heart to tease you, to "mess" with you. You have a love for intuition or art or healing or (fill in the blank) because that's what you're supposed to do with your life. So, please, take this blogpost as a sign that NOW is the time to start living your dream. To do otherwise is cowardly and selfish. People need you and your unique talents and gifts. You are a treasure chest waiting to be unlocked. Reach inside, find your key and unlock your gifts so that we may share them. Life is short. Boredom is long. Live your life now. Now!

Dealing with Alzheimer's

2011-05-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting experience this week that's happened to me many times in the past. I thought I was connecting a woman with her deceased husband. Everything he "said" to me, she validated. When I said, "He's sorry about the caretaking he put you through," she burst into tears. When she calmed down a bit, she told me that her husband was still very much alive but was dealing with Alzheimer's. How can this be? How could I have communicated with her husband? What I've discovered is that people dealing with Alzheimer's usually don't want to leave this world because they feel needed here. They're afraid to leave their kids, they're still worried about one of their family members, or they're afraid to cross over because they have unfinished business. But their soul, their higher self, is very much ready to leave. My guides have shown me that when Alzheimer's patients are having off days, forgetting more than usual, this means that their soul is on the other side visiting with loved ones and their angels and resting.

So if you love someone with Alzheimer's, I hope it brings you some comfort to know that they have a foot in both worlds. God's love never abandons us; even in the face of this painful illness, God extends a hand to offer some relief, some moments of peace. Please also know that you, too, can connect with your loved one dealing with Alzheimer's through meditation, prayer and intentional thought even if they're right in front of you. Send them your love, light and prayers and know that they are truly in good hands.

Your Ticket to Heaven

2011-04-30T18:27:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine has a funny expression. If he ever catches you doing something wrong, say telling a little white lie or going back on a promise, he'll wag his finger and joke, "Watch out or you won't get your ticket to heaven."

I think many people, jokingly or not, believe in a version of this which is why we may have ghosts; they're afraid they won't get their ticket to heaven because of some action they've taken.

I had a funny experience in a reading last week that still is making me laugh when I think about it. I was connecting a woman to her father-in-law who'd passed away a few years ago. I really liked his energy -- big, loving and, pardon the pun, very down to earth. He showed me that he was with his family and made a point of motioning to his brother.

I said to my client, "Does your father-in-law have a brother on the other side?"

"Yes."

"Did his actions lead to his crossing over?"

"In a manner, yes. He died of a drug overdose."

And then the father-in-law showed me a scene. This doesn't always happen. Sometimes they show my symbols, sometimes I hear them, sometimes they'll show me my memories and then I interpret those. But sometimes, happily, their energy is strong enough and mine is too that we make a perfect connection. This was one of those beautiful occasions for me when he was able to show me almost a movie scene of his crossing over. I saw him not walking through a tunnel but over a bridge. He was happy to see his family members who had predeceased him when his gaze fell on his brother. He grinned. The brother grinned and reached out his arms. The father-in-law walked over to his brother and gave him a playful shove. "Get the f*** out of here! You made it too?" Then the hug. It was a joyful, loving and hilarious scene that I felt privileged to watch. The father-in-law joked to me that if he knew someone like his brother would "get a ticket to heaven" then he (the father-in-law) would have had a bit more fun here on Earth!

Dealing with Suicidal Depression

2011-04-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

So many of my clients are dealing with a profound depression -- the kind that makes you feel alone in a crowd, the kind that inspires a fear so deep you feel you'll never find your way out, a depression that robs you of hope, trust and faith. If you've been feeling like this, know that you're not alone. But know these things too:

1) THIS TOO SHALL PASS
2) You will survive this
3) Suicide truly never is the answer

When we commit suicide, we forfeit, we lose. But we also rob those around of us of completing and fulfilling their life lessons related to us. What does that all mean? It means that if you choose to end your life, you WILL have to come back here and repeat your experiences all over again with the same people. Different time, different fads, different generation. But I promise you it will be the same experience and the same people.

I don't know exactly why we have to go through painful experiences. Even more, I don't know why they have to last so long. But here are some reasons that have been explained to me by my guides and through my readings as to why we have to experience pain and suffering:

1) Painful experiences allow us to balance karma. We humans are stubborn people and if often takes us many lifetimes to learn our lessons. One of my clients was dating a married man when she came to see me. "I know it's wrong," she said, "but I can't stop seeing him. I love him so much." Well, you all know how I feel about the "but I love him" phrase. I suggested a past life regression to see if perhaps there was a connection between the two. During the regression, we both saw the same thing. In Montana in the mid 1800's, my client had been a prostitute in a brothel. She fell in love with one of her clients (the married man in this life) who often came to town to see her. For over fifteen years he promised her he would leave his wife and the two would be together. He never did, and my client died in that brothel alone and bitter. She came back into this life to repeat that experience so she could find the courage to leave him.

2) Suffering allows us to experience profound empathic feelings that lead to great lessons in forgiveness and compassion. I've met clients who've had to suffer so they could learn to release judgement and experience compassion. One of my clients, for example, was always judging her married friends who chose to divorce their spouse. She peered out at the world from her Martha Stewart pedestal and looked down on most everyone. That is until her husband announced her was in love with someone else and wanted a divorce. Those same friends she had judged now surrounded her with love and support, and through that difficult year and a half she released her need to judge and learned the power of compassion and acceptance.

3) Very advanced souls often volunteer to experience pain as a way to better serve other souls. I had a client who was asked to work with addicts. Up in heaven, her advanced, kind soul happily agreed on one condition: she wanted to become an addict herself so she could then better help her future clients. The drug didn't matter; the addiction did. She chose heroin and spent six painful years fluctuating between addiction and recovery. I'm happy to report that she's now on her way to becoming an amazing addiction counselor after she graduates in May. What came through in her reading is that she didn't have to become a heroin addict. Her guides just knew she had the wisdom and compassion needed to help addicted souls. But she asked for this experience so she could truly understand the people she was to help. That's an advanced soul.

C. S. Lewis believed we had to experience suffering so we would appreciate joy. He viewed suffering as a gift to be treasured. I guess he was an advanced soul too. I don't think I'm an advanced soul because I hate suffering, despise pain and am constantly whining to God that I'm not as strong as he must think I am. Still, I take my cup despite my complaints trusting that there's a reason for every sadness while remembering to enjoy every moment of joy and beauty.

For those of you dealing with one of those painful times now, I hope this post comforts you. Be easy on yourself during this time. Find a moment of joy in every day -- whether it's coming home to a good book, watching a funny movie, meeting a friend for lunch, playing a great game of golf, walking your dog in the park or buying a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Fill yourself with light as much as possible and remember: THIS TOO SHALL PASS. .

Thank You From the Other Side

2011-04-21T04:15:00.000-07:00

After I do a reading, I'll often hear a voice in the room say, "Thank you." I always smile because this only happens after an emotional reading, and I know it's the loved one on the other side taking time out to say, "Thanks." As I've said before that's no easy task. Our deceased loved ones have to go through a lot of energetic hoops to get my attention. I'm amazed by how blasé some people are about their loved ones coming through. "It's nice that grandpa is here, but can we get back to discussing my ex?" You'd be amazed at how often that happens.

The amount of energy they have to expend to stay in my energetic field is amazing. Some can only pop through for about twenty minutes; others can stay longer. Why the difference? I think it's the love connection. No, not the 80's Chuck Lowery dating show type of love connection. I mean I think the ability for spirits to come through is directly related to the strong love connection between them and the person I'm reading for. I think this is one of the reasons why great grandmothers and great uncles rarely come through. Unless there was a strong earthly relationship, it's hard for them to link in with my energy.

I was impressed with the love of a daughter recently who popped into my house while I was doing laundry one Sunday afternoon. She said excitedly, "You get to meet my dad tomorrow!" And then she was gone. The next day, even after her father had left, I still felt her energy lingering just so she could tell me thank you. That's a lot of love.

But just the other day, something pretty amazing happened where I was on the receiving end of a validation. A lovely young woman came to see me, and almost immediately her grandmother starting coming through with a lot of love. At the end of the reading, the young woman told me how nice it had been to hear from her grandmother. Her grandmother had been Italian and spoke little English, my client explained, and she would always hold her granddaughter's face in her hands and tell her how beautiful she was. Over and over she would say, "You are so beautiful" in Italian. Then the young woman told me that her grandmother had just passed a few months ago. Now it was my turn to be impressed. After we die, it can take us some time to get used to our new "bodies" and our new home. We have to learn to work with energy in a whole new way. So how amazing this grandmother's love must be for her to come through as strongly as she did.

The only thing the young woman couldn't validate was the Lincoln Town Car her grandmother kept showing me. She had absolutely no connection to that type of car. Personally, I get a bit annoyed when they keep showing me something that the client can't validate. I worry that it's me, that I'm just not getting something right. Finally, I let it go and told her to write it down.

A few hours later, as I was heading home from my day, I was going over the readings I'd done in my head when a white Lincoln Town Car pulled out in front of me. I almost had to slam on my breaks and that's when I saw the license plate. BELLA MIA.

I got that tingling, spidery feeling I get when I know this is important some how. So I pulled over, got out my phone and googled BELLA MIA. It's Italian and means "BEAUTIFUL ONE." And that's when I heard a slight, barely audible, "Thank you."

I love it! What an amazing woman and what an incredible love she has for her family. I hope all of you have someone in your life who loves you like that because, trust me, with someone like that on the other side rooting for you, well, life can be a bit easier.

How To Surrender

2011-04-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

Those of you who've met me or heard me on the radio know that I believe the key to peace and happiness is surrender. It is only when we can surrender our will to our higher power that we can achieve grace. Today in church, we read about Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. This Holy Week always makes me so emotional. I can't imagine knowing that I was going to be beaten, tortured, humiliated and nailed to a cross. Years later, even Peter ran away from his fate for a time before seeing a vision of Christ and finally returning to face his fate. Jesus, on the other hand, faced his impending death with strength and surrender.

When Jesus knelt in the garden, alone, to pray, this was his prayer:

Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.

Luke 22:42

This is how we should all pray. Ask for our desire but then surrender it in perfect trust and faith to our God because only God knows what's best. What if God had spared Christ? What if he had followed his son's will and made the crowd release not Barabbas but Jesus? We wouldn't have had Christianity. Despite its historical and human errors, Christianity has sustained 2,000 years of changes, wars, famines, inventions and innovations. Christianity has inspired people to be good, to do good. Christian faith is behind our most amazing pieces of artwork, music compositions and literature. Without my faith, I'd have no purpose, no raison d'être. Because of my faith, I believe in miracles, in goodness, in hope and immortality. I'm grateful every day for the faith Jesus' life, death and resurrection made possible.

This teaches me that God can't always answers our prayers as we wish. I trust that God knows better than I what's good for me. I trust in this so much that I don't pray for "things" anymore. I pray for strong faith, for continued trust and peace in people's hearts. When I pray for others, I will always say, "Dear God, please help Jane Doe to recover from her illness if that's your will. If it's not, please give her the faith, strength and courage needed to walk her path."

I know Christianity is a sore subject for some of you. But if you take out the immense human errors, what's revealed is a wonderful treasure map complete with compass. I believe Jesus' words are the treasure map and the Holy Spirit that resides in us all is our compass. Together, they will lead us home.