Simplicity

The moment we begin to overlook the simplicity of the world around us we subject ourselves to the possibility of future regret. In the complexity, we can see the details that may keep us alert and focused but in the simplicity, we are able to understand the details. Yes, in a way, this sounds like double-talk but in reality, it is a truth that some part of us has connected to all along.

Let’s look at nature for a moment, a seed; it is the most basic of living things, simple and still. When planted, and allowed to bask in the natural elements of earth, air (the wind), fire (the sun), and water, it can become a life-giving source on its own. This plant can provide oxygen, beauty, and food for insects, animals, and people. If left to seed it can provide a farm full of plants. This piece of nature is quite complex but at the same time it is a basic simplicity.

There are times in life that we cannot see passed the chaos of the everyday grind that we all have to endure in order to embrace the beauty of the stillness that can be found within us. The simple gift of inner calm can be a place to visit in times of anxiety and stress. It can be a place where we can find forgiveness, understanding, and love.

Sometimes in life, we find ourselves rushing around trying to get everything done, to save time, when in reality once we find that extra time we fill it with some other task that we know needs done. Do not misunderstand… I am not saying we should put off what needs to be done or procrastinate, I am saying we need to slow down and go with the flow.

It is in the stillness of our hearts and minds that we grow closer to spirit, that we are more like spirit. In this very stillness answers can come, along with healing, a deeper understanding of life, and the truth of whom and what we really are. This is the space and time that is most like that of the spirit world. This is the part of us that is fully aware, our own inner-spirit.

Grieving for a loved one

I recently had a conversation with a client that had lost someone that they loved very deeply. It is always hard to know what to say to someone that is grieving the loss of a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, sibling, or a best friend. Most of the time, we offer condolences by saying that we are sorry for their loss and that we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers. These are great offerings but they are usually of little comfort to those that are grieving, especially if they hear it numerous times. We say it with the best of intentions and want to do or say more but we cannot come up with the words as loss is devastating to most everyone.


As I read some of the words that were sent between us, I felt the need to call out in prayer for something more to say to this friend, for some understanding of their pain that would help me find the words that would offer true comfort. I got no sign that words would come from God but I continued to listen as they shared about their loved one. This friend spoke of dreaming about their loved one and feeling as though the loved one was with them but wanted to know how it could be possible. Even as a person of faith in times of sorrow we often doubt, the human in us searches for the answers and the understanding. That part of us is where the doubt comes from and what causes us to grieve so deeply for those that transition into the spirit world.


I was unsure of how to respond to my client but I began typing and words flowed easily onto the screen. These words, though I typed them, did not come from me but from my guide. I sent it in pieces, and this is somewhat revised, but these are the thoughts that came to me…


We never really “get over” losing someone we love but we can learn to live with it. The visuals you get of them show them as they wish to be remembered. When the spirits visit, though they reveal themselves in the form that they know, we can communicate with comfortably. This allows us to be relaxed and open to connect to the spiritual realm. They are not a ghost haunting but a spirit visiting a family member that loved them so dearly.


When you remember the conversations of the past or think of them unexpectedly, this is how they communicate. You no longer have to travel to see them; they will come to you though it is not in a physical form. When we view death in this way, it does not seem like such a horrible thing. We see it as a blessing for our loved ones to shed their physical shell and be free from earthly bondage. We can see that they no longer suffer pain, hunger, fear, drama, or any of the things that we as physical beings must endure. As sure as the stars that remain bright in the night sky, even when the clouds block our view, they are with us.


It is only our ego that blocks us from connecting to this energy. It is a deeper level of awareness that our human ego cannot fully understand. In the spiritual realm, they can see and do things that we as earthly beings, humans, cannot possibly fathom. Since we are all apart of and not apart from this energy, the spirits can be in more than one place and reveal themselves to more than one person at a time. If we, as humans, can have an out of body experience or astral travel, imagine what could be possible for these spirits and their energy. This energy is eternal and constantly living even without physical form. They are light, color, food, and time, of God. Yes, just as Spirit is a part of this energy we are connected through the bonds of life, respect, and love. God lives within us, even in the afterlife.


Remember your loved one, honor them, and keep them with you in your mind, body, and spirit. No, time will not make the hurt go away and you will not forget the loss, but you can learn to manage your emotions in a way that allows you to move forward on your journey. You do not have to let go of your past, you simply grow from it and continue onward. Trust your connection to your loved one, remember the love you shared, and embrace that energy. Use your intuitive gifts to communicate with your loved ones and trust the thoughts that follow. It is through this sort of telpathy that spirits communicate and guidance can be received.

Shadow People: Are They Dangerous?

As a person, that works in the spiritual, metaphysical, and paranormal fields, I have had many encounters with these mysterious beings known as “Shadow People.” Recently, several people wanting to know the answer to the question, “Are Shadow People dangerous”, have approached me.

I cannot begin to say that I am in any way an expert on the topic of the paranormal. In fact, no one can claim to be an expert on anything that still has so many questions surrounding it. The world of the paranormal remains a mystery to even some of the most experienced paranormal investigators and psychics out there.

The reason this world is so unknown is the lack of credible evidence in this area. However, currently, more teams and individuals are bringing forth hardcore evidence of the existence of paranormal activity and spiritual beings.

A few “gloom and doom” psychics and paranormal investigators out there will argue that “Shadow People” are demons preying on those and the families of those that see them. They may even suggest that the individual that has seen them are in need of a cleansing or exorcism.

At the same time, there are skeptics that will argue that there is a logical explanation for seeing things of this nature. They may even rationalize that numerous objects in a room can cause shadow play within a room causing one to “think” they see a shadow walking in a room.

Suppose for a moment that you are a paranormal investigator and you go into a home where sightings of “Shadow People” have been reported. You go into the home with an open mind but searching for some logical explanation of the activity and you yourself encounter a “Shadow Being,” and are able to catch this shadowy figure moving from one area of a room to another on video. At this point, you could say that the existence of such beings is credible and the evidence is real but are these beings truly demonic in nature.

As a paranormal investigator, one must go into a place believing that there is a reasonable explanation for everything, including the suspicion of “shadow people” in a room. It is not logical to assume that every shadow caught out of the corner of ones eye is paranormal in nature. A good investigator will in fact try to debunk every story, sighting, and experience before deeming a place haunted.

Most people that have actually encountered “Shadow People” have reported that they have seen them out of the corner of their eye or they watched them pass by in front of them at a distance. It is rare that one will find someone that has had a negative encounter with a “Shadow Being.”

At first these entities can be very frightening because they are unfamiliar, unexpected, and of the unknown, but when it comes down to it a lot of times it is merely an apparition that hasn’t manifested fully because they cannot gather enough energy to do so.

Sometimes these beings are merely the result of a residual haunting, meaning they are energy imprints of someone that spent hours doing the same things over and over, or had a traumatic event happen to them and there imprint was left behind. In this case, the entity is not considered an intelligent haunting because it does not communicate and its path or pattern cannot be changed. It is more like a recording set on repeat playing over and over again.

There are some exceptions with “Shadow People” just as there are with any other spirit or human being. Some can be negative but I do not believe that they are all demonic just simply because they look dark. This, in my opinion, is like judging a book by its cover.

I believe that the nature of a spirit is dependent upon the situation surrounding their death and the life they had prior to their death. For instance, if they were a highly negative person in life, they are likely to be highly negative in spirit. This however, leaves me only to believe that if they were a positive person in life or their death was not traumatic or violent in nature, then they are likely to be a positive being that is simply having difficulty manifesting completely.

I do not feel that seeing a “Shadow Being” is a sign that you are under some sort of attack by a demonic or negative force. The best thing one can do if they encounter what they know to be a “Shadow Being” is to remain calm and get in touch with a professional team of investigators or a spiritual advisor to have them investigate it further.

If in fact the entity is a negative spirit, or demonic in nature, the worst thing one can do is panic. They feed on the energy of your fear and use it to gain strength. If they are in fact here to harm you the last thing you want to do is allow it.

It is a very rare occasion that one will encounter a truly negative spirit, and even more rare to run into a demonic force.

My best advice is that you avoid any activity that may open doors to the other side, or draw in spirits, unless you are highly trained and well protected. Séances, Ouija Boards, Spirit Boards, paranormal investigating, and various forms of divination, are not games or toys and should be seen as serious spiritual tools that require a lot of knowledge and skill before being used. If these things interest you, please educate and protect yourself before attempting to dabble. You could not only harm yourself but others.

Therefore, all that being said, my answer to the question of whether “Shadow People” are dangerous is, “It depends on the nature of the spirit, but over all I do not feel that they can all be labeled as dangerous. I do believe that any unknown spirit could possibly be negative or dangerous so the best way to protect yourself is to ask for help from those that work in the fields of the spiritual, metaphysical, and paranormal if you encounter any type of activity.”

Reputable Kansas Area Paranormal Investigative Teams:
Kansas Paranormal Research Society
Kansas Researchers of Unexplained Phenomenon
Everyday- Legacy Paranormal
KC Angels Ghost Encounters
Ghost Investigations Crew

A lesson in gratitude

People the world of over are talking about the Law of Attraction. Their focus is mainly on the abundance the Law of Attraction can manifest. One of the most important aspects to getting the Law of Attraction to work is certainly having faith, but another is gratitude.

In the month of November many will discuss the things they are thankful for either throughout the month or during their Thanksgiving celebrations, but do they truly understand the importance that being truly grateful plays in their life? Do you truly understand that it is important to appreciate the little things that happen each day?

It is easy to look at the positive things around us and find great joy and thankfulness within them, but it is never easy to appreciate the negatives. Okay, I know it sounds strange for someone to say aloud, “I’m thankful for the lessons I have learned along the way,” but it is those hard lessons, those negatives, that help us truly appreciate the positives.

Each step of our journey in life is one more step on the road toward full enlightenment. There will be times that we will veer off the beaten path. We may find ourselves lost in the darkness of the shadows that will later be lessons learned.

I know that it is hard to see how failure, bankruptcy, lost jobs, or lost love could possibly be something with which we should be thankful. None of us want to go through the hard parts repeatedly so this is why it is so important to recognize the situation for its worth.

As we go forward in our life and we suffer many hard knocks, it may be difficult to recognize those knocks as opportunities for the necessary changes that will lead to our future successes. An example would be the famous chef that burned his first cake, or made lumpy gravy, only later to become one of the finest culinary experts of all time. Through the mishaps, the burns and spills, and through many failed creations, he found his masterpiece, his specialty.

Like the chef, we may have many messes to clean up along the way, we may have to pick up and start over from scratch, but if we can find it within ourselves to look with open eyes and mind, and we could see things in a completely new way. We could recognize the situation before us as a potential learning opportunity; we could see it as building our character or strength of will.

Life does not have to be so complicated. In fact, sometimes the only reason it is complicated is that we are not stepping back and viewing the situation through an open mind. Once we can clearly see a situation and make rational decisions we can usually find a better way to handle even the most difficult of tasks, for that, we must also be grateful.

Once we are grateful for all we have and all we have learned, we are able to let go of the past and move forward. This crucial element of the Law of Attraction allows us to open ourselves up, clear the space that negativity occupied within us, and allow new blessings to come forth.

Now it is time to consider all you have experienced and the hidden positives within those experiences. What have you learned on your journey? How can you continue to grow? For what are you truly thankful?

Pondering Dreams

Many will experience at least one thought in their life that proves to be more than just a passing thought. It may be that this thought will come in the form of a dream or vision that tells them of something they do not yet realize is a picture or image of what is to come.

Some dreams are exactly that, a dream, others are much more than a simple dream. They may carry with them hidden messages through symbolism or hidden meanings of the actions. The dreams may actually reflect what will be done in a situation or what will occur due to a certain situation.

An example of the difference between a bizarre dream and a predictive dream would be something in the dream makes it so real that you cannot forget it. It leaves you sad or happy and you wake in tears or laughing aloud. In fact, it as if we are awake the whole time we are dreaming.

The steps that play out in the dream are so vivid it is as if we are actually taking them, we wake feeling the side of our face being cold as if the wind that blew in the dream had really been blowing and chilled our face.

How do we distinguish between what is reality and what is fantasy in a dream? I feel that we can tell the difference by the feel of the dream, even if the images are quite strange or seem to be very imaginative. It is not logical, in reality, that we may hear them as if they are speaking in our language, yet if they appear to be speaking to us maybe the message is something of reality.

I do not know that dreams can tell us everything we need to know but I do know that they can tell us much of what we need to know. I know that when they speak to us of something that relates somehow to something that is happening in our real life, not our dream life, it is probably a message with which we should pay close attention.

It is often a fact that until the event occurs in our waking life, we may never know that the dream was in fact a premonition or prophetic dream. No matter the dream, it is important that we pay attention to each detail and keep a journal of the dreams that come to us so we can compare what we think and feel with each one.

It is only after we implement a process to learn about how our dreams affect us that we can truly come to understand how our dreams speak to us. Each person will experience and go through this process differently but in the end the result is the same; a better understanding of oneself and ones messages through the world of dreams.

My First Official Paranormal Investigation

This was the first time I had ever gotten the chance to actually go along on a ghost hunt. I had watched them on television, seen live investigations aired over the internet, and heard plenty of stories from others that had been investigating but for me it was all from a distance.

Several people had invited me along but for the first time I actually was able to attend. I had a sitter for my children and my husband and I were prepared to make a night of it. Then my natural fear started to kick in. I have never been a person to like crowds, especially crowds of people I don’t know. I really hated the idea that this was going to be a lot of people I didn’t know and it was going to be in a place I had never been to before and knew nothing about. “What was I thinking when I agreed to do this,” was all that kept running through my mind on the way there.

When we got to the Riverhouse Restaurant in Atchison, KS a few familiar faces greeted me and that eased my fear a little. I still felt the anxieties, those things we make ourselves worry over that we don’t need to, that I always seem to put myself through. I was sure that I was going to mess up somehow or not be good enough. I guess what I feared most was that in the end they would all think I was crazy or something.

As the team did its walk through the building to decide where to set up camera’s and other equipment I went along for the tour. I told them where I could feel things, what I was feeling, and how it didn’t make sense that a lot of it didn’t seem to fit with this building but maybe a building that was here before this one. I felt like if it wasn’t with a building then maybe just the land itself.

While reading cards earlier in the evening I had the feeling that some spirits were trying to communicate. One particular spirit really caught my attention. He gave me that creepy feeling and at first I thought that he was with Cathy Ramirez, the founder of Ghost Tours of Kansas, LLC.

Of course as soon as I said I sensed a spirit, the paranormal investigative team that was with us, Kansas Paranormal Research Society- KPRS and the founder of Catch A Ghost Paranormal Equipment, Terry, all rushed over to set up some equipment. They wanted to get evidence of the paranormal, this made me nervous.

I wasn’t used to being surrounded by all of that equipment so it took me a few minutes to adjust and to be able to sense him again but I am sure that his name was Jonathon. He didn’t mind being called John but he definitely didn’t like being called Johnny. He was real clear about that. I felt very strongly that he liked Cathy because she was pretty. It was as though she reminded him of someone he cared deeply for.

John showed me that he was having trouble breathing, like his air supply was cut off at the throat. I felt that he had been very sick and that he was determined to communicate with me but I also felt that maybe I wasn’t getting all he was trying to tell me because I was nervous and there was other spirits I was sensing.

After he went away from me I saw the image of hanging, so I know that someone had hanged there or near there but the image wasn’t real clear. I sensed a man falling as well. I wasn’t sure if they were connected or if it was another spirit. It seemed to me that there were many.

I felt the presence of a young girl, maybe 13 or 14 years old, and that her name was Mattie, I believe her first name was actually Matilda. She was there with her brother, Jimmy, whom she felt she had to protect, she needed to take care of him. I also felt as though she was afraid of another there, his name was Bartholomew, maybe Barry.

After the walk around the building the team set up in the places I had sensed things and the investigation began. We were all called together to get equipment and find out where we were going to be. We were introduced to the people that would join in the group as guests and then we talked about where equipment was set up so that no one would actually run into it or contaminate it. For example, there was some track a ghost powder on the floor on a piece of cardboard and they didn’t want us to walk in it.

As I walked passed the doorway to the room next to the kitchen I heard a man say, “I don’t want you here.” He didn’t yell but he had a firm tone and said it very clearly. My initial thought was that one of the men on the team didn’t want me to be there but then I realized there was no one in the room and the equipment had already been set up in there.

We started by breaking into teams and each team decided where to go first. I was asked to tag along wherever I felt called to be. I was given a flashlight, a two-way radio, and a digital recorder and I chose to stay in the bar area where I now sensed Mattie and her brother to be.

I walked toward the restrooms knowing that there was some activity there. Earlier I had used the restroom and in the stall next to me the toilet had flushed but no one was in the restroom with me. I will admit that freaked me out just a little bit, okay, maybe a lot. At that point, I wasn’t sure if this was a good idea or not but I was already there so I needed to do it.

I sat quietly listening, trying to relax my mind so I could hear the spirits talk to me. I wasn’t sure I would be able to with the distractions of other people getting things in the room. K2 meters were going off, people were talking to a spirit trying to get her name. It was Mattie. I wanted to know more so I sat back and listened for any messages that came to me.

I also sensed that there was a woman there, her name was Ella, she said she was in the picture. It took me a little bit to figure out what she was talking about but later someone spoke of an Ella and talked about how she was at one time the owner of the Riverhouse building. It made sense to me and I remembered that earlier in the afternoon Cathy Ramirez had shown me a picture that had Mattie and Jimmy in it, and it also had Ella.

Someone on the team asked, “Do you like to play with toys, Mattie?” I heard in my head, “I like music.” so I told the team she said she likes music. Then the team asked her, “Do you like music?” and she responded by lighting up the lights on the meter. The team decided to play a song on a cell phone and asked, “Mattie, do you like this song?” She didn’t respond, the meters didn’t move. Then I heard “Red River Valley” in my head. It wasn’t just the name of the song, I could hear her singing it.

I told the team that she liked “Red River Valley” and the member that had the phone played the song. Suddenly the lights on the K-2 meter went crazy lighting up all the way to red repeatedly. Then when the song was over someone played a different kind of music, more modern country music, the K-2 meter did nothing, then they played some more music and nothing.

I heard her say “Camp Town Races” and I asked, “Camp Town Races?” so one of the team members pulled up the song on his phone and played it. This part is a little strange to me. For the most part I trust all that I feel or hear in my own head because I know what I know even if I don’t know how but when it comes to equipment and stuff like that I am not real sure what to believe. This part I find very interesting because this song was a song I didn’t know, or at least I didn’t know I knew. I had always thought of this song as “The Do-Da Song” I had no idea that the name of the song was “Camp Town Races.”

When the song started and I realized what it was the K-2 meter began to go off again repeatedly. It was strange to me that it had went so long without going off but then would go off in response to music or questions. It seemed that every time someone would ask a question we would get some response for yes or no response for no on the meter.

At one point someone said, “We have some toys over under the windows.” and explained that it was okay for her to touch them. About five minutes after that the toy began to beep and a small red light flashed brightly. The only way that this toy would move was if someone touched it or walked within a couple of inches of it. Of course, we all went across the room to check it out. It went off again while we were standing there. No one touched it, no one was near it, we were not walking around but we did have a light shining on it. It did it one more time before I was called to another area by a separate group.

The next group I was with was getting some readings on the stairs but they had determined that maybe there was some wiring or the IR Camera was causing some interference. While I was standing on the stairs I saw a beautiful woman, very elegant, she said her name was Lucinda, Lucy. I felt that she was a gentle sort of woman and that children liked her, would follow her. I also saw a man pass on the stairs, his name was Henry, though that was all I got from him.

There were many personal experiences for me through out the night but John stands out to me the most. He was someone that I felt really wanted my attention. He was in the building attached to this one but not the restaurant itself. I could feel him so strongly. I felt him choking, gasping for air, and sickly. My stomach was queasy and my head was spinning. I was sweating profusely and I felt like someone had their hands around my neck cutting off my air supply. It was as though they were pressing their thumbs into my throat.

As I felt this I kept seeing someone pass in front of a window in another room. I thought I had seen them looking out the window when I passed by on my way into the building but upon entry to the building I realized no one could get that close to the window because of the stuff that was stored in there. I finally asked if I could walk over into that room because he was showing himself and then disappearing. It was very frustrating to me. I wanted him to stay long enough I could get a good look at him, but he wouldn’t.

As I walked closer I got that his face was burned, I felt like my face was on fire, and could picture the images of scars on a mans face in my head. I saw a wooden leg, like a peg. It reminded me of a chair leg. I had never seen anything like that before but I was sure that he was missing a leg.

I tried very hard to get him to tell me a name but all he would say was Meriwether. That didn’t make any sense to me. He repeated it at least two more times. I continued to travel through the room trying to get some answers. I know he was staying close to the window most of the time. Then I heard, “Lewis Meriwether.”

Someone asked me, “Wasn’t that the Lewis and Clark guy?” To be honest, I had no clue but earlier in the afternoon while sitting outside the building I heard Lewis and Clark in my head. Upon further investigation of the area we discovered a trail marker that said Lewis and Clark but I didn’t feel that this man was one of them, maybe he had worked with them or traveled with them.

After the investigation we helped clean up the area and then we all stood outside. I was not ready to stop investigating. I still felt there was more that needed to be revealed, more that hadn’t been said.

As we stood outside I mentioned that I had seen Lucinda and someone said that coincides with stories of children that had followed a woman upstairs. Only the children had seen her. I didn’t get all of the details but I am sure this was her, it fit what I felt about her.

A few days after the investigation one of the guest investigators sent me some photos of what he believed to be the man from the other room that I was picking up on. Then another set of photos was posted by another investigator. In this set of photos there was a picture of a peg leg, just as I had seen, no too far in front of the window where I had felt and seen this spirit pass. The peg leg had no body attached to it, it wasn’t in other photos and no one in the group was dressed in a way that could be mistaken for it.

As time goes by, more and more evidence is being brought forth to confirm what I saw, felt, and heard. Not too bad for a first investigation. It was very exciting and I am looking forward to the next.

Photo courtesy of Terry Rowe, Catch A Ghost Paranormal Equipment

Curses, are they real?

In the movies when a witch or warlock casts a spell, there are often lights, or glimmer, and big puffs of smoke. Sometimes you will see a trail of leaves floating gently in a circle across the sky and landing upon the one the magic was sent to. It does not really work that way in real life but magic is indeed at work everywhere.

The magic to be discussed here is not illusions, or tricks to fool you into believing one way or another, rather, it is the power within. Anyone can perform this magic, in fact; many do it without even knowing what they are doing or the consequences that may follow.

Curses are indeed a part of the magic that lives in this world. Many do not realize they are walking around with a curse upon them and they may themselves be imposing that same curse on another without even knowing it.

Children are extremely vulnerable to the curses of this type. If a child is told often that they are bad, they may truly feel no self-worth and begin to believe that they are bad. This is where the magic comes in; they believe it so they become it. Yes, it is a choice, but how often do you make a choice that is right when you cannot see all of your options?

A wife, with an abusive spouse, may truly believe that she is not good enough, or that she is crazy because she hears these words repeatedly as she is slowly torn into bits and pieces. Her heart wants only to be loved and accepted by the one she believed to love her, the one she thought she could trust, yet in the end she is cursed with the belief that no one could love her, she could do no better than what she has now.

This type of magic works for good as well, not just a curse. Think of the times that you were told how smart you were, or sexy, or how you could do anything and in reality you found yourself lifted to the point of accomplishing things you once thought you could not accomplish.

It is indeed by magic that this happens. It is your own power, your own faith. While many merely relate faith to religion or some occult practice, here it is a spiritual tool working within the spirit of ones personal self.

Each person is designed and therefore destined to be unique, yet somehow, the same laws of nature and the universe bind them all. They are all vulnerable to the curses that are carelessly thrown about and anyone can fall victim to a curse that brings them down.

Even society imposes these curses on individuals by implying that if one does not look a certain way, make a certain amount of money, or have the “perfect” relationship there must be something wrong with them, they are damaged goods, or are somehow broken and cannot be fixed.

A curse can be broken; a spell can be changed, by the choices one makes in their life. A person is not destined to be destitute they choose to be. No one is destined to be without love in their life, they choose to be alone by either pushing others away consciously or unconsciously.

So, how is it that one is to grow beyond the curse or break the spell? Do you have to have a specialist to do it? Is it possible to get rid of a curse completely?

It is possible that one will have to go through some professional sources to help them deal with the curses that have been placed upon them over the years. Some issues from childhood can be extremely difficult to face and work through.

If you had a traumatic childhood, a history or mental illness, or addictive tendencies it is important that you seek professional help before trying to face your past head on to find what curses lead you to where you are now.

Recognizing the curses is the first step in removing them. A perfect example would be the abused woman that escapes her abusive husband only to constantly hear in her mind the hurtful words he drilled into her. Maybe he said, “You will never have anything without me, no car, no home, no love, nothing. You will always be a nobody. You will never be good enough for anyone else. You were lucky to have me.”

The woman could choose to allow these things to go deep within her and become a curse so that they lead her to a life of gloom and despair. She could end up never being with anyone else, or having a home or a car, then again, she could end up avoiding the curse by believing that she is more and can have more.

All curses work the same way, they only have power if you give them power. If you believe in it, you could find some sort of protection spell or ritual that will allow you to protect you from the curse, help you move beyond the curse, or send it back to where it came from. Are you doomed to a life of misery and heartache if you do not believe in spells or the power of rituals? The answer is, “No, you are not destined to be miserable and heartbroken.

You can overcome anything that comes your way even self-imposed curses. The first thing you must do in order to rid yourself of the curses that may be hindering your growth is to become aware. Know yourself, know what it is that binds you, and then acknowledge the fact that these are curses that can be removed, they are not permanent fixtures in your being.

Soon everything will be very clear, past, present, and future. Then, slowly but surely, you will find a happier journey to a more peaceful and successful life.

Messages in the Moonlight

Public Domain Image

The darkness settles all around me as the moon begins to rise higher into the sky. I am not frightened of the dark or even the shadows that seem to shift around me. All I can hear is the soft echoes of each breath I take slowly in and out.

No birds are calling in the distance, no crickets are singing and the wind is at rest. The leaves on the trees lie silent in wait of the breeze without even the slightest tremble.

Though it is dark, the light of the moon dances off the pebbles that form the narrow path beneath my feet. I cannot see where this path is leading me as it curves slightly to the north around a line of trees that block my view. I feel no fear as I step forward one foot in front of the other.

Somewhere deep within me is the feeling that I have taken this path before. I pause for a moment in wonder to examine my surroundings further. It is so dark that I cannot be sure so I continue onward in the hope that something will tell me I am on the right path that I am not going in circles.

Gradually I feel as though the path is becoming narrower but I must continue. I know that until I can find an opening in which the light of the moon is bright enough to see clearly, what surrounds me I cannot turn back.

Somewhere in the night, I hear the sound of a cricket sing, then the sound of an owl screeching from a distance. I know that there is life out there and that I am not alone. I walk onward listening to the sound of the pebbles grinding into the dirt that lay below and I know that somewhere someone is doing exactly what I am doing at this very moment.

Something inside of them is driving them onward though they may have no idea what it is. A calling from somewhere in their soul makes them long to search though they may not know what they are looking for or how they will recognize it if they see it. They just keep walking knowing that if they are meant to find it, they will.

Clearing my mind of distracting thoughts and the numerous steps I have taken I realize that I have come to a clearing. It is unfamiliar to me, yet, somehow it feels so safe and peaceful. The smell of meadow grasses lingers in the damp night air along with the smell of fresh cedar. I can smell the cedar but I cannot see the cedar trees. I can barely make out the scent of patchouli and honeysuckle as a soft breeze brushes gently over me.

The sky is clear above me and the moon is now brighter than it was when I started out. The black of the night sky is painted with sparkling light and soft smudges so far out in the universe that I can barely see them. Though the moon is only a crescent I can make out the entire circle of the moon because it is so bright.

I pause to rest for a moment in the clearing and enjoy the view. I can see the plants glowing with life and brilliant color even in the darkness. If only I could paint it, the way I see it. If only I could describe in detail the tiny leaves that line each plant or the softness of the petals on the wildflowers as I brush my hand across them. If others could only taste the sweetness that lingers in the air or smell the grass through the words that I write then maybe they could truly experience the beauty of nature the way that I see it and feel it.

A rustling in the tall grasses catches my attention and startles me for a moment as I am unsure whether what lurks within is dangerous or not. I do not move for fear of startling it or bringing unwanted attention to myself. Then a small fawn steps out and I know that nearby must be its mother though her steps are so peaceful I have not heard her.

The fawn shows no fear as it comes to get a closer look at me. I sit quietly observing the way the small fawn lifts each leg so gracefully and ever so gently, as it steps even closer to me. Tiny spots remain on its side and hindquarter and in the moonlight; the spots seem to glow like small reflectors. He is close enough that I can hear him breathe but I do not move. I simply stay still waiting and wondering what he will do next.

As the small fawn tilts its head to a clover patch near my left hand, I remain watching it slowly take a bite of its sweet treat and wondering if it realizes that I am there. Then it turns to me as it chews and looks at me as if it is waiting for me to take a bite. Slowly I lift my hand from the grass and pick a small bunch of clover to offer him. He does not run but he does not take it right away. He moves in a little closer and looks as though he is unsure of me, then slowly he lowers his mouth to my hand, never taking his eye off me, and gently he eats a small portion out of my hand.

He stops chewing at the sound of the grass rustling then he quickly darts off to meet up with his mother as she steps out into the clearing. She pauses only for a moment to look at me, then turns with her child, and disappears again into the darkness.

I feel so peaceful here but I know that I must continue onward as my heart tells me that this is not where I am to stay. I inhale one last time the scent of the meadow grass and honeysuckle before leaving the beauty and light of the clearing then step softly back onto the tiny path.

The crickets are singing loudly now and in the distance, I can hear the sound of a family of frogs singing. Every now and then as a soft breeze waves through the trees I can hear the sound of water trickling and I know without seeing it that there must be a small creek nearby.

For a moment, I notice what appears to be a person ahead of me on the path, not to far in front of me but there. As I get closer, I think to myself it must have been a shadow cast from a tree but somehow I do not feel alone. I feel as though someone is there with me. I decided to call out softly to see if anyone would answer, “Hello is anyone there?” There was no answer but again I saw the shadow figure and this time it was closer and standing very still. I could see now that this was not the shadow of a tree, there was someone there with me, but I could not see who it was.

I tried to get a closer look but it seemed as though the closer I got the more translucent the figure became. I tried to call out, to see if they were okay, if they were lost or needed help and still they did not respond. Then in a moment, the figure was gone, as quickly as it appeared, it vanished into the night.

I thought maybe it was just shadows and my eyes playing tricks on my because of the darkness so I continued onward alone. After a few steps, I realized that again the night had fallen silent. It was so quiet that when I stopped walking I could almost hear the sound of my own heart beating.

It seemed strange to me that all of the sounds I was hearing were now completely silent. Then I felt the touch of a hand upon my shoulder. I turned and no one was there. I thought for a moment that maybe I had spooked myself, as I felt startled by the touch, but then I felt it on my hand. I saw nothing but suddenly I felt so safe. I felt as though someone was there all along, guiding me.

The touch was soft and warm, not cold or disturbing and the light from the moon seemed brighter again on the path. Then I heard the soft sound of a familiar voice saying, “Do you remember when we used to walk together late in the night?” My heart filled with overwhelming emotion at the sound of this voice. I knew him and I asked, “Is it really you? How are you here with me? Am I dead?”

The voice responded peacefully, “I have always been with you but you were too distracted to see me or hear me. You allowed the light to shine in your life but you did not see it? All of the distractions around you clouded your faith. It is not enough to believe in the afterlife or even to talk about it but you must be clear in order to channel its energy and willing to allow the energy to flow through you. It is a gift from God, just as each of us is a gift from God. We must all see it within before we can see it without.”

Tears flooded my eyes and for a moment, I could see him, physically, just as I had always known him. He really was there with me. I knew the words he spoke to me were true, not only because of the miracle I was experiencing but because I had known it all along. I just wanted so much to be able to have him with me again that I felt he would never be there.

He told me, “You have talked to me, you have felt my presence, and you have seen me in your dreams. Why did you doubt that it was real? Why did you think to yourself that maybe it was just you wishing for me? Do you doubt God’s power? You say that you do not, yet you do not believe that he could allow us to be close to those that we loved in life in the afterlife. Too many people lack the faith that it is possible, so they cannot see or hear what is going on around them all the time. There will come a time when they too will see what I am showing you.”

I wanted so much to remain in that one spot and talk with him forever. I wanted to listen to the sound of his voice, to see him in the light of the moon with the smile on his face but he urged me to continue onward and reminded me that he is with me. He said, “You know that I would not leave completely. You felt me before when I wasn’t physically there, why would now be any different?”

As I thought about the words he said to me, all I could say in response was, “I love you, I have always loved you and that will never change.” No other words or questions formed within me. I could not think of anything that I wanted to know or that he had not covered. I wanted to stay but I knew that I needed to move forward so I asked only one thing, “Will you be back often?”

He responded, “I am always looking in on you and yes, I will be back often. You will see me, now that you are not looking with your eyes, and you will hear me, now that you are not listening with your ears. Remember, love is love, and a spiritual connection lasts for all eternity. Listen with your spirit, see with your spirit, feel with your spirit, and those that are connected to you in spirit will always remain with you. You can call on us when you need us and just as you feel us or hear us, we hear and feel you.”

With the blink of an eye, I could no longer see him and as the tears flowed like a river from my eyes I realized that what he said to me, I had always known, but somehow I had not believed it for myself. Then I heard him say, “Yes, now you truly see!”

Suddenly the darkness faded and the moon was dipping lower into the horizon. Surrounding the tiny path on both sides was magenta and turquoise colored flowers dancing in and out of white, lavender, blue, orange, red, and yellow flowers. The colors were brighter than I had ever seen them before. Small dewdrops graced the petals and leaves of the flowers. The trees were the deepest shades of green mixed with the pretty pink or white blossoms that graced their branches.

The sky was ablaze with shades of orange and crimson as the sun quickly grew larger and brought more and more light to my path. The pebbles beneath my feet were various sizes, shapes, and colors and they sparkled in the sunlight like diamonds on plush green carpet. For the first time in my life, I am seeing everything from within and it is more beautiful than I ever could have imagined.

Solo Flight

Photo by: Daisy Nelson, Photos By Daisy

In the mist the sound of silence surrounds me. My face and hair are damp and cool. I cannot see what is right before my eyes so I close them and allow my thoughts to take over. Visions of the earth, as if I were gliding above, fill my mind.

Soaring on the wind I see all is before me. No longer am I blind to the images of nature. I can see the tree standing erect along the river, its vines entangled within its branches. Wet moss dangles from the limbs and drips like a waterfall to the ground. Like an umbrella it shelters all that sits beneath it from the cold damp rains of the forest.

The water flows freely along the banks of the river, so smooth, yet so deep. Tall grasses line the side of the river for a short distance and beyond the grass there sit’s a meadow in quiet. It is peaceful and undisturbed by human touch. Flowers of purple and white are intermingled with tall grass and all is soaked from the mist.

As my flight continues the smell of the mist fills me and the air I breathe is clean. I see a bluff ahead and the moss covered rocks that stand tall before me. A small opening in the middle leaves wonder as to what may be hiding within, Only darkness can be seen from my view yet I feel drawn to explore it further.

Upon entering the darkness of this cavern I see the nest of some family of critters that chose to hide within the shelter of stone walls; protected from the elements of wind, rain, and snow. While gliding carefully through the cave and into the depths I discover an clearing filled with light from above and within it a small pool of clear water. Surrounding it are plants of green and red some with blossoming flowers of white. Beautiful stones rest all around and above is an opening to the sky.

Climbing higher in my flight I seek to find the clouds and be free of the darkness that is behind me. Higher and higher I climb knowing that the only lighted way out is forward and in this light I will find the adventures I seek.

Bursting with energy I escape the small crevice that penetrates the earth and there, all around me, is grass. To my right I see a set of large boulders on the edge of a cliff that over looks the river where the opening to the cave began. Though I took time to explore this new path and enjoy its many gifts I have not lost my way.

Floating on a breeze I see the sun peek through the clouds. Beams of sunlight bathe the ground below and the mist stops as if the suns rays evaporated every drop from the sky. Below the ground remains wet and the colors glisten in the sunlight reminding me of a freshly painted canvas. Breathtaking beauty is slowly engulfed by the natural rays of the sun as the clouds drift into the distance.

I can see further than I have ever seen as the land stretches out from horizon to horizon. Wooded forests and meadows lend to the harmony and balance of the seen. Waterfalls and tiny streams filled with natures abundance are visited by deer and raccoons. Rabbits hop freely in and out of tall grass and small bushes along the edge of the forest and an eagle takes flight right before my eyes.

Suddenly a song is in the air and its tune is the sweetest melody I’ve ever heard. I know I must return, that now my eyes can see, but will I appreciate all that I have learned? Will I see with my eyes what has been seen with my soul?

Slowly I open my eyes and again I am within my body. Damp from the mist I step forward in the sun. I allow the warmth of its rays to engulf me as I stand on the muddy path that is before me. I look around and see the colors that I remember from my journey.

I see the light that is provided and the gifts that nature has in store for me. I feel the peace and harmony of nature surround me and cradle me like a child. I am safe and I am unafraid. I make my destiny as I choose the road I am on and I know that when darkness penetrates my soul I can again be free within the light.

I lift my head and trudge onward; confident, strong, and alive knowing I am a part of all that surrounds me.

Awakening your inner-psychic

This is a photo of a card from the
Soul Cards2 deck by Deborah Koff-Chapin 

The fact is, all people, whether they believe themselves to be or not, have the ability to awaken their inner-psychic and allow it to enhance their life and the lives of those around them. Once a person becomes aware of their personal abilities, they can do anything they set their mind to, believe in, and work hard toward achieving. They can increase their abilities through regular practice and learning.

The first step in awakening the inner-psychic is to “Accept” that anything is possible and that there is a reason for everything. One must believe in them and their abilities or they cannot make them work to their advantage.

The next step is to “Allow” the abilities to work in their own life. They must trust that the abilities can enhance their life and the lives of others and begin using those skills. To acknowledge that they have abilities is not enough; one must allow things to happen, as they will.

Once the psychic begins to use the skills, “Accept”, and “Allow” their gifts into their life, the next step is to “Practice” each skill on a regular basis. The more the skills are used the more fine-tuned they will become. It is in a way like building muscles, if you do not workout each day you will not be as finely defined, as you want to be.

There is one final step to take in making the psychic abilities all that they can be; that is to continue to “Learn” new skills. It is also important to learn new ways to use the skills that already exist within you. There is a lot to learn and experience in all areas of life, it is a constant journey and along the way, new technologies and advances come from those that continue to dream and to learn.

With these steps, a new world of possibility is opened to the individual. These are simple, easy to remember steps that most of us hear from a very young age, it is merely a matter of choosing to use these steps in your life to make it better, in all areas.

Embracing The Magick Within

The alarm goes off, you jump out of bed and begin the day. As the morning begins to unfold before your eyes what do you see? Is it the mounds of errands that are planned for the day? Is it that annoying person that you work with that you cannot seem to hide from no matter how hard you try?
Now is the time to take a moment out and look to the Magick that lives within. It isn’t time to panic or be angry about all that you have to do, it isn’t time to stress that everything may go wrong today. Now is the time to see the light that is clouded by the darkness of anxiety and fear.

It is amazing the difference taking a few moments first thing in the morning can do for increasing the positives in ones day. For example, when your feet first touch the floor say thank you to Spirit for the blessings in your life. One for each foot. Then as you comb your hair, look into the mirror and talk about how smoothly things are going to go today.

If you work outside of the home, smile at each person you pass, count in your mind how many smiles you receive in return and believe that each of those smiles is out of friendship. Tell yourself how blessed you are to have so many friends.

Okay, I admit that we all have days that things do not turn out as we would like them to, but I can also tell you from personal experience that for each positive you send out, you shall surely get three in return. When the good outweighs the bad you are working from your inner-spirit, from the light inside of you, from the Magick within.

As you share the magick that lives within you, it grows bringing more light into your life; Activities become less strenuous, food tastes better, and the world seems to be more at peace. As you begin to embrace this magickal energy inside of you, your life will begin to mirror the image of your soul. The lighter the spirit the lighter the world around you becomes.

We have all heard of the Law of Attraction, we have all seen the ads that say, “Anything is possible“ from one that is loaded with money, but the fact is, the Law of Attraction works with the magick that lives within us, the faith that we can do all we want to do, and the willingness to step out of our shell and allow Spirit/ The Universe to bring it to us.

Each person is born with the ability to sense things of importance in their life, for example an infants instinct to cry out in hunger. The psychic that resides in all of us has given us the sense to feel what is good or bad for us, to know danger lurks around the corner so to avoid that path, or to sense the hurt of a child when they are away from home. Some of us have experienced that feeling that we have lived a certain moment before, or the knowing that someone was going to visit or call; all of these things are examples of some psychic ability.

Psychic abilities, the Law of Attraction, and Spiritual Faith can all work together to enhance our lives if we will only allow them too. The first step is to acknowledge them, to show faith in the idea that anything is possible. The next step is allowing them to work in your life; taking action and steps to get what we want out of life. Then we must allow all of these positive energies to flow through us.

There is a down side to everything but why dwell on it, what does it give you? If you prefer to live a life of happiness you can not allow sadness to rule you. For those that are miserable and choose to stay that way the down side here is that happiness can creep in. The down side for those that wish to live a happier and healthier life, you may find that negative friends begin to disappear from around you.

Those negative people that choose to remain negative will not want to be around someone that is happy, busy, and living because you are no longer focusing on their depression and negativity. You are no longer feeling pity for them so they must find someone else to join in their misery. This doesn’t sound like too bad of an outcome for you, but it is definitely a loss for them. Hopefully one day, those friends, will follow the example you have set and find their own inner-light. Hopefully those friends will eventually embrace the magick within just as you have done.

Think about it...

Yesterday as the world turned in its usual way I found a great many things surrounded me that made me feel out of whack. Somehow those things really seemed to get to me. I allowed them in and from that moment that I allowed them in those negatives began to take over. My entire day was filled with the feeling of inadequacy. I felt as though nothing I did was good enough.
Then something happened, I realized what I was allowing in my life. I had allowed the feelings and thoughts of others to invade me. I took their negatives and made them my own. Oh sure, I had plenty going on that would stress anyone out but this time I allowed myself to feel depressed over those things.

Once I was feeling low, the next negative was able to creep in. This drama and that drama, most having nothing to do with me at all, seemed to pile onto my shoulders. I began working toward fixing the negatives instead of focusing on the positives.

Once I realized that things were beginning to spin out of control, I paused and found the beauty of life and nature that was visible to me at that moment. Suddenly things seemed clearer, brighter, and more peaceful. As I continued to focus on those positives I found myself appreciating the little things and that made my life seem fuller.

I am writing this as a reminder to all that we are all human. We will all have moments that feel as though life is more than we can bear, but there is hope. We have to find within ourselves the positives that bring us happiness. We need to put aside the worries and sadness in order to see the beauty of things around us and fully appreciate it. When we can do that we can move forward into the light of happiness.

Great memories of things that brought us through sadness or times we were truly happy can help us get through the rough patches along the path of life. We can focus on the magick of love that we shared with another, or the passion we found in ourselves as we jumped into doing a favorite hobby or project. Any number of the special memories that live within us can guide us to happiness again.

It is a fact that when we can find the positives in a little thing we can accomplish anything.

Think about it... if you pass someone on the street and they give you a dirty look your first reaction is a negative one, but maybe they were having a bad day and in no way intended to direct it to you. They did however just put you into the negative, though they were not trying to.

On the other hand if someone passes you on the street and you are having a bad day but they give you a smile or say something friendly it tends to turn your bad day into a good day, and you are compelled to send a smile right back to them in a cheery offering of silent understanding.

Now is the moment to reach out of the darkness that may have been clouding your view, your moment, and your life...share a smile, a happy moment, or positive word with another and feel how good making someone else can feel. Brighten your day by brightening the day of someone else. See life as a positive, not a burden.

Allow the positives of the life to fill you up and overflow from you to others...this alone will bring you great joy and it will set the standard for the world, the universe, and Spirit to send you even more positives. Be thankful for the little things and allow that thankfulness, that gratitude to fill your heart with happiness.

Think about what you do and say and how it will affect others around you. Say something positive and say it with a smile. It is a guarantee that the universe will act in kind and the happiness that you share with others will be returned to you. Don't forget to be thankful for each positive moment for that too shall reward you.

Many blessings to you as you begin your journey today. Each day is the first day of the rest of your life and each step on your path is the next step along your wonderful, magickal, and happy journey!

Many smiles from Lena

Chilean miners being rescued is a miracle beyond measure

Headlines all over the television and the internet are talking about the miraculous rescue of 33 Chilean miners; Topeka and Lawrence are no exception. People all around the world are watching as the miners that have been trapped under ground in Chile are rescued one by one.

After being trapped a mile beneath the surface for ten long weeks the first of the 33 trapped miners made their way to freedom as the world watched on television and the internet. At last count eleven had surfaced and efforts continue to bring the rest to safety.

Their inspiring story is being broadcast through the feeds on the internet and Facebook is filled with status messages about the faith, hope, love and prayers that helped carry these miners through the long frightening days.

They pulled together as a team and shared their resources while the world above them prayed for their safe return to their families and friends. Even when it seemed hopeless the workers and miners never gave up. The miners continued to work together to keep one another alive and calm.

Now they are being rescued as the world is witness to the miracle that all things are possible in faith. Their story is one to make the rest of us stop and think about what is really important and remember that so much more gets done when we stick together.

Prayers of thanks go out to Spirit from around the globe and to the workers that spent numerous hours working to bring these men back to the surface.

May each of us be thankful for all that we have, all that we are given, and all that will be as we rejoice in this miracle. May each life be filled with peace, light, love, and ever continuing faith as we journey forward into the future.

Mastering the Tarot with local area writer and certified Tarot Master Instructor, Dawn Rothwell Grey

Mastering the art of Tarot can be a long and difficult process if attempting to do it on your own. Dawn Rothwell Grey, Certified Tarot Master Instructor, offers a complete course to help you work your way through from Tarot reader to Master Level Tarot Reader and to do it in an easy manner.
“Mastering the Tarot: A Complete Home Study Course” is intended to take the student through each step of mastering the Tarot in a way that will allow the student to fully develop their skills and understanding in their own way and at their own pace.

Upon completion of the manual you will be a Tarot Master and able to obtain a certificate from Dawn stating that you have completed this Master level course.

Dawn is highly accredited as are her courses. Her training and personal experiences have guided her in providing this course and many others to the public. Best of all, she makes them affordable to all that have the calling to pursue a spiritual path.

Throughout the course Dawn takes the student through each card and the basics as well as the in depth description based on numerology, astrology, and the history of the Tarot. She explains in detail the way to build your very own tarot journal and how to put each reading in story form so it is easily understood by the client.
The course focuses on the symbolic meanings of the cards and how they relate to the daily lives of the clients. She also covers the ideas, thoughts, and spreads as she leads the student through the manual with exercises to help develop those skills from one level to the next.

She even includes the story of the Major Arcana or the “Journey of the Fool” and how to write your own story based on your own experiences. She will guide you through finding keywords and phrases to help you learn and develop into the most skillful reader you can be.

Dawn discusses in detail how to approach a reading with a set code of ethics and standard practices to avoid possible lawsuits. Students learn to increase their credibility with writing articles, spreads, books, and instruction manuals of their own all while developing their own techniques.

Everything within the pages of this well written and detailed manual will prove to be useful to both beginning and advanced Tarot Readers. It is recommended that each student study “Insight Tarot” also by Dawn, as this book is equivalent to the prequel of “Mastering the Tarot: A Complete Home Study Course.”

Dawn includes contact information in the event that the student needs extra assistance or has questions regarding the course in each copy of the manual.

For more information on this and other courses designed and instructed by Dawn Rothwell Grey visit the Reiki Rays Institute website.

Related Sites:

Aruna Center for Spiritual Transformation

World Metaphysical Association

Reiki Rays Institute Facebook fan page

Aruna Center for Spiritual Transformation Facebook fan page

Dream Talk

Many will experience at least one thought in their life that proves to be more than just a passing thought. It may be that this thought will come in the form of a dream or vision that tells them of something they do not yet realize is a picture or image of what is to come.
Some dreams are exactly that, a dream, others are much more. They may carry with them hidden messages through symbolism or hidden meanings within the actions of the dream. They may actually reflect what will be done in a situation or what will occur due to a certain situation.

An example of the difference between a bizarre dream and a predictive dream would be something in the dream makes it so real that you can not forget it. It leaves you sad or happy and you wake in tears or laughing aloud. This is not the way we are jolted awake by a nightmare, this is as if we are awake the whole time we are dreaming.

The steps that play out in the dream are so vivid it is as if we are actually taking them. We wake feeling the side of our face being cold as if the wind that blew in the dream had really been blowing directly on our face.

For example, I had a dream that told me that a friend of mine was going to be in an accident due to his heavy drinking. In the dream I could see him lying in the grass on the side of a gravel road where he had crashed, and demolished, a motorcycle. It was so vivid that I could smell the dirt and dust in the air and feel the heat from the pipes on the motorcycle. I could smell the liquor on his breath and knew that he was in serious danger.

When I woke from the dream I felt that I must get in contact with him but I was unsure of how to do that. I hadn’t seem him for many years. After a few months had passed I found that the man in my dream had been in a horrific motorcycle accident around the same time that I had the dream. He was lucky to be alive. Someone had come along and found him lying in the grass on a gravel road.

Because I had not found him or gotten in touch with him and I was unsure of what night I had the dream I couldn’t say for sure that it was before it happened, it may have been that at the moment he had the accident somehow he thought of me and I felt it. The point is, it was very intense, and extremely real.

How do we distinguish between what is reality and what is fantasy in a dream? I feel that we can tell the difference by the feel of the dream, even if the images are quite strange or seem to be very imaginative. For example, animals talking in our dreams. It isn’t logical, in reality, that we may hear them as if they are speaking in our language, yet if they appear to be speaking to us maybe the message is something of reality.

I do not know that dreams can tell us everything we need to know but I do know that they can tell us much of what we need to know. When they speak to us of something that somehow relates to what is happening in our day to day life it is probably a message we should pay close attention to.

Forgive Yourself - Tips for Being Your True Self- Beliefnet.com

I really enjoyed reading this and thought I would share.

Forgive Yourself - Tips for Being Your True Self- Beliefnet.com

Magical Night Sky

I remember as a child being fascinated by the magic of the night sky. In school we took a trip to the local planetarium where the dome shaped ceiling filled with pictures and a rumbling voice surrounded us with stories about Earth and the Universe. As Earth turned on its axis and our country grew dark on the screen the dome again was alive with the stars and planets of the Universe. As I watched them carefully I remember thinking how beautiful and magical it seemed and wondering if we could get something like this for my bedroom.

I never really outgrew my passion for the stars and the way the tides move with the changes of the moon. I think as I grew into adulthood I found an even greater love for the sky, both day and night.

Tonight there is a meteor shower caused by a comet passing by and as the earth spins through the particles of the tail of this comet the particles will burn in the Earth's atmosphere causing a light show in the night sky. The Perseid Meteor Shower is believed to be most easily visible by the naked eye tonight and tomorrow night.

During the day we can not see the particles burning in the atmosphere and being disintegrated but at night it is like fireworks in the distance. We can not hear the sounds of them without special equipment but I have heard that the comet sings as it passes the earth. The particles whizzing by are said to make a lovely sound like the sounds of a meditation song.

I can imagine the view from outside the city lights on the open plains of western Kansas...wow, it must be amazing! This would be a great reason, if for no other, to call it "The Land of Awe's." It must look as though the sky meets the Earth in all directions and be absolutely spectacular to see!

For more information on the Perseid Meteor Shower check out the following links:

• http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/05aug_perseids
• http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/perseids_2010.html
• http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010=119

My Weeping Heart

My heart is like the Weeping Willow. When the winds of love brush the branches they sway and dance in delight, but as that wind passes away the branches hang still and heavy. The clouds of the incoming storms shade the earth and the heavy branches cast a shadow beneath them, my heart is filled with darkness, leaving me lonely. Tears shall surely fall as the rains do to the earth washing over me like a flood. It is only then that I realize this too shall renew itself. The branches of the Willow shall not remain still and again the sun will shine; the winds will caress them because the love of the spirit lasts forever. Once more my heart will rejoice in the happiness and the light just as the Willow will sway in the warmth of the sunlight.

Dream Analysis: Double Murder? Me? What?

Figuring out what all of it means

It is strange how some nights we can sleep so peaceful and relaxed and other nights our dreams seem to take us to places we never want to be. Some dreams that start out with mundane tasks turn into a nightmare as they progress.



My dream...

I was talking to my insurance man, of all people, and he was telling me that he knew I was guilty. He said, he knew that I had done it and for that he didn't want anything to do with me. In the dream he was not an insurance man, he was an attorney.

I didn't understand, even in the dream, what it was I was supposedly guilty for. I asked and his response was, "I know you murdered those two innocent people. I know you did it so don't try to tell me you didn't. "

In the dream my family and many of my friends were around me. I was trying to pay my bills and do the grocery shopping when the "attorney" approached me in City Hall. I am not sure what that was about but here in Lawrence, City Hall is where the water, trash, and sewer get paid. Myself, I pay those utilities to the landlord when I pay the rent.

My landlord was the one in the dream that I was paying at City Hall. This is definitely not where I normally pay the rent.

When I heard that I was being accused of murder I felt scared because in the dream I knew I wasn't guilty but I didn't know how to prove my innocence.



I am not sure what this dream means but I do know that it must be important because it felt so real to me. When I awoke from the dream I heard my cell phone ringing to let me know I was receiving a text message from a friend, but I was still focused on the dream and trying to figure out exactly what it meant. I was sweating and feeling very anxious.

I can usually figure out what the dreams I have are about but this one has me stumped. I am for the most part very friendly and easy to get along with. Yes, I have a temper if crossed or betrayed, but I don't believe that I could be capable of murder, and in the dream I wasn't guilty, but I had to prove that I wasn't guilty. I didn't actually commit the murders and don't even know who was murdered. In reality, the Constitution, says that we are "innocent until proven guilty" so why was I having to prove my innocence?

I do know that my family and many of my close friends were with me at the City Hall building in the dream so I know it was none of them that were murdered. That is a good thing.

The other thing that was weird about this dream is that I was in City Hall, this is not a place that I go to on a regular basis. I rarely go anywhere at all but when I do, it is not City Hall. I have not actually been in that building for at least six years, maybe longer.

I know that because of the money situation at my house during the summer, I am often over stressed about money and getting the bills paid. My husbands hours get cut during the summer so that explains that part of the dream.

I have consulted a dream dictionary and a dream analysis book and have yet to come up with the answer to what this dream really means. I know that time will tell and that most of it is probably stress related.

For this one, I must meditate and ask Spirit, then wait to see what comes. If anyone has any ideas they would like to share, I would love to hear them.

Thanking Soldiers Past and Present for Our Freedom

As the Independence Day weekend is officially upon us I find myself thinking of how thankful I am to have the Freedom that I have here in the United States of America. For instance, as a writer, I am free to speak my mind through my writing. As a human I am given the opportunity to choose my religion, to choose where I go and when, and the freedom to protect my family.

It is hard for me to celebrate this FREEDOM without thinking of the many that have come before us and and given their life in order to protect and preserve that FREEDOM. It is hard not to think of the families that have lost fathers,husbands, sons, mothers, wives, and daughters to the tragedy of war.

I hope that everyone that celebrates this weekend will spend a moment in silence for them all. To show our deepest respect and honor to them and their families. I hope that as this moment is spent honoring those that have died we can all remember those that continue to serve and that we pray for their safe return to the country they are protecting and the FREEDOM that they continue to provide. I pray that they are quickly and safely reunited with their families.

To all of those that have served and continue to serve to preserve our FREEDOM.... Thank you!

May Peace, Light, and Love find you all this weekend and always. Happy Independence Day from Lena