​Have you ever felt a deep connection to a particular animal? Perhaps you find yourself drawn to its characteristics and feel a sense of familiarity with its behavior. This may be a sign that you have a spirit animal. Discovering your spirit animal can be a fun and enlightening experience that can bring you closer to nature and yourself.

So how do you go about finding out what your spirit animal is? Here are some steps to help you on your journey:

Connect with nature
The first step in finding your spirit animal is to connect with nature. Spend time outside, whether it’s in a park, a garden, or a forest. Take in the sights, sounds, and smells around you. Pay attention to the animals you see and the feelings they evoke in you.

Meditate or journey
Meditation and journeying can help you connect with your inner self and the spirit world. Sit or lie down in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Allow yourself to relax and let go of any thoughts or distractions. When you feel calm and centered, imagine yourself in a beautiful natural setting. See yourself walking through a forest, a meadow, or by a river. As you explore this space, ask the universe or your higher self to reveal your spirit animal to you. Be open to any images, feelings, or messages that come to you.

Pay attention to dreams and visions
Your spirit animal may reveal itself to you in a dream or vision. Keep a dream journal and write down any animal symbols or encounters you have. Look for patterns or recurring themes. You may also receive messages from your spirit animal through synchronicities or coincidences. For example, you may see the same animal several times in a short period, or you may hear its call or see its image in unexpected places.

Research animal symbolism
Many cultures and traditions have assigned meanings and symbolism to different animals. Research the animals you are drawn to and see if their traits and characteristics resonate with you. For example, if you feel a connection to the wolf, you may find that it represents loyalty, intuition, and a strong sense of community. If you feel drawn to the owl, you may discover that it symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and the ability to see beyond the veil.

Ask for guidance
If you are still unsure about your spirit animal, ask for guidance from a trusted spiritual teacher or guide. They may be able to help you interpret your dreams and visions, or offer insights into the animals that appear in your life. You can also do a tarot or oracle card reading to gain clarity and guidance.

Once you have discovered your spirit animal, it’s important to honor and connect with it. Here are some ways to do so:

Learn about your spirit animal
Research your spirit animal and learn about its behaviors, habits, and symbolism. Understanding your spirit animal can help you better understand yourself and your own strengths and weaknesses.

Connect with your spirit animal in nature
Spend time in nature and imagine your spirit animal by your side. Feel its energy and presence as you walk, meditate, or simply enjoy the beauty around you. You may also leave offerings or tokens of gratitude for your spirit animal, such as feathers, stones, or herbs.

Incorporate your spirit animal into your daily life
Incorporate your spirit animal into your daily life in meaningful ways. For example, if your spirit animal is the bear, you may surround yourself with bear imagery or wear a piece of bear jewelry. You may also incorporate the bear’s traits into your life, such as strength, courage, and introspection.

Call on your spirit animal for guidance
When you need guidance or support, call on your spirit animal for assistance. Visualize your spirit animal and ask for its wisdom and guidance. You may also choose to do a meditation or journey specifically to connect with your spirit animal and receive its messages.

Discovering your spirit animal can be a powerful and transformative experience. It can help you tap into your intuition, connect with nature, and gain insights into your own strengths and weaknesses. Remember to approach this process with an open mind and heart, and be patient and persistent in your quest. Your spirit animal may reveal itself to you in unexpected ways and at unexpected times. Embrace the journey and enjoy the adventure!

Love is in the air on February 14th as people around the world celebrate Valentine's Day, a holiday that has been linked to love and romance for centuries. From the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia to the modern-day traditions of exchanging cards and gifts, Valentine's Day has a long and fascinating history.

One of the earliest origins of Valentine's Day can be traced back to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated annually on February 13-15. The festival was named after Lupercus, the Roman god of fertility and shepherds, and was intended to purify the city and promote health and fertility. During the festival, young men known as Luperci would run through the streets of Rome, striking anyone they encountered with strips made from the hides of sacrificed animals. It was believed that being struck by these strips would bring fertility and ward off evil spirits.

Over time, the festival of Lupercalia became associated with love and romance, and the practice of exchanging gifts and cards on Valentine's Day began to emerge. One of the earliest known Valentine's Day messages was written in the 15th century by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. The message, which is now regarded as the first Valentine's Day card, reads:

Je suis desja d'amour tanné,
Ma tres doulce Valentinée,
Car pour moi fustes trop tard née,
Et moi pour vous fus trop tost né.

Translated into English, the message means:

I am already sick of love,
My very gentle Valentine,
Since for me you were born too late,
And I for you was born too soon.

The custom of exchanging Valentine's Day cards and gifts continued to evolve over time, with cards and gifts becoming more elaborate and romantic. Today, people around the world celebrate Valentine's Day in a variety of ways, with flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and other gifts being popular choices for romantic partners.

In the United States, Valentine's Day is often celebrated with the exchange of cards, flowers, and chocolates, as well as romantic dinners and other special events. Many couples also take the opportunity to express their love and affection to each other with heartfelt messages and special gestures of love.

In Japan, Valentine's Day has a slightly different focus, with women giving chocolates to men as a sign of their affection. Women often give chocolates to their romantic partners as well as male coworkers and friends, and there is also a custom of giving "obligation chocolates" to male coworkers as a sign of friendship.

In South Korea, Valentine's Day is celebrated with the exchange of gifts and flowers between romantic partners, and there is also a separate holiday called "White Day" on March 14th, when men are expected to give gifts to their female partners.

In some Latin American countries, Valentine's Day is known as "Dia de los Enamorados" or "Dia del Amor y la Amistad" (Day of Love and Friendship) and is celebrated with the exchange of gifts and cards between romantic partners and friends.

Regardless of the specific customs and traditions associated with Valentine's Day in different parts of the world, the holiday is universally celebrated as a time to express love and affection to those closest to us. Whether it's a romantic partner, a family member, or a friend, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to show appreciation for the people in our lives and to celebrate the power of love.

We all have those moments in our lives that are pivotal to determining what comes next.  I have tended to look at life like a choose-your-own-adventure book.  You know, the kind that you get to a point in the story and you get to choose to go to page 48 or 152 to keep reading what happens next, based on your choice.  As my loving Dr. Who would say, they are time-locked or something that could never be changed or stopped from happening.   

I've had a couple of these in my lifetime so far.  A memorable one was coming out in 1994 on Thanksgiving to my mother that I was *gasp* a homosexual (say that in your best Beverly Leslie).  A calculated move since I was going back to college that night and didn't have to experience the fall-out, but still once you say something like that you really can't take it back.  In my case anyways.  I never really say something unless I mean it, sans mind-altering substances of course. Those were the days that you wore chains with rainbow colored rings on them.  My father made fun of them on a visit to his house once and called them something I can't repeat and I came out to him as well.  Neither were fun, but that's the nutshell version. There should have been years of therapy there, but what's the point.

What's really the kicker here is that coming out as a friend of Dorothy was nothing compared to the anxiety around coming out as a tarot reader.  Of all things.  Who knew there could be something higher on some people's list of things to stay away from.

But people are afraid of things they don't understand.  They put stigma on things so other people won't like it so they have something in common to stand against.  Its human nature.  However, its a rule of thumb for me not to associate with people who have a list of things you have to be in order to be accepted.  I'm happy on the outside and not being a joiner.  Not having a list of what someone needs to be makes it a lot easier to meet new and interesting people.  That's what life is for isn't it; to have as many experiences as you can so you can report back to the mothership (insert your version of a higher power here) everything you learned?  

I embraced tarot reading as a tool for divination.  There are many tools.  If you're reading my Esoterics section of my journal you'll see there is plenty to choose from.  I picked up on tarot because I am able to use the images and symbols on the cards to divine messages for my clients.  The book that comes with the deck is fine, but at the end of the day its the pictures that inspire the right words to say at the time.  For the most part I'd say I'm pretty good, I've only had two clients that I just couldn't connect with to do a reading.  Why sit down for a reading when your belief system isn't ready for it. 

This part of my world was really hard for me to grab onto at first.  I am a scientist by trade, so my "left" brain wanted evidence and data to support what my "right" brain was getting from the cards.  But as my experience grew it was easy to satisfy both sides with the feedback I get from my clients.  The many "how did you know that" comments and people who come back months later and tell me that what I said would happen did happen because they didn't change course.  Its amazing and something I have a lot of gratitude for being able to help people like that.  

But really I attribute it to what spirit/creator/etc. inspires me to say at that given moment in time.  Specifically what part of the card to look at to know what to say.  It relies on how I interpret the card to give the reading they need and who to send to me to read for.  Its all divinely directed and I'm happy to do my part with this gift.  

So, tarot readers unite! (you don't know how many times I spelled that "untie" and it looked right)

I do offer a tarot share at our store once a month and we're looking at doing it online so more can participate.  If you're interested, go to the menu on this page and look for Tarot Share under Divination Services.  It will give you all the details.    

So the moral of the story here is just to be your true authentic self.  The people you resonate with will come to you to form a community of people you can call your own.  Just believe in yourself first.  The moment you feel you have to live up to someone's expectations to socialize, that's your red flag to get out. 

Ascension, also known as spiritual enlightenment, is the belief that one can transcend the physical world and reach a higher state of consciousness. This concept has been present in many spiritual traditions throughout history, from ancient Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, to Western esoteric teachings. In these traditions, the path to ascension often involves practices such as meditation, prayer, and self-discipline, as well as a deep understanding of the nature of reality. This understanding is said to lead to a transcendence of the ego, and a connection to a higher power or ultimate reality. In more recent times, the idea of ascension has also been popularized in New Age spiritual movements, which often focus on personal development and self-improvement. These movements often propose a range of techniques and practices, such as energy healing and visualization, to achieve spiritual growth and reach higher levels of consciousness.

One of the key aspects of the ascension process is shadow work, which is the process of exploring and integrating the darker aspects of one's psyche. This includes repressed emotions, negative traits, and unresolved past traumas that can affect one's behavior and emotional well-being. It is a process of self-discovery and personal growth that aims to bring these unconscious aspects to the surface, so that they can be acknowledged, understood, and integrated into the self.

In many spiritual traditions, shadow work is seen as an essential aspect of the ascension process. This is because the shadow self represents the parts of ourselves that we have disowned or repressed, and until we integrate these parts, we cannot reach a state of true self-awareness or spiritual enlightenment. In this sense, shadow work can be seen as a form of spiritual alchemy, where the darker aspects of the self are transformed into positive qualities. The process of shadow work can be challenging and uncomfortable, as it often involves facing difficult emotions and memories that have been buried deep within the psyche. However, it is also a powerful tool for personal growth and spiritual development.

By facing and integrating the shadow self, one can gain a deeper understanding of oneself and the world, and develop a more compassionate and authentic self. The goal of shadow work is to integrate the shadow self with the conscious self. This integration allows the individual to be more whole, and to be able to understand their actions and reactions from a deeper perspective. It also enables the individual to have more empathy and understanding towards others, and to be able to relate to other people in a more authentic and compassionate way.

Ascension is the belief that one can reach a higher state of consciousness through spiritual practices and a deep understanding of the nature of reality. Shadow work is an important aspect of the ascension process, as it allows individuals to integrate the unconscious parts of themselves and to develop a more authentic and compassionate self. The process of shadow work can be challenging, but the benefits it provides are well worth the effort. It helps individuals to understand themselves and the world around them, and to develop a deeper sense of self-awareness and spiritual enlightenment.

I slipped... I fell... and the ground shook.  

​Its amazing how you take for granted the ability to walk.  

I had a little accident last week and am now wheelchair-bound as I can't put weight on my right leg.  So I've had to rely on the kindness of my husband to take over a lot of the things I did when I was mobile.  Thank god for him and his ability to conquer tasks and making things work.  But that isn't the focus of this discussion, its more so energy healing.

While I'm a Reiki Master, it doesn't normally occur to me to work on healing myself.  I don't know what it is, but its quite common that we work with others and neglect ourselves.  So, I'm making a concerted effort to use the gifts I've been given to work on this bum leg of mine to see where it will go.  

Although I didn't fracture my leg, it feels like I popped off my kneecap and ruptured the tendons holding everything around there together.  I couldn't even put my foot on the ground without sharp pain.  But as I started to work with Reiki on my leg, I literally felt it start sewing itself back together.  As each day passes I set aside some time to work on my leg and each time I can feel it light up and start weaving itself and reattaching.  Its very cool.  

As we have embraced essential oils in our store with Terry being a rep for Doterra, we've started to use those more in our lives and its made an impact as well.  As he rubs a combination of essential oils on my leg, the relief is amazing.
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Visualization has been a method too, seeing in my mind my leg getting stronger and reinforcing itself to rebuild the scaffolding that keeps it all together.  I feel it working and its a testament to how holistic treatments can have a positive effect on healing.  

However, I see a MRI in my future to see if there's anything that should be done.  Because it took a big and strong friend of ours to get me in the house, leaving the house I feel may take a crane to get me in the car.  All I can say is, "why can't I levitate yet!" Ugh.  So I'm hoping that by the time I can get in to the doctors to follow-up with this, I'll be healed enough that surgery won't be necessary.  Abraham Hicks always says to expect miracles... well, that's just what I'm doing.  

But I couldn't ask to be better cared for.  I tease Terry and tell him that I thought for sure he would have been the first one in a wheelchair, yet here I am.  The Livingroom has become my office, bedroom, and living quarters making sure the wheelchair can get me around.  

So this will be a great test for me to see how far I can get using these gifts we all have to heal ourselves.  I'm pretty confident that by the time I am able to get into the doctors to follow-up from this that they'll be amazed.  Still, ice and me are no longer friends.