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The Mystic Review

Dreams, mysteries and traditions with Barbara Graver

A Victorian Owl Brooch and an Interest in Owls

October 31, 2010


















A series of small synchronicities have engendered in me an interest in owls.  The first event was a comment associating the owl with a tarot card I like to get in readings.  The next, a found item - a carved base-relief Victorian brass brooch that was a synchronicity within itself.  

The brooch (above) has the face of an owl, and two bright moonstone eyes.  As owls are widely associated with psychic ability and the spirit realm and moonstones have the same association, the happy coincidence of design and material made the piece ideal for Mystic Emporium inventory.  In the interest of offering it for sale, I did some research.  This was another synchronicity of sorts.

Already possessing a strong interest in mythology, the ancient middle east, middle eastern religion and Native American spirituality, I found the spiritual significance of the owl in these cultures not only fascinating but capable of speaking to me on a personal level.  Also fascinating, the symbolic owl's presence in the mythology of multiple cultures, all across Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and the Americas and it's meaning, while subject to the filter of each individual society, is remarkably consistent.  

Enough info for a book, obviously, so in the interest of beginning something I can finish - I'm aiming for a single short blog entry more or less specific to the spiritual symbolism of the owl.  I was hoping to have at least one done for Halloween.  This entry might be the best I can do for now.  If I can get the article done for tomorrow, it can be for All Souls Days which is after all a holiday for some.

As for the brass owl - I'm very tempted to keep it but will probably still offer it up for sale.  Owls are not, after all, my birds and it's my opinion right now that the significance this owl holds for me is, not as an amulet, but as an abstraction.  Items pass through our lives for different reasons and may in the end, have their own paths.  That's why buying and selling old things can be so very interesting.

Update:  Have actually decided to keep the owl brooch for a time so it will no longer show up as inventory in the shop.  Reasonable offers always considered, however.

After the Owl article, I will try to do one on my own direct experience with birds.
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Divination: The Dictionary Definition

October 30, 2010


The word divination has three meanings, per the Oxford English Dictionary.  One has to do with Roman law.  The other two are inclusive of everything, I think, that divination can be and its interesting to note that the word does not necessarily imply a connection with divinity as in God.

The action or practice of divining; the foretelling of future events or discovery of what is hidden or obscure by supernatural or magical means; soothsaying, augury, prophecy. With a and pl., an exercise of this, a prophecy, an augury.

 In a weaker sense: Prevision or guessing by happy instinct or unusual insight; successful conjecture or guessing.

I found the definition interesting because it represents two levels of the same meaning.  These levels can be seen as a continuum or matter of degree - powerful to weak - or in terms of our fundamental spiritual and / or scientific frame of reference.  This month I'm going to take a look at some popular (as opposed to esoteric) forms of divination and blog on what I learn.  

I will say going in that I'm an intuitive person.  I am also very sensitive to energy.  I do not consider myself psychic but I do believe in energy and that a person can connect with this energy through dreams, study, prayer or circumstance.  To me divination, in the common fortunetelling sense of the word, falls in the realm of circumstance and I get readings and use Tarot cards to this end.  As for the information I'm given - I hold everything up to my own radar  and suggest that everyone else do that as well.

Early uses of the word divination as listed by the Oxford English Dictionary:

c1374 CHAUCER Boeth. v. pr. iv. 125 (Camb. MS.) Marchus tullius, whan he deuynede the dyuynaciouns, that is to seyn in his book that he wroot of diuinaciouns. 1382 WYCLIF Acts xvi. 16 Sum wenche hauynge a spirit of dyuynacioun. 1387 TREVISA Higden (Rolls) III. 57 Either seide that [he] hadde the better dyuynacioun of foules [felicius augurium]. 1555 EDEN Decades 309 To speke of thynges that shalbe, longe before they are, is a kynde of diuination. 1579-80 NORTH Plutarch (1895) 80 The flying of birds, which doe geue a happy divination to things to come. 1662 STILLINGFL. Orig. Sacr. II. iv. §1 The Gentiles hearkend unto Oracles and Divinations. 1712 ADDISON Spect. No. 505 Among the many pretended arts of divination, there is none which so universally amuses as that by dreams.

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New Mystic Emporium Banner

October 27, 2010


This is the final banner for my online store, The Mystic Emporium. The small graphic above doesn't show the background well but you can check out the full-size banner by double clicking - or by visiting The Mystic Emporium on Etsy . The cyber shelves are mostly bare right now but please check back!
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Film Recommedation: A Stir of Echoes

October 7, 2010


I viewed the movie, Hereafter, hoping to recommend a movie.  But I decided recommend an older movie, Stir of Echoes, instead.  Be warned, this is mostly an action film (and a relatively violent one at that.

Although, unfortunately eclipsed in the theaters by the gimicky Sixth Sense,Stir of Echoes is a beautiful movie with a great soundtrack.  Play the DVD all the way to the end to hear Beth Orton sing, It's Not the Spotlight (or check out the live version below)!
 
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Film Review: Hereafter Disappoints on Two Counts

October 5, 2010


Hereafter was a disappointment to me and will be, I suspect, to anyone with any real interest in the metaphysical.  Never a fan of plot devices (in this instance, three strangers who eventually meet) I found the  entire film lacking - not only in terms of plot but in regard to character development as well.  A real problem given that the producers have almost completely ignored the mystical aspects of the spirit world in favor of interpersonal drama.

While each character experiences various forms of upheaval as a result of their experiences with the hereafter most seem oddly unaffected.  Their lives change externally and these are the events of the film but the characters themselves have almost nothing to say about phenomena behind the events and only the youngest actor, struggling with the loss of his brother, appears convincingly motivated to understand what has befallen him.  

Plot development seems very much an issue.  A life altering book, written by the female lead, is researched, but never explained.  In one potentially interesting scene, NDE related files are carried out of a hospice, but we are given no real specifics about the information contained.  The protagonist (Matt Damon) experiences the realms beyond firsthand but offers little in the way of insight, appearing mostly annoyed by the inconvenience his psychic "curse" creates on a personal level. 

Possibly intending to create an air of mystery, the film is -  in my estimation -  woefully understated, offering little in terms of either content or interpersonal drama.  And yes, I do realize that I have broken the no negative reviews rule here, but firstly I think Matt Damon can take it.  And secondly to take a topic about which so much can be said, and then say so little, is too disappointing to ignore.


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Professional Tarot: Wednesday's Reading

October 1, 2010

Pamela Colman-Smith
I bought my first Rider-Waite in 1971. I carried it cross-country from Michigan to Oregon and eventually to PA where it has stayed. I have bought and sold and kept some beautiful decks over the years but that faded Rider-Waite remains not only my primary reading decks but one of a relatively small number of objects kept almost continually in my possession over the years.

The deck is vintage now but not pretty. Illustrations that were washed out to begin with have faded, edges have discolored, and the drawings themselves are heavy with ink. Reading tarot is not about color or art or numbers or words, however. It's about intuition, energy and symbolism. The energy is there in this particular deck and intuition isn't a problem. The Rider Waite symbolism is not always my sort of symbolism but there is nothing like a good gypsy style Tarot reading and this is what I got earlier this week.

I'm not reading professionally at this point in time because I found doing frequent paid readings very energy depleting. I do still read however - mostly for people I know or for barter. Occasionally I swap readings with a professional tarot card reader who has been my neighbor and friend for over ten years. She has great energy is and is sharp intuitive reader so I was thrilled to pack up my old deck and meet at her home this past Wednesday.

The reading I received was pretty extensive. A lot of ground was covered but I'm going to blog on the last four cards drawn for my reading. They were in response to my question about my current spiritual path as it manifests in my work and livelihood. These are the cards:

The High Priestess: The High Priestess is the second card in the Tarot deck. Preceded by the Magician, the Priestess represents the female aspect of spirituality as it relates to intuition, psychic ability and connection to other realms. This card signifies wisdom and encourages us to open ourselves up to other dimensions through sacred study, meditation and prayer.

Images: There are many symbolic elements on the Coleman-Smith High Priestess card (right) including a Torah scroll, a Christian cross, two pillars, a moon, possible moonstone hat and a backdrop of pomegranates. Some of the associations attached to these images are relatively common, others are more esoteric. The design element that jumped out at me in the course of this reading was that of the pomegranate.

About the Pomegranate: The pomegranate is an ancient symbol. It is believed to possess 613 seeds equal to the 613 commandments of the Hebrew bible and was depicted on the pillars of Solomon's Temple. In Exodus 28:33-34, the bible describes a pattern of pomegranates which was to be woven into the robes of Israelite Priests per the command of God. In middle eastern culture, the pomegranate represents fruitfulness, knowledge, learning, and wisdom. Interestingly, many Jewish scholars believe that the pomegranate was the “forbidden fruit” of the Garden of Eden. Like any other Tarot heavy hitter, this is a card to think about over a period of time.

Money Cards: The Six of Pentacles indicates that this money will flow rather than be accumulated but that personal needs will be met which is good enough although this card frequently contains a caution against being too open-handed. I found the Ace of Pentacles especially encouraging. I love the energy of the aces and I like to think that the Ace of Pentacles has an association with spirit. In my reading this card was presented in a very positive light.


The Ten of Cups: What can I say? This is the card. It was the last card in a long reading and there couldn't have been a better point to stop.

Specific advice I received:
  1. Improve energy flow in house. Be aware of energy of second hand inventory when purchasing. Don't buy stuff with a bad vibe. Keep stock moving. Smudge house. Get rid of clutter.
  2. Pursue interest in crystals intuitively. This will benefit me personally by healing emotions and opening up the heart chakra. My ability to give and receive love will be positively affected.
  3. Money will be made but this is not the primary objective.
I always try to look at readings in terms of insight and guidance because this is the only understanding of a reading that can be of any real use to us. Still it was nice to get a a thumbs up because that hasn't been happening a lot lately. I was pleased with the reading I gave in return. Good card readers are open up to a fluid reality. They dialogue. It was a wonderful dialogue.

Photo of Pamela Colman Smith (above) taken from the companion book to the Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative Set which is pictured to the left and available by click through from amazon. I don't have this deck but am tempted to get it for the book. I hope to write a little something about the Rider Waite Colman Smith :) Deck at some point in the future and have actually just bought the Original Rider Waite which I also hope to review.
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My name is Barbara Graver. I started the Mystic Review in August of 2010 to blog on metaphysical topics. I have a newsletter called Writing After Dark that features Mystic Review content plus my fiction and creative nonfiction. You can sign up for the newsletter or follow this blog only below!
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        • A Victorian Owl Brooch and an Interest in Owls
        • Divination: The Dictionary Definition
        • New Mystic Emporium Banner
        • Film Recommedation: A Stir of Echoes
        • Film Review: Hereafter Disappoints on Two Counts
        • Professional Tarot: Wednesday's Reading
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