The Gem and Mineral Show is a great event with tons of beautiful crystals and gemstones as well as many free presentations.
There is easy access to the show from I-81 and the PA Turnpike
There are some beautiful gemstones at this event though I have to admit that my all time favorite specimens were dug straight from the ground in NE PA (near Seven Tubs).
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| Right Click "Save As" then Print to get a $1 off Admission! |
The Dream
A contractor I apparently knew had told me about a volunteer opportunity. He said that there was a woman living in a house that was in bad condition and that he, and some others, had been trying to help her. So I went to see what I could do.
The house was unpleasant. Not deplorable necessarily but ugly. I was in the kitchen and the young woman I was supposed to help was complaining. There were numerous problems with the property. I remember that there was a 1980s style drop ceiling and some of the tiles were coming down. Everything seemed flimsy and cheap.
I didn't enjoy talking to the woman. She was loud and obviously immature. She was younger than me. I didn't have a strong sense of her age but she acted like an adolescent or even a pre-adolescent. I tried to be charitable but I found her very irritating. It seemed that she was renting and she was very unhappy with her landlady who was neglecting the property.
A little while later, I was at a dinner being held in the woman's honor. We were seated at a long table under an old aluminum carport next to the house. I was at the far end of the table. I had reconnected with an old friend. In real life, our friendship ended years ago but I've regretted that. In the dream, I was happy to reconnect with her and eager to catch up. She looked young and successful, just as I remembered her.
Annoyingly, the guest of honor kept demanding my attention from her end of the table. She had written several different documents and was insisting I read them aloud. Someone brought them to me. It was a hodgepodge of old newspaper clippings and pictures and handwritten papers.
I did not want to be bothered with the woman or her requests and kept saying that I didn't want to read what she had written. I was angry with her for interrupting and insisting I read. I felt that she was demanding attention she didn't deserve even though the dinner was being held in her honor.
My Take
When I woke up, I was still a little annoyed. But then it occurred to me that the immature, attention seeking woman might be that part of myself who I don't want to acknowledge - here in this blog or anywhere. My feelings toward her are so negative that blogging about the dream is unpleasant.
But there is something about all of this that is demanding my attention.
I don't think it was any coincidence that I felt so much negativity toward the woman in the dream. Other people apparently realized she needed help but, to me, she didn't deserve it. I wanted to be left alone with my successful friend instead.
Looking at the Symbolism
- The charitable contractor > charitable carpenter > Divine influence?
- Young woman > my inner self, my authentic self
- House the young woman lived in > her self, her reality, my inner reality
- Cheap, run down and flimsy state of the house > disregard for self, ignoring self, neglect
- Woman mentioned as being part owner of house > my executive functioning self
- My successful friend > what I aspire to but feel I can never be > feeling inferior, different
- The dinner in honor of the young woman > the idea that others may care
- My very irritated attitude toward the young woman > disliking and disregarding who I really am
- Wanting the young woman to leave me alone > dismissing my true self
- The material she wanted me to read > her story > my history
NOTE: I first recorded this dream in 2016 and have just decided to republish it.
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| The Necromanteion of Ephyra |
Dr. Raymond Moody's classic 1993 book, Reunions focuses on the ancient practice of mirror gazing.
Mirror gazing, is a form of scrying - a very old way of connecting with other side by way of any reflective or dark medium such as metal, water, obsidian or blood.
This method of connecting with spirit, so interested Dr. Moody that he constructed his own psychomanteum in a second floor chamber in his Anniston Alabama gristmill for the purpose of studying the experience of others.
The psychomanteum, as prepared by Moody, is a darkened chamber which
allows the sitter to gaze into a mirror angled up and away from his own image. In this dark field the forms of those who have passed may appear and meaningful communication frequently follows.
Reunions includes a survey of the practice of mirror gazing through the
ages - including biblical references, the experience of the ancient
Greeks and that of such notables as Elizabethan occultist John Dee. Moody goes on to discuss research conducted in the psychomanteum, including first hand accounts of spirit communication experienced by both visitors and Moody himself. Specific information for those interested in setting up their own home psychomanteum is provided.
As Moody explains it, the modern psychomanteum can be traced backward in time to the necromanteion of the ancient Greeks. Necromanteion means "Oracle of Death" and several active necromanteions operated throughout the ancient world. These sites were the destination of thousands of pilgrims hoping to be reunited with those they had lost. As ancient records show, many of these seekers realized their quest.
This is where Odysseus found himself after he was instructed to "make a journey of a very different kind, and find your way to the Halls of Hades." His experience at Ephyra included the sacrifice of a ram and ewe (providing the medium of blood) and visions of a multitude of spirits including his own deceased mother.
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| John Dee's Obsidian Mirror |
In Reunions, Dr. Moody relates that approximately 50% of visitors to his psychomanteum obtain a direct experience of spirit and I am curious if I'm the lucky one of two.
UPDATE 2024: In deciding which old posts to republish, I chose this post because I'm curious as to how the chamber Dr. Moody wrote about actually worked. Is it a form of sensory deprivation or is it something else?
One of the first memory wire bracelets I made. I crafted the Celtic Knot out of copper wire and used a combo of Peridot, green Swarovski's, vintage and Czech glass, and vintage faux pearls for the bracelet. This bracelet was given as a gift, but I would like to recreate it for myself.
Decoupaging is something that anyone can do. To decoupage with tarot cards you will need a printer with scanner, a few in expensive craft supplies and your favorite tarot deck.
I use an ordinary inkjet printer.
The ink is water-based which means that it can run. But I have had no significant problems with ink running using Mod Podge (a special decoupage glue).
Decoupaged boxes can be simple or complex. If this is your first decoupage project, you might want to go with simple or if you're feeling adventurous, try a more complex design like this box.
I usually get my boxes at AC Moore or Michael's or Joann's craft stores because if I go in with a coupon I can get a pretty good price but these boxes are also available on Amazon.
The supplies that you need are:
- An unfinished (or repurposed) wooden box from your local craft store (or amazon)
- Mod Podge or other glue if you choose to use something else.
- Your tarot deck or online images A printer with scanner if you want to use images from your deck.
- A decent pair of scissors.
- A brush - I use inexpensive foam scrapbooking brushes because bristle brushes can leave strands stuck to your work which is never fun!
You will want to work on a clean--pet hair and dust free surface--but the process is pretty simple. You will also want to carefully remove any hardware and lightly sand holes before you start to decoupage.
I like to work with one side of the box at a sitting (or less if the design is very involved), scanning, printing and cutting out all my images and arranging them dry until I get them just how I like them.
Then I coat the back of each image with Mod Podge and put in place. You can't move the images once they are stuck down (usually) without tearing them but one of the great things about decoupage is that, in its way, it's very forgiving because if you don't like what you have you can just go right over it with another image and the small variation in thickness isn't noticeable to most people at all.
When you have the pieces in place brush Mod Podge over the top and let the box air dry.
You can also decoupage or paint the inside of the box. If I like the backs of the decks, I'm working with I like to scan and print those and use them as a liner for the inside of the box.
There are a lot of options with this project - you can create a design with your images, for example, or just put a single favorite image on the top of your box and paint the sides. Some people like to use embellishments like glass "gemstones" or ribbon or glitter as well.
But however you design your box - please take your time.
If you do a bit at time and let the box dry in between you'll have fun - if you try to rush (like I did with my first box) you WILL get frustrated.
My method now is to work on a TV tray in the evening when I'm hanging out with my family and enjoy the process. But working with music playing in the background is very nice too.
Decoupage is a great medium and the results can be beautiful. Once you've done your tarot box, you can do a tarot tray or the cover of your own tarot workbook - or really anything you want.
Enjoy your project and please feel free to share your results or ask any questions you might have in the comment section below!
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| Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash |
Making your own tarot and oracle card reading refuge is, first and foremost, an exercise in creating sacred space so I wanted to begin this article by talking a bit about what sacred space actually is.
To me, sacred space is both a personal and a shared location with characteristic of both the spiritual and the material dimensions. It can, and most frequently does, appear naturally in an outside location but it can also be created in an indoor space. In most instances the location will be stationary but it can be made mobile too.
Mobile Sacred Spaces
A movable space can be established by using a tray (ordinary or a breakfast in bed type table) or lightweight folding table. An inexpensive folding TV table once worked well for me.
If you find that you need to move your sacred "space" around (or put it away when not in use) I suggest using a dedicated basket or bag to hold smaller sacred items. If you space is stationary but relatively public your may choose to do this as well.
A Resonant and Personal Location
Whether mobile or fixed, our sacred card reading space is a personal area because it provides a working space for a single individual. Because of this I recommend that you focus on personal resonance over how your space may appear to others. To establish personal resonance be sure to include items that are reflective of the inner you.
You may choose to decorate your sacred reading space with beautiful crystals, candles, images or figurines that are meaningful to you. If you follow an earth based spiritual path you may wish to deliberately represent the four elements as well.
For the highest possible vibration consider carefully the colors, lighting, and residual energy of the items you choose. You may want to include plants or uncut flowers, a shell or stone from a sacred location, a likeness of a particular deity or ancestor - and at least one resonate deck of tarot or oracle cards!
Try to address all the senses through the use of color, scent and sound. You can do this by choosing a table cloth, place mat or candle in a color you find appealing, selecting an incense you enjoy and either listening to ambient music or running a small fountain nearby.
If you want to be such that your space mirrors your personal intentions (increased psychic ability for example) you may wish to consult a reference such as LLewellyn's Completed Book of Correspondences when choosing the items you will include.
Allow your space to be fluid. Don't hesitate to change colors with the season or your own chaning goals and always be sure to keep your area clean and clutter free.
Sanctifying Sacred Space
When you set up your sacred reading space, do a bit of clearing first (and repeat with each new moon if desired). To clear your space clean well and followup by smudging or censing the area with incense, ringing a small bell or sprinkling salt water around the perimeter. A dedication or re-dedication to your patron deity is never out of place.
The best time to set up sacred space is during a full or waxing moon, on a Sabbat or holiday or the beginning of the year.
The Energy of Place
Over time you'll begin to notice that the area that you've created and read in begins to take on its very own vibration. That vibration may be subtle in the beginning but one day you'll sit down in your space and experience the shift. The force that fuels that shift is due in part to the energy you've infused into your location and the respect you've according this area over days or weeks of meditation, journaling and card reading but there is more to it than that.
A Shared Sacred Location
In the beginning of this article I said that sacred space was both personal and shared.
While we do share our sacred space with other human beings, I believe that the most important energies (next to our own) that share that space are those of our avatars, ancestors and guides. By inviting these unseen visitors into our personal reading area, we create a very real intersection between the material and spiritual worlds.
Because I believe that most of us work with living spiritual energies in our readings (whether we realize it or not), I recommend taking a few moments to visualize a sacred circle or sphere surrounding your reading space each and every time you read. I also recommend that when inviting spiritual energies in, we clarify who we'd like to connect with by naming a known deity, guide or ancestor. (If you don't work with any specific spiritual beings, you can simply ask that only those energies in alignment with our highest good appear.)
Judeo-Christian readers may find that beginning a reading with a prayer to a particular angel or saint is a better fit. In addition to some of the objects mentioned above, items for a Judeo-Christian sacred space may include prayer cards, rosaries or seven day candles honoring a specific saint. Earth-based practitioners may choose a pentacle or other magical symbol.
For me, reading cards like almost everything in life, is a partnership between this world and the next. Our personal reading space can provide the perfect intersection for this partnership - a point that is both grounding and uplifting, offering insight and direction we might not otherwise receive.
I think the reason some of us fall short (or at least why I often fall short) is because I / we try to cram everything we want to change into a single list without really thinking about what it will take to make that list a reality.
A second (but related) reason we don't succeed, in my opinion, has to do with the word resolution itself. A resolution - something we resolve to do - suggests a serious commitment, a pledge or even a vow. And pledges and vows, like sacred quests, are destined to succeed or fail.
I didn't realize that until I wrote my previous New Year's post but, when I did, the more I thought about it the more it made sense. I realized that, because there is no halfway point to a resolution, progress doesn't mean much of anything. And so, if we over-estimate ourselves and can't complete our resolutions, our only option is failure.
Since I don't want to feel like I've failed in 2016, I'm doing things differently by setting several new Year's goals and only one do or die resolution. The resolution is to publish a book. The goals include changes I'd like to make in my health, my home, my career and even my garden over the course of the year.
For each large goal I have set one or two realistic, smaller or short term goals I feel pretty sure I can handle.
Becoming more self-sufficient means a rain barrel this spring and building a small hen house over the summer. It does not mean we are going off the grid in 2016 (or ever).
Setting an expectation for home remodeling means that I'll keep on plugging and that I want to have the front hall finished by the end of the winter. It means I'll look at the kitchen project over the summer and decide if we are going to be able to build new custom cabinets then (or in 2017). It does not mean that everything will be (or, in an old house, even can be) complete.
Improving my health means the same thing it means every year but because I'm going to focus on the small things (e.g. some exercise everyday whether that's at the gym or in the garden) I think I will finally learn to accept that this is a long haul, change your life kind of endeavor.
And this is what I like about goals. We can say we are going in a specific direction (our goal) and then set meaningful check points between here and there. If we don't get to the goal but manage to arrive at those intermediate points, we know we're on our way to something better.
Still, there is something about setting a resolution that has always appealed to me. Resolutions are big meaningful things. Resolutions are grand and honorable and brave. They may be a little over dramatic at times but there is something about declaring your resolve that can very inspiring.
Because of this I just can't let any New Year go without making one.
For me, a resolution is a commitment to get something done. It doesn't matter how you do it or even necessarily when (as long as it's completed by next New Year's Eve, of course). What matters is finishing, honoring your word, and feeling proud. A laundry list of New Year's resolutions diminishes that enormous thing you are going to be so proud of when it is finally done (and makes it a lot less likely that you'll succeed).
My 2016 resolution is writing and publishing a book. Going on record here with that great big declaration is an important first step. But there are a lot of other steps too and that's okay because I've made a promise to myself that I'll get it done.
My resolution advice for the New Year?
If you have a list of resolutions, pull that list out and pick the one that makes your heart beat. The one that scares you. The one that makes you feel proud. This is one you will commit to doing - no matter what.
The rest are your goals. Break them down into smaller pieces and add a few dates. Don't give up on them when the going gets tough but prepared to revisit them and adjust things if you find that you've over-estimated your stamina or free time.
You can (and should) create a plan for your resolution just like you did for your goals It can have a number of action steps and, if your first step is figuring out just how you are going to succeed, that's okay too. Because you know that whatever it takes, that one proud thing is going to happen. No matter what.
Wishing Everyone Success and Good Fortune in the New Year <3
Barbara
Because Yule is a holiday that hales from an earth-based religion, it is clearly focused on the movement of the planet and the seasons that cycle creates.
Falling on one of the four quarter points of the the Wiccan / Pagan calendar, Yule marks the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year.
From the Autumn Equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere) onward, the days get shorter and the nights get longer until on December 21st or 22nd, the sun rises after seven and sets as early as 4:30 in the afternoon. After that long night, the process reverses.
Viewed from this perspective, the holiday of Yule, isn't just about lighting candles in the dark. It is about the lengthening days and the barely perceptible shift from increasing darkness to increasing light.
Witches and pagans don't celebrate that shift because they think that darkness is bad or that light is in better. They celebrate it because they recognize that both light and dark serve a very important purpose.
In light we see clearly. We take action. We are filled with purpose. In darkness we rest. In darkness, undistracted, we are free to focus on what is within. And if what we see there is problematic we know that it was already there - in dark or in light.
Earth-based religions value all aspects of the yearly cycle. And it follows that, as earthly creatures in tune with the turning wheel of the year, the process of looking inward can be cyclical, too. By working with (instead of against) these inner and outer cycles, we can discover new insights and revelations. For me, this is what the holiday of Yule is really about.
This year, I began the process of evaluating the passing year in early November. As the world darkened, I spent more time inside. I used some of this time to think about strategies related to personal transformation and growth. When the solstice is still weeks away, I began to write out my plans for the year ahead, allowing myself plenty of time to reflect and redefine.
If we attune to the cycle and follow this process, lighting our holiday candles on the longest night of the year means that we know just what we're creating and what we’re releasing. In that space, poised between darkness and light, we transition from reflection to purpose, prepared to joyfully welcome the year to come.
One night, in late 2014, I asked for global life path guidance before I went to sleep and woke up with the song "Turn, Turn, Turn" running through my head. Like so many messages from spirit, this one wasn't what I wanted to be told but what I needed to hear. And so all through 2015 I did my best to align with the energy of the seasons.
This wasn't always easy - at least not in a controlling / egoic way - but even at its hardest it still felt right.
This wasn't always easy - at least not in a controlling / egoic way - but even at its hardest it still felt right.
Winter was a time of study and introspection and Spring was a time of clearing and planting (in a very literal sense).
In summer, I built things in both worlds simultaneously - and began to share my secret identity as a witch with my non-witchy friends.
Throughout Autumn I did my best to tie up loose ends, think about the year just passed, and set intentions for the year ahead.
That year isn't here yet, and in many ways, I am still in the process of defining it but a few decisions have been made. One is to begin the formal study of astrology through the American Federation of Astrologers and I'm excited to share that I have just received the wonderful Beginner's Learning Kit pictured below.
I will also be working with the new Janus software when it is released.
Astrology is, to my mind, a vital part of the Craft as well as the perfect pathway to individual transformation. On a personal level, astrology has been instrumental in helping me learn how to flow with the turning wheel of the year - instead of stubbornly (and ineffectively) pushing against it!
I hope you'll join me in this new journey of discovery in the year to come.
I hope you'll join me in this new journey of discovery in the year to come.
Said song :)
For more on Yule, please check back next week!
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