Let's Get Grounded

I used my Magpie Oracle charms to decide on the topic for this week. I pulled the Rider, Heart, and Tree.

The topic is: A heart-felt message about grounding.

I smiled at this message from Spirit, as it is not only for the readers, but also for me.

For the last couple of days, a shroud of darkness has slipped over me. My energy had grown low, not to the point of exhaustion, but it was headed in that direction. With exhaustion, I usually get headaches, mainly because I fight it. Who has time for a break? But, sometimes you just have to take one. 

A few weeks back, I went through a long period of exhaustion. I was so tired that I couldn't bring myself to do anything at all, so I let go and let be. The cure at that time was lots of sleep and reading. I healed myself and raised my vibration without thinking much of it. I could have saved a lot of time if only I'd thought to do some grounding work.

The logical mind doesn't always lead you where you need to be. But, you can always count on Spirit.

Before I began writing the post, I did some grounding and some clearing. It worked; I feel better.  

I want to share some grounding techniques to help you get in gear for the week ahead. 

What is Grounding?

Grounding is the process of connecting with the physical and replenishing our energies. Any work with Spirit has a draining effect on our energy, because it takes energy to form the connection between the physical and spiritual sides of life.

The more you work with Spirit, the more likely you are to notice dips in your energy level. That is, if you don't practice some grounding techniques.

Here are a few techniques you can try:

• Breathing – This is my number one 'go to' because you can do it anywhere and anytime. Focus on your breathing, notice each inhale and exhale. Take a long deep breath in and slowly release it. Try this for about ten times.
• Drink Water – Dehydration seems to be a side effect to working with your psychic energy. This is one of the reasons you may find yourself tired after a tarot reading, or other spiritual workings.
• Eat Fruit or Vegetables – Eating natural, earthy foods work great for me, an instant energy booster.
• Hobbies – Anything you do for fun is great for grounding. The act of losing yourself, it centers you. Such things as: baking, gardening, walking, reading, or painting. Like I said, anything you do for fun.
• Take a Hot Shower – This is another of my favorites. Imagine the water is washing away all negative energies, and your skin is absorbing the positive energies of the water.
• Get In Touch With Nature – Step outside, walk barefoot in the grass, watch birds, hug a tree, do some gardening, or try a nature hike. The important thing with this technique is to BE in nature: watch, listen, smell and feel your surroundings.
• Meditation – This is always a good choice, but it takes practice for it to have a full effect. Daily Meditation is the best method. Start with short sessions and lengthen them as you grow more comfortable with the process.
• Grounding Objects – Crystals and Stones work great for this, but anything that brings you comfort will work, like a photo, snuggling in your grandmother’s afghan, or even petting your favorite kitty. 

These are only a few grounding techniques. Feel free to share your own processes in the comments. I hope I've added at least one new thing to your toolbox of tricks.

Have a wonderful, grounded week.

Prosperity - Positive Thought

From the Magical Times Empowerment Cards by Jody Bergsma, we pull the path of Prosperity for guidance for the coming week.

Focus on the Positive and more good will come. Give thanks for blessings and they will multiply. Prosperity begins in the Mind.

Most of us underestimate the power of our minds and thoughts. But, if you really look around and listen to what’s coming out of people’s mouths, I think you can begin to understand the real energy behind our words.

Positive thinking is the true path to prosperity. Some of us get thrown off track because we assume we can protect ourselves completely. Nothing will go wrong, and when it does we can't understand what we did wrong. That’s not exactly how it works. If it did, we would all be on the positive train.

Bad things happen and that’s all there is to it. No one is sheltered from obstacles, trials, and challenges. What you do have control over is your reaction, pure and simple.

None of this is easy, but it is the best way to live. We fail, we fall, but then we start a new day. In fact, some mornings you'll throw your hands up, say some ‘nice’ little words, and dig back into that big old bed, warming up with those negative thoughts. Heck, we all do it from time to time. Life is hard.

The thing to remember is your thoughts and words create energy. Whether it is positive or negative, the energy will build and attract more of the same. 

If your first thought of the day is: “This is going to be the worse day ever,” you are most likely going to have a very bad day. But if you begin the day with: “I’m going to make the most out of this day,” chances are it will be a productive day.

Things change throughout the day, things happen, others’ energy merge with yours. But, it’s important to try your best to stay in your energy field, surrounded by positive thoughts. Be consistent, be strong. If you stray, catch yourself and get back on track. Each evening, give thanks for what was good, let go of what was not, and prepare for the next day to be full of positive thoughts, reactions, and results.

Affirmation: I choose to live with a positive mindset. I face challenges as they come and learn from each new obstacle in my path. I give what I wish to receive, hope and happiness.

Song Choice: Miley Cyrus - The Climb - Music Video

I wish you all a happy, positive, and productive week. :)

Releasing the Old, Embracing the New

I decided to try out one of Carrie Paris' Magpie casting sheets for this week's post. She has multiple versions available for free at her website. The one I chose is a non-traditional Celtic Cross spread.

I haven't decided the best method for using these yet, casting or pulling. For this, I pulled them individually from the bag, which comes with the Magpie Oracle.

1. Your situation - Birds - Communication, Idle Chatter - You are talking about something too much, and not communicating what you truly wish to say.

2. What distracts you - Key - Openness, Control - You feel you have no control over what is being said; this distracts you from listening and understanding.

3. You are letting go of this - Anchor - Stability, Work Commitments - You are letting go of what keeps you stable, grounded.

4. This is what's opening to you - Tree - Growth, Creation - There is an opportunity for growth and developing new roots. Open yourself to all possibilities.

5. What you haven't recognized - Ring - Partnership, An Ongoing Loop - To become completely open, you must break the ongoing cycle you are currently in.

6. What you're beginning to understand from this reading (love this position!) - Lily - Peace, Tranquility - What I'm beginning to understand from this reading is Peace is my final destination. There is a door open to this tranquil, spiritual environment, yet when I get close, I start back at step one.

7. Outdated thinking brings this - Woman - Yourself - Continuing on the same road, with the same thinking patterns, brings you lack of growth. You remain as you are, with no movement forward.

8. Family and Friends offer this - Rider - News, Information - I believe this links back to the situation. They are offering, but you may not be listening.

9. Take this action - Scythe - Severance, Removal - Cut ties with the old ways, both your own thinking and the words being offered by family and friends. None of this is getting you to where you need to be.

10. The results of your action - Fish - Abundance, Prosperity - You will gain much more than you're letting go.

Overview - You find yourself with communication (birds) issues, because you feel out of control (key) of the situation. You have to first let yourself be free (anchor) in order to begin growing (tree) toward your possibilities. You may not have noticed, but you are continuously doing the same things over and over again (ring). This is keeping you from walking through the door leading to peace and tranquility (lily). Staying with the old ways (woman) and listening to the same words (rider) is only keeping you anchored to your old life. You need to cut ties (scythe) with past influences. By doing this, you will find abundance and prosperity (fish) and begin to grow and develop new roots (tree).

Do You Dare Succeed?

In 2012, I published both a review and a sample reading of The Transparent Tarot by Emily Carding. Since then, I haven’t used this deck much. As I contemplated what to do for this week’s posting, the deck caught my attention.

The Transparent Tarot, based on the Rider-Waite tradition, takes the reader to a new level, beyond the basic Tarot. When you combine these cards, building layer upon layer, you ultimately create a new picture all together. Within these cards is your own personal oracle deck. 

I decided to go with one of the suggested layouts in the companion book. This is a three card reading--the gift, challenge, and goal of the day. You are to pull three cards for each position. I've pulled the cards for the week, rather than one day. 

As in the past, the cards present a clear, insightful reading.

The Gift – 7 Chariot, 14 Temperance, 3 of Swords

In the 3 of Swords, a man prepares for a self-sacrifice—a mental sacrifice, a letting go of old thoughts and beliefs. Above him, The Temperance rainbow shows the blending of two elements and the opposing figures of the horses of The Chariot. The shift of mental clarity, opposing and blending, weighs upon him. The only way to survive is to adjust and surrender to the change taking place.

The Gift for the week is the ability to let go of the old ways of thinking and allow new thoughts, actions, and emotions into play—the gift is CHANGE.

The Challenge – 17 Star, 6 of Cups, 8 of Cups

The Star explodes with the light of hope and creativity. (6 of Cups)The older-self hands off the past, giving it back to the earlier version of self. As she does so, she reviews the memories, taking a moment to keep a precious few. (8 of Cups)Freed of the past, she climbs toward the sun, her future, and her success.

The Challenge for the week is to release the past and move toward the future. There’s a certain fear of moving forward, of finding success, of having such hope as represented by the Star and its exploding energies. Sometimes it’s easier to stay where you are. The challenge is MOVING FORWARD.

The Goal – 3 Empress, 6 of Wands, 21 World

(Empress)Surrounded by the wonders of nature, (6 of Wands)the man takes a victory stance. He followed his journey and achieved success. The swirl of the World represents the achievement and the new cycle of activity to follow such success.

The Goal of the week is not only to achieve success but accept it, review it, be it. Sometimes we find the day when we actually reach our goal, but instead of celebrating, we quickly turn to the next goal. Taking the time to be a success is just as important as the actual doing. The goal is SUCCESS.

Affirmations:

• I am willing and able to change. Like a butterfly, I shed the old cocoon and embrace my new wings.
• I release my past and step toward the light of my future.
• I recognize and celebrate my achievements.