Can't Understand Messages from the Universe?

Many people ask us to help them interpret answers and messages from the Universe. Some people have trouble receiving answers from the Universe, but more frequently people receive messages from the Universe... and cannot figure out what those answers mean.

What can you do when you ask the Universe for help or guidance, and then get some feedback that makes no sense to you? That's easy. Ask again... and again... and again if necessary. Luckily the Universe never gets impatient when someone asks for clarification. If you have asked the Universe or your Spirit guide or an angel for some kind of message or guidance, but can't decipher the meaning, first take the time to thank that being for sending the message. Then, feel free to ask again. Ask the being to send the message again, this time add the phrase, "In a way that I can clearly understand." You might also want to specify a time within which you would like to receive the clarified message. For instance, you might ask an angel to send the message again and add a time frame, such as "Before 6:00 pm tonight." With the time qualifier you know the being will send the message before a certain time. With that in mind, after the specified time you can review your day to see if you can locate the new clarified message or guidance.

Communications from Universal Beings
Sometimes we can miss the message or answer or guidance because Universal beings do not always communicate the same way as we do. When we talk to another person, we use language and words. Thus we tend to think that all beings communicate in the same way. Not so. An angel may use words, but might not put them in your mind directly. You may find your guidance in a book, an overheard conversation, or even graffiti written on a wall. For instance, one person who was struggling with anxiety was given the following quote by Robert Louis Stevenson in a fiction novel:

"Quiet mind cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune, at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm..."

This became a mantra for this person to repeat when feeling anxious. The vision of the unmoved clock, ticking steadily away at its own private pace during a wild thunderstorm, became the essence of the kind of inner peace this person was hoping to achieve. What's more, the more this person used this mantra, the less worried she became about other people's opinions of her or her choices. She became more confident of her choices and lifestyle, thinking of herself like that clock, moving in fortune or misfortune at her own private pace.

If you review your day, after having asked your Spirit guide to send you a clarified message, and you can find no verbal reference, such as a quote or snippet of conversation, look for non-verbal messages. For instance, one person asked an angel to send a clarified message during his workday. The man was looking for guidance as to whether to accept a job in another country. While the job would certainly prove to be lucrative and offer many new experiences, the man was uncertain as to whether he should leave the safety and comfort of his current life and job. In particular, he wondered whether he would be able to re-create a similar support network in a different country amongst strangers. As he reviewed his day, he could find no verbal clues that would answer his question. In fact, he found very little verbal communication had taken place all day. Upon reflection, he realized that he usually spoke with several of his close friends during the day, and a few family members as well. He had spoken to almost no one that day, having been very focused on his work.

Upon reflection, the man realized that he had not felt isolated or alone that day, despite not connecting with his usual social network of friends and family. And therein lay the answer to his question. Could he successfully leave his social network and family to take a new job in a foreign country amongst strangers? Yes. His realization that he had not felt isolated or lonely that day, even with almost no contact with his friends and family, made him realize that he was sufficiently confident and capable that he did not need to have his social network always available for a chat. He was outgoing enough to make new friends. He would not feel lonely in a foreign country. As soon as he realized the answer sent by his angel, his phone rang--a call from a close friend who had been "thinking of him" all day but was too busy to call during the day. The man immediately thanked his angel for the clarified answer, and then happily chatted with his close friend. Message sent and received.

Whether your guides choose to send you verbal or non-verbal messages, the key to receiving answers from guides and angels and other Universal beings is to keep asking for clarification until you get the help you asked for. You can even ask that messages be sent in verbal form so you can more easily hear them. Just keep asking and do not give up until the message has been sent and received to your satisfaction. And remember, thanks and appreciation are the key to continued communication with the Universe... it is the spiritual coin most recognized by higher beings. Learn more about working with Universal beings and other magical skills with our Kindle book 1 of the Witchcraft Spell Books series – Learn How To Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells With Your Bare Hands and our Daily Rituals for Attracting What You Want in Life ebook.

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Manifest Faster by Doing Your Part

For those of us who have read "The Secret" or any number of books on manifestation via meditation, magick, and other traditions, the idea that the Universe never fails to manifest our wishes is not a new or novel idea. The Universe always delivers without fail. 

So the question inevitably comes to mind: "Then where's my stuff?" If the Universe always delivers, why didn't you win the PowerBall Lotto or marry your soul mate on Valentine's Day?

Good question. The answer is pretty simple, although not particularly easy to do.

Getting Out of the Way
When you ask the Universe for anything, from a job promotion to the resolution of a chronic health problem, the Universe immediately goes to work and begins pulling the necessary pieces together to manifest your desire. Then depending on the nature of your request (and the complications involved), the Universe will take a variable amount of time to deliver your wish.

In the meantime, what are you supposed to do? There are two options. If you are one of those rare people who can request help from the Universe and then sit back quietly and patiently to wait for the manifestation, then go ahead and just chill. Wait patiently for the Universe, perhaps using meditation as a way to stay calm and quiet.

And then there are the rest of us who also practice various forms of meditation, but may end up doing something mentioned by folk singer Chuck Pyle called Tantrum Yoga (a form of tantric yoga gone astray). In this form of yoga you just hold your breath until the Universe gives you your way. Sounds perfect for those of us who are prone to tantrums anyway, right?

Well, in case neither of the above forms of staying out of the way while the Universe works, consider this third option, which proves to be more effective for more people (excluding those who can hold their breath for hours!).

A Fun Basic Spell While You Wait for the Universe
This basic spell combines items from a number of different tribal traditions, including a verbal litany candle magick, and a magickal talisman. For this spell, you will need the following items:

• a bright yellow candle with no orange or reddish undertones (this is also called a Sun Candle)
• a plate for fire safety with the candle or use a candle enclosed in glass
• wooden or paper matches
• a talisman that symbolizes your request to the Universe (and is small enough to carry around all  day)
• a pen and notebook to record your magickal work (also called a Book of Shadows)
• a compass to find the exact location of the cardinal directions

Use the following instructions to create a magickal spell matrix that will allow you to help the Universe in manifesting your request, while at the same time keeping you out of the way as the Universe works. Factors such as doubt, skepticism, and actions that undermine the goal of the spell are to be avoided at all costs. This basic spell will help you stay focused and do your part in bringing your manifestation to life.

1.    Locate the four cardinal directions by using your compass outdoors. Compasses do not give accurate readings indoors as there is too much electro-magnetic interference. Once you have located all the directions, go back in your house and clear a small circular space.

2.    Bring all of your materials and sit in the South of the circle, placing your items in front of you.

3.    Place your Sun Candle in front of you (on the plate if necessary) and light the candle with a wooden or paper match. Do not use a lighter as lighter fluid has unwanted energies.

4.    Once the flame of the candle is burning tall and bright (called a working flame), cup your hands around the flame and say the following litany in a voice of command:

"Child of Wonder
Child of Flame
Nourish My Spirit
And Bring My Aim"

5.    Now hold your talisman in your dominant hand (the hand you use to point). As you hold the talisman, focus on the energy of having your manifestation. Focus on how you will feel each day when you wake up and your wish has manifested in your life. Flow all the positive and joyful energy you can access into the talisman. When the talisman feels charged, hot, energized, heavy or simply different, the talisman is keyed to your desired manifestation.

6.    Now place the talisman next to or around the candle (an example might be using a talisman that is a heart locket on a chain) and say the following verse in a voice of command:

"Child of Wonder
Child of Flame
Energize This Talisman
With Magick Untamed
Each Time I Touch This Talisman
The Energies of Mundane and Magickal Combine
My Energies Through the Talisman Aid
This Spell That Manifests My Desires So Fine."

7.    Leave the talisman near the burning Sun Candle (perhaps on a plate or in the sink for safety) for 30 minutes. Then blow out the candle and carry the talisman with you all day. Whenever you feel doubt about the Universe delivering on the manifestation, touch your talisman for a magickal boost. Similarly, when you feel positive and happy, flow that energy into the talisman to add energy to your spell matrix.

8.    You may repeat the charging of the talisman at any time, and many people like to repeat this process a few times to fully energize the spell matrix.

As with all magickal acts, enjoyment is key. Enjoy every moment from choosing your talisman to energizing it. This kind of magick is basic, simple, fun, and effective. 


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How to Open a Channel to the Universe

What do you do when you've absolutely got to "be in the know," but you don't seem to be able to access the information you need? Open a channel to the Universe! The Universe is filled with every piece of information we'll ever need, and is simply waiting to communicate with us. Sometimes we're just blocked and not able to hear what the Universe is saying.

The good news is that there are hundreds of channels of communication that you can easily open to get the information you need. Here are four simple ones:

MEDICINE CARDS: If you need to know what quality you most need to handle a situation in your life, draw an animal card from the Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson. Sams and Carson use animal totems to exemplify characteristics such as persistence, courage, use of magic, and more ...

PENDULUM: Dowsing can be a simple way to get the answers you need. All you need is a pendulum and some questions to ask.

SMOKE SIGNALS: Whether you're lighting a smudge stick, burning botanicals in a firebowl, or smoking sacred tobacco in a pipe, smoke is a way for you to communicate your desires to the Universe, and for the Universe to answer you. Send your wishes up with the smoke, then look into the smoke as a form of divination. Images, ideas, feelings, and answers will come to you.

PICK UP A BOOK: If you desperately need answers but you don't have time to use any of the tools mentioned above, just ask the Universe your question, pick up a book (use your intuition to pick the book), and open it to any page. The first word, phrase or picture is your answer!

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Magical Fixes for the Monday Morning Blues

If you're singing the Monday morning blues (no matter what day of the week it is), here are five magical ways you can change your tune:

PREPAVING: This is one of our favorite magical techniques from one of our teachers. Just sit for 3-5 minutes in a quiet spot and focus on what you want and how you want your day to look. We spend so much time worrying about what we have to do, what we should do and what might happen that we forget what's most important – what we want! So spend a few minutes sending the Universe a few hints about how you want your day to look, and the Universe will deliver exactly that, and then some!

SUN CANDLE: Did you know that the color sun yellow (bright yellow with no orange) actually nourishes and refreshes your Spirit? If you're feeling groggy, grumpy or grouchy, sit in front of a lit sun yellow candle for a few minutes. It will refresh you and give you happy, joyful energy.

CONSCIOUS CHOICE: We spend so much time in our minds that our Spirits don't get much chance to come out and play. Yet, we are happiest when we are living in Spirit rather than in mind. To give you a hint, you were probably most in Spirit when you were a playful child. So, to get your Spirit in gear for a fun and playful day, make a conscious choice – it exercises Spirit. Just say to yourself, "I will now make a conscious choice." Then ask yourself a question such as, "Do I choose to have cereal or toast for breakfast?" Go with the first answer you hear or receive. Following Spirit's guidance will align your energies and make for a positive day.

GREET THE DAY: One way to stay in touch with your Spirit and with nature is to go outside and greet the day. It's simple. Go outside, extend your attention into the sky and say, "Sky Above." Then, extend your attention into the earth and say, "and Earth Below." Then, with attention both above and below, say, "I greet you." Wait a moment and see what gifts the Universe brings you (this is a simple form of the Navajo Beauty Way). You will experience peace, joy, satisfaction and nourishment.

HIRE SOME HELPERS: Need a little extra help today? Hire some helpers! Whether it's animal totems or angels, all kinds of powers and beings stand ready to help you. All you have to do is ask! Some people draw cards from the Medicine Card deck to set the "tone" of their day, while other people hire angels. Whoever you hire, just remember to thank them when you receive the help you've asked for.

There are so many ways to design your day and your life. For more ways to bring simple magical fixes into your day and your life get our magical Kindle books series.

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What is a Magick Spell Really?

Magick spells come in all shapes and sizes from the very simple to the very complex. Anytime you encounter a situation or condition that you can't affect directly is a great time to use a magick spell. This is especially true when there are complex factors or barriers to overcome that require a lot of force. A short, concise explanation of a magick spell is that it is any psychic or magical operation creating an energy matrix by combining a mix of the elements air, fire, water, and earth that may also program factors and carry an intention to produce a specific result over a period of time. By this definition chants, litanies, sonics, directors and limiters, and even prayers can all be spells just as more formal candle spells, multiple candle spells and Tarot spells can. The type of spell you choose for any given situation depends on factors such as the number of obstacles that must be overcome in achieving the end goal, the size of the problem, and how big an area or number of people to be affected.

Creating Spells
When designing and creating your own spell you need to have a thorough understanding of directors and limiters, basic magical operational laws, the terminology involved with spellwork, and the properties and characteristics of the four elements. Magick is a precision science as well as an art and since altered procedures produce altered results it is important to have a strong magical foundation before attempting to create larger complex spells. Directors and limiters are an especially important part of the design process because without these safeguards of defining what specifically the spell will do and what it will definitely not do, the spell will take the path of least resistance to the goal. Even if the goal of the spell is in accordance with the Rules of the Road that govern magical practices, the path may not be if you have not well defined it. This can cause major repercussions since the Universe doesn't care what you intend; only what you actually do.

Ready to Try?
While more complicated spellwork takes special training such as you can get through our Basic Magic Course, you can try out some very simple spells for yourself such as this one for attracting money or this very simple basic spell to get a boost in energy.

1. Get a pure bright yellow candle with not too much orange coloring in it; unscented is best.

2. Stand or sit in the South facing North and have the candle in front of you.

3. Light the candle with wooden or paper matches.

4. Let the flame grow steady and tall into a good "working" flame.

5. Now charge the candle by holding your hands so that they are close to (not too close that you get burned though) and cupped around the flame.

6. Focus your attention on the candle and flame and say this verse out loud in a voice of command (strong, powerful voice):

"Child of Wonder,
Child of Flame,
Nourish My Spirit,
And Protect My Aim!"

7. Now simply leave the candle burning for at least 30 minutes making sure it is on a plate or other protective surface and not a fire hazard.

8. Once you feel ready and at least 30 minutes have passed, blow the candle out. Take a few moments to see if you feel a difference in your energy level and quality of your energy. Most people report they feel lighter, energized, more harmonious and more peaceful.

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The Magick of the Experimental Life: Part I

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better." Most people don't live that way however. There are rules to follow, responsibilities to be tended to, and plans that must be followed. Magickally speaking, this fixed and constant way of thinking is restrictive to allowing for change. By including space for experimenting with life, you open the doorway to questions, curiosity, and mystery. This is the doorway that allows magic to enter your life and makes change possible. 

Deciding on Change
Most people when embarking on a new project in their lives or attempting to create change have been taught that the first step is developing an in-depth plan of action listing all the tasks and steps they must do. These are the "control decisions". The Creation Sequence used by magical practitioners to create change however depends on putting the "base decision" as the important first step. The base decision is a Yes or No decision of whether to move ahead with the project, desire, or tasks. The magickal reason to put the base decision before the control decisions is that the base decision alerts the Universe that we have a desire, and we invite the Universe to help us fulfill that desire in the easiest way possible. When we enlist the Universe's help we allow magick rather than blood, sweat and tears to fulfill our desires. By announcing our desires by making a positive base decision, we empower the Universe to get started right away in helping us fulfill that desire. Consider too, that by enlisting help from the Universe and Universal beings to join us in a co-creation we can achieve much more in much easier ways. After all, these higher beings have a much broader perspective of a situation than we do from our place on Earth. If we insist upon starting with control decisions listing all the possible tasks and considerations then the Universe doesn't get a clear message. Are we just playing around with ideas or are we serious about this desire? Are we wanting a specific final outcome or do we want each of the tasks we list to happen regardless of what the outcome would be? You can see how the Universe could be confused by these type of messages. By starting with the base decision, the Universe gets a clear message of what we want and the go ahead to start aligning the necessary resources, events, interactions, and other "coincidental" happenings that will help us fulfill our desire. This allows the Universe to take the lead in your co-creation, and you simply need to remain open to and aware of the many forms of guidance and help the Universe constantly drops on your path.

No Wrong Decisions
Viewing life as an experiment means there are no wrong decisions. Any decision you feel good about is a right decision. If you feel bad about a decision you make, the decision will not lead to anything good, but as long as you feel good about it you open the way for good things to come to you. It all has to do with the energetic vibration you put out. Simply put, good vibrations bring good back to you and bad vibrations bring bad. If experimenting in this way is something new to you, it may be that you need a little practice in making conscious decisions, feeling good about them and following through with them. This exercise can help with that.

Making a Conscious Choice
This exercise is magical because it puts you in touch with your own inner spiritual wisdom and when you follow the answers you "hear" from your spiritual self, you will never find yourself in the wrong place. It also allows you to practice the idea that there are no wrong decisions. Following your intentions puts you on your magical path, and the conscious choice exercise is a way to exercise your intention. Here's how you do the Conscious Choice Exercise:

1. Quiet your inner self by taking a few deep breaths.
2. Say to yourself, either aloud or silently, "I will now make a conscious choice." 
3. Next, ask yourself the choice question, such as, "Do I choose to xxx or not?" or "Do I choose xxx or yyy?"
4. The first answer you "hear" internally (or sometimes externally from a passing person) is what you must follow. You may not, in this exercise, avoid doing the option you have consciously chosen.

Start this exercise with very simple choices or decisions such as what to eat for breakfast or what outfit to wear to a party until you get more practice listening to and trusting you inner voice. The more practice you get with small things and the more secure you become in listening to decisions made from a higher place, the more you will be able to trust the process and move on to bigger and more important decisions in your life.

Stay tuned for the next part of this article series where we'll explore more about making base decisions and experimenting with no right or wrong answers. In the meantime if you want to learn more about co-creating with Universal beings and using magickal rituals to explore your inner wisdom, check out our Witchcraft Spell Book: The Complete Guide of Witchcraft Rituals & Spells for Beginners Kindle book.

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Magickal Worry Stones

When I was very young, my parents gave me a worry stone that was simply a piece of onyx with an indention carved into it. The idea was that I was to rub my thumb in the indention until my worries or anxieties passed. What I didn't know then was that this was not the ideal stone to safely dispense with my negative energies. If you often find yourself in worry mode, you can magickally ground it out safely! Hematite and Apache or Grandmother's Tears are two magickal stones that do not get contaminated by junky energies, so they make perfect worry stones.

Carry one of these stones around in your pocket (or find one made into a necklace). Each time you feel worried, hold the stone in your dominant hand (the one your point with) and flow that worry into the stone. The Apache Tear will flow that energy directly into the half worlds, where it can no longer return to you. The hematite stone will store an enormous amount of worry energy before it needs to be cleansed. You can easily buy two stones (two of the same kind or one of each). Carry one around for a moon cycle and use it. Then bury it in the Earth to be cleansed for a moon cycle and switch to the other stone. Now a worry stone won't guarantee that just because you flow a particular worry (say about money) into the stone, that you won't have that same worry the next time that topic comes up (say you have to pay an unexpected bill). But here is where the magick comes in.

We humans, like Pavlov's dogs, are subject to behavioral training. When we are rewarded with a feeling of relief each time we flow worry into our worry stone, especially after repeated instances of this feeling, then we will flow that emotion into the stone more often. The more often we feel relief, the more our minds realize that we don't have to worry. Not only do we experience a sense of relief, but our minds realize that the world keeps turning even when we stop worrying. And then, presto, when we stop worrying about money and feel more harmonious about the topic more of the time, the Universe sends us more than enough money to cover the bills. Happy feelings in the money department tell the Universe, "Hey, we feel good about money so we can emotionally accept more money now." And the Universe is happy to respond.

Want to learn more about using Apache Tears and other simple magick you can do using materials you can find around your house? Then our Kindle book - Learn How to Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells with Household Ingredients is the book for you!


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The Magick of Enough: Want to know the secret to "The Secret"?

So many people understand the logic behind "The Secret" but can't seem to make it work as well as they would like. Why is that? Because "The Secret" has you focusing on your desires. Nothing wrong with that, but often that focus brings up feelings of contrasting lack (especially later in the day, when you are not focusing on yourself living the life of your dreams).

Finding Enough
The real secret is to get happy about where you are, your square on the chess board of life, if you will. The square may seem small, cramped, dirty, unfulfilling and lacking in money, health, or joy. That may be so, but the square on which you stand is the one you have, right here, right now. And the big secret to "The Secret" is that you have to accept the square on which you stand, feel that it is "enough" and then the Universe will give you more. Find ways to feel fulfilled about where you are. Anything will do. Little joys of life. The power of "enough" is that when you can find any feeling of "good enough" about any part of your square, the Universe will respond with more "enough". You don't need to spend much time focusing on your desires unless that brings you joy. The Universe already knows what you want. When you feel a sense of "enough" with what you have, the Universe will dish out more things that will make you feel more "enoughness." Silly and simply, but it works.

Why It Works
This works because of the Law of Vibration. Merely focusing on your desires won't bring them to you unless you are putting out a vibrational energy that is a match for those desires. That is the basis behind the Law of Attraction. When you can genuinely feel fulfillment with your current place and circumstances in life then you set your vibration at a higher level than when you have negative feelings about your conditions. Remember that positive will attract more positive and negative will attract more negative. So to move forward or up the ladder to where you want to be and what you want to have, you have to shift your energies and vibrations to a frequency that will attract more of the positives that you want.

Now that you know your "job" to attract more of your desires, do some thinking about ways you can raise your vibrational level starting with being satisfied with where you are now. You might write up a gratitude list that you can focus on daily, develop some affirmations to chant throughout the day based on those gratitudes or blessings you have in your life, or you might begin doing some forms of daily rituals to make a higher connection with the Universe and get to know your spirit guides. Our Daily Rituals for Attracting What You Want In Life ebook can help you with simple daily rituals to incorporate into your spiritual practice. No matter what your circumstances are currently, getting to know your spirit guides and developing a relationship with them will give you a place to start counting your blessings. Even if you can't find anything else to be grateful for in your situation, those relationships will give you one to begin your gratitude list.

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Truth, Justice, and the Magical Way

Jesus called it the Golden Rule and shamans says "As above, so below." More commonly, this ancient truth has been expressed as "What goes around comes around." Heard any of these before?

If you've ever fought against injustice or untruths in your life, here's something for you to chew on: We create the truth and justice in our lives (or lack of them) in the way that we treat others. In other words, what goes around really does come around.

Now if you've ever thought about this little truth, you can probably come up with several examples of how it has worked in your own life. For instance, if you mistreated a friend in a fit of anger chances are that you got mistreated the same way a little later. If you lie, cheat or steal, then expect other people to lie, cheat, and steal from you. If you are kind, sweet and gentle in your actions and in your heart, then others will do the same for you.

But let's get a little deeper here. Let's dig down to the level of our beliefs and see what's really there. Instead of looking at single instances let's look at the overall pattern of how we perceive the world. In general, do we expect an eye for an eye? Do we feel that people owe us something? Do we expect others to be perfect? If we do, then we'd better be ready to give up an eye for an eye, be indebted to others, and live the perfect life.

This isn't a judgment or moral issue at all - it's simply the manifestation of the "As above, so below" law, which can also be stated as "As within, so without." So think about it this way. Living in an "eye for an eye" world can be very tedious. You have to keep track of who owes what to whom. You have to work very hard to make sure you get paid every last penny of what is owed to you. You have to chase people down all the time to make sure they appreciate and thank you. It's a lot of internal bookkeeping. From a magical standpoint, this is living in a very heavy, physical reality that has little opportunity for magic to do its work.

On the other hand, if you relaxed your grip on life a little and allowed more slack to enter your interpretation of other people's actions, then the Universe gives you the same benefits. Here's the perfect example. Say you observe a rebellious child who is flunking out of school. If you judge this child harshly and say, "You'll never amount to anything unless you straighten up and fly right. You are no good," you are judging that child according to a very conventional view of the world - a view in which no magic can happen. It's all about hard work and elbow grease. There's no magic. And no magic in his world equals no magic in your world.

But if you can find something, anything, to appreciate in that child then you're home free. If you can even imagine a story in which he magically blooms into the person he wants to be then you've seen the magic. If you can see a possible transformation for that child that has nothing to do with logic or reasoning, then you see the magic. And then you've opened the door to magic in your own life. How you see him (and anyone else) is how the Universe sees you. It always comes back around.

When you hold people to a very strict moral or behavioral code then you have to follow that same code. When you appreciate something in everyone you meet and when you can see the magic in their lives, then you have magic in your life too. Allowing the rebellious child his rebellion and not forcing him (in your mind) to "straighten up and fly right" means that you don't have to pay so much for your own "mistakes" as you experiment with spiritual growth. In fact, it gives you the freedom to experiment with less pain and more magical joy.

When you can, take a light touch in dealing with the world and the Universe will always return the favor!

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Magick to the Rescue Part 7: Lost? Find Your Way with Magickal Bread Crumbs

Earlier in this series Magick to the Rescue:
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

The Esoteric School receives frequent requests from people asking for guidance and answers along this life journey, be it answers to questions about career and family or guidance on Spirit paths. While many schools of magickal or esoteric teaching tend to charge high prices for such services, the Esoteric School is more about offering many different wants for the "every man and every woman" to find their own answers through simple magickal rituals and options. Through our blog and newsletters, our article library, and inexpensive self-paced courses, our goal is to allow as many people to bring magick into their lives as possible.

Of course, if you feel lost in your life then browsing through our online article library can seem a big overwhelming task. Knowing where to begin in your use of magick can be as important as the use of magick itself. The following section offers five different ways you can discover answers and find your way on your path magickally, step-by-step... or if you are into fairy tales, bread crumb by bread crumb. If and when you feel lost, scan through the following list and find the option that attracts your attention. Your attention--and your intention--will get you started in the direction you need to go. Then all you need to do is follow the first bread crumb to the next, and the next, and the next... and before you know it you will be striding with confidence down a pathway lit with magickal help and guidance!

Magickal Solution #1: Follow the First Answer You Hear
Whether you are completely lost and have no idea what you want in your life, or you are just a little muddled about your next step to reach your goal, the Universe is always happy to deliver answers to you instantly. Many students have tried this approach with surprisingly positive results. The Universe will answer any question you ask deliberately with an immediate answer.

The steps to this ritual are simple. Simply say to yourself or out loud in a voice of command: "Universe please provide me an answer to the question I will ask. I will follow the first answer I hear, trusting that you know exactly what I want and will not lead me astray. [Ask your question here]." You don't have to use these exact words, but follow the intent of the words and phrases, and announce to the Universe that you want and need guidance to a certain question. The question could be as big as a new direction for your career and as small as to whether you have a cup of coffee in the morning.

The key is to follow the first answer that the Universe provides, which will be the first answer you hear. You might hear the answer as a voice in your mind (and even in your own voice). You might hear a snippet of a conversation from a passing group of strangers. A song lyric may possess the answer you seek. The important thing is to take and follow the FIRST answer you hear. The answer may seem crazy at the moment or not in sync with your question, but just use your best judgment as to how to use that answer. You will be amazed at the results. At the next crossroads on your path, ask the Universe the next question. This will lead you from bread crumb to bread crumb until you find your way along your path. More importantly, you will have developed a relationship of trust with the Universe. You will have greater trust with each answer you receive, and proceed with ever greater confidence!

Magickal Solution #2: Pick a Card, Any Card
Just as a magician doing stage magic might invite you to pick a card, any card, and then guess the card without looking at it, the Universe also invites you to pick a card to find answers to questions you seek. Only there's no smoke or mirrors when you play the "pick a card" game with the Universe... just the answers you seek. You can use Medicine Cards, Angel Cards, Tarot Cards, Sacred Path Cards... whichever set of cards calls to you.

First, ask your question to the Universe, either out loud or in your mind. Next, pick up your deck of choice and shuffle the deck until the mix feels "right" to you. Then fan out the cards on a table and choose a card. Or cut the deck and take the top card. Or use any method you like. Just remain consistent in your approach.

This card is your "theme of the day" as well as the answer to your question. Most of these decks come with books that explain the meaning of each card, often with each card having two different meanings depending on whether the card is upright or reversed. Choose your card, note its position (upright or reversed) and then read the meaning of the card. As with all the methods offered in this article, follow the advice offered by the card as best you can. Most of the time the answer will mesh neatly with the question. If not, hold the answer in mind as you go about your day. Chances are that the meaning of the card will appear more clear as the day goes on. If not, sleep on it and see what your dreams tell you about the card. Answers may trickle through your mind and consciousness in the most amusing and interesting ways.

Magickal Solution #3: Create Your Own Method
Ancient proverbs, wise gurus, and other spiritual teachers have often said that we know what is best for ourselves, and that the answers we seek can be found within our own hearts. If this be true, one of the neatest magickal ways to gain answers is to create your own method for the Universe to deliver answers. One person took seven different books, opened each book to a random page, and underlined a word or phrase. She then arranged the seven books in an ordered stack. Finally, she opened each book to the page she had marked and wrote down the word or phrase. The combined words and phrases from the seven books made up her "answer" from the Universe. Invariably, though there were missing words, the message was quite complete and readable. More importantly, the message made perfect sense to the person. She continues to use this method to this day to gain the answers she seeks. Other people have asked people they encounter what's happening in their lives. The answers may be deep or shallow (depending on whether the people were strangers or friends), and the answers have always shed light on the asking person's situation. The person may have had to "dig" or "decipher" the meaning, the answer was always there to find.

Magickal Solution #4: Reach Out and Touch Someone
This method is similar to the one just previously discussed. Only, this time, instead of asking a bunch of different people you encounter about what is happening in their lives, you reach out to a person with whom you have not had contact for a very long time. Perhaps a friend who was also a neighbor moved away and you lost contact over the years. Or maybe you changed jobs, and you now move in different social circles. Dig back through your old contacts and see if one jumps out at you. If so, then ask the Universe your question and request that the answer come from the conversation with the person with whom you are about to speak. Then pick up the phone and reach out to that person. However you go about choosing a person from your distant past, the Universe will find a way to send the answers you seek humming across the telephone wires or into the internet chats. The Universe encompasses all methods of technology, new and old.

Magickal Solution #4: Astrocartography
Those who have been members of 12-step programs have probably often heard that "geographic moves" won't solve life problems since "everywhere you go there you are." It is true that we carry ourselves and unique personality quirks with us wherever we go. At the same time, it is also magickally true that there are different places on Planet Earth that are more or less beneficial to us in a variety of ways. Some places are better for our health, while other places are better for finances or relationships. Spiritual development can be easier in certain locations, while our careers may flourish in yet other locations. Some locations have multiple benefits with few drawbacks.

Astrocartography, which is the science of mapping our astrology onto a global map, can help us find the best places for certain areas of our lives. Astrocartography can help us locate "power places" for various aspects of our lives. Many sites on the internet offer this service, and the cost is inexpensive. Some sites offer you readings on three places around the globe, while other sites offer you a global reading, which tells you where different lines from your astrological chart cross on the globe, and offering pros and cons for each location. If you are looking for a new and interesting method of finding magickal answers to your questions, consider browsing around astrocartography sites to see if they pique your interest!

Magickal Solution #5: The Good Old Coin Flip
The Universe is just as happy to offer answers through complex rituals such as Question Circles as it is through simple methods such as flipping a coin. If you are looking for a simple "Yes or No" answer, sometimes flipping a coin is the way to go. One of our students uses the coin flip for the most important decisions in his life. And guess what? The answers have never led him anywhere other than where he wanted to go. You, of course, may not be ready to put major life decisions in the result of a simple coin flip. Instead, start small. Prepare your coin by holding it in your dominant hand and flowing energy into the coin until the coin feels warm, energized, or charged. Decide which side of the coin means "Yes" and which side means "No." Also decide how you will flip your coin. Will you flip the coin with one hand, catch it in the same hand and then place the coin over top of your other hand? Or will you simply catch the coin in the same hand and see which side faces up? As with all of these magickal "bread crumb" methods, choose a method for your magickal work, and then consistently use this method every single time. Now you are ready. Ask the Universe your question, again aloud or in your mind, and flip your coin. Note the answer and go with it.

Even if the answer seems contradictory to what you expected, follow the answer that appears. Along with following a consistent magickal procedure, trusting and following the answers provided by the Universe will help you develop a strong relationship of trust with the Universe. If you second-guess every answer you receive through these methods, then you might as well seek the help of a counselor or business coach. All of the previous methods, like much of the magick we teach, is aimed at helping you develop your own personal relationship with the Universe, without the need to seek the help of a magickal practitioner. While there is certainly a time and place for seeking guidance and help from others, how much more magickal would your life be if you could directly ask the Universe for the answers you seek? Wouldn't life be so much more magickal, more fun, and more miraculous?


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Magick to the Rescue Part 6: Accept Where You Are

Earlier in this series Magick to the Rescue:
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Most of the time we humans tend to think that we are in control of our lives. And for the most part the Universe (substitute the name of the Higher Being closest to you) allows us to have that illusion of control. And then just when we think we have our lives just how we want them (or not), those pesky higher beings sweep in and change our lives, often quite drastically. The results can be devastating. Sometimes we end up with debt up to our ears because a law was passed in a country halfway around the world. Other times some sort of freedom is taken away from us, be it the bars of a jail or the loss of freedom of movement due to paralysis of the body. Yet other times a person we love is taken from us.

No matter what drastic event has occurred in your life, you are left high and dry in a very sudden way. The landscape looks bleak. You probably feel shell-shocked with no idea how to proceed, or even what to do when you get out of bed each day.

Magick to the Rescue: Accept Where You Are
Magick can help you get out of life's messes with amazing speed and miraculous results. But before you can move on, you first have to accept where you are. Using magick to change your life is very similar to looking at those giant map kiosks at the mall that show the location of each store and restaurant. But the map cannot help you in the slightest until you find the bright red arrow or dot that says, "You are here."

So whatever drastic or tragic life event has happened, find the place inside yourself that says, "I am here. This is what has happened to me, and I accept that, for now, my life is x, y, and z." Be as factual in your description of your current life situation as you can. Avoid using negative adjectives. For instance, if you have accumulated a lot of debt, instead of saying, "I have such an enormously shameful amount of debt," use a statement that is more factual, such as, "The current amount of debt to my name is $x." Thus you are not shaming, blaming, or complaining about the debt, but are simply stating that the debt associated with your name is x amount. Notice how the statement also did not say, "My debt is x, y, and z." While it is true that you are the one who will have to pay back the debt, you don't really want to claim it the way you claim your favorite little black dress or your best set of golf clubs. The goal is to accept the level of debt without adding greater personal attachment to it.

Magick to the Rescue: Create a Practical Plan and Test It!
When confronted with a drastic life change, the idea of creating a practical plan can seem ridiculous. After all, there is panicking to attend to, who has time to create a practical plan? You do. And you must. If you don't create a practical plan to hoist yourself out of hot water, who will?

Luckily, magick can also help you with the practical. The process is a simple combination of a number of rituals. Ready? Good. You will need a bright yellow candle, paper or wooden matches, a pen, and paper. Here's how you use your magick to create a practical plan to get you out of hot water, bit by bit:

1. Give you and your Spirit Guides a spiritual boost by charging a Sun Candle (this is a mini candle spell). Get a bright yellow candle (no orange overtones), preferably in glass for safety. Sit in the South facing North with your candle in front of you. Use your paper or wooden matches to light your candle. When the flame becomes tall and strong, cup your hands around the flame, and then say in a voice of command:

"Child of Wonder
Child of Flame
Nourish My Spirit
And Protect My Aim!"

2. Now set the candle to the side, send up a short prayer of thanks and request for help to the higher (if you like), and pick up your pen and paper. Think about your current life "problem or situation" and spend no more than five minutes writing a list of practical action steps that might improve your life situation. Write anything and everything that comes to mind, whether or not the idea seems useful, practical, distasteful, or impossible. Simply write. Don't think. Allow ideas to flow through the pen from higher beings onto paper. Consider your writing channeling rather than thinking. Allow the higher beings you invited into your sacred space with the Sun Candle and your request for help to flow their creativity and ideas through your pen and onto the paper.


3. Once you have completed your writing, you will now dowse your list to determine which items are meant for present use, which ideas will come in handy later, and which items you may never use. To begin, start with your non-dominant hand. Touch the tip of the index finger and thumb of that hand together so the fingers form an "O". Ensure that the other fingers are pointing slightly up so that they don't interfere with the space inside the "O" shape. Now put the index finger of your dominant hand in the center of the "O" formed by the fingers of your non-dominant hand. Say in a voice of command, "Show me Yes!" Then with force use the index finger of your dominant hand to try to break the bond of the fingers forming the "O" shape. If you are successful, then each time you are able to break the bond of the fingers forming the "O", the answer to the question you ask during dowsing is "Yes." Now repeat procedure this time saying, "Show me No!" The opposite action should occur. If the fingers parted for "Yes," they should hold together for "No." Practice this a few times so you are clear about the signals for "Yes" and "No."


Don't worry if you get conflicting signals at first. Simply practice the "Yes" and "No" a few times and use the most common results for "Yes" and "No." For instance, if the fingers part most of the time for "Yes," then this becomes your signal for the answer "Yes," and closed finger means "No." Don't spend a lot of time worrying about this step. Just get a feeling for the signal for each answer, and then move on to the next step.

4. In this step you will combine the list you wrote with finger-testing. For each item on the list, ask the following questions:

"Is this item likely to be useful in solving my life situation [describe your life situation in a few words] at all in the future?"

"Will this item be useful in solving my life situation [describe it using the same words] either in the present or in the near future, [state a time from such as "three to six months from today"]?"

"Will this item be useful in solving my life situation [describe it using the same words] in the far future, [state a logical time frame such as "six more months from today"]?"

Jot down the Yes/No answers for all three questions for each action item or possible solution you listed.


5. Rewrite your list into three separate lists, separated by whether the item on your list will be helpful in the present or near future, helpful in the far future, or not helpful at all.  Don't throw away the list of items that are ostensibly "not helpful at all" because the future is always changing. A decision or action you take now or in a few weeks could move an item from one list to another.

6. Now place just the list of items that your dowsing deemed useful for the present and near future. Using the same finger-testing method, ask yourself:

"Are there other ideas or solutions that would be helpful to me now or in the [state your time frame for "near future" here] that are not yet on this list?"

If the answer is "Yes," then ask an angel to help you complete your list. Say aloud or internally,

"I would like to request the help of an angel of Sun Yellow, Water Blue, Grass Green, and Sky Blue who specializes in [state the problem for which you want the angel's help]..." 

 [pause here for a few seconds to allow the angel to appear]...

"Angel of Sun Yellow, Water Blue, Grass Green, and Sky Blue who specializes in [state the problem for which you want the angel's help], I would like to request your help in completing this list of items that will help me in the present and near future so that I can move forward in my life and solve this particular problem. I thank you in advance for your help!"

Always thank higher beings in advance for their help. It is a show of good faith and is also a polite way to interact with higher beings. Then be prepared with pen and paper handy because chances are high that the angel will absolutely flood you with information, ideas, strategies, tactics, and insights that will amaze you! Once the flow of information has stopped, thank the angel again for the help--again, appreciation is valuable and much loved by higher beings, not to mention the only form of payment they require.


7. Finally, take your newly expanded list of ideas and actions that can help you tackle your sticky life problem in the present and near future. Arrange the list chronologically based on importance and timing. You can put some items concurrently if you feel that working on both items in parallel will help. Finally, if you want to double check your list, use finger testing to ask whether each item is in the correct order. If not, use finger testing to check whether the item should be moved up or down the list, and how far.

Once complete, you now have an action of plan for moving through, around, over, under, or simply beyond the curve ball that life has thrown into your life. You no longer need to feel stuck, helpless, hopeless, or angry about your life. Take comfort in the fact that even though your hands did the writing and finger testing, angels and higher beings were guiding your pen and your fingers every step of the way.

One final piece of advice: magickally, we say, "a small change in the present produces a larger change in the future." That means that acting on even one of the seemingly insignificant items on your list could result in a much bigger change in your future. The future is never fixed but is always dependent on the present. The moral of the story is to check your "present" and "future" and "never" lists frequently to see if items need to be added, removed, shifted in position, or moved to a different list. Your fingers will always steer you in the right magickal direction! To learn more about communicating with higher beings and using divination, check out our Psychic Development ebook.


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Magick to the Rescue Part 4: Heads Up Procrastinators!

Earlier in this series Magick to the Rescue:
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3

Have you been a chronic procrastinator all your life? Or maybe you are just facing a truly mountainous task and you have no idea where to begin... so the best solution seems to be to not get started at all.

Welcome to the world of procrastination. Some of us have been citizens of this nation for decades while others just stop in on travel visas from time to time. Regardless, when you are in the land of procrastination you usually feel stuck, unmotivated, clueless, and guilty, yet not guilty enough to get you motivated to start on the task.

Heads up procrastinators! Feel guilty and stuck no more. In this article we will explain the most common reasons for procrastination, as well as a magickal solution that will kick you into gear so fast that your head will spin!

Common Reasons for Procrastination
As you might have already guessed, one of the most common reasons for procrastination is not knowing where to start. If you don't know how or where to take the first step, the second and third steps are definitely out of the question. If you have ever sat in a 12-step meeting, you will often hear the slogan, "You only have to take the first step to begin." While that is certainly true for 12-step programs, which have 12 neatly outlined steps, this offers little hope for those of us who don't have such a handy list... either for life or for a particularly nasty task.

Another group of procrastinators suffer from "list phobia." List phobia is simply the act of reading down a list and immediately getting stuck on the first item that you don't understand. Suppose you are given a list of seven instructions on how to perform a specific task. You might read through steps one and two just fine, because you understand what each step is asking you to do. But step three may turn out to be the show-stopper of the century for you. If you don't understand step number three, and you have list phobia, chances are high that you will never even read steps four through seven. Your mind will be so busy spinning around trying to figure out step three that you don't even remember steps one and two.

The third group of procrastinators get stuck when they can't figure out every single step required to complete a task. Suppose you are asked to put together a bridal shower for a co-worker. You might know most of the steps, but there are a few tasks that still baffle you. Perhaps you can't figure which types of flower arrangements would be best, or whether your co-worker would enjoy the usual bridal shower games or not. Or maybe you are not sure whether you should invite certain guests, and whether one or more people would get their feelings hurt if they were not invited. These are just examples of decisions that baffle this third group of procrastinators. The members in this group can't proceed until they have every single detail figured out. Flying by the seat of their pants is definitely NOT an option.

There are, of course, other reasons that people procrastinate. However, from a magkical perspective, almost all procrastination stem from a single misunderstanding. The easiest way to handle all forms of procrastination, then, would be to clear up this misunderstanding so that all of us in the nation of procrastination can migrate to the land of motivation and action.

The Magickal Cause of Procrastination
Although there appear to be multiple reasons that people procrastinate, magickally there is only one single reasons for this delaying tactic. The reason comes from a misunderstanding of the steps of the Magickal Creation Sequence. The Magickal Creation Sequence is just what it sounds like--these are the steps any magickal practitioner takes to create anything in life... from wealth and love to a harmonious family life or a fulfilling career. The order of steps in this sequence is unknown to most people in the world, hence there are a lot of procrastinators in the world!

So what is this big magickal mixup? The confusion arises from people putting two important steps in reverse order. These two steps are called the base decision and the control decisions. The definition of these two steps is simple.

Base Decision = The Yes/No decision to move ahead with the project or task

Control Decisions = The detailed decisions required to carry out the various action steps in the project or task

In our society, most of us are taught that we must first create a complete and thorough action plan before we decide whether to proceed with a project, a new business, or a marriage proposal. This principle of placing control decisions (the "how to" steps of an undertaking) before making the base decision (the "Go/No Go" decision) is the basis of most business plans. In today's world you have little hope of getting a bank loan or investor funding for a new business unless you have created a business plan that thoroughly outlines all the control steps that will be taken to ensure the business is a success.

Unfortunately, from a magickal standpoint, the creation of a business plan before deciding whether to proceed with creating the business is putting the cart before the horse. In magickal circles, the Creation Sequence tells us that we must make the base decision first. In other words, we have to decide whether we want to start a business or not before ever even thinking about how we will go about starting that business or making it a success.

While the idea of putting the base decision before the control decisions might seem a little reckless and irresponsible, it makes more sense when you consider the sequence from the Universe's point of view. While we humans like to think that we are the masters of our kingdom, the fact of the matter is that we could achieve barely one-hundredth of what we achieve without the co-creative help of the Universe. Certainly elbow grease and sweat equity plays a big role in the success of any enterprise, but how many of the people who are at the head of such enterprises have not prayed or asked for help from some higher being? Very few, if any.

The magickal reason to put the base decision before the control decisions is that the base decision alerts the Universe that we have a desire, and we invite the Universe to help us fulfill that desire with as little heartache and as few headaches as possible. By announcing our desires by making a positive base decision, we empower the Universe to get started right away in helping us fulfill that desire.

If, on the other hand, we get bogged down in control decisions, with no small amount of confusion, the Universe can't really decipher whether we really want to fulfill a desire or we are just playing around with ideas. Once the Universe gets the message that we have made a "Go" base decision, it immediately begins aligning the necessary resources, events, interactions, and other "coincidental" happenings that will help us fulfill our desire. With this kind of Universal orchestration, the number of control decisions we need to make along the way diminishes drastically. The Universe actually takes over the lead in the co-creative dance, and we simply need to remain open and aware to the many forms of guidance and help the Universe constantly drops on our path.

If you really like the feeling of your own sweat, blood, and tears, then by all means play with your control decisions before making your base decision. But if you prefer to tell the Universe, "I want this!" and then have the Universe help you make the necessary control decisions along the way, then choose to make your base decision first. You will work less and achieve more. You will produce more and enjoy more. Work will become play and play will become work. And procrastination becomes something you used to do. What more could you ask for?

Ready to stop procrastinating about making the decision to introduce magick into your life? We have plenty of free resources, online courses, ebooks, and Kindle books to help you get on the magickal road to making life easier and more joyful.


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How to Amp Up Your Relationship with the Universe

Establishing a solid relationship with the Universe now gives you the inside track when you really need it. Accessing spiritual information from your own Spirit or from higher beings and powers just makes life easier. The more you connect with the Universe through angels, guides, animal totems and even your own Spirit, the easier life in general will be and the easier it will be to manifest those things you desire in life. So how do you go about establishing this relationship? One way is through daily rituals. These type of rituals reconnect us with what we really want in life and put us in the energy field that allows us to receive what we ask for. There is an angel, guide, totem, and helper for just about anything in our lives. Want a new job? A new mate? A parking space at the mall? It doesn't matter how big or how small your problem is, there is a Universal being just waiting for you to ask for help. Asking is one of the keys however. These beings don't just interfere in your life at will. You have to ask for their help. Then to really get an ongoing relationship built up here are a few tips.

1. Work with the same spirit guides, such as parking angels or Spirit of Owl often and consistently

2. Thank the beings before and after the act (this is most often forgotten by people, but these guides mostly work for appreciation)

3. Ask for help as often as possible (there is an angel for everything and they gain their own ascension by doing magical acts for humans, everything from clearing up scheduling conflicts to guiding you as to how much salt to put on your food or what is healthiest and happiest meal to order at a restaurant)

Working With Spirit Beings
Not sure how to get started working with Spirit beings? No problem, we can help. First here are some general guidelines to follow when interacting with them.

• Don't be afraid or hesitate to ask for help. These beings are just waiting to be called upon. 
• Remember to always thank your Spirit or your guides when you ask for help before and after they have given you aid. 
• When asking for information ask for it to be given to you in a way that you can easily understand.
• If you don't get the information you need the first time around, thank your source and ask for clarification. Don't be afraid to keep asking until you get what you want.
• Don't second guess the information or the way in which help arrives for you. Accept it with gratitude!

Working With Angels
Now that you have some general guidelines, let's get down to specifics starting with angels. Angels are good beings to begin working with because they don't require a long, established relationship to begin working for you. Let's say you are stuck in traffic, late for an appointment, or find yourself dealing with some type of awkward situation. This is a perfect time to ask for help from an angel as they are experts at quick fixes. Here's what you do:
1. Out loud or in your mind say, "Angel expert in ___ [traffic, parking places, in-laws, etc.], please come to my aid."

2. Before proceeding, wait several moments in silence to feel the presence of an angel arriving. They are quick so you don't have to wait for more than a few seconds.

3. Tell the angel exactly what you need help with and be specific. For example, don't just say I want a parking space to be available to me. Instead say that you want a parking space at the Crossroads Mall and maybe even what city the mall is in and that you want it on the side of the mall where the Sears store is. Include that you will be arriving at the mall in 15 minutes and will need the space available at that time.

4. After stating what you want, be sure to thank the angel. Don't wait to see if it really happens, go ahead and show your gratitude now. This step is very important so that they will be more willing to help you in the future and because you are receiving a wonderful gift.

Step 4 can be tricky for some people and is the place where the communication process often breaks down and what you want may not happen. This is because angels cannot go against your will. So if you ask for help, but you are having negative or doubtful thoughts about what you have asked for, the angel can't go against those thoughts. For example, you ask for help in getting a great job. In your mind however you are thinking of all the reasons you won't get the job or how you don't believe the job will be offered to you. The angel can't override those thoughts and gets the message, "I can't get this job." See the problem? If you find your mind having these types of thoughts, you can get around it by asking one angel to help you stop your negative thinking and then ask another angel to help you get the job. Remember there is no shortage of angels to help you out with whatever problem you have, so start thinking in that direction. Anytime a problem comes up in your life, begin thinking of an angel to help you through it.

This should get you started working with Spirit beings and seeing all the magic they can bring to your life. When you are ready to move on to working with other Universal beings, our Daily Rituals for Attracting What You Want in Life ebook can help. In this ebook, you'll learn how to create your own rituals as well as find more than 35 daily rituals you can use to release pain, start and end your day properly, get angelic help, access knowledge, and to lift your mood. Daily rituals will allow you to start establishing long term relationships with Universal beings so that you'll always have magical help available whenever you need it.

Image courtesy of   marcolm  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Tricks for Boosting Your Psychic Senses

We all have the ability to be psychic and receive information that doesn't come from our 5 senses. Some of us have a natural psychic ability and others need to practice to develop our psychic senses. Our Psychic Development ebook can help with exercises to practice that will help expand the psychic senses and develop the skills needed to awaken psychic abilities. One of the first things to do in awakening the extra senses used as psychic abilities is to get in touch with your inner silence so that you will be able to hear information the Universe sends you. One exercise to get you started on preparing your senses to receive information is through meditation.

Meditation
There are many ways and forms that meditation can take. For the purposes of developing psychic senses, meditation allows you to create enough quiet space and silence in your life so that you will be in a position to hear the messages sent by the Universe and from divination techniques. Meditate a little bit every day to start developing these skills. Here is an exercise you can use if you don't already have an active meditation practice.

• For at least 15 minutes, sit in a comfortable position with closed eyes, hands in your lap with right hand cradled in the left. 
• While you are aware of your thoughts, remain unattached from them. Be aware especially of your sensations. 
• If you have trouble relaxing, try having a lit candle to center your concentration, burn soothing incense or sit near a running fountain. 
• Now begin feeling your natural breathing as the breath moves in and out of your body. Don't force your breathing or change it any way, just feel and be aware of your body's own natural breaths. 
• As you become aware of thoughts popping up in your mind, let them pass through without focusing your attention on them. Think of this as sitting on a shoreline watching boats pass by. If you find your attention drawn to one in particular, simply return your focus to your breathing and let the thought pass by.

After at least 15 minutes of sitting in this manner you can get up and end your meditation time. Don't dwell on what happened during the meditation, or how successful you feel it was or if you had any revelations or not. The only importance is the consistency with which you do your meditation and the effort put towards doing it. Doing short meditations daily for instance will serve you better in the long run than doing longer meditations occasionally. Consistency is a key element. You will find over time that consistently doing this exercise will increase your ability to have inner silence and take it with you throughout everything you do. Your time spent in meditation should be an enjoyable time for you as it is time you are devoting to your inner development and the more you develop your inner life, the more benefits you will see in your outer life.

Reading Other People
Another set of exercises you'll find in our Psychic Development ebook is on the topic of reading other people or learning to gather information about others that you cannot get through the traditional 5 senses. Here is one of the exercises in this area that you can practice by broadening your view of someone. This helps you understand the other person's motivation for behaviors or attitudes they display and can give you insight into the best way to deal with them. 

Look up and down the other person's entire body and aura. Notice for example if their hands or feet are still or agitatedly moving. Notice if their breathing is fast, slow, shallow or wheezing. Look at the tongue and see if it is red which would mean too much fire energy, pale and wet which could mean a deficiency or internal coldness, if it is swollen and puffy and has teeth marks on the edges which would indicate a weak spleen and kidney yang, if it is stiff and wooden-like with a blunt front which would mean they are emotionally shut down or if it is quivering with a red tip which would indicate nervous anxiety in the neural system. Look at their eyes to see if they dart about, look at you, look through you or move up and left or down and right. What is their posture like? Is it erect, flexible, stiff, slumped or weak? As you notice all these type of conditions, begin to build up a vocabulary of relationships between body language and inner causes and conditions. Use your own states and meanings to consider what the types of things you notice mean. As you start training yourself to notice these types of behaviors in others and putting meanings to them, your mind will start working from your own Spirit perceptics or psychic senses and gather information from others. Once you have practiced this type of information gathering for a while, if there is something in particular you want to know about another, your psychic senses will kick in and get the answer for you.

With some practice in exercises such as these, you can start gathering information from the Universe, through divination techniques and through your own innate psychic senses. So don't worry if you haven't shown any psychic talents before. All it takes is waking up those senses that live inside your inner wisdom.

Image courtesy of   imagerymajestic  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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