Thursday, July 20, 2017

Training Your Mind to Help You

Our friend, singer and songwriter Chuck Pyle, likes to say, "The mind is like a bad neighborhood--you should never go there by yourself." If you're mind hasn't been trained to help you, via methods like meditation, shamanism or NLP, it might really be a bad neighborhood. Our minds constantly absorb thoughts, behaviors, and responses from our environment. These various thought patterns and responses may or may not be in alignment with our goals. So, unless we actively train our minds to be responsive to our needs, we may be in for a wild chariot ride (and 6 out of control horses)!

The Magical Tools We All Have
From a shamanic point of view, we say that each person is a spirit with a mind and body. In other words, we are spirit; and mind and body are tools that we, spirit, can use. However, just because we have mind as a tool doesn't mean that mind, in its current form, is a good tool for us. The untrained mind is a lot like an untrained animal--be prepared for the unexpected!
Have you ever sworn to yourself (say on New Year's Day?) that you're never going to fall for the wrong kind of mate again? Or you're going to lose 10 pounds this year? Or you're going to … the list is endless. Then what happens? We forget what we've promised ourselves, or we find other priorities that are more important. That forgetfulness is a sign that mind isn't trained to help us with our aims. Mind is doing its own thing.

Segment Intending to Train Your Mind
So what can we do to train mind? Segment intending, one of our favorite exercises from Abraham-Hicks, is a simple way to train your mind to help you while also accomplishing a lot each day. Here's how you do it:

1) Pick the length of time for your "segment." It can be any length of time, but no more than an hour. Thirty minutes or an hour works well. Decide exactly what time the segment will start and end.

2) Decide on your aim for that segment. It could be a list of tasks, a state of being, or both. For instance, you might decide that you will strive to remain light hearted while you return phone calls for 30 minutes.

3) When the segment start time arrives, start your segment with no second thoughts. Put your attention solely on the tasks for that segment and nothing else.

4) If you get interrupted during your segment, you need to decide whether the interruption is important enough for you to stop your segment (for instance, if your boss stops by your office for a chat). If the interruption is not important enough, keep going on your segment. If the interruption is important, make a conscious decision to stop your current segment and start a new one (one centered around the interruption).

Practice doing these segments throughout the day. Each segment is a training period for your mind, and will teach your mind to assist you in whatever you are doing. Segment intending works even better with a buddy who can help you stay on track and stay focused. Whether you segment intend by yourself or with a friend, you'll find your mind becoming much more responsive to your needs as a spirit.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.


Thursday, July 13, 2017

Thwack! The Magic of a Rubberband Around Your Wrist

"How do I stay present to the here and now during the day?"

This is the question a client recently asked me. She asked because she works a high-pressure job yet is a trained magical practitioner, and she has trouble bringing the two worlds together. She has difficulty bringing the quiet of her morning meditation and magic rituals into the high-stress environs of her work.

Walking both the magical and mundane paths at the same time is a difficulty many magical practitioners have. It can seem impossible to keep one foot in each world.

A Simple Magical Solution to Stay Present
One of the simplest solutions to this problem combines modern technology with an everyday object. All you need is a cell phone or pager and a rubber band. Set your cell phone or pager to buzz you at preset times during the day, perhaps every couple of hours, and wear the rubber band around your wrist. When your alarm goes off, simply snap the rubber band around your wrist.

As silly as this seems, it works to bring your attention back to the "here and now." This is because physical sensation always exists in the present, never the past or future. The rubber band snapping against your wrist gives you a physical sensation, and to experience that sensation you have to come back to present time.

Putting a Little More Magic Into the Ritual
When I suggested this simple solution to my client, she found it interesting but she wanted a ritual with a little more pizzazz to it, a little more magic. I understand that. I asked her if she had a specific spiritual guide or angel to whom she felt a specific attachment. She favored the angel Gabriel, so I suggested she create a ritual that included him.

She found a charming but subtle pendant representing the angel Gabriel, and she wears it on a necklace. When her phone buzzes her, instead of snapping a rubber band around her wrist, she reaches up and fingers the pendant, a gesture which looks natural and doesn't seem out of place, even in a boardroom. Lots of people fidget or have nervous habits, and when she reaches up to hold her pendant, it looks just like any other subconscious fidget. The ritual has worked, literally "like a charm," and brings her back to the here and now several times a day. She reports feeling more relaxed and at ease during the work day, and less tired at the end of the day.

What "Rubber Band" Works for You?
If you're a "down to basics" kind of person, using a rubber band will probably work really well for you. On the other, if you want something a little more special, a little more magical, consider choosing an animal totem or angel symbol to bring you back to the present.

Animal Totem Pendants
Angel and Animal Totem Figures


If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Big Nasty Problems: What Do You Do Magically?

Picture this ordinary scenario: you're cruising merrily through your day when all of sudden a big unexpected problem pops up on your radar screen. What do you do?

How you respond to a problem situation has a lot to do with the outcome that you get. In problem panic situations most of us don't have enough presence of mind to be "able to respond" appropriately--in other words, we can't be responsible. Here are three typical (but not effective!) ways that we respond to problem situations and their natural outcomes:

Take Action!
For those of us who don't feel comfortable unless we're doing something, the natural response is to dive in and do something! Unfortunately this doesn't give us much time think through the situation and plan a response. We end up "doing" as fast as we can--often in completely the wrong direction! Result? Lots of action and not much positive achievement.

Obsess and Complain
The obsessive-compulsive ones among us will start running on the hamster-wheel of worry, complaining all the while. The problem will be on our minds while we work, eat, sleep and have sex (what a time to worry!). And not only will we worry obsessively, we'll talk compulsively about it too. But we won't take any action--we'd rather talk and fret. Result? Smoke pouring out of our ears and hot air coming out of our mouths. Not much else!

Ignore It
Finally, there's the classic ostrich response of ignoring the problem altogether. We think that if we don't look at the problem it will eventually go away on its own. In fact, we might even try to keep ourselves otherwise occupied with slightly obsessive eating, drinking, or playing. The problem with this response is that we keep peeking at the problem subconsciously so we're continually aware of it anyway. Result? Possibly some weight gain or hangovers but no progress in solving the problem.

These three responses all share the common characteristic of avoidance. All three responses take us out of the present moment and into action, obsession, or ignorance. The truly odd part is that if we can manage to stay in the present and really look at the problem, we're liable to find that the problem isn't as big or nasty as we originally thought.

From a shaman's perspective, the appropriate response to a potential problem would be:

1. Stop Everything
To prevent initial reactions from blowing the problem out of proportion, the shaman practices what's called the "cortothalamic pause," in which she stops all internal thoughts, feelings, and associations so she can take in the present situation without any prior ideas or emotions.

2. Research
Before taking action the shaman uses various tools of divination, such as pendulums or tarot cards, and consults with her guides to research the situation. Although she may be very thorough, this step often takes no more than a few hours.

3. Plan and Take Action
Based on the information she's gathered, the shaman then makes a plan and takes action. At this point there is no hesitation or doubt. The course has been plotted, contingency plans have been made, and it's all about moving forward with strength.

While the shaman has many tools and guides available to her, the most important step in the above process is the first one--the Stop. What gets most of us in trouble in that we dive headlong into our usual reaction to any problem situation without taking the time to stop and clear our minds. If we can train ourselves to take a cortothalamic pause when a problem rears its ugly head, we'll find that solutions are much easier to find and implement. It's such a simple step and so very effective!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Want Some Magic Tomorrow? Imagine it Today!

Imagination Today = Magic Tomorrow

Most of us know that creative visualization is an important magical tool for attracting what we want in life. When I teach seminars on meditation and creative visualization, many attendees nod their heads and say, "Oh yes, I know about creative visualization and meditation."

But if you want some magic in your life, the question isn't whether or not you know about creative visualization. The question is, "Do you practice creative visualization?" If not, here's a quote that might help you realize the importance of practicing visualization as a magical tool on a daily basis. This quote is from one of our favorite teachers, Abraham-Hicks:

"Everything that you will some day live, in terms of life experience -- and by some day, we mean as soon as right now, tomorrow, the next day, or some day -- anything that you will some day live, you have first imagined. Because nothing will manifest in your experience without the imagination process happening first."

Did you get that? Nothing will ever manifest in your life unless you imagine it first. Think about that. Hasn't your life so far been the translation of your imagination and beliefs into reality?

If so, then wouldn't it be worth your time to really spend time on creative visualization? Magic, like any other area of expertise, is a matter of practice. In magical circles, we say, "If you pay into your practice, it will pay you back!"

How much have you paid into your magical practice? How much do you pay into it daily? How much do you expect it pay you back? To get some magic into your life tomorrow, what might you be willing to do today?

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.


Thursday, June 29, 2017

The Power of the Faery Star

The seven pointed star, also known as the Faery or Elven Star in Wiccan traditions, is a septagram-a religious symbol that is sacred to certain pagan or Wiccan traditions. Much less common than the pentagram in magical practice, the seven pointed star has one major advantage over the pentagram as a shield or protective symbol (many magical traditions advocate using the pentagram on the front and back of magical books, such as a Book of Shadows, for protection).

The seven pointed star is created by combining a four pointed square with a three pointed triangle in such a way as to create a continuously circulating figure. This is also the "Seven Arrows" design. To create this star, you have to circulate twice around your starting point, and this creates the continuous circling energy in this figure.

Once set into motion, the seven pointed star continues to circulate forever, making it an eternally spinning shield or protector (start the star in motion by "keying it" with electric blue energy from your finger or Athame). The pentagram, on the other hand, always requires an outside "push" from the base to the tip of any point, and stops transmitting energy once that outer force stops. If you're looking for a protective shield or symbol, the Faery star is a good one to consider.

The number seven is very sacred to many traditions. In some traditions, the four points unite the four magical elements on the planet (Air, Fire, Water, and Earth) with the three points that represent the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). Other traditions consider the seven points to represent the seven directions (North, South, East, West, above, below, and within), the seven colors of the rainbow, the seven planets, the seven alchemical metals, the seven tones of the diatonic scale, or the seven days of the week. This star is also known to some as the Star of the Seven Sisters.

In the Esoteric School, we follow the tradition of the Church of Seven Arrows, and use the seven pointed star on our protective Psychic Shields that we offer to students and the public. These shields have been shown to protect from psychic attack in all directions, deflecting unwanted energies and blackening when attacked. A very, very effective symbol for magical use!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.


Tuesday, June 27, 2017

What Is Shamanic Smudging?

Shamanic smudging--or just smudging--is an age-old tribal tradition which has been used for centuries to create harmony and peace. There are many different shamanic smudging ceremonies, and different tribes use a variety of herbs for smudging.

To define it more clearly, shamanic smudging is the burning of herbs or incense for cleansing, purification, protection of physical and spiritual bodies, banishment of negative energies and creation of sacred space. You can use smudge sticks (herbs that are tied into a bundle for easier handling), braided herbs and botanicals (like sweetgrass) or loose herbs (burned on charcoal or mugwort, or in a firepit). Shamanic smudging releases the energy and fragrance of the herbs and botanicals so they can heal, cleanse and purify.

In many traditions, shamanic smudging involves a four directions ceremony or prayer, which sends specific kinds of smoke or prayers into the four directions. Different tribes have different smudging prayers that "program" the smoke to do a specific action, such as cleansing or aiding in divination.

In general, shamanic smudging can be used in daily life for practical purposes--to restore physical, mental and emotional balance; to shield against negative energies; to cleanse yourself, your magickal tools and your space; and to restore you sacred space.


COMMON HERBS USED IN SMUDGING 
Although different tribes and traditions use different herbs for shamanic smudging, some of the most popular herbs include desert sage, white broadleaf sage, juniper, pinon (sometimes in resin form), sweetgrass, copal (in resin form), mugwort, lavender and sacred tobacco. Here are some general uses for the different herbs often used for smudging:

PINON RESIN
Primarily fire element though can also be used for four-element general purposes. Has a pleasant and meditative fragrance. Is cleansing, strengthening, warming, and used by Native American cultures for its spiritual and healing properties. Produces a thick stream of smoke, and is excellent for refreshing the senses and reviving a tired soul.

COPAL GOLD RESIN
Primarily fire and water elements though can also be used for four-element general purposes. When burned, the scent is sweet, resinous, slightly woody, mildly earthy and spicy. Was a holy incense used by the peoples of Mesoamerica. Traditionally used as incense in divinatory and cleansing ceremonies. The resin contains aromatic chemicals called terpenes, which make it volatile and flammable. Used by Mayan shamans prior to ingesting mushrooms.

MYRRH RESIN
Primarily earth element though can also be used for four-element general purposes. Produces a lot of smoke when burned, very earthy, piney scent. Gathered from an almost leafless Middle Eastern shrub called the Commiphora Molmol. It was used by the ancient Egyptians in rituals of Healing and Passing. It is one of the ingredients used by the Egyptians to embalm bodies. Useful for spirituality, meditation, happiness, release, transformation, strength, confidence and stability.

FRANKINCENSE RESIN
Primarily fire element though can also be used for four-element general purposes. Is the resin of an African tree and produces a rich, dense smoke when burned. Used extensively in meditation and healing. In numerous religious traditions, frankincense's spiritual scent was believed to confer divine blessing. Pliny the Elder mentioned it as an antidote to hemlock poisoning.

DESERT SAGE
Primarily air element though can also be used as for four-element general purposes. Has a somewhat sharp, light and refreshing scent. One of the most sacred herbs among Native Americans. Used to purify the mind, body and spirit before prayer, meditation, ritual or ceremony. Also used to purify sacred items such as pipes, magical tools, tarot decks and eagle feathers. Can be used for area, house and personal cleansings. Some people carry a small amount of Sage in a pocket or medicine pouch to insure personal and spiritual safety.

JUNIPER
Primarily fire element though can also be used for four-element general purposes. Has a sharp, piney scent. Excellent to stimulate and revive when tired in body, mind or Spirit. Used in ancient times for ritual purification of temples. Smoke believed to aid clairvoyance. Also useful for purification and to stimulate contact with other worlds. Burned during the Plague to resist disease.

LAVENDER
Primarily air element. Has a light, aromatic and refreshing scent. Useful for attracting peace, happiness and restful sleep. Also reduces depression, grief and sorrow. Aids in meditation and divination, and often said to aid in manifestation. Known as Elf Leaf, Nard, Nardus, Spike and Lavandar. Traditionally associated with fairies and elves

WHITE BROADLEAF SAGE
Primarily air element though can also be used for four-element general purposes. This is a broad leaf sage that is highly prized for its strong aromatic properties (strongest of the different types of sage). Considered the king if all sages. Excellent for meditation, divination, smudging, cleansing and purification.

YERBA SANTA LEAVES
Traditionally used for enhancing psychic abilities, magical protection, healing and spiritual strength. Excellent for meditation and divination. Said to be ruled by the moon. One Native American tribe rolled the leaves into balls, dried it in the sun and chewed it for a natural mouthwash.

HIBISCUS FLOWERS
Primarily fire and water elements. Produces a sharp, invigorating scent that lasts for a long time after burning. Often used in divination and psychic communication. Excellent for rejuvenating the senses and restoring life force.

ROSE FLOWERS AND PETALS
Primarily water element. Produces a heavy, warm, aromatic scent with just a hint of sharpness – scent lasts a long time after burning. Excellent for meditation, divination, increasing psychic abilities, contacting powers and beings in other dimensions and psychic communication. Also traditionally associated with attracting love, conferring peace, stimulating sexual appetites and enhancing beauty.

SWEETGRASS
Primarily air element. As its name suggests, sweetgrass produces a sweet and light fragrance that does not last for long. Excellent for cleansing sacred space. Sweetgrass is a rare grass which is found growing wild in very few places. Traditionally, sweetgrass is believed to invite the good spirits.

You can burn these herbs singly or in combination with each other. One good combination that covers all four magical elements of air, fire, water and earth is pine resin and sage (either desert sage or white broadleaf sage). This combination is appropriate for general use, cleansing, ceremony and ritual.


WHEN TO SMUDGE YOURSELF 
Smudging yourself on a daily basis can be very helpful in keeping yourself balanced and maintaining a peaceful state of being. However, you should definitely use shamanic smudging techniques when you've been around people who are ill, depressed, fearful, angry or generally emotionally unbalanced; before meditating to create a calm state of being; when you're feeling blue or depressed; or when you've been under a lot of stress.

Smudging yourself is easy. If you're using a smudge stick, light the smudge stick on a candle flame. Hold the stick in the flame until there is a lot of smoke and the stick is burning well (that's why a candle is better than a match--it can take a while to get the stick really smoking). Using a feather (or feather fan) or your hand, gently fan the smoke onto your body, starting at the top of the body and moving downward. Get the back of your body as best you can (it's often easier to use a smudge pot and loose herbs for this). When you're done, inhale a little of the smoke (just a little!) to purify your insides.

If you're using a smudge pot or Firebowl and loose herbs, light the herbs (using self-lighting charcoal --not the barbeque kind!) until it is smoking well. Then, put the Firebowl on the ground and stand over it with your legs spread and feet on either side. Weave back and forth in the smoke until you have been thoroughly cleansed. Clothing is optional for this approach, and smudging in the nude is recommended for a more thorough cleansing. Again, when you're done, inhale a little of the smoke to purify your insides. People often feel more relaxed, lighter and brighter after smudging.

If you're going to use the smudge smoke during meditation, use a charcoal burner or Firebowl, light the herbs and enjoy the scent and smoke as you meditate. Meditating with these herbs often produces a deeper and longer-lasting state of relaxation and contemplation.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.




Thursday, June 22, 2017

The Tribe of You

When you think about yourself, you think "I" right? You think of yourself as a singular, whole being. One person. One unit. One entity.

That's how most of us think about ourselves. In truth, though, each of us is not a single "I" but a whole tribe of archetypes that use the same body to express ourselves. You are not actually you. You are the Tribe of You. There are many of you.

Interesting to think about, isn't it? You can verify this in your own experience by thinking about a New Year's resolution. Suppose one of "you" made the resolution to lose weight. All is well and good until you encounter fresh hot donuts at work. Then another of "you" takes control of your body, smells that fresh donut scent, and without another thought eats one! Whoa! What just happened to your resolution?

Fifteen minutes later, the "you" that made the resolution bubbles to the surface and notices that you've eaten a donut. Then the "guilt and shame you" comes in and starts with the guilt trip. Are you seeing a pattern here?

Each "you" in the Tribe of You has a different agenda, and you will act according to many agendas during your day, depending on which "you" has control at the moment.

How can you get a grip on yourself so you can achieve your chosen goals without causing tribal warfare? The first step is to realize that most of the time you are not yourself. Here's a simple way to clarify this:

1. Choose a goal that one of "you" has set. It should be one that lasts for at least two weeks (and maybe one that you've had trouble achieving).

2. Observe your thoughts and actions very carefully during those two weeks. Every time one of "you" has thoughts or proposes actions that are contrary to that goal, say to yourself, "This is not I."

3. Briefly jot down the situation and thought or action.

4. At the end of two weeks, review your list. Notice how many different versions of "you" there are related to your goal.

You might be surprised how many of you are part of the Tribe of You. Does this shed light on why achieving certain goals is so difficult?


If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

LATER GATOR... Avoiding The Blues

Have you got the blues? Feel like this week will never be over and the weekend or your vacation will never return? If so, take heart! This too shall pass, and with a few simple tricks you can make the blues go away even faster!

1. "This is Not I": If you're at work and you feel the blues closing in on you, what should you do? First, remember that "the blues" is just part of the Tribe of You, it's not you. Say to yourself, "This is not I." Say it to yourself as many times as you need to remind yourself that this is just a temporary state, not a permanent way of being.

2. "In 5 Minutes": When you feel like you just can't go on and but you have to complete certain tasks, tell yourself, "I'll take a break in 5 minutes." Then put your attention on what you're doing. In 5 minutes, if you still feel tired and blue, say "Yes, in just 5 minutes." Do three rounds of 5 minutes and see if the "blue you" has faded by then. Often by the time 15 minutes has passed, so have the blues.

3. "First Things First": If you're already stuck in the blues and your task list seems too overwhelming, just do first things first. Pick the three tiniest tasks on your list that can be done in 10 minutes or less (break down larger items if you have to). It doesn't matter how trivial these tasks are, just pick 3. Now set a target. Say, "I'll do this, this, and this." Don't focus on anything else. Just do those three things. Then do the next three tiny tasks, then the next three. Before you know it, you're in full swing!

4. "Get Moving": Mental and emotional stagnation is often the result of physical stagnation. If you just can't get going on what you have to do, get out and move briskly for 3 minutes. Talk a walk, do jumping jacks, or yoga. Just get going. Then come back to your list and do "First Things First."

Once you have a little practice at saying "Later gator" to the blues, you'll understand that negative emotions are more habit than anything else. Shaking up your routine and shifting your perspective even a little can get you off that well-worn path and moving in a new direction. Enjoy the insights along the way!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.



Tuesday, June 13, 2017

How to Work with Power Plants

The plant world, as a facet of "All That Is" is central to many shamanic, magical and tribal traditions. Plants were placed on Earth to be our companions and healers, and when we take the time to honor that sacred role, we heal both ourselves and our planet. Whether you are working with plants to create herbs, flower essences, essential oils or incense, you must first and foremost be in communication with those plants. While plants, in and of themselves, have a great deal of healing and spiritual power, when we take the time to honor and communicate with the plants we want to partake of, those plants grow exponentially in power and force.

Communicating With Power Plants
So how do you honor and communicate with power plants? It's not difficult. As Devta Khalsa, healer of many traditions, describes in her ebook, communicating with plants is really no different than communicating with another person--just more tender. Before you harvest any plant, take some time to sit quietly by the plant. Breathe deeply and center yourself. Then ask the plant for permission to use some of its body. Tell the plant what you would like to use it for. Wait for permission. Whether or not you hear a response, know that the plant's devas always hear and respond to you. Ask the plant to infuse its body with healing and harmonious power suitable for your purpose.

If you wait silently enough, quieting your mind, you'll most likely hear a response. Even if you don't, though, just taking the time to honor and communicate with the plant will make your gathering more powerful and effective. No matter what you hear, thank the plant for its role in your healing and life.

It's also customary to leave an offering at the base of the plant, so that there is an equal exchange of energy. Sacred tobacco and cornmeal are perfect for this, but you can also use a hair from your head if you didn't bring any other offering.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.



Thursday, June 8, 2017

An Easy Way to Develop Your Psychic Abilities

Before you waste any time wondering if you have any psychic abilities or whether you can actually develop them, let me clear up the issue by saying that you do have psychic abilities and you can easily develop them. Everyone has psychic abilities! The question is how you develop them.

Would you believe that you can radically increase your psychic abilities by practicing for 5-10 minutes a day? All you need is pen and paper. Don't think about your psychic abilities as something "special" or "difficult to learn. Learning to use your psychic abilities is no more difficult than learning to bake a cake - you're just using different ingredients!

Before we dive into instructions about how to increase your abilities, let's define what we mean by psychic abilities. In shamanic terms, we call these abilities "Spirit perceptics" or "Spirit abilities." In other words, these are abilities beyond your five senses that are part of your Spirit. You can use these abilities to access information way beyond what you can see, hear, touch, taste or smell. With these abilities you can access almost any kind of information, talk to spirits or beings who have died and much more.

Psychic Development Exercise
Here's a simple exercise that will help you develop your psychic abilities. With this exercise your goal is to practice using your Spirit abilities to access information that you can't access with your five senses. Here's how you do it:

1. Bring pen, paper and a watch or timer to a very public location that has lots of people. Fast food restaurants, airports or malls are good places to start.

2. Seat yourself in a comfortable location where you can easily write, observe people and see your timer or clock.

3. Pick a person to observe (you will need to observe him or her for 30 seconds). Set your timer for 30 seconds and start writing.

4. Write anything and everything that comes up about that person, whether you can directly observe it or not. It's easier to start by writing what you can observe about the person (such as hair color, clothing, activities and so forth). Don't think about what you are writing and don't allow yourself to pause. Don't worry about whether your observations are correct or not. Write as much as you can and as fast as you can.

5. Once the 30 seconds is up, pick another person to observe, set your timer and start writing.

6. Observe 10 people during a span of 5 minutes.

To give you an example of what you might write, look at the paragraph below:


Man, blond hair, jeans, has kids, mustache, kind, loves sports, likes water, has a brother, works outdoors, in tune with Nature, born in the West or has a connection to the West, nice tan, sneakers, talking with someone, talks with hand gestures, works well with hands, sensitive hands, sensitive nature, enjoys people, likes the color red, wears red a lot, brown eyes, around 40, jazz music, smiles a lot.

You'll notice in the short description above that there are many descriptions that can be seen with the five senses - the color of his hair, the way he talks with his hands, the color of his eyes and his tan. In between, though, are descriptors that can't be seen with the five senses - that he has a brother, he is in tune with Nature, likes the color red and jazz music. Notice that I didn't write that he likes jazz music, plays jazz music or listens to jazz music. I just wrote "jazz music." There may be someone around him who plays jazz music or he may like to listen to jazz music. Those details didn't come up so I just wrote jazz music. Be sure to write whatever comes up - no editing!!

It doesn't matter if any of your descriptions, especially those that are done with Spirit abilities, are actually correct. The goal is to practice accessing information with these abilities. The correctness of your observation will improve with time. Practice this exercise as often as you can - any time you are waiting for a bus, sitting at a restaurant or resting in a public setting. If you don't get out much, you can do the same exercise by turning the volume off your TV and observing the people on TV.

You'll find that with practice you will develop the ability to simply look at people and know what they are like, what's going on in their lives and what is important to them. The more you practice, the better you'll get. The key is not to get attached to the correctness of what you write. The less you judge yourself the more correct your observations will become. Now if you are ready to get more help with tuning into your psychic abilities, take a look at our Psychic Development eBook.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.




Thursday, June 1, 2017

Plan For Abundance

How do you feel in the morning compared to the middle of your day or the end of your day? Do you wake up full of optimism in the morning, only to find yourself stressed out by lunch and exhausted by dinner?

If we stop and really assess how we feel at the beginning of our day as compared to the end of our day, it's no surprise that we get off track when it comes to our goals. Most of us know that "energy attracts." In other words, when we feel optimistic and happy we tend to attract positive experiences and people into our lives. When we feel down and out, all kinds of unhappy accidents cross our paths.

So if we feel happy and upbeat early in the day, then get dragged down as the day progresses, we're attracting abundance and positive events early in the day and accidents and negativity later on. For most of us, that averages out into a neutral score so that we stay exactly where we are in life-stuck!

What can we do to get moving and attract the abundance we really want in our lives? We can plan for it. For instance, if you know that you tend be stressed by lunchtime, plan to take some time at lunch to restore your energies. Or, if you realize that you feel tired by 3 o'clock in the afternoon, plan to take a 5 minute break to revitalize yourself and remember your aims.

Your energy boosting break doesn't have to be a big production, just a short period of time dedicated to feeling good again. The key is to plan ahead for those times when you know you tend to feel tired or stressed, and to take breaks when you plan to, whether or not you feel tired at that moment.

In certain esoteric traditions, these pre-planned "stops" in the day are called moments of "remembering ourselves." When we get wrapped up in work, expectations, fears, and stress, we tend to forget all of our aims. When we take the time to remember ourselves, we get back on track and every event takes on a new meaning and new light. The key is to stop yourself before you get too far off track. Plan to stop, and stop when you've planned it!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.



Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Magical Element Water: The Passion and Flow of Manifestation

The Water element is the element where manifestations really pick up speed and flow. Water is the element of emotion, passion, empathy, flow and feelings. To truly manifest anything, or if you want to speed up your manifestation, you have to get into the Water element.

About the Magical Element Water
Water is associated with the direction West, the direction of emotions and Spirit (since emotions are the "language of Spirit").  Water elementals are called undines or ondines, and like to play in the ponds, springs and pools. Like sylphs, which are the air elementals, undines are playful creatures who enjoy brushing up against you in the water.

The element Water corresponds specifically to:

...emotions, feelings, intuition, compassion, empathy, sympathy, knowing, devotion, quest, aspiration, intention, appreciation, integrity, harmony, beauty, balance, serenity, fluidity, grief, apathy, joy, love...

If you are facing any sort of life problem in any of these areas, you need to work with the magical element Water. The Water element has three major colors, of which only one (Water Blue) is safe for everyone to work with:

     Water Blue: Physical water, hydration, used for healing
     Deep Blue: Mental or emotional water
     Blue Black: Spiritual water, usually associated with "buried unconscious" issues

Do not use Deep Blue or Blue Black unless you are a trained magician--otherwise you might create endless depression or regression to past life events!

Working With the Magical Element Water
Water can be a highly useful element to work with in solving everyday problems. For instance, if you've had a highly stressful day or you have pain in your body, you can use the Water element to literally wash your pain away. Just stand in the shower and push all your pain, tension, anxiety and strain to the outside of your body and see the water carrying it all down the drain. Adjust the water temperature so it's fairly neutral, not to hot and not too cold. Water carries Fire energy, and since most forms of pain and tension are of the Fire element, the shower is a perfect place to get rid of it. This exercise uses Water's natural flow. It may take 2-5 minutes to fully dissipate all the excess Fire energy, so be patient. If you use this exercise on a regular basis, you'll notice that you stop manifesting the same levels of pain and tension in your life. The shower exercise can literally readjust what is "normal" in your life in terms of excess Fire energy.

On a more spiritual level, you can use Water to increase the flow of your manifestations. If you want to manifest something and it's not happening (or not happening fast enough), spend a few minutes each day feeling as if the manifestation has already occurred. How would you feel if what you wanted were to show up right now? If you can spend some quality time in that positive, delighted feeling of already having what you want, your manifestation will come to you faster than you can imagine.

To learn more about the Magical Element Water check out this course and all the other online courses of magical elements. Learning about the 4 elements is the foundation on which your journey into a magical life is built making it the perfect place to start your magical studies.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.



Thursday, May 25, 2017

Moving from Scared to Sacred?

When something scary or fearful comes up in your life, what do you do? Do you go on feeling scared or do you starting digging through your toolbox for tools to create some sacred space around you? Notice that the two words have all the same letters, just in a different order? Before you start worrying that you can't possibly do anything "sacred" in the middle of your office or in public, let's take a minute to examine the word sacred.

The word sacred originally comes from the very sacren, which means "to consecrate". Consecrate, aside from the religious overtones, also means "To dedicate solemnly to a service or goal." So if you find yourself "scared" and you'd rather be in the "sacred", all you have to do is rededicate yourself to your own aims and goals. Simple, right?

Picking an Aim
Rededicating yourself to your aims is really simple. First, though, you have to have an aim to rededicate yourself to. If you've already got one, that's great. If you don't, take some time to decide what aim and goal is most important to you at this time in your life. It can be a physical goal, such as completing a college degree or achieving some level in your career. It can also be a state of being, such as joy or peace of mind. Whatever your goal, just make sure you have one. If you're not sure how to choose an aim, use tools like the Runes, Medicine Cards, Sacred Path Cards, or Angel Cards to help you choose an aim for each day (choose one rune or card as the theme for your day).

Rededicating to Your Aim
Once you've got your aim, here are some simple ways to rededicate yourself when you find yourself off track and need to return to the sacred:

Look in the Mirror: Go to the restroom, look at yourself in the mirror and say in a forceful voice, "Come to present time!" Anytime we are fearful, worried, or stressed, we are either in the past or the future. Coming back to present time will remind you of your aim.

Physical Sensation: Wear your ring on an unfamiliar finger, put a rubberband around your wrist, or carry a heavy coin or small rock in your pocket-anything that will bring an unfamiliar physical awareness to you. Each time you feel the ring, rubberband, coin or rock, remember your aim. Physical sensations keep us in present time.

Return to Nature: If possible, go outside and make physical contact with a tree. Close your eyes, breathe, and ask the tree to help you reconnect with your aim. Trees have deep roots and long memories, and are able to help us remember in the present moment what is most important.

Connect with Animals: Animals spend almost all their time in the present. To get back in touch with yourself and your aim, pet the cat, cuddle the dog, watch your fish, or listen to your bird sing. Animals will bring you back into the now.

Get Moving: If your mind is stuck in "scared," move your body to move your mind! By the law of "as above, so below," when you move body, spirit and mind will also move. Taking a brisk 5 minute walk will often move your mind out of park and reconnect you with your aim.

By being proactive, you can move out of your scared place and into your sacred place easily. Let magic take you there!

Looking for more magic you can bring to your life? Our Witchcraft Spell Books series on Amazon is a great way to get started.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.


Tuesday, May 23, 2017

How To Blow Off Steam Magically

Do you ever have days where you're so charged up with anger, frustration, pain or plain irritation that you feel like you could shoot a bolt of lightning out your fingertips? Well, before you fry your computer or stereo with all that excess fire energy (because you literally can transmit bolts of fire energy from your hands), slow down and try one of these methods or getting rid of that energy:

Use Apache Tears: Apache Tears (also known as Grandmother's tears) are a special form of obsidian composed of feldspar, hornblend, biotite and quartz. In shamanic circles, Apache tears are commonly used to safely transfer negative or unwanted energies into the half worlds. If you have access to an Apache tear, just hold it in your dominant hand and flow all that excess energy into the stone. The stone acts as a portal to the half worlds and none of that energy will come back to you!

Hug Your Refrigerator: Because refrigerators and other large appliances act as electrical grounds, they can also handle psychic fire energy. If you feel a need to blast out excess energy, just put both hands (or both feet) on your refrigerator and blast away. It can handle all your energies, and then some.

Specular Hematite: This is another stone that can absorb lots of energy very easily. Just hold the stone in your dominant hand (hand you would naturally point with) and flow energy into it. Unlike the Apache tear, specular hematite isn't a portal to the half-worlds, so you'll have to cleanse it regularly with smudging or other techniques.

Rooting: Mother Earth can also handle excess fire energy. Just extend your psychic roots deep into the bedrock and exchange energies with the earth. You can see complete directions on how to do this technique in our blog article "Need a Quick Magical Fix? Gotcha Covered!".

Want to learn more about dealing with Fire Energy? Then our Magical Element Fire course will be of interest to you. Even better, learn about all 4 of the magical elements with our free course offer. Just email info@shamanschool and ask for details on the Free course offer.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.




Thursday, May 18, 2017

How To Be Your Own Pet Psychic

Those of you who watch the "Animal Planet" channel have probably seen the Pet Psychic show, where a lady psychic communicates telepathically with a variety of animals. She acts as a counselor, communicator, spiritual healer and "hierophant" between the human and animal kingdoms (the hierophant is the communicator between beings and worlds in the tarot deck). Watching this lady is great fun, but not as much fun as doing it yourself. Did you know you can learn to communicate with animals, too?

Magic is real and everyone is a magician. It's just part of your natural birthright as a planetary citizen. Part of that birthright is access to a host of psychic abilities. The keyword here is "access." We all have the psychic abilities that enable us to know what we can't possibly know through the five senses, touch non-physical worlds, and communicate with our animals. It's just that without practice most of us don't know how to access those abilities.

In her ebook, Learn How to Talk to Animals - A Practical Guide for a Magical Journey, Esoteric School Expert Leta Worthington discusses how our brain works and how to get into the right brainwave to access the ability to communicate with animals. She explains that our "normal" brainwaves, the ones we use for day-to-day tasks such as driving, calculating and thinking, are too fast for us to do animal communication. What we need to do is slide into a slower, more relaxed, and more open brainwave. When we get into this brainwave, we're more open to other worlds and other types of "psychic" senses. In fact, we need to get into this brainwave not just for animal communication, but for most kinds of psychic work.

So how can you start getting into that brainwave? Practice, practice, practice. Here's a short list to get you started:

Meditation: You don't need to be a yogi to do this. Just light a candle, burn some incense, or listen to dripping water. Follow your breath. Let these soothing sights, sounds, smells and sensations transport you to a lower, slower brainwave.

Color: Surround yourself with water blue or sky blue. These colors can help you relax, slow down, and be open to information from other, more spiritual realms.

Rooting: If you want to get connected with "all that is," nothing puts you closer to the earth than rooting. Rooting is the process of extending your roots deep into the ground, and connecting and exchanging energies with Mother Earth. It takes all of three minutes, can rebalance your energies, and soothes your spirit.

Doing these and other practices on a regular basis can help you more easily access your psychic self. Try to integrate them into life several times a day. Learn to slow down and take breaks. Not only will you stay healthier and more spiritually fit, but these new slower states won't seem so foreign anymore. It will begin to feel like home, and then watch out! Your psychic abilities can really start to bloom! For more exercises and techniques to use in developing your psychic abilities check out our Psychic Development ebook.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.



Thursday, May 11, 2017

Finding Freedom in Secret Histories

"If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility." -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Anyone who has ever felt unfairly treated by another surely knows the feeling of righteous indignation. Taken one step further, continued feelings of injustice can lead to thoughts of vengeance upon others considered to be "the enemy." And while a person might find some sense of satisfaction in being "right" and feeling superior over an enemy, that same person also loses any freedom of thought, feeling, and being to that same enemy. Added up over time, the sum of these moments of righteousness AND loss produce, in sum, the fact that the enemy has in fact won... without ever lifting a finger.

Have you ever felt that sense of righteousness that comes from retelling an event in which you were treated unfairly? Have you ever thought of what you would say to your enemy the next time you see him or her? Have you dreamed of alternate scenarios in which you emerge victorious over the person who has wronged you?

If so, then you know the power of righteous indignation. It can rule your life without ever changing anything that happens "out there"... where your "enemy" lives. All those moments spent thinking about vengeance, all those dreams wasted on recreating scenarios... all of these are moments in which you sacrifice your own freedom in the name of your enemy. The true injustice of the situation is that your enemy likely has no clue that you are offering up so many moments of your life in sacrifice to him or her.

But even when we realize that the continuous thinking and talking about "the enemy" is really nothing more than an energy drain that binds us to the same "stuck" place on our spiritual path, most of us have real trouble letting go. The injustices feel too deep to just release without some sort of satisfaction. Plus, how can we pardon such bad behavior by others, and allow them to carry on without some kind of retribution?

If the quote by Longfellow at the beginning of this post be true, then it must also be true that the enemy has also paid his or her dues in sorrow and suffering. Maybe the enemy has not offered those dues to you, the quote does give us a glimpse of the idea that all humans have suffering and sorrow in equal measure. Could this be true?

Discovering Secret Histories
While your sworn enemy is not likely to tell you about his or her suffering, you can still discover the power of secret histories by talking to others. Choose the most successful person you know, and ask that person about what events have most powerfully shaped that person's life. Ask about that person's regrets, sorrows, and hard times. A truly successful person will have many, and those who admit to those moments of sorrow will be glad to share them with you.

For instance, one woman interviewed the most successful person in her life. Prior to the interview, she saw this man as a wealthy entrepreneur who had financial freedom, famous friends, and a "good life." She judged this based on the property he owned, the pictures of him with famous people, and the seemingly loving wife and family.

Imagine this woman's shock when she discovered that this successful entrepreneur often felt lonely and sad. When pressed, the man said that he had a heart condition that was kept secret from all but his family. His family was so busy jet setting around the world that this man hardly saw them. He had no close friends, and he missed the light-hearted friendships of his childhood. Indeed, his wealth and fame made it difficult for this man to distinguish between people who truly were his friends and people who only wanted a piece of his fortune. Thus he had no close friends, and he was saddened to see his family struggling with the same issues.

While the woman had previously judged this man only by his outer trappings of wealth and fame, she realized that she was happier than he, despite having far less means. She had close friends and a warm, loving family that gathered for merriment and laughter during holidays. When she realized just how much this man suffered despite his wealth and fame, or because of it, she instantly realized that anyone could have secret histories that were full of sorrow and suffering. Even her worst enemy probably had a secret history.

Your Secret History
If it is true that your enemy has a secret history of which you know nothing, is it not equally true that your enemy has no clue about your secret history? Might your enemy have more consideration if he or she did know your secret history? This is not to say that you should go tell your enemy your secret history, but perhaps simply realize that your enemy might have treated you differently if he or she did know your secret history. That point of view might change the way you think about your enemy.

If you want to discover your enemy's secret history, or reveal your own secret history to your enemy without actually telling him or her, consider using Spirit-to-Spirit communication via a magickal waterbowl. You can learn more about this magickal technique from this blog article or our Psychic Development ebook and our Kindle book Learn How to Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells with Your Bare Hands have instructions along with other ways to use a magickal waterbowl such as to find lost objects, look into the future, and to balance your water energies.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.


Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Weather Working with Clouds

Working with clouds is a great way to start developing your weather working and psychic abilities and give you a quick magick technique to try out for yourself with nothing more than your own hands. Cloud magick is simply the art of moving clouds around in the sky. You can reshape clouds, move them from left to right, or even drill a hole in an overcast sky to let some sunshine through. Cloud magic teaches you to extend and use your energies, which you can later develop when working with the winds of the four directions and larger weather systems. For now, if you don't like the weather you see outside, here's a simple way to start working with clouds to get you on your way to creating your own weather forecasts.

Cloud Exercise
1. Choose a day that has scattered, puffy clouds for this exercise. Get into a comfortable position (either sitting or laying down) where you can easily see the clouds.

2. Choose a particular cloud to work with. Decide what you will do with your cloud. You can split the cloud in half, shape it to look like an animal, extend one end of the cloud or make the cloud taller. Whatever you choose, keep it simple.

**For instance, you may choose a cloud that already looks like a duck, but a duck with a short tail. Choose to extend the duck's tail until it looks proportional to the rest of the body.

3. Shape the cloud using your thoughts and intention. See the cloud as you want it to be. Super-impose that image over the actual cloud. You can also talk to the cloud or use your hands to shape the cloud. While you obviously can't touch the cloud with your hands, clouds are sensitive to force of movement in your hands.

4. Clouds are very reactive and easy to shape, but sometimes slow to move. If you work with your cloud for 1-2 minutes but very little seems to be happening, take a break for a few minutes then look at your cloud again. You'll probably see that the cloud has moved in the direction you pushed it - it just took a while to get there.

As with all these kinds of exercises, don't judge the result. Just keep practicing. Before long you'll be delighted with what you can do! Want to learn more magick to do with your own two hands? Check out the Kindle book - Learn How to Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells with Your Bare Hands.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.



Thursday, May 4, 2017

Stuck on Your Spiritual Path? No Worries, Try This...

Most of us who have been walking a spiritual path for some time realize that progress along that path is not a smooth ascent. The spiritual path is sometimes smooth, often rocky, and sometimes downright frustrating. The funny thing is, the more frustrated we become about where we are on the spiritual path, the more we learn once we find a way to move forward from that "stuck position."

Why do we get "stuck" on our spiritual path? The answer is easy: We have not yet learned the lesson being offered on that particular spot on the path. Once we learn what is being offered, we will find ourselves moving right along (until, of course, we get stuck again).

The frustration occurs, of course, because we can't learn the lesson being offered if we don't know what we keep missing in the lesson. Instead, we feel like we are playing a frustrating game of Blindman's Bluff. Luckily there is a universal bailout to this particular problem.

A Bailout for Those Stuck on The Spiritual Path
While it would be impossible to design a custom bailout for every person's specific reason for being stuck, there is a very simple generic exercise that will move anyone along the path. This exercise is based on the one thing that all "stuck points" have in common. Every single person stuck on the spiritual path shares one thing in common: he or she has not accepted where they are. Nothing new can enter your experience if you do not first fully accept where you are. New lessons, new experiences, new people... none of these can enter your experience if you still have your nose stuck in all the issues related to your current life situation.

The key to allowing the new to enter your life is to accept the old. The old is where you stand in your life today. No matter what "here" looks like in your life, you must have an attitude of willing acceptance before the new can enter. It does not matter how dire, embarrassing, frustrating, or down right unfair the situation, you must first accept where you are.

Having been a member of 12-step programs for many years, I find this process perhaps easier than most. The reason for such acceptance is due entirely to the way my sponsor reacts to the many catastrophes in my life. Every single time I found myself at the bottom of a very big pit caused by major errors on my part, my sponsor would be thrilled. At first I couldn't figure out why she was thrilled (perhaps she was crazy?). She had to explain to me that my mistakes were mistakes that had been made by tons of people before me, and would be made by tons of people after me. She encouraged me to listen to the stories in the 12-step meetings and look for people who had weathered similar catastrophes. Their success gave me hope. She also encouraged me to share my story in meetings, frequently, in case others were in the same boat or a few steps behind me. My eventual ability to move past a catastrophe might provide the same kind of hope to another who had just committed the very same life mistake.

Of course you don't need to be in a 12-step program to get the same kind of result. In the age of Google, all you have to do is enter your specific life problem. Google will pull up hundreds of entries with stories of people who have managed to get past the very same life mistake. Many of those websites will also offer a wealth of tips and techniques to help you get past your catastrophic life situation.

And, without even knowing it, by reading these stories, and exploring options to help you move past this life experience, you will come to acceptance about your current life experience... often without even realizing it. As soon as you have some degree of acceptance and hope about your current position on your spiritual path, guess what? New experiences, knowledge, feelings, and events will enter your life that will allow you to learn the life lesson that eluded you and kept you stuck for a long period of time. You will then be able to learn the lesson easily, and then move forward once again on your spiritual path.

Pretty Simple, Eh?
This simple bailout uses no magickal tools, no smoke from a big Firebowl burn, and no litanies or chants. And yet this bailout is magickal in and of itself. Magickal knowledge is truly magickal because once you master that knowledge, you will find many more places in your life where that knowledge will prove helpful.

Many people find a great deal of satisfaction in the "doing" of magickal rituals and the use of magickal tools. Many find the use of a bailout such as the one described previously to be boring, tedious, and unmagickal. Well, here's a newsflash: Guess what the most magickal tool of all is in your magickal toolkit? YOU! Without you, the magician and shaman, all the magickal tools in the world are but a collection of odd items that might have been gathered by a squirrel looking to add ornamentation to his winter hideout. Just know that whenever you do a magickal act without the use of tools, litanies, and other forms of ritual, in that moment you are a magickal being who is more powerful than all the other tools available to you. And as you gain strength and power as a magickal being, your use of tools and rituals, which are nothing more than extensions to and amplifiers of your own talents, will become stronger and more forceful as well. So celebrate those instances in which you are able to directly boost your own magickal abilities sans tools, spells, and rituals! Get started on your magickal path by taking online magick courses, studying with ebooks or Kindle books and discover the magick that is YOU!

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.



Thursday, April 27, 2017

How Does Magic Work? Check Out Magic at Work

Real magic does exist and you can do amazing things in your life when you add in magic. We get comments and stories all the time from people that are amazed at the ways they find to use magic in everyday life situations. Here are a couple of stories that have been shared by former students to give you some ideas of how real magic works.

Healing a Hawk
Shortly after I began Magic class, my husband and I were driving down from the mountains back to town. As we drove on the highway, my husband saw a beautiful hawk sitting on a fence post and just as he started to point it out to me, the hawk took off and flew head first at top speed into our windshield. In the rear view mirror, my husband saw him land at the side of the road after being thrown over the top of the car. Our windshield was broken with 3 large crack marks down the middle to attest to the force with which the hawk hit. We just knew he could not have survived the impact, but stopped anyway to see if we could do anything. My husband found him at the side of the road and miraculously he was still alive, but something was terribly wrong with his left wing. It just hung uselessly looking like it was hardly attached anymore. He stumbled along the ground as my husband approached unable to fly away and looking seriously hurt. I then remembered what I had been learning in Magic class and thought it couldn't hurt to try some energy boxes. I first threw him a couple of boxes of sun yellow and then some powder blue air and clear air boxes with various characteristics in them. Suddenly the hawk took off just as I had thrown my last box and we watched him soar, flap and use that wing like nothing had happened. We watched until he had totally flown out of sight and I was sure he would be fine.

The Great Dog Escape
My lesson in "Basic Magic" came to the rescue recently in an adventure I call "The Great Dog Escape". Without magic, New Year's Eve 2001 could have meant Auld Lange Syne for me and Birgit, my Arctic white wolf/Akita cross, and her mate, Bjorn, the Chow Chow mix. Birgit absolutely hates fireworks, so she tunneled out from under the six foot chain link fence (with hot wire) during the festivities of the neighborhood, though I had given her an herbal anxiety remedy. I returned from a potluck to find nothing but a hole under the fence and a tuft of wolf hair.

After searching frantically and calling the dogcatcher, I calmed down and began to use the "water bowl", a technique the "Basic Magic" class had just learned (for finding lost objects and for telepathic communication) the night before the break-out. At first, I saw Birgit's head exploding, which I translated as bad news. Over the next few days, I connected with the dogs and felt their life force, a great relief. Birgit let me know the firework explosions made her crazy in the head. Bjorn "said" he just went along for the ride, but he was now very sorry because he had something stuck between his eyes. Both communicated they didn't know how to get home. I told them we needed a third party to help us, because I didn't know where they were.

Four days after their departure, the two escapees were brought home by the dogcatcher. They had taken refuge in someone's doghouse, where they were found and reported. They came home tired, hungry, thirsty and smelling strongly of skunk. Birgit apologized in dog "body language", though she seemed relieved because I had assured her in the "water bowl" conversations that she wasn't in trouble. And Bjorn had a porcupine quill between his eyes, a real confirmation of the accuracy of the "water bowl" technique.

Using the "water bowl" to contact the dogs kept me from untold grief during the beginning of the New Year, a time I use to envision my goals for the rest of the year. Had I a bit more practice with the technique, I probably could have even found the dogs without the help of the family with the doghouse and the dogcatcher. I plan to board the animals for New Year's Eve next year, but I am practicing the "water bowl" technique in case I ever need to help someone else.

These are just a couple of examples of how magic can work in your life, but the possibilities are endless. For everything from healing to finding your dream job to defending yourself from psychic or physical attack to working on relationships to just about anything you need help with, magic techniques are available. For more stories about real magic see our Magic At Work page. And to get started putting magic at work in your life check out our other blog articles and Magical Articles Library, Facebook page, and get your free copy of 10 Magical Quick Fixes ebook.




If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Or, visit our website for more great resources.