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Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: spirits, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 13 of 13
1. Being Touched by Spirit


lovewhenweneedit

Last night I was up worrying. I had much on my mind. And as I closed my eyes to try to fall back asleep, I felt invisible arms take me into a warm embrace and I heard, “Everything will be all right.” It felt like a female presence but I couldn’t identify at that moment who it was. It was beautiful and comforting and I really needed that.

Everything will be all right

I hadn’t had an experience like that in a long, long time, and it reminded me of what had happened to me in college way back when.

I was into the second year of college on a large campus in Maryland. I loved the excitement and resources of a big college but my empathic self found it completely overwhelming. On top of it, I was in a bad relationship, and I wanted to switch majors out of a demanding, unreasonable design program and I couldn’t. It was no wonder I was having mysterious panic attacks at the time. I was seriously contemplating leaving school for some place safer. One weekend, I was sleeping over my boyfriend’s family home and was placed in the guest bedroom. The room was small and a little stuffy with a tiny window for light to stream in. I felt very alone and scared. Looking back, it was one of those rock bottom moments. I squeezed the bedsheet around me as hard as I could and just broke down in tears. I am not a crier — it has to be big for tears to readily flow. I think the spirit world recognized that because I felt someone take my hand and hold it. At first I was naturally startled. No one was around in the tiny little room. I fully expected to look down and see a hand connected to a person. But the warmth connected to that hand overpowered the fear and spoke volumes of what I needed just at that moment.

We can be hugged for a moment or feel those delicious tingles when we are feeling Spirit. Either it’s the Divine reminding us we are not alone and still connected, loved ones passed over, or personal angels, it’s all the same: LOVE when we need it.

Have you had a similar experience? 


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2. Throne of Glass - Review


Publication date: 7 Aug 2012 by Bloomsbury USA Children's
ISBN 10/13: 1599906953 | 9781599906959
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Young Adult Fantasy
Keywords: Fantasy, romance, competition, assassins, spirits
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Netgalley


Synopsis:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men--thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
Alethea's review: 

I did not expect reading Throne of Glass to be so laborious; I expected I'd fly through it like I did Robin LaFevers's Grave Mercy, or Leigh Bardugo's Shadow & Bone. Not so. It's not difficult reading in terms of language or complexity; it's more that I had trouble suspending my disbelief. This all stems from the most basic premise of the book: The King needs a champion; therefore the sponsors select as their candidates the meanest, baddest, scariest killers and sneakiest thieves in the land. Wait, what?

The entire time I kept asking, wouldn't it have been more believable to have the sponsors select the most shining paragons of valor and heroism from their military personnel and private bodyguards? So you could, you know, have them be in the same room as the King or Crown Prince or important people you don't want dead without having to slap the heavy duty chains or hiding all the silver? Why choose people least likely to honor a contract?

If you really had such a great military already that the infamous Adarlan's Assassin won't bother running away because you could easily hunt her down, why do you need her to try to win this contest? Just hire the guy she's afraid of and send her back to the salt mines already!

Not talking specifically about any one candidate, I get that a true champion might not be willing to overlook morality in favor of a nice fat paycheck for doing the King's dirty business. But I also don't understand how the King might think it's a good idea to let loose upon the land an unscrupulous rogue who might have reason to disagree with the King's own politics, since some of the people vying for the position hail from countries he very recently conquered? In my mind, the King was the villain of the piece from the get-go, and he could have been craftier about selecting a champion. Why not rope some honorable and respected warrior into the job by letting him think he's really defending his king and country, then corrupt him with wealth and power or threats against the people he loves? For most of the book, I could not shake how backwards it all was in my mind. I couldn't justify people's motives and that made for a very slow, torturous read (with lots of breaks to go play with my new kitten, who has claws like freshly sharpened knives).

This book is not entirely without merit. Some of the secondary characters are well drawn and even likeable. I really enjoyed Celeana's friendship with another female who is, like herself, an outsider. The love triangle develops gradually enough not to be jarring, though Celeana mooning over Crown Prince Dorian still had me rolling my eyes often. I think fans who are new to fantasy and have not already read lots of it will really enjoy this book. Inexperienced noobs, you win this round.

Overall, I found the story derivative and not terribly well-plotted. I don't think the elements that I deemed derivative were intentionally copied; I just think the author is very much a fan of fantasy and that her debut ended up reading like a big fanfic mashup of some of my favorite fantasy worlds. I felt that Maas was pandering to her audience too much with Celeana and Dorian's book addiction. Also, if someone can please tell me the significance of the title, I'd dearly love to know what it was. It took me a week to read this book and that little bit of trivia still managed to elude me. While I wasn't completely disappointed, Throne of Glass was still quite a let-down, and I hesitate to read the sequel.

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.



Visit the author online at www.sarahjmaas.com and follow her on Twitter @SJMaas

*FTC disclosure: I participate in the BookDepository affiliate program. Clicking on the link and making a purchase may result in revenue for this blog. I also participate in Indiebound, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble affiliate programs but the links from this post do not contain my affiliate code.

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3. Alibi’s Ghost: The Larger-than-Life, Small World of a Medium’s Daughter by L. S. Hullinger

 4 Stars Alexandra ‘Alibi’ Vernon is the eleven-year-old daughter of a psychic medium whose behavior is repeatedly influenced by kids from the Other Side. From building sub sandwiches in her sleep to sneaking into a stranger’s attic, Alibi has her innocence challenged on a regular basis. Since her mother is fairly new at medium work, [...]

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4. Favorite Ghosty, Spirit Posts

Halloween is fast approaching, and when I think of Halloween I always think of ghosts and spirit visits. Of course! Fun huh? Obviously, spirit communication is a fascination and a passion for me. It may be for you, too. So, here’s my favorite past posts on the subject to enjoy:

 


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5. The Medium Next Door - A Review

"I see dead people..."

This famous line from the very popular movie, The Sixth Sense, has been quoted over and over, but for Maureen Hancock communing with the dead isn't a joke, it's a way of life. 

In The Medium Next Door, Maureen shares her life story which includes some of her own tragedies as well as her ability to hear and respond to the dead.  This unique talent of Maureen's has helped many grieving people obtain peace, she has solved mysteries, assisted the dying and has landed her her very own television show. 

What makes Maureen different from all the other "ghostbusters"?  "I enjoy making people smile," Maureen says.  "I think what differentiates me from other spirit mediums is that I believe our loved ones in spirit enjoy coming through with a celebration and not reliving another wake."  In addition Maureen likes to "jump in with humour and help the person left behind know that it's okay to continue living, laughing and celebrating these great memories."

Even if you're skeptical about "ghosts" and an afterlife, Maureen's candor and readings are chillingly accurate - I found myself wishing she had a message from beyond for me!  She also looks like an ordinary mom (no layers of flowing scarves and dangling jewelry).  Her humor throughout the book is a wonderful change for a subject that could otherwise be morose. 

I will admit I had my doubts about Maureen's authenticity when I first picked up her book, however, the more I read the more I believed she truly does have a wonderful gift and the fact that she uses it for good (lots of time for free) is just more convincing.

For more information on The Medium Next Door, please visit; http://maureenhancock.com/, HCI Books or Amazon  



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6. We Learn What We Need to Teach and Insects in Dreams

I am finding that whatever I am meant to teach at the time, I will be learning. Sometimes these lessons come gently and easily and other times, a little stronger.

Tonight I am teaching a teleclass on Better Boundaries for Sensitives. This is THE topic that as Empaths we need to tackle. As an empath, I have the ability to merge with an animal or person and retrieve a ton of information. There is deep connection there. It can feel pretty glorious, and give me great compassion and understanding for another. I can also do this with a spirit in the room or even a friend sitting across from me. This is all good. Having this skill makes life deep and rich.

It’s the unmerging that takes a long time to learn and isn’t a  skill we are taught in this world. We need to go back to our own center with separate boundaries.  I’ve been actively busy learning these skills as time goes on.

I visited a friend’s house and farm yesterday. To the outside eye, the place looked peaceful and quiet with animals strolling about. But to me, his place was buzzing with lots of spirits and energies. I was wide open and immediately heard messages. His animals were busy gabbing away at me also. I wasn’t overwhelmed, just very busy during the visit. When I got home though, I had LOTS of visitors and dreamt about all kinds of insects invading my space.

Insects in dreams can be a psychic metaphor for psychic invaders, leftover “other people’s stuff” and empathic cast-offs. Oops. Not a bad thing to connect, but I forgot to close down and clear out. In my dream state I could do that. Kinda like taking my container and emptying it out.

Other indications that you’re invaded by others’ stuff are dreams of intruders in rooms in your house or doors being wide open.

It’s not dangerous being a sensitive or an empath. It’s a gift, but we do need excellent self-care and maintenance which includes some new tools and skills.

——————————————————————————————————————-

To learn more psychic skills and tools, sign up today for a Fairy Online School class, such as the Care of the Sensitive class, Spirit Communication 1 or Animal Communication 1.


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7. Ronni’s Psychic Tip: ear ringing

Spirit activity has been very busy lately. What I am seeing with myself and my friends and clients is an increased psychic ability. Blame the solar flares perhaps, but I do have one theory. What if we are succeeding at removing so much of our “stuff” that was in the way of our abilities? Perceiving was always there, but our vision was fogged over. I like that idea. We’re actually doing a good job, not another thing we need to improve.

Which leads me to this week’s psychic tip. Have you had any ear ringing? Sometimes it’s your Angels popping in to give you a message. Other times, it’s spirit making a visit. Yesterday, I had quite a bit of ringing. Finally I yelled, “What do you want?” It’s best to be more polite and cordial in these situations. I took the time out to tune in and see what I got. Usually, a face will pop into my head mentally or a thought to identify the caller. Sometimes, the spirit will just be delivering a message and you may not be sure who it’s from except to feel it’s a he or a she. That happened yesterday. I was just yelled at for not drinking enough water.

Of course, ear ringing can be you have water in your ear from swimming the day before, or you have a food allergy. Psychic ear ringing is usually sporadic and sudden and you have a gut feeling a presence  is nearby.


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8. New free fiction! BRINDLE

I’ve always had a hard time classifying BRINDLE. Is it a ghost story? A paranormal satirical religious fantasy? An old-fashioned mystical fable with a twist? I’m seriously open to your suggestions.

For now we’ll just call it a short story of mine, and for the next few days it’s FREE! You can download it here, and use the coupon code: VR22W. But hurry! Coupon expires March 20.

Enjoy!

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9. Classes start on Friday!

A reminder that classes for this session start on Fairy Online School Friday. That’s this Friday! Woo-hoo! Now is the time to reserve your space and sign up. The next session may not be until end of March/April. So, if you are itching to learn some really neat stuff in the warm privacy of your own home on these cold, snowy days, now’s the time. Choose from Talking to Angels, Guides and Dead People (so excited about this one), Care of the Sensitive, Fairy Beginner Fairy Secrets class, Animal Mediumship, Animal Healing, and Animal Communication.

Please note, Fairy Joy class sign ups are ongoing, as are Mentorships, which are arranged.

And of course, Readings are ongoing. New ebook almost ready!


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10. Did you know Mediums are from the devil?

A few weeks back I was informed by my father-in-law in my estranged family, that God hated mediums and this is quoted clearly in the bible. At the time, Bill was trying to relay a message I had received from a fellow medium at a workshop I took part in from his brother. The goal was to allay his Dad’s fears and give comfort by providing some answers. Instead, the man attacked the messenger.

I think about most sensitive children who notice the elephant in the room and are punished for it. This was my role most of my life. (I remember distinctly a time when I informed my mother that a guest was mad and upset when I was told this was incorrect. My mother was repeatedly embarassed by my observations, which always turned out accurate.) It’s not easy “seeing” what others don’t want you to see. But I do know that God made me this way. I’ve seen the gift as it is when I help others in their paths and brought clarity, the times I’ve saved animals’ lives with missing pieces of important information, and brought comforting messages from loved ones who weren’t really lost afterall. No, I am not serving the devil or talking to bad spirits like on television. Real, healthy good has come out of these gifts. My God is all about unconditional love and what I aspire to be one day. My God loves me and knows who I am with no judgement, and sees my gifts as what he/she gave me to help humanity.

Most sensitives grew up unaccepted for being different. It hurts when the unacceptance is not for your beliefs, but an attack on who you are. That is always about the other person’s failings–their own inner spaces they don’t want to see. (And their walls to loving).

Long ago, I had a dream that I was selling balloons to blind people, and I was pretending to be like them, blind as well. I can’t do that anymore. I will share my gifts with those who want to see and therefore, who I can assist. They are the ready ones. The rest will have different teachers, and many are not loving. And as for the unacceptance, I no longer want or need support that doesn’t accept me–all of the pieces that make up me.


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11. New classes forming and Fear of Flower Essences

July classes in Fairy Online School are up. Some changes happening. Some classes are shorter. Only some being offered for this semester. And a new class!

When I originally made The Fairy Field Guide, it was intuned to who I am and my own mission. I’m a detective or scientist at heart led by my curiosity. I was fascinated with the healing qualities of Nature and flower essences.

My first flower essence experience was rather funny. I had a teacher who had just given me a Reiki treatment. At the time, I was afraid of everything, and the idea of relinguishing any kind of control was not in my vocabulary. I was afraid of doctors, and chemicals, and food, etc. etc. Looking back, it was a time of feeling out of control with my body, so I needed anything touching it to be controlled by me.

This teacher introduced me to my first flower essence. She gave me BUTTERCUP (FES brand) and sent me home with instructions. I stared at the bottle for a week before taking the tiniest drop. Once I did, I was intrigued. I had an immediate uplift of mood and confidence. A few days later, realizations and knowings that showed me where my confidence had been blocked. And finally, a breakthrough on the issues I was having at the time.  What was this liquid in a bottle that helped me so much, yet didn’t interfere or upset my body?

Fast forward to 2005 and losing my joy and spark, and in come the Fairies and flower essences all over again. This time, I wanted to know all I could. My curiosity was on fire. Could I make an essence out of anything? What were the wildflowers in my area and how did they heal? Were they more powerful than a flower essence I ordered from a catalog from far away? Were there some flowers that I needed more? Did I need to make an essence to heal, or could I just sit with a flower? Could I communicate to a tree like I did the animals? Questions burst through me. I recorded my findings in a huge art journal of pages and kept track of the experiments and test subjects in repertory pages. I used my intuition to hear and feel the answers.

I fell in love with the yard again. I had become a giant nature allergy holed-up indoors, when I was more of a tree fairy who needed the forest.

The flower essences were helping me deal with my sensitivity in a gentle way. They were helping my animals and my family. But it was the reconnection to Nature that was healing me the most, and exploring my creativity again by recording my facts creatively, and artistically.


I look back at when I created the classes and that original art journal, and it was such a gift. It brought my new family together, when we had good, happy memories. Connection to hearing spirit and other realms were skills I was developing through this gift. Later, I would meet amazing students along the way as I shared what I learned.

I’m full circle now and gifted with a beau

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12. Mental Illness vs. psychic ability

Do you know the difference?

I felt this piece of info was important to share when it comes to psychic ability.

After parenting an adopted child for five years who had tons of both, I slowly learned what was the difference, and that mental illness did not look how I thought it would. I always thought illness would be very obvious–a bit like what we see on television–the bag lady or the man in the white strait jacket. What we thought was charming quirkiness in “J” early on, was clear-cut signs of mental illness that everyone poo-poo’ed away (many for their own agendas). Once adolescence kicked in, we had full-blown “lots of things”. And honey, that was not ADHD.

There is hearing voices of Guides/Angels or spirits in the room, and then there is hearing voices of your other personalities, split off parts, or out-and-out schizophrenia. A good indicator these are not Guides? The voices aren’t helpful. These voices may even try to get a rise out of you to get you upset (this could even be earthbound spirits. They like to do that).  Guides/Angels are always loving and when you hear their guidance you feel a sense of rightness and an inner knowing. They are much like a good psychic reading. You don’t have a reading and hear “you are going to die!”  The psychic will tell you that you need to be more careful when you drive. Guides/Angels will never say nasty things about other people or tell you to hurt them in any way. Their drive is to help you have understanding and compassion for others. (The exception is a departed relative visiting who might give advice. Usually, you can identify the voice and how they always acted when they were alive.)

“J” would talk to voices in her room often and claim they were Guides, but I saw and felt nothing, except, I would have the beginning of a migraine when I entered. (Keep in mind though, earthbounds are attracted to high energy emotional states. I think she did have a few entities attached on top of everything else. Henceforth, my headaches).

Folks with personality disorders are really hard to peg as mentally ill. That’s the tough part. Borderlines (called RAD when they are young) will take your life onto a rollercoaster with one moment idolizing you when you do what they want, and the next despising you for not complying. They are also masters of triangulation pitting one person against another just for the drama of it, because chaos feels safe. On the surface, they are as charming as can be, and always who they think you want them to be. But without treatment or help, their lives are a continuous, bad amusement park ride and you don’t need to join them, or risk developing your own mental illnesses.

When I first came to the Sedona area, one of the first things I did was readings at a healing fair. My first customer was a schizophrenic who wanted to know about the implants attached to his head controlled by the government. I did give him the benefit of the doubt after watching years of X-files, but his wife later confirmed he had mental illness. There was also a girl who claimed she was a reincarnated Jesus (lots of those). What scares me is many folks like this need medication or psychological help and not a psychic reading. Sedona is notorious for attracting all kinds of people who want healing. I got an instant education what to look out for.

If you do hear voices that are not helpful, find your moods seriously erratic, go get some help. Get educated. Our bodies and minds are so complicated. Sometimes it’s just a hormone imbalance! We all have the ability to go a little off kilter in the most stressful times. (I’ve got a bit of OCD inherited from my grandmother. Thanks Nanny!)

And if you have more of a psychic intruder bothering you? Being a sensitive/psychic you could open some doors you don’t need to open to outside unhelpful energies attracted to your bright light. Learn clearing exercises and find someone who sp

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13. Ghost on the Gravestone

Hello:

Just a quick blog entry today, as I wanted to share this photo with you that I've just listed in My Vintage Photo Shop. The photo fascinates me and spooks me all at once ~

Ooopsie...no longer for sale


I'm not exactly sure what I believe regarding ghosts, but if there's anything that can convince me that they exist, it's this photo. Have a close look to the right of the headstone, just above the M in the name SCHWAM. I'm telling you, there is an image of a tiny woman wearing a white scoop-neck dress sitting on the middle ledge of the headstone. You can't make out a face, but you can see the dress ~



The headstone was for the Schwam family. The husband, Ferdinand, was still alive at the time of the photo. However, his wife, Margaret and his 2 year old daughter, Annie, were both already buried at the time of the photo.

What do you think?

Kim
Garden Painter Art

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