I had spent the morning doing my affirmations and spiritual exercises so that I felt totally on top of the world! I felt so good about where I was going, what I’d accomplished, and how I was moving forward on my goals. I felt (sing it with me) AMAZING!

Then I went to visit a friend, and was she ever in a bad mood!

Within just a few minutes of our conversation, I felt totally deflated, hopeless and despairing. Then I thought of this quote from Bob Proctor. So, I forced myself to reach for a positive thought, and brought it into the conversation. She didn’t care, she just threw another negative comment.

“Our economy is in terrible shape, we just aren’t going to recover,” she said.

“Yeah, but I have clients who are doing really well, financially, and I even know a couple of people who have been able to start a new business,” I countered.

“Yeah, but their business will probably fail.” Zing!

“Not necessarily,” whoosh…. (Where’d my positive thought just go???)

“And you know, I’ve heard that milk is going to go up to over $7.00 a gallon.”

Forget it. I just had to cut my losses and go. A little bit of poison, really, does go a long way. And it sure killed my optimism, in spite of my trying to sustain a positive mood.

Keeping positive is like tending a garden. There will always be weeds to pull, and watering to do. We can’t just sit back and expect the positivity to blossom in our daily life without a LOT of work. There will be moments where we feel those negative emotions; despair, anger, frustration, hopelessness, even hatred.

I once had someone tell me how disappointed they were in me because I talked about being such a spiritual person, yet I was dealing with so many challenges.

“If you were so spiritual, you wouldn’t have so many problems!”

This reminded me that I, too, once judged someone I believed to be very spiritual as failing at it because he got snarky with one of his employees.

Walking a spiritual path is not about always being happy. It’s about recognizing when we are getting into a dark space, and managing it by utilizing the tools we already have to get into a positive state again.

“Go find yourself first, so you can also find me.” ~ Rumi

Who are we? We are expressions of a Divine and Loving Creator.

What are we? We are Love, because we are like what we come from.

When we can find ourselves first, we are able to remember that we are love, and that those around us are love too (even if they don’t remember), and the negativity that is thrown at us is not something that we have to claim as our own.

To keep our lives healthy and balanced, there are many things we do, over and over again. We brush our teeth, again and again. We shower, eat, exercise, and sleep. And we develop a practice of moving into a positive space… over and over and over again.

A positive energy lifting exercise for you

Dreams are a doorway into the unknown. Your dreams hold the key to a strange and wondrous universe; an unknown realm filled with guidance, wisdom and answers to even the most confusing of questions.

However, the language of dreams can be perplexing to an unseasoned traveler of these inner realms. Combine this with the fact that the more desperately the subconscious mind tries to reach out to you, the more puzzling the dreams can seem. You may find that you are having nightmares, or repetitive dreams, yet the more you dream, the less you seem to know.

When I do personalized dream interpretations, I ask specific questions about the symbols that appeared in your dream and your feelings in the dream so we can find your overall dream theme {ie., fear, anxiety, etc.}. Then I give a detailed interpretation of your dream, along with an explanation of symbols, interpretation of the overall meaning of the dream and emails for any follow up questions you may have.

You already have the map, but sometimes we need a guide when we are venturing into unknown territory. It would be my privilege to walk with you, as your guide, as you take this journey into the world of dreams.

Personalized Dream Interpretation – $35.00

Once payment confirmation is received, you will be mailed a questionnaire.

Most often, however, dreaming of death is a message that great transformation is about to touch our lives.

Who died?
The most important question to ask yourself about a death and dying dream is who died? If you dreamed that your boss died, the dream may be trying to tell you that something about your job has to change. If it was your spouse, the dream may be trying to tell you something about your marriage; is it over or does something need to change in order for you to move forward?

Dreaming that loved ones have died are especially upsetting, but again, most often represent something within you that is growing and changing. To dream of the death of a parent may represent stepping into your own power, whereas dreaming that your child has died may represent a loss of power that you experienced yourself at that age.

Dreams of children dying are particularly awful, and may leave you shaken and worried for days to come. But these dreams are actually much more common due to the nature of the parent and child relationship. An infant grows into a toddler, a toddler into a child, and so on. Children crawl, walk, go off to school, make new friends, leave home, and fall in love. Children are in a constant state of transformation and change, and with each change (or stage), the parent has to let go of how the child was, so that they may grow into who they are meant to be. This change can sometimes be difficult for parents, myself included.

Look at the personality traits of the person who died in your dream. The dream may be symbolic of letting go of and/or transforming some of your own behaviors.

How did they die?
If the person in your dream just slowly faded away, the dream may be indicating that change may take some time. However, if they die suddenly, it could be symbolic of sudden change. A violent death may represent difficult change, where a gentle death may represent a more peaceful change to come.

Precognitive Death Dreams
It is not unheard of to dream of the passing of a loved one – especially if they’ve been sick for a long time, and the death is expected. With their passing, loved ones may want to visit and say goodbye, and when they do so in dreams, they have a much better chance of connecting with you than if they try to do so while you’re awake.

Death dreams nearly always point to the fact that we’ve outgrown something, whether it’s a belief system or a relationship– it’s time to change our way of thinking. When something dies it makes way for something new. Transformation is part of life, and sometimes these dreams are just simple reminders that it’s time to let go of the old and move forward.

The long ago December night is cold and quiet. Wise men and shepherds journey to the birthplace of a child of wonder; a child born to a mortal woman, yet of divine origins, who will one day bring hope and inspiration to mankind.

It’s a story many people are familiar with, though surprisingly this was first the birth story of Apollo and then later Mithras, long before it became the birth story of Jesus.

Since ancient times, midwinter has been considered a sacred time of year, so it is no wonder that the birth of Christ would be celebrated during this season. Yet long before the birth of “the Son,” people celebrated the birth of “the Sun” at the time of the Winter Solstice.

During this time of year, in the northern hemisphere, the days grow shorter and shorter. The Winter Solstice marks the point when the day is as short as it can get, and then the sun is reborn, and starts to overtake the darkness once again. This is a cause for celebration and a reminder that out of darkness comes renewal.

Yule
Yule is the ancient, European, celebration of the return of the light. Originally a family oriented holiday of peace, it was celebrated over 12 days, and included feasting and merry-making. Yule is now celebrated by Pagans around the world, usually on the Winter Solstice, and is a family holiday that includes feasting and gift-giving.

Saturnalia
Saturnalia – a chaotic, gift giving and laughter filled holiday, originated with the Romans around 217 B.C.E., and inspired many of the traditions that surround the current midwinter holiday celebrations.

Christmas
Christmas, by far the most popular festival of light, is celebrated on December 25 and commemorates the birth of the Christ child. This holiday is filled with feasting and gift-giving, along with many “borrowed” traditions of mistletoe, pine trees and holly!

Chanukah
Hannukah / Chanukah – November or December – this eight day festival of lights is celebrated in remembrance of the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century B.C.E. by lighting one candle on the menorah each night for eight nights. The story is that the Greeks had taken over the temple to worship Zeus, and demanded that the Jews worship as they did. The Jews eventually regained control of their temple, but as it had been defiled by the Greeks, it needed to be purified, and to do this the Jews needed enough oil to burn the temple menorah for eight days. To their dismay, they only had enough oil for one day, but miraculously the menorah stayed lit for the entire eight days. It is this miracle of light that is celebrated every year.

Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa, first celebrated in the 1960s, is a weeklong celebration (December 26 – January 1) that includes feasting and gift giving. During Kwanzaa, seven candles are lit, which represent the seven principles honoring family and community. It is a time for African Americans to reconnect to their history and culture.

Out of darkness comes renewal, and each of these festivals offer the opportunity to celebrate the return of the light, the season of giving, and a time of love.

Happy Holidays!

“Make thou my spirit pure and clear as are the frosty skies.” Lord Alfred Tennyson

“Check out Deanna’s song, Snow and Twilght.”

On the first day of Christmas my True Love gave to me:
True Love represents that aspect of ourselves that never buys into the dramas, lies, or outdated belief systems that we love to carry around with us. True Love towards ourselves is understanding, compassion and acceptance.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The pear is symbolic of hope, balance and love. The Partridge symbolizes fertility, and reminds us that it takes intent to walk a spiritual path. We can just as easily fall into patterns of addiction and destruction as we can walk a path of truth and light.

Two Turtle Doves
Doves represent peace and harmony. Two of them represent a harmonious relationship.

Three French Hens
Nurturing, mothering, and fertility. The number three represents mind/body/spirit, and optimism and creative expression.

Four Calling Birds
Birds are symbolic of spiritual transformation. A calling bird would be doing something to get your attention. The number four represents foundation and wholeness.

Five Golden Rings
A golden ring is symbolic of commitment and spirit and light. The circle is symbolic of cycles of life. The number five represents change and enthusiasm.

Six Geese a Laying
The goose symbolizes creative expression, good tidings, and harmony. They remind us that childhood stories are important, but it’s also important to realize when old belief systems no longer work for us. A goose that is laying is in the process of creating and nurturing new life. The number six represents responsibility, nurturing, family and community.

Seven Swans a Swimming
Swans are symbolic of awakening and inner power. A swan that is swimming would be tapping into the vast unconsciousness to discover the power of the inner resources. The number seven represents inner reflection, mysticism, and spiritual growth.

Eight Maids a Milking
A maiden is symbolic of virtue, and possibilities. Milking is symbolic of accepting the nurturing, life giving milk of the great mother. The number eight represents power and cosmic consciousness.

Nine Ladies Dancing
The Lady is symbolic of the great mother and motherhood. To dance is to not only enjoy life, but to be in synch with its gifts and pleasures. The number nine represents humanitarianism and service.

Ten Lords a Leaping
The Lord most often represents the father aspect, and the partner and lover to the Lady. To leap is to take a great step forward. The number ten represents independence, self development and new beginnings.

Eleven Pipers Piping
As a musical instrument, the pipe represents harmony and connecting to Spirit. The number eleven represents intuition.

Twelve Drummers Drumming
The heartbeat of the earth is represented by the drum. To drum is to connect to our inner rhythm. The number twelve represents new beginnings, harmonious relationships and optimism.

When dreaming of alligators or crocodiles, it’s important to keep in mind that they are water creatures as well as land creatures.

Water represents the emotions, and both the alligator and the crocodile are at home in the water, where they remain hidden, yet aware of everything in their environment.

To dream of alligators or crocodiles may mean that there is something of great power lurking just below the surface of your unconscious mind. They may represent a “hidden danger,” or manipulation and deception (think of crocodile tears).

Dreaming of alligators or crocodiles may also be messages of deep spiritual initiation. They have existed, relatively unchanged, for over 200 million years, so they are connected to a very ancient, primal, energy. Because of their ability to eat their food in one bite, they are also symbolic of a journey to the underworld, and initiation. However, they take a long time to digest their food, so this may be a message to take more time in “digesting” something that you are working through.

They are also protective as well as fearsome. Both alligators and crocodiles are good mothers. They help the eggs to hatch, then gently carry them to the water. The Egyptian goddess, Tawret, had the tail of a crocodile, and frightened spirits who may mean to harm a pregnant woman or child. She also helped spirits “re-birth” into the afterlife.

The ancient Egyptians recognized the power of the crocodile, and saw them as symbols of fertility and power. Sobek, the Egyptian god of the Nile, was depicted as a man with the head of a crocodile. It was believed that he created the world, and was a protector of the pharaoh’s army.
Dreaming of alligators or crocodiles may be drawing your attention to an aspect of yourself that you’ve been afraid to face. Start with asking yourself if you were feeling frightened in your dream, neutral, or empowered.

It’s important to understand your own personal connection to these creatures when doing a dream interpretation. If you were frightened by one as a child, your perspective will be much different from someone who was fascinated with them.

When an alligator or crocodile appears in your dream, you can be sure that they have something important to share; whether it’s facing a personal fear, confronting a difficult situation, or accepting that you are connected to a tremendous source of power.

And depending on your personal point of view, they most likely fall into one of two categories: Favored by the gods or evil consorts of the devil.

Purely Evil
Old Christian folktales proclaimed that the cat acting as a witch’s familiar, was a tool of the devil. To see a black cat meant that evil was afoot, and heaven help you if that black cat crossed your path!

Purely Divine
The Egyptians revered the cat, and may have domesticated them about 3,000 years ago. As it turns out, the cat was quite helpful in controlling the rodent population, so they proved to be valuable members of society.

In Mythology
In mythology the cat has always been strongly connected to feminine energy and the goddesses, including Isis, Set, Bast and Freyja. Because of their nocturnal nature, they were seen as lunar, intuitive, mysterious creatures.

Characteristics
Cats are graceful, elegant, patient, sensual, clever and independent. They can also become easily distracted, though not when focused on their prey, and they are acutely aware of their surroundings. They are sensual creatures, and enjoy comfort, lounging in the sun, and rubbing against furniture, legs, or whatever is convenient for them.

The cat is yin energy to the masculine yang energy of the dog. And most people are pretty divided as either cat or dog “people.” It’s less common to meet someone who could care less either way.

If you are dreaming about a cat, or cats, how you feel about them is very important. Are you a cat person? Do you love cats, or tolerate them? Were they wild cats, or tame? What were they doing? Maybe you dreamed of kittens; small, sweet and vulnerable?

When a woman dreams of cats, she may be receiving a message to connect more deeply with her sensual or intuitive nature, or further her spiritual growth. When a man dreams of cats, it may be a message to connect more deeply with his feminine nature, or his anima, the nurturing, intuitive aspect of his personality.

Whether you adore cats, or merely tolerate them, cat dreams ask you to be more aware of the magic that surrounds you in your waking life; it’s there – sometimes you just need a cat to point it out.

And with good cause; many snakes are deadly. They are wriggly, odd, unpredictable, creatures. Even when they are non-poisonous, snakes are mysterious, and remind us that there is a world out there that to us is vastly unknown.

Healing and Transformation
But in truth, many ancient cultures viewed the snake, or serpent, as a sign of renewal, or transformation, because it could shed its skin.

To the Hindus, the snake is a symbol of enlightenment, and represents the Kundalini life force energy which lives in the base of the spine.

Snakes can also represent healing powers. The Caduceus, a popular symbol in the medical profession which features a snake wrapped around a wand, was originally the symbol for the healing god, Hermes.

If you are bitten in a dream it may mean that you are going through a transformative and healing process, or that you’ll soon be moving through any stressful or difficult situations you are currently experiencing.

Snake venom is known to have curative qualities. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! And the term spewing venom has been used to describe speaking hatefully. If the snake is spewing venom at you, it may mean that you have someone hateful or negative in your life.

Fear or deception
Most often in dreams, the snake does represent a fear of the unknown. It can also represent deception or manipulation; think of the term snake in the grass. This term usually describes a situation where someone is lying in wait to surprise their victim. So this could symbolize dishonesty or deception.

Sensuality, Sexuality and Temptation
The snake is also considered a sensual creature; largely in part due to its long, phallic, shape. And I think that anyone who has ever seen the erotic dance of the snake where a beautiful woman dances with a snake wrapped seductively around her body would agree.

The sensual aspect of a snake in a dream, depending on how you feel in the dream, could either be excitement and desire, or fear and loathing, either toward your sexual partner, or the act of sex itself.

In the Bible, the serpent represents temptation. Do you feel that you are being tempted? Or are you the tempter?

Ouroboros
This famous symbol of a snake eating its tale is known as the Ouroboros. It represents a cycle that begins again as soon as it’s ended.

Some things to keep in mind when dreaming of snakes:

They are cold blooded – they depend on their environment to keep them warm.
Do you find yourself easily influenced by your environment?

Snakes do not have conventional eardrums. They actually sense what’s going on around them through the vibrations in the earth rather than by listening.
Is there something going on in your environment that is affecting you on a subconscious level? 

Snakes lay eggs, and abandon them as soon as they have made their nest. This means the young are born having to fend for themselves.
Are you fending for yourself without the benefit of a mentor? 

Snakes shed their skin. As they grow, they outgrow the old skin to reveal new skin underneath.
Are you at a place in your life where it’s time to let go of something that no longer works for you, and allow yourself to have a new experience?

Snakes may not be a particularly cuddly dream symbol, but they are certainly one of the most powerful and transformative. To have a snake appear in your dream is surely a sign that things are going to change for you, even though the process may be a difficult one.

I hung around with people who said things like “She’s out of her body and will be back later,” or “my spirit guide says I chose difficult karma,” or “my crystal needs to be cleared,” or “I feel like I know you from a past life!”

Not that I didn’t learn a lot from my experiences, and it was certainly fun while it lasted, but it was more of a joy ride than a serious journey for sure. And luckily, it was a journey I can laugh about.

When I received “Astral Sex – Zen Teabags – an Illustrated New Age Spoofapedia,” by Gerry Thompson, all those memories came back to me. From the hours I spent analyzing my horoscope and possible past life connections, to the nights spent watching for UFOs, it’s all here. Every funny, crazy and bizarre moment!

A-Z is basically a book of new age terms and definitions, like an encyclopedia, only it’s hilarious (hence, “spoofapedia”).

Let me be clear – this book is just fun! It’s a silly learning tool for those of us who take things way too seriously!

Inner: This term refers to any part of ourselves that we want to let other people know needs attention, sympathy, or molly-coddling, as in “I’m working on my Inner Child.” ~ From the book.

I would have to say the definitions of the astrology signs were among my favorite, and I did laugh hardest at my own.

Cancer Astrological Sign: Cancerians are very vulnerable beings who are extremely cautious about how they live their lives. And so they should be, because they are constantly in great danger….They should also be particularly vigilant around sophisticated or complex technical apparatus, such as high-powered computers, nuclear particle accelerators, and ball-point pens. ~From the book.

I laughed so much as I read through this book, as did most of my friends. I say most because one of my very serious new ager friends got very offended!

Manifest: An annoying way of referring to things happening in your life. See asspain. ~ From the book.

A- Z is a fun look at some of the silly things we get caught up in, and maybe, for a little while anyway, take a little too seriously.

Master: This used to mean someone who had spent 50 years deeply immersing themselves in a subject, completely cut off from the outside world and all other activities. Fortunately, one can now become a Master by instantaneous transmission overnight – at a price. See Reiki, NLP. ~ From the book.

The book is sure to offend many, but I think overall, we are ready to laugh at ourselves!

Scorpio: Nobody likes Scorpios. They usually become Rolfers or Primal Scream therapists. A description of them should be very short as they may seek revenge. ~ From the book.

It’s important to know why we follow a particular spiritual path. If we walk a path for the coolness factor, we haven’t made the connection to our spirit. But if we can laugh at ourselves, even under the most difficult of circumstances, we are halfway there.

Deanna received this book from the publisher, at no charge, for the purpose of reviewing.

Leaves of orange and gold and red
spiral gently overhead
and then the wind begins to sing
of dreams that only Fall can bring.
Then in my heart and in my soul
there came the dream
and it would seem
of all the things that Fall could bring
the gentle spiral of the leaves
would be the dream now granted me.

There is something really magical about this time of year, how just one day you wake up and you feel autumn in the air. It’s not like the hot flash of summer that sneaks up on us, nor can it be compared to the sleepiness of winter slowing us down. Just one day the air feels different, it feels red and golden and ripe. The inspiration and creativity that we’ve been sowing all year is finally ready to be harvested into something dreamy and tangible, all at the same time.

The Autumn Equinox (on or about September 21 or 22) is one of two brief moments during the year (the other is the Spring Equinox) when the day and the night are about equal. The Autumn Equinox is about balance, and it brings us the energies of reconnection. It is through these connections that we are able to tap into and experience our own powerful creative energies.

Here are a couple of suggestions to help bring your life back into balance, reconnect to your own spirit and allow yourself to fully enjoy the next couple of months.

Simplify and Clear Your Space

Now that the hectic energies of summer are behind us, we find ourselves getting back into a routine. Now is a perfect time to declutter your home. The wintertime will bring more restful, peaceful and “go within” types of energy, and it’s hard to find respite when there are piles of clutter around you. We’ve also got the major holidays that will be here before we know it, and taking the time to simplify and clear your space now will make the holiday rush a bit less chaotic and will free up your energies so that you can more freely express your creativity.

Clear Your Heart Space

Many of us are carrying around emotional clutter that stifles our energy and slows down our creative energy. If you feel that you are weighed down by negativity, take a moment and try this simple breathing exercise:

Close your eyes and breath deeply. When you feel relaxed, place your attention on your toes, you can even wiggle them a little. Then imagine that a beautiful gold light flows up from the center of the earth, right up through your feet and swirls gently through your body. Next place your attention on the top of your head. Imagine a beautiful violet light flowing down from the heavens, in through the top of your head and mixing with the gold light throughout your body. Now place your attention on your heart area, where you imagine a beautiful, glowing, green ball of light. Now say to yourself “I am filled with loving and inspired thought.”

This visualization helps us to re-focus so that we can fully enjoy the present moment and release some of the emotional clutter that we carry around with us.

Every season brings its own gifts. The red-gold glimmer of autumn helps us to harvest our bright ideas, let go of those things which no longer work for us and find balance in dance of spiraling golden leaves.