Maria Duval - Has TV helped the Online Psychic Readings Industry ?

Has TV helped the Online Psychic Readings Industry ?
Moonwhisper.com as well as many other psychic reading websites has proven that the internet is a viable venue for professional psychics to display their services and provide an obviously very lucrative service to the major players in the online psychic reading industry. With an increasing demand for high quality and affordable psychic advice rising daily smaller websites are finding it easier to break into this niche market and take psychic service promotions to the next level with a complete line of co branded services on the web. You will find that the fires of this rise in interest in the psychic readings niche has been fanned in part by the rise of popular TV shows that have really brought the paranormal and psychic ability into main stream American homes. These shows have really taken a lot of the taboo previously associated with psychics and turned them into heroic figures solving mysteries, crimes as well as helping those in need with their psychic abilities. You may be asking how has this helped online psychics? The answer is simple we are now more accepting and aware of these paranormal events that have always taken place and we have been desensitized to the previous stigma associated with psychics by the constant barrage of the paranormal on TV. It has now become normal to consult with psychics and to believe that a psychic has the ability to predict the future because we as Americans are so used to it from our exposure on television. May I add it is about time we have learned to accept psychic abilty instead of shy aware from it as the answers we seek could be just a click of a mouse away. In my opinion we can look at the rise of online psychic popularity in two ways either as a sad cry for help by the public at large who are desperate to find hope anywhere or as a beginning of an age of enlightenment where we are finally at place where we are accepting of a higher spiritual plane and are not afraid to seek advice from a realm that is intangible but nevertheless very real. I find the latter to be a more optimistic and open minded way of thought and I really believe that psychics will no longer be shunned and mocked but be sought after and accepted as a genuine professional service. I see the future of psychic readings to be very bright and something that will continue to grow and blossom as our spirituality becomes more accepting and our rational minds let go and let the psychic mind be released.

Marissa “Moonwhisper” is the webmaster and founder of Moonwhisper.com 1999 a huge directory of psychic readings and metaphysical resources as well as a professional psychic advisor. http://www.moonwhisper.com

Are Angels Around Us?
Are Angels ambassadors from a Supreme Being? There are many different variations on where the first angel made its appearance. Most religions have some type of winged or flying human. But I always thought true angels would have that certain presence about them that would make you know they was not just a winged flying human. These three of the major western religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam believe that angels are the intervening force between us and a Supreme Being. In Buddhism and Hinduism angels are also big players. Angels are mentioned in the bible as early as Genesis as the "Shining Ones" . Christian art begins depicting them somewhere between 306-337 A.D., and some of the other religions have had them since before the 14th century. Possibly the best known angel is the fallen angel named Satan, Beelzebub, Lucifer, you know the "old Devil himself". Even most atheists would recognize the name of that angel. Thru history many angels have made their appearance but some of them are more well known than others. There is the Angel that appeared for the birth of Jesus, the Angel Of Presence, heck there was even an Angel reportedly seen at Valley Forge by General George Washington. Then there is the Seven Archangels: Michael the warrior, Gabriel our messenger to God, Uriel the angel of death or transformation, and Raphael does healing, these are the four most common of the seven. So, are Angels ambassadors from a Supreme Being? Angels are supposed to guide us, protect us, heal us, and bring us messages from heaven. There are angels to do just about anything you need help in doing. According to history there will always be an angel around so we are never truly alone in this world. Angels have gained in popularity that has not been seen since around 1900's, and its no wonder. Time magazine reports 69% of Americans believe they exist. In our chaos filled world doesn't the idea of angels amongst us, help fill us with just a little bit of peace. It helps re-affirm that even as busy as god must be, we are not alone.



Making Book Of Shadows Spell Book
If you make your own Book of Shadows, you will be able to harness more power from it.

To make one, you need a plastic 3 ring binder, some batting, some fabric, and some glue.

Lay the binder on the table so that it is open. Put the batting underneath and mark where you will cut the batting so that it can be glued to the outside of the binder.

After you are done marking the batting, you want to use your scissors to cut the batting around the outline you made.

Next, you want to lay the open binder back onto the batting. Now, lift up one end of the binder and put hot glue around the outside edges. Then press the outside edge of the binder to the batting to attach it to the binder.

First do one cover, then the binding, and then the other cover.

In the end, the batting should be securely fastened to the binder, and should come to the exact ends of the binder covers.

The binder should open and close easily.

You will now cover the binder and batting with the fabric that you selected. Lay the binder and batting covering on top of the piece of fabric. Make sure you select an area of the fabric that will give you the look that you want on the outside cover of your book of shadows. (In other words, position the binder onto the fabric so that the fabric will look how you want it to on the cover)

Next, take your felt tipped marker and mark the fabric to 2 inches around the binder.

Using the scissors, cut the fabric around the lines that you marked. You should now have a piece of fabric the perfect size to cover the binder with (with your 2 inches of cushion around the edges).

Next, lay the binder and batting cover it, on the fabric you cut out. Make sure you have an even 2 inches of fabric around the binder (lay the binder open).

Lift up one end of the binder and put hot glue around the edges of the batting.

Now bring that end of the fabric up to the batting and pat it flush with the glue you placed on the batting. Gently rub the fabric smooth.

Do the same thing with the binding, and with the other cover of the binder.

When this step is complete, the fabric should be glued around the outside of the batting on your binder. You will still have the 2 inches of fabric around the binder hanging free. We will deal with that in step 6.

Now lay the binder open on the table in front of you. Start with one of the edges of fabric and stretch it over the inside of the binder. Make sure it is taught.

Once you can see how far it will stretch, place hot glue on the inside edge of the binder and gently stretch, and rub the fabric over the glue so that it sticks.

Do this for each of the 4 edges of the open binder. In the end the 2-inches of fabric around the binder will be glued to the inside edges of the binder, but the corners of the fabric will still be up. We will deal with those in step 7.

Next, clip each corner of the fabric with scissors so that it folds neatly over into the inside corner of the binder. Once it looks good, use the hot glue to stick it to the inside cover of the binder.

Repeat with each of the 4 corners.

You've now got a nicely covered (and cushioned) Book of Shadows. Your next step is to cover the inside of the covers so that they look nice.

Cut your poster paper into 2 squares. Each square should be large enough to completely cover the inside of your binder.

Next, cut 2 pieces of fabric. Each one should be big enough to cover one side of the poster board pieces. You should have about 1 inch extra of fabric around each edge of the poster board.

Lay the poster board pieces on top of the fabric pieces you cut out. Gently fold over the edges of the fabric and use white glue to attach them along the edges of the poster board.

Using scissors, trim the corners of the fabric, and gently fold them under (like you did for the binder corners), and use white glue to stick the corners neatly to the corners of the poster board pieces.

Finally, place the covered poster board pieces with the fabric side facing up - down on the inside of the binder.

Use hot glue to glue the edges to the inside of the binder so that your insides are covered with the same fabric used to cover the outside of your Book of Shadows.

You are all done! Congratulations on your new Book of Shadows.

The secret now is to decorate the outside of your book of shadows with items, pictures, colors, and symbols that define and are special to you. Use things that create good emotions deep within you.

Creating your Book of Shadows in an image of yourself will allow you to draw maximum energy from your Book of Shadows when you do your Magick work.

All that is left is to get some 3 holed paper to place into your book of shadows, and you can begin writing your Magick work in it's pages.

Record your journey through the world of Magick, and also don't forget to try to use it as a Magick diary, recording your experiences in life each night before going to bed.

The more positive energy you put into the creation of your Book of Shadows, the more power you can draw from it when doing your spells and rituals.

Rose has been practicing different forms of Witchcraft for over 27 years. For more information on creating book of shadows spells visit her site The Ask Rose Ariadne Witchcraft Site"

The Awareness of Metaphysical Laws and Principles Part 4
Another point of considerable importance is in the realization that divine revelation is not a static impulse of a moment in time but one that is continuous in the unchanging background of eternity. Divine Laws are no respecters of persons. We may believe in a single revelation of God for humanity for all time and consequently seal ourselves in a cage of human thought, or we may understand the nature of revelations to be forever unfolding its petals of divine truths commensurating with the development of man's mental and spiritual capacity. In one case spiritual stagnation may result, in the other continued growth. It is, therefore, a good idea for the metaphysician to attune daily with the Divine Mind to uncover the many laws and principles applicable to humanity's evolution, and to unfold his intuitive and mental faculties that spiritual truths may be easily discerned and assimilated.

Theological dogmas misdirect man's attention to a false perception and understanding of Reality. For example, we are given absurd theories by the Church concerning cosmology and anthropology which we are to consider as Truth. The Church fails to realize that the progressive modern mind of man requires practical, factual and experiential knowledge. Blind beliefs are out of place and faith without a true foundation no longer fascinates the maturing soul. The true purpose of life is left untouched and unconsidered by the leaders of the Church who prefer instead to build one's faith upon the dogma of a "sole" Son of God for salvation; of teaching and emphasizing a God of wrath; of an eternal hell which the God of Love was supposed to have created, etc., ad nauseam. One is left guessing as to what Truth is or to what it refers to. The scriptures, however, are explicit in their statements as to what Truth is, what it entails, and implies--including life's purpose as planned by God; but most adherents of the Christian religion go over them too lightly. Because the incarnating soul tends to forget its origin and purpose of being while sojourning in physical matter, we feel that the metaphysician should remind the masses repeatedly of life's purpose even if it means ending-up as a shooting target for rotten eggs and tomatoes. Below we present just five of the many important statements that sums-up the purpose of man's sojourn:

1) "Know ye not that ye are gods?" (Psalms 82:6, John 10:34)

2) "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt 5:48)

3) "I and my Father are One." (John 10:30)

4) "Seek ye first the kingdom of God . . . " (Luke 12:31, Matt 6:33)

5) "Get wisdom, wisdom is the principle thing." (Proverbs 4:7)


Know Ye Not that Ye are Gods

Whoever wrote Psalms knew man's true identity to be divine, and that which appears to be a mortal representation of man merely a façade of the soul. Christians have long believed in a "sole" son of God, but this is disputed by the Master Jesus himself when he echoed the words of Psalms to the Pharisees and the Doctors of the Law. In the Corona Class Lessons, the "Master Jesus" complains:

"One of the greatest weakness of so-called Christianity lies in the fact that they have deified me as a god to worship or bow down to and to make wishful prayers to; yet my mission and message they often neglect . . . " (1986:27)

And one of the contents of this "message" is to know that we ourselves are gods and legitimately the spiritual children of God. It is humanity's mission to reflect, to express their Father-Mother in all of the countless worlds, realms, and dimensions.

We repeat, humanity is an expression or partial manifestation of God, and are therefore sons and daughters of the Supreme Being. To consider ourselves any less is to demean the utterance of Truth by the Nazarene. This statement from the scriptures point out that humanity must eventually come to realize this Truth here on earth and in waking consciousness. This truth is what emancipates a person from all mortal states and conditions.


Be Ye Therefore Perfect, Even as your Father Which is in Heaven is Perfect

We falsely believe in the non-attainability of perfection, and yet, if it were so, the Nazarene would not have made the above statement which is to be understood as a commandment and not as a mere suggestion. Granted, that perfection is non-attainable in the sense that it is no static condition of the soul, but an ever-growing impulse toward a higher ideal--for instance, a perfect human being is but an embryonic, imperfect god. However, the goals set for humanity that represent the state of human perfection by the Divine Mind is attainable here and now. In fact, this is one of the purposes of the cycle of incarnation and reincarnation. It is evident that perfection is not attainable in a single life-time, hence the need for re-incarnating to assist the process of soul-unfoldment and reach the "Insan Kamil" (Perfect human being) level as expressed in Islam. The perfect man is a hermaphrodite in a psychological and spiritual sense. Alchemists and Hermeticists knew of this, and Carl Jung rediscovered this principle. He believed that society's psychological ills stems from the non-integration of the many opposite polarities. To put it succinctly, and from the psychospiritual/psychobiological point of view, perfection is attained when the positive male and female qualities are harmoniously united in an individual and the awareness principle centered and functioning from that state. Below we present some of the associated components of the male and female:


Female

Right side of the brain

Intuition

Pituitary gland

Sympathetic nervous system

Compassion/Understanding

Subconscious mind

Imagination

Kundalini-Shakti

-----------

Male

Left side of the brain

Intellect

Pineal gland

Central nervous system

Power/Wisdom

Conscious mind

Will

Shiva-Holy Spirit


Imperfection appears real, but life itself is perfect, for life is an expression of the Supreme Being. To believe that human perfection is a chimera is to believe in a cosmic deception. Although perfect human beings are seldom seen they do exist, and they usually live in the discarnate state having fulfilled the requirements for perfection. The citizens of the Kingdom of God are those that are perfect in the human sense.


I and My Father are One

This is a statement of Truth, and may result as a spontaneous expression of one's state of consciousness, rather than a reminder and an affirmation of one's inner unity with the First Cause. Fundamentalists in certain religions may consider it blasphemy for one to enunciate this truth, yet, from the spiritual perspective, the opposite is true. A sense of separation from God is a sacrilege and is the root of all evil expressions. Man's spiritual growth commensurates with his growing realization of the unity of all life. Life is evolving every unit of consciousness to the point where it realizes its individualized identity in the presence and oneness with the One Supreme Being. This evolutionary process is hastened with the cooperation of the life-unit itself when it has reached the stage where it is able to exercise the will of the soul. The will, however, is often misdirected in appeasing the purposes and goals of the personality which simply retards the life-unit's sense of divinity, immortality and identity in God.


Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

Seeking externally for a permanent peace of mind, contentment, and happiness only results in failure. Acquiring and heaping material things in one's home, on one' person and in one's bank account eventually brings about an empty feeling in the soul. All that is external to us is transient in nature; therefore, dependency on externals for our spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being are likewise short-lived. Caesar's and Mammon's kingdom fail to provide us with anything of eternal worth; it is only be seeking within that we acquire the immaterial things beneficial for our continued soul-existence. The kingdom of God is within and at hand, and not as Christian theology has taught: a place situated in a paradisical garden in the higher worlds or in the Last Days waiting for the faithful to enter at some uncertain date. Heaven does exist as a spiritual archetype and must be manifested in our consciousness and in the physical world. The Kingdom of God within is an inner reality that life is directing us to realize and to manifest in our mundane sphere, our external reality. Once we have gained the Kingdom of Heaven, it is up to us how we will manifest it on earth. We may choose to manifest worldly abundance, or we may not. Nevertheless, what is certain is that suffering will be a thing of the past, for it is promised in the scriptures that God shall wipe away every tear. The Kingdom's successful appearance is dependent upon the way we think and live, and the focus and quality of our consciousness.


Get Wisdom, Wisdom is the Principle Thing

According to Tradition, Solomon is supposed to be one of the wisest men who ever lived. The above statement, therefore, takes on a greater significance for it is attributed to the Hebrew King who was responsible for the building of the Temple. Wisdom may be categorized into two types: mundane wisdom of the worldly man and spiritual wisdom of the enlightened person. The spiritual wisdom of the enlightened person is much wider in perspective, and all-encompassing than the wisdom of the worldly individual. Wisdom in its essence is Soul-knowing, Soul-loving, and Soul-willing. It is one of the aspects of the Spiritual Triad within the microcosmic being of man. Its unfoldment and application in one's world assists in proper assimilation of one's mundane experiences. Wisdom in its lower spiritual form, as understood in Hindu philosophy, is the application of Viveka and Vairagya, or discrimination and detachment--discrimination as to what is real and unreal, and the detachment of that which is unreal and false. Meditation, introspection and prayer are some of the principle means whereby the wisdom of the Soul may be evoked into waking consciousness. Knowledge that is spiritually understood is the acquisition of wisdom, and as wisdom grows, so does one's illumination. Salvation is automatic when one attains illumination. Without wisdom a person goes through life making foolish mistakes and karma that bind him or her to samsara--or the lower worlds. Wisdom, therefore, has an emancipative quality which directs a person to Reality and is to be considered as a "principle thing" to be acquired.


The Laws of Life

The average person drifts through life without sparing a thought as to its purpose. When facing problems he usually either flees from it, in which case he confronts it in another form because the seed of the problem lies within, or else he submits feebly to its occurrence. In both cases he fails to extract the teaching that it may convey to his evolving soul. Without a proper philosophy of life man lives like the lower life-forms, indulging in the lower senses and gratifying the base appetites and instincts. An improper philosophy of life is materialistically oriented--it is deemed improper because it neglects the spiritual side of Nature and because of such it fails to answer adequately the many vicissitudes and paradoxes of life that confronts man daily. What we propose is a metaphysical philosophy in which is based the Cosmic Laws and the Eternal Purpose. Such a philosophy may come about as a result of a growing sensitivity to the divine nature within--to a metaphysical awareness of the Soul. In this philosophy all of the beliefs and tenets of a materialistic way is replaced with a loftier understanding and attitude as seen from a spiritual base. For instance, science informs us that we all possess several instinctive urges that motivate our zeal for life; they may be summed-up as follows:

1) The instinct of self-preservation

2) The instinct of self-perpetuation

3) The herd instinct

4) The religious instinct

These instincts are well known in psychology, therefore we shall not take the time to explain them. We shall instead analyze their hidden, occult nature, as seen from a spiritual standpoint.


The Instinct of Self-Preservation

At a higher spiral of evolution, this primal instinct of self-preservation applies to the soul being of man where it is transformed into the evocation and preservation of one's Higher Self in one's waking consciousness. St. Paul calls this the forming of the Christ within. As man is transformed spiritually, he displaces the lower self, the false ego, with the preservation of the Real Self with which he identifies himself. Mortality is thereby transcended as the divinity of the Real Self is preserved, maintained and lived. We must be careful not to limit ourselves because of the false image or conception we have of what we believe ourselves to be. That which appears is unreal; that which is Real, is hidden. It is the archetypal image of man that God created and saw that it was good. There should, therefore, be a cessation of the identification with the unreal.


The Instinct of Self-Perpetuation

This instinct of self-perpetuation is a creative impulse that the biological being of man translates into procreation or generation. From the spiritual standpoint, creativity is in manifesting the qualities of man's innate divinity, and in expressing the divine urge to create outwardly through the mind with the symbol and tool of his will--the hands; and to internally re-create or regenerate anew the quality and life of the cells composing his organic being. Self-perpetuation, therefore, takes on a spiritual nature in which the "self" that is perpetuated is the intrinsic genius and uniqueness of the Soul expressed and moulded upon inanimate and animate matter. Mediocrity is the result of our own sense of self-limitation and false identity. Our true potential is realized by giving up this false state and expressing what really lies within our spiritual nature. Self-depreciation and exaltation of the lower self simply shuts out the light of our Higher Self.


The Herd Instinct

Gregariousness, or the herd instinct in the lower being of man is the desire to socialize, to identify himself with others like himself. This instinct gives rise to the old proverb, "bird of a feather flock together." Man has been called a social animal, and in this propensity towards others of his kind lies the underlying, unconscious spiritual urge to be one with Nature, to unite with God. Spiritually, man seeks unity with the Source of his being, to identify himself with something greater than what he believes himself to be. Not realizing the purport of this instinctive urge, man seeks outwardly for that which can only be found within. Relationships with individuals, with groups, with clans, with others of like creed will fail to satisfy the Soul-urge, for all that which is external to man is ephemeral. Transcending mob-consciousness is the way towards attaining superconsciousness. Man seeks to unite with God for he senses a certain "separation" from his Source, a certain void in his heart. A sense of separation ascribes to us all the opposite virtues of the Supreme Being--its power, wisdom, and love. We falsely see ourselves as mere humans, weak, powerless, finite, limited, mortal, and wisdomless. Nothing less than the "mystical union" with the Universal Being will bring man true peace, happiness and contentment. In order to enforce this sense of non-separation from God, one ought to think, speak and act as though we were one with God. Affirmations and decrees such as "I and my Father are one" are of great aid.


The Religious Instinct

Carl Jung proposed that man possesses a religious instinct which motivates him to recognize, or to believe, and be devoted to something higher than himself in which he has come to call "God." Basically, this has a similar meaning with the spiritual connotation, interpretation and application of the herd instinct. It is actually the urge to evolve, to progress to a higher state of consciousness. Animals, plants and lower life-forms move along the currents of evolution in an unconscious manner. Lacking the mind-principle and the force of the will, they are unable to participate in their own evolution. Man, however, has all the tools, the faculties in his possession to take part in his return to his "Father," like the prodigal son. We believe that either this instinct has been misnamed or else it has been misunderstood, as it has perpetuated man's bondage to religious creeds. Ignorant of the spiritual nature of the religious instinct, man has created a demarcation between a life lived spiritually, and religious devotions to man-made dogmas, often praising the latter while condemning the former. Man will not fulfill God's Plan so long as his devotions are directed to maya, glamor, and illusions rather than to Truth. Man's present form of worship is directed to an idea, an image of a belief. There is no true knowing by experience of what he worships. Unless he turns towards that which is Real and reflects it in his life, man is not truely being "religious." Instead of humanizing God, we should spiritualize man.

Understanding the primal instincts to be spiritual urges and laws with a metaphysical application enriches one's personal philosophy and attitude towards the purpose of existence. A philosophy of life should be based on Truth, based on the Laws of the Cosmos that brought the solar system into being. Spiritual laws unfold man's awareness when applied, and an understanding of those laws gives man a greater direction in life, a greater sense of unity with Nature and a responsibility to life as a whole. There are many Cosmic laws that man should incorporate into his philosophy of life and turn into principles of living. Laws of Love, of Harmony, of Justice, Beauty, Cooperation, and Service, for instance, provides man with enough material to expand his awareness to embrace the Cosmos. Divine Laws are a manifestation of the Supreme Being . By living in accord with these Laws, we manifest in our lives abundance in a material and a psycho-spiritual sense. It is these Cosmic Laws that the spiritual counselor should teach all those that aspire to realize, to be, and to become their Real Self.

Copyright © 2006 Luxamore
Leonard Lee aka Luxamore
Metaphysical teacher, counseler, healer and merchant of occult/magickal items of Indonesia.
Magickal Items from Indonesia: talismans, mustika pearls, kerises, etc.
Magickal Bezoar Mustika Pearls from Indonesia.

Two Beginner Witchcraft Spells For Money And Protection
Your first spell in any path of Witchcraft should be one of protection. There are two reasons for this. First, protection spells are very safe... even if you are inexperienced, no harm can come from casting a protection spell the "wrong way"...

The second reason is because most protection spells are relatively easy. I've given you one here, and also a simple money spell you can do too...

Enjoy these witchcraft spells...

Beginner Spell #1 �"Make a Piggy Bank Seed

This extremely simple spell is so easy it is almost funny. Don’t let that fool you though, it works very well to bring wealth into your life. My Grandmother had me do it as a child (it worked so well, I still have the same dollar bill in a piggy bank almost 30 years later).

This spell also works best in the evening, and in the protection of a Magick circle �" at your altar.

You will need:

A piggy bank
A dollar bill, play money, or a piece of paper
Clove oil
Green or gold thread

Dab the four corners of the money, play money, or paper with clove oil. Fold the bill three times.

Wrapping towards you, wind the thread around the dollar bill. Tie it with three knots. Place this seed dollar in the piggy bank. The anointed dollar will act as seed money and will draw more money to it (and into your life).


Beginner Spell #2 �" Dragon Protection

This spell will create energy of protection through your aura �" giving your protection from bad luck, and bad energies.

This is best done after you have cast your Magick circle, in your sacred space around your altar.

You will need one white or purple candle to represent yourself and one black candle for the earth dragon.


Cast your magick circle. Stir the dragon of the element of the north (Earth). Light the earth dragon candle and chant these words:

“Earth dragon strong and true,
Send to me your magick new.
Egg of protection we shall see,
This is my will so mote it be.”

As you chant, envision energy moving from the dragon candle to the one that represents you. See the energy around your candle as green light in the shape of an egg.

When you feel this has been accomplished, light your candle from the dragon candle. See your magick happening and know you are protected. Snuff out your candle and put it in a safe place. Any time you need additional protection, light this magickally charged candle. Remember to snuff it out (don’t blow it out) and put it in a safe place.

Rose has been practicing different forms of Witchcraft for over 27 years. For more information on witchcraft spells visit her site The Ask Rose Ariadne Witchcraft Site"

Are The Stars Out Tonight? Reconnecting With The Power Of Mystery
On a crisp June night I?m lying in my sleeping bag at 10,000 feet in the Sierra?s Desolation Wilderness. Here, far from the light and haze of the Bay Area, the sky is deep black, but thick with twinkling dots and dim wisps of cottony light. When I look from the corner of my eye, the dim lights become more defined, easier to perceive as stars. To count them all would take years, if it was even possible. The number seems incomprehensible. And the mystery of what could exist out there, somewhere, at once inspires and humbles me.

Enthralled by the night sky, I struggle to keep my eyes open, knowing with a disquieting certainty that upon my return to the ?real? world my focus will be drawn steadily and relentlessly away from the mysteries of the night sky.

The real world of responsibilities, work, relationships and bills provides a powerful distraction from the mystery of the night sky and the mystery of our lives. This point was driven home, recently, when I heard the following two intriguing but contradictory statements in the same day.

First, in a recording, Carolyn Myss observed that this is the first time in which entire generations will grow up without seeing the stars! Imagine growing up in a big, bright city, without the resources to leave, surrounded by light, smog and tall buildings that blot out all but the most determined of the celestial objects.

The second statement I heard came later that day, in an NPR story about the Hubble Space Telescope. A lead scientist for the telescope explained how, since the dawn of humanity we have been seeking to understand the origin of the Universe. This, he said, is the first time that we do understand it. We can see the spectral remnants from the Big Bang and actually listen to the sounds of the Universe moments after its formation.

What a strange world we have dreamed into existence. Our technology and science enables us to unravel the secrets of the stars while simultaneously creating communities that will never see them. As our understanding of our world and the Universe has expanded, we have, as a culture, become disconnected from the inherently mysterious nature of our existence. And as individuals we run the risk of losing touch with the powerful force of mystery in our lives.

When was the last time you laid out at night gazing into the sky? When was the last time you attempted to count the stars, or trace the outline of Ursa Major? When was the last time you wondered who or what might be out there in the vast reaches of space, or what your place is within this Universe?

Mystery is a source of power for humans. We draw creativity, passion, healing and inspiration from the Unknown. Artists, scientists, inventors and philosophers all speak of the mysterious nature of discovery, creation and problem solving. Shamans and Healers of all cultures understand that the unknown holds the power to heal and transform the Soul, Mind and Body. When we lose touch with that mystery, we lose touch with a source of personal and communal power.

Passion, too, comes from Mystery. Consider your intimate relationships, past or present. It is not the daily encounters or the practical matters that keep a relationship growing. Nor is it the moments of tenderness and intimacy. These are all integral parts of a relationship, forming the foundation and structure. But it is in the moments of Mystery and Discovery that the flame of passion is refueled: It is when your lover surprises you with a perfect gift. Or when you catch an unexpected glimpse of your partner kneeling over a flower to inhale its aroma. The door to Mystery opens also when your partner displays her anger for the first time, or when he trusts you with the sharing of a grief long held hidden.

These moments when you encounter something new and surprising about your lover take the relationship deeper into the mystery and are the moments of growth and renewal for each of you as individuals. It may be love that sustains a relationship, but it is the glimpses into the mystery that refuels love. Relationships begin to stagnate and die, not when love fades, but rather, when the doorway into the Mystery remains closed for too long.

This is equally true in your personal life. When you close the door that leads to your personal mysteries, you deprive yourself of a source of power and passion. One way to reopen that door, or open it wider, is to embrace the mysteries around you. How does a tiny acorn transform itself into a majestic oak tree? How do the birds know when it is time to migrate? How does this computer do what it does? What waits for us in the vast reaches of space?

Do not believe that the scientists know everything. If Christopher Columbus had accepted the prevailing wisdom of his day, he never would have set sail. If Einstein had believed the existing theories of matter, space and time, he would not have formulated the theory of relativity.

Bask in the mysteries. Challenge existing assumptions. Discover your own answers. Become curious and childlike when something intrigues you. Begin to open the door to the external mysteries and the door to your personal mysteries will soon follow. When it does, you will have access to a vast source of inspiration, creativity, and power.

Edward Mills, MIM, is a life coach, teacher and speaker, empowering people to more joyfully and abundantly share their essential gifts with the world. You can sign up for his monthly ezine, Evolving Times, at his website: http://www.edwardmills.com or blog: http://www.evolvingtimes.com

Approaching Metaphysics Part 1
Before one approaches seriously the study of metaphysics, magick, the occult, or mysticism, it is appropriate that one prepares oneself on all levels: mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. It is of vital importance that the student be psychologically prepared for the reception of Cosmic truths; for without adequate preparation, without the required purity, the right attitude and the right motive, one simply deludes or sidetracks oneself from all that which is essential in occult study to those phenomena and teachings that are unessential, delusive, and misleading; to phenomena that simply strengthen one's hold in a world of illusion, glamour, pride and ego; aside from this, should one attempt occult work without due preparation one exposes oneself to certain dangers which are far-reaching. Without adequate preparation the student would abuse and misuse occult, spiritual teachings and powers.

The karmic consequences of this abuse may stall or cause stagnation in one's spiritual evolution for countless incarnations. Basically, religion without the theological dogmas, is an appropriate basis for the study of metaphysics. Students of metaphysics are advised to deepen their religious activities by engaging in personal study of their scriptures or holy book without relying on the usual channels or interpreters for clarification. This is to preserve one's bicameral mind from external influence and dependency on "authority figures" that may be damaging to the psyche in the long run.

Purity, sincerity, humility, and a selfless motive which seeks to serve one's fellow men are qualities to possess or develop when requesting from, or studying the teachings of a spiritual/ metaphysical teacher, or even when embarking on our own by studying books on the occult. These qualities or virtues are our safeguard. They protect us from negative forces which affect our mental and emotional stability.

One of the keys to preparation is to eliminate the false ego from our thinking and centeredness. Think from the Christ level. Think the thoughts of Jesus, Muhammad-the Prophet, Krishna, Lao Tze, or Buddha. What do you think these avatars and prophets of God think constantly of? They think of God, Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. Therefore we advise each student to do likewise. Thinking abstract thoughts, divine thoughts, spiritual thoughts, and holy thoughts raises the vibrations of the physical, etheric, astral and mental bodies. This facilitates metaphysical and spiritual development so needed by the human race. It improves the quality of humanity.

One of the problems which poses as an obstacle to occult and metaphysical study is that of the crystallized mind. As a preparation, the first step that has to be undertaken by the student of metaphysics and the occult is to temporary put away all previous concepts and beliefs regarding them. There are many false beliefs and superstition concerning the occult perpetuated by ignorant individuals, by psychics of a low caliber, by secular education, and even by religion, that we have to cast all of those beliefs aside and prepare our minds to really think and use our reason and intuition. Even if we had learnt metaphysics or branches of it previously from genuine teachers, it is still required of us to shelve them aside when we begin our apprenticeship under a new tutor.

Our minds should be open and receptive to the teachings of the higher worlds, but if our minds are closed and crystallized, we fail to register the truths concealed in occult and metaphysical teachings regarding the laws of the cosmos, the higher worlds, the principles of mind and one's psychic nature. If the teachings of any metaphysical system or teacher (including this writer) contradict your personal notions and feelings and you have trouble accepting them, simply shelve them aside for the time being and consider them again at a later date when you have acquired more experiences and knowledge. Realize, however, that most of the time opinions and beliefs do not reflect Truth. We teach what we personally know or what others personally know. We do not proselytize or impose our words upon others against their will. We are happy to give to others the teachings of the Spiritual Masters should they be receptive and just as happy not to give should they be non-receptive. We can lead a horse to a drinking trough but we are unable to make it drink.

Granted, that information concerning the occult the tyro or neophyte often has to regard as hypothesis, or working theories, but in time the student is given methods for investigating and proving to himself the verities of metaphysical truths and the realities of the higher worlds.

We seek knowledge, wisdom, and experience--not mere beliefs. For the student of Nature's mysteries, beliefs will not do. Beliefs are blatant expressions of one's ignorance, for if one knows, why is there a need for beliefs? If one should say that one believes in the existence of something, one implies in that statement that one does not really know if that something exists. Belief and knowledge are poles apart.

In spiritual and occult training one invokes intense energies, powers and forces emanating from the spiritual worlds. These energies flow into the whole microcosm even down to the physical level. Should the physical body and its force-field vibrate at a very low level because of the presence of impurities, toxins, and negative forces, the nervous and energy systems of the physical and etheric bodies would explode and rupture during the influx of those higher energies. This is one reason why one embarks upon the Path of Purification prior to engaging in advance occult work.


The Master's Advice

In days gone by, when a student approached a spiritual or occult master for instructions, the master would say "empty your cup." The master illustrates the purpose of this by pouring fresh tea into a cup already filled to the brim with the liquid. The tea would naturally overflow. "Likewise," the master would say, "will the teachings I fill your mind be rejected by all of your previous thoughts and false beliefs. Therefore, empty your cup." Which means, in other words, "empty your mind of previous ideas and conceptions." Most people are disinclined to accepting new ideas. They dislike change, and yet we must change towards a positive direction if we are to progress. There is a senseless fear and laziness in most people in operating their brain faculties such as using their mind to reason. Our minds must be open and flexible, yet putting all new ideas to the test where possible before accepting them. We must strive to see the logic and rationality in concepts, if any, that are new to us. In other words, we must think! It would not hurt to be critical in a positive and constructive sense of novel ideas or even religious ideas if we believe that our criticism is valid. Although the mind is limited, it has its purpose and we should not shirk from using it.

It is an important requirement for the occult student not to form any false ideas concerning himself and lower his self-esteem. He should not limit his mind and divine expression by saying "I can't do this," "I can't do that." One never knows what one can do until one tries. This applies to all branches of learning and study. Often we hear people say "nobody's perfect," and they use this as an excuse not to improve their morality, their character, their minds or even their social standing. If one approaches the study of metaphysics and the occult in this manner, one is bound to fail. Metaphysics is hard work, and those who are not interested in work should leave metaphysics alone. Metaphysical truths awaken a person from self-complacency and the slumber of mortal errors. The student of metaphysics should be prepared for this and not rebel when it occurs. When you come to the point where you can think of nothing but metaphysics in your everyday activities, you shall succeed in being a metaphysician. Metaphysics has to be incorporated into one's life 24 hours a day.

Studying the occult and metaphysics requires great perseverance, endurance, patience, and fortitude. It even requires a certain degree of intelligence. Note that we do not say education or intellect, for the educated mind and intellect at times can be more of a hindrance than an asset. Unless our mind is receptive and open to modify previous findings or concepts expounded by science or religion which from the point of view of metaphysics are erroneous, one would simply fail in metaphysical study and the probing of Nature's higher laws. The intellect, as the result of education is simply the building blocks that we accumulate, whereas intelligence is the conscious directive power that builds an edifice out of those blocks. Being educated implies gathering data and information that may or may not be true or even relevant to one's life. We should seek the sort of knowledge that is applicable to our everyday lives with its countless challenges and problems. Overcoming human problems is mastership. Intelligence is a necessary attribute to comprehending metaphysical principles. You need not be concerned of any lack of intelligence, however, for metaphysical practices itself raises one's I.Q., E.Q., and S.Q.

Some occultists, metaphysicians, and mystics have declared that it is much easier acquiring an academic degree than getting fruitful results from occult study. This is indeed true, for occult study requires unfolding the inner senses to register higher vibrations and the various phenomena of the higher dimensions, and this takes much time and energy for practice and training. The purpose of metaphysical study is to make each and every one torchbearers of Truth. Work for Truth, live in Truth, promote Truth and it is guaranteed that you will evolve into God's Light. However, seek no reward.

Metaphysical development requires time, patience, perseverance and great concentration--the type of concentration not normally possessed by the average person. This training of psychic and metaphysical faculties may take a whole life time for its perfect functioning and control. We should not be daunted by this, however. The Master Jesus said, "In patience possess ye your soul," and this each student of metaphysics must be conscientious of. The student must have patience and possess his or her soul and not allow the Dark forces to possess it. In metaphysics we learn to direct our lower self, if we do not do this, negative beings will.

It is expedient that the student remove religious and any form of prejudice from his mind and heart. At times teachers of metaphysics may refer to the text of one religion in preference to another to illustrate or substantiate certain metaphysical concepts. This they do, not because of their personal background and not because of any animosity toward the other religions, but because of convenience sake. We know that the essence of all religions is Truth itself. Metaphysicians, therefore, teach and refer to the Truth in all religions whenever possible. This brings up another subject to mind: fanaticism. Fanaticism is not to be tolerated, not in metaphysics, not in religion, not in any human endeavor whatsoever. Fanaticism simply indicates a blind belief in principles and opinions, most of which may be dubious as to their validity. Fanaticism is separatistic, narrow-minded and destructive, and should be avoided. It breaks up unity by creating divisions and schisms. It is the very antithesis of the spiritual precept: "unity in diversity." The motto of the Dark forces will always be "divide and conquer."

Man is a microcosm of the macrocosm. In religious terms, man is a reflection of God, for he/she was made in God's image. Since God is perfect, man likewise, in a spiritual sense, is perfect. Man carries the seeds of perfection within him. He only needs to unfold this divine seed of perfection lying dormant within him. When this is done all things become possible to man. In order to nurture these divine seeds, one must overcome inertia and work with the evolutionary forces of Nature.


The Motive of Study

One of the first few things that a student of metaphysic has to do is to introspect and analyze as to the motive for approaching metaphysical study. Why does one want to study metaphysics, its branches, and its various arts such as magick, mysticism, esotericism, psychometry, dowsing, or telepathy? For what reason? For what motive? Is it simply to gain advantage over another, for power over others? Or is it simply to acquire name and fame or the riches that it will produce? Approaching metaphysics with such motives would retard one's spiritual growth and is not condoned by any spiritual teacher of worth. A true and noble motive would be to serve God and humanity in spiritualizing this physical world, in manifesting Heaven on Earth, where Truth, Justice, Righteousness, Love, Peace and Goodwill between men prevails. Should your motive be negative, you are advised to transform it now. Do not deceive yourself as to your motive.

Another thing that we must not do, is to steal the secrets of heaven or gain entry into it by force, meaning that we should not force our occult growth by engaging in dubious exercises obtained through sources with no real integrity or authority to transmitting them and hoping for an instant development with their application. Should occult abilities be "instantly" procured, it would not be permanent and would result in adverse effects in most cases. We all know the low quality of plants cultivated in greenhouses as compared to the cultivation done underneath Nature's roof. It is the same with metaphysical growth. Heaven is not willing to release her secrets to the profane, and if by chance any of us acquire her secrets and apply them without the proper motive and purity, we unknowingly curse ourselves. The scriptures say that God is not mocked. This is a symbolic way of saying that the Law of Karma is operative and no one is able to avoid its influence.

The student should be aware that there are false Gurus in the metaphysical field. Every student should be wary and cautious in accepting what they have to teach, for though what they teach be sweet to the mouth, their effects may be bitter to the stomach. These Gurus have no sense of responsibility, and they control and manipulate the minds of their followers for their own nefarious reasons. They create a morbid dependency on the part of the student.

Without the adequate and correct preparation through the Path of Purification, although one may unfold in a psychic manner, if accepted and trained by a "Guru," one would limit one's psychic development and stagnate in one's spiritual evolution. The higher occult and mystical abilities requires that one be spiritually developed, and this cannot be attained without the necessary purification of the microcosm.

Spiritual Masters of the occult and metaphysics are wary and watchful of students with impure motives. It is not unusual for Spiritual Masters to reject applicants for study or to put them through certain tests, or to give them some advise and told to return at a later date, perhaps a week, or a year later. Just because a student is anxious to study the occult does not imply that he is ready for it or that he should be accepted by a Spiritual Master or Adept. Acceptance by a Spiritual Master and the initiations that he has to offer requires sincerity of motive and more besides. The false Guru may perhaps accept such a student for personal reasons--for fame, name, glory or wealth. The true Guru, however, never consider these things as criteria for accepting students, although he may work in strange ways that sometimes seem amoral or irrational in order to test candidates. An occult axiom states that, "When the student is ready, the master appears." The advise here is to make oneself ready through proper preparation and not sit and wait and twiddle one's thumbs. The master in this axiom may refer to a spiritual being, one's personal spiritual guide or guardian, or even to a metaphysical school.

It should be known that the metaphysical path is a strenuous one requiring every minute of the day. One does not engage in metaphysics at certain spare moments available. One must make time for the study and practice of metaphysics. Reduce unnecessary socializing and reduce watching TV and movies to a bare minimum; preferable not at all wasting time on them. This may result in some conflict between your friends and relatives as you settle-in to your new metaphysical routine, but consider this: what is more important, their egoistic and personal gratification and demands or your study of Truth with its eternal worth and its spiritual application in the affairs of men? It is up to you to decide; however, if results are not forthcoming from your practice because of your lack of application, you have no one to blame but yourself. One piece of advice: you may drop-out from metaphysical study but never drop-out from life, for it may be that your real metaphysical teacher and lesson is life itself. Accept whatever life brings and learn from it; otherwise, seek to change it using your God-given creative powers.


The Contemplation of Life and Death

Perhaps one of the things that a novice of metaphysics is told to do at the very outset by a true metaphysical or spiritual teacher is to contemplate the meaning of death and the opportunity that life offers. This dual theme is a healthy, sane, and balanced contemplation that when analyzed individually tends to produce an unhealthy pessimistic or overly hopeful attitude. How does one begin this contemplation? By reflecting on the following: first of all realize that we are all heading toward physical death, This might seem discouraging nevertheless is a true statement that cannot be contradicted. With every second, with every breath that we take we approach closer to our grave. Nature guarantees us nothing in life but our coming demise. This is her promise. We do not know when we will leave the physical body permanently. It may be the next hour, today or tomorrow, but leave it we shall. From these musings questions would arise: "What then is the meaning of life?" What is the purpose of life?" Shall we say as the materialists would say, "let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die"? What sort of a philosophy is that when our query remains unanswered? It would be preferable to say "let us study the purpose and meaning of life for we know not when we will pass away and God's purpose for us here may not be carried-out if we spend our time on frivolous matters."

Contemplating further, we will realize one major thing, and that life here is an opportunity. Opportunity for what? An opportunity to grow, to become, and to be. Heraclitus, the philosopher of ancient Greece said that everything is becoming. This is the Law of Change. From our metaphysical point of view, we understand that he was referring to the Law of Evolution.

Copyright © 2006 Luxamore

Leonard Lee aka Luxamore
Metaphysical teacher, counseler, healer and merchant of occult/magickal items of Indonesia.
Magickal Items from Indonesia: talismans, mustika pearls, kerises, etc.
Magickal Bezoar Mustika Pearls from Indonesia.

Answers To All Of Life's Questions by Statnova
Are you struggling over the answers to life's little questions, have unanswered questions of your own, or maybe just wish to see how your thought and morals add up against others throughout the world. Well, then you will be glad to know there is now a place that will help reveal the answers of life, where you will find answers to many of your questions, and of course learn if others have the same thoughts as you on many subject. The place is StatNova.com. At StatNova.com, you can join and ask questions to people throughout the world choosing various categories such as Sports, School & Work, Sex, Love & Relationships, The Paranormal, Personal Habits, Entertainment, Family, Politics, Food & Drink, Philosophy & Religion, and Morality. You can even answer questions in all of these categories and then learn what others have answered. Once you answer one of the questions, you will be taken to a page that list the responses of others that have answered that same question broken down into categories such as age, gender, race, religion, status, orientation, and politics for those that have added this to their profile. Learn what others in your age group or gender think on the same exact subject. You do not have to worry about any of this information being sent out to others, as there are no names listed only the percentage of people answering in each group. Learn the secret to life's questions like: Sports - Who is the second greatest basketball player ever? School & Work - Do you really use your college education at your work? Sex - How often would you like to have sex? Love and Relationships - Can you be in love with two people at the same time? The Paranormal - Can a house really be haunted? Personal Habits - Where are you the most ticklish? Entertainment - Who's the most annoying TV or radio personality? Family - Are you close with your siblings? Politics - Who should be our next president? Food & Drink - Who makes the best pizza? Philosophy & Religion - What is the meaning of life? Morality - Could you 'Pull the plug? No other website on the net, delves into these questions where each and every person can ask questions that are perplexing their life without the worry of someone learning who they are. You can ask any question under the sun and learn what others think and feel about the topic, you may be quite surprised to learn that are many out there that feel the same way or you may not like the responses. Either way you will enjoying all the answers of real people just like you that also need answers. Join in the fun whether your questions are serious or whimsical and learn where you rank in the world for all the various answers. You may even learn something about yourself you never knew or learn that you are unique in your thoughts.

StatNova offers answers to all of life's questions, Includes topics like demographics, philosophy, morality, politics, family and love. Visit StatNova for more Information. Also offers Free Online Poll

Occult Fiction: Novels for Your Private Collection, Part 2
No contemporary Occult fiction collection would be complete without Jim Butcher’s “Harry Dresden” novels. This series is so popular with dark urban fantasy fans that a television show, “The Dresden Files,” has been created from the concept.

So far Butcher has written eight novels in the series, and I hear he envisions twelve more. Certainly good news for Occult fiction fans!

Harry Dresden is a Wizard, the only one in Chicago who advertises his services, working from a sparsely furnished office, the level of disarray always dependent upon whether his latest visitor was human or not. He scrambles to make the rent every month, since his cases rarely turn out the way he imagines. This is due partly to a steady stream of questionable clients, but mostly to Harry’s heart, which shimmers with gold and never considers the current state of his wallet.

Harry lives in a basement apartment with no electricity. He uses candles for light and suffers through cold showers, since electrical appliances tend to misbehave in the presence of a Wizard’s energy field. Harry’s “lab” sits beneath the apartment, stocked with hundreds of items used for spellcasting. Here you’ll find Bob, an ancient air spirit who inhabits a dusty human skull and is the source for most of Harry’s spells. Besides being a virtual encyclopedia of magick, Bob possesses a wry wit, providing the perfect touch of reality and humor to Harry’s chaotic days.

Butcher has succeeded in creating a cast of delightfully complex characters, yet each scene in these novels flows as smoothly as city water from the tap. I cannot say enough about his talent as a novelist. Butcher wrote the first book in this series while he was still in school. It was awful. But he continued to tweak the story for several years until it reached the high level of craftsmanship fans of Occult fiction demand. And the rest is publishing history.

Any reader who values expertly written dark urban fantasy, dazzling magick, a fast-paced plot, and hilarious characters should definitely consider Jim Butcher’s “Harry Dresden” series as an essential part of their Occult fiction collection. I know I do.

Laura Stamps is an award-winning novelist, as well as a Wiccan and feral cat rescuer. The recipient of a Pulitzer Prize nomination and seven Pushcart Award nominations, she is the author of a popular series of Occult Novels for Women found at www.KittyfeatherPress.blogspot.com