The Child Welfare Ball Michigan Dropped

This is a slight departure from what you’re used to seeing here, but as I deal with the physical and spiritual welfare of people, I thought it a pertinent subject…

A friend of mine just passed this information along to me this morning, and while reading the article, I’m sure anyone seeing me would have witnessed steam coming out of my ears! Here’s the link for the article, first:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33068650/ns/today-parenting_and_family/

Now, my question: Have we become such a jaded, hyper-government-run society that we can’t even allow someone to be neighborly? The news is rampant with stories of children snatched from schools, bus stops, and other places they should have an expectation of safety. And who is blamed first? The parent. And yet, when a parent attempts to be proactive, by making arrangements with a neighbor they know and approve of to watch out for their children while they (the parent) go off into an increasingly family-unfriendly employment situation, they’re also penalized, and the friend/neighbor with whom they’ve made the arrangement is also a target.

*sighs* Whatever happened to the days of neighbors helping neighbors? Of people being able to drop their kids off with a friend no matter how long, or how often, it was needed? Of a parent knowing that their child is safe because he or she is with someone the parent trusts implicitly, and not housed in some government-dictated facility with complete strangers who are just there to collect a paycheck? This is truly a disheartening (not to mention distasteful) turn of events, and I’d sincerely hope Michigan takes this opportunity to rethink what constitutes REAL child welfare…

Modern Medical Failures

I know this doesn’t sound very paranormal (it’s not, by the way, but it does tie into metaphysical healing in a very personal way), and I’m not sure how this is going to come out… It may end up being more of a rant than anything, but it’s something that’s been on my mind for a long time, and I think it’s about time someone actually has the guts to call the medical community on the carpet for what they’ve done to themselves, and to us, as a society.

First, let me just say, I wasn’t raised in the days of the doctor who made house calls.  I didn’t grow up in the time when a doctor knew his/her patient by more than just a chart.  At least, not this lifetime.  But I do have vague memories – impressions, really – of such a time.  And I feel a soul-deep yearning for those days, when doctors actually cared, when they listened to their patients with understanding, and the knowledge that the patient, more than anyone, knew when something was wrong.  They (the patient) just might not know what.

I find it a failing in our modern society that doctors are trained to not be human beings, anymore.  They’re trained to see patients not as human beings, but as statistics and insurance forms.  You can’t get treated at any doctor’s office until the appropriate payment situation is worked out, and all the appropriate forms are filled out.  Then, you might just be lucky enough (in some dream world), that the doctor will actually read said forms, beyond any former diagnoses or medications some other doctor has given you.

I find it appalling that a patient who comes to the doctor and says “I don’t feel well” but can’t give the doctor a symptom they can look at under their microscope, or can’t diagnose in under five minutes, is immediately categorized and dismissed.

I find it deplorable that a patient who displays even the slightest angle toward being overweight is automatically labeled as “Oh, you’ll feel better if you just lose weight.”  And then instantly dismissed.

Why do I mention all of this?  Because the human body is more than a collection of just tissue and bone.  There are feelings.  There is inner, innate knowledge that occurs to us – insights that only the person to whom the body belongs are privy to.  And by dismissing a patient out of hand because a doctor doesn’t have time or isn’t interested, goes against the very oath they swear to uphold – the oath to first do no harm.  The sheer arrogance of the medical profession that allows them to dismiss a patient out-of-hand flies in the face of the spirit of science itself.  Often, a person’s spiritual or emotional wellness is vitally linked to their physical state – even medicine suggests that this connection exists, when they explain that depression has physical symptoms.  What does it treat to hand over a prescription, when what is needed is to understand that what may be happening is not that easily cured?

This is where I believe a blend of old-fashioned medical ethics (that caring attitude), modern medical testing, and Nature’s own cures come into focus.  Instead of dismissing, medical professionals should be taught to embrace – their relationship with the patient and their understanding and acceptance of an attitude of “whatever works” in order to reach a cure or solution, as well as the advanced medical treatments and tests that are available today.  Science only serves humanity if it retains its humility, its understanding that it does not know everything there is to know in this world, or this universe, and that Nature is far wiser than we will ever be.  Parapsychology has embraced this understanding, this awareness that there is something greater at work than science has answers for at this time.  Now it’s time for medicine to step up to the plate – believe, Horatio.  Because the life it saves might just be one you love.

Anyway, this was something I felt the need to get off my chest, as it’s been weighing on me for some time.  Take it for what you will… If it inspires one person to grow, it was worth it.

Daily Reading 5/21/2009

There is passion, excitement, and light-heartedness in the air, brought about by a sense of freedom and relief from recent strife or disharmony.  You’ve been searching for something for a long time, and now it’s all finally coming within your grasp.  There’s a feeling of liberation all around you, and the world just seems a little brighter than usual.  This freedom and satisfaction with yourself and your place in life is not a fleeting thing; it’s a stable, meaningful part of your spiritual energy, and can provide you with lasting happiness, if you allow it.

You may want to hold off making any executive decisions, today.  With the excited energy swirling around you, there’s a chance communications might get garbled, and you might sign yourself up for more than you can handle.  There’s an old adage about biting off more than one can chew, and it definitely applies to today, especially in areas involving employment and major projects, whether personal or professional.  While you’re more than capable to handle a large project and assert a little authority, with the Aries Moon aligning to Mars, your giddy feelings of freedom and security may lead you to agree to more than you’re really interested in taking on.  Instead, take a mellow approach to problems that might arise, and let your intuition do the talking.  As long as your motives are honorable, others will follow your lead, and no one will be put off by slowing the whole works down for a day.

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Understanding the Ouija

Over the years I’ve been doing paranormal and metaphysical work, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend of people playing with things they know little or nothing about – things that end up causing them a great deal of misery and pain that could have been avoided.It’s been my mission for a number of years to educate people on the difference betwe en using an tool, and  “playing” with something.  And, after a recent conversation with a friend over the highly-misunderstood ouija board, I decided it’s time to take my education on such things global, and provide the knowledge in a way people can hopefully relate to.  I’ll start with the ouija board…

Ouija boards are generally acknowledged in the metaphysical world as  one of the most dangerous tools a person can possess, if misused.  Unfortunately, in our overly-sceptical and scientific world, these boards are too often put into the hands of people who have no idea what they’re doing or what they could stir up.

For the better part of a decade, I’ve been writing letters to mass market manufacturers of boards, asking that they either cease making them (my preference) or that they include warnings about what ouija boards can cause if misused, and what to do if this happens.  I’m sure they probably think I’m a nutcase, but the simple truth of the matter is this – if you don’t know what the dangers are, and you have no idea what you’re doing, you shouldn’t be allowed to pass that danger on to others.  It’s a bit like having the launch code to a nuclear missile, and posting it on MySpace for the whole world to read.  You have no idea what you may just have started, but you should have known better than to start something in the first place.

To properly work a ouija board, you need to be experienced with the Other World (or the Spirit Realm, or whatever you call it), or have someone working it with you who has proven connections to the Other World.  You need to know enough to be able to confirm who you’re speaking with, tell if you’re being tricked (and I’m not talking about someone pulling a fast one in THIS world.  Scam artists are easily enough detected when working with the ouija.  It’s the tricksters from the Other World I’m more worried about), and most importantly, you need to have someone who is in control of the situation at all times, and strong enough to maintain that control.  “Playing” with a ouija board isn’t only dangerous – it can be the start of terrifying experiences you don’t want anything to do with.  And don’t be fooled by the most recent incarnations of the ouija board as “Angel boards” and “Faery boards.”   These are even worse, as the names denote an expectation of whom you’ll be communicating with that is unrealistic.  Remember, all of these things are the same medium, capable of drawing the same entities, no matter the name on the box or board.  In fact, you have a greater chance of drawing something negative to the board when you have a built-in expectation of drawing something positive.  Negative entities have no rules, when it comes to these boards.  The board is merely a portal, and if they can reach you because you’re gullible, they will.

By way of example, I’ll refer to a case I worked not too long ago (names and specifics have been shielded).  The client, whom we’ll call Angie, purchased an angel board because she deemed it “safe” to work with, and she’d been convinced by a rather unscrupulous spiritual consultant that she needed to communicate with her angel.  Angie had no experience with ouija, and her only real experience with the supernatural, at this point, was the routine contact with the spiritual consultant.  However, full of blind faith and a certain amount of naivete, Angie set up her board and began calling on her angel.  When we eventually met, she admited that she was initially surprised that she got any response from the board at all.  And because she was working on an angel board, and the entity she contacted claimed to be her angel, she didn’t think to question anything about the process.  Imagine her confusion when her “angel” began giving her messages that were far from angelic, planting images in her head of her harming her two small children whenever she’d communicate with it via the board.  These troubled her, but she tried to ignore them, until events started to spiral completely out of control and she had visions and heard voices even when she wasn’t working the board.  That was when Angie and I first met.  Because of the progression of her case, I was unable to help her (I’m not a demonologist or exorcist), but I got her in contact with the proper, reliable help she needed to deal with her problem.   Angie’s case sticks with me, even to this day, and convinces me even more of the dangers of people without any training or experience using any kind of board meant to communicate with the Other World.
If you ignore the warnings, and insist on playing with a ouija board (which is certainly not a toy, any more than a nuclear missile is), and you contact something that proves to be negative, there are two things you should NEVER do:
1. Consult a Protestant minister on what to do with said ouija board.  They’re going to immediately leap to the conclusion that the entity you’ve drawn up is demonic and that the way to get rid of it is to burn the board.  While the Catholic Church has  a long and involved history with demonology and exorcism (sometimes good, sometimes iffy), the Protestant Movement’s position on the negative side of the Other World has always been narrow-minded and driven by showmanship.   There are some who have studied, and kept an open mind to the area, but in my experience, most are simply too afraid and/or uninterested in genuinely helping, and tend to take the easy way out, which rarely works in these situations.  If you have a negative situation that’s developed from the misuse of a ouija board, it’s better to consult either a reputable medium or Spiritualist, or your local Catholic priest, depending on your faith.

2. NEVER, under ANY circumstance, burn a ouija board.  Once you’ve opened a portal, the only thing burning the board does is make it impossible to close.  Also, burning is a violent action, which gives whatever is using that portal more strength, because a negative action raises still more negative energy.

How do I know all of this?  Long experience.  I’ve handled a number of cases involving ouija boards and people playing with something that isn’t a toy, because they didn’t understand how dangerous it was.  I’ve seen the effects of burning one of these things, after a negative energy was called up, with my own eyes. It’s not a pleasant thing to behold, let alone have to clean up after.

Now, lest you get the wrong impression and decide that ouija boards are simply evil, let me clear up that misconception, as well.  In the hands of a properly trained and well-acquainted practitioner, the ouija board becomes an invaluable tool, allowing the practitioner to communicate more clearly with the Other World and the energies there.   You see, for most people with mediumistic or “psychic” gifts, communication is a painstaking, and often frustrating, process, involving a lot of energy expendatures on the part of the medium/shaman.   Contrary to what most laypeople believe (thanks in no small part to Hollywood, I’m sure), Other World beings and the deceased do not communicate in conversational English (or any other spoken language) nearly as often as you might think.  Most communications are in images, feelings, and “nudges.”  The recipient of these messages (the medium or shaman) doesn’t always have a frame of reference for the message given.  This can lead to a frustrating experience for both sides.  The use of a ouija board can significantly improve communications, allowing the entity to express the message in words the medium or shaman can more readily understand.  What makes the difference is that the medium/shaman can either see, or feel, the presence and know that they are speaking to the person/being they wish to speak with.  They are also highly intuitive, and can usually tell if something isn’t right about the communication.  It’s much like talking on a phone.  If you have no idea how the phone works, or who’s on the other end, you could end up giving away your entire identity to a con artist.  But if you’re savvy to the phone, and know exactly who you’re talking to (like a medium/shaman knows when using a board), there’s very little risk you’re going to give away anything more than you actually WANT to give.

Parapsychology & The Psychic Sciences

What is Parapsychology?

A lot of people confuse this term with paranormal investigation, or “ghost-hunting” as it’s become known in recent years.  However, parapsychology is far more than spirits.  In fact, it usually has little to do with them, aside from the study of consciousness after death.  Parapsychology is a research-based field, dominated by study and investigation of the  psychic sciences.  Does this mean all parapsychologists are psychics?  No, it does not.  Surprisingly few parapsychologists have any actual personal experience with these phenomena.  While some people gifted with parapsychic abilities are drawn to the field in search of answers (as was my case), most parapsychologists pursue it strictly from a direction of scientific curiosity.  Parapsychologists study claims of paranormal abilities (and the evidence of them in those previously tested) in others in an effort to better understand how these abilities occur and how they work.  Few parapsychologists actually work strictly in the field.  Most work as teachers and lecturers, and others work in another career which may or may not parallel their work in parapsychology.  My own primary background is in history and theology, which I use in my research into paranormal phenomena of all types.

Does parapsychology involve study UFOs, Big Foot, the Loch Ness monster, or the like?  No.  While these may be fascinating subjects to xenobiologists and cryptozoologists, they are not considered a concentration of parapsychology. Does parapsychology involve investigation of ghosts and spirits?  In some ways, yes, as the continuation of the psyche and spirit after death are areas of study in parapsychology, and the concept of reincarnation is contained in many parapsychological studies.  However, the primary concentration of parapsychology is in what are sometimes described as “psychic sciences.”

Psychic sciences, sometimes also known as parapsychic phenomena, are the manifestations of extrasensory perceptions and mind-over-matter abilities.  These include (but are not limited to) telepathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, psychokinesis (commonly referred to as PK, and often evidenced in poltergeist activity) and mediumistic abilities.

While able to be broken down into more specialized classifications, some of the most common general psychic sciences studied are:

Telepathy -

Though the term was first coined by FWH Myers in 1882, the idea of telepathy is much older than modern parapsychology. Throughout history, there exists anecdotal evidence of this ability, in the knowledge by one person of events they should have no knowledge of.  Chief among these tales are tribal legends of people and entities  -particularly the latter – known to “pluck the thoughts from a man’s head and know his heart’s desire” (an ability ascribed by poets to the Sirens who lured sailors to their deaths with their sweet songs).  Even in Mesopotamia and Asia, stories exist of those who knew secrets they could have obtained through no other method.

There is plenty of modern evidence to suggest the existence of telepathy, as well.  Most are ascribed to what are known as “crisis events” – in which a person in grave danger or on the brink of death imparts some final information to a relative, friend, or acquaintance.  However, there are studied cases of what is also known as “conscious telepathy” – the obtaining of information from another against their will.  So far, there’s been very little established evidence of the possibility this could happen, though conspiracy theorists claim that this concept was put to constant test during the so-called attempted Mind Wars between the US and Soviet Union during the Cold War.  This particular use – and the existence of any such agencies – remains a matter of great debate between parapsychologists and conspiracy theorists.

Clairvoyance/Clairaudience –

Defined literally as “clear seeing” and “clear hearing,” these are considered abilities by which a claimed psychic manifests information about their surroundings and the people in it.  There is a great deal of research into this area, currently, but the concept of both is as old as humanity.  To ancient man, these mediums/psychics were known as prophets, oracles, wise men/women and medicine people.  They were gifted with the abilities to foretell the future, or deliver messages from the gods or ancestors.  Histories, legends, and mythology abounds with these people, known for their depth of vision and ability to hear and interpret the words handed down from the greatness of the Otherworld.

Because of this diverse and rich history of clairvoyance and clairaudience, the logical conclusion would say that this would be the easiest psychic science to prove.  Sadly, this is not the case.  Unfortunately in many cases, the predictions and information given cannot be confirmed, as there is no time-table by which to base them.  The prophesies of Nostradamus, for example, are classic examples of why this particular ability is so hard to study.  Little reference is given to dates, and none to time.  It’s almost impossible to decipher the meanings behind his verse-delivered predictions.  Much the same way, the Christian book of Revelations remains as much a mystery today as it was to the Early Church, with its cryptic references to things clearly outside the prophet’s ability to describe.  Even as recent as Edgar Cayce, the cryptic manner of clairvoyant delivery makes it highly difficult to test for accuracy or evidence.

PK –

Known as psychokinesis or telekinesis, this is the movement of objects through the use of mental/emotional energy.  Often, this psychic ability is the root cause of the phenomenon known as Poltergeist.  Typically manifesting in children around the age of puberty (though by no means strictly confined to this age-group), it is believed to be triggered primarily (but not exclusively) by traumatic events or extreme stresses.

PK is actually one of the easier abilities to test for, as it has an actual manifestation that can be visually and instrumentally recorded.  Subjects under study for PK are often asked to keep a journal of their thoughts and feelings, and when they notice these disturbances.  In this way, parapsychologists are able to study possible triggers for incidents of PK, allowing them to both obtain more information on the phenomenon, and also to assist the subject in controlling their situation, rather than allowing their unbalanced emotions to control them.

Daily Reading 5/7/2009

Brace yourself. It’s going to be an emotional day, and there may be times you feel as if you’re on a rollercoaster, whether you want to be there or not. Be especially aware of the moods and emotions of others around you. Someone isn’t dealing with life all that well, and as Mercury goes into retrograde and life starts to become stressful, this person may suffer a meltdown.

Today, it’s time to really rethink where you are in life, and where you’d like to be. You’re in the middle of an emotionally (and possibly even physically) unhealthy situation, and it’s time to be thinking of escape. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, now’s the time to start putting those dreams into motion, because while Mercury’s retrograde slows down the process and makes communication frustrating, it’s better to be moving forward slowly than sliding backwards fast. While it may not arrive today, whatever effort you make toward your ultimate goals today will soon come back to you in the form of business and new enterprise.

If you’re feeling a little let-down and maybe even used, today, don’t let it get to you. When energies hit a low ebb, the emotional weight of the day may seem a little too much. Instead of being angry and bitter, or giving in to the disappointment, remind yourself that this is a passing feeling. You’ll feel better for the knowledge. And, if it all becomes a little too much, take a break, go for a walk, or step back from the situation for a few moments. Someone around you is likely to have problems dealing with their own emotions. Don’t let them put you in the middle of it. You don’t need to be mired in everyone else’s problems today.

Daily Reading for 05/04/2009

Today may prove confusing – even frustrating – for the unwary.  If you’re expecting smooth sailing, you’re likely to be caught unawares as the instructions and communications of superiors are more apt to be unclear and conflicting than helpful.  However, instead of taking this as a bad sign, the prepared individual sees this as an opportunity to shine – this is a chance to prove yourself capable of managing things, and of making the decisions that need to be made.  By taking the best of the instructions you’ve been given and brainstorming a newer, more efficient idea of your own, you prove you have the strength and maturity to be a capable leader.  In the end, this will grant you more of the autonomy you desire.

             Don’t worry too much about the day’s speed bumps.  They’re not there to stop you – merely slow you down long enough to take a good look at the big picture.  There’s someone in your life – a younger person with an Earth sign (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) – whom you may have been overlooking.  This is a tenacious, reliable person who often seems single-minded in his or her pursuit of a goal.  Don’t make the mistake of underestimating this person.  He or she can teach you a great deal about self-discipline, knowledge, and honor.  The greatest lesson today has to teach you, however, is that it is through helping others that you prove the true strength of your character.  Offering assistance selflessly proves you are ready for the next lesson Fate has to offer you.

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Daily Reading 4/20/2009

Today is a day of balance, when all things are equal and the choices are ultimately left up to each person to decide – will it be a day of action, emotion, thought, or material fixation? The choice is yours to make.

Don’t expect much in the way of excitement. It’s business as usual, which may require an amount of patience and stamina to see through. You’ll appreciate the lack of major surprises, though, as today you’re likely to feel more in tune with the order of things, and keeping everything balanced and on an even keel. In this way, today provides the means for solid, steadfast progress toward tomorrow, and ultimately, a goal you seek. You might even be in for a small surprise as the day progresses – when a package or gift arrives, don’t look for the flaws; just enjoy the novelty.

It’s likely to be a day of contradictions, which may stir up some confusion and anxiety. It might not be an exciting day, but it’s likely to be reflective, so don’t be surprised if you or others around you seem more interested in what’s happened in the past than what’s going on in the present. A brief look back can be healthy when applied to a current situation, but the energy of the day is swirled with new beginnings and looking ahead, so the preoccupation with past events may prove tricky to incorporate into your day. If you find your attention drifting backward, try to refocus on what’s just beginning, not what’s over and done.

Daily Reading 4/10/2009

Today, everything is likely to just feel brighter for seemingly inexplicable reasons.   In reality, the astrological pull of the planets today will inspire much greater confidence, in both yourself and others, and a much happier outlook on life in general.  Good energy flows from the movement of the planets, and you’ll feel as if life has more value and purpose than it has in a while.  This is a time of breakthroughs – of gaining knowledge of the unknown, finding emotional balance and wholeness, and developing spiritual strength.  Draw on the magic of a Scorpio-in-Aries Moon to help you heal the spiritual wounds in your life.  Today, you can’t help being optimistic about the outcome, and that can only aid you toward success in all your endeavors.

With optimism comes hope, and today, both are in abundant supply.  If you feel inspired to do something unusual, don’t hold back.  You never know the opportunities inspiration might open up to you.  By believing in yourself and your future, you create a world of infinite possibilities, where wholeness and healing surround you.  By allowing the free flow of energy, you can accomplish anything.

Daily Reading 4/9/2009

Today, mental attitudes will determine if you have the strength of will to usher in a new phase of your life, or if you’ll cling to past or current restrictions, to the detriment of personal growth.  The choice is yours to make.

Under the influences of the full moon, your soul is like a woodland creature – wild and free.  Only the mind can shackle your spirit.  Today, chances are better than good that you’ll be feeling your soul a little more than normal.  The energy on the air is lively and colorful, ripe with aventure and curiosity, whether the path leads outward into the world, or inward into the soul.  The wind sings of change, good omens, and spiritual lessons that unfold a new life-path before you with great speed.  If you find yourself excited by an event or project, today, go with it – you’re likely uncovering an aspect of your future that will bring you great success and satisfaction.

While the glow of the full moon lends the day vibrance and positive energy, be careful of self-defeating and restrictive attitudes and thoughts.  They might not even be your own.  When faced with someone wallowing in self-pity and negativity, don’t let yourself become ensnared by their downward spiral.  Instead, look at the interaction as a lesson in detachment, and move on.  Don’t allow yourself to becom a doormat to others’ negative attitudes, or it will destroy any spiritual growth you might achieve, and ruin the upbeat mood of your day.