Vision 14

Vision

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hat a fantastic post-bag we’ve had this month! Please keep the letters coming, we love to hear from you. If you have any questions about subjects spiritual, paranormal or holistic do send them in. Don’t forget to send your questions on witchcraft to Andrea at Coven Corner and any questions about children’s spiritual encounters to Kylie Holmes at my email address.

I hope that those of you who made it to the Vision Spiritual Showcase had a wonderful

time, I know that I did! We will be doing the same thing again soon ... read on for more details. This month you can (virtually) sun yourself in Hawaii and learn some of the techniques of Huna (P22, P24); Chris Fleming talks about Dead Famous (P6) and Jonathan Cainer about Phenomena (P30). We also look at Imaginary Friends (P42) and feature a real ghost story about them (P8) as well as a really spooky tale about a haunted house (P34). Have a good month, see you next issue!

Diana

Letters Each letter published will receive a copy of Pure Calm from the Pure Series worth £10.95, courtesy of New World Music. Let Stuart Jones’s fluidity and perfection on keyboards clear your mind.

The Star Letter will win four titles from the Pure series including Pure Calm, Pure Dreaming, Pure Love & Light and Pure Tranquility – worth a total of £43.80.

For further information and a free catalogue, contact New World Music on 01986 891600, or visit www.newworldmusic.com We reserve the right to edit letters.

Star Letter I love your magazine very much and have collected since the first issue! I came across the lucid dreaming article in issue 9 and had to try it. After much perseverence, I am now able to lucid dream. I wanted to share with other readers a technique I use to check whether I am in control of my dreams.

Looking at the time on a watch didn’t work for me so, in my dream, once I become aware of being in control, I say to myself “If I’m dreaming my cat will appear in front of me!”. She always does and it’s very comforting as well as confirming lucidity. When I started to lucid dream, I found it difficult not to wake myself up with excitement, so I always make myself sit somewhere familiar and enjoy a cup of tea in my dream before going on my wonderful adventures! Thank you so much for bringing me this gift. I look forward to bedtime!

Elaine Grant, Woking, Surrey.

After reading the article in Vision 11 by Stephanie Brookes called Make it Happen, I thought I’d write and tell you of my experience. Firstly, let me congratulate you on a varied and visual magazine, covering topics that are a delight to read. My experience of ‘manifesting’ began when I saw a book I really wanted and said to my sister: ‘I want this book, but I’m not paying that for it”. I saw it again and again decided not to buy it. Three months later, my husband’s friend dropped off some books that his girlfriend had sent to me (she works in a bookshop). In amongst them was the book I had wanted! I got the book I really wanted when I wasn’t in a position to buy it myself!

Mrs J Worthington,Doncaster.

Thank you for the copy of R A Bonewitz’s Cosmic Crystals which was a most welcome surprise win in a Vision competition. This book is of particular interest as I’ve had a life-long fascination with crystals and spent many happy hours reading this lovely book. I look forward to every Vision and never fail to find informative articles, thank you so much. Keep up the good work!

Mrs Wilma Smith, Inverurie

3

Vision 14

P6 Chris Fleming: Behind The Scenes P8 “My Imaginary Friends were ghosts!”

P10 Parafest 2006 P11 Visionaries P14 Tasmania Cries Wolf P16 Experiences Explained

And the rest...

P26 Destiny Doctors P44 Competitions P45 Next Month P75 Subscriptions P76 Reviews P82 Day Tripper 4 Vision 14

P17 Out Of The Night - Legends Of Hawaii P20 Hawaiian Huna P22 A Breath of Hawaii P24 Hawaiian Spirituality

VISION 14 May 2006

P30 Interview with Jonathan Cainer P28 Shifting Sands P34 “What’s Happening To My Son?” P36 Their Future In Their Hands P39 Medium Rare P40 Hawaiian Superstitions P41 Dream Directory P42 Imaginary Friends

P48 Lomi Lomi P46 DIY Qi Gong P50 Healing Rune Spells P52 Peridot: The Vibrant Hawaiian Gem P53 The Root Chakra P54 The Mystery Of The Green Man P56 Coven Corner

P58 Glastonbury Zodiac P60 Astrological Overview P61 Star Spelling P63 Horoscopes -

your May forecast

by James

Christie 5 Vision 14

Diana Jarvis talks to Chris Fleming about his role as co-presenter of Dead Famous and his work as a psychic medium

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hris Fleming has been there and done that. Born in 1967 in Chicago, Chris is the son of a Blackhawk Hockey star and quite sporty in his own right, playing full-contact football until an injury ended his career in that field. He has worked as a graphic designer for a major newspaper too, but is perhaps best-known to us for his role in Dead Famous.

From an early age, Chris was prone to extraordinary encounters, seeing and sensing ghosts on a regular basis, occasionally with witnesses. These encounters eventually carried over into his dreams, often lending him precognitive advice and warnings.

He has even had brief instances of ESP and other psychic abilities.

Chris eventually learned to accept and integrate these experiences.

While his abilities continue to develop, he has recently put them to use on

the TV series Dead Famous. A reality and documentary style programme, he and his co-presenter, Gail Porter, investigate “ghostly phenomena” surrounding famous celebrities and historical haunted sites. This has given Chris the opportunity to travel all over the USA visiting some of the most haunted places in America. During these investigations Chris has captured over 1,000 EVPs

(Electronic Voice Phenomena), worked with some of the top psychics and parapsychologists in the field, and coinvestigated with countless Ghost Hunters and societies.

Chris recalls a particularly phenomenafilled episode: “We were filming in Hollywood High School. It was not long before I could see the spirit of a male janitor in his uniform. He was around 5’6” and was quite solid – almost 20-30% of a regular person. I could see his features. He looked at me, turned and went through a locker. I started to follow where I could sense his spirit going, I was chasing him!

I ended up running all round the place to try to catch him, eventually I cut a corner and saw his torso and legs walking down the hallway!

Everyone filming could tell that there was something there, it just seemed that we were getting closer to understanding what was happening.”

I asked Chris about Gail Porter, his copresenter: “Gail is a sceptic, but she has had so many things happen to her in the show. She is amazed by something, then she will try to slip back into scepticism. She gets freaked out when things happen and believes … then after a while she

“

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It was not long before I could see the spirit of a male janitor in his uniform …I started to chase him, I ended up running all round the place to try to catch him, eventually I cut a corner and saw his torso and legs walking down the hallway.

”

Right: Behind the Scenes: Dead Famous “Billy the Kid” episode. Pictures © Chris Fleming, used with permission.

Left: Photograph courtesy of Sam Bassett 2006

returns to her sceptical self. She says “oh, maybe I wasn’t feeling well”. It drives me nuts!

“Having said that, we get along very well. We have ups and downs as anyone would: we’ve been together for 28 episodes, 24 hours a day (at the time of writing). You get to know a person when you’re together for so long. Gail and I have developed a good working relationship: I’ve learnt a lot from her and vice versa. We do fight, but we make up and learn from it. It’s a great journey for all of us.”

After years of hearing others talk about their extraordinary experiences, Chris chose to document these in his own publication, Unknown Magazine: real experiences of the paranormal and the supernatural, which he published from 1997-2001. Since the release of the first issue, Chris has met countless ordinary people with similar experiences from around the globe. He has been featured on numerous radio and TV talk shows all around the world as well as given lectures on his own personal experiences and those featured in Unknown Magazine.

In his spare time Chris joins forces with local ghost hunters investigating haunted places. Whenever able, he also lends his ear and gives peace of mind to those whom have had their own traumatic paranormal experiences.

Using his sensitive abilities he is able to pick up any emotions (empathy) or trauma left behind; sense any ghostly presence and then contact and channel the spirit. The information he receives is often supported utilizing equipment such as cameras, audio recorders (EVP) and video, EMF detectors, and thermo scanners.

One part of ghost investigation that particularly fascinates Chris … and he’s become very good at getting results ... is Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP).

This is a technique used by ghost investigators where they attempt to record spirit voices by using an electronic recording device and a list of questions.

Chris told me more about his astounding

results and his own method for producing EVPs. “ I saw a programme in the 1970s where researchers got voices on tape. I was really fascinated and wanted to hear this for myself. I would take a reel to reel recorder down to the local cemetery and would sit down with a Ouija board and ask it to speak. I recorded my first spirit voice when I was just 7 years old! It made me jump out of my seat when I heard it say “touch is me”!

“I am now involved with a Chicago based group and I do investigations with them. I can usually walk away with a high grade voice on most EVPs that I do. I think that people who use this technique get EVPs , but don’t know how to tell. It is vital to use a booster and have headphones on to hear your recording.

The majority of EVPs come in at a very low level.”

I asked Chris where he wants to go from here?

“I find that work is coming to me without me looking for it. I’m not scared of spirit manifestations any more and I’ve become tougher. I think it helps to have a bit of a rough edge in life and I’ve definitely developed one. I don’t think that I was meant to be famous, but

I’ve learnt to live with it. I just want to keep doing what I’m doing.”

With a third season in production in the US, Chris hopes to write a book about his childhood experiences with the paranormal, as well as log his recent adventures. He hopes it will give the world the opportunity to understand that we can communicate with the ‘other side’ and help bring strength and empowerment to those who question why we are here and what awaits us when our time has come.

You can see Chris and his co-presenter Gail Porter in the new series of Dead Famous on Living TV on 11th April at 9pm.Chris’s Unknown Magazine can be found at www.unknownmagazine.com

7

Vision 14

Author and medium Stephanie Brookes tells us about her first encounter with her imaginary friends … who weren’t imaginary after all!

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t never occurred to me as a young child, that the ‘ghosts’ and ‘ghouls’ we were told about in children’s stories may have a ring of truth about them. In our younger years we are fed stories of fairies, magical beings, humans possessed with incredible powers and of course, we all know it’s not really true!

How could someone possibly see into the future? How could a person have the ability to move objects with the power of their mind? Pure hocus-pocus, isn’t it?

The stories I liked best were about children who developed special relationships with their own imaginary friends. At least everyone else thought they were ‘imaginary’! “How wonderful”, I used to think, “to have a friend all to yourself, and one that you didn’t have to share with anybody else”.

When I was a child I used to devour any books which had any reference to ‘ghosts’ or the paranormal side of life. I felt safe in the knowledge that they didn’t really exist. I knew there was no ‘bogey man’ under my bed and never once thought that white bed sheets floating around in a ghostly fashion were particularly terrifying. I knew that things that go ‘bump in the night’ were most likely noises from our cat!

Sometimes at night, as I lay my head on my pillow, I felt my room ‘come alive’. The bedside lamp clicked off, and my eyes adjusted to the darkened

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surroundings; I often had a feeling of being enveloped by the room. It never seemed like I was alone. I could sense someone tip-toeing around my bed trying not to disturb me, and although I could feel every movement I still could not see a thing. As a fairly level-headed young child I shook it off as nothing more than

My eyes were on “ stalks and my heart

in my throat. I instinctively knew the only thing I was capable of doing was to lie quite still.

”

my overactive imagination.

Later on in life, most of us will own up and admit that we had an imaginary friend. We can describe them in vivid detail, the way they dressed, how they spoke, the way they would make us howl with laughter; a perfectly harmless way of expressing our wonderful imaginations.

At the age of seven I had my very first encounter with my own imaginary friends. I remember waking in the wee small hours of the morning. I

knew it must have been late as I couldn’t hear the rumbling of the TV downstairs.

The room was dark and the house stood very still and silent. At first nothing seemed unusual, my room was as it had been just before I had fallen asleep. I recall it was cold, and I had my soft duvet pulled right up to my neck. I was fully aware that I was awake and that I was no longer in a sleep state. I knew that I had school in the morning and that I was going to be seeing my friends and share with them the horror of the dreaded maths test. I snuggled further into my pillow hoping to fall back into a peaceful sleep when I noticed two figures by my bedroom door.

At first I thought it must be my parents; after all, it might have been time to wake up. Maybe I would be seeing my friends quicker than I first thought. I sat up and squinted at the two figures standing by the door; they hadn’t moved and still hadn’t said a word. It didn’t even occur to me to say anything; surely they would have been the first to speak up, they were my parents after all.

Suddenly my room seemed a much scarier place to be. It felt darker, colder and I knew that the two figures were not my parents. I pulled the covers around my face, tighter. I didn’t even call out for my parents, I didn’t say a word.

My eyes had adjusted to the darkness and the two figures by my door were

becoming clearer and clearer. I was left in no doubt that the two people by my bedroom door did not live at this house.

My eyes were on stalks and my heart in my throat. I instinctively knew the only thing I was capable of doing was to lie quite still. I should have closed my eyes but I couldn’t, I was utterly transfixed by the figures coming into focus.

An older gentleman, with a long dark suit and a pleasant and caring expression, stood motionless by the door.

To the right of him, an old woman, also in black, with a far more animated and jovial smile stared right back at me. They didn’t seem shocked by my presence, in fact, they seemed quite at ease. Perhaps sensing my discomfort, they didn’t come any closer, and that to me, as a terrified seven year old, was a small blessing.

I realised then, how the heroine - in all the stories I had read - felt when she first came into contact with her imaginary friends. I hoped I would be brave but I was terrified, and I couldn’t have moved a muscle let alone said, ‘It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for coming to see me.’

After what seemed like an eternity of watching and waiting I must have fallen back into a deep sleep. I never did tell anyone about my first encounter with Spirit; I doubted if anyone would have believed me anyway. I knew that the stories I told my friends were often fanciful and as children, we do make up weird and wonderful tales, because that’s what children do. Only this story was as real as could be.

Over time, I saw my new friends less and less. When I did see them, they always remained by the door, in the same position, wearing the same clothes and the same expressions, which is exactly how I liked it to be.

It still amazes me now that I saw Spirit at such a young age. Just by making their presence known, it was their first step in communicating with me. I’m glad that they came in to say hello and though I haven’t seen my two

friends for many years, I hope that if we do meet again I will have the courage to make the proper introduction!

How to approach Spirit You can never quite prepare yourself for an unexpected visit from Spirit. We are certainly not told how to deal with our first encounter at school and I doubt that it is ever offered as a topic of conversation over the family evening meal. It is probably left up to oneself to arrive at the conclusion that, yes… there may be a spiritual aspect to life that most people aren’t aware of, let alone willing to talk about.

If this little ‘How to deal with it’ guide is being read, then I do hope your first spiritual encounter will be a far easier and more enjoyable experience than mine was.

What I have learnt during my relationship with Spirit is that the more I ask for them to appear, the less likely that it is that they will! I find that I usually see Spirit at night, when I am relaxed and probably because too tired to pester them!

When the time comes, and you have your first encounter with Spirit, do say ‘hello’ and thank them for coming in to see you. It’s like receiving a visitor, if you don’t say hello, how do they know you

want them to be there?

Don’t feel any pressure to have the most eloquent dialogue either. In movies and in books you often see characters engaged in insightful, thought-provoking conversations. The majority of us will only manage a stutter – I know that’s the best I can do! It is a step-by-step process and the more you practice, the better you will become.

If you find the moment difficult and you feel worried or at all concerned, then calmly and clearly thank them for coming in, but ask them to “please move away”: they will do as you request.

Seeing Spirit or wanting to see Spirit isn’t a race. Don’t feel pressure to see something just for the sake of it. We are all at different stages and the most important thing to remember is to feel comfortable in your relationship with Spirit. Good luck!

9 Vision 14

Event Host: Phil Wyman

Parafest Organiser: David Wharmby

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f you’ve been reading Vision for a while you will already know of Parafest 2006, the most unusual paranormal event ever! Parafest 2006 is the first event of four, the last one ending in 2012. Although hidden under the guise of a paranormal / mind, body, spirit fair, Parafest 2006 is a lot more. The main attraction is an En Masse Passing Over©: a phenomenal number of people in no less than four countries joining together with spirit to help trapped souls pass on!

The brains (or spirit) behind the events is Dave Wharmby, a trance medium who, along with his wife, run a circle and a ghost group in their local area. I interviewed Dave about Parafest for a previous issue of Vision and was amazed to find a genuine and sincere man whose aim, it seems, is simply to help Spirit. Dave says: “During the past 5 years Spirit have worked very closely with me in many areas … and I now understand Spirit to the degree that I do not question anything they ask of me. I have been told to gather together as many beacons of light (the spiritually aware and able) as are prepared to assist in the first event of this magnitude. It has been foretold that on a specific day and time, all beacons of light are to gather in one place, in four separate countries around the globe to enable Spirit to work directly with us to pass over multitudes of lost and wandering souls.”

Dave has been working tirelessly to pull off just such an event and it seems he has! His call to help has been heeded, too. The attendees of Parafest 2006 run

10 Vision 14

like a ‘who’s who’ and those currently confirmed are our very own Derek Acorah and Phil Wyman (ex Most Haunted). The list of speakers is impressive and cover a wide range of subjects within the paranormal genre and the fair is full to the brim with stands of paranormal merchandise as well as a variety of different types of entertainment.

Since I last spoke to Dave, the Friday night event (a ghost investigation) is now completely sold out and the En Mass Passing Over© is selling fast! Dave has not been sitting on his laurels and waiting for people to generate the money to hire the spectacular Chilford Hall in Cambridge, though.

“We have been doing a lot of fundraising events to generate funds for Parafest, these have included Psychic Specials, where three very different mediums have demonstrated their connection to Spirit, We have also teamed up with Royal National Institute for the Blind in Norfolk to present a Paranormal Masterclass, Phil Whyman and I gave a talk on the Paranormal and I also spoke of the importance of Parafest. The event was held at a very active location known as the 3 Horse Shoes, Scottow in Norwich. I was delighted to demonstrate to a capacity crowd on techniques such as table

tipping, glass work, scrying, and automatic writing. We have also held some small vigils.”

So, if you’ve become interested in attending Parafest and haven’t booked already, what exactly can you expect? A paranormal fair; a Victorian fair; lion dancers; Oreos (string quartet); Native American dance; a host of well-respected speakers; guest celebrities and the En Masse Passing Over©, the highlight of the weekend. As well as all this, you can also meet the Visionaries, who will be in attendance on both the Friday and Saturday night, adding their own abilities to the mix so, come and join us!

You can find out more about Parafest 2006 by visiting www.parafest2006.com or email parafestinfo@aol.com Trade stands spaces still available.

The time: A clear, cold night in February The place: Ye Old Sun Inn, Colton The Visionaries: Dean Ballance and Diana Jarvis, with honorary Visionary Sammi Addey

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elcome to this month’s investigation with the Visionaries … minus one!

Nance has been tied up with her new little bundle of joy, Bodie, so she’s only been able to join us in Spirit (pun intended). Not daunted, we set off for the charming Ye Old Sun Inn with our equipment and nerve to see what we could uncover. Don’t forget, we don’t collaborate on our notes until the very end of the investigation, so any matching details were picked up individually before then!

Base Camp: We set up base camp in the back bar, which was perhaps not the best place to be! Ye Old Sun Inn is not a cold pub … except in the back bar. However, the heating was on and it should have been warm. When I spent some time alone in base camp I was freezing. The cold seemed to be localised, concentrating particularly on the area by the bar itself.

I picked up the spirit of a man in a long black coat and boots, wearing a tricorn (three-cornered) hat. I couldn’t see his face, he appeared as a black shadow, but

Diana Jarvis

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I could make out his clothes. I thought he may be in his early forties and that his name was Elijah or Elisha. I felt he was connected with some sort of underhand dealing and I could see horses. I was given the 1750s as an appropriate date.

The man himself did not speak to me, he just watched. When Dean was in base camp he picked up a man called Bernard Sykes. Bernard was an old man who walked with a staff; had his socks tucked into his trousers; wore a flat cap and had a Jack Russell dog with him. Dean also picked up that the pub had been some kind of trading post. He also felt that the building had been separate dwellings for different families in the past. Sammi also worked in base camp to see if she got anything. Sammi is a bit of a psychic artist on the side and she produced a picture of a man that she could see while in this part of the pub. She also felt that there were ‘jolly old sailors’ here and that the man she drew was one of them.

Main Lounge: This room certainly did not appear to be very active. I did not pick up anything in here at all! I was not alone either, Dean didn’t feel anything in this room. Sammi felt that there was a 6 year old boy in lounge at bottom of the steps, she felt that he was contemporary. She also got a ‘Jack the Lad’ and could feel a black Labrador around her legs.

Above: Di dowsing in the Tap Room behind the Lounge

Snug: In the snug I felt a lot of residual energy: as if anything I picked up would have happened centuries before, but would not be a haunting as such. I could see a woman with long, dark curly hair who

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Left: Di recording an EVP, with an orb audience!

Above: Dean in the Snug. With guest!

was wearing stays. I could feel the stays pinch my waist and ribs. When Dean went in the snug he felt drained and confused. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest. He said that he felt some building work had been done in there during the 1970s. Sammi kept picking up angels and religious services in the snug. She was very confused about why. Read the history and find out!

Cellar:

that suddenly I had a very narrow world view and was not really aware of much outside of where I was. I think that the man I sensing was very like this and the feelings I was experiencing were his. As I walked further into the kitchen and then down a connecting corridor to the Delicatessen and the Barn, I felt the presence fade, as if it couldn’t go any further. I was sure that this man I was feeling would move things and make his presence known to as many people as possible. Dean said that he felt really warm and light-headed. He said that he was being followed around the kitchen

In the cellar I could feel the presence of a man, a man with some attitude! I felt that he wanted people to know that he was in the building. I also picked up sailors and a Dutch connection. I heard some words in Dutch but couldn’t make them out properly.

Dean sensed a woman and some children hiding down in the cellar, they had makeshift beds to sleep on.

He felt that the cellar was Above: Dean tuning in to the male spirit in the kitchen. not originally designed as a and hallway. He, like me felt that the cellar and was simply a room that was man only goes as far as the kitchen door accessible from the outside only. Sammi and then doesn’t go any further. Dean got could sense a man in the cellar but didn’t the name Ernest in connection with this get much more about him. man. Sammi also felt the strong presence of a man and also felt she was being Kitchen: followed.

In the kitchen we all felt a very strong presence. When I first went in there I felt that I had crossed some kind of threshold Behind the Bar: and that there was a very strong presence I spent a short time here and felt the of a man. I had only walked a couple of presence of a man in his 60s. He was steps before I felt very dizzy and well-groomed and had a protective air, I disorientated. I also felt a little lost; I felt felt that he would watch over the owners

and pub visitors. Dean didn’t pick up anything behind the bar and Sammi did sense a presence but it wasn’t strong.

Barn: When I first entered the barn I felt cold.

Not surprising really, the barn wasn’t converted and although closed off to the elements, there was no insulation. There was a blocked off door/entry at the top of the barn. When I looked at it I got visions of a group of men standing outside on the grass looking up at a pole with a hook and pulley. I know that something had just been swung into the barn and they were waiting for the return of the hook and pulley. Dean felt that the barn had been a grain store in the mid 1700s and saw many men there unloading horsedrawn carriages via a large pulley. He could also see the barn in a really bad state with a collapsed roof. He saw pigeons and rats everywhere!

Above: Dean in the bar - scaring away the residents?

Stairs: When I went to the bottom of the stairs that led to the living quarters I could see

a woman at the top waiting for me to go up. I was sure her presence would haunt the stairs and living quarters. I felt that she wore in a long white dress or nightgown. Dean sat on the bottom of the stairs and saw a woman in a white nightgown. He felt a gust of air blow past him and got the name Alice.

EMF, EVP, Dowsing: Apart from slight fluctuations in the dowsing rods and some muffled sounds on the EMF, nothing of significance was picked up. However, while I was preparing an EVP Sammi saw a white mist go past behind me. She took some photos, they all came out with orbs. The Ouija board was a different story. We tried a few boards in Base Camp: the results were quite impressive. See history for more details.

We’d like to thank Ashley and Kelly McCarthy for their kind hospitality. You can find Ye Old Sun Inn in Colton, near Tadcaster. Call 01904 744261 or visit their website on www.yeoldsuninn.co.uk Next month we are at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

History of Ye Old Sun Inn, Colton.

Colton is a quiet village not far from Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. It was recorded in the Domesday book, where the manor house was occupied by Osburn D’Arques. Its history has been unremarkable, although it’s not far from Towton and was caught up in the War of the Roses.

Ye Old Sun Inn is recorded as dating back to the late 17th century as an alehouse, and there was probably a dwelling or dwellings (as Dean said), on the same land earlier. Kelly and Ashley McCarthy had not long moved into the pub before they had their first spooky experience. A picture in the snug flew off the wall and straight into the room. The string didn’t break and all the picture hooks remained intact. Did something throw it?

Dean was right about changes in the snug, there has been a change of an Inglenook fireplace which had been done in the 1970s, as he correctly picked up.

Sammi had said that she felt angels and religious services in the snug.

Kelly told us that they had often used this room for Christenings and that, hiding behind the curtains were two cherubs!

Colton was also very involved with the

Methodist movement, so it is more than likely that there would have been church services held on or near the spot.

Ashley said that he really noticed the place was ‘haunted’ when he converted one of the rooms adjoining the kitchen. It was as the work was being done that “everything happened”. Doors would slam when no-one was there; staff would see people walk through the snug when no-one was there and loud footsteps would be heard often.

Kelly told us that when she first moved in she would ‘dream’ that there was someone at the bottom of the bed. One night she woke up but couldn’t sit up. She could feel a presence. When she did finally mention this to Ashley, he confirmed he had felt the same. Dean and I both picked up a woman at the top of the stairs leading towards Kelly’s room: was she the mystery presence?

The kitchen has also been a hive of unusual activity: knives have come off the benches; spoons have moved by themselves. Ashley says that he often feels a presence when he is in there.

Diana and Sammi had both picked up sailors in the pub and had wondered why. Kelly told us that the next

village to Colton used to have a main boatyard and that the beam in the back lounge was from a ship.

When we used the Ouija board, we picked up a man at the first attempt.

He seemed in fear of his life from ‘bows’ and ‘Yorkists’ (War of the Roses). Kelly was also shocked when the board told us that ‘Tommo’ wanted to talk. Kelly had a brother Matthew … who’s closest friends called him Tommo!

Ashley was also surprised when I told him of my man in a Tricorn hat. He said that he had been chatting to a customer one night and happened to glance from the lounge towards the toilet area. He saw a figure, shaded in black, wearing boots, a long coat and a tricorn hat. This had happened only a few weeks before the Visionaries visit. He hadn’t even told Kelly.

Ashley has since found out that a man believed to be the same man as my figure, was visiting Colton Lodge nearby and came into the pub. He had a few too many drinks and, on his way back to the lodge, fell into the lake (behind what is now the ‘Grange Farmhouse’) and drowned. He has been seen regularly walking the same route.

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Cryptozoologist Richard Freeman investigates stories of an extinct species - does it still exist?

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t was a rainy night in North West Tasmania. Wildlife researcher Hans Naarding had been sleeping in his 4 x 4. The year was 1982. Naarding had been in this remote, forested area studying a little bird called Latham’s Snipe; he was a well respected biologist. He awoke at 2am and switched on his spotlight. What he saw next he would never forget.

Illuminated in the beam was an animal believed to have been extinct since 1936. It was an adult male Thylacine; otherwise known as a Tasmanian Wolf. With shaking hands he reached for his camera, but the magnificent beast was startled by his movement and melted into the shadows, leaving the biologist in a state of shock.

Cryptozoology looks at creatures that are constantly reported by too many individuals to ignore: but that formal science says does not exist. The Loch Ness monster, the Yeti, Dragons ... they are all examples of the fantastical that are being seen on a regular basis. The Thylacine is another such creature. It actually existed, but is now said to be extinct. Is it? Let’s look at more evidence.

The thylacine was a striking example of convergent evolution, where two unrelated species evolved to resemble each other because they are

filling similar ecological niches. It resembled a wolf or dog, but it was in fact a marsupial. It differed from the true wolf; not only in bearing a pouch but in having stripes along its hindquarters. The animal was a formidable predator with jaws that gaped far wider than the real wolf. Its closest relative is the Tasmanian Devil (yes, there really is a Tasmanian devil, but it bears scant resemblance to the Warner Brothers cartoon character. It looks like a cross between a badger and a bull terrier, but it does make an awful sound; very much like its animated counterpart).

The thylacine once ranged across New Guinea, mainland Australia, and Tasmania. When the Aborigines brought dingoes over from Asia they introduced alien diseases to the thylacines. On the mainland, conventional wisdom states that they died out around 2000 years ago.

The dingo never reached Tasmania and this became the last stronghold of the marsupial wolf. When the white settlers arrived in

Tasmania, they quickly wiped out the native people and began to farm sheep.

They saw the thylacine as a menace and began the most merciless campaign of slaughter in history. A bounty on the thylacine began in 1830 and in the next 25 years alone 2898 bounties were paid on thylacine skins.

By the turn of the century the animal had become rare. The last known specimen, a female misnamed Benjamin, died in 1936 in Hobart zoo. Ironically, the Tasmanian government outlawed the killing of thylacines just two months before she died. A sequence of grainy film of Benjamin pacing her cage exists. Is this a tragic document of the last of these incredible creatures to walk the earth?

Since 1936 there have been well over 1000 claimed sightings of thylacines in the Tasmanian wilderness, mainly from the north west and north east of the island. Not all have been by laymen. As well as the biologist mentioned above, a park ranger, Charlie Beasley, saw one in 1995 in the St Helens area of the north east.

“What I viewed for two minutes was about half the size of a fully matured German shepherd dog, he had stripes over his body from about half way down, and his tail was curved like a kangaroo’s. He sniffed the ground, lifted his head and ran into the bush. He was a scrappy colour like a dingo: that horrible sandy colour that looks like he needed a bath”.

Not only sightings support the continued existence of the thylacine.

Dr Henry Nix of the Australian National University’s Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies perfected a computer program called BIOCLIM. This

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worked by matching all the known habits of a given animal to a given area of land then predicted the areas that the animal in question would most likely be found.

Nix tried this with the thylacine on Tasmania. Then he examined the post1936 sightings that had been documented. To his amazement there was an almost exact match. The chances of this occurring randomly are virtually nil! Nix concluded that the thylacine was still alive and as many as 1000 still roamed the dense Tasmanian forests.

Even more amazingly, evidence

strange manner of running: although the animal was swinging regularly sideways, the hind part of the body made a kind of bobbing, up and down movement; the impression was as if the animal was drunk. His observations were made at a distance of 15-20 metres, in full daylight.

In 1964 Miss Rilla Martin photographed what looks very like a thylacine in Western Victoria. The shot shows a striped dog-like animal with powerful jaws.

Between 1965 and 1968 many thylacine sightings were reported in

concluded that the thylacine was “Nix still alive and as many as 1000 still roamed the dense Tasmanian forests. ” is growing for the animal’s survival on mainland Australia as well! The late Peter Chapple was a first rate zoologist and bushman. He worked for the Australian Rare Fauna Research Organization. Peter saw thylacines on the mainland on no less than four occasions. He showed me a remarkable sequence of film shot near a caravan site in Victoria in 1971. It shows a striped dog-like beast bounding along.

Sceptics have dismissed it as a dog of fox with Mange. Peter showed me the film frame by frame and it was swiftly apparent that the creature’s legs did not move like those of a dog or fox but in the manner of a marsupial.

An interesting account is that of S. J. Paramonov, who in 1949, on the Bourke-Wanaaring Road, witnessed a dog-like animal which “was uniformly grey-brown, with short hairs; the strange tail, extremely wide at the base, seemed to be a continuation of the hind quarters; the hind leg was strongly marked with almost horizontal stripes”, in other words, the hindquarters were like a thylacine’s but the markings were not.

The most remarkable feature was the

South Australia. Around one hundred people claimed to see a thylacines at thirty-five separate locations between the Coorong and Nelson, Victoria, though particularly in the Beachport-Millicent area. One observer, a National Park Keeper, made a sketch that looked like a thylacine.

In 1977 a group of thylacines was reported from the Victoria/New South Wales border. They were supposed to have a number of cubs with them.

Thylacines are reported from almost all the wilder parts of Australia (except the most arid). A sequence of film was shot a couple of years ago in Queensland. The author has seen this and believes that if it is not a CGIcreated image then it can be nothing else but a thylacine.

More recently a man in Victoria claimed that his brother, who was visiting from Germany, had photographed a

marsupial wolf. The shots were shown to a senior figure at the Department of Primary Industries Nature Conservation Branch, wildlife biologist Nick Mooney and also to Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery director Bill Bleathman. Mooney stated “It is clearly more likely a thylacine than any other animal”. Bleatham said, “They showed the back of a thylacine but its head, hindquarters and tail were not clearly visible”.

On New Guinea too, the thylacine is supposed to survive.

Sightings have been reported as recently as the 1990s, with witnesses pointing to thylacine photos when asked to choose which animal looks like their native dobsegna. Locations known for sightings of the dobsegna are Gunsung Lorentz National Park and Mount Giluwe. The natives say dobsegna resembles a striped dog and comes down from the mountains to kill livestock.

The thylacine has been called “the healthiest extinct animal in the world”. Few scientists now doubt its survival. It seems like only a matter of time before this Lazarus of the animal kingdom will step out of the shadows to be fully recognized once again. Then maybe we’ll be “crying wolf” for all the right reasons …

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Diana Jarvis explains your weird experiences.

Crushing Presence I wonder if you can explain this happening to me. On two different occasions I have been unable to sleep and have gone downstairs to sleep on the sofa. I cannot recall dreaming but both times I have woken quite spooked as if some person is trying to push me down hard on the shoulders leaving me with an unpleasant feeling. The spirit world does not hold any fear to me so please can you explain why this happened?

Margaret De’ath, Maldon Diana says: There are two theories for this phenomena (which is unbelievably common). One is that you are suffering from sleep paralysis. This is a common condition and its symptoms are exactly as you have described. The other is that you have been visited by the Night Mare (Mare comes from Mara, which I believe is a Scandinavian term for Hag). There is a very famous picture by Henry Fusili, which shows a sleeping woman with a demon on her chest, illustrating the belief and highlighting the fact that some people actually have visions of a hag or a demon on their chest! Not just from centuries ago when these creatures were believed in, but also today in the 21st Century! I think that it is most likely that it you are experiencing sleep paralysis, which doesn’t happen too often and is only rarely recurring. If you’d like to find out more, you can look this up on the internet: here is the URL of a good site on the subject. http://watarts.uwaterloo.ca/~acheyne/S_P.html

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If you would like to share your experiences, send them to Diana Jarvis at the Vision address or email: experiencesexplained@visionmagazine.uk.com Please give as many details as possible – tell us what you saw, how you felt, and what you sensed etc. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Disembodied Voice I was visiting my girlfriend when my ‘happening’ occurred. As I was walking through her house I heard a strange man laughing. I thought it was just noise from the television. However, the voice started to follow me into the kitchen from the hallway: it was like the noise was trapped around me. The easiest way to describe it is to say it was like I was moving in stereo sound. I have tried to brush it off and forget it, but I’ve had to think again. When I told my girlfriend, she said that a friend of hers had heard the same thing a few months ago. I have done a bit of research and found that the house was only built a few years ago. What do you think happened?

Phil, Lancashire.

Diana says: My first thought would be that you are hearing the voice of a spirit that is resident in the house. Even if a house is new, it is more than likely there would have been a dwelling there maybe centuries before. It is not true that only old buildings get haunted! However, from your description of the sound that was made, I think it more likely that you had activated a ‘replay’. A replay is a vision, sound, smell or taste that is simply part of an event from the past. Unless you get some one-to-one communication from the ‘spirit’ it may well not be revisiting … just replaying,

Hostile Spirit?

I thought you might be interested in this photo. My daughter wanted to take a photo of me and I very reluctantly agreed. This was the result, my daughter seems to think this spirit seems a little hostile, I believe it may have been protecting me from an unwanted mug shot! What do you think?

Mrs Kim Barker, Enfield Diana says: Thank you for your photo, which is very interesting indeed. As you may know, there are allegedly four stages of spirit manifestation: orbs, vortex, ectoplasm, and manifestation. You have orbs in your picture … and the start of a second stage, known as a vortex. I think it is very likely your daughter has captured something paranormal. I think it unlikely that the spirit(s) is hostile though, I think it is simply the change in the pattern and energy. Protective: probably … hostile: no!

Michael Standing Wolf explores the beaches of Hawaii and unearths the myths and legends still believed today In the Beginning

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very ancient culture has storytellers who can relate with relish how it all began; “it” being the universe and everything in it. In the West we had the Big Bang theory, followed by the Steady State theory, and now….well it’s hard to say how scientists currently explain the origin of the cosmos unless you check your paper on a daily basis. Today’s big idea is tomorrow’s discarded notion, it seems.

The ancient Hawaiians believed that, in the beginning, there was Po. Po was akin to the Great Mystery of the Native Americans and the Void of the ancient Druids – an unfathomable, unknowable beginning sometimes known as The Night. Po, manifestly female in nature, was the source of life, wisdom, knowledge and order. Without Po there would be nothing.

Even today Hawaiians will still sometimes utter the maxim “Mai ka po mai”, or “Out of the Night” to insinuate the origin of their ancient beliefs and ways.

At some point in time – or perhaps before time, who knows – Po gave birth to two children. The first, Kumulipo, was male and became known as the Man (male) Night. The second child was Po’ele, the Female (woman) Night.

Kumulipo and Po’ele were the first of the Hawaiian deities called the Akua.

Eventually Kumulipo and Po’ele married and created the earth along with another 40,000 Akua or gods.

The Hawaiian Gods It is interesting to see how the vast number of Hawaiian deities ties in to everything that is meaningful to this outgoing, gregarious people. From

coconuts to canoes, you wouldn’t have to look far to find the influence of a Hawaiian deity in the background.

The first child of Kumulipo and Po’ele (or in some traditions Papa the Earth Mother, and Wakea the Sky Father) was Hina (also known as Haumea), the goddess of coral. The beautiful coral reefs around the islands were believed to be her body and treated with great reverence. Hina, in turn, gave birth to many of the sea creatures and plants that made their home in the coral as well as freshwater shrimps and riverbank mosses. Some of the familial links between the deities are tenuous and difficult to explain. Hina, for example, was also believed to be the mother of the hog deity Kamapua’a. Kamapua’a, in turn, was responsible for teaching humans how to farm and eat the taro plant.

Women in Hawaiian Spirituality One of the most obvious aspects of indigenous Hawaiian spirituality is the emphasis on the power of Woman. In some traditions all female deities are descended from Hina. Hina, or Haumea, is believed to be constantly reincarnated in Hawaiian women, technically giving Hawaiian women today the status of a deity or, at least a semi-deity.

Women are also believed to be the holders and dispensers of mana or spirit energy. From Woman comes life, spirit, energy. Even the name of Hina, the coral deity, is an abbreviated form of Wahini or Wahine, meaning “Woman”.

Males were ever conscious of the power of Woman within their spiritual world. Woman controlled lunar cycles, the dispensation of medicines, the ebb

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and flow of the tides, the migration of fish and animals and even fire. To fishermen, most or all of these were vital facets of their trade, so to disrespect the female aspect of their spiritual heritage would be to invite disaster. To cover all possibilities, however, many communities restricted reef fishing to women and only allowed males to engage in deep-sea fishing further from the shore.

Even sexual activity was influenced by Woman. The goddess Kahaula could, if she felt so disposed, gift men and women with erotic dreams and fantasies if they beseeched her. Laka, another female deity, had the power to make men and women dance erotically and fall in love with each other.

One of the most powerful female Akua was Pele, the daughter of Hina.

Pele could control mountains and make volcanoes explode, but she also had a knack of upsetting her fellow gods and goddesses. Seducing her sister’s husband didn’t earn her any Brownie Points, by way of example, and she also had a habit of burying those who miffed her in molten lava.

Even today Hawaiians are wary of disrespecting Pele. Taxi drivers occasionally report picking up an old woman dressed in white who suddenly disappears when the car is in motion.

This is, some say, the goddess Pele in disguise.

Ku, the Lover of Hina Although the status of Woman in Hawaiian culture is self-evident, it would be wrong to describe primitive Hawaiian society as totally matriarchal, for it was not. The male Akua played an important role and were highly revered.

Maui, one of the goddess Hina’s sons, for example, was tasked with the responsibilities of regulating the speed of the sun as it swept through the sky and keeping the sky itself in place.

Traditionally Hawaiian males paid homage to Ku, Hina’s spouse. Just as Hina looked after the reef fisherwomen, Ku protected the men who fished in the choppy waters further out, ensuring safety if beseeched.

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Just as in North America, the Hawaiian islanders believed in the concept of “balance” or ponoh. For this reason all aspects of Hawaiian life were classed as either male or female so that the ponoh could be maintained.

The Mysterious Menehune It would be remiss to end our excursion through the world of Hawaiian gods,

islets where they would not have to interact with other peoples. There is some evidence that they excelled in stone-working if not in good manners and social graces. From time-to-time small statuettes carved by Menehune in ancient times are unearthed.

Rarely seen, other Hawaiian peoples treated the Menehune with suspicion. Some even came to see them as not fully human. Others believed they

drivers occasionally report picking “upTaxi an old woman dressed in white who

suddenly disappears when the car is in motion. This is, some say, the goddess Pele in disguise.

”

goddesses, myths and legends without giving mention to the Menehune.

It is generally believed that there were two migrations of people into Hawaii from Tahiti in ancient times. The first, known by later migrants as the Menehune, were said to be descended from Chief Menehune, son of Lua-nu-u.

Although probably distributed evenly throughout the entire chain of islands, the isle of Kaua’i seems to have been their “capital” if you like.

The Menehune were said to be short in stature, thick-set and, it must be said, not the most sociable of people.

Keeping themselves to themselves, the Menehune were said to prefer remote forest areas and rocky

were elemental spirits similar in nature and disposition to Irish leprechauns.

Inevitably, the Menehune became demonised without any cause whatsoever, as is (sadly) the case with much that is misunderstood and feared.

We now know that the Menehune were not the ignorant savages they are often portrayed to be. They were master stonemasons and even built huge, man-made reservoirs. Far from being primitive, they were in some ways far more sophisticated than those who came after them despite having some very strange habits.

The Menehune would only build during the night when the moon was shining and, if they could not finish a building project in one single night they would stop work at dawn and never finish the edifice in question. To build huge stone walls between sundown and sunrise must have taken incredible organisation.

In 1820 a survey was carried out and only 65 Menehune people were left.

It is now likely that they are extinct although I’d dearly love to hear otherwise. Like so much else in Hawaii, the Menehune have woven themselves into the cultural tapestry; what they have to teach us should not be allowed to disappear under the sands of time.

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Sammi Addey reviews ancient Huna techniques first-hand. Do the teachings of Huna really offer a spiritual option for today’s seekers?

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nce again Vision Magazine was able to sneak a preview of what an ancient culture is all about!

This time we were invited to sample the delights of the Huna tradition at a lovely Spiritual Centre based near Manchester

by Gary Plunkett, teacher and follower of the Huna way. For me, the experience was a complete eye opener!

At the very beginning of the course, Gary assured us that we would be taught to chill-out the Hawaiian way. He was absolutely right … by the end of the course we certainly chilled out!

Ho’omana is the original name for Huna which means ‘To make (Ho’o) Energy (Mana)’. If there was anything that I learnt from the weekend it was that no matter how tired or run down you are, there is enough energy in this world for us all to share and no one should have to go without. Gary’s teaching have helped me to increase the energy that I have so that I no longer suffer from a deficit. That is quite something!

A lot of the teachings of Huna revolve around the use of energy through breathing, as I am sure you will have already read in Gary’s articles. Gary taught us this ... and more. In fact, to my mind, we learnt everything that you could hope to fit into a whole weekend and much more besides. I think that the most important thing when learning new skills is to be in a position to absorb them, to feel totally comfortable. Fortunately, Gary obviously realised this as we were able to contemplate the information while chilling out in our comfy chairs: such an enjoyable way of learning a whole new world!

Gary also talked us through the history of the Hawaiians and their beliefs, which is an important part of learning: to know where all the techniques come

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from! Then we got straight into the interactive stage of the course.

Being able to think with an Hawaiian mindset is quite important. ‘Do what is good and don’t waste energy on what is pointless.’ That made sense to me

... but has not worked out the way it was orginally perceived. It is a mis-take.

Breathing was, and still is, very much a big part of the everyday life of the Hawaiians. We did a lot of breathing!

Our heads were spinning with all that

A lot of the teachings of “ Huna revolve around the use of energy through breathing” and is quite logical. However, I was surprised to find out that the Hawaiians value making mistakes. Many of us don’t like to err, but Gary taught us that a mistake is an action that has been taken

energy swirling around! You can read more about a simple Hawaiian breathing technique that we used on P22.

Chanting also is a perfect way to chill out and definitely a fun way to fill

you with energy and really make you wake you up in the morning. Huna chanting is really different to other chanting techniques that I’ve experienced, it seems to be a lot faster than others I’ve tried and more pronounced. I felt that while I chanted I needed to focus more on my body and mind than I did on what was around me.

The vibration of the chant resonates and builds up the energy. When we practiced this technique, we all noticed that we became more energetic after a chant.

The most interesting and revealing part of the course was where we learnt the Hawaiian code of forgiveness.

“To forgive and not forget, is not to forgive”. The one thing we always say here in Britain is “ I’ll forgive - but I won’t forget”. Put these sayings together and they are the most meaningful contradictions I have ever heard! I believe you can learn so much from the Hawaiian code of forgiveness, much more so than ours.

In our group, we learnt that for the Hawaiians to move on in their life after someone has hurt them, they have to learn to forgive wholeheartedly. They do this by going into a state of meditation and imagining a stage where they welcome the person that they need to cut emotional ties with in order to release their own anger and pain. This enables them to feel free from them again. I can

say that the stage did not seem big enough for all the people to fit on that I needed to forgive! I remember Gary telling us that in his first forgiveness session he ended up using a football stadium! It is all a learning curve and you come to realise that “forgiveness is a selfish act” but one that will help you to move forward in a positive direction.

When we had come to terms with the forgiving part of ourselves we were then taught how to connect with

is a “forgiveness selfish act ” our higher self. This therapy was extremely enlightening and so exciting! I cannot reveal enough of this part of the course for you to even begin to grasp how fantastic the feeling of connecting to your higher spirit is! You just have to check it out for yourselves, it was mind-blowing for me!

Having said that, I think that the best part of the course was the Huna dream interpretation technique. I have always had a keen interest in dream interpretation and when Gary told us that the Hawaiians call on ‘dreamtime’ I couldn’t wait to hear more. Gary taught us how dreaming is a way for your higher

conscious and unconscious mind to help you resolve issues that your conscious mind can find hard to deal with in everyday life.

When we went through the process, we were all quite shocked at the results and we were then able to see that certain issues in our life were easier to deal with and accept. I now use this process every day. If you are the type of person that does not always remember dreams, then there is also a way of letting your conscious mind connect with your unconscious mind to let through those thoughts and help you determine what issues you need to resolve.

I would personally like to thank Gary for his wonderful insight into the Hawaiian way of life. I really believe that what I have learnt has value and I find myself using the techniques on a daily basis and getting very positive results. It is also very heartening to find that an ancient culture has real value in the world today and it is equally heartening to know that these techniques have not disappeared into the mists of time.

To those readers out there that would like to learn to ‘chill out’ …this is the workshop for you!

Gary Plunkett’s course: Discover Ancient Hawaiian Huna, regularly throughout the year. You can call Gary on 0800 458 6799 for more information and to secure your place on the next course.

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Gary Plunkett talks us through the ancient secrets of Hawaiian Spirituality Aloha!

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’d like to greet you all, ano ai, ke aloha, in love and humbleness. Kala mai I au. Please forgive me my mistakes, for sometimes I shall assume you know less than you do, at other times I shall assume you know more than you do. A ohe pau ko ike I kou halau: “think not all wisdom is in your school!”

If you’re new to the ancient wisdom of the Hawaiians, I’d like to skim the top of the pond with you, for you know not yet how deep the pond truly is.

The word Huna is short for ho’omana, literally, the art and science to make life force energy for yourself.

Just imagine feeling really good about yourself, all the time: a 100% feelgood factor! Imagine a feeling of deep comfort within yourself, and with the world, and those around you. Fantastic health, more energy than ever before, the stamina to keep going longer than the Battery Bunny and a fun-filled outlook with joy and love for the world. How good would that be? Let’s take a short journey so you can begin to discover just how deep the pond can be.

There are 3 main ways to increase your life force energy: chanting, (which you can experience in my classes), sex and breathing. Breathing is a technique I’m going to focus on in this article as anyone can learn this Hawaiian technique really easily, right now.

The deeply powerful ancient secrets of increasing your life force energy that you are about to discover have stood the test of time. Some say 3,500 years or even more. These timeless truths are true for you right now in the present, working effortlessly for very modern people with very busy lives.

I’ve carefully chosen to share with you the easiest and simplest of ways to chill-out and de-stress and increase your life-energy…and yet, these are also some of the most powerful techniques available on the planet, anywhere. Now

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you may know other techniques that seem similar, but they are not the same as those of Huna.

Like all new skills, these techniques will benefit from practice. Our minds usually need to repeat a new skill 7 times before we even start to gain the benefit, so please practise. As the Hawaiians would say: those who practise their skills learn more deeply.

These techniques work if you use them. Often. Daily or maybe even

energy. However, Captain Cook didn’t breathe as they did. Nor did his sailors.

And nor do you … yet!

Now I know you believe you’ve been breathing all your life, and in a way you have. However, you probably haven’t been using breath as the most easy way to improve your health and well-being, so just allow yourself to use this relaxing way to connect, tune in, and light up…inside…with who you really are.

Find a quiet place, maybe with

Our minds usually need to “ repeat a new skill 7 times before

we even start to gain the benefit, so please practice.” several times a day is preferred and do please share these skills. This is a wonderfully powerful way to connect at the deepest level with your children, your partner, your family and friends.

When Captain Cook first landed in Hawaii, the Hawaiians were surprised at his behaviour. Before each event in their lives, before a meeting, before eating, before preparing to begin any task: the Hawaiians breathed. They breathed together in a way that rapidly and easily increased their life-force

relaxing music and incense if you can, and either sit, or (as I do) stand up for maximum benefit.

Begin to breathe in strongly and gently through your nose and then out through your mouth for twice as long, making the noise ‘ha’ just from your breath, as you breathe out. Even if you’ve learned other breathing methods, use this one: it will be different.

Take four ‘Ha’ breaths, and then one normal breath. Notice the tension easing from your neck and shoulders?

Now take four more ‘Ha’ breaths, and this time, as you breathe in through the nose, focus on the top of your head. As you breathe out through the mouth, focus on the soles of your feet.

Again take a normal breath, noticing you’re relaxing more and more.

Now close your eyes and repeat for up to five minutes, breathing in through the nose, (focusing on the top of your head), and breathing out through your mouth (focusing on your feet). If you begin to feel light-headed, you may pause until you feel happy to continue.

So what do you notice…inside?

Many report feeling more relaxed. If that’s you, well done. Thank your inner self for helping you, regardless of the result, and agree with yourself to practise this until it feels easy for you.

This breathing works because you’ve just sent a huge amount of energy and oxygen around your body. Notice how good this feels.

If you wish you can repeat straight away, or take some time each day, gradually increasing the time up to 20-30 minutes or longer. This is a great method to use in the car to combat stress from traffic jams (but eyes open!) or anywhere you might normally be stressed, for example:, at work.

I’ve shown this to senior citizens who have told me their arthritis and rheumatism pains have reduced significantly for quite a while, even after just 10 minutes ‘Ha’ breathing. So, although it is a very simple technique, it is also very powerful in aiding the body to heal and regenerate itself. Combine with drinking lots of still mineral water for even better effects.

What differences have you noticed? I’d love to know your results

For more information about Hawaiian Huna, workshops, CDs, books and more, email: vision@spiritofhawaii.co.uk or call 08707 570292. Go for it…!

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Gary Plunkett introduces us to Huna and some Hawaiian spiritual teachings you can use at home.

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awaiian teachings were not only true in ancient times, but are also true now and are used by many Hawaiians today, even though they may not be aware of the source. Most Hawaiians live western lives and culture, and sadly are unaware of their marvellous heritage. However, there is a growing resurgence, and these teachings are growing stronger after a long dormant period.

The Huna system of healing, spirit and wisdom is as complete as any other system on the planet. These teachings come from an unbroken lineage stretching back thousands of years. Some say 35,000 years, from before Atlantis and before even Lemuria.

Lineage is very important, and I am delighted to be able to pass my lineage on to you. All wisdom is from my teachers, and all mistakes are my own.

From Tad & Matt James, and ‘Uncle’ George Lanakilakeikiahiali’I Naope, Kahuna Po’o O ka Hula, and Hula Masters Etua Lopes of Kona, and John Ka’imikaua of Molaka’i, with additional teachings from Serge Kahili King of Kau’i.

Because of the unbroken nature of the Huna teachings, Huna has correspondences with most other systems. Guardian spirit: Native American; 4/5 elements – Alchemy, Hermeticism, Celtic, Egyptian; Dream-time: Maori, Aborigine, Native American; Spell-casting: Wicca;

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ho’omanaloa energy healing: Philippines, Reiki … and many more.

The principles of Huna are powerfully simple: if something increases your life force energy, then do more of it and if something decreases your life force energy, then do less of it.

Each Hawaiian island, and even each family, had its own traditions, so you may see variations on the teachings given here. This does not make one better or worse, only different. Like a new overcoat, try on each idea. Some will fit straight away, some you will grow into with practice. Do not do these because I Below: The three minds

say so, try them because they work for you.

Unfortunately when the missionaries arrived on Hawaii, they did not understand what they found, and sadly these teachings were banned in the ‘land of the free’ until 1989, so this may well be your first discovery of these powerful and uplifting teachings.

The Kahuna or specialist experts/Professors, knew that although we are one holistic whole, it is extremely useful to understand ourselves as having 3 minds, each with differing roles. Very briefly: Firstly there is your conscious mind, that you are thinking with right now. This is where you direct your life, make decisions and understand concepts.

Secondly, you have an unconscious mind, which runs your body, maintains your habits, values and beliefs, stores your memories and is the seat of your emotions and feelings.

Below: Interaction of the three minds

Thirdly your higher conscious mind or higher self. This is your connection to the infinite universal energy, or God as some call it, sometimes called higher spirit, holy spirit, guardian spirit or guardian angel.

However, one mind may not tell another what to do, which is why you can’t just tell yourself to quit smoking or lose weight instantly.

We are fortunate to be able to teach a most beautiful ceremony in our classes where most students are able to easily connect with their higher self, a very powerful and uplifting experience.

However, for many of us in the west, we are so caught up in conscious mind activities such as work, computers, TV or reading that we create blockages to our unconscious self. This means that we are less in touch with our inner feelings and emotions, and so we feel unhappy but don’t know why, or we do things we regret later. Huna teaches you how to easily clear these blockages to live a simpler, happier, less anxious and less angry and more fulfilled life.

An easy way to begin to learn how to do this for yourself is to practice a technique called Hakalau, which means to focus and defocus at the same time! It is also known as the moving meditation of the Kahuna.

Focus your eyes on a spot in front of you and above your eye level.

Where the ceiling meets the wall will do, letting your eyes go slack and relaxed.

Begin to notice that you can become aware of things to the side of the original

spot, even while you’re still focusing on it.

Then begin to notice things more and more to the side, almost on the edge of your normal vision, right at the peripheral of your vision, while still being focused on the original spot. Now here’s the interesting part, you may start to feel a little odd doing this, but that is the intention. Start to allow your attention to go behind you until you can feel it sort of meet directly behind you!

Now, slowly stand up keeping in that state, and slowly walk around, trusting your inner self to be aware of any obstacles. Go ahead and notice that your attention is totally outside of yourself, so you can talk in front of others without self-consciousness. If you listen in this Hakalau state, you will find that you are able to remember far more than you normally would, as you are more deeply connected to your inner self, which is where your memories are stored. It will also allow you to keep track of many things going on around you all at once.

Mothers use this technique subconsciously to keep track of their children, so they know exactly what the child is doing, even if they aren’t anywhere near them.

The Hawaiians have also invented numerous other ceremonies and techniques to enhance their life force energy, including breathing, meditation and Hulahula. Hula isn’t just about grassskirted dancers in Elvis Presley movies, although it can be. The style in these movies is called ‘Hula Mele’ and is considered akin to our pop music.

Hula Kahiko is the more ancient style, and is more chant-based, similar to our hymns, although with dancing and music is a lot more lively and fun! These dances, singing and chants are considered a ‘body-prayer’, an offering of fun, lightheartedness to the ‘goddess’ Laka, spirit of the Hula.

The Hawaiians believe that we are all part of one whole, unifying and connected universal energy, of which there are many aspects, and therefore many ‘gods’.

Each place has its own spirit, and each wind, each tree, each rock, each animal and each human. So we humans and the land are one indivisible whole. Humans are not superior to any part of nature, and the Hawaiians go to great lengths to always give back, whenever they take anything from nature, often giving gifts or offerings of flowers or chants to the spirits of the ancestors. In a way, we do this too, naming mountains and lakes as well as hurricanes (eg Katrina).

At the deepest and highest levels, the universe consists of a pure potentiality of both everything and nothing. This splits into the greater male energy, representing form, action, and structure, whilst the feminine aspect of the universe, represents pure energy.

In such a short space it is not possible to give you a full flavour of the power and depth of the healing and spirit of the Hawaiian traditions. I have seen a paralysed man regain full use of his arm and leg in an hour, arthritis and rheumatism reduced and IBS and many other ailments cleared in just minutes.

Everyone who experiences Higher-Self Connection finds it to be a deeply touching and uplifting experience to literally touch the face of Spirit. The best way to learn Huna is to do it. Either an introductory workshop, or even better, a spiritual retreat in Hawaii itself, as the energy there is fabulous!

Mahalo, thank you for reading, I would love to hear from you!

Gary Plunkett Student and Certified Teacher of Hawaiian Huna www.spiritofhawaii.co.uk

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Dave Brennan

Michael Standing Wolf

Do you have a problem which you lack intuition to solve? Do you have any questions about the future to which you seek answers? Native American Michael Standing Wolf will use his Spirit Stones and psychic Dave Brennan will consult the Twist of Fate cards to offer a fresh view on matters.

Will our friendship become a romance?

There’s a boy I’ve known for about 2 years. We have always got on well together. I want to find out if our friendly relationship will turn into a romance. We have dated twice before, but now it’s like he’s fading out of the picture. He still sees me but it’s not the same.

Natalie, Gloucester

I want to emigrate I would really love to emigrate this year I already have a country in mind. Please can you tell me if it will be possible?

Ang, Coventry

Michael Standing Wolf’s Spirit Stone Reading: The Frog, The Porcupine. One of the lessons that the spirits want to teach us is that very few things in life are permanent. Whether the relationship between this young man and yourself blossoms is something that only you and he can decide. The Grandfathers will not override your freedom to choose, and your boyfriend has the same liberty. However, the Frog indicates that there are big changes ahead in your personal life; I suspect this includes relationships. You will go through a period of “spring cleaning” and see new beginnings. Sit down with your boyfriend and ask him whether he is committed to the relationship. If he is, then decide how much commitment you have.

The Porcupine heralds great joy in your future if you act wisely. Whether or not you stay together, you will eventually find what you seek.

David Brennan’s Twist of Fate Reading: Cards Chosen: 2 of Hearts; 10 of Spades; Knave of Spades; 9 of Diamonds. The overriding feeling of your reading is that you will be lucky in love over time and your emotional future is certainly one you need not worry about. In the near future though, I can see some disappointment, there is an indication that this relationship you are talking about may be ending because it has run its course. Be assured that any changes are certainly for your greater good and that there is so much more to come and to look forward to.

Michael Standing Wolf’s Spirit Stone Reading: The Coyote, the Badger. Possible but not inevitable is my answer, and here’s why. Technically there’s nothing to stop you moving abroad, but the uncertainty the Coyote brings indicates that you need to examine your motives for wanting to do this.

Badger urges you to find your roots – wherever they may be – and settle down. The fact that you simply “have a country in mind” suggests that it is not so much going to another country that is important, but rather leaving this one. If you need to make a fresh start - go ahead, but be careful not to abandon the good things around you. This is known as “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” and needs to be avoided. The decision is yours. All the Grandfathers urge you to do is think carefully about it.

David Brennan’s Twist of Fate Reading: Cards Chosen: 2 of clubs; It seems to me from your reading that you have a lot of allies and friends that can give you some good advice. I can see a relationship that has not been so good, but the cards do suggest that if it has ended, it has been for the right reasons and was not meant to be. I cannot see a move this year for you, but I do see a long trip that will be pleasurable. Perhaps this is time to take stock and think carefully before you make a major move. I can’t see any disasters highlighted, so whatever you do, you are likely to be fine. My gut instinct tells me that you may decide to wait a bit after all …

Worried about Mum I am really concerned about my mum. She and my step-dad had been married for 15 years when he announced that he wanted a divorce.

This threw my mum completely and she tried to kill herself. She has said some nasty things to me and she says that her children are dead.

This makes myself and my sister feel awful.

We support her but she is so hot and cold. My Nan died in September 2005 (my mum’s mum), and I know she is looking after me as she visits me in my dreams and I can always smell her. My mum has lost her husband and lost her mother in the same year and now she is dating different men, staying out late, going clubbing and I fear for her sanity and safety. I had to identify her when she tried to kill herself and I think she is on the road to trying it again. I just hope that the future will be secure for her. Please could you help?

Claire, South Yorkshire

Love regrets I am 72 in March (Aries) and I am still married to a man that I have never had a lot of feelings for. So, over 40 years ago, I fell in love with a smashing man from Scotland. Cutting a long story short I could not leave my husband as we had kids. I could not live without them.

My love and I had a talk and I decided to stay, but we kept in touch for a while, then I cut all contact. I have regretted it. I still think of him.

Do you think I would ever see him again so that I could tell him I did make a mistake - a great mistake - in not being strong enough to go with him? Will I ever find any happiness, as I have had a terrible number of years? Please give me an answer.

Name withheld, Hampshire

Change of friends and career?

I have a set of friends(all older than me) who I thought were cool to hang around with, then I just lost contact with them. Should I pursue this friendship (I’m not too sure because they’ve all started to use drugs) or continue with my new friends and web design? This brings me onto my main question: will my web-designing help me in the future?

Can I make a career out of it?

Please help me! My friends (present & past) or web design(my future career?)?

Johny, Leicester.

Michael Standing Wolf’s Spirit Stone reading: The White Fox, the Pony. There is an old Indian saying which goes, “Never judge a person until you have walked a mile in their moccasins”, and I’m glad that you aren’t judging your mum. She’s been through a terrible time and it’s unlikely that she’s responsible for her present state of mind. White Fox speaks of turmoil and resentment. I suspect she is trying not to get too close to people at the moment to protect herself from further hurt or loss. Don’t take her angry words personally. Despite what she says she is angry at her circumstances, not her children. The Pony indicates a process of healing, but it may take a while and involve weathering tough times. Mum’s future is in her own hands. Be as supportive as you can and rejoice in the help that you are obviously getting from your ancestors in the world of spirit. They will always be there for you.

David Brennan’s Twist of Fate reading: Cards Chosen: 2 0f Spades; 8 of Spades; Queen of Spades; King of Spades; King of Hearts. From what is indicated on your reading, I would say that a lot of your mother’s actions are really prompted by her anger at her situation. It seems her main aim at the moment is to meet a man who would be her equal; part of the reason for this is as a type of revenge on your step-father, who she blames for the break-up entirely. It does look as if there is a man in the near future who will help your mother to get back on track. Whether this man will be your mother’s future partner I cannot say. There is reassurance that your mother will return to her normal self and that you will have a happy family life again.

Michael Standing Wolf’s Spirit Stone Reading: The Bear, the Porcupine. Bear indicates that you now see those times with your friend an escape route from your present situation. It’s unlikely that you could rekindle your old relationship as you indicate that you haven’t seen the man for some time. He may have found a new love now, and renewing contact may cause all sorts of problems. The reality is that your relationship with this man is over, and you need to move on. Porcupine tells you to do what makes you happy, and gives you a dilemma. You need to decide whether life is worth living with your husband. If it is then you must try and work on issues that are making you unhappy. If not, then you need to move on.

The spirits will not make this decision for you, but be assured they will help you every step of the way when you decide what to do.

Dave Brennan’s Twist of Fate Reading: Cards Chosen: 2 of Hearts; King of Clubs; Ace of Clubs; 7 of Diamonds; Knave of Hearts; Knave of Spades; King of Hearts; Queen of Spades. I can see on your reading that there is a small chance that you may reconnect with this man in the future. However, the cards also show me the consequences of this. If you did reconnect, there would be repercussions in both your family and in his life: the only way to avoid that would be to maintain complete silence. It seems unlikely that it would be possible to do this. The results of another meeting and connection would be quite disastrous. I cannot see from the cards that another meeting with the aim of trying to pick up where you left off would bring anything but sorrow in the long term. Decide what you want with your current relationship and if you can continue your life with your husband. Spirit will help to guide and support you with any decision you make if you ask them.

Michael Standing Wolf’s Spirit Stone Reading: The Wolf, The Shrew, the Pony.

Listen to Wolf, the teacher and giver of wisdom: drugs wreck lives, so don’t renew contact with your drug-taking friends. Don’t be abusive to them or “tell them where to go”; instead, just gently but firmly resolve to stay away from them and make new acquaintances. In this way they will no longer be your friends but neither will they become enemies. The Shrew says you need to be absolutely determined to change your life and stick with the changes you make. Web design is definitely a possibility, but Pony says you probably won’t work alone. In short, you will do better with a business partner than striking out on a lone venture.

David Brennan’s Twist of Fate Reading: Cards Chosen: 2 of Clubs; Ace of Diamonds; King of Spades. There is a strong suggestion from the cards that two young people around you do not value your friendship and expect more from you than you can give.

They may have decided to blame you for something unfairly. I feel that a move away from your original group of friends will be both a healthy and sensible thing to do. You may find a father (or father figure) will intervene, but this will be out of concern for you. I can see success indicated in future projects, which suggests you may do well with web design. It will take time and hard work, but I believe you have the determination to suceed. Good luck in all you do.

Send your questions about the future to: Destiny Doctors, Vision, 42a Main Street, Garforth,LS25 1AA, or email destinydoctors@visionmagazine.uk.com Please include all details you feel are relevant.

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S

and Reading, not surprisingly, dates back to the ancient Egyptians.

Amenhotep II’s son, Thutmosis IV, used divination to assist him in his position as his father’s successor to the throne. There is an inscription on the “Sphinx Stele” which describes this. He fell asleep at the head of the Sphinx, which at the time was mostly buried in sand. He had a dream of the Sphinx revealing to him a prophecy; “Look at me, observe me, my son Thutmosis! I am your father, where I lay my body is marred by the sand of the desert, upon which I used to be. It is in order to cause that you do what is in my heart, that I have wanted”. Upon awaking Thutmosis decided right away to excavate the Sphinx from the sand. It has become a tradition amongst alchemists and diviners to obtain sand from between the paws of the Sphinx to use for scrying in sand.

In the temples of Isis, sand and water were used together to read the future and receive guidance. It was believed that all the Elements were required to be able to see past, present and future. Earth was found in bone (desert sand will have particles of bone from the creatures that have died there); Water (taken from the Nile or from Temple pools were mixed in the sand); Fire came from the sun that the reader would work under, and Air moved over the sand as it was read. The Nomads that travelled through the desert from Arabia right into Spain carried this belief and used desert scrying to navigate their way and find healthy land to settle on.

The desert nomads of the Saqqara, the Tuareg, made marks in the desert with bone, water brought from the sea and blood or footprints in the sand (which they connected to astrological symbols in the night sky). They interpreted the relationship between signs in the Earth and sky to navigate their routes through the desert, they also used this technique as divination to answer questions for members of their

28 Vision 14

Anara Ashwood talks about sand reading, its ancient history and how you can try it at home tribe. These navigation techniques were also passed on to scholars who brought them into Europe and they then developed into the art of Geomancy: using earth and nature to read the future.

The children of the Ancient Nomadic desert tribes; the Tuareg; Bedouin of Sinai and the Berbers of Morocco, use the Ancient Scrying arts today in their practice of diagnostic medicine, healing, divination and

navigation; both in and out of the desert.

My introduction to the spiritual started at a very young age. I had a greatgreat grandmother, called Fanny, who came from Ethiopia. The family were Coptic Christians and the gift of sight ran in my family. Fanny and her daughter Gertrude could read people’s faces, hands and even their eyes. Fanny would also read footprints. Fanny acted as the local herbalist and medicine woman, it was

rare for anyone to see a doctor unless they were really seriously ill: they would see Fanny instead.

When I started to see spirit at an incredibly early age, I was not discouraged by my mother, quite the contrary. I found that as I got older the skill developed and I could read people from being with them. I used to read any books I could get on the subject and I decided very early on in my life that I wanted to work in a spiritual field. In my teens I would get downloads of information, it would just come to me, I had so much awareness. When I was studying at University I also gave readings for people then, often using their hands as a focus. Images would just come to me.

Sand reading was really part of my heritage, so it was natural that I would start to do this. I have a beautiful Egyptian plaque, which I sprinkle sand on and read from. I don’t actually touch the sand while reading; it is from Saqqara in Egypt and very special to me. I concentrate on the air above the sand: it’s almost as if the air itself forms a pattern for me that I can read. When I am reading for a client I don’t allow them to touch the sand, I would have to replace it if that happened, it would taint the energy for me.

Start Sand Reading Sand Reading can be done in a variety of ways. I have developed my skill over many years and I have a heritage and background in these arts, but that does not exclude anybody else from trying this valuable technique and getting good results. Like any worthwhile spiritual technique, you just have to keep trying.

Good things come to those who wait!

Choose your sand I have sand that is very special to me and I do not allow anyone to touch it. Making your sand special in a way that suits you, is very important. Choose sand from an area that has a special meaning for you. I wouldn’t recommend buying sand ready bagged, it has no ‘soul’. Go to a place where you feel connected, where the area speaks to you. It is worth taking time to choose the right place. Collect enough sand to fit on a small tray or in a

comes to mind as you drift with your focus? If you get any images or messages, write them down.

Defocus When you have managed to collect some impressions and you feel that you are getting information from the sand, try moving on to ‘defocusing’. Instead of looking straight at the sand, look at the air over it. Stare at ‘nothing in particular’, just the air. Wait for impressions and write them down.

Practise bowl. Alternatively, you may wish to use a plaque as I do (see picture above) or any other special or sacred item to sprinkle the sand over.

Blessing your sand Make this sand yours and make it ‘sacred’. You can ask for a blessing from your own deity(is) or you may simply wish to sit with it and imagine your aura getting brighter and clearer and the sand also getting brighter and clearer. You can imagine a brilliant white light around you and your sand: you may also choose to imagine silver or gold. All are positive colours and all will attract the highest good to your sand and your work. You can also leave your sand in the sun, but bear in mind it may become ‘tainted’ by falling leaves or animal droppings if you leave it unattended!

Like any skill worth acquiring, you will need to practise. Talk to friends that you feel comfortable with and try to get impressions when they are with you.

Keep trying, you will never know if a skill is there within you unless you try!

Good luck!

Anara is a Hereditary Seer and International Psychic. She specialises in sand and water reading as well as Past Life therapy and Shamanic healing. You can contact Anara on 0845 373 3608

Focus When you have chosen and blessed your sand, you will need to start working with it. Sit with it in your lap and gaze at it.

Look at any patterns that are already there: what do they make you think of? What

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Diana Jarvis talks to Jonathan Cainer about Astrology, Uri Geller and his passion: Phenomena: York’s Psychic Museum and Ghost Research Centre.

W

ithout a doubt, Jonathan Cainer is a household name.

Famous for his astrological predictions, he is now as involved in divination and the spiritual as he ever was, but perhaps somewhat mellowed in his opinions.

“When I began as an Astrologer there was a very clear dividing line between Astrology and divination.

Astrologers felt that they were working with a ‘scientific’ system, different to all other systems. At the time, I bought into that belief: hook, line and sinker. There is nothing psychic about what I do, I’m following the fixed laws of astrology, I would tell myself. Astrology is different to an intuitive process like tarot.

Astrologers don’t work that way.

“Of course, that was just a degree of snobbery, because Astrologers have to study so hard before they can give readings. They saw themselves as a class apart. If you’d asked me if I was psychic 15 years ago, I would have said no. I’ve had too many experiences in the interim and learnt the hard way that it is not a good idea to say “my kind of divination is better than your kind of divination”. I still maintain Astrology is a wonderful way of reading information that you can’t get from other sources of divination, but it’s not the only way to divine or to attain insight.”

Phenomena, York’s Psychic Museum and Ghost Research Centre, is a project that is very dear to Jonathan’s heart. I asked him more about it and what he hopes to achieve.

“I’m happy to tell you I don’t know why I’m doing it. It is an act of faith. I didn’t even choose the building: it chose me. In 1999 I was hoping to try out a ‘while-you-wait’ horoscope service like the ones in Paris and Covent Garden. I thought that York was perfect for the next

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Above: Jonathan relaxing during a rare quiet moment.

Opposite: Andy Dextrous, Manager of Phenomena, conducting a Zener card experiment with a Psychic Journey group

one. When I first walked into this building, I had a vision that I should take it. I had been ‘fishing in the intuitive pool’ for ideas … looking into myself to see what came up. What came up was the

“isPhenomena a ... centre

for psychic exploration.

”

idea of a psychic museum. The odd thing was, when I saw the idea, like a note in my mind, it said ‘Property of Uri Geller’ on it and asked that if someone found the note they should give Uri a call! Out of curiosity, I did. Uri had indeed had the very same idea for a psychic museum 20 years ago and had ‘put the idea on the

psychic noticeboard’. He was keen to get involved with my plans … so Phenomena was born!”

Jonathan has become friendly with Uri so I couldn’t miss the opportunity to ask more. Jonathan didn’t hold back in his opinion of how people react to Uri! “I’ve really noticed that all would-be psychics don’t like it when a TV psychic is too uncanny. First of all they will see Uri bend a spoon. They will be amazed and will continue to be amazed until the next morning. Then the brain gets to work on what was seen the night before. Everything we experience is filed away somewhere, in its own category.

The trouble is, Uri bending a spoon can only go into one of two categories: it is either ‘Miracle’ (which then leaves Uri as elevated to some kind of Saint), or it’s ‘False’. Most people find it much easier on themselves to file it under ‘False’, which means they must have been tricked

somehow. Then they feel angry that they have been made a fool of … anger turns to dislike … dislike then turns into a vociferous hatred of Uri. People can’t cope with Uri, he’s just too … incredible.

He has even more amazing abilities than spoon bending, that I’ve witnessed myself. However, neither of us will talk about them for the reasons I’ve outlined.”

I asked Jonathan more about Phenomena and what people will find if they decide to visit.

“Phenomena is a nondenominational centre for psychic exploration. I wanted a neutral space for people to be able to come in and explore their own psychic potential and hopefully leave knowing a little bit more about what they are capable of.

“The museum is constantly evolving. We have a number of parapsychological exercises that you can take part in: Zener cards; remote viewing experiments; telekinesis experiments;

dowsing and so on. It’s all about a bit of light-hearted playing with the edges of your own intuition, but it is also a research facility and a place to pool ideas.

You can come to Phenomena and walk away feeling you’ve achieved nothing: but you will know that there is nothing subliminal here. This is just real.”

Andy Dextrous, Manager of Phenomena, is working hard towards a more interactive and interesting timetable of events.

“The intention is to make the museum more event-based with full day courses, seminars and workshops. We are developing a number of courses and I am currently headhunting for experienced and personable course leaders.

(Interested? Contact Andy on: adextrous@mac.com for more details).

“Psychic Journeys will be a regular workshop on the second Saturday of every month. It will give you the opportunity to really get a feel for what is

on offer at Phenomena and will let you find out what is best suited to you.

We will also be continuing with our highly successful Ghost Nights, where we investigate the ongoing haunting of the Museum.” (Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns Live recently investigated one of the hauntings in the museum.)

There are also plans to increase the work of the research side of Phenomena. Jonathan told me: “We want to do more and we want a really active website. We have already started a Premonition Bank, and we want to start a Dream Bank. A lot of people are cognisant of their own intuition and it would be wonderful to be able to call on them the next time a child goes missing and ask “where shall we look?”. We really want to reach out and research precognition. It has never been satisfactorily investigated, yet there is proof of its existence. It’s crazy we don’t make use of this.”

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Getting it wrong is very important and “ healthy. Some days you can work magic, other days you can’t. ”

It seems that a lot of things are planned for the museum, so I wondered where Jonathan’s saw Phenomena in the future?

“I just see it going where the psychic community needs it to go. I really want it to host a community of intuitives, a place where people can come and experiment and support each other. It will go where it needs to go.”

So what are Jonathan’s own plans for the future?

“As I’ve said, I have explored and am exploring my own intuition, but I am not putting down my astrology. There are some parts of astrology I want to get more involved in. As you will probably know, a new planet has been discovered in our solar system. It’s official name at the moment is UB313, but it has been nicknamed Xena’. This discovery is really significant to astrology and the implication of it has only just begun to sink in with me. I have to come to terms with what it means.”

When I interviewed Jonathan it became very clear to me that he has a

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strong belief in the psychic side of all of us. I asked him if he had any tips for Vision readers trying to develop their own psychic side, based on his own experience?

“Never be afraid of getting it wrong: you learn from it. If a client has a validifying experience your confidence goes up. “I foresaw that and I knew this …”, and the next thing you know you are wandering around saying that you are the all-seeing one. Getting it wrong is very important and healthy. Just remember

that it’s like any other art or talent, some days you can work magic, other days you can’t.”

Phenomena: York’s Psychic Museum and Ghost Research Centre can be found at 35, Stonegate, York. Call for details on 0800 138 9788 or visit their website www.psychicmuseum.cainer.com

Above: Brainwave machine in operation.

All pictures P30-32 ©Phenomena, used with permission.

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Brad Loredo tells us of the amazing happenings centring around his son, Joel

I

don’t believe in ghosts or spirits. I never have and I certainly thought I never would … but now I’m not so sure!

It all started when we decided to get our son, Joel, some light shows. You know, those boxes that you put on a child’s cot that create coloured-light displays in the room to amuse and comfort them? Well … Joel is autistic, a loving, kind 8 year old who is still stuck at around 12-18 months in terms of development. He can’t communicate with us in the normal way and we can’t do any type of role play with him, He has 4 siblings, but even so it is difficult to

34 Vision 14

stimulate and entertain him in any way, we thought these toys would work.

We also got a baby monitor so that we could see what he was doing in his room when he went to bed. He seemed to be fine and interested in the light shows to start off with. Then, suddenly, he changed overnight.

Joel has never left his room after he’s been put to bed, but now he was climbing over his safety gate and getting into bed with my wife and I. He was very upset, his face was red and he seemed extremely distressed. We guessed he was frightened and afraid of the dark now, but we weren’t sure. I kept asking

myself “what is happening to my son?”.

He started behaving even more strangely. His room felt really creepy now and he would be put to bed, but would spend 4 hours jumping up and down on the bed. He’d never done this before. He would sometimes bang on the walls, he even smashed the lampshade so we had to remove it. He would also sit on the bed and stare at the middle of it. Sometimes he would take his quilt off the bed and sit on it on the floor, still staring at the centre of the bed. Eventually he started putting toys in the centre of the bed. That freaked me out – he looked as if he was a dog bringing toys to his owner to play

with him. Who was he leaving the toys for – who did he want to play with him?

After a while, this phase seemed to pass, but then really strange things started to happen. Joel was now sleeping soundly each night, but around 2am the light shows were coming on of their own accord. We could see them via the baby monitor and besides, they were the type that needed you to flick a switch to activate them – Joel was not capable of flicking a switch. The other bizarre thing was that all the tunes would play at the same time – the strangest sound, I can tell you! This happened so often we became quite scared and wouldn’t go into his room while it was happening: there was no rational explanation. We did check that they couldn’t come on by themselves by any normal means, we also checked that they were working properly.

One day while all this was going on, I was watching the monitor. For the very first time I saw a bright spherical light, very small, but there nonetheless. I had never seen anything like this before and couldn’t see where it could be coming from. For a couple of months I just convinced myself it was dust or an insect, I couldn’t accept it could be anything else. As I watched the monitor over a few nights, I saw more lights; and they were larger. As they seemed to increase in size and brightness we decided to get a bigger and better infrared camera to monitor the room. You have to understand that I did not believe in the paranormal, so this was my way of finding out a rational explanation. We even tried to replicate the lights by

Above: Orb leaving room as Brad checks on his son.

Below: Stills from a DVD of the activity in Joel’s room. You should see the DVD ...

sprinkling dust in front of the camera, we tried everything. I got to a stage where I would vacuum every part of his room and the landing outside: doors, walls, architraves … you name it! Nothing replicated these lights or stopped them from appearing. They only appeared in his room, but would travel out of the room if someone went in to see him.

We finally reached a stage where we had to know what was happening.

These lights were doing the strangest things, there were now loads of them. We were also experiencing other phenomena: the lights were dimming spontaneously (we had an electrician check these out, there was nothing wrong with them); the baby monitor failed (we had that checked too – nothing wrong); spoons were dancing in the sink and no-one was there to move them; one spoon even flew out of the utensil container and landed on the cooker! However, the majority of

phenomena happened within 7ft of Joel’s bed.

In our quest to find an answer, we recorded the strange lights (including some new additions … with holes in them!). I was amazed to find these lights on websites all over the world.

Apparently, they are called orbs. We sent our recordings to a few specialists, they all said that they were ‘paranormal’ as they couldn’t find a rational explanation for them.

All I’ve wanted is to know that my son is ok and what these lights are. As I speak, they are still here every night.

Who are they? I don’t ask ‘what are they’ any more … I ask who!

Brad has invited the Visionaries to see what they can find out about the happenings surrounding his son. Look out for a report in a future issue of Vision!

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Diana Jarvis talks to Anne Hassett, author of Reading Your Child’s Hand, who tells us how palmistry can help us guide our children into their perfect careers

A

nne Hassett has learnt the hard way how important it is to do what you really want to do and what you are really good at, a subject that is dear to her heart and one of the reasons that she has written her book. It has taken her years to find her niche, but is now doing what she really wants and finding satisfaction in it. I asked her how Reading Your Child’s Hand came about.

“I was working in Hong Kong and was talking to a Japanese client. She told me that many people that she knew used palmistry as a matter of course to determine things about their children, and that there were many books on the subject that she knew about. I had been getting a lot of people bringing children to me to help them choose their child’s subjects at

The Square hand Engineer, Bureaucrat, Town Planner, Police Officer, Analyst, Librarian.

These children are practical and levelheaded. They like to have a place for everything and they are extremely organised. They are full of common sense and rarely give in to emotional outbursts.

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school. I didn’t know of any books written in English that could bring this type of knowledge to English speakers, so I decided there and then to write one. The result is Reading Your Child’s Hand.”

Anne is certainly right that it can take a person a lifetime to get to where they really want to be and that some never make it. Many adults are caught up in the wrong careers and just wish that someone had been able to guide them appropriately towards a future satisfying career. I was one of these children.

When I was at school. ‘bright’ children did science.

Just science. “It would be a waste of your talents”, the teachers said, “if you did humanities. Do English by all means, but for

The Spatulate or artisan hand Builder, Sculptor, Cook, Craftsperson, Explorer, Chef, Gardener, Interior Designer, Carpenter, Entrepreneur.

This child will love to get in touch with the world with a very ‘hands-on’ approach. They will be full of drive and ambition and enjoy activities on the material.

goodness sake, don’t go as far as A level in it. Just do science”.

So I did. I have never actually worked in any science-based job and I’ve hated most of the jobs I’ve had. As I have a large Mount of Luna and a ‘Psychic/Sensitive’ hand, anyone looking at my palm would have been able to guess that science was never going to satisfy me on its own! Finally, after over 20 years of paid employment, I’m doing what I want to do. How many more years of satisfying work could I have had if I’d known then what I know now?

I found Anne’s book very readable and easy to use. I was wondering what her aims were when she was writing it?

“The book is aimed at parents, I want to help them to help their children to have a better life. I believe that every parent wants the best for their kids and that we all want to understand them. Humans don’t always show off their best talents – the hand can show the hidden that we are not even aware of ourselves. Saying “I’m not good enough” destroys most children and most adults. Positive thinking and positive

The Philosopher’s hand Judge, Scientist, Teacher, Priest, Lawyer, Detective, Researcher.

These children are suitable for very deep and detailed work, especially any kind of research. They live in a world of ideals and theory, rather than the practical.

They will be thoughtful, but can sometimes be hesitant.

qualities can gently eradicate any negative tendencies like these.

“I want to show how you can find out your child’s attitudes in advance so you can see how they are likely to react to situations (in order to help banish negative thinking), as well as their skills and weaknesses. Their hands will show this if you know where to look. This way you can work with them to help them achieve their full potential”.

So, where do we find out this information from a child’s hand and prevent years of unsatisfying work? It seems that there are many different aspects to reading a hand, I wondered where you can start to look. Anne told me that the best place to start was by looking at the shape.

“Look at the shape of the hands, and then the fingers.

The shape is so important, each type indicates a different type of character and you can learn so much about your child if you only look at this one aspect of their hand. You can instantly see the type of career that they might be best suited to.”

The Psychic / Sensitive hand These children are extremely sensitive and can pick up atmospheres and mood.

They are also good at picking up people’s emotions and can be quite empathic.

They enjoy peaceful and tranquil environments and like to be at one with the rhythms and cycles of the natural world.

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The Mixed hand Gambler, Entrepreneur, Property Speculator, Venture Capitalist, Public Relations, Advertising.

This is the most common type of hand. These children love variety and are generally very good at multi-tasking.

They can quickly turn their hand to anything and generally they get on well with most types of people.

Don’t “Palmistry is full of old wives’ tales and one such example concerns the Life Line – “a long Life Line means a long life, and a short Life Line means a short life.”

I have not found this to be true as I have had many people with short Life Lines come to see me and if the above were true, they’d never have reached my door!”

Lines on the Hand If you’ve taken a look at the hand shape of your child, you may want to move on to the lines. Even a quick look at the lines on the hand can reveal much about a child (see image below).

The Life Line However, there is one line on the hand that everyone has heard of and everyone seems to worry about. I asked Anne about the Life Line, possibly the first line you will think of looking at.

Based on her many years of thorough research, Beryl Hutchinson, the famous hand analyst, asserts that the Life Line does not tell the length of life but it does have great bearing on the quality of life.

Health, constitution and prospects of longevity can be told with the help of the line, that’s true, but don’t fixate on the length of the line and convince yourself that your child won’t be with you long … only deity knows how long they will live!

You can contact Anne via her website: www.acushlasangels.com and if you want to delve a little deeper you can pick up a copy of Reading your Child’s Hand by taking advantage of Carroll and Brown’s special offer for Vision readers. See the review on P 76 for details.

With thanks to Anne Hassett and Carroll & Brown for their permission to use artwork and information from Reading your Child’s Hand.

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Cornish writer Nick Richardson gets his teeth into the meaty subject of Stage clairvoyance

W

hatever happened to ectoplasm? It’s the spiritual equivalent of fuzzy-felt: you never hear of it anymore. There was a time when any medium worth their salt would fill the room with this candyfloss type substance. It belongs to a bygone era of mediumship, back then you had to be called Doris to stand any chance of getting on a stage - even if you were a man.

Yesterday’s mediums looked like your Aunty Phyllis. They wore big flowery dresses and support tights, they had whiskers on their chins and drank milkstout. They were the kind of women who knew how to make gravy; but there was an honest integrity about them.

I have seen many mediums, some good and some bad. I saw a particularly poor one recently. She came onto the stage wearing a costume that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Lord of the Rings; she wore a huge amulet around her neck and had more rings on her fingers than Jimmy Saville.

“C’mon everybody,” she bellowed. “Get with it!”

She then proceeded to play loud rock music in a bid to get the crowd going. At this point the only place I felt like going was out the door.

“Clap your hands,” she ordered, striding up the isles. Any minute now, I thought, she’ll start playing the air-guitar.

The group of pensioners in the front-row look rather bemused. It wasn’t long before she picked on one of these elderly folk and said, “I’m getting a song from spirit for you, it’s called Daisy, Daisy,” she sang three bars of the song, “now I don’t know this song,” she continued, “I’ve never heard it before…”

What rot! She was a middleaged woman; I have a seven-year-old who can give you three verses of Daisy Daisy.

Things went downhill when she approached a large man; shaven headed, except for a long ponytail. He had a big, bushy beard, a cut off leather jacket and tattoos disappearing into every orifice.

She closed her eyes, put her hands to her temples and gave a sigh like a punctured dingy.

“I don’t know why they’re telling me this,” she said, “but do you have anything to do with motorbikes?” That’s like asking a man in a dog-collar, “Pardon me, but do you happen do be religious?”

These incidents were amusing, but unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse…

“I’m looking for anybody who has lost a baby.” Several hands were raised and she soon latched on to one unfortunate lady.

She couldn’t supply a name for the infant or deliver any evidence to give the lady any comfort, her only offering was: “You were extremely upset when the baby passed to spirit.” NO, REALLY? This was no longer amusing; it was cruel.

I felt ashamed to have paid to see this, and looking around I wasn’t the only one who appeared uncomfortable.

Of course, for every bad medium, there are two good ones, like the brilliant Gordon Smith, AKA The Psychic Barber (“Short, back and sides sir? Oh, and by the way, Aunty Ethel is telling me she knows it was you who poisoned her cat”). A true believer in the value of being able to help people, Gordon is honest and extremely accurate.

He’s also a pretty good barber. I’ve heard of Voices from beyond the grave, could these be termed Snippets from beyond the fringe?

A gifted medium provides proof of lifeafter-death, sometimes in the most unexpected way. I remember one clairvoyant approaching me: “TOFFO’S!” He roared.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Toffos,” he repeated, “but not the ordinary ones, these are the assorted flavour toffees that you loved; your Granny’s just told me.”

It’s bizarre evidence like this that proves to me our consciousness is eternal. Every Saturday, when I was young, my Granny bought me assorted flavoured Toffos. Now, if this man had been fishing for clues it’s most unlikely that he would have shouted such an obscure statement at me.

I always find it best to trust your instincts. Beware of overdressed, showy mediums. Look for the ones with flowery dresses, purple rinses and sensible shoes.

My rule of thumb is that if they use a stage name, be sceptical. Stick with the Doris’s, Betty’s and Doreen’s of this world and of course the David’s, Colin’s and Gordon’s.

Choosing a medium Mediums should give you information that feels helpful. You should never feel frightened or troubled. Here are some pointers to get you started: Get a recommendation from a satisfied friend who has visited a medium.

Is the medium affiliated with any recognised association?

Mediums don’t tell fortunes, it is a psychic that looks at the future. Someone calling themselves a medium should be able to give you proof of the survival of life after death.

Take a trip to your local Spiritualist Church. Visit the ‘Spiritualist National Union’ www.snu.org.uk Trust your instincts about any mediums you see.

Be open-minded - you may not make contact with the person you have in mind, but you may still get the information you need.

Take a blank cassette tape with you.

You can reach Nick via his website: www.NickRichardson.co.uk

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Rosaline Collier looks at the superstitious Hawaiians and their beliefs

The culture and religious beliefs of the Hawaiian Islands are the result of dozens of people from widely varying cultural backgrounds settling there. Over the centuries this has heavily influenced superstitious beliefs and practices in Hawaii, which are in the main part a mixture of western and eastern practices.

Superstitions from the original Polynesian settlers remain today and are still practiced by some of the older residents of the islands.

One of the most popular and most widely practiced beliefs in Hawaii today surrounds the removal of lava rock from the islands. Pele is probably the best known Hawaiian goddess and is believed to have created the Islands with lava and volcanoes. It is believed that the removal of lava rocks by visitors brings bad luck.

The belief is so well known that the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park had a pile of lava rocks that have been returned by visitors, along with letters of apology and requests for forgiveness from Pele.

Many superstitions in Hawaii concern the weather, this is probably because the islands are in a tropical and changeable region of the globe, and would appear to be influenced by western beliefs and practices. Hawaiians used the weather and unusual events in the sky as omens; for example an eclipse or a halo around the sun or moon meant death of an important chief, as did a thunder clap on a clear day.

For centuries, Hawaii’s main economy came from fishing which has also aided in the development of many weather related superstitions, one of the more common ones involves turtles. It is

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believed that if, while out fishing a turtle is spotted, the sea would be come very rough. However, if only one person sees the turtle then they can throw something at it to cause it to dive. If they succeed then the turtle effectively disappears, so the sea will then remain calm. Hawaiians were also guided by cloud formations and it is said that if the heads of clouds lean toward the east, then the outlook was hopeful. If however the clouds leaned in a westerly direction the people could expect unsettled weather.

many Hawaiians would consult a diviner or kikokilo before construction began. If a building is going to be built on or near a cliff, it must not have an opening facing the cliff, because that means death. It is also considered bad luck to build at the rear of others’ properties as that will cause constant quarrelling with those who resided there.

Other popular superstitions in Hawaii include:

whistle “at…Never night as the

whistle will call the spirits ... to you.”

Houses and homes are important in Hawaiian culture today, so much so that the Hawaiian Islands have more blessed buildings than anywhere else in the world. Many of the superstitions surrounding the home are influenced by eastern practices … including Feng Shui. For example, when arranging bedroom furniture, never place a bed facing a doorway because the spirits of the Hawaiian Night Marchers will walk right through the sleeping body and carry the spirit away, causing death.

The location of a building is just as important as what is being built and

Never step over an infant on the floor because it will cause the child to grow stunted.

Never whistle at night: the whistle will call spirits, ghosts and lost souls to you.

If a person hears his name called by someone he knows to be away, he should never respond: it will cause the caller grave illness or death.

Standing under a banana flower and catching the first drop of dew on your tongue will let you see the spirit world.

Intuitive astrologer, psychic and dream interpreter Samantha Hamilton continues Vision’s monthly alphabet round-up of the most common dream scenarios.

Common dreams beginning with the letter Oak For centuries the Oak forests of Britain were worshipped as the source of life and mystery by the land’s Celtic inhabitants. If your dream features oak furniture or wooden panels, doors or beams, then there is strength in all areas of life, but above all, strength in areas of family and emotional health. For those in a relationship, a dream of Oak signifies solidity and long lasting value. If you are single, then an Oak dream indicates your own emotional strength and promises steady and stable progress in your career and your life as as a whole.

Oasis Dreaming of an oasis is an extraordinarily powerful indicator of good or bad fortune.

Travelling through the desert and finding an Oasis, with it’s cool water and welcome shade, is a sure sign of success in a business venture.

The more welcoming the oasis, the greater your success will be. However, if you are never able to reach the oasis, or worse, if it proves to be a mirage, then success is unlikely, indeed a mirage may be telling you that success has always been impossible.

Oats Dreams relating to oats forecast your financial future. Standing in a field of oats is a good sign if the oats appear golden and ready to harvest.

If they are green or brown, however, this would suggest financial difficulties. If you find yourself struggling to run or walk through a field of oats then you must be prepared to accept some difficulties and struggle before you achieve your goals. Harvesting oats spells success and should be seen as a call to action.

If you dream of cooking oatmeal then that predicts a period of ups and downs, but serving or eating a meal made from oats, such as porridge, foretells a season of steady progress.

Ocean The meaning of any dream that involves the ocean varies according to its details and action. If you are sailing on the ocean then your future is assured if you are prepared to take the initiative. The ocean, as such, is a good omen if calm, a sign of mixed fortune if

‘O’

choppy; but if rough or stormy, it is a warning that real courage will be needed to overcome your obstacles, and the following interpretations must also be modified by the foregoing weather conditions. An ocean voyage predicts a lucky escape from an irritating problem; to swim in the ocean signifies that you will soon be enlarging your sphere of influence and/or activity.

concerns. The outcome of the operation tells you if you believe that person will manage their problems on their own. If you are undergoing surgery, then an important change in your life is forecast. The age, sex and race of the doctor/nurse is also relevant as they will represent people who matter in your real life.

A dream of observing an operation predicts unexpected news.

Odour Although we only have 5 senses, it is surprising how infrequently smells feature in dreams. If you are told in a dream that there is a smell, but you are unable to smell it, this highlights a lack of confidence and an unjustified fear that others are better equipped than you are. Unidentifiable odours in a dream have a straightforward meaning depending on your reaction to them. A pleasant smell is a good omen, an unpleasant one suggests issues that might become major or minor, depending on the degree of unpleasantness. Identifiable odours obviously all have separate meanings depending upon what they are. So rotting meat foretells health problems and a lack of energy, but flowers suggest positive outcomes, usually relating to women in some way.

Orphan Imagining yourself to be an orphan in a dream suggests an underlying fear of letting people down and being left on your own. A dream set in an orphanage serves as a warning that you could lose a valuable friendship through your own selfishness or lack of consideration. A dream where, like “Annie”, you are adopted, predicts a sudden gain in material wealth from an unexpected source, or a new relationship.

Office Surprisingly, a dream set in an office is actually more likely to be a reflection of your love life than business matters. Obviously, if you dream of an office in which you actually work, then the action itself is much more important than the place and you should concentrate on what you are doing rather than where it is happening. A dream that takes place in an office that you occupy by yourself suggests a sense of loneliness, particularly if you are alone behind a locked door. To dream of being in an open plan, busy office suggests a positive change in your love life. Working in an office that is in crisis indicates future domestic strife, whilst a new or strange office promises an exciting new friendship, probably, but not exclusively, of a romantic nature.

Operation A dream where a loved one undergoes an operation indicates that you have concerns about that person. These need not be health

Owl Like all nocturnal animals, rats, bats, wolves and owls have an uncomfortable relationship with Man. Although owls are supposed to be the wisest of birds, this hooting night bird is an omen of disappointment and lost dreams.

An owl in the house suggests future difficulties in your domestic arrangements, these problems could be either financial or emotional. When you can hear, but not see, an owl in a dream, that suggests a hidden fear that you are not yet ready or willing to face.

However, if you are chasing the owl in your dream you can expect an improvement in your circumstances in the very near future.

Oyster It’s fair to say that people have mixed opinions about oysters. Some people absolutely love them and others simply can’t eat them! In the world of dreams, oysters have two meanings.

If your love life is your main concern then dreaming of eating oysters is a sign of good luck, but if your main concern is business, then you will have to be more energetic or aggressive if you want to succeed. If you dream of 0pening oysters, you are being warned that you have misplaced your confidence and are in danger of being cheated. You must reconsider any dealings you might have been planning with those you consider “friends”.

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Kylie Holmes specialises in working with children and their Imaginary Friends. In this article she asks us: are they imagination … or are they spiritual?

N

ext time you are in the company of a three year-old child, just watch. Suppose the child is holding a small cardboard box in their hand: at one moment the child will be talking to you, the next they will be rushing off to play because Aggis has arrived. The excitement draws you in but you see no one around; the three year-old that you are watching is full of excitement as their great mischievous friend Aggis is going to play with them. A game of trains and planes now ensues, complete with the cardboard box.

The three year-old child is suddenly transformed from our physical world into their magical imaginary world, where Aggis comes from. The child, like others that I have interviewed, takes you innocently into a world where imaginary friends come from … or is the child having their first spiritual connection with the universe and beyond?

How many of us as parents are guilty of telling their children that their imaginary friend is not real, maybe not Below: Jade’s picture of her imaginary friend, Sammy

realizing that not only is that friend real but possibly a ghost? A Guide or even a deceased Grandparent?

My research, taken over 8 years, indicates that some children’s imaginary friends are actually a grandparent who passed away before they were born. Jade, my eldest daughter, has always maintained that ‘Sammy’ is her brother.

Could this be the child that I lost through a miscarriage many years ago?

Case History 1: Emily and “Betty” I was on BBC Radio being interviewed late one night, and whilst I began to talk about my research, a man called Alex rang in and spoke to us. Alex went on to tell us about his little girl Emily. Alex and his family were watching a video of his mum who passed away.

Emily went up to the television and kissed the screen, looking straight at the women on it. She turned to the family and announced “that Betty comes to see me at night time, she reads me a story and then kisses me good night and then I go to sleep.” The room fell silent because Emily had never known her grandmother’s name. Alex confirmed that

his mum Betty had died before Emily (now 4) was born. Alex also confirmed that sometimes late at night he would walk past her room on the way to bed and hear Emily talking as if someone was with her.

If these sort of happenings are just over-imagination for a lot of children, then that puts a lot of the children that I have interviewed into that category. From my own experiences with my own children, I do truly believe that they can see spirits, angels and nature spirits. Any child, whether it be a toddler, an infant or a teenager, has the ability to see a spirit of some kind.

Case History 2: Lisa and “Billy” I first met Gordon Thorpe in 1996; when he visited me for a spiritual reading. Gordon later joined my meditation group and we became firm friends. Gordon learnt of my quest for imaginary friend stories and I was delighted when he told me about his daughter Lisa. Lisa at a very early age, (23 years old), would cure headaches by voluntary placing her hands on the affected person.

Below: Imaginary Friends come in all shapes and sizes ...

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In 1970 to 1973, Gordon was stationed in Brügen, Germany, as a Radar Technician with the RAF. Peg, his wife, was pregnant with their second child Jason and at that time Lisa had an imaginary friend called Billy. They moved into an old house in Brügen, it was a 3bedroom house, divided into 2 flats, upstairs and downstairs. They lived in the downstairs section. Billy appeared not long after they moved in. Lisa would stand in the corner of the hall near the cellar door and it looked like she was talking to the wall. Gordon would ask, “Who are you talking to?” and she would always say “Billy”. Lisa would go to the corner and show Billy her new shoes and dress. Later on, Lisa would talk to him at night and she would shout “go away”, “leave me alone”, “I’m tired”. Lisa would begin to cry and Gordon would go into her room. When walking through the entrance he would feel the sensation of cobwebs being dragged across his face.

When Billy was present, Lisa’s bedroom was always cold, and at times it would be the coldest room in the house.

On one occasion, late afternoon, Peg smelt tobacco smoke so she went into the lounge adjoining Lisa’s bedroom. She was amazed to see dark blue tobacco smoke curling up from the high backed armchair.

When she moved around to the front of the chair, there was nothing there!

Gordon was at work when this incident occurred and after Peg investigated she became nervous and would not enter the room alone.

Case History 3: Hasan and “Elias” “How could a four-year-old boy have a conversation with someone who had died the day before?” asked the shaken mum of Hasan. Every Saturday The Atkins family go to feed the ducks and then visit a fast food outlet for lunch.

One day it was raining, and the restaurant was full, so they decided to go to the drive-through. Realising that they did not have enough money, both parents drove to the nearest cashpoint leaving Hasan and baby Jared in the car. When they returned a few minutes later, Hasan was chatting away with someone.

How many of us as parents are “ guilty of telling their children that their imaginary friend is not real?

”

“Who are you talking to?” asked Irma, Hasan’s mother. “Elias” he told them matter-of-factly. As they sped towards the fast food restaurant, Hasan called out, “Bye, Elias!”. It wasn’t until later that they discovered Irma’s Uncle (Hasan’s Great Uncle) Elias had died the night before. Irma then remembered that Hasan had been talking to an Elias. They all brushed off the incident as a coincidence, but maybe Hasan really had seen Great Uncle Elias at the duck pond?

Hasan recently celebrated a birthday and I was one of the guests.

While the kids ran around the room and played games, the adults sat at the table talking about Hasan’s newest imaginary friends. Hasan says they live at his house.

“My friends are all red”, he would tell his family. “They melted and I’m sad”.

Knowing Hasan’s history, his dad, Art, decided to do some research. When he looked into the house’s past, he discovered that it had burned down in the 1800’s and four people were killed in the fire.

Throughout these remarkable eight years of research, I have come to believe that children, unlike adults, have not had many years to adjust their thinking. So, they haven’t had time to train themselves about what to accept as reality. The existence of ghosts has been debated for centuries. I have no doubt that our children do really see and sense what many adults cannot or will not see.

To me, imaginary friends are just one of many types of proof that children really do have spiritual encounters.

Do you have a question for Kylie about Imaginary Friends? Email: editor@visionmagazine.uk.com and I will forward them on to her. Ed. You can write to Kylie at Touched By An Angel, PO Box 210, St Neots, Cambs., PE19 6YA. Tel: 0870 780 8413, www.touchedbyanangel.me.uk

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See P3 for Vision competition rules.

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WIN a copy of Hawaiian Chill Out by Gary Plunkett!

Yes, the first 10 lucky readers drawn from those correctly answering the question below will win their very own copy of Gary’s CD! If you’ve read the articles and tried the techniques in our ancient culture section this month, you will already know that Hawaiian spirituality is about getting to know yourself … and seriously chilling out! Here’s your chance to get a copy of Huna expert Gary Plunkett’s CD full of Huna techniques and the ultimate meditation: to forgive those who have wronged you and move on with your life.

To win the CD all you have to do is answer the following question:

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What is the name of the Volcano goddess of Hawaii? a) Hestia b) Minerva c) Pele Put your answer on the back of a postcard or sealed down envelope and send it with your name and address to: Vision Huna CD Competition, 42a Main Street, Garforth. LS25 1AA. to reach us by 18th May 2006. The winners will be the first 10 correct entries drawn after the closing date.

Only one entry per household. Vision accept no responsibility for the distribution of prizes, which will be handled by Gary Plunkett. See P3 for full Vision competition rules.

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Q

i Gong/Chi Kung literally means Breath/Skill. Hopefully you will have tried the exercises in the last issue and have developed the art of breathing .

Now we are gong to try and build a little more into our Qi Gong. Firstly, stand comfortably or lie on your back on the floor with something to keep your back warm. Place your palms on your stomach just below your navel. This point is called the Dantien. As we work through the different forms (series of positions to form one exercise) this point will become very familiar.

Remember to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, but now develop this breathing further.

As you breathe in, try to inflate your tummy so that it pushes your palms away. As you inflate your tummy your diaphragm will be drawn down, increasing your oxygen intake. Then breathe out, letting your tummy fall. This pushes back the diaphragm and will help to expel all the air, increasing the power of your breath. If you experience any difficulties with this technique, breathe naturally.

The Standing Pole This is a term I came to understand through lots of experience, it is an exercise which teaches you to concentrate entirely on you. I was lucky and spent a lot of time stood under trees and on freshly cut grass when I started learning Qi Gong. First thing in the morning when the grass is covered in mist and dew is a perfect time to practise. Being amongst nature helps to ground and balance you and is when you can breathe in the smells of nature, the earth, grass and blossoms. Feel the rain on you and feel the joy of standing and just being. Feel the sun warm you when it first breaks out. All these feelings are Earth Qi and are there for you to take advantage of and make the most of your Qi Gong by enhancing both your body, mind and spirit.

Stand naturally, feet shoulder-width apart with your arms down by your sides, leave a slight gap under your armpits. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Imagine you’re a puppet and that all your joints having strings on them. Imagine that this puppet that is you is being lowered to the floor. When your feet make contact with the floor your ankles relax, so do your knees, hips, spine and your neck. Your shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands will relax. Keep looking ahead, chin naturally down. Most importantly keep your head vertical. Curl your tongue back and touch the roof of your mouth to produce saliva, which should be swallowed on the out breath. This will keep your throat moist. Stay as a Standing Pole until you feel you have really relaxed and are connected with the floor. Ensure your breathing is relaxed, easy and even.

Right this page: Stance for the Standing Pole.

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Andrew Norman continues his series on Ball Holding Qi Gong: collect the series for a complete range of exercises

1. Start at the Standing Pole as per the section opposite: feet naturally apart, arms down by your sides.

2. Raise your arms out in front of you to shoulder height with your palms up.

Breathe in.

3. Bend your arms at the elbow and bring your palms toward your face. Let your hands come to the side of your head, little finger opposite your ears.

4. Separate your elbows and let your palms turn out.

5. Lower your palms to your Dantien.

(Imagine your palms on the top of a pole.

As you gently lower your palms, push this pole into the ground). Breathe out.

6. Turn your palms out, let your thumbs turn back, raise your arms sideways up and...

7. out all the way above your head. Finish palms down. As you raise your arms, do not straighten your legs. Your stance should be relaxed from your waist down.

Breathe in.

8. Imagine again the large pole that both your palms are on top of. Lower your palms straight down the centre of your body. Imagine pushing the shaft through the top of your head: through your body and down your legs and into the ground.

10. Continue lowering your arms back down to your sides and enjoy the feeling of the form. Breathe out.

Repeat another 7 times to complete the second section of Ball Holding Qi Gong.

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Diana Jarvis teams up with Elemis to look at the ancient Hawaiian art of massage - and how it differs from other types

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he ancient Huna spiritual leaders originally practised Lomi Lomi, a deeply rhythmical massage. Often giving the client the sensation of being stroked by many hands at once, traditional Lomi Lomi massage movements sweep the length of the body like a synchronised dance.

Huna teaches us that everything is looking for harmony and also for love.

Lomi Lomi tries to satisfy these desires so, not surprisingly, an alternative name for Lomi Lomi is ‘Loving Hands’ massage. It is believed that where harmony is not present, the body will create a blockage or a pain. The love put into every stroke of the massage helps to release these blockages or imbalances and also aims to create a feeling of love and well-being. Emotional blockages do not just reside in the brain, according to Huna, but in the very cells of our body.

Two therapists work in unison as the four expert hands complement each other to caress and stimulate the body’s energy flow, resulting in the ultimate massage experience. Where it differs from other techniques is that it is performed only with circular and sweeping hand movements over large areas of the body. This means that no part of the body is left crying for attention as it envelops the body with complete movements. It is an extremely sensual technique with incredible flow.

Both therapists use every part of the fingers, hands and arms, very often within a single stroke.

Working in tandem on the client, the lead therapist is known as the ‘Mother’ and is the one who will set the pace. The second therapist acts as a mirror to the Mother and follows her lead and direction. Many Lomi Lomi

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Photograph of Lomi Lomi, courtesy of Elemis

practitioners will say a prayer or ask for a blessing before they start work. Some will hum while they work, believing that the vibration will help to relieve the blockages.

In Hawaii itself, some practitioners will even Hula before they start a Lomi Lomi session! There is a reason for this, of course. It is said that the energy created by the dance will help the energy flow during massage.

Lomi Lomi is “ ‘Loving Hands’ massage”

Breathing techniques are also practiced by the masseuses (see the article on P22) to ensure that they are focussed and connected with the Creator.

Lomi Lomi is a truly holistic technique, as the practitioner cares about both the physical, mental and emotional state of their client. Without a doubt, it would be difficult to perform a really effective Lomi Lomi massage if you are not a people person!

Lomi Lomi works gently yet deeply into the muscles with continuous, flowing strokes, at all times the body is being touched and massaged. It enables total relaxation and associated healing. If the practitioner does not care about the result, then the massage is not being given with loving hands and a loving heart, so the resulting massage will not be a true representation of the art.

Traditional practitioners tend to work intuitively; a massage may be slow and very relaxing but sometimes faster, as the practitioner feels that this is right for their client. Sometimes the client may experience an emotional release as the massage can shift negative emotions and negative beliefs. Tissues are useful to have on hand when giving this type of massage and it is a very therapeutic and healing thing to be able to release these emotions in a safe and comfortable environment.

It is said that this form of massage can stimulate circulation and lymphatic flow. It also nourishes and moisturises the skin. It eases stress, relieves aches and pains and detoxifies.

If you’d like to experience a Lomi Lomi massage, many Elemis salons offer a full massage service, which includes Lomi Lomi. All Elemis treatments involve caressing touch, exquisite aroma and a sense of ceremony creating the world of sensory heaven.

For stockists, mail order & enquiries call the Elemis Customer Care Centre on +44 (0)1278 727 830 or visit www.elemis.com Don’t forget to try your luck in our Elemis competition, featured on P44.

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David and Val Williams explain how to aid healing with some simple runic spells you can do at home.

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he healing powers of the Runes were well known and used by our ancestors. There are several descriptions of their use in the ancient Viking stanzas. It was a widespread belief that the Runes could transfer their energy into any object on which they were inscribed, in recent years a host of artefacts have been discovered bearing runic inscriptions. These objects have ranged from personal items to elaborate items such as swords. There is an ancient verse that shows us runes were used to help with an easy birth.

Know the Birth runes.

Carve them thrice upon the board Carve thrice upon the bed head We can harness the same runic forces to aid us in today’s world. Although they should never be used instead of qualified Medical help; they can be used effectively alongside it.

Below: Norse Days (choose the appropriate day for your spell)

Monday

Female illnesses, depression, phobias, nightmares

Tuesday

Lack of strength, sexual problems

Wednesday Throat and voice problems,

Rune Spell for Depression When feeling low or depressed, the energy of the Rune Sowelu can be called upon. One of the easiest ways to use this rune is to wear it on a cord or throng around the neck as an amulet.

You can also absorb the energy of the rune directly into yourself.

1. Paint the rune symbol upon the outside of a plain glass tumbler: there are several commercial paints and enamels available for this purpose, be sure you pick one that is non-toxic. Take your time doing this, and think about the rune symbol while you do so. Visualise the Sun and try to bring to mind any memories you have of a bright summer’s day. Feel the warmth of the Sun. 2. When your glass is finished, fill it with natural spring water and stand it in daylight, with sunshine if possible. Turn the glass so that the rune symbol faces the direction of the light.

3. Cover the top of the glass to avoid dust and unwanted items falling into it. When night has fallen, drink the water. For a more powerful effect carry this out over nine days taking only a small sip each night.

knowledge, understanding.

Thursday

Energy, temper, emotions.

Friday

Reproductive problems, fertility, relationship healing.

Saturday

No direct link to the Runes.

Can connect with fate.

Sunday

Beauty, peace, warmth, growth. A good all-round healing day.

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Sowelu on glass

Nine biscuit Runic Spell for health One traditional rune spell involves baking nine biscuits (nine is a sacred number) with Rune symbols upon them. This should done on the correct day for the intended purpose (see table).

A friend of ours was facing an operation, but due to general ill health could not have it until his strength improved. He had asked us for some magical help. We decided to use the runes, and we chose the Rune Uruz, which represents strength. We baked our biscuits on Tuesday which is also associated with strength.

A normal shortcake recipe was used and we mixed the ingredients visualising and chanting the rune. Before baking we inscribed the runic symbol on each biscuit. We sent these biscuits to our friend and, since the operation was carried out, he has made a complete recovery. There are many books available about the Runes (see Vision Shop on P78) should you wish to work with the Runic energies and spells.

All magical workings are like cooking. If you start with a basic recipe, the more bits you add, the better the result. With rune magic it is the same.

The more energy you put in: the better the result. Use colour, timing and incense for a stonger outcome.

Uruz

Rune Spell for a Headache

Bind Rune Spells

Bind Rune Spell for Love

The Norse would energise their runic symbols with blood, which symbolises the life force. That was then … today we can use natural food colourings, which are readily available and can be used for this purpose. Currently there is no evidence that the Norse used body decoration (tattoos), but there is evidence that other ancient people did. The Picts and Celts used body art for war and ritual. The discovery of the world famous ‘Ice Man’ mummy also lent credence to the use of ritual tattoos. The Norse used the Runes by absorbing the energy into themselves and one way of doing this is to experiment with food colourings and paint the symbol of the rune onto your body, like a temporary tattoo.

I have tried using the rune symbol Isa (symbolising Ice) when I have had a headache. Miles from anywhere, in the middle of the West Country, I had no painkillers with me and my head was thumping. I sat down and visualised the Isa rune. Then I traced the symbol with my finger on my forehead. I found within a short time the headache had receded.

Each runic symbol is a separate energy.

You can bind separate runes together to form a single symbol. This is known as a bind rune. Remember that the runes are energies and do not make any moral judgement on what is asked of them.

When drawing bind runes this is a very important thing to remember. If you’re not sure about the order of combining runes, take a look at these examples. If you can create your bind rune on the appropriate day to harness the energies present, so much the better. Just be sure of what you ask for and visualise clearly the intent of the spell. Bind Runes are very potent and can be drawn on clear paper (drawing them in the appropriate colours gives them more power) or you can create something that you can wear to keep the energies inside your aura.

1. You want love, but love that makes you happy and content, not smothering love or love from someone that you don’t love back. Draw Gyfu as your first choice to show that you want love that is a gift.

2. Now show how you want it. Draw Wunjo (a very useful rune), to indicate happiness.

Isa Norse Colours (Choose the appropriate colour for your spell).

Bright Sun, light, physical and mental.

Yellow Red Blue

Life force, energy.

Power and might.

Bind Rune Spell to ease depression For help with depression, the rune Cen (Torch) combined with Wunjo (Joy) can be bound together. Cen represents light and energy, Wunjo represents happiness.

The two energies combined work together to lift the depression. It is important with Bind runes that the runes are drawn in the correct sequence, placing a rune symbol in the wrong place will affect the outcome. To stop the cause of the depression, Isa could be added as the first symbol, its energy brings things to a standstill. Then follow with Cen for light and Wunjo for happiness. This combined symbol could then be drawn upon paper or card and placed upon a shelf in the person’s home. The rune symbols combine to become a Sigil, a transmitter of magical energy. The symbol can also be used as an amulet and worn.

Wunjo

Bind Rune for Love

Bind Rune Spell for Wealth 1. Draw what you want first. You want wealth, so draw Feoh, which connects with nourishment and wealth.

2. Next draw how you want wealth.

Wealth can come in many forms and not all are pleasant … we may want money and possessions, but perhaps not via inheritance? Draw Wunjo next, as it shows happiness: an inheritance would not be a happy occasion to receive money, so Wunjo solves that potential problem!

Feoh

Wunjo

Wisdom, knowledge, understanding, acceptance.

Green Life, force of nature.

Fertility, growth.

Isa

Cen

Wunjo

Pale Lust, sexual power.

Yellow White Purity, Positive.

Black

Gyfu

Unseen. Beginnings and endings, Circle of existence.

Bind Rune to ease depression

Bind Rune for Wealth

As with all magical systems, treat the Runes with respect. They should never be played with, as their energies deserve respect. Harness their powerful energies and heal and improve your life … “an it harm none”.

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Crystal expert Mario tours the beaches of Hawaii to bring us the background and uses of Peridot: the tears of Pele

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t was a great day for Hawaii when Pele, the fire goddess, was sent away from her home in Tahiti, by her father. When Pele arrived in Hawaii, she is said to have lit the mountain volcanoes with her creative and destructive fires.

This fiery energy is the source of Hawaii’s growth and power. It is the volcanoes, under the legendary power of Pele, that continue to erupt and create this, the newest land on Earth.

Each day as more molten lava emerges from the fire pits of Hawaii, new land is formed as it cools. Mauna Kea began its life 800,000 years ago on the ocean floor as an underwater volcano.

Mauna Kea is now over 9,000 metres above the ocean floor and 4,200 metres above sea level. This makes Mauna Kea the tallest mountain in the world, from ocean floor to its lofty summit!

Crystals and minerals that can be found on Hawaii include Obsidian and Peridot. Both of these stones are created by the fire energy of volcanoes and both can be cleansed with water, incense, Reiki and Sound energy. A simple method is to place your crystals in water for 24 hours and then leave them to dry naturally. It is then possible to energise them by leaving them overnight under a full moon or even out in a thunderstorm!

Peridot is a gem stone that is only found near to volcanoes and can be found in Hawai’i as well as places closer to home such as Tenerife and Lanzarote.

Hawaii is home to some amazing green beaches, covered with natural sea tumbled Peridot sand. Imagine sunbathing on this soft and gentle, healing, crystal sand: if you can’t be

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there, your imagination may well give you the same effect (but maybe not the same weather!).

This vibrant green gem was mined by the Egyptians on an island called Zeberget and was known as ‘the evening emerald’ by the Romans. The ancients believed it had the power to drive away evil spirits. Its vivid green colour is due to the presence of Iron within the structure of the volcanic obsidian. Iron has long been known by doctors to be an essential mineral in the creation of haemoglobin, which transports energy around our bodies through our blood system.

Peridot is the birthstone for Libra and is the stone of friendship and

“

This Hawaiian treasure is said to help us to release anger and bring about more emotional balance.

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wisdom. This Hawaiian treasure is said to help us to release anger and bring about more emotional balance. One of its finest attributes is its ability to detoxify and to strengthen and assist both the liver and the gallbladder. In a crystal layout or healing session it is particularly useful when placed over the liver.

Peridot can be found in crystal shops up and down the country and is sometimes called Olivine. It is said to be more powerful when set in Gold. We can buy this healing gem in jewellery, tumbled stones and in rough crystals.

Wearing Peridot close to the skin or meditating with it are excellent ways to work with its energies.

One variety of Peridot that can be found on Hawaii is called Pele’s Tears.

These tears are formed in the same way as Apache tears are formed. Both Pele’s

Tears and Apache Tears appear as droplike crystals … just like teardrops, in fact.

Apache Tears derive their name from an old Apache legend.

In the 1870’s, about 75 Apache Braves fought against the might of the US Cavalry on a mountain in Arizona. Rather than face defeat, the outnumbered Apache warriors rode their horses off the mountain to their deaths. On learning of this tragedy, the families of the Braves wept. Their tears fell and turned to obsidian upon hitting the ground. Today, in America, these beautiful translucent stones are known as Apache tears. In Hawai’i they are known as Pele’s Tears and have a green colour due to the presence of Peridot in the obsidian.

If you’d like to experience the healing and gentle energies of Peridot you can easily do so by meditating with a piece of peridot.

Sit comfortably with your chosen crystal in your hands and close your eyes.

Take a few deep breaths, inhale peace and stillness, then exhale any feelings or thoughts that are not useful to you.

With each breath, you naturally become stiller and stiller.

As you continue to relax even more deeply, tell yourself that you will automatically allow the Peridot to do work with you to help and heal.

After some time (try 10 minutes to start with), gently open your eyes and bring yourself back to full consciousness.

Make a few notes in a journal or diary of what you noticed, you will find that these will be really useful in your crystal work.

Experiment with crystals in your own life and become your own authority.

Remember, the stiller you become, the more you will notice. Relax, take a few deep breaths and enjoy your journey; deep into the world of crystals!

Carole Chui introduces us to the Root Chakra and it’s correspondences in the first part of our collectible series The Base or Root Chakra (sometimes called the Muladhara chakra.)

Position and function This chakra is found at the base of the spine, and deals with the matter of survival itself. It governs our connection with our physical bodies and the earth. It is the only chakra where the energy cone faces downwards to the earth.

Colour The colour is red, the densest ray in the spectrum, the high energy colour which is the colour of blood and fire.

Glands and Organs The adrenal glands are sometimes given to the second chakra, However, as they create the “fight or flight” reaction, they appear more closely connected with the base chakra’s survival drive. Organs of elimination come under the base chakra, including the large intestine, colon and bladder. To it is given the rule of the bones, legs and feet.

Crystals Crystals in sympathy with this chakra are the red stones, such as ruby, garnet, jasper and also some of the black gems such as obsidian, smoky quartz or hematite.

Is your Chakra Healthy?

When the Root chakra is open and balanced, we are stable, in harmony with our physical bodies and full of well being.

If it is over-energised, we can be overbearing, even bullying, living for physical pleasure. Now we are so far

away from ancestral survival skills that my aura video station more often than not shows me a closed, dull, dark red, non-energised base chakra. We feed ourselves non-nutritious rubbish, travel everywhere by car, have sedentary jobs and thus our base chakras are neglected.

If, like many people, you have open higher chakras on a closed base, that is like circus tumblers climbing on the shoulders of the smallest, weediest member of the troupe. It can’t last because the basis is not sound.

As this chakra is connected with elimination, you would expect constipation on the physical level. On another level it can manifest as the feeling of being blocked, the inability to clear your clutter or finish anything, even supposing you can start it in the first place.

Poor functioning is also connected with obesity, eating disorders and food sensitivities. This may be where the adrenal glands come in. There has been much written recently about adrenal exhaustion. We become stressed and constantly call on the fight or flight reaction because we are stuck in a traffic jam where neither reaction is a possibility. There is no relief and no resolution phase. We then attack our system with caffeine and sugar “to give us

a boost”. The adrenals become incapable of doing their job. We end up with wildly fluctuating blood sugar, if not eventually diabetes, and cannot regulate our weight.

Helping your Base Chakra When working with chakras, it is better to work within the framework of all 7 chakras. What is needed here is balance, and the base chakra is only part of the functioning system. Even so, first aid for the low energy base chakra can be undertaken.

Find somewhere safe and quiet, where you won’t be disturbed, and sit or lie comfortably. Close your eyes. Visualise a clear, sparkling red. Can you remember a velvet curtain, the heart of a fire, a silken poppy? Surround yourself in that colour and breathe in that warm clear red. Bring the breath right down inside you. Breathe out any muddy waste and let the air carry it away from you. Do that until you feel full of the warm, red colour.

Now concentrate on sensing that chakra.

Make it spin, and as it spins, see the colour becoming light and sparkling and as clear as possible. Affirm “I look after my survival needs on this earth”, as you do so. You can change the words to suit yourself, but keep the present tense – and yourself – relaxed!

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Who is he?

Michelle Jones investigates

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ho or what is The Green Man? We have all seen him, peering through his foliage, in churches, cathedrals and in ‘New Age’ shops. Fifteen years ago, there was only one out of print book to be found on the subject; now there are many books, each offering their own theories on this intriguing figure and there are countless ‘Green Man’ things to buy, from wall plaques to jewellery.

To try and discover the Green Man’s origins, we must first look at the gothic churches and cathedrals of England and Europe. It is an astounding fact that the images of the Green Man in these edifices outnumber the images of Christ by approximately twelve to one!

That being the case, one would assume that there must be something in the records of the construction of these buildings to explain his frequent appearances? There is not a single word written, all we have are the faces, carved from wood and stone. Rosslyn chapel near Edinburgh, made famous by it’s alleged Masonic and Da Vinci Code connections, has over a hundred Green Men dotted around its interior. Rosslyn’s exterior has many more. Why? The image of the Green Man – or ‘Foliate Heads’ as they are sometimes called, appears in many cultures across the globe. You can find them in China, Mexico and India – and in some ancient Hebrew Scripts. All of these places have developed separately with their own customs and traditions.

The Green Man has been linked with various English customs and traditions. The list of his supposed origins include The Morris Dance; Robin Hood; the story of Gawain and the Green Knight from the Arthurian tradition; tree spirits and tree worship; The Druids; Herne the Hunter and other ‘Wild Men’ myths; and the Jack-in-the-Green festivities. There are many pubs up and down the country called The Green Man that testify his popularity.

Unfortunately, again, there is very little written or historical evidence for any of these links and it is difficult to pin down exactly when these connections started. The Jack-in-the-Green festival is worth research, though. This festival, which is still carried on today in several

towns and cities in England, is held around the beginning of May. It is closely linked to the fertility of the spring and summer months. The central figure is quite literally a ‘Green Man’ costumed in a sort of giant Christmas tree made from wicker and foliage. This custom is understood to be hundreds of years old.

So where do we go from here?

If we go further back into history we see a link with the masks worn by the priests and shamans of various cultures, including the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians,

need to regain “We that instinctive connection with the land – perhaps the Green Man can show us the way.

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Mayans, Native Americans and ancient Persians. I feel however, that in order to understand the Green Man, we must go even further…

So let us travel back in time, back to the very dawn of mankind…when life was ruled by the seasons, when we lived hand in hand with the land and not remote from it as most of us do today.

Our ancestors would watch the gradual process of the Sun lowering in the sky. The nights draw in and it becomes colder, the land becomes still as animals begin the long months of hibernation and the trees lose their leaves. Then comes the Winter Solstice, the darkest time of the year, a time to huddle around the fire and pray the food does not run out before the advent of spring. This was a time for story-telling and ritual to ensure the return of the lifebringing Sun. Here we do find links with our customs today – the holographic tinsel that you drape around your Christmas tree is a modern incarnation of the greenery traditionally brought in. We know from archeological remains, that the ancient shamanic priests wore masks; we can imagine that one of these masks might have depicted a Green Man to symbolize the return of the spring leaves.

The Christmas carol The Holly

A green man in Rosslyn Chapel

and the Ivy, which dates back to the early 18th century, is itself based on an older folk song, which may go back to medieval times and beyond. This carol deals with the rivalry between the male holly and the female ivy. It may well have ancient connections with the symbolism that the Green Man would seem to represent,

The image of the “ Green Man appears in many cultures across the globe.”

namely the birth, death and rebirth cycle and the ability of some plants to withstand the winter months without losing their leaves. In Scandinavia, holly has been revered since ancient times.

Slowly the days lengthen and the land is warmed by the Sun as it climbs ever higher until we reach May Day. Now we see an abundance of greenery about us as everything is fertile – and our ancestors celebrated the dawn of summer. At Summer Solstice the Sun reaches its zenith, food is plentiful, but now the Sun slowly descends once more,

the harvests are gathered in and laid up for the cold months ahead and once more the wheel turns.

One of my favourite stories is that of the Oak King and the Holly King.

The tale is circular with no beginning or ending. Twice a year the Holly King and the Oak King have a battle for control of the land. At the Winter Solstice the Oak King wins and the land becomes green and verdant under his reign, at the Summer Solstice the Holly King triumphs and the land gradually falls asleep, with only the evergreens to remind us of warmer times.

This story sums up reasons for the existence of the Green Man. For all the images of him, there are no written records – why? Once upon a time, we did not need to be told who he was or what he represented. We knew, in the same way that we know the cycle of the seasons. After many years lying forgotten in the corners of our churches, he has slowly crept back into our consciousness.

He is a symbol of continuity, he takes us from the far distant past into the future at a time when concern for the fate of our planet in increasing. We need to regain an instinctive connection with the land – perhaps the Green Man can show us the way.

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Beltane: April 30th – May 1st

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ello Vision readers, welcome to Coven Corner! Another month has gone by as we now step into May, a time for couples and lovers; new romances; a time for new opportunities or deeper commitment; or, if you are single, a time to spend more time with your friends. As summer arrives we should place our darker clothing to the back of the wardrobe and wear clothes in brighter colours, as they enhance and lighten our mood, making us feel more optimistic and confident. Try and get out into the countryside or a park and take notice of how the animals are behaving.

Take off your shoes and connect with Mother Earth, feeling the lush grass beneath your feet, or perhaps lie down in the grass and look up at the clouds. In the clouds you can often see shapes, see what you can see and try to interpret what messages they have for you. Make May the month to be aware of the four elements around you and how you are connected to Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

Each element makes up a part of our personality: who are you today?

Be blessed

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Andrea

Also known as Valpurj, Beltaine, Beltainne, Roodmas, Calin Mai and Walpurgis Night.

Beltane means bright fire or lucky fire. Beltane is the Celtic May Day which starts at moonrise on May Day Eve marking the beginning of the third quarter of the ancient Celtic year.

Beltane is a fire festival but is also a time to celebrate love and the union of the God and Goddess, therefore this is the traditional time for Handfasting ceremonies (Pagan marriages). It is a time of fertility and harvest, a time to reaping the wealth from all the hard work we have put in.

Beltane also marks the arrival of summer. Traditionally a Beltane fire was composed of the nine sacred woods of the Celts. All ‘half fires’ were extinguished on Beltane eve and then set alight again from the sacred “need fires” lit on Beltane.

People would jump through the smoke and flames of Beltane fires and cattle were driven around the fires for purification, fertility, prosperity and protection.

Goddess of the Month

Pele

Element: Fire Correspondences: Mercury and the Sun Pele is the Hawaiian Goddess of fire and volcanoes.

She made Hawaii her home after being chased away from where she originally lived by her older sister, Na-maka-o-kahai, because she had seduced Na-make-o-kahai’s husband. Pele often appears as a beautiful young woman but can also be seen as a haggard old lady. On some occasions she has been represented as a dog. When taking female form, she will always be dressed in white and as a dog will have white fur. She is often portrayed as having red eyes. Pele can also take the form of lava and fire. The Goddess Pele is said to be able to seduce any man she wants and another talent she has is exploding, giving more land to the island of Hawaii. You can invoke the Goddess Pele for power, seduction, shape shifting and any rituals involving fire.

1 x broom handle 1 x fireproof dish or cauldron 1 x length of red ribbon 1 x length of green ribbon 1 x length of white ribbon 1 x frankincense resin This ritual should be performed outside if at all possible.

Place the broom handle vertically a few inches deep into a grassy area, so it is standing upright. Make sure there is enough room to walk around it. Tie the lengths of ribbon to the top of the broom handle so they can be plaited. Place the fireproof dish or cauldron in the south of the area, light a little fire in the cauldron making sure it is well away from anything that can catch fire. Cast a circle: beginning in the east point your finger and imagine a golden light shooting outwards as you complete the circle. Throw a few grains of frankincense resin onto the fire, after this is done go over to the ribbons and plait them whilst making a wish. Tie the plait securely at the bottom, then walk or dance around the broom handle three times. When you have done this, complete the ritual by saying “my wish is complete, let it harm none, so mote it be.”

After the ritual is complete, close the circle down by pointing your finger and beginning in the east, complete a full circle anti – clockwise. This ritual can be followed by eating traditional foods which should include dairy produce.

1 x bottle of spring water 1 x rose quartz crystal 1 x small green glass bottle Some rose petals or a few drops of rose oil A few drops of Ylang Ylang oil First collect the early morning dew from the leaves or grass on a May Day morning.

Pour the fresh dew water into the green glass bottle and top up with the spring water. Place a rose quartz crystal into the bottle (it should already have been cleansed). Put a few drops of Ylang Ylang and rose oil into the glass bottle. If you don’t have rose oil you can use rose petals instead, or, if you prefer, both. Place a stopper in the bottle and gently shake allowing the ingredients to mix together. Now put the potion on a windowsill, preferably in moonlight, and ask the Goddess to charge the potion with her energies.

This potion can be dabbed onto the pulse points just before you go out for the evening with your friends where you could meet someone special.

NB: Be sure to check any contraindications or allergies before you use any essential oils on the skin.

Witches’ kitchen Thyme:

Gender: Feminine Planet: Venus Element: Water Powers: Health, Healing, Sleep, Psychic Powers, Love, Purification and Courage Magical Uses: Thyme can be burned to bring good health, or can be worn for this purpose.Placed under a pillow it will aid a good nights sleep. It can also be worn to aid psychic development. Burn thyme to purify a room or use in a bath in conjunction with marjoram. Thyme can also be used for courage by either smelling its aroma or carrying it about your person.

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Clint Denyer reveals the mystery of the Glastonbury Zodiac, an earthly respresentation of the constellations above.

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he Glastonbury Zodiac is as much a mystery to us today as it was when Katharine Maltwood ‘rediscovered’ it in 1927. A series of figures etched into the landscape, Mrs. Maltwood recognised the figures as an exact representation of the constellations in the sky above Glastonbury Tor. All in their correct order! She estimated that this huge astrological table was constructed at about 2,700 BC, while others suggest a far earlier date, perhaps as early as 7000 BC, relating to Egypt’s Denderah Zodiac.

The Glastonbury Zodiac can be seen only from heights of 20,000 feet and above. This vast circle includes the Tor and Chalice Hill (Aquarius) and nearby Wearyall Hill (Pisces). The diameter of the Zodiac is approximately 10 miles wide, and about 30 miles in circumference.

Rediscovered after centuries of oblivion, it is said to be a natural configuration; Avalon’s hills contour the astrological figures, thus the rivers flowing round them outline them in parts. Roads and paths complete the outlines. The circle of the Glastonbury Zodiac is 10 miles across, with Glastonbury in the North, Somerton in the South. Langport’s Dog (5 miles long) lies South-West. All the signs are in proportion to each other, in correct Zodiac order, heads facing West, Winter Signs in the cold North, and Summer Signs in the sunny South. Scale a starmap face down over an Ordnance Map; the Zodiac stars will fit over their earthly counterparts. As above, so below.

Could chance form such a complex, well-ordered pattern? Surely not. Did prehistoric men recognise and develop Avalon’s geological shapes into a Zodiac, or does Nature form the Earth into hitherto unsuspected Zodiac patterns? Since several remarkably similar Zodiacs have now been found,

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St. Michael’s Tower on Glastonbury Tor

(such as the well known Kingston Zodiac, formed by the Thames and its tributaries and researched by Mary Caine), many incline towards the latter theory.

“

A series of figures etched into the landscape ... an exact representation of the constellations in the sky above Glastonbury Tor. All in their correct order!

”

Either way, much evidence shows that the natural pattern was developed by ancient Man. Earthworks define Glastonbury’s figures at nodal points - the head and wing of the Tor’s Phoenix are terraced, as are Taurus’s horns and Leo’s jaws; Capricorn’s horn is a rampart nearly a mile long; Virgo’s breast is a huge barrow. About 100 placenames (like Wagg on the Guard-Dog’s tail, Earlake Moor on his ear, Loll-overHill by Gemini’s lolling head) and several local folk-tales remember this Zodiac but it is, above all, a source of Arthurian and Grail legend.

Mrs. Maltwood viewed this circle as Arthur’s original Round Table with Merlin, Guinevere, Arthur and his chief Knights still seated round it as the Zodiac Signs and our familiar seasons. In their Grail-Quest they were seeking themselves, their own Signs, and so obeying that ancient precept: Man, know thyself!

No ordinary banqueting-board this, but a time-table of Sun, Moon and star movements - a table of measurements of man and the universe wherein we too may quest the Grail and learn our true nature and purpose.

Ancient Britain saw this as Cerridwen’s Cauldron of Wisdom and Inspiration; Arthurian legend Christianised it into the Cup of the Last Supper brought into Britain by Joseph of Arimathea in 63 A.D. Joseph was taken to be the ancestor of Arthur and his chief Knights, notably Lancelot and Galahad.

In Glastonbury legend Joseph arrived on Wearyall Hill, preaching Christianity and planting his staff, which thenceforth flowered magically both at Christmas and Easter. It is strange but true that the Holy Thorn (a Mediterranean species) still does flower at these times! Strange, too, that Joseph chose Wearyall, one of the Zodiac’s Fish, to preach Christianity. The earliest symbol of Christianity is the Fish.

Strange, too, how Arviragus, the local king, is said to have given 12 hides of land there to maintain him and 11 followers. Twelve hidden Zodiac figures?

Twelve animal hides? According to the Domesday Book they never paid tax. Is this how “hide” became a land-measure?

Within Mrs. Maltwood’s Gemini, the babe appears a crucified, Christlike figure, beautifully drawn by Nature herself on Dundon and Loll-over-Hill.

The Arthurian concept of Galahad as a Christ-like Knight may stem from this.

Only Galahad and Perceval (the Gemini

Twins) were allowed to see the Grail significantly in Solomon’s Ship (Cancer) at the city of Sarras (which means StarCity).

Legend also tells how Joseph hid the Grail in Chalice Well on Glastonbury Tor. This is the Sign of Aquarius, symbol of a dawning Aquarian Age. How many dawns of enlightenment, long forgotten or as yet to come, are properly associated with this intriguing synthesis of fact and myth? What heightened streams of consciousness flow

from this ancient, mystic spring?

According to some, the Glastonbury Zodiac may be the original Round Table; however, the Zodiac is not the only mystical link to earlier times.

Long after the construction of the Zodiac, the Tor was part of another huge project: Over 30 standing stones on the Tor and nearby hills formed a lunar observatory that could predict eclipses. These stones also lined up with the sun on May Day and on Lammas (around the first of August).

Most of these standing stones had vanished by the 1880s, but one remains on the lower western slope of the Tor’s east-west axis. This megalith, a power stone, is called Living Rock on the Ordinance Survey Maps. People who touch it at dawn or very late at night, often report feeling a mild electrical current emanating from the stone...

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Paula Garton takes a look at the effect of the planets in April

Neptune turns retrograde on 22nd: Beware of seeing only what you want to see and don’t take out loans or buy expensive items this month!

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eptune, the planet of idealism, spirituality, confusion, disillusionment and deception, is turning retrograde on the 22nd of this month. All through May it will be very slow-moving resulting in a desire to avoid responsibilities and commitments. You’ll want to disappear into the moonlight to follow your dreams! You will only see what you want to see and be an ideal target for the conman.So be warned, this is not a good time to take out any loans or buy expensive items as you will find the terms change and are not what you thought they were at the time.

Other countries will feel tempting to visit, so holidays will be a must, but make sure you can afford it and you take care with the spending sprees likely to result from the need to escape reality. Neptune produces a dreamlike state of being which is not good globally, although it will enhance healing abilities and spiritual activities; it can produce a need to achieve our dreams at the expense of others. Because of this, it is likely that countries expecting humanitarian aid will not see their needs materialise. We are also more sensitive when planets turn retrograde; so global

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Mercury speeds through Taurus: You won’t see the wood for the trees; wait until 22nd to be sure of your impressions!

Mars moves into Cancer on 15th: Emotions run high for Cancerians. Don’t take everything to heart, what is being said is not as harsh as it appears!

unrest can result from insensitive remarks or misunderstandings.

Mercury is moving very quickly through Taurus taking only 2 weeks instead of 3-4 weeks. The Sun and Mercury are never more than 24 degrees apart but between the 14th and 26th they are very close together; with Mercury being burned by the Sun’s rays. This means we will be unable to see ourselves as others see us and won’t be able to concentrate. We cannot think clearly or easily utilise our ideas until the Sun and Mercury move into Gemini on the 22nd.

Gemini is ruled by Mercury, so it is stronger and therefore will enhance our ability to understand others. Geminis will be empowered: they will talk your head off, wanting to inform and be informed.

News and sales will struggle to succeed, with travel and study necessary as there is a desire to stimulate the mind. More films will be produced and more books published. There will be news around the Soviet states, Ireland and Cyprus.

Mars moved into watery Cancer on 15th April and remains there throughout May. Cancer is the sign of sensitivity, mothering and caring instincts in all areas, for men particularly

in projects and family. Cancer is a feminine, passive sign but one that starts actions and is good for business. Mars, the male motivator of action and god of war, is not happy in a sensitive sign as this aggressor does not want to be seen crying at sadness. Cancerians will be more unstable and upset than usual, as Mars demands action and assertion which will be channelled through emotions. This is likely to make them feel hurt at criticism or conflict and they could easily be subject to volatile mood swings, when it is really unlikely that what is being said to them is meant as harshly as it sounds! The full moon on 13th will not be a good time for Cancerians: tides and emotions run high.

The other water signs of Scorpio and Pisces will be energized as they receive positive energy to create action to help others with focus and foresight. Jupiter in Scorpio sends luck and optimism to Uranus the enlightener in Pisces: giving new ideas and breakthroughs in problem solving. This will help business minded Cancerians who will have more energy and drive to initiate projects into action with competitiveness and a determination to succeed.

Get those pesky planets working for you!

Diana Jarvis shows you how to use Astrology to complement your spells.

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strology is, without doubt, a very useful tool to have a basic knowledge of, whatever your spiritual interests. This ancient discipline can work in conjunction with a number of things, magick being one of them.

If you have read Coven Corner, you will be familiar with candle magick at its simplest level. Candle magick is just one of many ways of making a ‘clever prayer’: which is essentially what a spell is. The simplest spell that anyone can perform is lighting a candle and making a wish. The candle represents the light of your intention as well as the divine light of your deity(ies). The wish tells these Powers what you want and concentrates your attention on it.

Every thing that we could possibly want is connected to other things. These connections are called correspondences and, in magick, there are some tried and trusted correspondences that enhance and clarify spells.

The most important celestial body to pay attention to (when working magick) is the Moon. It is said that the moon can seriously affect our mental state, certainly we have always connected the moon and mental conditions. That’s where the word ‘lunacy’ comes from!

The Moon is used widely in magick. A magickal rite performed when the moon is full in the appropriate astrological sign, will add that planetary energy to your magick and increase the potential for success. It is not as hard as it sounds to harness this ‘extra’ power.

For instance, working a spell for safe travel when the moon is full in Gemini will add the complementary energy of that sign to your work, making the spell that much more powerful.

Gemini is ruled by Mercury, Mercury assists travel. So, if you could do this spell on or around December 5th this year, you are harnessing the power of the sign. Some goals associated with the different astrological signs are listed below.

Aries: Action, Energy, Courage, Passion, Lust, Confidence, Masculine Issues.

Taurus: Sensuality, Money, Love, Loyalty, Trust, Gardening, Beauty.

Gemini: Communication, Writing, Healing, Study, Travel.

Cancer: Emotions, Home, Children, Fertility, Feminine Issues.

Leo: Creativity, Prosperity, Leadership, Employment, Spirituality, Healing.

Virgo: Health, Animals, Practicality, Gardening, Stability, Education.

Libra: Balance, Peace, Fairness, Charm, Sympathy, Harmony.

Scorpio: Secrets, Intuition, Passion, Sex, Fertility, Divination, Occultism.

Sagittarius: Freedom, Honesty, Philosophical, Exploring, Health, Money.

Capricorn: Ambition, Material Needs, Removing Obstacles, Protection.

Aquarius: Friendship, Honesty, Spells Done For Others, Independence.

Pisces: Psychic Powers, Divination, Past Lives, Occultism, Séances.

So when will you find a full moon in these signs? You can buy a diary with the planets’s movements for complete updates, but here’s a guide in the box below. for the rest of 2006!

Sagittarius:

June 11th

Capricorn/Aquarius: July 11th

Aquarius:

August 9th

Pisces:

September 7th

Aries:

October 7th

Taurus:

November 5th

Gemini:

December 5th

Of course, if you really can’t wait for a full moon in the right sign, work with the phase of the moon. Waxing (when the moon is getting bigger) is best for attracting something to you and waning (when the moon is getting smaller) is best for banishing (removing). Enjoy your magick!

Note: As this article is about ‘spelling’ you may have wondered why I’ve spelt magic with a ‘k’. The convention of adding the ‘k’ to magic is to differentiate spellcasting from conjuring – to let you know I am talking about working ‘real’ magic and not the type of magic that you will see performed on stage or TV.

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Let Vision’s no-nonsense astrologer James Christie guide you through the month ahead...

Your May Forecast

ost Bulls can look forward to a very busy month of May. The first week highlights careers and business aspects, and this promises to be a very busy and at the same time extremely tiring period. You need to monitor your energy levels, getting tired out will be all too simple! Weeks two and three auger well for all travel aspects and I do feel that there must be some physical movement in this period whether it is related to holidays or business trips.

Actually, these two aspects combine very nicely, so travel in connection with business and pleasure could well be the order of the day. Between May 11th and 13th there will be an important family reunion and all family aspects are well starred. May 15th to May 23rd sees you involved in some important research project, and across the whole of the month anything and everything to do with property, its sale, its purchase and its funding, seems to be very high on the agenda.

Cash & Career: While there does seem to be a lot of money coming in between the 1st and the 9th, it seems to be going out again between the 10th and the 23rd. Having said that, your spending will have purpose and whatever you’re doing it could be seen as an investment for your future. You may find your patience running a little thin around the 13th, but this is not a time to be obstructive and you must draw on your (limited) powers of tact and diplomacy to keep things on an even keel – especially if you’re having a bit of a clash over fiscal priorities with a partner. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were in a grumpy mood until the 21st/22nd – but at this time something important falls into place that enables you to see your mid and long term future with much greater clarity and enthusiasm, and you should end the month on quite a celebratory high.

Relationships: Between the 1st and the 8th relationships may become just a bit frazzled, especially if you’re

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21 Apr – 21 May working on emotional reserves and are trying to burn the business candle at both ends. A lot of the pressure comes off around the 10th when there will be a much more quality time for affairs of the heart and you will find yourself pushing forwards with a partner towards common goals and ambitions. (Those Bulls without partners will certainly feel the benefit of a lot of support and encouragement forthcoming from a member of the opposite sex!) There may be some issues concerning security coming to the surface around the 20th and while you will be inclined to take some kind of calculated risk a partner may choose to be a little more cautious and circumspect. They will think you’re running too fast and you will think they’re walking too slowly, and maybe in an odd kind of way, you’ll both be right!

However, from your point of view, you really must be patient and take someone else’s concerns to heart before charging ahead like a bull in a china shop.

Your May Forecast

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strological Overview: Those Geminis who can work as part of a team will reap the greatest benefits from the month of May, whilst isolated and introverted members of the sign will find the going gets a bit rough.

You cannot always get what you want when you’re battling alone, and this is definitely a time for co-operating with friends and allies – and if you haven’t got any, then go and find some. It will be time well spent! There is also an indication that suggests that life might have got just a wee bit too complicated, and this astrologer wonders whether it might not be a good idea to forsake quests for high finance and the great romance in favour of sound and viable friendships – and just a little bit of fun? I acknowledge your initiative and your powers of leadership, but if you’re going to lead then there needs to be a few other folk around you who are prepared to follow.

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Cash & Career: Cash aspects look very sound between the 2nd and the 14th, but you will gain more by playing as part of a team and not going off halfcocked as a wild card in a serious game of poker. A situation arises around the 7th when you might be caught out by a lie – or some distortion of the truth. When in a big hole, stop digging, and if this does happen, best to own up with a sheepish smile on your face. Around the 20th career ambitions clash with personal ambitions – you can’t be making whoopee in a four star hotel and doing overtime in the office at the same time, so make a choice and stick with it, at least for the short term. My advice?

Follow your romantic inclinations and let cash and career aspects look after themselves. During the very last days of the month you’ll be coming under a lot of pressure from a boss or employer who wants you to take on a lot more responsibility. Tread carefully on this one

22 May – 21 June and don’t leap before looking at all the loose ends and dangling strings.

Relationships: You have the ability to attract people to you like iron filings to a magnet, but are they the right people? Are they the people you would like to have walking by your side – and all these nice things they’re saying… do they really mean them, or are other people just buttering you up because they want something from you? These are just some of the issues on your plate and it would be easy to become paranoid. Why not set a few little tests and make a point of judging other people by their actions rather than their words. If nothing else this will sort the men from the boys and the fairies from the pixies. Low moods of self doubt and anxiety cloud a few issues around the 14th or 15th but by the 21st you’ll have made your mind up about a few things and should have a much clearer idea about where you’re going – and who is going there with you.

Your May Forecast

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ay should be a good month for the vast majority of Cancerians insofar as other people will be working very hard to keep you happy, and whether this is on the job scene or in emotional relationships, the efforts from third parties do seem to be quite genuine.

For the magic to work you do have to respond in kind, which will not be a problem during the first ten days or so, but there are some sticky patches cropping up around the 15th, 16th and 17th, when you will find yourself questioning other peoples’ motives.

Cancerians don’t usually have a problem with jealousy, but there is some envy in the wind between the 18th and 21st which could cause some impulsive and irrational behaviour in an attempt to keep up with the Joneses! During some heated discussion or argument on 23rd you need to express your thoughts and feelings with objectivity and clarity and by the 29th (after you’ve had some chance to rethink some of your tactics

and strategies) the month closes on a note of self satisfaction.

Cash & Career: Between the 3rd and the 8th you will feel that you are making a lot of progress: there will be a new job opportunity arising at this time and people will be going out of their way to flatter – or maybe they’re just saying thank you for you past hard work. Either way there is a mood of celebration on the work scene and you should certainly be in the middle of all the action. If there are some delays and set-backs around the 15th – 18th do not over-react, simply take things in your stride, and if you’ve got to take a few days off work to nurse a runny nose, then for goodness sake, do it! (Better that than infecting everyone else, anyway.) A business trip on the 23rd or 24th might cause some domestic disapproval, but the cash aspects associated with the last few days of the month should compensate for this more than adequately. In your opinion, anyway!

22 June – 22 July

Relationships: In many ways May will be quite a sexy month with a high degree of social activity complementing (and initiating) romantic activity. Ladies who feel like playing away from home will get away with it, gentlemen, however, will not. Having said that, female Cancerians who put their careers before their family may find themselves having to pay a heavy price a bit later on in the grand scheme of things to come.

Unexpected presents, love tokens or bribes are on the table between the 1st and the 5th. Some intrigue makes itself known between the 7th and the 14th when you’ll find yourself one thing to one person and something else to another.

You’ll be out of this slightly messy period by the 16th and it is around this time that you may well find yourself contemplating slightly more spiritual matters – and if that’s going over the top, then at least you’ll be concentrating on your inner needs rather than financial gains and emotional difficulties.

Your May Forecast

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ay is a month for broadening your horizons and lifting your sights – why aim for the moon when with just a little more effort you can capture the stars! In the short term be content to concentrate on current targets and ambitions, but always with an eye on the more long term future. During this period there should be lots of support and encouragement from friends and business colleagues alike, and someone slightly outside your normal circle will come up with an innovative idea or business proposition that should prove very exciting, especially if it offers you some kind of short cut to get from where you are to where you’d like to be. Having said that, be a bit on your guard between the 17th and the 21st and avoid hasty decisions or impulsive actions at this time. The whole of the month is a pretty good period for networking and making new and useful contacts and a chance meeting on May 30th will bring one long standing ambition closer to fruition. It’s who you know rather than what you can

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do that counts in these late days of the month!

Cash & Careers: This is a busy and financially rewarding period and it seems to me that you’ll be squirreling some money away in different pots for a number of different projects. Expect some career advancement between the 1st and the 6th and make a point of avoiding any kind of involvement in office politics between the 9th and the 11th. Across the board, you need to keep your finger on the pulse and pay attention to details. In cases where you have to delegate some responsibility, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to maintain a watching brief over somebody’s shoulder, just to make sure they are doing what you want them to do, and in the way you want it done. There is some out-of-hours work pressure building up around the 20th and during the last week or so of the month you may find yourself working much longer hours than usual and burning a bit of the midnight oil.

23 July – 22 Aug

Relationships: The vast majority of Leos are neither flirtatious nor promiscuous, but even so, you will be aware of various sexual openings and opportunities around you at this time.

Now, if you’re feeling safe and secure in a present union, you are not likely to be tempted – but if you’re free and single, or are not feeling particularly secure or satisfied with an existing relationship, well, if nothing else you do become aware of the fact that there are other fish in the sea and that some of them are extremely attractive. Whatever your circumstances and whatever vibration you’re working on, May promises to be a sexy month and with the continuing energy that has been building up throughout March and April, you stay very much in control of emotional situations and are therefore in an extremely powerful position when dealing with members of the opposite sex. If I’ve got it wrong, and you don’t feel as though your in control, then right now is the perfect time to start taking charge!

Your May Forecast

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he new moods of vitality ignited in April carry over into May and gain pace and momentum as the month progresses. It is an excellent period for partnership – both business partnerships and emotional partnerships, and any Virgo who is in the fortunate position of being in business with their bed mate can look forward to a scintillating period wherein they really do get the best of both worlds. Business and pleasure mix especially well between the 1st and the 8th and your social calendar should be full to bursting. Indeed, so much so that you might have to disappoint more than one person by declining their invitation to this “do” or that party. All aspects appertaining to children, and especially their long term education are highlighted between the 11th and the 18th and parents would be advised to bring their kids in on any plans and discussions that are likely to affect their educational future.

Cash & Careers: The first few days of May see you being a little less

busy than usual but without any detriment to your earnings. This suggests that other people are pulling their weight a little more enthusiastically, and either way you can afford to put your feet up for a few days and go with the flow. This energy shifts on the 9th of May when new responsibilities are placed on your shoulders – but because you will have had plenty of advance notice of these circumstances, you’ll not be in the least bit phased and cope very well indeed.

Interesting to note that from May 9th onwards there is more money coming in from somewhere, so whatever extra efforts are demanded of you, they will not go unrewarded. May 20th and 21st will be a period wherein you will have to reassess some targets and priorities, and if there is one little back-burner project that simply refuses to fall into place, now might be the time to let it go and redirect your energies elsewehere.

Relationships: A lover or partner proves just how important you are to them by something they do on your

23 Aug – 22 Sept behalf between the 2nd and the 7th. This opens a door of emotional opportunity for you, which it will be easy for you to pass through, knowing that whatever happens, you’re totally safe and totally secure. Single members of the sign will be presented with a love token or a declaration of love that they will find extremely difficult to ignore. The period between the 12th and the 18th sees some very intense conversations and discussions taking place in the most unlikely locations (the potting shed; the office loo; the back of an old banger), but there is excitement here and a very bright buzz of romance in its purest form for you to enjoy. Travel aspects, whether you are travelling alone or in connection with business are hardly worth a mention, but if you’re travelling with a loved one or there is a romantic agenda associated with journeys, ah well, this is a very different kettle of fish indeed!

Highlighted dates for travel are May 10th, May 28th and 29th so make sure your travel insurance is up to date!

Your May Forecast

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ay is a brilliant month for relationships and for affairs of the heart and from a purely social point of view, you’re going to be very busy indeed with a whole host of different (and probably quite posh) engagements in your diary. Cross referencing here slightly, for anyone involved in media or performing arts, May will prove to be a breakthrough month where all kinds of different ambitions are concerned. Whether you’re self employed or PAYE, a bit of entrepreneurial spirit wouldn’t do you any harm right now and a few small risks are well in order. Travel aspects become significant around the 15th and while your destination will be important, your travelling companion/s will be even more important! On a different note, if travel aspects are relevant around the 25th be careful and check all schedules carefully.

There could be mistakes at this end of the month.

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Cash & Careers: May isn’t a bad month for finances and careers, but nor is it especially remarkable either. You move along at a predictable pace (getting enthusiastic about a few things around the 9th and 10th and then frustrated and disheartened around the 20th and 21st) and on the whole, should feel reasonably content. Frankly, your mind is going to be on other things. While some of those “other things” are career related when you look to dates in your diary for the Autumn of this year, for Christmas, and the spring of 2007, some of those “other things” are not in the least bit work related, but are much more concerned with romantic and emotional issues. I don’t see this as being any kind of problem at all, and would simply say that even in the most important of business and career aspects, follow your heart.

Relationships: The accent throughout the whole of the month of May is clearly placed over the emotional

23 sept – 23 Oct

and romantic aspects of your life, and quite honestly there is a lovely buzz going on here. Romantic promises and commitments are very relevant between the 1st and the 7th and there will be new romantic and sexual opportunities on offer for the most single of singles. Even people who have sworn they will never allow themselves to get caught on the love hook again may well find themselves changing their minds and eating their words. A lot of Librans are going to get married this month, another lot of Librans are going to get engaged, and a third lot of Librans are going to break free from the restraints of celibacy and chastity. (About time too, in my opinion!)

One little warning here – be on your guard against gossip around the 24th and understand that someone might be feeling very jealous and envious of you.

From their corner of the pavement, they might feel that they’ve got a case, but from your side of the road they haven’t.

Your May Forecast

T

he secret to success this month is to keep everything on the light side and to avoid anything with “heavy” connotations. Anything you can do to enhance your social life is a step in the right direction and it would be a good time to pursue new hobbies or interests or even to start working at some sporting ambition; as long as it isn’t too psychologically competitive. More important than any of the above, however, is the concept of meeting new people, broadening your social circle and being open to new ideas and different ways of thinking. Although I don’t like the concept of luck, your fortunes seem to change for the better around the 14th and from your point of view, you’ll probably see this as a beneficial change – although whether it’s just luck or cause and effect, well that’s a matter of personal interpretation.

Cash & Careers: Monetary aspects in May are really quite favourable and anything you’re doing as part of a

team between the 1st and the 7th should meet with notable success. The 13th through until the 19th is an opportune period for making major and lasting improvements to job routines. It is also a period in which you should be instrumental in helping someone with their career problems. This might be no big deal from your point of view, but the person you are assisting will see it as a big deal, and although you won’t be looking for rewards, those rewards will nevertheless find their way to your doorstep. Transport could cause some difficulties and disruption between the 20th and the 26th, so have a plan ‘B’ in your back pocket if plan ‘A’ goes on strike or fails to start. This might be a good time to think of buying a new car, or if you’re working on anything like my budget, maybe a new bike or some renovated roller skates.

Relationships: For the better part, May is an easy going month and it should certainly be an improvement of

24 Oct – 23 Nov those restless moods of April. Between the 2nd and the 8th you will be on the receiving end of quite a lot of attention from a partner, and even though you will know that they want something from you in return, you should enjoy living in the limelight. Emotional scenarios might become just a little bit tense around the 22nd when you find yourself under some pressure to make decisions or commitments that you’re not quite ready to make. You can play for time, but this may precipitate a decline in your popularity with at least one key romantic player in your life. Another way of interpreting this would be to say that if you are carrying a load of excess emotional baggage (and what Scorpio doesn’t), this is when you are likely to be challenged to drop it. You’ll remember at the beginning of this report you were advised to keep things light? Well, this would be one extremely efficient way of doing something yourself to lighten your load.

Your May Forecast

A

ny unchangeable decisions made on the 1st or 2nd of the month will be changed by the 21st or 22nd, so make a point of keeping all your options open and avoid making any lasting commitments until the very last minute.

Do not be impulsive and do not be impatient, especially if you’re a Sagittarian parent dealing with matters involving children. In all honesty May is a month in which you will get most of what you want out of life but you won’t find it quite where you’re looking for it – and there are probably a few surprises along the way. This is especially true around the 14th, when a threat or adversity is removed without you having to lift a finger, and again around the 25th when there is likely to be an unexpected reunion. Travel aspects involving third parties become curiously important throughout the month and any links with people and places overseas are likely to be strengthened.

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Cash & Careers: Some political manoeuvring on the job scene seems inevitable this month, and if you have to take sides, then take sides. You’ll not be allowed to sit on the fence and any attempt to do so will see you landing up in the mud one way or the other. It’s fair to say this is applicable to all Saggies out there, no matter what their job might be, but it is particularly pertinent to people working for big corporations and within the framework of the civil service. Some tact and diplomacy used around the 14th will do much to calm a few stormy seas and it will do you no harm at all to be seen as peacemaker or effective intermediary. While there is no threat to financial aspects, this is nonetheless a time wherein you have to watch the pennies if funds are to be in place to pay for special treats and rewards coming up next month and again later in the year.

Relationships: Well, I wouldn’t want to describe May as being a boring

24 Nov – 21 Dec

month for affairs of the heart, but in all truth there doesn’t seem to be a great deal happening in this key area of your life. Maybe this is a good thing? Maybe you are looking for some calm, predictable pathways in which boats don’t get rocked and skeletons stay locked in their respective cupboards? If this is you, well aren’t you the lucky bunny! On the other hand, if you’re all dressed up but have got nowhere to go; if you’re looking for a slice of life in the fast lane; if you’re waiting for your invitation to join the international jet set; if your dreaming of having torrid affairs… well, er, I don’t know how to break it to you … but maybe May might turn out to just a little bit disappointing? I suppose it’s the Sagittarian family vibration that is most noticeably in the ascendant, so maybe this is where you should be devoting most of your time and energy – even if there are lots of other things on your mind.

Your May Forecast

M

ay will turn out to be an important and very memorable month for the vast majority of Capricorns – there are a lot of different things happening, all vying for your attention, and most on a pretty bright upbeat note. The 1st to the 8th sees you in work and career mode and there is some good money to be made in this first week of the month. Travel aspects dominate the second two weeks of May, and spending will be heavy in this period.

Matters related to property will be very high on the agenda, and visits to estate agents seem highly likely. Family reunions have a role to play and you will be instrumental in helping an older relative or relatives to achieve their goals.

There will be some emotional tension creeping to the surface around the 16th or 17th and bearing in mind this is caused by some frustration and physical tiredness it shouldn’t be difficult to nip in the bud before any damage is done.

22 Dec - 20 Jan

Cash & Careers: May is a very

Relationships: Overall there are

money-orientated month, and as I say, in the first week you’ll be earning, and in the following fortnight you’ll be spending it – but apart from that, this is a time wherein long term financial projects are costed out in detail. Some decisions will be made along the lines of: do you do something modestly and finance it yourself, or do you really push the boat out and saddle yourself with long term bank loans or second mortgages? There are pros and cons either way, deciding which is which may become an issue in partnerships, both the business kind and the emotional kind. Also, it is a time to be brutally realistic with your budgeting.

No point in going shopping for a prestige car when you’ve only got the cash for an old banger. May is very much a month when you’ll be clocking up the miles and although this can be very pleasurable, it can be quite draining. Make a point of monitoring your physical reserves.

some bright emotional connotations associated with romantic relationships and it’s a marvellous time for pulling together towards common goals – which is something you will do extremely successfully, apart from one pocket of conflict on matters of strategy and priority around the 16th 17th and 18th.

The trouble here is that you and a partner will want the same things, but will argue about what is the best way of going about getting them. A third party comes to your rescue around the 18th or 19th and provides you with vital information and practical help, and as part of the process you end up making an important new friend who will prove their friendship time and time again in the months and years to come. If May ends on a low, possibly anti-climatic note, do not be disheartened. This is a natural time for evaluation and assessment of your aims and ideals.

Your May Forecast

Q

uite an exciting month in the House of Aquarius, with lots of different aspects clambering for the high ground throughout the month.

Between the 1st and the 4th any kind of discussion or negotiation, be it business or personal, is guaranteed to go well and your abilities as a negotiator will not go unnoticed. From the 6th or 7th the accent moves over to leisure and pleasure and for the next couple of weeks you should be having a ball with some major highlights in your social life. Also, there is a strong romantic energy flooding through your sign at this time; so this should be a brilliant period for starting new relationships that have some mileage and ‘oomph’ associated with them.

Personal confidence is very high in May, peaking around the 22nd, which is also a very good time for making a few quantum leaps on the job scene.

Interviews, discussions, board meetings… it’s all a matter of communication, and you should have no trouble at all in getting your ideas across.

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21 Jan – 19 Feb

Cash & Careers: This is a great time for getting ahead and for making some major headway in all aspects appertaining to business and career, and while the really sweet spot falls between May 20th and 25th this doesn’t mean that the rest of the month is in any way dormant or passive. For example, office parties and company gatherings in the first week of the month offer great opportunities for networking on all levels. Anything associated with travel and business trips is very much to the fore throughout the second and third weeks of the month. It is also during this period that you will find yourself communing with people in positions of authority, and as they seem well inclined to listen to what you’ve got to say. Don’t hold back: use this time to really push your ideas forward. Sideline businesses should also prosper at this time, and although there might not be masses of extra cash in your pocket, financial confidence remains very high indeed. A slightly sour note might creep in around

the 28th 29th for anyone involved in the IT industry and you’d do well to remember that your computer is only as good as the programme it’s running.

Relationships: May is a much more rewarding month for affairs of the heart and personal ambitions (especially for single Aquarians), but even more mature members of the sign will get a lot out of the next few weeks as some key plans fall nicely into place around the 8th and 9th. Look out for a member of the opposite sex who will change their attitude from “no” to “yes” around the 14th and 15th. This should be a sexually stimulating month for active participants, and (ladies be warned) it is also a remarkably fertile period, so be aware!

There is some negative energy creeping in around the 29th and 30th, but this does seem partially due to your involvement in other peoples’ problems. It would be no bad thing to concentrate on protecting the sanctity and security of your own unions rather than taking sides in other peoples’ battles.

Your May Forecast

M

ay is a powerful month for anything to do with property and/or the enhancement of property values. The majority of monies spent over the next few weeks will be directed into this pot. Travel aspects on the 10th or 11th tie in with family reunions and the whole period from the 11th to the 30th augers well for leisure and pleasure pursuits and social intercourse. You are likely to meet new people and increase the circumference of your social circle quite considerably.

Artistic Pisceans can expect to be particularly creative, while down to earth fishes will be studying French or Spanish, elitist Pisceans will probably be learning Latin! Anything of an educational nature is high profile at this time and well worth following up. Contractual documents that commit you to spending a lot of money will be looked at before the month is over. Make sure you do not sign on the dotted line until you have read the small print and have asked a number of key questions.

Cash & Careers: May 1st to the

7th is a money orientated period with the accent on purchases and investments.

Later in the month (24th, 25th and 26th) financial commitments will again come under the microscope. You should not push forward with plans and investments at this time, unless you are certain that they are blue chip deals. Any money spent on travel should be seen as an investment, and any money spent on insurance or private health care should bring an extra degree of security and reassurance. Middle aged males may find that there are some legal aspects that require their attention associated with events in the quite distant past – this could be a nuisance, but I’m sure you’ll deal with it successfully, even if it does cause resentment and stirs up a few bitter memories from the early 1990s.

Young female Pisceans who have brains and ambitions will be headhunted for a new job, but be warned girls, if you accept, it will mean moving to another town.

20 Feb – 20 Mar

Relationships: Older Pisceans who are stuck in the mud will be pleased to know that the weather forecast for May is rain, rain, rain. So, the mud is going to get washed away and will provide opportunities to spread your wings, give ‘em a flap, and fly free from your present situations. Younger members of the sign won’t need the rain (and probably won’t care if it’s pouring down enough to float the ark) because they’ll be holed-up in leaking caravans or five star hotels and will be experimenting with all that is romantic, both emotionally and physcially! I am not being gratuitous here, for sexual energy is the glue that binds strong and solid long-term unions.

Another way of interpreting this would be to say if there’s something wrong with a relationship, you need to put it right in the bedroom and not over the breakfast cornflakes. May promises to be a positive month for the majority of Pisceans and especially those who can move on from where they’ve been towards wherever it is they want to go.

Your May Forecast

M

ay turns out to be a month wherein the key word is planning. You’ll be looking at the short-term future and will be allocating funds for forthcoming events in June and July, but will also be reviewing the more mid term and long term future. You’ll need some quiet time out just to make sure you’re on the right path and that you do really want what you think (and say) you want. If there is a second key word (or words) to the month, then let’s talk about multitasking, because this is certainly a time when you’re going to be dealing with a number of complex issues that will demand your time and attention. More balls in the air than usual, but you’ve got lots of confidence and enthusiasm working for you, and so this shouldn’t cause any major problems. Having said that, there may be some tension and tiredness creeping into the scheme of things towards the very end of the month and this may be a good time to take some

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of the pressure off and concentrate on a bit of R&R. Cash & Careers: Finances are consistently strong throughout May, but you’ll not have a lot of spare cash in your pocket. Everything will be earmarked for something, and if you are inclined to overspend, especially around the 9th, 10th and 11th there will be someone close at hand to pull you back from the brink.

The 14th of the month is a key date for making major financial commitments and although you will make an important decision at this time, it is not irrevocable.

You may well choose to change your mind or fine-tune something on or around the 24th to fit in with someone else’s plans and priorities. Self-employed Arians are able to make some significant short cuts between the 23rd and the 26th, when one door closes but two new doors open for you within a matter of hours.

Relationships: The first few days of May bring a real buzz to all romantic

21 Mar – 20 Apr

relationships and affairs of the heart – on all levels and across the board!

Established unions find greater depth of meaning and new romances get off the ground very nicely, providing Arian males can remember that faint heart never won fair lady. Arian females need to consider the fact that the way to a man’s heart is not through his stomach, but through a very different and more delicate part of his anatomy! During the first week of the month, single Arians are given loads of opportunities to change their romantic circumstances overnight!

There is a bit of a dippy feeling of anticlimax around the 9th and 10th, but your spirits are destined to be lifted again on the 15th when a lover/partner goes to great lengths to provide you with an extra degree of emotional reassurance that enables you to respond in kind. May 24th, 25th and 26th sees you in ‘partyparty’ mood and if you are burning the candle at both ends, no great harm is done.

A FREE copy of Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns for the first 50 subscribers!

Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns is an intriguing collection of stories to tie-in with the fascinating LIVINGtv series starring Britain’s best-loved medium Derek Acorah. At the heart of his show is the Ghost Truck, which moves from town to town seeking new ghostly experiences.

In each episode, the team investigates four mysteries, which involve painstaking night vigils, midnight séances and contact with the spirit world. Derek also knocks on the doors of unsuspecting members of the public to deliver psychic messages – will his Doorstep Divination be welcome?

His adventures include finding out why the Bristol Odeon usherettes refuse to clean screen 3 alone and who the drunken spirit haunting the old Royston police station is?

For your chance to get a free copy of Derek’s fantastic new book, call us on the

number below with your subscription order. Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns is available now in all good bookstores. For automatic updates on Derek Acorah and your other favourite authors visit www.thorsonselement.com and register for Authortracker. Derek’s previous books Ghost Hunting With Derek Acorah and The Psychic Adventures of Derek Acorah are also available in paperback.

Terms & Conditions: HarperCollins Publishers will provide one copy of Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns to the first 50 subscribers on a first-come, first-served basis; Vision will provide successful subscribers’ names and addresses to HarperCollins Publishers; HarperCollins Publishers will dispatch the prizes; Vision accepts no responsibility for the distribution of orders; offer open to UK residents over the age of 18; one entry per household; responsibility cannot

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Ref: DA03 75 Vision 14

by Diana Jarvis

Recommended Reading your Child’s Hand by Anne Hassett (Carroll and Brown, £7.99) Anne Hassett is on a mission to educate us to the mysteries contained in our children’s hands. Etched in their palms at a very early age are all the signs of what they will excel at and where they may go.

This book is so easy to read, but even easier to get caught up in. Don’t kid yourself for one minute that you are buying it just for your child … you, like me, will be checking out your own hand and sighing “it was all there if only someone had seen it”. Does your child have a Guardian Angel Line? Then relax, they are protected more than most and will get out of any scrape with little difficulty. Medical Stigmata lines? Then they’re a healer! You’ve had a taster in

The Healing Power of Seashells by Daya Sarai Chocron (Earthdancer, £8.99) Most people have heard of crystal healing and are aware of its benefits and widespread use. The same can’t be said for healing with sea shells. Daya attempts to adjust this imbalance by taking us on a journey through all things shelly … from origins, types and uses through to healing techniques. Much as you would ‘grid’ a person with a layout of crystals, you can do the same with sea shells. There are several grids illustrated in the book

including one for headaches and one for relaxation. Daya also includes a lovely meditation, how to make shell essences and also explains the origins of some of the shells in the book. Although only a few of the shells are indigenous to the UK, you can find a lot of them in shops near the sea, sold as collections. For the ones you can find, you’ll have that much more of a connection with the sea and all she stands for. A useful book to have to accompany other forms of healing: maybe this is the type of healing that will work best for you: try it and see!

Your Angels Advise … Laugh at Stress and Solve Your Problems by Heather Stirling (Discovery Books, £7.99 each) In these days of long working hours and high-paced, high-stressed lives we find it hard to relax. Finding solutions to problems becomes just one more thing to do and a vicious circle is created. Join this little book full of humourous angels and be guided through simple ways of looking through things through other people’s eyes and seeing problems for

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the article on P36, with the help of this book you can add a lot of depth and insight into what you’ve already learnt.

There is no need for you to be particularly ‘psychic’ to be able to follow this book, anyone can do it. I highly recommend it, not many authors make this somewhat complex subject simple and interactive. you won’t be able to put it down … but that will probably be predicted in your hands anyway! Reader Offer: Reading Your Child’s Hand is available to Vision readers at the special price of £5.99 including p&p. That’s a saving of £2 on the recommended retail and delivered to your door! To order, please call Carroll and Brown Publishers on 020 7372 0900 and quote ‘Vision Offer’

what they really are. These booka are not airy-fairy (despite being full of winged creatures), but are a practical way of getting to grips with things that stress and confuse. Using tried and tested techniques, such as mind maps, meditation and personality types, they help you to understand better what makes you tick and how to work with your problems. These are great little books, well worth having on your shelves.

Laugh and work with you angels towards a happier life!

Through My Eyes (hardback) by Gordon Smith (Hay House, £14.99) I doubt you will get through this book without crying. If it wasn’t for the fact that I was at work while reading most of this, I would have cried too. Gordon Smith is a well-respected medium (I work in the media, I hear tons of gossip: never have I heard one negative thing about him!) and he writes from the heart. I was truly impressed with this straightforward and compassionate book, full of anecdotes that make a point rather than shout from ego. The stories moved me to tears, but they will also strike a chord with anyone who has felt deep loss in their lives. Gordon covers a number of subjects including funeral arrangements, but this is not a morbid book. It is a celebration of life and of the fact that life

Hawaiian Chill Out CD (Gary Plunkett, £18.99) Hawaiian’s like to take it easy. This CD has been created by Gary to enable you to do just the same, but using techniques which can enhance your spiritual perception as well as give you a feeling of energy and well-being. There are several meditations and visualisations, including the Ha energy breathing technique that you’ve had a taste of on P22 and Hakalau, the awareness expanding technique from P 24. One of the most powerful techniques included is the

does not end at death as well as providing answers to many questions that the bereaved ask themselves. This book is not an autobiography, it is the product of a genuine desire to help and heal people. I commend Gordon on an excellent book and I personally felt considerably better about my own inner demons regarding pain and loss after reading it. I sincerely hope you’ll give it a try if you know what it feels like to carry a void that never seems to heal. Reader Offer: Get your own copy of Through My Eyes at the discounted price of £12.99 including free p and p that’s a saving of £2 on the published price and delivered free to your door! To take advantage of this offer, call Hay House Publishers on 0208 962 1230, quoting Vision magazine.

Ho’ponopono meditation. Forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do properly, this meditation helps us to deal with our own stubborn demons and really forgive those that have caused us pain. This is a healing in itself. If you’d like a copy of Gary’s CD, you can purchase one direct, give Gary a call on 0800 458 6799 or email him at gary@spiritofhawaii.co.uk Don’t forget to try your luck in our competition to win a copy of Gary’s CD, on P44.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Signs and Symbols by Mark O’Connell and Raje Airey (Anness Publishing Ltd, £16.99) If you are confused by the symbolism of various faiths and cultures; if you are befuddled by images received by clairvoyance; if dream symbols mystify you: this is the book you need. A coffee table sized book with clear and lavish illustration, the symbols in this book cover just about everything spiritual and mystical. The Encyclopedia has symbols grouped into themes to make them easier to find and learn about them. One particularly fascinating section is that of Body Language

and the signs that we subconsciously give each other. Learn about the origin of the ‘V for Victory’ sign as well as the meaning behind the ‘Namaste’ greeting. If you want to be able to tell your Adinkrahene from your Zeus, there is no better place to start than here. A wonderful reference book, which sadly had to stay at the Vision offices while I reviewed it: it was just too useful to review at home! Reader Offer: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Signs & Symbols is published by Lorenz Books at £16.99 in hardback. To order your copy at the special price of £9.99 + p&p, please call Grantham Book Services on 01476 541080 quoting ref SS/VM.

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Send your events to: Day Tripper, Vision, 42a Main Street, Garforth, Leeds, LS25 1AA or email editor@visionmagazine.uk.com Every Monday: Yoga/Relaxation, Healthyspirit, 37 Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury, Manchester, 10am-11.30am. £6. 0161 434 6784 to book.

Every Saturday and Sunday: Workshops/ Meditation. Ticket only. Call 0113 249 5355 www.crystalspiritualcentre.co.uk

Sunday April 30th: Psychic and Energy Protection Workshop, Abbotsley, Cambridgeshire.

10am-5pm. £45. 0870 780 8413.

Every Monday: Meditation class, Healthyspirit, 37 Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury, Manchester, 7.30pm. £4. 0161 434 6784 for details or to book.

Saturday April 22nd: Mystic, Spirit & Holistic Fayre, Town Hall, Glastonbury. 10am–7pm, £2.

08990797979, greenwaysix@hotmail.com

Every Monday: Clairvoyance, Chrystal Spiritual Centre, Lupton Avenue, Leeds. 7-9pm. £5 (inc. buffet). 0113 249 5355 www.chrystalspiritualcentre.co.uk

Saturday 22nd April: Soul of the Paranormal talk, Glastonbury Town Hall. 07980 894420 or email: cosmicrebirth@btopenworld.com

Sunday April 30th: Tibetan Acupressure Head Massage Course. One day practitioner level. £65:00. Tel Equinox: 01709 817030 or visit www.freewebs.com/equinoxnewbeginnings

Every Tuesday: Spiritual Awareness, Spiritual Inspirations, 4 Hurn Road, Drayton, Norwich.

01603 897724, www.spiritualinspirations.co.uk or email: info@spiritualinspirations.co.uk.

Every Tuesday: Psychic Night. Chrystal Spiritual Centre, Lupton Ave, Leeds. 7-9pm. £5.

0113 249 5355 www.chrystalspiritualcentre.co.uk Second Tuesday every month: Newcastle Gathering Pagan Moot, Bob Trollops bar, Newcastle Quayside, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Back room: ‘Private Party’ on door. nclgathering@hotmail.com 07890 340484 First Wednesday every month: Open Circle.

Equinox New Beginnings, 43, Tickhill Road, Maltby, Rotherham. £4. 7:30-9pm. 01709 817030 .

Last Wednesday every month: Pagan Moot, Function Room, rear Queen Victoria Pub, Snettisham, Norfolk. 7.30pm. 01485 541704. julie.gillott@btinternet.com.

Third Wednesday every month: Reiki Share.

Equinox, 43, Tickhill Road, Maltby, Rotherham. £5. 7:30 - 9. 01709 817030 Every Thursday: Awareness/Development, Chrystal Spiritual Centre, Lupton Avenue, Leeds.

0113 249 5355. www.chrystalspiritualcentre.co.uk Every Friday: Clairvoyance/Reiki. Chrystal Spiritual Centre, Lupton Avenue, Leeds £5, 0113 249 5355 www.chrystalspiritualcentre.co.uk Every Friday: Meditation, 12pm, Healthyspirit, 37 Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury, Manchester, £4.

Every Friday: Spiritual/Estoteric, New Horizonz, Preston, Lancs. 7.30pm. Mark/Natasha on 01772 725718. www.new-horizonz.co.uk Last Saturday every month: Guardian Angel Workshop. Belfast, N. I. £40. 02890223748 First Sunday every month: Reading Familiars Pagan Moot. 12pm, Back of Beyond pub, 104, Kings Road, Reading. Call 07752 560 654 or visit Reading_Familiars@yahoogroups.co.uk

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Saturday April 22nd and 29th: 2-day Quantum Touch® Interactive Video Workshop Pinchbeck, near Spalding. 10am-4.30pm. £50. www.quantumtouch.com, ehanson@supanet.com Sunday April 23rd: Complementary Therapy Exhibition, Ramada Jarvis, Willerby, Hull, 10am4pm, £2 adults, children free. Half proceeds to our local Hospice.

Tuesday April 25th: The Paranormal Hollow Earth talk, Spectrum Group. Friends Meeting House, 34, Mill Road, Worthing. 7.30pm. 07980 894420, cosmicrebirth@btopenworld.com Tuesday April 25th – Friday April 28th: Consciousness Development Program (Module 1); 7pm–9.30pm, 45 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch. 020 7723 0544; www.iacworld.org; email: London@iacworld.org Wednesday April 26th: Mediumship: Simon Goodfellow/Jewel-Marie Leaf, Memorial Hall, Potterhill, Pickering. 7pm. £8. 07762 538850 Friday April 28th: Soul of the Paranormal /Hollow Earth talk, Chichester Compass Group, Friends Meeting House, Priory Road, Chichester.

7.30pm. 07980 894420, cosmicrebirth@btopenworld.com Saturday April 29th: Abstract Aura Paintings.

Get your picture painted with a personal sitting. £60. Healthyspirit, 37 Barlow Moor Rd, Didsbury.

0161 434 6784.

Saturday April 29th – Sunday April 30th: Consciousness Development Program (Module 1); 1pm–6.30pm, 45 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch. 020 7723 0544; www.iacworld.org; email: London@iacworld.org Saturday April 29th: Attracting Abundance Workshop, Abbotsley, Cambridgeshire. 10am5pm, £45. 0870 780 8413.

Saturday April 29th – Sunday April 30th: Consciousness Development Program (Module 1); 1pm–6.30pm, 45 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, Details 020 7723 0544; web: www.iacworld.org; email: London@iacworld.org

Thursday 4th May/8th May: Caroline Hamblin, Hypnoanalyst, Psychotherapist & Feng Shui practitioner. Calma Healing, Blue Court, Grantham. 7-9pm, £5. www.calma-healing.co.uk Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th May: A Thing Called Magic workshop, Abbotsley, Cambridgeshire. 10am-5pm, £45 or double weekend workshop, £75. 0870 780 8413.

Sunday 7th May: Time, Space and the Paranormal free talk, Lyme Regis Marine Theatre.

7.30pm. Call Clint: 07980 894420 or email: cosmicrebirth@btopenworld.com Monday May 8th: Astral Travel-Free lecture; 7.30pm, 45 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, Details 020 7723 0544; web: www.iacworld.org; email: London@iacworld.org Friday May 12th & Sunday May 14th May: Reiki Level II plus excursion, workbook and CDs..

Cost £110. Equinox, Rotherham. 01709 817030 http://www.freewebs.com/rotherhamreiki Saturday May 13th: ‘Let your Wings Unfurl’.

One-day angel workshop. £35. Equinox, Rotherham.01709 817030 or visit www.freewebs.com/equinoxnewbeginnings Saturday May 13th: 1-day Practitioner Training, Hopi Ear Candling. Willow Lodge Healing Therapies, Stock-on-Trent, Staffs. 10am5pm, £95. 0845 2263132 or visit www.healinglodge.co.uk Sunday May 14th: 1-day Practitioner Training, Indian Head Massage. Willow Lodge Healing Therapies, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs. 10am-5pm, £95. Call 0845 2263132 or visit www.healinglodge.co.uk Monday May 15th: Body Detox Practitioner Training, Willow Losdge Healing Therapies, Stoke-on-Trent. 10am-4pm, £374 (inc. BioEnergiser Detox Kit). 0845 2263132 or visit www.bodyenergetics.co.uk Tuesday May 16th – Friday May 19th: Consciousness Development Program (Module 1); 7pm–9.30PM, 45 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, Details 020 7723 0544; web: www.iacworld.org; email: London@iacworld.org