You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

"This is about your faith being greater than your fear." (pg. 34)

The Spiritual Power of Empathy by Cyndi Dale

As is often said, we are spiritual beings here to have a physical experience. Empathy is a vital pathway for continually transforming our physical experiences into the spiritual lessons they are. (p. 20)

Crystal: Chalcopyrite

Chalcopyrite

This stone is sometimes referred to as Peacock Ore or Peacock Stone

• This stone supports psychic perception, crystal healing, and energy work of any kind. In enhances inner-knowing, strengthens perception, and helps what you see physically. It also helps with illnesses and Chi. 
• Physically: aligns the body's cellular structure, eliminates toxins, promotes hair growth, heals bronchitis and other lung disorders, and helps protect and heal from highly infectious diseases, fevers and inflammation.
• This stone is good to use for meditation and accessing higher spiritual and mystical realms. 
• The positive vibrations from this stone increase happiness, joy, and the belief in yourself. 
• This is the stone of abundance, and helps when finding lost thing.

The Queen of Wands

The Queen of Wands

This past weekend, I chose the Universal Waite Tarot deck to be the one I would learn the magic of Tarot with. I had always been interested in the Tarot. I remember trying to learn about the cards once before about ten years ago, but since I have always had such respect for it, I never really imagined that I had the skills to embrace the Tarot. Recently, I had my cards read for the very first time by Dr. Atticus Hob, a real-life Southern witch doctor! My experience with him has changed my spiritual life. You can learn more about Dr. Hob by visiting his blog, The Orphan's Almanac. I'll be sure to share the news when he comes back to Rockford, probably later this year. You can learn about my reading with Dr. Hob by clicking here.

On Saturday when I first noticed this card, I was immediately drawn to the Queen of Wands. I'm fairly certain it was the black cat that caught my eye, but whatever the reason, I have instantly bonded with this card. What's interesting, too, is that as I was shuffling the deck, this card literally jumped out of the deck at me! Quickly, I grabbed my journal and wrote down my feelings toward this card. I then read about its given meanings. Having learned about the card, I can see why it reached out to me in such an immediate way.

I took the Tarot deck out this morning and searched through the deck to revisit the Queen of Wands. After going through the deck one time, I could not find this card. I asked the question, "Oh, where are you, Queen of Wands?" As I began flipping through the deck once more, I knew something wasn't right. About halfway through, I said to myself, It must be hiding from me for some reason. Sure enough, I looked once again at the current card in front of me. When I passed it, I noticed another card stuck behind it - The Queen of Wands. Shocked (or maybe not so shocked), I googled Why might a Tarot card hide from me? which, of course, yielded zero results. Who would ask a question like that?! I was sure this card was playing with me, a sure sign of relationship we will share from now on.

The Venerable Matthew Talbot

Recently, I had my cards read for the very first time in my life. I had always wanted to have my cards read, but I was afraid of what I would learn. I am a believer in the cards, and since I am stubborn, I never wanted to hear anything that would make me unhappy. However, with what has been going on my in life recently, I immediately became open to the experience, as I am seeking all the spiritual help and support that I can find.

Dr. Atticus Hob was the reader I met with, and from the second he introduced himself, I instantly felt at peace. He didn't ask me anything - he simply knew what was going on with me. He kept repeating, Let's see what the cards say. He began by rolling two die four times: 7, 5, 10, and 11 were the numbers. From this, Dr. Hob identified a strong, destructive male presence in my life before Jason - my father. I'll not say much more than this, but topics of addiction, dark relationships, safe places, and freedom came up. Dr. Hob said he would work with me until I get through this darkness in my life. I cried during this experience, and I am so proud of myself to make the decision to seek guidance from Dr. Hob. 

The Venerable Matthew Talbot

After the reading, Dr. Hob planned to put together some healing baths for me, which I have yet to receive and take. He also recommended that I spend some time praying to The Venerable Matthew Talbot, an Irish priest who, hopefully, he says, will be made into a saint in the near future. He recommended that I get a tall white candle with Matthew Talbot's photograph on it. He instructed me to leave some water for Matthew on my altar and light the candle on Sunday, praying to him for help and guidance throughout my days. 


To view Dr. Hob's blog, click The Orphan's Almanac.




I'd almost prefer to keep this private, but I'm going to share it here since I have dedicated myself to studying the Tarot and being open about the things I've been focusing on. This is my spread from my reading with Dr. Hob:

If you read cards, I'd be interested in your interpretation of this spread, not because I don't believe Dr. Hob (in fact, I trust him with my entire spirituality), but because I want to discuss, learn, and take in all that I can about reading cards. 

Welcome to the Journey

Welp, I did it. I made the decision to start living a more healthy life, and I have to admit: I feel great.

I recently became engaged to my very best friend, and we are planning to be married in June 2016. I will preface by saying that I do not simply want to look good on my wedding day (though that is a goal). Oftentimes, women slim down for the Big Day and plump right back up afterward. My goal is to make a lifestyle change so that I can continue healthy living even after I (hopefully) reach my weight loss goal. My first goal is to lose 5% of my body weight, and I am confident that this will happen in the near future. In addition to getting married, my fiance and I want to try to get pregnant soon after our wedding. I don't want anything to be against us. I want to be successful, have a safe pregnancy, and deliver a healthy little baby. Of course, this is a dream of mine. But what I can do to prepare for that is to work on changing the way I care for my body so that when the time comes, I am in top-notch shape for getting pregnant. In addition, I have back and feet issues, and I believe that if I take better care of my body, I will start feeling better in many ways.

I have also begun a new spiritual journey. I have spent years researching as to which set of beliefs resonates most with me, and I believe I have finally come to align with a more natural spirituality. More on that to come.

Please, I ask that you give me some time to get things going on here, but check back often. I am excited to share this new part of my life with you.