Having special gifts are truly a blessing…for the most part. The Powers that Be, sometimes known as “God” or any of the other titles held, gives us these gifts when we are young. It is only the ‘Prove it to me’ attitude of the World that makes us a little jaded and unbelieving and we begin to close off these portals of information; becoming one of those who rely on the scientific realm or begin asking for the tangible results.

But what about those days when you just want to run into the market to grab a few things and the cosmic neon sign is on, blinking AND playing a message over the astral loudspeaker? Then the lady in line in front of you turns around and proceeds to give you a one minute update on her life – vocally, while you are getting other information through the back of your head. This is sometimes what I experience as a clairaudient and clairsentient.

I must have been a precocious child, as I can recall my Mother trying to ‘shhh’ me when I would put my wonderings to words and say things outloud that I was working on in my head. Like the time I went to Houston and I, coming from a predominantly Caucasian part of California, wondered outloud about the many African-Americans that were around me. How interesting that later in my life, I would practice an indiginous nature-based religious belief that came over during the Diaspora. I am sure now that I must have caused embarassment for my Mother on more than once occasion.

Being clairaudient and clairsentient is sometimes a challenge to own these gifts. Like the the time in the vestible of my Catholic church at the time when I was being told something by an elder in the congregation, and a young male voice (I am presuming that it is St. Michael, my favorite angel) whispered in my left ear that it was a lie and I almost choked on my mint. Another time, while leisurely strolling the pasta aisle of a nearby supermarket, I could hear a buzz or hum coming towards me, like when you are in the country late at night and you can hear a car approaching from the distance and the noise grows louder are it gets nearer. I turned my head to see a man who could have stepped right out of Woodstock approaching my basket. His eyes were intent in a stare on me and when he whooshed past me, I could hear the works, “rape you’, blow past me like the wind. I stopped and blinked, turned around, and he was gone!

Another dilemma that I face is clairsentiency, the ability to feel sensations on my body that are indicating something with the other person. For instance, when doing a tarot card reading for someone is when they are not telling the truth, or at least, not telling me how bad it is. How do you manouver around that the messages radiating from them are like the wind blasting me from the front, but they are saying “No’ and the sensation of stomach.They are holding back because the ‘secret’ is out.

A few years back, I went with an aquaintance to a night with a psychic. The room was packed and my friend had to sit alone a couple of rows in front of me. I was readjusting my posture in the chair as I felt that something was grabbing my left shoulder and pulling me down towards the floor. I also had the sensation of uncomfortable heat, as if I was in front of a large roaring fireplace my left.After the psychic’s talk, she went around the room giving each an opportunity cramping starts in my body. When it was my turn, I instead asked her to ‘help me’ with this situation. The psychic told the audience that I was picking up the problems of the lady sitting to my left. She asked me what was the sensations I was feeling, then asked to lady what was affecting her on the left side of her body. The lady told the psychic that she has arthritis that is ‘flaring up’ and she is in pain on her left side. The psychic, myself and the whole room then joined together to send her healing on the afflicted side. After a bit, the psychic came back to me and asked how the sensation was. I told her the heat was not at a temperature I could handle and the pulling down of my shoulder had lessened. There are other times that I ‘take on’ a clients’ pain while doing a reading, and then give them alternative and natural remedies they might want to try at home. While I am not a doctor nor do I practice medicine, I tell people to do the research into healthy herbs and spices that will help in their situation.

I know that I was given these gifts to assist people that need guidance and I thank the Heavens, Saints and Angels every day that I have these abilities to help others. I always ask that if the messages I receive become ‘bunk’ or not true anymore, I would then close these portals of information and insight and become a muggle. Thank goodness so far, this has not happened.

Jacqueline, located in Elk Grove, CA (near Sacramento), does readings in person and on the telephone for clients. If you are interested in scheduling a reading, please go to www.tarotbyjacqueline.com to order now!

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Spiritual workers known as psychics, gifted readers, seers, root workers, wise women called “Sister” or “Mother” or medicine men using the title “Dr.” have been in existence forever. Some use divination items such as tarot cards, crystal balls, pendulums bones, cowrie shells, glass or bowl of water, gemstones, or other items. Not use tools but all do nor does the fact that these readers use or not use these tools have any effect on their talents and accuracy as a spiritual consultant.

Most of these readers do not use astrological calculations or stargazing as a manner of divination as well. It is only since the 1960’s that the popularity of astrology that welcomed in the “New Age” that allowed acceptance in these readers who in older times were just known by word of mouth and miracles revealed. These were people that everyone knew about, such as Miz Sally, who lived on First Street in the blue house or Dr. Frank who you can find out on Highway 60 just past the Nehi Soda Pop road sign on the left.

Those who are deemed as “gifted’ readers are traditionally known as being born with a caul or thin covering of skin over the face, but this is not true in all cases. I have heard that it is also sometimes because of a difficult birth, with either some problems for the mother or the infant being born, such as a “blue baby”. In my own family, as well as others, it is a gender line or ‘all the women in the Mother’s side of the family’. Sometimes, the ‘gift’ skips generations, as it does in my family. These readers do not use tools, as all they need to do is look at you. Some will use tools as well, to divert your attention so that they can get a true “background” reading of the situation. Some may want to touch your hand or hold something that belongs to you like a ring, watch or a photo, but as a whole, they do not need divinatory tools. In times past, females with this ability were labeled “fortune tellers” even though they were “Sisters” of a Spiritualist Church.

For the most part, there are a few methods of spiritual work that a spiritual worker will do for clients such as candle burning (or “setting lights”), praying over you, giving your feet a ‘spiritual washing’, anointing you will oil in prayer, performing spell work on others for you, and making good luck charms and mojo bags. Some workers specialize in one or two things and some do all. The workers who do spell work for clients are divided by categories: good luck workers, revenge workers, love work (sometimes known as ‘lady hearted’ if they have a majority of female clients with lover problems) and those who “jinx” or” lay tricks” for the clients’ behalf. Some workers sway one way or the other; some “walk the fence line” and do both good and bad spell casting. As a majority, these workers will perform good works to bring about love and prosperity blessings to the client than to do revenge work because of the circumstances it could bring with retribution and reversal or works.

More importantly, it is hard to find someone who you can trust for readings and spiritual work when needed. Your biggest challenge will be looking for someone who is fair, honest and affordable. Matching your needs to a workers’ specialty may be your biggest challenge. Many clients ask for a “mini reading” so that they can get a ‘feel’ for the person. I myself will do a 20 minute reading for someone who is just a little ‘curious’ without getting into a long conversation with me or a full blown reading. Here are some tips and things to consider when looking for a good reader.

To determine the cost of a reading, ask these questions to the person you are considering:

1. If the person is a conjure or root worker, do they give free readings? (This meaning that they ‘discuss’ your situation and may use a pendulum, but does not give a full blown tarot reading, which usually is a charge)

2. If the reading is not free, what is the cost? Is it priced accordingly and how long is the reading? Is this clearly stated in their website or in the early parts of the conversation?

3. If the person is going to burn candles for you, is the price quoted for supplies alone? (Many workers will sell you the products, but will incude a ‘service fee’ for their time and energy if they perform the spell for you) What ministering or care does the worker do for your candle? Is there a follow-up report on the events of the candle burn?

4. If spell work or a trick is to be laid on your behalf, is the price fair? Will you receive a follow up report on the spells’ success?

5. If a mojo bag or lucky charm is to be constructed for you, what is in it and how is it made? Is the price fair? Will you receive complete instructions? Can you have a follow up visit to make sure you covered all your instructions? Is there a “fix it” fee, if the mojo bag wears out (they sometimes do when carried in a a pocket of work pants or blue jeans).

By asking yourself these questions, you will determine if the worker you are considering is valuable for you. This will eliminate the “psychic gypsies” fraud scams that seem to be on a street corner in every major city who are very territorial and will get you for every dime you have without any remorse.

Traditionally entitled “Empress,” this major arcana or “trump” card portrays the energy of the Great Mother. She is Nature, around us and within us, an always unfolding Source of Power that gives life. She is sometimes protrayed as a pre-Christian Goddess, as the one whom the High Priestess is channeling down to earth for the rest of us.

In medieval Europe, the Empress card was painted to represent whatever Queen currently ruled the land, depending on region or country and it has been indicated that it was to satisfy the Inquisitors. But Renaissance scholars had no doubt of her true identity, although she could not be fully revealed on Tarot cards as the “woman clothed with the sun” until after the French Revolution. In early Christianity, the Virgin Mary was referred to as “the woman clothed in the Sun”

This archetype of femininity also symbolizes fertility. She is the one who provides us nourishment and security. She is the Protectress of the Hearth. She is sometimes seen as offering us flowers and fruit. A potentially terrifying aspect of this archetype manifests itself whenever karmic mood swings wipe out our plans, like a storm that has come upon us. Whatever happens, the Empress is the Source of our Embodiment and of Natural Law. She might even be called “the Great Upheaval”, as she tosses everything about and ‘cleans house’, getting rid of that we no longer need and reusing it somewhere else.

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