Divining with a DECK OF CARDS

Did you know that you can read a regular deck of cards in much the same way that you read tarot? Well, there are some differences of course, but the point is that you CAN use a regular deck of cards that you get from the dollar store, for divination purposes! 

Is it just as accurate? 

The short answer is YES! A deck of cards is absolutely accurate for divination purposes! In fact, this form of divination is not new and has a name: CARTOMANCY... Divining with cards.

So, let's learn the basics of just how to do this method!

OK... There are FOUR Suites...

A deck of cards is simple. It has four suites. Each suite represents a different aspect of life, and are similar to the suite meanings in tarot. 

Diamonds represent money, success, power and energy. 

Hearts represent love, emotions, healing and pleasure

Clubs represent work, progress/growth, social interactions and business. 

Spades represent swords/struggles, hurdles, obstacles or decisions to be made.

Generally speaking, the diamonds and hearts will signify a positive answer or an easier road on the path in question; whereas the clubs and spades will signify a negative answer or a more difficult or challenging path. 

But the NUMBERS?!?!?!

Now that we have the suites and colors down, it will be important to look at the numbers and the court cards. If you are adept at numerology, you will find the numbers on each card fairly simple to read. However, if you are new to numerology here is a simple explanation. 

1. beginnings (the start of something new)
2. cooperation (two people generally cooperate with each other)
3. Expansion (as in a couple who has a child, expands the family)
4. security (a table is solid and secure with four legs)
5. activity (this indicates some chaos at times, things are way more active)
6. communication 
7. spirituality (7 is often a number associated with spirituality)
8. inspiration
9. changes
10. success (you've reached the final pinnacle)

Here is a good story to remember these number meanings (taken from Cartomancy: Fortune Telling with Playing Cards by Julian Moore)

We all begin alone (1). We couple up (2) and bring life into the world (3) before we make a home with four walls (4). There is much activity as the child learns and grows (5) and before long the child learns to communicate (6) and ask big questions about the world around him (7). Finally he is inspired to go out into the world (8) and make a difference (9) and be successful (10). He's now alone (1) and the cycle begins again. 

Court Cards... Oh, My!

We also have the court cards to deal with. These are not as difficult as you may think. They are generally speaking of people in your life, known or unknown at the time. 

Jacks, as in Tarot, are youthful characters. They are also messengers or speak of a message coming your way. 

Queens are female people in your life, and related to the suite that they appear. Thus a queen of spades may be a judge, police officer or someone who is an authority figure. Whereas the queen of hearts may indicate a female who is a motherly figure or a close friend. 

Kings are males in your life. Think: husband, father, boss or superior at work, a wealthy man you know. 

What about the joker? 

Well, there are many people that leave the joker out of the deck as he wasn't included in the original card decks until about 1870 or so. However, if you choose to leave the joker in the deck and use him, he would often be akin to the Fool in Tarot. This could mean being careless or carefree in life. 

When doing a simple spread, think of the first card as the subject of the matter and the second card will shed light on that subject. Each card reveals something about the card before it. Alternately, you can use spreads that you use for tarot readings if you'd like. 

Have you ever used divination with playing cards? If not, I challenge you to pick up a deck of cards at the dollar store and begin to play around with them! If you choose to, while learning, you can write the meanings on each card! Try simple 1, 2 and 3 card spreads and see how you do! 

Find me on the web at www.ravenhaze.com and on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/ravenhazehealingdivination. I will be posting a LIVE video showing this method in more detail during the week!

Are you in a CREATIVE SLUMP?? Add Fire!

Fire Qualities 

Have you ever sat in front of a bon-fire or fireplace and found yourself mesmerized by the flames? Or even lit a candle and found yourself getting into a sort of trance state as you focus on the candle flame? 

Fire gazing can actually put you in a meditative state. One of the qualities of fire is that it is both creative and destructive. Fire is one of the five elements (fire, water, earth, air and spirit). The element of fire can spark creativity within us and drive us forward with passion. Consider the old adage of "lighting a fire within her"; which speaks of that spark of passion and creativity within a person. Fire is a motivator! It is loaded with energy that is just begging to be released! This release could come in a destructive form; or, if directed so, can come in a much more creative and empowering form. 

DeviantArt.com

So, why should I care about this in MY life???

Often we may have a clear plan (for our business or spiritual life or relationship or whatever it is you're focusing on at the moment)... this is the earth element at work. 

But lack of forward progress, or feeling like you've hit a plateau, would mean you may want to add more of the fire element into your life. You need to get that spark of passion and get those creative juices flowing ~ and this is where the fire element comes in! And we've all been there! You know the steps you need to take to work your business or grow spiritually, but you're just not feeling it! Motivation has left the building! 

Every week I make a list of each of the things I have to do to work my business, for example. (Yes... every week it is- for the most part - the same items on that list!) But some weeks I'm just not feeling that spark to create a video, or even a blog post for that matter! I've hit a plateau. Nothing creative is coming to mind when I try to think of what I want to write about or speak about. And even worse than that, I am not "excited" about doing any of it! These are the times I need to add that fire element into my life! And I can tell you from my experience, that it is tremendously helpful!

How do you bring the fire element into your life?

In my opinion, the best way is to sit in front of a fire or even a candle flame and meditate a bit. Unfortunately, we don’t always have access to a bon-fire or even a fireplace in the home; but we often have candles around! While the heat is not nearly as intense, the flickering of the flame is just as mesmerizing. However, knowing this is not always practical and certainly not something that you can do all the time, there are some other ways to incorporate the element of fire into your life when you need a little more passion and spark!

Adding colors that correspond to the fire element to your wardrobe can have a significant effect. Wearing shades of red, orange, and yellow offer a constant reminder to your subconscious. Set your intention as you put that red shirt on in the morning, that you are asking for the fire element to be infused into your life today. 

Prepare foods with herbs that are associated with the fire element; again asking that as you consume these foods, that the fire element aids in bringing that spark back to your life that you desire. Some common herbs that are associated with fire include cinnamon, chili's, ginger and even garlic. 

Carry stones and crystals with you that are associated with the element of fire. It is best that they be near your body and touching your skin- if wear a bra they can be placed in there! If not, consider jewelry with these stones. You can place a few tumbled stones in your pocket and reach for them throughout your day, thereby touching them with your hands as well. Look for stones such as Jasper, Ruby and Bloodstone when looking for those associated with the fire element. Some of the less common options might be Volcanic Stone or Fire Opal. 

I challenge you to make a conscious effort to add the fire element into your life this week! Try one of the ideas we talked about above and watch the passion and creativity spark in your own life!

Share your experiences in the comments below! Check out my YouTube video which provides an overview of ALL of the elements!!

Find me on the web at www.ravenhaze.com and grab your FREE PDF file on developing your own clair-abilities! 
Follow me on Facebook HERE!

Spirit Guides... say whaaaat???

We've all probably heard people talk about their spirit guides, but what - or who - are they actually referring to when they say that? 

It's been said that Spirit guides are incorporeal beings that are assigned to us before we are born that help nudge and guide us through life. They're responsible for helping us fulfill the spiritual contract we make with ourselves before we incarnate. (link here). And I believe this is an excellent description of who or what spirit guides ARE. 

Do they speak to us? Can we speak to THEM?

Spirit guides are here to help us to navigate through this life of ours. They are always available to us if only we take some time to listen to what they're saying and connect with them. They communicate with us in a variety of ways, primarily through our "sixth sense" or intuition. When you get those gut feelings (clairsentience) it is often the result of your spirit guides sending you a message about something or someone. 

Sometimes, spirit guides will speak to us by showing us physical signs. You may see a bumblebee at a time of year that bumblebees shouldn't even be around. Or you may see repeating numbers pop up each time you look at a clock or when you get a receipt back from the store. Looking up the symbolic meaning of the things you notice will help to clarify the message the spirit guides are giving you. 

Other times, our spirit guides may come to us in dreams. This is why it's important to keep a dream journal near your bed; so you can write it down as soon as you wake up and before you forget the dream! Later on, you can research the symbolic meanings of the various aspects of your dream to get clarity on the message! 

If you haven't already noticed, there's a theme here... Spirit tends to speak in symbols! This can make it a bit challenging for many people to determine the actual message, but the symbolic meanings are often easily found online when you take the time to look into them. 

So, how can you better connect with YOUR spirit guides? 

The key is to pay attention to the signs! Trust that the messages that you're receiving through your intuition or dreams is coming from a place of unconditional love and support for you. Speak to them. And even more importantly, ask them to show you signs and help give you direction. Alternately, you can easily find fabulous spirit guide meditations or sleep hypnosis tracts on YouTube which offer a guided method to connect with your guides. This is particularly useful for many of us who may have difficulties with meditation or even focus. 

I challenge you to make one small effort to connect with YOUR guides. 

Before going to bed at night, focus on a question. Ask your guides to show you a message in your dreams. And when you wake up, write it down right away! OR... ask them to give you a sign during your day regarding your question and make sure to pay attention as you go about your daily activities for any signs you may encounter. Be sure to thank them for the signs! 

Check out my web page for a FREE pdf file on developing your CLAIR abilities! www.ravenhaze.com and find me on Facebook! 

Signs, Signs, Everywhere there's signs!

I need a SIGN!!

We often ask for signs. We ask our deities to show us signs for things. We ask our spirit guides to show us a sign. We, as humans, seem to need to see "signs" of so many things. Signs of the future. Signs that we are on the right path. 

I do believe that spirit gives us these signs. But I also believe that we oftentimes neglect to notice the signs that we are given. 

Most recently, I have been meditating on a certain topic repeatedly. I am not sure why I do it repeatedly, especially after having been shown signs already. Maybe I am looking for more concrete direction? A step by step breakdown of what's to come. But, alas, spirit will not hold my hand and walk down my path for me. That feat of humanity, I must do on my own. Hence, I have had to be grateful for the signs I requested, despite not being necessarily HAPPY with them! 

My Recent Signs...

Lately, the signs for me have been continually saying "4 months". I have had the four month concept come up on four separate occasions over the weekend. Four months... Spring time.... March... and for someone who lives in this day and age, waiting four months is a bit of a challenge to be honest. 

The first sign came when I was analyzing a friends' dream in which there was a birdhouse. A birdhouse in your dream can signify quite a few different things, but one of the things it signifies is the springtime. (Spring in the USA is around March and April). The next sign came when my significant other was telling me about HIS dream. In his dream, he was dismayed that his college aged daughter had kept the heads of lettuce that he had given her for FOUR months! In his dream, he kept explaining to her that "that lettuce is four months old, you have to get rid of it!"  Then, the same sign came to me more directly; not once, but TWICE; in my own dreams- with my spirit guides repeatedly telling me "four months". 

But, four months for WHAT exactly? And you see, that's just the tricky thing about getting signs... they are often much like getting clues to a hidden treasure- cryptic to say the least! 

Of course, it stands to reason that the answer of "four months" is the answer to the issue I was meditating on. And, I can also tell you that four months just seems so far away! 

In contemplating this - it occurred to me that the reason for my anxiety about it being four months away, lied more with the anxiety of what I would be doing for the three months BEFORE that time. And as we know, all emotions really only stem from TWO emotions - fear and love. This anxiety was clearly the result of fear. A fear of the unknown that was to occur within the next three months leading up to that fourth month. 

Let's Take a Second Look Here....

But then I looked at it from a different angle. I looked at it from the eyes of my spirit guides who showed me that information. If I were them, having just given a message of HOPE to someone, I would feel as though they were ungrateful for that message if they continued to perseverate on the unknown three months prior, rather than revel in the beauty and knowledge of the prize that is coming in four months. 

Well, I certainly don't want to be ungrateful. It's bad enough I had to be told four times in four different ways! So, I am making a conscious choice to NOT constantly think about the next three months and instead to revel and be appreciative of what is to come in four months! Will it be easy? Absolutely not!!! Not for this worry-wort!! It will be a challenge for sure. But if my spirit guides were patient enough with me to keep repeating the sign; then I can be patient with them and trust that the universe has a plan; and trust that the path that I am on is going to work out... 

What signs have been coming YOUR way lately? Have you been able to discern what they mean?

Find me on the web at www.ravenhaze.com (and get a FREE PDF file!!) and on Facebook HERE... AND... if you want to join the closed Facebook Group for even more discussion.. click HERE FOR RAVEN HAZE GROUP!

Trust Your Gut! Work on CLAIRSENTIENCE in 4 Steps!

It wasn't too long ago that I would get these "gut feelings" and, in true Heather format, just ignore them; assuming I was being paranoid or too sensitive. It wasn't until I started taking more time in my day to really pay attention to these feelings that I began to realize... Hey, they really ARE legit! 

These feelings that we get have a name... it's called Clairsentience. Otherwise known as "clear feeling". Consider those times that you're walking down a quiet street and just get a funny feeling that you should look behind you... maybe the hairs on your arms stand up...only to look and there's someone walking a few yards away. Or when you get in your car and suddenly experience a cramping pain in your stomach area; only to have a fender bender on your way to work. That is your clairsentience at work!

We all have this ability; some of us just listen to it more than others. So how can you go about developing YOUR clairsentient abilities?

Let's Work Out Our Clairsentience!

1. Practice by looking at a photograph of someone you know or touching an object from someone else and pay attention to the feelings that come to you. Do you feel like the person in the photo was happy, sad, angry? Are you feeling or sensing positivity or is it more negative in nature?

2. Meditate and get more in touch with your chakras. There are many different chakra opening meditations that you can do; but the objective in this case is to really visualize and imagine each individual chakra and how it is spinning. Notice each one and how it feels as you concentrate on it. 

3. Work on maintaining an open and well balanced solar plexus chakra. This is the chakra that is just above your naval area and its color is yellow. Visualize a clear, open, yellow, spinning chakra and really try to get a sense for what that chakra feels like. 

4. Use Crystals! Moldavite is a great crystal for clairsentience, but this is a powerful stone! It has a very high vibrational energy and may be a bit too much when starting out. When just beginning you may try Lavender Rose Quartz or Black Obsidian (which is also great for grounding!)

What are some other ways that you've developed your own clairsentience abilities? Have you found these exercises to be effective in growing your intuitive abilities? Share in the comments below!

Find me on the web at Raven Haze Healing and Divination and on Facebook. Want to get in on some more discussions? Check out my closed Facebook group at Raven Haze Facebook GROUP

Cheat Sheet to Develop Your Clairvoyance

Many people think that only a select few "special" people can be clairvoyant. I'm here to tell you that it is not true! My mentor Alea Dawn from the Kera Center has said repeatedly that we all in fact have these abilities, and she's right! It's just a matter of developing them. Just like we all have the ability to be super fit and muscular with regular exercise and training, the same holds true for the Clair abilities! 

Today I'm going to give you a little cheat sheet on how to start training your mind and growing your own abilities. In time, this may encourage you to seek out a mentor who can help you to expand them even further! 

First, lets define what it is we're actually talking about here! You see there are several Clair abilities; and clairvoyance is really only ONE of these. Clairvoyance can be called "clear seeing". This is when we see images in our minds that we can't see with our two eyes. We are using our third eye in these cases. 

What can you do to start developing the skill of clairvoyance?

1. Meditate daily ~ This will serve a few purposes. First it allows your mind to relax and be open to receiving messages. Secondly, it helps to raise your vibration which is necessary in order to better communicate with our spirit guides, as they operate on a much higher vibrational pattern than we humans do. 

2. Imagine your third eye opening ~ Clairvoyance is related to your third eye chakra. With this exercise, you'll want to take time, either during relaxation or meditation, to really visualize a big eye in the middle of your forehead. Now imagine that this eye is opening wider and wider. 

3. Practice Visualization ~ This can be akin to daydreaming and is actually a welcome activity! Spend some time with your eyes closed thinking of your third eye area. Ask your spirit guides to begin to show you images in your third eye. Then just sit and let your mind wander, taking note of any images that come into your mind. It may seem like you're "making it up" but trust in what you're seeing! 

4. Keep a dream journal ~ When we're sleeping, our minds are operating on a different wave length, allowing our intuitive mind to be more active than our ego mind. This is a great time to get visualizations in the form of our dreams. By keeping a dream journal, you can notice patterns that may arise for you in terms of the different things you're seeing and what they mean to you. This is going to be an important part of clairvoyance, as often times Spirit will show images as symbols... and its up to you to determine what that symbol means to you!

5. Keep a Symbol Journal ~ Once you've started practicing, you'll want to keep a small journal of the different images and symbols that you see and meditate a bit on what each symbol means to you. 

6. Use Crystals and Essential Oils ~ Sometimes holding onto a crystal can help increase your abilities as well. For clairvoyance you might want to try carrying a Lapis Lazuli stone or a Clear Quartz Crystal with you. Both of those are very good for opening up your third eye chakra. If you use essential oils, adding a bit of Cinnamon, Frankincense or Jasmine to your diffuser or dabbing a bit on your pulse points. (Note that some essential oils can be irritants to skin so use caution! Cinnamon is usually one of those!)

What are some other tips you've used to work on your clairvoyance? If you're new to your abilities, and try some of these techniques, stop back and share your successes!!

Find me on the web at Raven Haze Healing and Divination and on Facebook

Using Mudras in Meditation

What is a mudra? And more importantly, what's so great about them? 

Mudras are different hand positions that can be used during meditation. Mudra means 'seal' in Sanskrit. So you are essentially creating a seal while meditating. 

But are hand symbols really that powerful? Well, consider this; we often use hand signals in our daily life. We give people the "thumbs up" sign. We give people the "middle finger" when we're angry. We even may put our palm up to say "speak to the hand!" So, yeah, hand symbols have meaning! 

When we use mudras in meditation we allow the energy to be a more complete circuit. We are able to basically speak with our hands that which we are meditating on or manifesting. Mudras have been used for thousands of years for healing to help spiritual people who practice certain Indian traditions. They represent an outward presentation of your inward desires and intentions while meditating.

There are MANY mudras to use; some being super simple and probably well known to many people; and others which are far more complex. We'll go through some of the more simple, yet powerful, healing mudras in this post. Hopefully, that will peak your interest and encourage you to research mudras that may be specific for your issue!

The laughter mudra is used for prosperity and wisdom. This can bring a feeling of completion and joy. This is also called the Hansi Mudra. 

The Joint Mudra can be used to alleviate some joint pain as its name suggests. This can help with arthritic pains to knees, shoulders, fingers and more. It can decrease stiffness and allow for ease of movement. "To do Joint mudra you need to connect thumb and ring finger of your right hand (form Prithvi mudra); and thumb and middle finger of your left hand (form Akash mudra)." joint mudra

The Rudra Mudra is good for when you're feeling worn out, exhausted, weak and fatigued. This mudra is very powerful and named after Shiva, the Hindu God. It can help with lowering blood pressure and even over-eating. When you're stressed, this is the go-to mudra!

The Kalesvara Mudra is the one to use to help in your recovery process from addictions. This mudra is one that encourages change. It can help with most addictions and negative habits. This one is easy to remember because it looks like a heart. Reminding us to love ourselves in spite of our addictions and bad habits. 

Surya Mudra is one that is used for weight loss. It increases the fire element in the body and allows for increased metabolism. 

Mudras should be done using both hands. They should also be done on a regular basis. Sometimes several times each day for short periods of time each session. Starting with twice a day for 10-15 minutes should allow you to begin to notice the effects as you work up to longer sessions. 

Have you incorporated mudras into your meditation or yoga practices? Have you noticed results? What are some other mudras that you find useful? Please share in the comments below! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Parvati ~ Hindu Goddess

So, I wanted to share a bit about a Hindu Goddess that I've been introduced to recently. Most of us know that there are so many gods and goddesses in the Hindu faith; and some are more well known than others of course. Parvati is one that I wasn't very familiar with before... and now that I am I thought it best to share some knowledge! 

Parvati is a Hindu goddess of fertility and divine strength and power. She is actually an aspect of Shakti in that she is the gentle and nurturing part. Her husband was Shiva and more importantly to me, one of her children is Ganesha, a deity that I work with. (Ganesha has the head of an elephant).  Parvati is said to be the supreme power of the universe. Parvati is shown with her hands in the form of a mudra that signifies FEARLESSNESS. This is the quality that I aspire to take on! Do you have one of these necklaces? And if you do, did you know the meaning behind it?

I share some qualities with Parvati in that I too am nurturing; as most mothers are; particularly to my children. In the Hindu stories, Ganesha’s mother ordered that he be given a new head when his was chopped off by Shiva. She would not let her son die. Parvati is nourishing and protective. She blocked her husband (Shiva’s) throat so that poison could not be swallowed, showing her devotion to her family and those she loves and holds dear. She knows no limits when she is reaching for her goal. She doesn’t let anything stand in her way; thus the fearlessness. 

Shakti is the pure, untamed energy that flows. It is the female principle of divine energy and this energy is manifested in several Hindu goddesses. Shakti is like the “mother of all goddesses”.  Parvati represents one aspect of that energy in its nurturing and giving form. 

What aspects of Parvati resonate with you? How are you manifesting those qualities in your day to day life?