Tarot HistoryAlthough researchers have tried for years to pinpoint the true origin of the Tarot, they are still unsure who created the first deck. Some believe they were in use as long ago as the early 1300's in Italy. During the late 1700's and into the early 1800's Eliphas Levi, a Catholic Priest, writer, and teacher, created the basis for the most popular Tarot cards still in use today. Although Levi was born and trained for the Catholic Priesthood, he studied many other religions and subjects as well. He studied the Jewish, Hindu, Polish and Masonic religions and Cabalism. Levi was also a student of astronomy, astrology, and the metaphysics. When he created his first Tarot deck, he incorporated his knowledge of religions, the elements in nature (fire, water, earth, air), and what were believed to be powerful astrological events and symbols (most of which are still popular today). There are even references to scriptures from The Bible shown in some of the cards. Levi claimed he created the cards as a tool to aid his students in the art of spiritual enlightenment, self improvement, and self awareness. It wasn't until the late 1800's that A.E. Waite realized that the cards could be used to predict possible future events. Waite created the Rider-Waite deck based on the works of Eliphas Levi, and published the cards in 1896. The Rider-Waite Tarot deck is the most widely used version currently in existence. The Tarot was then introduced into the Western culture in the early 1900's, and were extremely popular during World War I. In the 1990's more people are opening up to the idea of Tarot readers, Astrologers, and Psychics, yet there are still some who believe the cards are evil, or hold some kind of evil power. This is simply not true at all. The cards do not possess any mysterious powers, nor can they harm anyone if they are read in the proper perspective. The Tarot cards reflect thoughts and actions in our subconscious and conscious mind. Mind over matter to use the term loosely. They can and should be used only for positive reasons. As with anything else, if used with negative or malicious intent, the negativity (evil if you will) that is created will only come back on the invoker. The Tarot are best suited for learning about oneself, and one's reactions to life's seemingly never ending struggles, to increase self awareness, and possibly to obtain a new point of view of life itself. They can help to clarify past events, understand why the events took place, and possibly give some insight into how to avoid making the same mistakes again, or even how to make the good events happen again. The cards can also predict possible future events. Sometimes, just knowing ahead of time an event may occur, is enough to change the person's path and future outcome. The Tarot cards were not meant to be feared or evil; but it is human nature to fear the unknown or the unexplained. Today, Tarot readers have made themselves available almost everywhere in the United States as well as some other countries, and are helping millions of people every day to cope with life's uncertainties. Who are we to discount something that benefits so many people so often? For those who believe that Tarot are evil, and that anyone who acknowledges the existence of Tarot will surely burn in hell: President Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The only limit to our realizations of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." By Penny J. Ward
******************************************************************************************** What is an empath? An empath is someone who picks up on the emotions and/or feelings around them. It may be the feelings of someone they are close to, a group of people or animals. It might be the general feelings in a room or even when there is a very strong emotion around the world, such as fear. Some Empaths may be able to sense illness or suffering even before the other person is aware of the problem. Empathy is neither entirely conscious nor entirely unconscious, but it falls in between. It involves the Psychic Psi Phenomena, such as telepathic transmission of feelings and thoughts, sometimes over long distances. Empathy in face to face situations may be derived in part from an unconscious reading of muscular movements and tensions. I believe that we are all empaths at some level, but it seems the majority are so low level that they aren't aware of any other feelings but their own. They might be considered the lucky ones. The ones who are prone to problems are what I call high level empaths. They are like a psychic sponge, picking up feelings and emotions from all around them. Most of the time, they don't even know they are doing this, and do not understand that the feelings they feel are not always their own ones. For instance, you might be feeling good, but suddenly, for no apparent reason, you have a drop in your emotions. This might be due to a friend or partner dropping in their emotions and you are picking up on this. This is a sympathetic attachment, and it's not unusual for someone to feel down or depressed in sympathy with another. Unfortunately, it's not healthy, either. Most high level empaths who pick up feelings like a sponge, tend to do so because they are ungrounded. This means, part of them does not want to actually be here on this planet, and so the spirit is 'out there' rather than in the body. This becomes a viscous cycle, as the more ungrounded you are, the more negativity you can pick up, and the less you wish to return to your body. Grounded people are rarely swayed by another's feelings, even if they do feel them. Empaths often suffer greatly because they do not understand what is happening to them. They are not aware that their feelings are not their own. They do not understand why they are feelings depressed, anxious, desponded, etc, and rarely will they actually connect it to others. Most high level empaths are prone to clinical depression and are prone to take on the problems and pain of others, as though that will lessen it. Being an empath doesn't have to be all bad, though. It can be a very powerful and potent tool for connecting with others and helping them to heal. It can also bring an incredible amount of joy if you are able to control it. by Empath support group
Intuitive Guidance: The clairvoyant utilizes empathic feelings and intuition attuned to a high vibrational level. The guide remains objective in giving answers, and illuminates in others what they can not see within themselves.
**********************************************************************************************
 What is Reiki? Reiki is a spiritual practice developed by Dr. Mikao Usui, or Usui Sensei as he is called by his students in Japan, He was born August 15, 1865 in the village of Yago in the Yamagata district of Gifu prefecture, Japan. Usui Sensei had an avid interest in learning and worked hard at his studies. He traveled to Europe and China to further his education. His curriculum included medicine, psychology, and religion. It is thought that he was from a wealthy family, as in Japan only the wealthy could afford to send their children to school. Eventually he became the secretary to Shinpei Goto, head of the department of health and welfare who later became the Mayor of Tokyo. The connections Usui Sensei made at this job helped him to become a successful businessman. Usui originated Reiki in 1922 after a twenty-one day retreat on Mount Kurama, involving meditation, fasting, and prayer. He said that by mystical revelation he had gained the knowledge and spiritual power to apply and attune others to what is called Reiki. He realized he had received a wonderful new gift - the ability to give healing to others without depleting his own energy! In April 1922, Usui moved to Tokyo and founded the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki Healing Society) Usui receive the ability of "healing without energy depletion". Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing and is a technique whereby practitioners move "healing energy" through the palms of their hands. Reiki (pronounced “Ray Key”) is a hands-on healing technique that relieves stress and promotes health by equalizing the energy imbalances in the body. Reiki promotes the movement of the life force or “chi” throughout our bodies, accelerating healing, cleansing the body of toxins, raises the vibrational frequency of the body, powerfully assisting in the manifestation of goals, and helps heal on a spiritual, mental and physical level. A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. Because Reiki is spiritually guided energy, it can never cause harm. One of the most beautiful & wonderful benefits of Reiki is that it transcends time and space and therefore can be sent to anyone, anywhere on Earth, for their highest good. Reiki is love and that knows no limits.
|
 |
