When No One is Looking

Who are you when no one is looking?  Do you even know?

We all put on different social masks to help us cope and get through certain situations in life.  And we do this also because we want people to perceive us to be a certain way.  Sometimes we are so good a wearing this mask, we forget who we truly are... and in our weakest moments our true self comes through... sometimes we are amazing... sometimes we are terrible people.

I recently was having talk with my son about this very thing, and it made me think... I haven't blogged in a while, this would be a good topic for thought.

I joke about putting on my "LoonWitch Hat" when I need to be out in public and in situations that make me feel nervous... because actually, I am kinda shy.  You'd never know it to meet me, because I put on that social mask to get me through the day when I have to be social with people.  But I often prefer my own company... or to just be in nature.

When you are faced with a choice of doing something, how is that decision made?  Do you choose the way that is right for the highest and best good of all involved?  Do you choose the way that is right exclusively for you?  Do you choose the way that will make you "look good" in the eyes of others around you?  Are you aware of why you are making the choice?

The best choice is the one that you can live with, the one that makes you feel safe, good, happy.  That is always the best choice.  Choosing for any other reason often leads to co-dependent behavior.  Don't create false expectations around who you are.  Be true to yourself.  That is the best example to set.

Love should always be free and unconditional.  But you must love yourself first if you are to love others.

Tarot Boot Camp

I haven't blogged about my classes before, but today I thought it would be a good idea.  Maybe this will be a trend for me.

This past weekend I ran a 2 day workshop I called "Tarot Boot Camp".  It is the first time that I have run my tarot class this way, and the students I had seemed to gain a lot from this method. 

My Tarot Boot Camp is a 2-day, 12 hour intensive and interactive workshop which incorporates all of my basics workshops, and a little bit more.  One thing that I learned through the experience is that I could add another couple of hours to this method to be sure I have time to include everything that I would like to.  My typical basics class is 5 weeks long - 2 hours per class, but there is ample time for homework to be worked on during that time.  With the boot camp method, there are more exercises to replace the homework... and yes, even though it's held over a weekend - I still give homework!  (just a little bit, I promise)

When I first learned how to read the tarot, I tried the usual method - reading the pamphlet that comes with the cards - then I tried reading a book and memorizing the meanings of the cards... then I gave up.  It was too much like school, and too much like work - and for something I wanted to learn for pleasure, it just seemed to much of an effort to put out.  (I was also in high school at the time, and who wants more homework / work in high school?)

When I picked up the tarot again, I realized that I didn't have to memorize very much - I just had to let the cards do the work.  The way I finally learned the tarot, is the way I teach others to work with the cards.  It has worked very well for me, and I am always thrilled to see the responses in my students, it is like they are seeing the tarot for the very first time, and falling in love.

I will be offering this boot camp method again over the summer - and this time, I will extend the time.  If you have ever thought you wanted to learn to read the tarot, if you have ever struggled to try and read the cards, thinking you would never "get it", I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to study with me and embrace the tarot, and fall in love with it all over again.

Business or Pleasure...

For those who know me, you know that I have a full time corporate job, which I enjoy greatly, and I am also a full time psychic & witch, which I am very passionate about.  In fact, I never leave home without my witches hat on.  (figuratively - please don't look for me actually wearing a pointy hat - I have enough trouble just wearing a winter hat or a hood).  I am also a mom, which obviously is my first priority in life.  In addition to these things, I volunteer my time in community service, am a spiritual leader in my community, and do my best to have some time for my hobbies and social activity.  People often ask me how I manage it all...

Do I manage it all?

Well, yes, I do.  And I do it by asking myself what is the most important thing for me to be doing in this moment?  I am always busy - on the go - but I rarely feel that I am rushing around.  And sometimes I wonder what would happen to me if I just stopped being on the go... the answer is, I would be extremely bored, and would become depressed and complacent about every area in my life.  I am not built to sit still.  My mind is always moving even if my body is at rest.

But how do I prioritize things?  Well, I am very blesesd to say that everything in my life that is a business, is also my pleasure.  The lines between the two are very blurred.  In my corporate job, I work with a great team of people who I think of as friends, and we all work hard, travel together on business trips, and share each others joys and sorrows.  It is an ideal environment where I can be creative, and have structure all at the same time.  I have learned over my 20+ years in the industry how to set reasonable goals for myself.  This helps me in all of my endeavors.

So like every other responsible adult, I get my bills paid as expediently as I can (some months are better than others), and then I look to my dreams and aspirations to reaching the next goal.

The LoonWitch Business is amazing - it always has been - I truly love doing readings for people, and watching them when I tell them something I would have no business knowing if I weren't psychic... I love teaching people about the tarot, aura photography, runes, witchcraft, crystals and reiki... I love seeing their faces light up when they do a spell for the first time and it works for them - because often, only a little part of you believes that it will - that little 5 year old still inside saying "this is so cool, i hope it works"... and when it does, there is almost nothing better to see the expression on the face of the person who just realized that they ARE magic, and they ARE psychic... and there IS something out there, intangible, and amazing called intention, that only needs a little push in the right direction to make you feel empowered.

I am so blessed to be walking this path, to be loved for who I am, and to love myself for who I am.  I am blessed that I am able to balance the needs of work and responsibilities with the passion for life that is always burning inside me.

I have heard the saying - if you don't love what you are doing, why are you doing it - and I have to say - I love everything that I do... and I love the people that I do it with.  As my five year plan continues to develop, I welcome the transition that this will bring - even though I know this will also bring stress and anxiety, it will bring new opportunities that today I can only imagine.

If you are wondering how you can achieve this joy about your life and work, contact me for spiritual counseling.  If you are truly ready to embrace your life, you can see the blessings you already have, and expand your horizons as far and wide as your imagination will allow.

Until the next post...

Namaste

Selling Yourself - Lessons in Self Confidence

What is the difference between self confidence and having a "big ego"?

When people ask me about my skills, I am not always comfortable blowing my own horn.  With a devil-may-care attitude I may say that I am the best, but I often have a hard time "selling myself". 

Friends and clients tell me that I don't charge enough for my services.  But I charge what I am comfortable charging - and that should always be my decision.  Does a high price point mean that I am more psychic than others?  Absolutely not - it just may mean that I have better marketing skills - or really good PR people.

I have been psychic my whole life.  And I feel that I have nothing to prove to anyone else.  I continue to grow and evolve my skills, and I continue to work with clients who are more often than not, pleased with the results of their time with me.

Recently, a friend of mine revamped my website.  She has done an amazing job!  It looks great!  And I am sure that this will be a good selling point in marketing myself.  I have re-worked my business card so they reflect my personality a little more, and have begun to "sell" myself more on the internet - using such agents as facebook, twitter, thumbtack, eventbrite, and linkedin to help promote me.  I have so many blessings of good friends, and good clients who want me to be as successful as I would dare to become.

This is the next leg in the journey for me to embrace my passion more fully than I have ever allowed myself.  I thank you all for your kind and encouraging words which help me to learn to be more confident in selling the LoonWitch.  I am inspired by your feedback as always!

One of the hardest lessons I have learned is how to take a compliment.  I am learning to just say Thank You when someone compliments me on my abilities instead of shying away from the compliment. 

Although many say that there can be no room for the ego in a successful spiritual path, I believe that when you are creating a career around your spiritual path, you need to have a healthy ego.  Being self employed means that you have to be confident, and that does take ego.  But learning to temper and keep yourself well balanced often proves to be a larger challenge as success comes closer.