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Thursday, August 15, 2013

White sage, Smudging & Culture Clash

Not too long ago I posted one of My Aromatherapy products
on My FB page. I received a post from an annoyed
"Native American" gentlemen who said He
found it amusing that I was trying to sell their Spirituality. 
What I found "amusing" was the product and practice in question
contained neither White Sage or Sweetgrass.
The item wasn't even called a smudge but a purifying spray. 


So why now am I writing about White Sage?
Well I'm not really writing about White Sage or smudging.

I am writing about culture clashes,
respecting other cultures, spiritual paths

& this melting pot called America.

My Mother's family traveled from Egypt to Romania.
I never quite figured out how geographically
that move was made but it was.
Eventually My Grandparents came to America.
When people arrive in new lands they bring with them
their culture.
Sometimes things have to be adapted.
A plant that may be Native to Egypt or Romania
May not be readily available here.
What is called smudging in one culture
may be called "Fumigation" to another.
Yes, it's not a pretty term but in Egypt fumigation
was an important part of cleansing one's body,
home & space.  Yes, it was used to prepared
the deceased for their journey to the afterlife.

The bottom line is cleansing is an important tradition.
When people immigrate to new lands, they are exposed
to new things. Like any good healer or medicine person,
they learn the secrets of the plants in their new land.

I'm not Egyptian. I'm not Romanian. I am an American.
I was born on "this" land.
If I am wise, I will learn the gifts of this land.
If I am wiser still, I will respect other cultures.
I will learn to incorporate the energies of this land into
My Spiritual practice because this is what
I have to work with.
I will not sell My Spirituality or try to co op another's.
I will not burn White Sage because it is cool.
I will burn it because I understand the energies
of the plant & What it has to offer.
I burn it along with the Bay,  Frankincense,
Myrrh that is part of My tradition.

We are a melting pot.
It's important that we respect other cultures & traditions.
It's also important that we be true to who we are.

Blessings!

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Giveaway - 30 Min Psychic Phone Reading

GIVEAWAY TIME!
If you listened in to My visit with Barbara Mackey
on Her show Visions;
I promised a giveaway. 
I'm giving away  a 30 Min Psychic Tarot  Reading.
The Winner will be chosen next Tuesday the 13th...
Lucky 13!

If you'd like to be entered, post here &
Tell me why I should pick YOU!
Share with your friends for an extra chance!
Btw, The photo is of an actual email reading.
I don't offer them much due to time constraints.


Good Luck & Blessings!

Helene Martz
IntuitiveGoddess

Sunday, August 4, 2013

A look at The Fairy Lights Tarot

As Tarot Decks go, We all have Our preferences.
Some favor RWS clones, some like Marseilles style...
We've got Animals, Fantasy Decks - the list goes on.
I'm not a huge fan of fairy type decks, I'm also not big on
muted colors. 
Simply a matter of preference. 
So when I first saw the Fairy Lights Tarot, it didn't exactly
interest me.
Then I saw a description that intrigued me.
I purchased it.


What struck me about the Fairy Lights Tarot was the premise
of this deck -Each card is 1 half of a painting created by artist
Lucia Mattioli.
This makes for a fabulous an innovative learning tool.
The first thing I did was try & match up the pairs! 
By looking at the cards in "pairs", you look at the cards in
a new way.  You see possibilities you hadn't thought of.
It brings a fresh perspective.
If I were teaching a Tarot class ( NO I won't be,lol)
This deck would be required. 
Who knows, maybe someone will decide to teach a class using
this deck.

One of My favorite pairs from the Fairy Tarot:

The Empress & The 5 of Wands.

The Empress on Her Own :
                                                                
Does it hold the same meaning?  Have you picked up on any nuances
you may not have noticed before?
What about the 5 of Wands? Have your impressions shifted?

                                                            
The Fairy Lights Tarot is fresh. Lucia Mattioli created a beautiful &
innovative deck.  I do wish the card stock was a little heavier.
Would I recommend you purchase?  What are You waiting for...
Blessings!