HERBALIST - NOVEMBER

Friday the 13th and it was time for my review with Jan, to discuss the results from my recent blood and smear tests and relate what the Consultant's appointment had revealed, and take my treatment from there. I was anticipating a reasonable long session so set off in plenty of time.

When I arrived Jan was sat in Reception and called me in immediately. She wasn't expecting any interruptions so she said we would stay in there, as it was the warmest room in the place. I didn't mind as the leather sofa is huge and comfortable. :0)

So what had been happening? Well, I told her all about what Mr Roberts, the Gynae Consultant, has said: that the cyst was definitely benign; that because it was a large cyst it was making one ovary heavier than the other and this was making the usually mobile ovaries prone to twisting - it was due to them twisting (torsion) that had given me all the pain that resulted in having to go into hospital; that until they go in there they are never really 100% certain which ovary it is in anyway; that it was definitely still there and wasn't going to go away on its own; that if I left it there was always the chance that I'd end up with the same problem occurring; that, due to my age, it was best to take both ovaries and that that greatly reduces the risk of my developing ovarian cancer in the future (it is still possible, but the form that takes is extremely rare); taking both ovaries will mean full on menopause commencing.

I've been in peri-menopause for some time, so have already had a hint of what is to come, and that doesn't hold any worries for me - in fact I've been looking forward to my Crone/Wise Woman years and the next stage along my Path....... it's just going to come a little sooner than Nature intended, is all. :0) The biggest plus of it all is no more monthly problems and the saving of a small fortune, due to not having to buy the necessaries any more........ but mostly the no more monthlies. Yay! So I said to Mr Roberts: Bring it on! First time I've seen a Consultant crack a real smile - though he did duck his head to try and hide it.

So Jan asked if they had given any indication of when the operation would take place. Well.... Mr Roberts had quoted a Waiting List of around 18 weeks to us, which had me thinking that it was fine - far enough away not to get into a sweat about it yet. I opted for normal surgery, rather than keyhole, as I would get in quicker and avoid further delay from having to be referred to the keyhole surgeon (no straight onto his list, I'd have to be referred so I could be seen by him first, then be put on his list and then get an op date). But the lady in the Booking Office had a surprise for us: she'd got a cancellation slot so I could have my pre-op checks done on the 17th and the op on the 27th of this month.
Oh! Well I guess it's quick enough that you won't get yourself worked up too much, was the response.
Ah, don't you believe it, was mine. So I told her about when I'd had to have my tonsils out in my early 30's and the state I got in then (though it was my first ever operation), then asked her if there was anything she could give me to try and keep me calm. She said there was. Thank goodness for that! LOL

Next was a review of my food diary sheets. The tortilla habit was mentioned. They are about the only snack item I can actually eat these days, as everything else is banned (too much sugar or got dairy or yeast or another no-no ingredient in them), but I am having them quite a bit - though some of that is due to the fact that my stomach can go acidic or I just plain feel hungry, so need something. So Jan said she would make me a new mix to have after meals that would contain some herbs to help calm the acid and some to keep me calm. Meantime I was to also carry on with the last medicine mix (the before meals one) - with what was left of that and what she would give me of the new one, both should run out a bit before I am due to have my op. Ideal, as she doesn't want me taking anything whilst I am in hospital or recuperating at home afterwards except the zinc, L-Glutamine (both will aid with the healing), the Acidophilus, digestive capsules and Osteoguard - though she said nothing in the herbal mixes should cause a problem with the anaesthetic or painkillers. That was another concern cleared up. :0)

I then asked if I could be weighed. If the tortilla chips were doing any damage I needed to know, then I would know I needed to get seriously strict with myself about them. Had I put on weight? Nope. I was at 11stone 9lbs last time around................ this time I was spot on 11 1/2 stone, or 11stone 7lbs. Well I must be doing something right......................... although I have a feeling that might have been more down to the stomach upset I'd had not so long ago, rather than the diet. Not the best way to lose weight, and I really wouldn't recommend it, but still: it was a minus and not a plus. :0)

After that Jan went to mix my new, temporary medicine. When she came back I added a couple of herbal teas and some tablets that I was getting low on and paid my dues. We didn't make another appointment: basically I am to wait and see how I go after the op, then give her a ring when I feel up to going down there and she'll fit me in, hopefully before Christmas. Jan wants me to have a while herbal medicine free after the girls come out - it will allow the menopause symptoms to begin and she will be better able, then, to gauge how my hormones are reacting and how I am feeling and mix something to suit. Sounded good to me so, as her next client was on the way up, I thanked her and she wished me well and I left.

Out on the High Street I was going to walk past the Hospice Bookshop but there was a new arrangement in the window that drew my eye....... and something seemed to tell me to go in. When I did I had a look at the fiction section but nothing really drew my eye, so I wandered over to the non-fiction bit where they usually have some of the esoteric books (if they've got any). My eyes nearly popped open when I saw quite a few books with Angels as the subject, including several by Jacky Newcomb. One of the books was called An Angel a Day, so I picked it up to have a nosey......... and my jaw dropped when I saw the entry for the 13th, as the first words were: If the stores are open today, visit a bookshop and search the shelves for books on Angels. Now that was a message I really couldn't ignore, so I snapped up the ones that I didn't already have:


When I showed the lady behind the counter she couldn't believe it either. The thing is, in all the times I've been inside that book shop I have only ever found two Angel books, a lone Jacky Newcomb one that I bought and another that I already had - certainly never as many as these. I can't wait to tell the girls at the Development Circle about this. LOL :0)

I paid for them and the lady allowed me to leave them behind the counter while I went to do a bit more shopping, then I picked them up on the way back home. The bag was heavy but it was well worth the aching arms to get them home and I'll certainly enjoy reading them........ and I'll have plenty of time to read whilst I'm recuperating. LOL

CROWN CHAKRA

The Crown Chakra lies at the top of the head. It is positioned over the place we call the soft spot on a new born baby's head.

This Chakra is often referred to as the "thousand-petalled lotus", the petals facing upwards and the stem going down into the central column.
The keywords are: soul, surrender, release and incoming will. The main colour is violet with white and gold as subsidiary colours. The symbol is a circle. The element is Spirit. The kingdom is the The Creator. The glandular connection for this Chakra is the pituitary. The quietening fragrances are rosemary and bergamot, with violet and amber as stimulants. The crystals are: diamond, white tourmaline, White jade and snowy quartz.

The Crown Chakra is the home of pure Spirit. This Chakra carries us beyond duality into the realms of oneness where we become united with our creator. Being in harmony with the Creator is the ultimate goal of spirituality and the ultimate desire behind most of our actions. As humans we long consciously or unconsciously to experience the bliss we once knew, the bliss of wholeness - total absorption in the divine.We are tiny drops of divinity, like rivers we flow towards our source.
We constantly search for wholeness. Each step we take on life's long journey brings us closer to our Creator. We may appear to step away from the divine path, yet all steps eventually lead us forward. Even the most horrific and tragic happenings can lead to peace. It is in the darkness that light shines the brightest. When things get really low and we become totally disillusioned with life and the material gains it offers we search for something more. We want to know the reason for our pain. We are forced to stop looking outside of ourselves and find the spirit within.

It is at the Crown Chakra that we eventually find peace. Here, where everything is still, we become the pure spirit we have been looking for. At the Crown Chakra we become whole again. We are totally embraced by our creator. This union creates the lasting bliss we long for. In oneness we can simply Be.

DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE - 10TH NOVEMBER

DH had a School Governor's meeting to attend this week so things were a little more rushed than usual. I'd managed to have my meal and get ready in plenty of time but due to the meeting he got home later than usual, so he had to hurriedly get washed and changed before driving me out to the village. He planned on either visiting a local fish and chip shop for his tea or having a meal in the pub whilst I was at the Circle.

By the time I arrived L and her DD La, S1 and S2 were already there - the conversation I came in on seemed to be about blocks. It seems S1 feels she may be blocking herself too...... and I thought she was doing OK, so it was a bit of a surprise to hear. Aureen thought the best idea was for those who felt they were blocked to practice the Chakra meditations again, but this time doing each one, starting with the Root Chakra, for a whole week before moving on to the next - it would help us to visualise the colours better and to more fully connect with each Chakra. Sh arrived whilst this was being discussed. There was also a few jokes being bandied about amongst us this week, a sure sign that we are feeling more comfortable and settled with each other and allowing more of our true personalities out. :0)

It seemed A wasn't going to turn up this week so, as time was fast moving on, we relocated to the other room to begin this weeks proceedings.

Today Aureen started the proceedings by doing a recap on all that we had covered so far, then went on to read out the piece about the Chakra we were going to meditate on, as all we had done before was culminating with this this final meditation on the Crown Chakra (separate post). With this one we were aiming for oneness/uniting with the Creator, in whatever form we believed in.

As Aureen was doing the recap I became aware that S2, who always sits to my left, was looking at me in quite a concentrated way. I looked at her and she smiled and looked away - I knew instantly that she had been picking something up but I didn't have the opportunity to ask as it was essential to hear what Aureen was saying. Though a couple of times I also had to look over my right shoulder and slightly behind me as I kept getting the feeling that someone was stood there, between me and La, but shook it off and concentrated on what Aureen was saying.

The Circle was opened and we proceeded to place ourselves inside our bubble of protection, grounded ourselves and went on to concentrate on opening each Chakra in turn until we reached the Crown. We focused on the candle flame, then we had to go inside ourselves, listening to our own sound, and allow ourselves to unite with the Universal energy. We had to see what unfolded, if anything, then come back to ourselves.

Sh had another wonderful experience, being shown (from above) lots of beautiful buildings that she thought were temples and other sacred places and more.

S2 said she had struggled to get in to the meditation this week. She found herself in a room that seemed to be fog filled, though it wasn't scary, and in there was a line of people who she knew were there to try and pass messages. She knew she was supposed to be doing the meditation so she asked them to go away, as she'd realised she needed to be able to control things and not have what she can do control her. But she said she had had real trouble with one very forceful female Spirit who wouldn't take no for an answer and had been left feeling quite bullied. Aureen asked if it was a message for someone here (meaning, one of us in the room) and S2 said it was, so Aureen said we would leave it until the end and come back to it then. I just knew it was something to do with me.

Aureen then asked me how the meditation had gone. Well, the Chakra colours were a bit hit and miss again but I felt I'd done OK with it but I can't say I really heard my sound or much of anything else. It did seem that when I closed my eyes the room got extremely bright behind my closed lids - much brighter than the low light from the lamp we have on. She asked me how I felt because I had seemed quite relaxed during the meditation: I said I did feel relaxed and also really peaceful, which was surprising, considering what was happening the next day (my appointment to see the Consultant). Aureen said it was good - it certainly seemed like I was given what was needed.

La said she had connected but had seen a special place she had often visited when she was a child but she didn't want to talk about it, as she would get upset.

L had been pleased with what she had felt - though I can't remember any more.

S1 had been slightly disturbed by half of what she had seen but had been happy with the other half. She initially saw a bubbles of red and a really dirty brown colour but this had then gone on to much nicer images. Aureen felt she had been shown the contrast between darkness and light, Earth and Spirit.

Aureen had felt and heard a heartbeat, firstly becoming aware of her own, then a more encompassing one. A link with the life force in all things.

She then asked S2 to pass on the message, if it wasn't too personal, otherwise it could be left until afterwards, when she could speak to the person on a one-to-one basis. She said it wasn't really personal, then turned to me....... as I was fully expecting her to do. My first words: OK, what have I done now? She said she wasn't sure if it was my Mum or Gran, but definitely a female relation, and she was really in her face: she had one hand on her hip and the other wagging a finger at her, saying tell her that I love her and that I have always loved her and she should know that. I was feeling pretty emotional anyway (thanks to the Consultant's verdict being imminent) so that just got me all teary (again!) and S2 put her hands towards me, with tears in her eyes, and said: Ooo don't or you'll set me off. All the girls looked concerned.

Aureen then said that it was OK, Karan has a lot going on and needs a lot of support at the moment. I gave her a teary smile of thanks. She then asked if I knew who it was and I said that my Mum so wasn't like that, though the Nana's had. S2 said that, not wanting to be rude, but the Spirit had come over as a bit of a b*tch - I said that would definitely be one of the Nana's then.

I realised that I'd been thinking about my Mum's Mum earlier in the day, so it was thought it was likely to have been her, and explained about the horrible way my Nana had treated my Mum, all through her growing up and into childhood (she hadn't wanted another child and the birth had been difficult - she blamed it on Mum!), and how she had carried that over by being lousy to myself and my DBro and DSis. It didn't matter what we did we were always made to feel that we weren't good enough. I said that I was doing my best to forgive it all, acknowledging that holding those negative feelings inside weren't doing me any good, and that I was now beginning to feel sorry for my Nana, as I'd realised that by being like that with my Mum and us she had missed out on so much.

L said my Nana had probably realised that now and perhaps this was her way of trying to say sorry. I guess so....... but it's a shame it's taken until now, for her sake more than anything else.

I thanked S2 and then asked her where the Spirit had been stood. She pointed to a spot just in front of me. OK, not where I thought and I said that I'd got the impression that someone had been stood between La and me. La said that someone was stood there and he still was and wouldn't go away - she was feeling freezing cold because of this Spirit. Aureen said that La should ask the Spirit to step back (he was standing right in her aura) and take it off her and that if ever any of us felt something that we didn't like whilst sitting in the Circle we should also do the same. La did this and started to feel a bit better.

Then the Healing Book was circulated and names were added and La read out the prayer she had written and it was as beautifully written as L's. Aureen then asked who would write one to read the following week.... and promptly looked at me. Please don't look at me, says I. She looked a little taken aback so I explained that I really would like to write a prayer but every time I try to I block (nothing new there then!) - odd, when you think about the amount of healing I've had lately and will continue to have for a while yet. She said not to feel under pressure and that she would never ask us to do anything that we weren't happy to do. I know that but this is something I really would like to do......... the inspiration just isn't there at the moment though. So Aureen said that it doesn't necessarily have to be one that we had written, it could be one that we had come across somewhere and had liked, but she felt that prayer was important and that it was something she felt we should think about more often - not just us but society as a whole - which is why she would like us to write one. OK, I shall see what happens..... she may end up having a piece of paper thrust into her hands one week. LOL

Once again it was time to end the session, so we closed our Chakras, cloaked ourselves and pulled up our grounding anchors, then held hands to close the Circle.

When we'd done this I turned to La and asked if she was OK, as her hand had been shaking the whole time I'd held it - so much so that I'd tried to send some warmth through my hand into hers, to try and help. She said she was feeling better and had actually started to warm up, it was just the after effects from it. Aureen then asked if asking the Spirit to step back had worked and La said it had, she didn't know why she hadn't thought to do it sooner.

As for next week: Aureen said she would have to get her thinking cap on to decide what we would be doing, now that the Chakra meditations had come to a close. We would certainly have more time for receiving messages and said she felt that not only S2, but La and S1 would do particularly well at that. S1 seemed a little surprised by that but, though she seems unsure of herself at this point, she is showing a strong Spiritual connection through what she has seen during the meditations.
Basically Aureen would now start introducing a wide range of things for us to try, such as automatic writing, psychometry, healing etc etc. but we would have to wait until next week to see which one we would be doing first. Whatever it's going to be we are all looking forward to it! :0)

With that Aureen gave us our print outs and we all started heading for the door, with Aureen, L and La wishing me well for the following day. S1 asked what that was about - she had been absent the week I'd been taken into hospital - so I told her what had been happening and she also wished me well. As we were heading down the drive I got the Mia Dolan book (see the review in a previous post) out of my handbag and showed it to L and asked if she had read it, as I'd found quite a bit of what was in there quite useful and related to much of it. She had but S1 hadn't, so I asked if she would like to take it to read and she did. We said our goodbyes then and headed for our cars.

DH was waiting for me........ and as soon as I got in the car I knew he'd gone for the fish and chips option for his tea. LOL (Thankfully that aroma had disappeared the next time we went out in the car). We headed straight home afterwards.

So now it's a case of roll on next Tuesday! :0)

MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT EVENT

The weekend of the 7th and 8th of November was the second and final Mind, Body and Spirit event of the year at the Lincolnshire Showground, so DH and I opted to go there for the day on the Sunday. As it was also Remembrance Sunday DH and I saw several gatherings around the War Memorials in the local villages during our journey - very moving, especially seeing some of the veterans amongst the gatherings.

After arriving and going into the Epic Centre we headed straight for the Shifa Meditation stand as it was very close to the entrance. I had a shopping list in my hand this time and goodies from this stand was on it. Of course I didn't restrict myself to the list, once I realised that there were some other items that were new since we saw the chap at the Harrogate event: two new types of incense and some incense sticks:


I've burnt one of those incense sticks since and they are well worth the money, as they burn for much longer than other ones I've used, and have a lovely distinctive smell to them. The chap remembered us from the previous event too.

From there we had a wander down to the Magick Thread book stand, another one on my list, to look for the Angel Cards and Crystal book I wanted. Again I couldn't find the specific cards I wanted but as I was looking I spotted some others that I'd seen at Harrogate and discounted, as they weren't what i wanted. This time I picked them up and had a shuffle: the Crown Chakra card came out with an appropriate message. OK, I'll see what happens when I shuffle again, though I - and as I shuffled one card literally jumped out of the pack and fell to the floor. When I picked it up it was...... yup, the Crown Chakra card. Right, message received loud and clear - they were coming home with me. I then found the book I wanted and, after a chat with the stallholder, found out that it was a follow on and not a repeat of the other two books I already had, so that came home with me too:

The bags was heavy and the room was getting quite busy so, as it was close to dinner, we headed back to the car for our packed lunch. That's when we realised that dark clouds had built up while we were inside and it started to spit with rain as we headed for the car, then had quite a downpour whilst we were eating. Timed that right! LOL Meal eaten, drinks drunk and everything tidied away we headed back in - quickly as it was still spitting and another lot of dark clouds were heading our way...... we managed to get back into the Centre before that little lot dropped. :0)

From here we did the same circuit of the hall, making our way back to the He Hi She Lo crystal stand so I could see if they had the crystals that were on my list. Thankfully the chap wasn't as busy this time round so I was able to chat to him: he didn't have the longer silver chains he said he may have for this event as they'd decided to stop selling jewellery and concentrate on the crystal side of the business. He did have the Angelite and Seraphinite tumblestones and I found two suitable ones amongst them. I asked if he had any other Angelic stones and he pointed to some Celestite palmstones but they weren't right, then he said he had two clusters and I went to have a look at those. My eyes went immediately to one in particular, so I picked it up.... instantly I could feel its strong energy and it opening my Third Eye Chakra and starting on the Crown Chakra. I put it down - I really didn't want to be so fully open at a busy event where I'd be picking up on other people all the time. I picked up the other piece but didn't feel much of anything. OK, instinct worked well again: the first piece is definitely mine (as in, that it is happy to work with me), so I picked it up again, just to check and yes, the same rush to the same Chakras. I put it down and asked DH to handle it from then on. Lovely man that he is, he said he would buy it for me as a Christmas gift. :0)


Unfortunately my pics don't show the the crystals at their best, or convey the lovely energies they all contain.

We wandered a little further round the hall and found the JM Soap stand, which was another one on my list. I love these natural soaps, not only for the lovely smells they have but because they don't dry my hands out as badly as the other sort do. I spotted that there were a few new goodies too. Here's what we bought:

As the soaps are really good I decided to try the body bar, which felt really moisturising when I touched the sample...... I was rubbing it into my skin for a good few minutes afterwards. It also smells rather nice too. :0)

As Dragonfly Moon were about to give their performance we headed for the sitting area where the musical performances were being held - the top end of the hall, in a curtained off section. We were both ready for a sit down by then too. :0) As always the performance was thoroughly enjoyable and, as I listen to their CD's regularly, instantly recognisable to the extent that I now know most of the words. LOL What I do like is that Susan (one half of the duo) explains the legends or story that each song is based on: many Celtic stories, but especially leaning towards the British myths and legends.

After the performance we had another wander around the hall and I bought a CD from another stand. I'd had my eye on this one on eBay but hadn't bought it as the P&P costs seemed a little steep, so I was pleased to get it here (see last pic).

After this I felt drawn to a stand that held colour essence bottles, something I'd always walked past at all the previous events we've been to. As we were looking at all the prettily coloured bottles the chap came back to his stand and asked if he could help. So I asked what it was about and he explained about colour and the effects it has on our moods and even our body and that the colours we were drawn to could tell much about us.... and a few other things beside that I can't quite remember. OK, interesting but I wasn't too sure so thanked him and said I'd think about it. Off we wandered back down the hall....... only for me to stop and tell DH that, actually, I felt the need to go back and see what he had to say. So DH said he'd take the bags back to the car and go and sit in the Zone of Tranquility for a while.

Back at the stand I said OK, I was curious, wanted to know more and asked how much. At £5.00 for a three bottle reading I thought it was worth satisfying my curiosity. So he sprayed my hands with a spritz of a lemony substance which I had to sniff - and boy, did that give a bit of a hit, really clearing out the sinus and head LOL - then had to choose the three coloured bottles I felt drawn to the most. The first one was easy, I'd been drawn to it immediately I'd looked at the stand (two violet shades), the second one was a quick choice (two pretty shades of green) and the third took a little longer but then I felt the need to draw out a bottle that contained lilac and pink - odd because I love lilac but pink is definitely not my favourite colour.

I then sat behind the table with the chap and he placed the bottle in front of us. He asked if I knew about Chakras and I said I did - OK, the first thing that was really obvious was that I'd picked out two Chakra bottles: one for Heart and the other for Third Eye and Crown. The odd thing was that, although I know about Chakras, I hadn't actually thought about those when I chose the bottles - that was mostly done on auto-pilot. The Third Eye and Crown (first choice) was linked with Saturn and he told me some things about it. Some of it was to do with judging yourself harshly (which I do tend to do) and he explained how I could turn that around. The second bottle is linked with Mercury, changing from Trickster to Magician: signifying change and a letting go of the masks we hide behind (being my true self, rather than hiding behind the things that other people expect me to be) - Honesty. Freaky, because that was what one of the recent pieces we read for the Development Circle! It also links with the Heart Chakra through the way the bottles are numbered and there was a bit more information from that (though I can't now remember it).

The third bottle was directly linked with the Heart Chakra and is about the Spiritualisation of the heart, unconditional love plus transformation that will link me with the rest of the universe/multiverse.

He felt that the first two bottles were the past and present, or where I was and am, the third the future or where I am going to be. He asked if I could own any of it.

I admitted to being a bit stunned as to how much could be read from colours in three bottles and that I could own it all. I told him about attending Development Circle classes - something that was finally for me - and that I felt I was slower at it than the others and got frustrated with myself because of it, but that I was hoping to go on to do healing - he said the colours showed that that was what would happen. Then I told him that before I'd set out I'd asked the powers that be to guide me to whatever was needed, be it healing, a reading or whatever. He laughed and said that at the start of the weekend he'd asked the powers that be to guide those he could help to him. I'd walked away but then had felt the need to go back - I think that could be classed as being guided. It had been extremely interesting and I was pleased I had gone back. I paid, thanked him and went to find my DH.

He was sat where he said: chillin' in the Zone, so I joined him and told him what the chap had said. As we were nattering Leonie, the lady I go to at the beginning of every year for a reading, walked towards us, obviously heading off for a break. She stopped and said hello and then got a beady look in her eye and asked how things were going, so I told her about the unexpected hospital stay and the cyst they found and waiting to hear the verdict - she looked off to one side, which I recognise as listening to Spirit, then smiled and said not to worry as I would be alright. I thanked her and beamed a big smile, then she said goodbye and went on her way. I looked at DH and he said: now wasn't it worth coming just for that? A freebie from Leonie. LOL The worry definitely receded on hearing it. :0)

Time was marching on by this point, so we decided to have a final wander around the hall. There was another stand selling natural bath products and other goodies so we headed over there. I tried a little of the coconut body butter but found it too much - though it smelt gorgeous I had to keep rubbing it into my skin for ages and it left my arm feeling slightly greasy, something I really don't like, so I didn't bother with that.... but they did have a wonderful coconut candle that tempted me. Why coconut? Well, at the Development Circle one week Aureen said that Spirit was offering me a coconut: I can't eat it anymore (it does terrible things to my system!) but she and the girls suggested trying a handcream, incense or something similar to see what effects it had. I opted for the candle.

The last stop, after buying a tumblestone crystal from another stall (intended as a gift) was at a stand that was selling the lady's own Angel book and guided Angel meditation CD's. There was no sign of the lady, so a woman from the next stall came over to see if I was OK, though she didn't know where the standholder had gone. I had noticed her walking around the hall earlier in the day (she was wearing a distinctive dress) and wondered if she was off on another wander - anyways, the helpful woman said that if I didn't want to wait any longer she would take the money and pop it behind the table for her and let her know what it was for. After waiting a bit longer and realising that she might have gone to the music area to listen to the current performers, so would be gone a while yet, I opted to leave the cash with the other woman for her.

It made DH and I wonder just how much business she may have lost that day - or items that may have gone missing - by going off wandering like that, as not all people would hang around and some less honest folk may not pay for the goods. Still, it looks a really interesting book so I was pleased to have been able to pay for it, even if it was a bit of an unusual way of doing so.

With that we had done, so we headed back to the car. A couple of times during the day we had bumped into our DS, who was there with our friend Alex, and he'd told us he was eating at Alex's house that night...... so we decided that neither of us felt like going home to cook and opted to go to the pub for a meal instead. Very nice it was too and it rounded the day off perfectly. :0)

MIA'S WORLD - MIA DOLAN

"Will you teach me to be psychic?"

Would I teach her? "It would take time," I told her. "And you would have to keep an open mind. One of the major keys to unlocking the sixth sense is belief. Belief is a magic word."

"How long would it take?"

"Six months," I decided. "Six months from sceptic to psychic."

When Mia Dolan, one of Britain's most gifted psychics, agreed to meet Rosalyn, a writer and journalist, she wasn't intending to take on a student of clairvoyance. Her student wasn't expecting to be thrust headlong into a world of mind-reading, ghost-hunting and foretelling of the future - or to see the mysteries of the afterlife revealed.
From that day they embarked on an adventure that changed them both forever...


Well the blurb on the back is a bit sensationalistic but the contents aren't. Those six months are condensed into this 314 page book, which gives a really good, practical look into how Mia taught Roz to open herself up, to use her sixth sense and allow communication with Spirit.
There are some really good hints and tips on how this was achieved and some fascinating insights into the world of Spirit and the ethics involved - some of which really hit a chord and all of which I've found really useful for my own Development, as they would easily incorporate into what I am being taught. In some instances (such as the Breathe and Drop method of relaxation) they are actually working better for me.

I've only seen Mia Dolan on TV, doing her programme about haunted homes, and had hardly been aware of her before or since, so this book wasn't one I would have automatically picked up to read, so I have my DSis to thank for the loan of it. However, it is one I would happily recommend to anyone who is thinking of developing their own spirituality, as there are plenty of nuggets of information in there that you may find of help.

BROW CHAKRA

The Brow Chakra is more commonly known as the Third Eye. It is situated slightly above and between the eyebrows. This is the centre of divine wisdom and knowledge. It is the home of inner vision. From here we can visualise our destiny and make it our reality. Whatever you can perceive, you can achieve.

The soothing midnight blue of indigo has a calming effect on your body and soul. This psychic centre enhances clairvoyance and expands your psychic vision. Because indigo stimulates the right side of the brain it triggers your creative imagination and deepens your intuition.

Indigo often shades into purple and violet tones in the aura, these colours connect you with higher levels of consciousness, bringing peace and spiritual harmony.

The key words are: spirit, completeness, inspiration, insight and command. The main colour is indigo, the subsidiary colours are turquoise and mauve. The kingdom is the Archangels. The element for this Chakra is darkness and light. The glandular link is to the pineal gland.

White musk and hyacinth are quietening fragrances for the Brow Chakra and violet and rose geranium will stimulate it. The crystals are: amethyst, sapphire, lapis lazuli, jet and black opal. There is no associated developmental age. The symbol is two snake's heads and eagles wings.

As you fully open to Spirit at this Chakra, through disciplined spiritual practice, you will experience an altered state of consciousness that brings harmony to yin and yang - these are spiralling life currents with opposing qualities. Yin is negative, while yang is positive. Everything is made up of varying degrees of these energies. They flow like day and night, the sun and moon. Together they weave life's rich web of activity. Sometimes we are yin - receptive, feminine, dark and still like the night - and other times we are yang - masculine, light and active like the day.

The Ancients thought of the brow Chakra as the seat of the soul. It is the gateway to knowledge and expanded consciousness.

This is the last Chakra before we unite again with our creator at the crown Chakra.

DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE - 3RD NOVEMBER

I'm afraid I've left the write up a little late this time around, thanks to having a stomach upset and generally feeling unwell last week, and as a consequence can't remember a great deal. I'll write what I can remember though.

I arrived first this time around, though only by minutes, which was just time enough for Aureen to ask me how the scan had gone that morning. Confusing was my reply: the left ovary was showing OK this time, it was the right ovary that was showing a cyst. It could mean that the ovaries were twisted and that was what caused me all the pain - or that the left ovary was now clear and the right ovary was showing a cyst because I was due my monthly any day. Who knows? Hopefully the Consultant will shed some light on it when I see him on the 11th.

With that L and her DD La arrived, closely followed by S1 and S2, Sh and A - a full house. :0) Unfortunately A's birthday plans of seeing Colin Fry hadn't panned out: Colin had had to cancel as he was ill with pneumonia.... all the alternative plans made didn't quite work out either, so it hadn't been a good celebration, though she could laugh about it. Apparently this type of thing always happens on her significant birthday's (it was her 30th) - she's decided she's not planning anything for her 40th as she doesn't want to risk it. LOL

We went through to the other room and settled ourselves in the circle of chairs. This week it was to be the Third Eye or Brow Chakra meditation. Aureen read us a piece by Guatama Buddha about Belief. She felt that some of us perhaps had doubts and so we needed to develop Belief - in ourselves and in what we were given and in what we felt. She told us about a time, when she was in her 20's, when she was going through a particularly bad time and had really begun to doubt everything, especially from Spirit and what happened: she woke during the night to see a shaft of light going across her bedroom and when she looked at where it was, saw a beautiful Spirit child of about 18 months just sat playing with some beautifully, brightly coloured bricks. She fell into a peaceful sleep after watching the child for about 20 minutes. She came to understand that this was Spirit's way of giving her proof that what she was truly receiving from Spirit. If she'd woken and found an adult male or female figure in her bedroom she would have felt scared and/or threatened and wouldn't have been receptive - the child was the gentlest way to be shown what she needed to see. She believed fully in herself and in Spirit from then on. What a lovely experience. :0)

I know I have doubts - self doubt in my abilities more than anything - so it was particularly relevant. Self doubt/lack of belief is probably the reason why I am blocking myself at the moment, so that list of what I need to develop is getting longer every week. It's a work in progress. :0)

Aureen then read us the piece on the Brow Chakra (separate post, as usual). With that we opened the Circle and protected ourselves - no opening of Chakras, as that would be part of the whole meditation. A deep blue candle was lit and the meditation, connecting with the darkness and light of the Celestial Realms, began.

We started by relaxing ourselves, then staring into the candle flame and see all the rainbow colours in the flame, then enter the universal light. Calm our breathing and start to open each Chakra individually, allowing each colour to wash through our whole bodies, in turn, culminating with the Brow/Third Eye Chakra. With the Brow we were to visualise the whole of the rainbow colours merge and become a black screen, on which there was a shimmering golden light - we were to go into the light and hopefully sense the stars, Angels, Gods and Goddesses all around us; absorb the energy around us and see if we heard or were given anything; then Thank them and come back to ourselves.

S2 had felt her Angel, an ever comforting presence she has been aware of for a long time, and came away with messages for a couple of the girls. Aureen said this was unusual, as usually this meditation involved receiving for yourself. S2 is a very loving and giving person - she is happy to give of herself and receive messages to give to others but seems to find it difficult to accept thing for herself, thinking it selfish. I guess some of her journey involves learning to receive.

Sh really connected again and was led further into the Light, through several of the Realms: she knew that she could have gone further, if she wanted to, but also understood that if she had she wouldn't come back. She chose to stay, as she felt there was more for her to do here. Amazing experience.

I actually saw all of the colours in the candle - it was so pretty it made me smile - though when it came to the colours in the meditation it was a little hit and miss, as I found some much easier to visualise than others (more practice needed). Things seemed to start for me when we got to the Throat Chakra: I felt a definite ache (not uncomfortable though) and saw a figure in my minds eye: initially I thought it was a Native American in full eagle feather war bonnet who stretched out his arms, but it then seemed to be a winged Isis, arms/wings outstretched, all in outline that was a glowing coppery colour.... and then seemed to be an Angel. I didn't really see any more that was clear when we moved to the Third Eye: it was all fleeting images, sort of like those all shades of grey to black images you get on a really dodgy old black and white TV - enough to know there's an image there but not clear enough to make out what it actually is. I also felt very relaxed and peaceful.
I didn't mention the Native American, as it wasn't until later that I realised I'd seen him first: I did mention thinking I'd seen what I thought was either a winged Isis or Angel and Aureen asked what I felt it had been and I said Isis, because She had been the most clear, but then said that that would be what I would hope to have seen.... and stopped, as I almost mentioned that Her image was on my bedroom altar at home and saying that would reveal that I am a Pagan and give more details than I want to at the moment, and be more than Aureen wants us to give away. I was warm throughout but I got really warm at that point LOL. I was really pleased with what I'd seen and Aureen said I should be, though she thought it was odd that it had happened at my Throat Chakra - what I didn't mention was that in the afternoon I'd redone the Throat Chakra meditation at home: I'd got to the bit about asking a question and did so but hadn't been sure I'd got a reply, so had gone on to ask my Guide to come forward....... and saw an image of a Native American in a long-sleeved buckskin "shirt", that had some kind of leather fringing hanging from the sleeves, and buckskin "trousers" and he opened his arms wide - I felt it was an opening and welcoming gesture.
As I thought about the evenings meditation later I feel the theme continued. The Throat is all about communication: I was shown my Guide, my Goddess and my Angel and I think it was telling me that the channels of communication are now open. :0)

La hadn't been too happy with her experiences this week. She felt she hadn't really connected and instead had seen images that she'd found upsetting, such as a woman with an empty pram. She felt that what she'd received were messages for someone but none of us could relate to them.

L had also felt she hadn't connected fully but had enjoyed the experience nonetheless. She tended to feel things with the colours rather than seeing anything. She was glad not to feel the previous time's frustration.

I'm afraid I can't remember S1's experiences. A felt she had been with her Guide and they had floated out into space, where they had looked back at Earth, then she got a bit giggly and said that she wasn't too sure about wanting to say what else she'd seen (I recognise the giggle as a sign of nervousness with her, showing that she's really unsure about the reactions she'll get and worried we'll think she's odd or mad). Aureen encouraged her and, with the occasional giggle, she said she had seen the face of an alien looking back at them. She'd been worried and brought her Guide's attention to it - he told her it was OK and to ignore it, but she was glad to come back from the meditation and really didn't know why she'd seen this. Aureen said not to worry about it and that the reason for it could well be revealed further along.

As it was such a long meditation there wasn't time to open for messages (although some had received them anyway! LOL) so we then passed around the Healing Book and this week L read out the prayer she had written. It was lovely - written from the heart. La volunteered to write the prayer for the following week. We are all encouraged to write one and I am struggling with inspiration for it.... and so dreading it. You'd think with all the healing I've been receiving just lately that it would be easy, wouldn't you? LOL

With this we protected ourselves and closed the Circle. Aureen then gave us this weeks printouts, then we said our goodbyes and headed home. Yes, we had the usual stop-off at Tesco Express on the way back. :0) DH and I were both tired that night, DH more so as he'd been given the ordinary flu and pneumonia jabs the previous week and had had the swine flu jab that afternoon..... needless to say, his was one of the names I added to the Healing Book that night.

So next week it's the Crown Chakra meditation. Can't wait. :0)