June Ahern's Blog, page 23

REDUCED EBOOK - ONLY 99¢!
EBOOK!THE SKYE IN JUNE until May 5, '16@ Amazon 
A tale about the MacDonald family.  Starts in Glasgow, Scotland and travels to San Francisco during the mid 1950's. The four kids come of age during the beginning of the social and political upheavels of the 1960's.


Please leave a review - add your comment -  each one helps sell a book (or not) - presently this book has about 500 reviews on Amazon US, UK, France, Japan, Smashwords.com, Goodreads.com, Barnes and Noble.com and at juneahern website.

For my other books please see at june ahern dot com.


The Skye in June

Radio Interview is now available to listen 
click this link
 https://readingsbyyerevan.com/radio-shows/june-ahern-interview/

Yeah, who did? 
How'd that happen? 
Listen in and find out! 
Discussion mojo & recovery
Tuesday, April 19th, '16 - 9:10 to 10 a.m.PST
Radio Show streams: http://kows107-3.org/ 
If you miss it listen a few days later and to my other discussions with host Yerevan (see readingsbyyerevan.com - radio shows, search June Ahern)Link:
 https://readingsbyyerevan.com/radio-s…/june-ahern-interview/ 

Follow my ghost hunts w/ paranormal investigators The Haunted Bay and Beyond paranormal investigators - here's one https://youtu.be/m397g0a9F9A

I'm an author of a two non-fictions - how to get the most from psychic readings and a paranormal how to talk with spirits. Learn more at my website june ahern dot com

Plus two novels - one about a Scottish immigrant family with a visionary child and the other about murder and betrayal during the Summer of Love 1967. 

Radio discussion with June Ahern available on mojo https://readingsbyyerevan.com/radio-shows/june-ahern-interview/Got  your  mojo  goin' on? Mojo = your magic; supernatural ability to create; your unique style,charm and  magnetism to attract people, things, and situations to satisfy your visions and wants; to know power. Sexual prowess. Is your magic waning?  

Nowadays many of are caught up in the turmoil of the changing environs of the world and feel powerfulness to stop it becoming exhausted and defeated. 

If you've experienced this you've mojo needs a kick start. 

Besides your really groovy self, that meow,here I am power your mojo might include a magic charm; a talisman (a special object you considered to bring you good luck charm or has magical energy. This could be special ring or stone like a crystal. Some people carry a rabbit foot. For those with religious object it can be rosary beads, a bible - an object that connects a focus and feeling of support to come back into one's place of power and calmness.) 
 What is your talisman?

A mojo can be a spell; words spoken to invoke power to create just as a prayer has power to connect to a Divine Source to guide you.

Recover your mojo:

Begin by shutting out the world.Stop the constant mental running in a maze feeling and seeking the right answer, the right path. 

Stop. 

Be somewhere alone, if you can, in nature - anywhere, a park, your yard - and sit for a period of time. If your mind wanders to unhappy times -  even if you have to force yourself  - think of a time (one day perhaps) when you felt great! Just one time, one moment when you felt you had it going on. Think, feel and be in that moment. 

If there's activity surrounding you and your eyes dart here and there, close them and take 3 deep breaths, look at the greens around you or blue of the skies.

If you have brought a talisman, look at that or if not wanting to expose it, put it in closed hands. Reconnect to a magical wonder of the time you chose it. Reconnect to that childlike belief you can create magic - for you can.

Now, what are you creating? Or, wishes today? 

With your mind clear, your intentions set how will you create? 

Mojo magic words: a spell

Words are powerful: Prayer is good. Do it daily myself. And then there is a time for a most powerful creation - spells are strong mojos!

A spell is a clearly stated or decided; not vague or doubtful group of words to create. Often in prayer we are petitioning, asking - leaving the decision to a source outside ourselves. In spells we are connecting to sources outside ourselves and showing our willingness to be a strong part of the creation.  

There are powerful but easy spells to cleanse your energy. words that have deep meaning for attracting to you what you believe you need to be in power of your life.

mójo: Probably of Creole origin, cognate with Gullah  moco  ‎(“witchcraft”), Fula moco'o (“medicine man”). early 20th cent.: probably of African origin; compare with Gullah moco ‘witchcraft.’

Join me for more on spells Tuesday, April 19th - 9:10 to 10 a.m.PST- Radio Talk Show streams: http://kows107-3.org.  If you miss the show listen a few days later at https://readingsbyyerevan.com/radio-shows/june-ahern-interview/

More about me,ghosts hunts, and my books at june ahern dot com and sf coaching dot com 
Books: novels, non-fictions, paranormal and parapsychology, 

My novel The Skye in June has been translated in to Japanese. I am honored to announce my first novel was chosen for translation after being presented on a Japanese book website.  Just went up for sale this week at Amazon and with one review already. 
http://www.amazon.co.jp/スカイ島の少女（上）-ジューン・アハーン/dp/4894495244
If you have a Japanese reading relatives and/or friends would you please pass the information on?
Paperback and ebooks in English or to learn about my other three please click the link below. It's in English on all Amazon sites. The ones below have reviews.Amazon.com U.S.Amazon.com U.K.Amazon.com FranceBarnes and Noble
for an autographed copy mailed see june ahern dot com.
I write about Scottish immigrants and nonfictional parapsychology and paranormal.

Do book reviews matter to you?
Will you chose a book based upon them?


Review of my book - four stars out of four, "How to Talk with Spirits: Seances, Mediums, Ghost Hunts" 


"I've actually read a couple similar books in the past, but "How to Talk With Spirits" is my favorite thus far. It uses the terminology properly, but never feels condescending or confusing; it expresses strong beliefs and opinions but never tries to force them upon the reader, instead encouraging safe experimentation and making one's own judgements; it teaches without preaching.


Life after death is perhaps the greatest mystery of our lives. Reincarnation, heaven and hell, ghosts living among us, any combination of those, something we haven't even imagined or absolutely nothing at all, the possibilities are endless. "How to Talk With Spirits" by June Ahern helps answer those questions (and many more) the best way possible - by presenting the reader with information, helping them find their own answers and frequently reminding them to stay skeptical and not just believe anything, even the things in this book, simply because they're widely believed.


"How to Talk With Spirits" is a nonfiction guide for exactly what it sounds like - communicating with spirits. Spirits here typically include both spirits and ghosts (the difference, June summarizes, is essentially that ghosts are spirits that remain on Earth), but also includes the possibility of picking up messages or signals from others who are alive.  The pages are filled to the brim with information equivalent to similar books double the length. Despite having so much information, the book doesn't ever feel boring - this is an insightful guide, not a dry textbook.


Before the book really kicks off, we're given an introduction that gives us a history of the author, June. In 1970, at 19 years old, she was a passenger in a vehicle during a car crash that threw her through the windshield. She sees a woman in white surrounded in light and actually died for 20 seconds. Ever since, she's been able to see and hear dead people and identify things about people without ever having met them before. Since then she's gone ghost hunting, led and been a part in seances and passed all sorts of messages to the living.


Following the introduction, the book is broken into 12 chapters, the first chapter being the longest. This chapter briefly covers a history of ghosts and then answers a wide range of frequently asked questions. These answers cover a wide spectrum of information, and while there is a bit of repetition, it's only because this portion is made in a way that the reader can read only the answers to questions they're interested in without missing anything when skipping portions. From this point forward, chapters explain about spirits and ghosts - both the good and the bad - as well as how to communicate with the good and protect oneself from the bad from preparations to best practices and creating the best, most likely situations for success. These chapters also go into details about methods for speaking with spirits alone or in different forms of seance, acting as a medium, going on ghost hunts and all sorts of other tasty tidbits of knowledge concerning spirits. As she gives information, June frequently references articles and books by other authors, as well as her own interesting experiences and even a YouTube video of one of her own ghost hunts. The last chapter is a simple ESP quiz she's created - just a handful of simple questions that will make you think about what you've seen and felt, then guides you with your results a bit.


I can't suggest it to anyone who has closed their minds to the possibility of an afterlife or being able to speak with the dead, but anyone the least bit curious or interested in the topic should give the book a read.
 

The book definitely deserves 4 out of 4 stars. 
to purchase Amazon  http://tinyurl.com/jamvo92   Smashwords. http://tinyurl.com/hbrbcgn



June Ahern

       Excerpt From                                                             The Timeless Counselor                                            The Best Guide to a Successful Psychic Readingby June Ahern Chapter 1 Profiles of Readers
“A fool and his money are easily parted.”
Beware of readers who offer you control of a lover or other person, or say they can unite you with a lost love through a spell. These statements are often offered in advertisements placed on your windshield wipers, or put into your mailbox. An ethical and professional reader does not have to advertise in these ways. Some of these charlatans spread fear by telling you of a curse that has been put upon you, and that they can a remove it. The unethical reader will “see” a serious illness and then offers to heal you by lighting candles and charge a very high a fee. They say they'll light candles and pray for you to help with whatever seems to ail you or what spells they see are upon you. At times telling you will be told to return again and again until your finances and/or material possessions are depleted. They’re only hoping to hook you and your money in. 
These charlatans and give a bad reputation to ethical readers. See my chapter on how to find an ethical, professional reader and how to ask questions to learn more about readers.If you feel that you've been taken, and depending upon how much you've spent, chalk it up as a lesson or if it's financially a lot report the reader to the proper authorities. But most of all know, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.      HOW CAN YOU STAY SAFE WHEN CHOOSING A PSYCHIC READER?
In this book you'll also learn more how to get the most information from the reader which how you design questions. 
The Timeless Counselor: The Best Guide to a Successful Psychic Reading• Amazon.com - http://tinyurl.com/zor7mjx               • Smashwords.com -  http://tinyurl.com/jrouk8l 
              • Barnes&Noble. com http://tinyurl.com/h5cedz6 

                   How to Talk to Spirits: Seances, Mediums, Ghost Hunts
              • Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/jamvo92              • Smashwords.com http://tinyurl.com/hbrbcgnsmash
Novels by June Ahern
The Skye in June - a Scottish immigrant family with one child who has visions. Set in Glasgow, Scotland and San Francisco• Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/jfvmkes
City Of Redemption: When Flower Power turns into Fire Power. Scotland to San Francisco after a tragedy during the Summer of Love. Betrayal, murderous plots, Black Panters, drugs and love.• Smashwords.com http://tinyurl.com/zt2bb77  • Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/h958ccm 
See my ghost walk through the streets of San Francisco and historical buildings on Youtube - The Haunted Bay and Beyond or follow links at my website. More about me: june ahern dot com

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p.titre, li.titre, div.titre {mso-style-name:titre; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in; text-align:center; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_eWsYPcea..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_eWsYPcea..." width="253" /></a></div><div class="titre" style="text-align: center;"><h3>  <span style="mso-bookmark: chapter5;">Excerpt from </span></h3><h3><span style="mso-bookmark: chapter5;">"The Timeless Counselor: </span></h3></div><div class="titre" style="text-align: center;"><h3><span style="mso-bookmark: chapter5;">The Best Guide to a Successful Psychic Reading" </span></h3></div><div class="titre" style="text-align: center;"><h4><span style="mso-bookmark: chapter5;">by</span></h4></div><div class="titre" style="text-align: center;"><h4><span style="mso-bookmark: chapter5;">June Ahern</span></h4></div><div class="titre" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: chapter5;">  </span></div><div class="titre" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><span style="mso-bookmark: chapter5;"> </span><span style="mso-bookmark: chapter5;"> </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blo... style="mso-bookmark: chapter5;">Chapter 5<br />Methods and Tools</span></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="chapter5"></a></div><span style="mso-bookmark: chapter5;"></span> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br />Everyone is concerned with the validity and accuracy of a reading with regards to making good decisions, setting or fulfilling goals and/or seeking spiritual enlightenment, but for many people there is also a great interest in the method and tools readers use. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />Readers choose a method and tool in conjunction with her personal interests. The tool merely assists and centers the reader. A successful reading is based on the reader’s psychic ability and the willingness and participation of the querent, not necessarily the specific method or tool. It is superstitious to believe psychic tools hold the psychic power. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> A client changed her beliefs after she received a reading from me. When I spoke of impressions and outcomes of her situation while not using my tarot cards (one of my tools), she said, “Ask the cards.” She was under the impression that my cards held the answer. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />Your choice of method or tool reveals something about yourself. Would you enjoy a personal interaction with a reader? Palmistry and tarot cards are two examples of “hands on” type of reading. Astrology and numerology are examples where personal interaction to receive psychic information is not essential.  As I am receiving impressions and information, I sometimes use all of my tools or focus on one alone, even one card or a Rune stone (more on Rune stones below). On the other hand, there have been occasions when I do not use any physical tools and still deliver an accurate reading.<br /><br />A tool often helps a reader to separate the many psychic impressions being received and to concentrate on one issue at a time. Enjoy learning about the psychic methods and tools available, and then choose what suits you. </div><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ASTROLOGY: </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Does the full moon have an effect on you? Or does the Sun at its fullest draw you out into it? People involved with astrology believe that the forces of the planets and stars and the energy of the universe have a strong effect on all living things. (CONT'D in The Timeless Counselor where you learn more about psychic reading tools and methods.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1JMh5I8" target="_blank">Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JMh5I8 </a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Learn more about this book or my paranormal "How to Talk with Spirits" and novels at <a href="http://www.juneahern.com/" target="_blank">june ahern dot com.</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span> </div>

IMPORTANT. Know what you're getting into when seeking advice from a psychic reader.  In my book, The Timeless Counselor: The Best Guide to a Psychic Reading learn to chose a psychic reader to match your interests and your satisfaction to the outcome of the session.  Excerpt from "Timeless":  Finding a Reader The very best way to find an ethical and competent professional reader is through a recommendation from someone you know who has had a good experience with one. That way you have information beforehand about the reader, method, cost, etc. 
Many people have had readings and perhaps you know someone who has, but if not, approach the subject with someone you know is opened-minded.  Once the topic is out in the open, you may be surprised to learn how many people have some knowledge of metaphysics and have received a reading at some time in their lives.  If that is not successful, or you feel a reading is a private matter and would rather do your own search, metaphysical bookstores can be a good place to inquire about local readers. The store clerk might recommend one, or a reader might be on the premises. If a reader is available, meet before the reading to see if you feel comfortable with her, or if this is not possible, ask for information about her before deciding to have a session. If there is no reader in the store, inquire about a local metaphysical educational center where readings are conducted. Some centers have psychic fairs.Psychic fairs can give you the opportunity to view readers at work. The fairs are usually held in a large hall or room with readers placed individually at their own tables. A name card and price list is on the table. Walk around and after examination of everything you see, go to the reader to whom you are most drawn (TO BE CONT'D in book)

Read more about me and my books at june ahern dot com

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style></div>--> <br /><h3 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.2in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Excerpt from my eBook, </b></h3><h2 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.2in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Timeless Counselor: </b></h2><h2 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.2in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Best Guide to a Psychic Reading </b></h2><h4 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.2in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">available </b></h4><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.2in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <a href="http://amzn.to/1S4sLHb" target="_blank">Amazon - 14 Reviews</a></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.2in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view..." target="_blank">Smashwords</a><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view..." target="_blank"> </a>- 47 Reviews</b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.2in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://youtu.be/8a0qtJrcYgI" target="_blank">Interview: Did I wake-up psychic? </a> </b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: .2in;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: .2in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RELIGION AND PSYCHIC READINGS</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PalBzAXBbQ..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PalBzAXBbQ..." width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">THE FOLLOWING VIEWPOINTS are based upon my personal experiences as a former Catholic and later, after years of studying theology, religion, cultures, and as a Rosicrucian and neo-paganism. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">In this chapter I will discuss how many Christian as well as some other religions over all, do not view readers or readings in a positive light, useful or helpful. Although in Judaism there is a respect for the mystic, most Western Christian faiths are not in favor of psychic or healers (outside their own religious healers). It is not my purpose or intention to condemn religions or sway anyone’s opinion or change religious beliefs. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">In the early 1980’s I was introduced to witchcraft and the Goddess spiritual path. I found a natural interest and satisfaction for it. At that time I was also still a practicing Catholic. In the mid-1990’s, after years of interest in the Rosicrucian studies,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I joined that study. Rosicrucian is not a religion but rather a scientific and metaphysical study. With the combination of both Rosicrucian studies, witchcraft and following the nature based Goddess path, I felt a spiritual completion of my spirit that I never experienced before.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">Many times I have often encountered controversy regarding my psychic philosophy and work. Readings need not be in opposition or competition with any religious philosophy. A spiritual and ethical reader presents information that might indeed enhance one’s spiritual life or renew one’s faith. In the past, the Catholic Church (not the later Christian faiths) was much more understanding and lenient with the old religious practices and psychic consultants for a period of time. Up until and around the twelve century royalty sought the advice of astrologers and seers without the interference of the Catholic clergy.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">Again, my purpose with this chapter is not to debate or discuss historical facts about particular religions, but rather to address and hopefully dispel the misconceptions and superstitions that too many religions have about readers and readings. I will also share experiences of some clients who have consulted with me regarding their spirituality and how their religion weaved into the reading. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">For the most part, readers have been grouped together as false prophets, or sometimes as evildoers, and/or Satan worshippers. People have been warned against consulting them with the belief a dependency will occur and/or that they control lives through magic (spells) or mind control. This could be true in some rare occurrence, but is definitely not true of the majority of readers. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">It has been said that psychic tools are the works of the Devil and this too is another misunderstanding. It has been thought by some religious leaders people will rely too much on the psychic tools and as I have said in previous chapters, there are querents who do not understand how the tools (see chapter on Tools) are instruments to help readers perform their job. Some religions fear that readers claim to have all the answers or will sway people to a different religion or belief – usually to the dark side. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">Some religions foster a dependency of their congregates by encouraging them to find all their answers within only their religion. And depending upon the dogmas and teachings of religions and more often than not, the congregation is taught that it is the cleric who is the “go-between” to God. One could say, it’s for the better of the follower and I say, is it truly teaching a person to grow spiritually or taking a role as a “father” and not allowing for a person to rely upon reason and their own conscious? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">I wonder if religious leaders fear a reader will teach a person to stretch beyond dependency of another human being to connect to God, Allah, Goddess, or Buddha (naming a few deities) and know for her or his self spiritual truths. I truly do not know. What I do know is that when any person becomes overly dependent on another for all answers to life and including emotional and spiritual growth, rather than making a personal connection to her or his Divine Being, the person’s intellectual and spiritual advancement is thwarted. It has been my experience, and I have much experiences over my forty years having read for thousands, that people are confused or not comfortable realizing they, through their connected to God or a Divine Being, create their own life experiences and spiritual advancement without the necessity of a go-between. My solution is education. Therefore, spiritual leaders are truly teachers. People need to be encouraged and taught to follow their inner wisdom rather than to overly depend upon another to tell her or him if he or she is doing good or bad. Let’s face it, when we’re not being charitable, compassionate or helpful, we know it at some level. This is not God-like, is it? People should be held responsible for what they bring or create into their lives within reason. By that I mean, a destructive force, like a hurricane brings an end of life. That is a force outside greater than human understanding of why it happened to a person. Is it God’s will or karma or is it, what it is and now what? It is my belief and experience that an ethical and educated reader can be one of the sources to educate and guide a person to a better life as a cleric can. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">In my Catholic training we were taught to pray daily and connect with God, but to know that God wasn’t always available for our problem or needs so we were taught to go through another such as Mary, God’s mother, Jesus or the saints. I have no qualms about that, but I wasn’t taught meditation. Prayers are talking and meditation is listening. Meditation takes one quickly and beautifully right to the Light of God. As I’ve said before, the majority of readers spend time in meditation and certainly before giving a reading.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">Jesus Christ, Himself, speaks to us of using the power within. He, Himself, possessed super normal powers. He healed, prophesied, appeared after death and was considered a God although He was a human, albeit a great one like Buddha and Mohammad. Similar to these great spiritual beings there could be other humans who possess gifts and abilities and are divinely inspired by a Higher Power. This is not to say that I am comparing readers to Jesus Christ nor the other great spiritual teachers. What I am saying is, readers who posses a very special gift of seeing and knowing the spirit of another (like an advanced psychic or a mystic) can be a wonderful source to inspire people to live more spiritual lives just as do religious leaders. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">We readers have our own individual spiritual philosophies and practices. We are in majority, not Satanist or Rasputins. We are spiritual students, if not religious people. I have met Catholic and Protestants readers, readers who practice Buddhism, Wicca, paganism and those who have no affiliations with a religion but live spiritually each and every day. All that I have encountered believe in a Higher Power (God, Goddess, The White Light, etc.)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">I was raised as a Catholic and practiced it up into my early forties until I came to terms with my conscience that Catholicism was not the right spiritual path for me. With my constant study of parapsychology, occultism, Eastern and Western religions and other spiritual philosophies, I came to a spiritual practice that I am at peace with and enjoy thoroughly. In fact, I now have a greater faith in my abilities and life purpose as a reader and teacher. I am sharing any knowledge that can lead another to greater awareness of her or his spirituality. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-indent: .2in;">For some who have had a Christian or another cultural religious upbringing, there is a feeling of spiritual emptiness. They do not feel connected to their God and seek to understand the purpose of life. A client of mine named Joe is a good example of a person who had been very involved with his Christian religion since childhood. He had once entered his Church’s ministry training program, but felt unfulfilled. Although he fervently prayed for answers to family problems, none came and over time, he lost faith. </div><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During our first meeting I saw his “aura” darkened with illness and depression. There were many emotional and mental reasons of his state steaming from his spiritual state. His brother, Harvey who had been an alcoholic for years, continued to live in his parent’s home and when under the influence of alcohol, he was verbally and emotionally abusive to his parents, his sister and to Joe. This is when Joe began to experience a sense of “aloneness” – apart from God. Throughout the years Joe had fallen away from his religion, especially after the death of his mother. He had grown distant from his father and was suffering from an ulcer and a skin disease related to a nervous condition. Joe felt “at the end of his rope.” He had lost all faith in a future. I saw that encouragement would come through a large group of people. I could see that he had a loving relationship with his mother. In a psychic vision I saw her handing him a string of beads, which would lead him back to his religion. I also saw that his renewed faith and participation in his religion would bring him the peace of mind he needed to make good decisions for his future. (CONT'D) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Please read more about this book and my other non-fiction "How to Talk with Spirits" and novels, "the Skye in June" and "City of Redemption" on<a href="http://amzn.to/1K8UDZB" target="_blank"> Amazon a</a>nd/or my website <a href="http://www.juneahern.com/" target="_blank">juneahern dot com </a></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Interview  talking about, did I wake-up psychic?<a href="https://youtu.be/8a0qtJrcYgI" target="_blank"> https://youtu.be/8a0qtJrcYgI </a></span> </div>

Happy Hogmanay All! 
Some rituals:
  The first-foot to cross your threshold in the New Year is 
to be a tall, dark haired man to set the luck for the rest of the year. Gifts to Bring a Scot on New Year: A Coin, Shortbread, Black Bun, Salt, Coal, and Whisky,  
which represent financial prosperity, food, flavour, warmth, and good cheer respectively
 The Chapter from my book,  The Skye in June , (see below) will give some other rituals the Scots do at the end and beginning of the New Year. In it you will learn how immigrants continue their special rituals and celebrations in their new countries. We did in our household. Enjoy!
Photo: www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/christmas/hogmanay.shtml"Skye" is about a Scottish immigrant family living in San Francisco (mid 1950's to early days of the '60's). Read more about the story at june ahern dot com. Available in eBook or paperback. Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble.

Click the link under the photo to learn more about Hogmanay origins and celebrations.

Recent interview of me: https://mercedesfoxbooks.com/meet-author-june-ahem/
          
Chapter 15 HOGMANAY IN SAN FRANCISCO
THE MACDONALDS PLANNED to host their first party in America on New Year’s Eve, 1955. The family worked together to spruce up their flat in the weeks before the gathering.
Cathy busily washed the bay windows with June at her side, trying to be helpful. The soapy water dripped down the girl’s arms and into her rolled-up sleeves. Behind them they could hear Annie supervising the Irish Twins, who were shrieking with laughter. Their job was to bring the newly waxed hardwood floors to a bright sheen by skating back and forth across it with rags tied around their feet. Cathy suppressed a laugh as she glimpsed Maggie rushing to catch up with Mary who was whirling down the hallway with an unraveling rag wrapped around her foot. She decided to keep quiet about any pending disaster. The last thing she wanted to do was to upset Annie’s position of authority over the mischievous girls.
“We have to make the house nice and clean for all the people coming. Is that right, Mommy?” June asked.
“That’s right, my wee clootie dumpling,” Cathy said.
She smiled at her daughter’s newly adopted fashion of wrapping her hair in a headscarf, copied from Mrs. G who wore one when cleaning house. Bending over to squeeze out her cleaning rag, Cathy watched June’s determined face as she carefully scrubbed at the glass. Her mind drifted back to when the idea of having a party on Hogmanay first arose. 
Sandy and Nancy had invited the MacDonalds to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner with them; a new holiday for the immigrant family. Nancy was a fabulous cook and prepared an array of dishes that they had never before tasted. Besides the large, golden brown turkey, there were steaming bowls of food. Jimmy congratulated the cook, saying she had “laid a table fit for a king” as he filled his plate with the pasta, creamed corn, stuffing and cranberry sauce. But before he dug in, Cathy nudged him to wait.
Nancy halted Mark from scooping food into his mouth with an announcement that each person give thanks to God for something special in their life.
“Before we eat, darling,” she reminded her son.
He quickly said, “Rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub. Let’s eat!” But only his parents laughed.When it came to June, she prayed Granda and Granny B would visit for Christmas. Her wish brought up a conversation during dinner about past holidays in Scotland. Jimmy said how much fun the Scottish New Year was. Annie, who was old enough to remember, reminded her father that in Scotland, the New Year celebration was called Hogmanay.
“What a holiday it is! We have special things––traditions, like paying off debts before the first of January,” Sandy told the children in seriousness.
“We won’t have to worry about that tradition, eh, Jimmy?” Cathy said. Her husband didn’t believe in accumulating debts and lived frugally, day-by-day. He prided himself in being able to send weekly payments to Granda B for the money he had loaned them to make their move to America possible.
“Mommy, what were the parties like at Hogmanay?” June said, crucifying the name the Scots called New Year’s Eve. It sounded like she said, “Hug many.”
The adults laughed so cheerfully that she joined in, thinking how happy everyone was with her question. She sat up in her chair, eager to hear about Scotland. Unlike Annie, who held on tightly to her remembrances of Scotland, June’s memories of life there were fading.
The three adult Scots began to reminisce about Hogmanay. The descriptions of the holiday spilled out across the dining table as Jimmy, Sandy and Cathy related their stories about Scotland’s most popular holiday, which was celebrated as though it were a religious event.
When Jimmy said the streets of Glasgow were busy with people going from house to house starting on New Year’s Eve, visiting and bringing gifts, June gathered that Hogmanay was like Halloween night.
“What kind of gifts?” she asked.
Annie piped in, “Granny always baked special things like holiday oat cakes and black buns.”
“Whiskey cake and her famous shortbread. Oh yum!” Cathy jumped in, winking at her daughters as she licked her lips and made a wide circle on her belly.
“Good whiskey,” Jimmy added.
Sandy told a story about the time they went bathing in the Clyde River, just to see who could endure the cold water the longest. “It was so bloody frigid. If it hadn’t been for the whiskey keeping my blood moving and Cathy’s brother, Peter, jumping in to pull me out…”
Nancy interrupted the story with a sharp, “Sandy! That’s not a good example for the children.”
“Right dear. We were silly boys then. It’s a very dangerous thing to do,” he said seriously.
Cathy covered her smiling lips with a napkin and made big eyes at her daughters.
“Tell us more, Mommy,” June said, enjoying the cheery conversation.
Her mother clasped her hands and placed them on the table in front of her, her blue eyes glittering in the candlelight. Everyone sat still and listened as Cathy’s soft Scottish voice told the story.
“There’s a very special ritual on Hogmanay that begins at midnight on New Year’s Eve, acted out in the homes across Scotland. It’s customary that the first guest, called the first foot, enters a home shortly after midnight. It’s tradition that the first foot is a dark haired man who comes bearing gifts. It’s usually a lump of coal to keep the host’s home warm through the long cold winter and a bottle of Scotch to warm their souls.”
Jimmy interrupted, “Ye hope it’s a dark haired man who enters first, because then you’d have good luck throughout the upcoming year.”
Cathy kept talking, “Girls, your Granda B was a most welcomed guest as the first foot because he was tall and had black hair.” She was looking dreamily into the candle flame. “Until his hair turned white, that is.” Although she said it lightly, June sensed sadness in her mother’s voice.
“Aye, he was always the life of the party, getting everybody to sing and the ladies up for a dance. It’s his favorite holiday,” Jimmy said nostalgically.
The room quieted as the storytellers became lost in their own memories.
Mark’s demand for a piece of Nancy’s delicious pumpkin pie made his mother jump up from the table to take orders. “With or without ice cream,” she asked everyone. 
June didn’t want the enchanting Hogmanay tales to end. As the orders for pie were made, she asked, “Can we have a party?”
Her sisters cheered the idea loudly.
Jimmy and Cathy looked at each other across the table. She hesitated, fearful of letting down the girls if she took a spell of depression.
“No a bad idea,” he said enthusiastically.
Looking at the girls’ excited faces staring at her, it was hard not to give in to them. Cathy decided that celebrating Hogmanay in America would start a family tradition in their new country.
* * *
Cathy dunked her cloth into the bucket and stopped washing the bay windows as she meditated over the soapy bubbles and remembered past New Year’s Eves in Scotland. The days before the event were always very busy with giving the house a thorough cleaning, as was the tradition. It was believed that starting the New Year with a tidy and clean house would bring good luck. Besides hauling the carpets downstairs to the backyard for a hard beating to clean them, all bedding and curtains were taken to the steamie, as Laundromats are called in Scotland. On the family’s last Hogmanay in Glasgow, it was decided Annie was old enough to help out, while Granny B watched the younger bairns. Cathy and Annie pushed the pram, the large ornate baby carriage, crammed full of curtains and linens, along the streets, meeting other mothers and daughters on the same journey.
After waiting in line in the December chill, they bought a ticket to enter the huge steamy room, smelling of wet clothes and soap. The steamie was full of women and girls, laughing and gossiping as they scrubbed their laundry on the washing boards. Piece by piece, they scrubbed up and down in big sinks filled with hot water and then wrung it all out by hand. They hung the laundry on wall racks for drying and placed larger items in big, hot cupboards that were pulled out of the wall. The gossiping and joking never stopped. The work was hard, but the excitement of the upcoming holiday created a festive atmosphere.
In reflection, Cathy realized how much she missed those times, especially the companionship of her mother and sisters-in-law at the holidays. Still, she was as excited as the girls were about the party. With every wipe of the window, she assured herself that her family would be blessed anew.
A loud thump from her new Westinghouse washing machine on the back porch of the flat interrupted her daydream. She tossed her washrag into the pail and went to deal with the problem.
June proudly presented Mrs. G with an invitation to their party. “It’s for your whole family,” she exclaimed.
Mrs. G accepted the invite, saying that she, her daughter, Tesia, and her son-in-law would be most honored to attend. Later that day Mrs. G insisted Cathy accept a gift from her: she and Tesia would help with the preparations. Cathy gladly accepted, relieved to have the women’s help. The things that still needed to be done overwhelmed her.
Jimmy and Sandy painted the living room and hallway with a fresh coat of white paint and deep green on the wainscot and molding. Cathy used Mrs. G’s sewing machine to make drapes and curtains for the bay windows. She chose a rich burgundy color for the drapes that went well with the green paint and lacey white curtains that would hang beneath them.
When all was finished, Cathy and Jimmy watched their girls dance around with glee, exclaiming, 

“We have a house like a rich person.” They indeed felt richly blessed with their new life.
The most welcomed gift of all was Mrs. G’s offer to make new holiday dresses for the girls. At first, Cathy declined the generous offer, having noticed how easily the old woman tired. But Mrs. G insisted. She worked at her kitchen table making the dresses. June helped by running around the table and tidying up unused material and pieces of thread.
Once the dresses were finished, the old woman invited Cathy down to look at them. “I make a party dress for you, too,” Mrs. G said, pointing to a dress hanging on the back of a door.
What Cathy saw took her breath away. She ran her fingers gingerly over the fine French stitching on the hem of a dove-gray satin dress that had an authentic store-bought look. In an unusual display of emotion, Cathy threw her arms around Mrs. G.
As the day grew closer to Hogmanay, the MacDonald females and Mrs. G shopped up and down Castro Street for the essential ingredients for the special Hogmanay foods that they would make.
Laughter and gossip erupted any time the kitchen door opened as the women prepared the feast. When Cathy related funny tales of the steamie, the other women laughed heartily. The girls listened with merry curiosity as the adults reminisced about “home,” each telling her own story about life in Poland or Scotland.
With the cooking underway, Mrs. G and Tesia agreed with Cathy when she said that it was an idea good for the girls to learn the proper preparation of the Scottish foods.
“We must not forget our customs,” Mrs. G said adamantly. The other women nodded their heads affirmatively at her wisdom.
When it was time to bake the sweets, June helped Annie roll out the dough for the cookies with a large rolling pin that Granny B had gifted Annie before leaving Scotland.
The girls happily tested the freshly baked buttery shortbread, sugar cookies, and the Dundee cake––a Hogmanay special. Mrs. G showed them how to decorate the cookies with sugar frosting by dipping a butter knife into hot water and carefully running it over the top of the frosting to give it a shiny glaze.
“Mommy, see how fancy?” Maggie said, surveying the platter of cookies.
The women sipped glasses of sherry that would later be used for making the trifle pudding, which was a favorite holiday dessert made with cake, peaches soaked in wine, and boiled custard poured over it.
The baked goods were stored away and attention was turned to the main courses. Stewed meat with thick brown gravy was placed into deep pans. Annie used Granny B’s rolling pin to make a thin crust for the top of the pans. She then brushed a raw egg across the top so it would bake to a perfect golden brown, just the way Granny would have wanted it.
By the day of the party, steak pies, a large ham, the delicate trifle pudding and other delicious holiday foods lined the shelves in the Frigidaire, ready to be heated up when needed.
With the kitchen work finished, the girls hung colorful streamers throughout the flat and dangled fun paper party hats from them. Jimmy held Maggie up to hang a piece of mistletoe at the front door. This custom was not for kissing like at Christmas, but to prevent illness in the household.
It was a fun time in the MacDonald house. Since many of the guests also had young children, the party would start in the early evening of New Year’s Eve. The girls were so excited they stayed up until late the night before, giggling and talking before falling asleep. The next morning they hurried around the house finishing last minute household chores before changing into their party clothes, readying themselves for the guests.
Cathy brushed each of the girls’ hair until it shined, or, in June’s case, laid down and stayed in place with two pretty yellow barrettes on each side. She decorated her other daughters’ hair with ribbons the same color as their dresses.
Annie wore a forest-green dress with gold threads running through it. Maggie wore a dress of plush cranberry velvet and Mary donned a soft champagne lace dress that emphasized the gold in her brown eyes.
“Oh Mary, we must get a picture of you for Granda! You look lovely,” Cathy said.
June’s royal blue tunic and white blouse vividly accentuated her blue eyes and red hair. “Heel, toe, heel, toe,” June said gleefully as she tap danced into the living room to show her father her new outfit.
“You’re beautiful, pet!” he gushed over her.
June’s heart soared and her face radiated with joy from the rare kind attention from her father.Cathy, too, had on her new dress. The dove-gray satin dress had three large onyx buttons on the bodice that ended at her waist, cinched smaller by a wide black belt. The skirt puffed out with help from the petticoat borrowed from Tesia. The wide v-neck collar showed off a necklace of cut glass that sparkled like diamonds. The necklace was a surprise Christmas present from Jimmy, who usually gave her practical gifts.
“Cocktail, honey?” Jimmy called out from the kitchen. The girls, who were in the kitchen opening 
Coca-Colas, giggled at his use of the word honey, an American endearment.
With her satin dress swishing, Cathy entered the kitchen. Jimmy whistled, “My God, woman, ye look smashing! You’ll be the belle of the ball,” he kissed her cheek, not wanting to mess up her red lipstick.
The girls stared at their mother in awe. Maggie said she looked like a movie star.
With the chime of the doorbell, everyone ran off to greet the first guest. They hurried into position, eager to view the first footer waiting downstairs at the door to the building. They were ready for a dark-haired man to walk through the door, signaling good luck in the New Year. What they saw was Sandy’s thinning blonde hair as he stepped over the threshold and into the lobby of the building.“Sandy! For God’s sake, get out, man!” Jimmy yelled down to him.
The mistake was Mark’s fault.
It had been pre-arranged by Jimmy that the first foot would enter in the early evening and not wait until midnight so the children could join in the ritual. Jimmy had asked Ian, a Scottish friend who was a tall man with black hair. But before Ian could step into the building, Mark had pushed ahead of him. As Sandy reached past Ian to pull his son back, he had stumbled through the door when it opened. As fate would have it, light haired, balding Sandy was the first person with a foot in the MacDonalds’ building on Hogmanay.
The girls hung over the banister booing boisterously at Mark as his father backed out, dragging his son by the scruff of the neck. Ian bounded up the stairs. Hoping to smooth over the error, he adamantly protested that he did indeed have the first foot in the flat. He handed Jimmy the traditional Hogmanay gifts.
“Fatty, bratty Marky,” said Maggie mockingly when Mark dashed by.
Huffing and puffing, Nancy arrived at the top of the landing and in her loud American voice, scolded the Scots on how silly they were to be so superstitious.
A stout Scottish woman coming up behind her said, “Wheesht, silly woman.”
At first, guests were a bit sober from the unexpected event, but it didn’t last for long. The adults soon had a few glasses of cheer and the party began.
More guests arrived, singing out the traditional Hogmanay greeting, “A good year to you!” They brought gifts of food and spirits: whiskey, malt beer, and gin. As the day went on, the story about the blond first foot made its rounds and the celebrators kidded about what kind of bad luck might befall the MacDonalds in the coming year.
Inspired, June rushed down the hallway and came back into the living room with the picture of her angel and a roll of Scotch tape. She asked Uncle Sandy to put it up on the wall. When it was secure, Ian’s wife exclaimed, “Look. Doesn’t it remind you of back home in Skye? Especially around the Dunvegan area?”
“Aye, could be. Och, with those flowers, could be anywhere in Skye,” Ian answered, returning to his plate of food and glass of whiskey. 
June looked at him curiously, wondering, flowers in the sky? Maybe Uncle Ian is like me. Maybe he can see things other people don’t.? She reminded herself to ask Mrs. G if she ever saw flowers in the sky.
The mood lightened and the singing of Scottish songs became the main activity. Each person had a turn to entertain by singing a favorite tune. Before the party ended and in keeping with another Hogmanay tradition, the adults and children stood in a circle crisscrossing hands, right over left, and sang the famous Scottish song, “Auld Lang Syne.” June was bewildered as the adults’ laughing voices changed to sad tones. Some of the women cried openly as they sang together, “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and the days of auld lang syne!
When June saw Annie’s eyes mist over, she asked, “You going to cry?” Annie shook her head and bit her lower lip and pulled her hands away from the chain. June thought she heard her say, “Granny.”
After the guests gathered up their coats and children and said good-bye, Jimmy told the girls to go to bed. In the bedroom June asked Annie why people were sad singing the last song. Her sister explained they were sad to be so far away from their families. She said part of the song asked if people were supposed to forget their old friends and the times they shared together.
“I’ll never, ever forget Granda and Granny B and how good they were to us,” Annie said adamantly. Maggie began to talk about the friends they left behind in Scotland. They agreed that Wee Gordie, their cousin, was like Mark––a spoiled brat. Auntie Patsy was their favorite aunt and Uncle Peter always said the funniest things. Helen was remembered with sad sighs and a collective, “We love you.” 
“Will we ever go back to Scotland?” Mary asked, her voice quivering. They knew how much she missed Granda B.
June piped up that someday she would go back and they could go with her. Excitedly, she added, “Granda B was at our party today. He came in before Uncle Sandy did and kissed Mommy.”
The sisters rolled their eyes simultaneously and groaned, “Oh, shut up.”
Mary added, “You’re going to get in trouble for making up big faker stories.”
June huffed, hurt that her sisters didn’t believe she saw Granda B. Before she could argue, their mother popped her head in the door, telling them to go to sleep if they wanted to go to Playland the next day to celebrate Annie’s tenth birthday. The light was switched off immediately. * * * * *“I LOVE A SAUSAGE,” June sang out gaily as she scampered down the long staircase to wher