Llewellyn Publications's Blog, page 72

Ah, how I love the first stirrings of February…the subzero temperatures, the constant scraping of frost off the windshield, the frequent snow showers, and the road-salt-encrusted boots. Lovely! But even more than that, I love leaving it all behind and attending PantheaCon, now in its 20th year. I’ve blogged about PantheaCon before, so I will spare you the details and cut to the chase – Llewellyn is hosting a hospitality suite this year, so if you’re attending we’d love to see you! Publisher Bill Krause, publicist Kat Sanborn, and I will be taking turns hosting discussions, author events, and book launch parties in room 1057 all weekend!

Here is our full schedule – see you there!

LLEWELLYN SUITE 1057
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

 

FRIDAY

Friday, 7-10pm: Llewellyn Mingler – meet Llewellyn authors and staff, enjoy refreshments with us!

 

SATURDAY

Saturday, 11am-12pm: How to Get Published. Learn about our publishing house, how to submit manuscripts and proposals, and much more!


Saturday 12-12:30pm: Speed Pitching. Pitch your proposal to Llewellyn’s senior acquisitions editor, publicist, or publisher, 5 minutes each. Sign up early!


Saturday, 12:45-1:15pm: Author presentation by Chantel Lysette: Working with the Angels in the Vortex of Manifestation. Chantel Lysette is an angel intuitive who has read for hundreds of clients, a double certified Master of Usui Reiki, and is the creator and host of “The Angel Gallery,” a lecture/reading series. She’s been a guest on Coast to Coast AM, Darkness Radio, and other popular radio shows. Her first two books, Azrael Loves Chocolate, Michael’s a Jock and The Angel Code have been reprinted in several languages. Her newest book is Angelic Pathways.

Saturday, 1:30-2:30pm: Author presentation by Lon Milo DuQuette: Homemade Magick. Join the always entertaining occultist Lon Milo DuQuette as he regales us with stories from his upcoming book, Homemade Magick, and get advice on how you, too, can become a do-it-yourself mage. Besides being a renowned published author, Lon is also a successful musician celebrating another album’s release this weekend at PantheaCon.

Saturday 3-4pm: Ceremonial Magic Panel: The Way In with authors Brandy Williams, Lon Milo DuQuette, Chic and Tabatha Cicero, and John Opsopaus (Bruce MacLennan, PhD). Pagans interested in ceremonial magic need a way in. There are so many books and groups, how to understand where to get started? This panel of experts in Thelema, Golden Dawn, Theurgy, and Women’s Rituals provides a portal to enter into the world of ceremonial magic.


Saturday 8-10pm: BOOK LAUNCH PARTY! Join Oberon Zell, Morning Glory Zell, and John Sulak as they launch Oberon and MG’s life story, The Wizard and the Witch: Seven Decades of Counterculture, Magick and Paganism! Giveaways, exclusive launch party ribbon, refreshments, and a special reading from the book! You “Otter” stop by! (Note: if Morning Glory is not well enough to attend PantheaCon, well then obviously she won’t be present at the party. But we’ll still toast her role in this amazing project.)

SUNDAY

Sunday, 11am-12:30 pm: Llewellyn Death Panel with authors Jhenah Telyndru, Kenny Klein, Lauren DeVoe, Lupa, Stephanie Woodfield, Mambo Chita Tann, Tess Whitehurst, and Tony Mierzwicki. No matter what your path, all Pagans have dead people — and different ways of revering or working with them. Join us to talk about communication, offerings, and rituals; plus rites for death and dying and Pagan end-of-life choices.


Sunday 1-1:30pm: Author presentation by Stephanie Woodfield: Embracing the Dark Goddess. Explore the power and mysteries of the dark goddess. Learn who she is, and her role in our lives today.  She is the goddess of transformation, warriorship, and change.  She speaks to us through goddesses like the Morrigan, Sekhmet, and Kali.  She is not simply the Crone, she is a force that moves through our lives from our first breathe to our last, and can be a powerful guide throughout our lives.

Sunday, 3-4pm: BOOK LAUNCH: A Witch’s World of Magick: Expanding Your Practice with Techniques & Traditions From Diverse Cultures by Melanie Marquis. Find out what kinds of magical theories and techniques are the common threads that can be found in cultures across space and time, and how to use them today!


Sunday, 5:15-5:45pm: Author presentation by Kenny Klein and Lauren DeVoe: New Orleans Faerie And Ghost Stories. Authors Kenny Klein and Lauren DeVoe speak about their new book, Fairy Tale Magic, and about their encounters with Faeries, spirits and ghosts in their home of New Orleans. Learn about the haunted cemetery, the fabled LaLaurie mansion, and the odd goings-on in the couple’s temple room. You never know: Kenny may also play the fiddle.

Sunday 8-10pm: Closing Reception and Salon. We’ll try to pinpoint the most interesting developments at PantheaCon this year and host a comfortable space to continue the discussions.

 

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Djuna Wojton, author of the new Karmic Choices.

This year promises to bring many changes. Some changes may be positive and can be exciting experiences—like getting married, starting a new job, moving, or having a baby. But, changes that are negative or beyond our control can be stressful—no matter what area of life they impact. Whether ongoing noisy construction in your neighborhood disrupts your peace and quiet, corporate downsizing threatens your job security, or you experience a loss through divorce or death, without appropriate stress management, these kinds of disturbances can affect your physical, mental, and emotional health. Chronic stress can contribute to numerous health problems, such as insomnia, anxiety, exhaustion, and even digestive upsets.

As a spiritual healer with over twenty years experience, I find that taking flower essences can help release emotional duress, calm fears, and restore peace of mind. They work like homeopathy, on the vibrational level. The flowers’ subtle energy, or “plant signature,” is the part that heals. Since everyone responds to stress in a different way, here are some suggestions for various Bach Flower remedies to help you cope with change.

Walnut helps you make transitions with greater ease and follow your destiny.
Sweet Chestnut helps alleviate despair and anguish and restore faith in Spirit.
Rock Rose addresses the soul’s need for courage when facing great challenges.
Cherry Plum releases fear of being out of control and helps re-connect with the Higher Self.
Aspen can help overcome fear of facing the unknown.

It is better to take small amounts of a flower essence over a longer period of time for best results as opposed to taking all at once. Four drops, four times a day, is an average dosage. Essences are taken under the tongue, in a glass of water, or placed on pulse points.

You are not alone during times of change. The plants have so much love and healing to give; make them your allies. If you try an essence, be patient. Some people get instant relief, while others need a few weeks to feel the support. But, either way, you’ll feel so much better.

Our thanks to Djuna for her guest post! For more from Wojton, read her article “3 Tips to Make Better Choices for the New Year.”

For more information about using Bach Flower Remedies, check out Bach Flower Remedies for Beginners by David Vennells or the Bach Flower Inspirational Cards from Lo Scarabeo.

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Servet Hasan, author of The Intuitive Heart of Romance and the new Life in Transition.

I am currently looking outside, at a cold winter morning. A dense fog swirls over the mountain tops. Raindrops hang like diamonds from the leaves of a barren bush. I can smell the dampness and taste the moisture in the air. Winter looms. But, then I see it. A maple tree bows to the wind, and a cascade of colorful leaves fall like a fountain. Who knew that letting go could be so exquisitely beautiful?

The seasons remind me that not too long ago these same leaves were green buds bursting forth and growing larger and larger with summer’s abundance shining down upon them. It also reminds me that nature’s seasons are not unlike the seasons of our lives. How many moments of our lives are marked by some kind of loss? You lose your job, your spouse gets sick, a friend leaves, a dream dies. Every day, we are reminded that things come and they go and that there truly is a season for everything under Heaven.

But I am also reminded that when something dies outside of us, or within us, that something new is born. A sprout of new growth will undoubtedly follow. New life will inevitably emerge. Whatever the loss may be, no matter how big or small, expected or unexpected, as we journey through it—and we must journey through it—we can emerge on the other side with an arsenal of life-changing, hard-won, sacred gifts that renew our lives and create a whole new being.

As you pass through a difficult crisis or change, remember this and know that eventually you will thrive amid the uncertainty and chaos. This is the time to have trust and faith, not so much in someone else (although seeking help is always an option) but trust and faith in yourself. It’s about knowing that whatever has happened, you will find a way through it. It’s about knowing that without risking entering unmarked territory that our lives would be mundane and boring and that we would never really grow mentally and spiritually. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you.

For your mind, take time every day to meditate or pray. Fear can drown out your intuition, and now is when you will need it the most. Reconnect with your inner self and it will guide you to exactly where you need to go next.

For your body, take time to nurture yourself. Sleep more, exercise, eat well, and whenever possible treat yourself to a massage, or whatever makes you feel special and spoiled.

And, last but not least, for your spirit, stop lamenting about whatever has happened; embrace it and look upon it as a grand new adventure, one in which you will be made anew.

Our thanks to Servet for her guest post! For more from Servet Hasan, read her article “7 Ways to Traverse Your Way Through Any Transition.”

Aquarius, The Water Bearer

January 20 to February 19

Modality: Fixed

Element: Air

Ruler: Uranus

Keywords: Unconventional, original, progressive, intellectual, compassionate, stubborn, isolated

As an Aquarius you are an enigmatic puzzle, a mix of the old and the new and of friendly and aloof. You are noted for your independence and strong will, but you are also stubborn (being a fixed sign). Aquarius is the sign of the humanitarian, and you are generous with your time and money when helping others. You are also a communicator, being an air sign, though you do like your independence from others as well. You are intellectual, intuitive, and insightful.

The universal sign of friendship, Aquarians are often surrounded by several acquaintances, though few close friends; you are comfortable in large groups of people at clubs and gatherings, despite gender or background. In love, you might play the field, as you search for variety. Communication is key for you in your romantic relationships; you could do well with your opposite sign, Leo, or with the other air signs, Gemini and Libra. Taurus and Scorpio could provide a relationship clash with their possessiveness. Your family life is traditional, staying in close touch with relatives. Be careful of clutter in the home, as some Aquarians have trouble letting go of collectibles or knick-knacks.

When it comes to careers, Aquarians are both naive and practical (again with the duality). Learn to live within a realistic budget, as at times it may seem that it is feast or famine with money; doing so you can do well financially in the long-term. An Aquarius enjoys a calm working environment, and likely will spend their lifetime in one career.

You are generally a homebody, though you do enjoy a weekend getaway now and again.

For the year ahead:

Affirmation: Balancing home and career is challenging but rewarding.

Jupiter begins this year in Cancer (your sixth house), where it has been since last summer. You may have found yourself focused on your career and workplace these past months, though that focus switches to your personal relationships when Jupiter moves into Leo in July. This will likely be a fortuitous time for these relationships and “chance” encounters.
Uranus continues its seven-transit of Aries, where it will remain until 2018. Communication is highlighted, between friends, neighbors, and family. In general, this transit is good for community involvement.
Saturn spends the year in Scorpio, your tenth house of Career. With this transit lasting until the end this year, use this time wisely; you will be in the center of attention at the workplace, so make sure your actions are all to your advantage. (You can also tap into Jupiter’s luck that it brings to the workplace for the first half of the year.)
Pluto spends the entire year in Capricorn, where it will transit until 2024 (your twelfth house). Pluto will, in some way, transform your life in the coming years, heightening your intuition and helping you transform your life for the healthier and the better.

The next spread in our Classic Spreads series is the Horseshoe Spread. Like the Celtic Cross, there are many variations, but this is one of the more common ones.

This spread is a very useful spread and can be applied to almost any situation. It is less daunting than the Celtic Cross. The more generic positional meanings makes it more flexible for many readers.

1. Past events shaping the situation

2. Present circumstances affecting the situation

3. Something in the immediate future that will influence the outcome

4. The querent’s thoughts, feelings, or attitudes directly involved in the situation

5. Other influences to be aware of

6. An obstacle

7. The most likely outcome if nothing changes

We are adding some traditional spreads to our site and will begin with one of the most traditional, The Celtic Cross.

Celtic Cross Spread

The Celtic Cross Spread is a very traditional and well-known spread, included in almost every tarot book. There is a reason it is so well known and popular. It provides a wealth of information about any situation. There are enough cards to provide plenty of material to work with. It gives a clear overview of a situation as well as the probable outcome. It can be read as a large spread or as a series of smaller spreads. Because the Celtic Cross Spread has been around for over one hundred years (it was invented by Author E. Waite who falsely claimed it was an ancient spread), there are many variations. You may see versions that label the positions slightly differently. Remember, tarot has and continues to evolve, and that goes for spreads, too. Don’t assume that one variation is wrong and the other right. In addition to a variety of positional meanings, people have altered or added to the Celtic Cross layout. As you work with it, if you notice areas or types of information that you’d like, add positions and see how they work out.

S. Significator

1. Covers: the influence that is affecting the querent or the situation

2. Crosses: the obstacles or energies working against the querent in this situation

3. Crown: the querent’s ideal or goal in the situation

4. Foundation: the basis or foundation of the situation

5. Behind: influences that affected the querent or situation but are now passing away

6. Before: what is likely to happen next

7. Yourself: the querent as she sees herself in the situation

8. Your House: the influences of circumstances or people surrounding the querent

9. Hopes and Fears: the querent’s hopes or fears regarding this situation

10. What Will Come: the culmination, resolution, or outcome of the situation

This spread was originally designed for purely predictive readings and the position meanings show that. For this, or any spread you try, always tweak the meanings so that they make sense with your beliefs and your reading style. For example, if you do not like how “the culmination, resolution, or outcome of the situation” implies a sense of absolute, written-in-stone fate, change it to something like, “the current most likely outcome if all things remain as they are.” If the outcome isn’t to the querent’s liking, a common practice is to follow up with another short one to three card reading to advise the querent about how to change that outcome.

As mentioned earlier, the Celtic Cross can be read as several mini-spreads as well as one large one. For example, the first mini-spread is the cross in the center made up of the Significator, the Covering card, and the Crossing card. These cards, read together, very concisely create a picture of the situation or conflict concerning the querent. Card 5, the Significator, and Card 6 together make the familiar 3-card spread of Past-Present-Future. Cards 6 and 10 show the trend of future events. Cards 3 and 9 tell what the querent wants, hopes for, or fears. Reading these cards in these combinations also allows you to use your skills in reading card pairs and elemental dignities to add nuances to the reading.

There are various ways to select the Significator. You can select a court card based on the querent’s appearance or sun sign (very traditional). You can select a court card based on the querent’s personality. You can let the querent select a card based on what one they think represents them in the situation. Finally, you can shuffle the entire deck and just deal the Significator as the first card.

 

 

What a perfect day for a New Moon! The New Moon in Capricorn occurred Wednesday, January 1, at 6:14 am EST (11:15 am GMT), at 11 degrees. New moons signify a new cycle, new beginnings, and rebirth.

This New Moon, along with the Sun (also in Capricorn) will highlight the earthy Capricorn qualities of discipline and ambition, as well as tenth house themes of career and motivation. This New Moon period is the perfect time to examine your your work life: Are you happy in your current job or career? Do you long for more responsibility? Or are you finding it hard to balance your work and home life as it is? Now is the time to initiate changes, and enjoy the rewards you can reap by being disciplined about your career.

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Keith Park, Ph.D., author of the new Serenity Solution.

Life can sometimes throw curve balls. Challenges such as accidents, illness, or loss may occur for little or no reason. How we approach these events determines in large part how we will successfully cope with them.

Prayer is one way we may address our concerns. Through quiet reflection, we may bring our troubles to God—a larger Divine intelligence or Source—and unburden ourselves.

The most common form of prayer is the petition or intention prayer. Through this type of prayer, we typically seek a specific outcome, usually the resolution of a difficulty (e.g. “Heal me God”). Unburdening ourselves in this way can bring great relief.

However, there is a risk of overusing this type of prayer to the point that we are so busy petitioning our thoughts that we don’t hear God’s thoughts. We filter out this larger awareness with a single-minded focus.

The key, then, is to find a balance between petitioning our desires and receiving God’s wisdom. One way is to start each Divine communication with a meditative or contemplative prayer. Through meditative or contemplative prayer, we may temporarily relax focus on what we want long enough to receive God’s input.

In doing so, we may hear wisdom that provides us not only peace and comfort, but also an avenue or direction that we had not considered. In effect, we get beyond conscious awareness to discover a broader, background awareness that knows much more about our true needs. From here, we then may co-create with God’s assistance.

The need to be still and listen to greater insight became very real for me leading up to and after my dad’s death last year from pancreatic cancer. As one would expect this was a difficult time for me; and so, I turned within for strength and comfort.

At first, I petitioned for what we all petition for under such circumstances: for my dad not to suffer and for more time to say goodbye. However, it was soon that I started realizing the more I petitioned for assistance the more I started feeling angry and suffering periods of disrupted sleep and stomach distress.

The psychologist in me recognized that I was not handling this loss adequately. But then, I thought, who really copes well at the loss of a loved one? Still, I began practicing what I preach to my clients and started observing my thoughts and reactions as well as going within through prayer—this time, though, not to ask, but to listen.

Letting go and just listening wasn’t easy at first. I had to acknowledge that maybe I didn’t have all the answers and that maybe there were things I needed to hear. However, as soon as I did, and became more receptive to a greater awareness and new insight emerged.

It wasn’t until I shifted my thinking and saw this time as an opportunity to connect with my dad’s spirit that I was able to accept the waning of his physical self, which I hope provided an avenue for spiritual growth for the two of us.

This new insight gave me a step forward. From here, I continued to pray for insight and kept an eye on my emotional-physical reactions, particularly on my stomach reactions, which provided a clue to when I was focusing on limiting thoughts. When I found myself doing so I remembered to refocus on making a deeper connection with my dad.

In time, I noticed a little more peace, better sleep, less anger, and some closure with my dad. I share this personal story in hopes that it might help you in similar moments of grief. What helps you during difficult times?

Our thanks to Keith for his guest post! For more from Keith Park, read his article “3 Simple Steps to Awaken the Divine.”

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Michelle Arbeau, author of the new Energy of Words.

We’re all intuitive and receive intuitive messages constantly; yet, for many of us, our rational mind kicks in and squashes the sweet voice of intuition before it ever stands a chance of being heard.

The mind (ego) doubts what it doesn’t understand and isn’t keen on accepting anything on blind faith. Intuition is about trusting our inner guidance system, a knowing that can be felt on all levels yet cannot be proven in the tangible sense. The key is to trick the mind into thinking the intuitive messages are fact. How do we do this? Simply try on each scenario through visualization.

I’ve used this trick for many years with much success. It calms the ego and allows your intuitive voice to be heard loud and clear. If you find yourself doubting your intuition, use visualization to try on both sides of the situation.

Let’s say you just heard about a great new job opportunity that was posted at your work. Your gut instantly says, “YES!” but your mind chimes in and says, “That job is way out of your league.” The battle of ego versus spirit could continue indefinitely, causing you to miss the boat on a great job. Here’s the trick to nix that battle in the bud:

Imagine yourself in the new job. Really get into it and experience it fully. How does it feel? Does it feel like the right thing for you? Now imagine yourself staying in your current job and passing up the job opportunity. How does that scenario feel? Write down all your feelings/thoughts associated with each scenario.

Using visualization and trying on your intuition erases the doubt that may have been present. The mind can’t argue with fact, and when you imagine yourself already in the job, the mind is much more apt to readily believe it is true. One other no-fail tip is to determine which side of the situation brings you a sense of relief. Do you feel relieved when you imagine passing up the job and staying where you are, or do you feel relief seeing yourself in the new position?

Next time you get an intuitive hunch, instead of doubting it, try it on for size!

Our thanks to Michelle for her guest post! For more from Michelle Arbeau, read her article “Change Your Life By Changing Your Words.”

Capricorn, The Goat

December 22 to January 20

Modality: Cardinal

Element: Earth

Ruler: Saturn

Keywords: Ambitious, resourceful, disciplined, creative, materialistic

As a Capricorn you are sensible and practical, but your ruling planet of Saturn can make you a bit overly cautious at times. Efficient, organized, and ambitious, you can at times be intolerant of those who may not measure up to your high standards. You are decisive in most situations, thanks to your cardinal sign. You are defined by your ambition and desire to make your mark on the world, even if this may not happen until much later in your life.

Capricorns often have fast-paced home lives with frequent visitors, so balance is a must. Be sure that you aren’t so focused on work (or bringing it home) that your home life is affected. You will be happier and more productive when you find this balance, and you are able to foster and encourage your children in a traditional, stable home. You are attracted to partners who are as level-headed as you, and you could find an ideal mate in a Cancer (your opposite sign), the other water signs (Scorpio and Pisces), or your fellow earth signs (Taurus and Virgo). Life with an Aries or Libra could be unsettling.

When it comes to careers, Capricorns do well with a lot of communication and variety, though your organization and ambition will shine through in any field. Your financial decisions are likewise generally on target, but because you equate material items with success, be sure not to overextend yourself. Though your income and expenses may fluctuate somewhat, you are thrifty and often find the best bargains.

You have a keen sixth sense, which you use when listening and observing, adding insight to your communications.

For the year ahead:

Affirmation: Reaching out to others brings me success and prosperity.

Jupiter transits Cancer (your seventh house) during the first half of 2014, during which you can anticipate a positive time for your friendships, romantic relationships, and other close partnerships. Jupiter then moves into Leo on July 16, where it will transit your eighth house and launch a period of positivity for your joint finances and resources.
Uranus continues to advance in Aries, where it will remain until 2018. Your home/family life may be lively during this time, including many changes (which could be positive, stressful, or both). You may also gain an interest in your ancestry and genealogy.
Saturn continues its transit in Scorpio, in your eleventh house of friendship. Anticipate a widening of your social circle, and perhaps you may become more involved in group activities.
Pluto spends the entire year in your sign, where it will transit until 2024. Pluto will, in some way, transform your life in the coming years, and possibly in several ways. Though possibly difficult at times, it will ultimately be positive and empowering.