Does Everyone Have a Spirit Guide?

One of the most commonly asked questions by people experiencing spiritual opening is “Do I have a Spirit Guide?”  The short answer to the question is “Yes!” but there is so much more to the subject than that simple answer.

I would like to start by saying I am in no way an authority on all things spiritual.  The perspective I give however is that of a seasoned Medium; giving it a bit more clout than the average bear’s.  Here are some things I have learned over the years through stories told to me by the dead and through my incessant questioning of personal guides.

Spirit Guides are not angels, at least not in most cases.  Angels are powerful, often misunderstood beings.  If you do any reading of the Bible you will quickly be reminded that Angels often carried swords and had flaming eyes.  They are big business & generally don’t stop by to talk to just anybody…no offense, but I think most of us are really not existing in the visitation from Angels club.  I do believe some people work with Angels, but this is deep work that requires commitment and lots of trust.  What most people refer to as Guardian Angels are really ancestral spirits; Beloved Dead from our blood or spirit line who have agreed to work with them from the other side.  I refer to these lifetime spirit companions as our the ‘Main Guides’.  ‘Main Guides’ generally connect to us by the time we are toddlers.  It is common for well-adjusted people to become Main (Spirit) Guides shortly after dying.  This happens most often when there is a birth shortly before or after someone’s death.  If grandma or Uncle Ted didn’t have a lot of unfinished baggage from life, they often want to stay connected to their family line and help in what way they can, often by looking over a living loved one.

Another common form of Spirit Guide is the Healing Guide.  Healing Guides are spirits of people who were Healers in life, Masters, Shamans, Doctors, and Magi who continue to teach from beyond the veil.  These guides often come forward when a person takes a serious step onto the path of the Healer.  [It is believed in Reiki circles that after a person becomes a Reiki 2 their healing guide will start to make themselves known.]  There are however those who are pulled onto the path of the healer, those people might find that their Healing Guide shows their presence in desperate times of need, particularly related to health (mental/physical).  Healing guides may come and go throughout one’s life, sometimes only staying long enough to share knowledge, other times forming life long partnerships with the living healer.

For those that seek a deeper connection with themselves and the world around them, guides can come in many forms.  For many animals spirits (totems/power animals) are a big part of their spiritual tribe, and more so, there are those among us who have relationships with otherworldly beings.  Guides such as this are similar to the friendships we form with the living, some last but a short time, others last a lifetime.  As someone who identifies as a Mediums, the community of Spirit Guides I work with is as vast a circle as that of my living friends.

When we are looking to make contact with our Spirit Guide the first thing we want to remember is these spirits care about us, they would not speak to us in demeaning ways, or abuse us in any way.  This is important to remember as most of us have garbage reels we play in our head that talk trash to us.  We don’t want to confuse the voice of the garbage reel with a guide.  Our guides are trying to help us evolve, grow & heal.  Remember in most cases these guides are ancestors who love you.  When we keep this thought straight in our head it helps us relax into the connection with our Spirit Guides.

For most people, the easiest place to meet up with our Spirit Guide is in the world of dreams.  This world is accessed both while we are asleep and when we are on spiritual journeys & guided meditations.  This world of visions is as real as the world we live in, it is a place where deep soul growth can take place, and it is accessible to everyone with practice.  Some people are naturals to the art of dreaming, others have more resistance to get through.  For those of you wanting to do guided journey work, there are a lot of good journeys on YouTube, try out a few, until you find someone you like.  For those of you in the Northeast Kingdom, there is a guided journey class weekly on Mondays at my shop https://www.facebook.com/grindstonecafe/.

Working with my personal Spirits; the guides who teach and travel with me, I have grown as a person.  I have become a better writer working with Adam, I have become a better Psychic working with Peter, I have learned the art of sacrifice from Thor, and the gift of the Runes from Odin, I have stepped further onto my path as a healer through my connection with the Spirit of Water, and have reminded others of the path through my connection to Crow.  I highly recommend forming a relationship with the spirits that make up one’s personal community, whether it be one spirit or many.

spreading love-salicrow

Symbolism & the Intuitive Mind (psychic development)

E-en, infinity, lemniscate- no time/no space

Do you identify as Empathic?  Do you feel or sense the emotions and/or physical pain of others? Can you sense when there has been a fight in a place before you got there?  Do emotions lay heavy on your body?

Many of you said yes to these questions, in fact, I believe the majority of you did, as we are going through a Psychic Evolution.  As a species we are becoming more psychic.  Our collective consciousness is expanding and we are ‘awakening’ at a more and more rapid rate.  I like calling it evolution for I believe it is a natural process, that has been encouraged by the way we live our lives.  The use of the internet and cell phones have connected us to webs of understanding that tell us we can have the knowledge we seek at the click of a finger.  This belief has loosened the thread of our thoughts and made us question possibilities of how else we can retrieve information, and from where.

Another factor in our expanding consciousness is the fact that we have compacted our words into symbols again, creating a modern hieroglyphic language.  The days of elaborate cursive manuscripts and fancy thank you letters are gone.  We have quickened our step and shortened our transfer of information…we have gone backward & forward, connecting to forgotten magic the use of emojis and anacronyms have become common text, allowing us to transfer information rapidly.

Symbols are shorthand for the brain, they are a way of conveying a large thought in a compact form.  They often have various nuances and meanings depending on their context and can be found everywhere in the dreamscape, natural world & electronic universe.  The idea of symbols in metaphysical thought can be expanded to include animal and plant totems, musical notes, colors, and vibrations.

For those seeking to help their expansion of consciousness along, it’s important to develop a relationship with symbols.  I recommend The Woman’s Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects https://www.amazon.com/Womans-Dictionary-Symbols-Sacred-Objects/dp/0062509233.  although I am unsure why it is called such, and feel it would be better-renamed something less sexist….butwith that critique it’s important to remember this book came out in 1988.

I have always had a fascination with symbols and have studied & interacted with many over the years.  I love to explore the multitude of languages there are for opening the doors to my mind.  As a kid, I first interacted with symbols through religion.  The cross for Jesus was a powerful thing, as was the idea of water being a great healer.  I could easily understand how bread could be a representative of the body of Christ and accept how water could cleanse away the impurities of the soul.  As I grew up and my mind expanded, my symbolic vocabulary grew to include the markings of many religions and cultures.

I don’t like to talk about religion through the concept of different or separate.  I personally believe that God is god/goddess no matter how you look at it.  That the greatness of the creator/created is like a gemstone that we like to look at from many perspectives, and that we must find what way we connect best with the Divine.  Personally, my mind is too vast for one religion, one way of seeing this being that is the Collective Consciousness.  For me, the use of symbolism has been a powerful devotion to the connection I have with myself, my gods, and psychic knowing. The more I learn, the more I want to learn…so my symbolic language is quite large.  However, we do not all have the same obsessions.  So I have compiled a few suggestions for developing your own symbolic language.

*The most important thing when it comes to working with symbols to develop one’s intuition is that your interpretation is the most important one.  Symbolism is powerful because it triggers our personal knowledge, often the first thought that comes to our mind is the one that matters most.  Try whenever possible to write down your thoughts and feelings, before diving into the books or asking friends.  Books and websites are great for studying, and helpful when you really can’t figure something out, but they should always be secondary to your own mental cueing.

*Books on Dream Interpretation and Symbolism are great places to start building your symbolic language.  Place a book on symbols in your bathroom, and pick a new symbol to read up on instead of scrolling through your phone.  If you want to add to the psychic development of the exercise, don’t just randomly pick.  First, ask the question in your mind “What symbol do I need to work with at this time?”  And then really work with it, study it, think about what it has to teach you.

*Learn a symbolic language, such as the Runes or the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  These formulas are compiled of symbols that have both individual meanings and the ability to be combined to create words.  An interesting fact about the systems named is they are both believed to have been given to the people directly as gifts from their gods.  I have a personal relationship with this form of symbolic work; particularly with the Runes and Odin, as they came into my life as a door to a greater relationship with the Norse Gods and magic.  It is my experience that when properly activated these symbols hold a potent life force energy, and are ‘Beings’ of sorts.

*Keep track of your experiences with symbols; write down your dreams, record your meditations, journeys, and wyrd sightings.  Remember the Universe is communicating with us all the time, we just have to expand our vocabulary so it’s easier to understand.

I hope you have found this helpful, remember this is a journey and you do have some control over how it unfolds.  Enjoy the ride…

spreading love-salicrow

Salicrow.com

Sacred Travel…COSM, the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors-part 2.

It’s funny how we are always in some kind of flux…growing, flowing, being molded by our surroundings.  It seems that no matter how far up our personal, evolutionary tree we climb there are still wounds to heal, lessons to learn, and potentials to explore.  That is what makes living so divine!  ************************************************************ I returned home from Florida, knowing that in a few short weeks I would be connecting with members of my Spirit Tribe; a group of Wyrd (connected to fate) Travelers I met (this life) while on a sacred pilgrimage to the United Kingdom.  Our meeting was something no doubt planned in the betwixt & between, for kinships formed throughout lifetimes are a kind of magic of their own. 

Knowing I would soon be spending time in deep transformational space, I recognized that my self-work was not done, in fact, I had just placed my foot upon the trail of transformation.  After all, I was seeking to change the tempo in which I lived my life, not an easy task.

Being dedicated to myself, I started speaking of the change I was seeking, using words that supported my goal.  Positive affirmations are a good way to support and direct growth and healing in our life.   After all most of our problems come out of the bad programming that runs on repeat inside of our heads; spewing out negative bullshit that wastes the potential of our minds.  Just imagine what life could look like if we spoke as many encouraging words to ourselves…

I walked away from obvious negative internal banter along time ago, but that does not mean my brain is always kind to me.  While I don’t bad-talk myself in the way that many people do, I run a to-do list that has the potential of being never-ending.  So I still have need of positive affirmations, mantras, and intentional thoughts.  This was how I spent the weeks between my travels, reinforcing the new setting I had chosen to live my life in; the one with purposeful movement and lots of Catnaps.

The trouble was I still could not see the direction I wanted to go in, the prey I wanted to stalk or the perhaps a better way of putting it was I had not yet received the scent of that which I sought.  I was pretty sure I would find it while on Sacred journey and I was anticipating the insight it would lend to me.

The drive to COSM was absolutely beautiful.  The first part of the journey was straight down the state of Vermont via I91; a quiet highway with little traffic and few sightings of civilization.  Then we headed west & south along the Taconic State Parkway to the Hudson River Valley of NY.

COSM-the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors is a sanctuary, a church of sorts dedicated to the visionary arts and creativity.  It is also a sacred womb of awakening, an intentional space filled with the mind ‘altaring’ art of Alex Grey and his wife Allison.  The permanent art collection at the sanctuary is known for integrating both scientific and spiritual truths.  In short, it is a place of transformation!

Visionary art; such as Alex & Allison Grey’s, is meant to trigger the subconscious, allowing us to step out of our analytical mind and into the deeper vastness of our souls knowing.  Spending time submerged in such art often works on the receiver long after they have walked away from the physical display.

My fellow Wyrd Travelers and I went to COSM with this in mind, we were looking for the full experience as well as a place we could step into our shared spiritual work without disturbance.  We received both, as the universe provided us with the opportunity to be the only guest staying @ Grey House (the Inn at COSM) for the duration of our visit.

In visiting the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors my personal goal was to receive with an open mind, allowing messages of direction to come to me, instead of my normal steady push for deep waters.  After all, I was working with Big Cat/Panther; I was not searching under every rock for my knowledge, instead, I was waiting around stealthily for it to appear.  Most of my time there was taken up with group work, primarily focused on helping others wake-up peacefully, in this time of Psychic Evolution. My individual work was more subtle…it involved meditating in the temple room in the early hours of the morning, and absorbing the energy of the place while I slept…where it infiltrated my dreams and seeped into my knowing.  I don’t recall a single ‘Ah-ha’ moment of self-awareness, yet I left understanding my future path more clearly and have continued to unfold subconscious wisdom in my dreams; both waking and sleeping.

Perhaps it was in walking the grounds, rich with Earth energy; intentionally harnessed through the works of Geomancy-the art of placing or arranging buildings or other sites auspiciously, walking the labyrinth or observing the many paintings & statues with their multitude of eyes, that triggered such introspection.  But I truly feel that I walked away with a deeper knowing of my path and a clearer understanding of how to get there.

I have used Sacred Travel as a vehicle for transformation for many years now.  There is something about stepping away from our mundane world, that allows us to look at our life differently.  I know I am fortunate enough to do so regularly, and for that I am thankful.  But this has not always been the case, I have not always had the luxury of time and money to make such things happen.

So…how do we submerse ourselves in Sacred Pilgrimage when we do not have the luxury of leaving our home, family & obligations?

I will be talking about just that in part 3 of this Sacred Travel log, which will be out on Friday, April 5th.  Thanks for following along on my adventures…

spreading love-salicrow

ps-A big fat, grey squirrel was very comfortable on the property.  I found it to be a cosmic joke, as I had been saying I needed to put the squirrel in a cage; in reference to my need to step away from squirrel as my active power animal.  By the end of the weekend at COSM I realized that my reference of ‘caging the squirrel’ was really a pretty shitty way to give thanks to an animal spirit that has helped me achieve a lot over the last few years, and that instead I needed to give thanks to it and wish it a safe journey.  So thank you, my friend, for all your fast-paced, zing.

 

Sacred Travel…Reflection, refraction, mirrors and transformation, part 1-

I have been in a place of deep reflection and examination for the last few months.  After 5 years of running at super-squirrel speed (I refer to my dark-totem as a ‘squirrel on crack’), I have decided that I need to dial in my focus, move away from ‘collecting every nut I see, to thoughtfully planning my next steps to best serve my community, while giving myself the time I need for personal growth and happiness.

This was not something I came to lightly, but more something that attacked me with flailing arms, & steam coming out of its ears.

By the end of January, I was exhausted, short-tempered and emotionally drained.  At first, I didn’t really understand where it was coming from, for my life did not feel or look any different than it normally did; my kids & grandkids were doing well, my home life & personal relationships were good, my businesses were running well.  Despite the outer vestige of my life, I was finding it hard to keep my temper in keel, and felt a building desire to just say ‘fuck it, I don’t care what you do’, to most inquiries.  Now, this does not mean I was showing my cards to the public, after all, I am a trained professional and I know how to put my stuff away while taking care of business.  But, as time went on, I found it harder and harder to ignore the fact that I was short-circuiting.  So I did what any good healer would do, I started to investigate the problem.

The answer came quickly; like a poke in the eye, and was not surprising at all…I was simply doing too much, running too fast for too long, and I needed to slow down.  This realization brought to mind the old adage ‘Healer, heal thyself’; which speaks to the need for those who care for others to practice self-care.  So I made an appointment with my apprentice Vanessa; who runs the Reiki clinic @ my wellness center and began to contemplate how I would cut back on the doing part of my life.

Now the problem with being me, is I invest in everything I take up.  Everything I do is important to me.  Which means selecting what to let go of, or pass on to others, were difficult questions for me.  I generally do not spend much time on things I don’t believe in or value.  I knew this was not going to be an easy switch, and that as much as I may want to put the squirrel in a cage it was going to take some time and planning to do so.

I began my transition while visiting family in Florida this last February.  Normally when I take my winter jaunt south, I plan on working part-time while there; doing private Seances, and Readings or workshops at stores in the area, weaving my sacred work with my sacred travel together.  But this year, I just kept hesitating to book any work, and the closer it came to my departure date the more I started limiting what my work would look like until it finally looked like “I am not working while in Florida this year.”

I have always seen travel as a time to initiate change, as we are away from our paterns, things, and the way others see us.  So instead of working for others, I spent the time in the sun working on myself…simply being; taking deep breaths, walking in the green parks, soaking up the sun and enjoying the magic of the water that Tampa Bay had to offer.

Simply embracing each day as it presented itself…swimming in the Ocean and walking along the bayou’s of public parks was truly the medicine I needed.  I received guidance in many forms…I watched a dolphin hunt & play, was lucky enough to hold a lovely snake, I even visited the shrine of the Arch Angel Micheal, while in a Greek fishing village (Tarpon Springs, FL).  I was looking for answers, or better yet I was waiting for answers.  Answers to how I was supposed to move forward, what I should focus on and what energy I should ask to help guide me. I even stayed in an Airbnb house filled with wyrdly, intriguing mirrors (note the picture at the start of the post), that I imagine would be great for deep scrying.  Instead, I fell asleep early while staying there; my body deciding I needed rest more than a spiritual deep dive into the world of mirrors.  In this stillness, answers slowly came.

The first step of my transformation was to choose another power animal to work with.  For as much as I have joked over the last few years about Squirrel on Crack being my dark totem, Squirrel has truly been the sacred animal ally calling the shots for the last few years. To call something my dark-totem, means the qualities of that animal are ones that I have to be cautious of in my life.  They are the parts of our personality/behavior that have short term benefits, but often overwhelm us when we play with them too long. I am truly squirrelish in my behavior, I gather from everywhere, often creating treasure caches of knowledge, learning, and cool stuff when working with this energy.  But when I play with it too long, I just keep collecting…more jobs, more classes, more travel, more businesses, more, more, more…until I wonder why I am even doing it, what I am collecting for and where the free time I use to have has gone.

We all have a dark-totem, an animal whose behaviors resemble ours, behaviors which we need to keep in check!

It may seem strange to say I needed to choose a power animal to work with, as in most cases our totem animals present themselves to us.  But I have many animals I have worked with over the years, some of them staying with me a lifetime (Crow) while others are active for only a few years, long enough to share their lessons with me.  It is from the latter variety that I was looking to choose.

From my slow-down time in Florida, I knew what qualities I was looking for, I wanted to keep moving forward, while focusing my intent, choosing to be more selective and purposeful in my movement.  I needed to learn to stalk the prey/goal I am after and to rest when I had downtime.  I needed the teachings of Cat.  For me, these lessons come in the form of ‘Big Cat’…Lion, Lynx, and most of all Panther.  This was not a new relationship so to speak, simply the re-emergence of an old alliance.

Creating a bond with a new Spirit Animal or rekindling an old relationship takes time.  It helps to remember that the lessons are being offered, which means if we are sincere and open, the teachings will come.  It is also beneficial to create space on your altar for honoring the ‘Spirit’ (animal, plant, ancestor, otherworldly being) relationship you are building.  You can do this by placing items that remind you of the ‘Being’ on your altar and studying their ways through observation (if you’re so lucky), books and websites.  One of my favorite books for Animal symbolism is ‘Animal Speak’ by Ted Andrews.

It is normal and perfectly alright to be working with more than one Animal Spirit Ally at a time. Personally, when asked the question “How many Spirit Allies should you have at once?”, my answer is “How many living friends and colleagues do you have?”  If your a person who likes to have only a few good friends, your most likely going to be the same way in Spirit-work.  But if you’re like me; a very social Gemini, your likely to have a whole slew of Spirit companions, teachers and guides.

With my mind clearly set on changing my speed & focus, and the aid of ‘Big Cat’ magic I was ready to return home & put my changes to the test of real life.  Something that was not without its challenges. Thankfully, I have a great partner; my husband, who offers his support in a very practical way.  Knowing that I need/want to slow down when I start squirreling up he reminds me of my intentions, by simply saying things like “Really Sali, you need to do that now?”

At first, this reminder triggered me, but I quickly staunched that voice by reminding myself that making changes in our life is easier when you have a practical support team.

My journey continues in part 2.  COSM/the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors.  Look for it Wednesday, the 3rd.

spreading love-salicrow

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562306/jump-girl-by-salicrow/9781623171926/

Stories of Spirit…Where has Sali been all summer? [expansion, growth & the Grindstone Cafe & Wellness Center]

The Veil between the worlds is thinning, and my spirit is longing for the deep introspection of the winter months. I am ready for cozy layers and deep conversations over hot cups of coffee, and I am ready to write again.  Many of you may have noticed that I have been absent from my weekly blogging this summer.  In fact, I have not had time to write for the last 4 months, as I have been driven by wild squirrels; revved up on caffeine.

I have spoken often of my relationship with Squirrel, and how I consider ‘Squirrel on Crack’ to be my dark totem.  The concept of ‘dark totem’ is one most people are surprised by, never having heard the term before.  There is a good chance I made up the terminology, but the role and effect are real.

A ‘Dark Totem’ is one in which we must be leary of the personality traits that we have in common.  In my case, I have a tendency to take on the not so pleasant aspects of Squirrel, the running to and fro…gathering, gathering, gathering, do, do, do.  I have to be careful how long I play with Squirrel energy as it will burn me out.  My analogy of ‘Squirrel on Crack’ is due to the fact that my squirrel runs faster than normal and then crashes hard like an overzealous party guest.  Working with a ‘dark totem’ animal requires constant vigilance, as what they bring to the table is helpful in the short run, but often destructive if engaged with for too long.  That being said, the Squirrel and I are getting ready to part ways, we need some time apart.

Last year I was sitting in my living room when a familiar voice popped into my mind.  The voice was my own, but it was not my mind simply chattering with itself, it was my voice speaking to me from the distant future.  {This is something I have done throughout my life, in fact, my sister Sandy and I started communicating with our adult selves in the mirror when we were 3-4 years old.}  The message I brought to myself was that my life would become significantly more intense in the year to come/this year-2018.  That the speed/fullness of my life would jump from 1-10 in the blink of an eye.  At the time of the telling, I believed that this was simply in reference to my book coming out and all that would entail.  In truth, the book was only half of it.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562306/jump-girl-by-salicrow/9781623171926/

In May of this year, I approached my business partner Kim; whom I owned a small cafe & studio with, about renting another room in the building, noting that with my schedule, yoga and the workshops we were offering we were running out of space.  The next day, our landlady called us to say that the tanning salon next door would not be renewing their lease.  We took this as a sign that we were ready for more than another room.

On June 1st we began construction and our little cafe & studio began the journey of expansion…one that absorbed my summer and a good portion of the fall.  What was a small coffee shop with an upstairs studio space, that functioned as my office, a yoga studio, and workshop space, was transformed into a large espresso bar/cafe, retail shop and wellness center with 2 classrooms, and 5 practioner rooms.  All of this was going on while I was still carrying on my regular client hours, teaching occasional workshops and doing a bit of sacred travel.  It was a huge effort, made more enjoyable by the many hands that contributed….so there you have it, the where the fuck was Sali, why hasn’t she been writing question has been answered.

The Grindstone Cafe & Wellness Center https://www.facebook.com/grindstonecafe/is now 90% complete, and I am now in the act of organizing my own work schedule.  Which brings me to point #2…I have brought on a SCHEDULING ASSISTANT!  After a summer of crazy, squirrel infused action, I decided it was time to really get organized and that I was not qualified to do so myself.  Those of you reaching out to me for appointments will notice that inquiries are now being signed HUGIN & MUNIN, not Spreading love-salicrow.  HUGIN & MUNIN is the working moniker of my scheduling assistant.  They are also the names of Odin’s Ravens Hugin-thought & Munin-memory. Please note that any messages you send me will stay confidential, as my assistant has worked in the medical field and is quite aware of HIPAA regulations.  We will be working to streamline scheduling and will be asking all inquiries be sent to Sali@salicrow.com (my scheduling email), or to my professional Facebook page Salicrow, Psychic Medium.  If you send a scheduling message to my private Sali Crow Facebook page, you will get a response sending you to my email or my professional page.

I thank you all for your patience and understanding as I go through this big time of change.  Please note-I am back to my regular writing routine and you should be hearing from me again weekly!

spreading love-salicrow

Stories of Spirit…Omens, Ravens, & Numerology, Oh My! [2018 has just begun…]

3Crows/3Fates tattoo on the back of my throat Chakra.

I saw 3 Fat Ravens on my way to work this morning.  I didn’t casually notice them. They stood boldly in the middle of the road, wanting to be seen.  The energetic presence of their aura was striking.  They psychically triggered me, instantly, pulling me out the casual conversation I was having with my husband, to declare “Holy Shit!  3 Fat Ravens in the middle of the road, that’s big business”.  I knew instantly the Ravens were not there by coincidence, on the day I re-emerged into the waking reality of 2018.  They were an  Omen.

Omen-a foretelling of the future.

Today is the first day of the New Year that I have been fully present in the day to day world of our shared reality, for it is my tradition to turn inward during the dark days that follow the Winter Solstice; to slow my pace down to that of a half hibernating animal, until after the New Year has come and gone.  This time is sacred to me, for in the slow dark I recalibrate and prepare for the year ahead.  I do personal divination, meditate, and relax.  When the year begins; which I start on day 2, I step onto the path of becoming.  An Omen received today is a portent for the year to come.

Crows, Ravens, Magpies & Rooks…I haven’t met a Corvid I didn’t like.  

I have had a deep connection to Crow since just before I turned 30.  Crow came to me as a Power Animal/Totem in the form of dreams, feathers, and the birds themselves.  I saw Crow in my visions and in my waking world.  I recognized myself as Crow, for the medicine/magic Crow shared was the tonic of my soul.

CROW/RAVEN-prophesy, magic, communication with the unseen world, deep wisdom, connected to fate.

Crows and Ravens are so closely connected that they share symbolism, with the big difference being how much power they pack.  Crows trigger me on a psychic level regularly, I see them as part of my regular world.  They pull my attention to things I should remember, speak to others about me (people often tell me they keep seeing Crows when they are in need of guidance and know they should give me a call), and are a major part of my inner landscape.  I see Ravens less often, and have always referred to them as ‘big business’.  When they present themselves to me, in this reality or the spirit world, I know that something important is about to take place.  They are harbingers of Fate announcing “Pay the fuck, attention…things are about to be taken up a notch”.

Upon first laying eyes on the Ravens, I felt that the omen was for me on a personal level, and I still do on many levels.  For I am about to experience my life in a whole new way, in which my life is shared publically for any to see.  My book Jump Girl, the initiation, and art of a spirit speaker  http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562306/jump-girl-by-salicrow is due to be released on February 13th, and on a personal level, this will be a reversal of roles for me in many ways.  I have always had the lens focused on other, it has always been me knowing things about people, but with the release of my book, the lens will be turned…allowing others to know things about me.  However, after the reaction I got upon sharing my viewing of the Ravens on Facebook, I realize that the omen was meant all of us.

So what do I think it means?  Well, before I can answer that let me add another piece to the puzzle.

We have just entered 2018, which numerologically breaks down to an 11, which is a Master Number.  Numerology is the branch of knowledge that deals with the esoteric/occult meaning of numbers, for the use of divination.  In Numerology, numbers carry a vibration or frequency that affect all that fall within it, allowing us to expect certain situations under certain numbers.  This study can be applied to phone numbers, street addresses, the numerical breakdown of the letters of our name, and dates…birthdays, anniversaries, years.

In numerology, all numbers are broken down into single digits (example- 2017 is 2+0+1+7=1/making the vibration of last year a 10/1), unless the number breaks down to a Master Number-11, 22, 33, 44, etc.  2018 breaks down to 11.

Eleven is a Master Number, which means it carries a bigger punch; growth and spiritual evolution are often pulled along in its wake.  Eleven is deeply connected to intuition, it guides us to our goals.  If we have a good foundation laid we will experience a smooth and swift push toward our goals.  If we are hesitant, or off track we will be bumped and shoved a bit until we find our path.  11 is connected to Psychic Evolution and speaks of opening to one’s higher potential.   It takes things up a notch, hence the saying “taking it to elevensies”.

To help you understand the Numerology bit, and how accurate it can be, let me briefly cover the Numerological value of 2017.  We already showed in the above example that 2017 breaks to a 10/1.  I call it a 10/1 because it first added up to 10 before it was broken down a second time to 1.  Having studied & worked extensively with the Tarot for many, many years I see the numbers 1-10 often, as each suit of the minor arcana have numbered cards of Ace-10, much like the common playing card (not a coincidence).  10’s in the Tarot are seen as a beginning and an ending, for as one cycle begins another must end.  To make way for the new we must let go of what no longer serves us.  In relation to 2017 and the number 10/1, I would ask you to take a look back at your last year.  How many of you saw endings or huge changes in relationships?  How many experienced upheaval and loss?  How many felt out of balance, as if you suddenly didn’t know what all the rules were anymore?  10/1 as a numerological vibration can be unnerving, for it is stepping out the door of what we know into the unknown.  It is often chaotic and filled with the unexpected and unpleasant, it has a tendency to be brisk and challenging.  If you look at it from the terms of a video game, it is a lot like leveling up.  It’s a bit rough as we get used to the new rules, but it holds much promise!

Back to our current year and vibration…2018/11 and the Omen of 3 Fat Ravens.

I believe this year is going to be a powerful one for opening-up Psychically (healing/intuition/manifestation/perception).  As I have said in the past, I believe we are going through a Psychic Evolution and 2018/11 is going to show some significant advancements on that path.  I drew a few cards to help me focus on this and as I see it we are going to have our view of reality adjusted, our perception as a species is going to be stretched.  People will be asked to look at the world from a different perspective, one in which we see/feel our connection to the divine world around us more strongly.  We must allow ourselves to be fluid like water, for this is a year that should be experienced like a dance.  Practicing being fully aware at random moments of the day will strengthen intuition.  We can train our brain to pay attention to more input, while still staying completely balanced…that is the dance.

This is a time of being maneuvered by Fate.  During the vibration of 11, we will find ourselves shifted into the places where we can be the most service, and receive the most benefits.

Important connections will be made at this time, so pay close attention to relationships you make this year, and to the voices that step forward from the crowd to speak…a lot of wisdom will be coming through during this vibration.

If this resonates with you, make sure you chose your steps with care this year.  By this I do not mean to become rigid and analytical in your movements, instead, I mean think about the choices you make, get out of autopilot, ask for what you really want, speak your truth.  We are stepping into a powerful year of manifestation, if we all shine our light we can find our way.  I am so excited for the change that is coming, I feel the evolution of people waking intuitively, it’s good stuff Folks, good stuff.

spreading love-salicrow

 

Stories of Spirit…Cosmic Overload & Spiritual Awakening [walking the line between crazy & enlightenment]

How many of you are feeling overwhelmed right now?  Is your mind spinning, are you extra sensitive & short tempered?  Do you somehow feel like something more is happening?

If you said yes keep reading…

Let’s talk about ascension…the act of rising to an important position or a higher level.

Now I personally struggle with a lot of the over the top shit about ascension.  But that’s not because I don’t believe it’s happening, but more so because people want to blame every ache, pain, and experience on transcendence.  In fact it is powerful, overwhelming, and often mind bending, but it is not responsible for  how fast your fingernails grow, and whether or not you feel bloated after eating a large pizza…that is probably the cheese or the wheat.

I like to refer to this change in consciousness as Psychic Evolution, because evolution is a natural thing.  It is something we have been doing since the beginning of time.  Just like we age, we evolve…and like wise dis-evolve.

If I were going to choose a theory as to how this is so, I would say it is because time flows back and forth, like the swing of  a pendulum, or the crossing pattern of an infinity symbol.  This pendulum swing has extremes…times when spiritual gifts thrive, and times when they are banished and beaten down/killed out.

We are fortunate to be living in a time when expanded consciousness is being re-birthed.  Like all births it is exciting, scary, painful, and life altering.  It is a moment of betwixt & between, a moment of straddling the line between what we have been…to what we are becoming.  I love, love, love these moments.  They are the times when things are so alive that the very air tingles with excitement.

We are beyond the time of getting to choose whether we wanted to become more intuitive or not.  We have crossed that line, and now many people are starting to feel more, know things without explanation…like that the mother was going to call seconds before the phone rings.  In the time I have been doing Psychic Readings for the public (nearly 30 years), I have noticed the number of people experiencing Psychic phenomenon grow exponentially.  In the early years of my career, I would see 1-2 people with Psychic ability for every 10 I Read for.  Now the number is more like 6-7 people out of 10.  The majority of this growth in Psychic perception seems to have taken place in this last decade, and it is still growing and evolving.

Most people are experiencing Psychic influence in the form of empathy…the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.  This can be overwhelming, and in most cases, people struggle to recognize what is their emotion, and what belongs to another.

It’s all about how you ride the ride.

When we cannot separate our emotions from that of the masses, we often feel overwhelmed, stressed out & crazy.  But it doesn’t need to be this way.  How we ride the wave matters.  If we are rigid, tight and controlled, believing we need to brace ourselves in order to hold it all together…well chances are we are going to be thrown hard.  Instead we need to imagine ourselves sailors…pirates in fact, for they have much better outfits.  We need to ride the sea of emotions with confidence, knowing we can handle what comes our way, as well as how to rely on others, and work as a team.  Most of all we need to become fluid.  Our body movement and stance needs to be a bit soft in the knee, and open at the chest.  If we catch ourselves tight and stiff, it’s important to take a deep breath and imagine ourselves dashing pirates, with a casual gate on the sea and a confidence in our swagger.

I am not trying to be facetious, I am serious.  We need to approach this change holding the belief that we are prepared for it, after all we chose to be alive in these times.  Quantum theory has proven thought matters, so if we believe we are prepared we will find ourselves able to handle what comes our way.  If we believe we are sinking neck deep in shit, guess what?  We are sinking neck deep in shit.

We are here to be present in changing times.  How we approach it makes a huge difference.  It will still have hardships either way you approach it, but if you approach it as something you have chosen you will not feel as victimized by the experience, and most likely you will choose to educate yourself on the how to’s of staying sane while opening up energetically.

First of all, no two experiences are the same.  How one person goes through spiritual opening, and how another goes through energetic awakening is based on their belief system.  They are the same in the fact that they both are ways of describing a change in ones awareness.  But how it is played out is much more individual.  For those who believe the experience will be torturous, it will.  For those who see it as a trial or pilgrimage of self, it will be both challenging and rewarding…the pain the beginnings of great tales.  The flavoring is ours for the seasoning.

I choose to experience such times as a pilgrimage…sacred travel in which the destinations are not so much holy wells and stone circles, but deep memories and milestones of consciousness.  In my reality, such things are a great privilege, for knowing ones self is the way to true power, and an expanded consciousness is going to show us how important we all are.  For being aware of someone else’s story makes us more compassionate and kind.

So why is this happening now?  Why is is so over the top, crazy pants right now?

Short story…evolution is speeding up, gaining momentum.  Little bit longer story…At this current moment in time, we are feeling an energetic shift as we are between two eclipses.  The lunar eclipse on the 8th, and the solar eclipse on the 21st, as well as the Lion’s Gate; which is an astronomical line up with the center of the galaxy.  All that sounds pretty impressive, and it is.   But I am not an astrologer, so if you are looking for detailed information google search and dive in.  There is a lot to read about it.  What I will share,  is that standing in the middle of two eclipse is betwixt & between…between that which we were, and that which we become.  Add to that being connected to the center of the galaxy and it’s like having an umbilical cord between us and source.

back to choosing a path…

Remember you are co-creating reality.  Remember your tools…crystals, holy symbols, jewelry, favorite blankets, etc.  Remember you team…friends, family, power animals, and spirit guides.  Remember you need rest…sleep more, meditate often, spend a lot of time with water; in baths, near lakes, doing your dishes by hand.  Water is a powerful balancer.

Spend time in nature, the vibration of trees will settle the heart chakra, ground us, and generally make us much happier.  I particularly like Poplars/Aspens for this, as the wind makes them sing…that is a sound I could listen to forever.  Head out into your yard, the woods, or a local park and just sit with a tree for a moment.  You will be rewarded with a much calmer mind.

spreading love-salicrow

ps…Due to the high level of people in need, I will be offering a mini-workshop Empath’s 101.  For details check my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/salicrowpsychicmedium/?pnref=lhcfro

 

Stories of Spirit…Animal Spirit Guides [power animals & totems]

Spirit Guides come in many forms; deceased ancestors & friends, animals, plant, and spirits of place.  Most of us our familiar with the idea of Animal as Spirit Guides, often calling them Power Animals and Totems.  They are the animals that speak to our soul; the feathered, furred and scaled creatures that we resemble in our traits and motives.  They often present themselves to us as teachers and guides; lending us their strength and connecting us deeply to the uncivilized world.

It is common for people to have more then one Animal Guide, but most generally one animal has the strongest presence in our lives; and that animal is our main guide.  As I am sure you will not be surprised my strongest, Animal Guide is Crow.  Notice I said Crow, not Crow’s.  This is intentional; as when speaking about Totems/Power Animals, it is the spirit of the species we are talking about…therefore all Crows are Crow.

Crow first presented itself to me when I was in my 20’s.  I was bombarded with Crow feathers…regularly.  In fact, I had people showing up at my house; giving me handfuls of Crow feathers and saying they had to give them to me.  I found bushels of feathers in my yard, and ‘saw’ Crow everywhere.  When I say I ‘saw’ Crow, I mean Crow presented itself to me; in that pay attention, I have something to say kind of way.  Up to that point, I had not thought much about Animal Totems, and actually thought they weren’t really my thing.  Crow had a different opinion.  As coincidence (no such thing) would have it, Crow had been connected to my family for many, many generations.  In fact it is a name that many in my family have used Spiritually; myself included (that’s right, it is not my legal name).  As time went on, I started to understand the impact Power Animals could have on one’s life.  Crow showed itself to me, when I needed to pay attention.  Often, warning me to slow down or take notice.  And the more that I looked into the meaning of Crow, the more I understood myself.

Since being introduced to my first Animal Totem, I have developed relationships with other Power Animals; including Snake, Squirrel, and Bear (temporarily).  Some animals have come in to stay for a good long while, their lessons more important to my life path.  While others; like Bear, have come in for a brief stay to teach me particular lessons.

When searching for one’s personal Animal Guides, we need to pay attention to the animals who are asking for attention…the ones we love, and the ones we fear.  In fact, very often the animals we are most intimidated by are our greatest teachers.  Which makes sense, considering how much we all love change.  Totems can show up literally and figuratively.  We may see them in our natural landscape, or find them infiltrating our dreams and thoughts.  However they present themselves, there is a feeling that accompanies our Power Animals.  A feeling of knowing, and a feeling of kindred.

There are a lot of great books and websites out there on Animal Guides, I personally like Animal Speak by Ted Andrews.  It is well written, and the author was a animal rehibilatator as well as a Spiritual man.  It is obvious; when reading his work that he had a deep personal relationship with the Animal world.  That being said, no matter how much information the writer may have, it is important to let your intuition be your guide when it comes to your personal relationship with Animal Guides.  Here are some tips for connecting with your Power Animal/Totem

Fox bones & tooth

*Pay attention to the animal/animals that have been most present in your life.  What animals were you drawn to as a child, what animals appear most frequently in your dreams, what animals show up most often in your natural surroundings, most importantly…what animals do you feel most drawn to.

*Learn about your Spirit Animal; research, observe and daydream about them.

*Pay attention to when and where they present themselves to you.  What is going on in your life @ that moment?  What feelings accompany their arrival?  What thoughts pop up in your mind upon seeing them?

*Place items that resemble your Spirit Animal on your personal alter…both natural & man made; feathers, statues, bits and pieces.

*Thank them for their teachings; acknowledge them when they show up.  Little offerings of song, praise, herbs & such are great ways to show you appreciate the role they play in your life.

If you are lost in the determination piece, you may want to consider taking a class on Animal Guides or doing a bunch of reading and research.  For those of you living in & around the Kingdom…heads up-I am teaching a workshop on Animal Guides in July.  I hope you enjoyed the read Folks, and remember there is no such thing as coincidence & the Universe is speaking to us all the time.

spreading love-salicrow