Shy Owl’s Soap Box

With the new moon approaching, I have been finding myself in the space of retrospection. The “Land of Would Of, Could Of, Should Of” is one that I visit far too often. It is not all bad to go there, to review what could have been done differently in comparison to current choices, but dwelling there is very harmful.
One of the most difficult things I have had to deal with in this lifetime has been the deaths of my parents. I was 15 years old on Sept 8,1984 and was woke up by my father “Wake up, Mommy is dead” I remember sitting there for a moment letting that soak in. I did not believe him so I went into the bedroom to see and sure enough, there she was. Her hands were clinched into fists beside her ears, the deep red bedspread was crumpled around her. I have just recently found out that my dad first went in to wake up my then 13 year old brother to have him go in and check to see that she was dead. We were supposed to be marching in a somewhat local parade and the first call I had to make that day was the one to my bf and team captain to tell her that my mother was dead.
The night before had been out with my other bestie, just hanging out by the lake. I remember looking out onto the water and seeing the full moon reflected in the water. It seemed alive, seemed to be breathing and ever so slowly, it became smaller and smaller until it came in on itself and dissipated. I looked at him and said, “Mommy is going to die tonight” then I blew it off as craziness.

Ten months later, my father went right behind her. That is an entirely different can of worms. This is where we were taken from everything we had known and sent to live with people we barely knew to a space that neither of us could possibly find security never mind happiness. This is where so much of me died that it has taken me every bit of the past 25 years to regain even a part of me and what I wanted out of life.

This has been a long, hard journey, wrought with 2 nervous breakdowns, 3 trips to the homeless shelter, countless terrible choices and many times, no opportunity to change or alter my course and with that, the inability to grasp the opportunities that did come. My path, in many ways, has been extreme, but at some point we all find ourselves in the space of uncertainty, the space of complete loss and malfunction of thought.

I spent lots of time beating myself up and sabotaging every good thing that came for me because I felt like the choices I made ensured that I did not deserve to be more than what I was. In my mind, I could be nothing more than a mindless, ignorant creature. In my mind, I deserved to sleep in my car with my kids, I deserved my husband of 10 years to take everything and leave me with no friends, no money, no tools to take care of the 5 children we had together. My connection with church only helped to reinforce this “I am not good enough and I am not worth listening to” mentality.

Eleven years ago, when Saturn returned to my chart, I began the work of reparation. Of correcting those mindsets. This is an ongoing process and I expect to battle parts of this for the rest of my life, but I will continue to get back on the horse and try again. This is where I began to fully embrace my childhood gifts and put them into practice in my life. Sitting in the dining room of the pizzeria I managed and doodling, I remember thinking “that is not bad” followed by “wait a second, can do this, I used to do it all the time”. This was furthered into starting a dream journal, which I had not done in years, and embracing my natural intuition. This is the place where I began the process of being comfortable with who I am and what I want to do with the remainder of my life in this lifetime.

If you are finding yourself in the space of wanting to quit, of wanting to just give up and eat worms, know this: If for no other reason than you don’t want to come back in and repeat this life scenario, it is worth it to try to move ahead and that it is not too late. Whether you are 15, 30, or 80, now is the time to begin to live your life for you. To live your life in a way that works for you, to hell with everyone else. At the end of the day, when you are standing in the life review room, you will be there by yourself, you will be the only person who matters in that space of review. All of the mistakes that you have been made are nothing more than lessons, learn from then, let that knowledge enrich and empower your life.

“There are no mistakes in life…only creative adjustments.” ShyOwl

Blessings

Sometimes I wonder if hope isn’t really a cruel joke. A carrot on a stick meant only to keep us going and never delivering its meaty goodness. So what good is it? I read in an article that hope is the only reason to continue. If empty promises are a persons only reason of living, working, caring then that is a sad state of being.
Hope leads to disappointment.
So what then is the answer? Should we all just give up and drink the kool-aid?
Hell no!
We do not get up and get going because we hope for a better tomorrow, we do it because we know that if we get up and do the work that needs to be done we will have a better tomorrow. No false promises, no pretense. Does that mean if you play the lottery everyday you are sure to win? No! Gambling and quick fixes lie in the grasp of hope’s false promises. Spend your time working on tangible goals and realistic dreams and you will be more successful than the person wasting their time and energy “hoping” to win the lottery.
You are a great person just as you are, no need to hope for more. You have the tools within you to succeed at the path laid out before you, have confidence in that.
Hope is a waste of time. Confidence and hard work will deliver.
Blessings
Shy Owl

This video was shot by my neighbor early in July 2010. She came straight to my house after she shot it so I know that it is legit. What it is I can not say. All I can see is what you will, that these are a series of interesting and different lights acting strangely.
I do want to add in that if you get the map of “Haunted Ohio” you will find 2 vortex areas on there, both are within 3 miles of where this was shot. Click here to view UFO In Ohio?

I love watching the birds at my birdfeeder, which I am sure adds to the nerdiness of my nerdness but it is very relaxing. I have seen this year titmice or mouses? not sure, indigo buntings, meadowlarks, blue birds, spotted woodpecker, screech owls(I know but they were on the fence), a red tail hawk that snatched a swallow off of the birdfeeder, blue jays and so forth but my favorite birds to watch at the feeder are the cardinals.

I love the vibrancy of their red feathers contrasting against the giant hostas growing over there in summer and the white of winter snow. They announce themselves with confidence and take charge of the feeder with grace but I have noticed that they are a sharing energy. They will sit, lined up on the fence alongside the chickadees and sparrows waiting for their turn. I don’t know if this is the way they are “supposed” to be but I am sure there is a message here.

Cardinals to me are a sign of prosperity, a message from my guides that everything is working out and when I see them in abundance (and this may be a coincidence) it does seem that we are always doing well financially and during the times when I am not seeing them, we are usually in fallow times. They also signify that someone in the spirit realm is thinking about you and sending you loving support. Whenever I dream about my dad, I always see cardinals the next day. If you are lucky enough to have cardinals around you where ever you may be, take the time to notice their patterns and see what messages they may have for you.

Gemstones are a gift from Divine Source to help not only humanity but also the earth’s energies throughout our journey on this plane. So often people think that “all these things are created to better mankind” when that is just not the case. These things were placed to keep the earth’s energies balanced and in that mankind is helped but we are not in the position of ownership that we like to think we are.

On my blogtalkradio show “The All Knowing Cosmic Wave”, we have begun a weekly focus on gemstones in their various entities. Each stone carries its own personality and energy, getting to know this energy will help you to choose the right stone to help you along your path to healing and higher consciousness. I am going to start this series of articles off with my favorite stone, apophylite.

Apophyllite is also known as “The Reiki Stone” and is a wonderful conductor of healing energies. It works to open the connection between the self and the higher consciousness. Working through the crown chakra it heightens the ability to connect into the natural healing energies of the Universe. It is not meant for any being on this plane to suffer outside the norm of life cycle and balance. All illness and challenge has the potential to be overcome through clear spiritual connection and balance. This is the core energy that provides essence to healing modalities such as Reiki and Seichim and is primarily why apophyllite works so well to conduct it.

At its base, apophyllite is essentially quartz that has water trapped within it, giving it the “foil like” appearance in many of its facets. You will often find stilbite and prehinite growing on the same matrix as apophylite. Technicalities aside, the energetic beauty of this combo is that the apophylite enhances and magnifies the healing and creative energies of the stilbite and prehinite. I will cover each of those successively in the following articles.

I carry a small piece of apophyllite in my pocket but I also have several large pieces on my prayer alter and scattered all along my creative space. I choose pieces with stilbite on the matrix because I love the energy of it. I will be offering wire wrapped jewelry made with apophyllite early next week.

Article copyright© held by Tracci Spencer no part of this may be reproduced or reprinted in any way without the express written consent of the author

Summer Solstice generally occurs around the 21st of June. Solstice is also the longest day of the year in summer and the shortest day of the year on the Winter Solstice. A side of info: the equinox is equal, day and night, whether it be spring or autumn, it is equal. The Summer Solstice is the point where the Father, God, the energy of t sun is strongest.
Summer is rest, it is a break from all of the work that was done in the spring preparing for autumns harvest. Not that you are free from responsibility, but it is an easier, more peaceful time. It is also very much about rekindling passion, returning to the things that brought a smile to your face in the past but have possibly been swept under the rug as life took root and took control of you.
During the Summer Solstice, spend some time with those forgotten passions. Allow yourself the freedom to run barefoot through summer’s rain puddles. Enjoy the cool rain on your face and maybe, just maybe you will feel like spinning around until you are dizzy and fall on your bum. Have fun. Let the sun’s rays fill every cell in your body. Allow it to bring to you healing like no other. Allow yourself a break from life and be rejuvenated.
Summer Solstice magic is in raw energy. This is why so many Summer Solstice celebrations carry such a wild and crazy energy. Allow your primal inner self the freedom to be acknowledged. That is not to say that you should run off and behave like a crazy person, entirely. Remember being young and catching fireflies, running barefoot, digging for worms, catching frogs and butterflies? Rediscover nature, rediscover your place in it and allow it to bring you back to a simpler, happier space in life.
Many of us have forgotten that simply and basically, we do require a certain amount of contact with the sun’s energy to process vitamin D. We need it to bring life to the earth and we need it to help our bodies function healthily. Winter depression is often caused by a vitamin D deficiency, the lack of the sun can make us ill. Your relationship with the sun is very important, don’t take it for granted.

Each step you take to your car is met with a resounding crunch while tiny white snowflakes glisten your cheek and bring a chill to your nose. You are wondering if the car will start and further more if the roads will be clear enough to make it to your destination. You let out a great sigh as you look and see that the windshield is completely frosted over. Grudgingly you open the car door, plunge the keys into the ignition and crank the defrost on high. With a crack you hit your elbow on the steering wheel as you fumble around for the ice scraper. For a brief moment you close your eyes and imagine how peaceful a trip to the warm and sunny Bahama Islands would be right about now. Just as your minds eye settles you up to the bar to enjoy a frothy margaritas, a plop of snow smacks down on your backside tearing you back into reality with cold cruelty. Snatching the ice scraper from the car you slam the door, irritated with all of life in this moment.
A passing cardinal perches on the fence post across from your car and belts out his song, calling for his mate who joins him swiftly. You can’t help but notice the starking beauty of the brilliant red and umber that they present as they frolic into a neighboring field and in this moment, your perception shifts. Looking around, you notice the undisturbed snow that has blanketed the entire area. There are no footprints to be seen and all of the trash that everyone so carelessly throws around is covered. Brilliantly clean and sparkling white, the snow is glistening in the radiance of the sun. You notice that there is a strange warmth radiating from the earth. As if Gaia herself is comforted and pleased to be sporting her new white winter coat. Proud of its sheen. A deep cleansing breath reveals that the air seems to smell cleaner, filling your lungs with what seems to be pure, clean air.
In this essence, the energy of white is best absorbed. White is the absence of all color and in this emptiness, there is purity. White is the perfect color to cleanse your very soul. Whenever you feel unsafe or alone, the thought of the white aura of the Angels and Creator enveloping you bring comfort to nearly any situation.
In the blossom of a white rose, we are reminded of the pure love that it radiates forth. Weddings filled with white gowns, ribbons and roses are as such to represent the pure love that is found in the moment of truly committing your soul to the betterment of another. In this selfless act, comfort is to be found. As pure as the love of the Universal Creator, so should be the love of the betrothed. While red represents the passion of love, white is the longevity of it.
White candles burned in a room that is feeling less than positive will aid in the restoration of the energy to a more pure, comforting environment. This is why white candles are used in house blessings and cleansings as the very auric vibration of white will leave no room for low level energies. All colors that vibrate to a higher level are enhanced by white while all colors that are of a lower level are softened by it.
In the stark loneliness of winter, take time to step back and notice the beauty is there. Use this time to become your own best friend, working to restore self love to a space that will enhance the growth of not only yourself but all those around you.
Life is short, make the most of it.
About the author: Tracci is a Reiki Mater/Teacher, Metaphysical Artist and Intuitive Advisor. She believes that through perseverance any dream can be realized. For more information on Tracci’s chakra balancing/healing art visit www.shyowl.net or reach her through email at tracci@shyowl.net . To schedule a psychic reading or purchase any of the stones listed in this article, please visit: Esmerelda’s Treasures located at 1513 Germantown Rd
Middletown, Ohio 513-217-2000

Article copyright held by Tracci Spencer no part of this may be reproduced or reprinted in any way without the express written consent of the author.

Read more at www.shyowl.net/blo

Sometimes the grass IS greener on the other side, but is it always better? Could the lush color be deceptively caused by harsh chemicals or other toxic substances? Could it be deceptive? Are we missing the beauty in a dandelion filled yard because we are too busy longing for chemical filled perfection?
Learning to be happy with life in all facets is at times the most difficult challenge for all of us in our materialistic society. Sometimes, we need to stop and appreciate the weeds. For example, dandelion is in deed one of the most useful herbs (yes I referred to it as an herb) that we have access to yet we take it for granted all of the time due to its “bothersome” growth rate.
This is not an article about dandelions, herbs, or our ever growing toxic environment but it is about the most important color surrounding us and since it is so common, we of course take it for granted.
Green is the color of sprouting crocuses in spring, fields of corn and plush grass lawns in the summer, ripening pumpkin patches in the fall and an ever present comfort in winter brought to us by loyal evergreen soldiers. Even in many deserts, green is present in cacti or reptiles.
The color of the earth, life, abundance, fertility and of course, money, green vibrates at many different levels. The fourth chakra or “heart” chakra is the seat of our emotional well being and is governed by green.
The good thing about incorporating green into your environment is that it is already there, you just need to notice it and appreciate it. With sky rocketing prices on everything from gas to food, we are all looking to increase the money flow into our lives. Really, any shade of green can achieve this but a sagey green is the one that I have found to be the most effective for drawing in money. Live plants are a great “green” way to increase your abundance. Bamboo in and of itself attracts money and since it is a grass, most anyone can grow it. The addition of green jade, malachite (which also is good to increase business profits), and green tourmaline to the pebbles around your bamboo plant will be most beneficial to your quest to bring more “green” into your life.
A tip here is to take the time to notice the small influxes of abundance that come along. Having your friend buy you lunch or finding everything on your grocery list on sale are examples of abundances that we are all gifted but take for granted. The more you acknowledge abundance in all its forms, the more it will come to you.
Have baby fever? A vibrant kelly green will enhance your efforts at fertility, so if you are looking for a blessed bundle of joy, green in your wardrobe or boudoir will lend itself to your quest. The addition of chrysoprase or green tourmaline to your jewelry box will also boost your efforts.
Green is the color of Mother Earth and its vibration reconnects us to her energy. If you find yourself feeling disoriented or out of balance, any shade of green will help to correct this. When you just can’t seem to get yourself together and find that you are unable to keep your thoughts together try this smile grounding exercise. Step into a patch of grass barefooted, allowing it to work itself between your toes, connecting with how it feels. (If you are allergic to grass then a shaggy green carpet with some fresh cut grass incense will have a similar but not as thorough effect.) Bring the energy of the earth into yourself by breathing in deeply, experiencing the comfort of the scent of grass.
grounding factor of the vibration of grass is why freshly mown grass is a comfort scent for many of us. Moss Agate is a wonderful stone for grounding, it will be happy tucked in your pocket to be touched when ever you feel that you need it.
Most importantly, green is a healing color. If you close your eyes and imagine a calming spa, it is very likely that you are going to associate that with sage or celery green walls. This is due in part to greens balancing vibration but also to its healing vibration. Nearly all colors lend themselves to healing but green, in my experience, is the most effective. I feel that it is the maternal vibration that green carries which lends to its healing qualities. If you find yourself feeling out of sorts in anyway, green will help to pull you out of it by returning balance to your Spirit. The addition of houseplants to your home or a bloodstone in your pocket will help to bring in the healing vibration of green.
So the next time you find yourself in need of a financial boost or feel spiritually out of sorts, try noticing the grass in your own yard.
Article copyright held by Tracci Spencer no part of this may be reproduced or reprinted in any way without the express written consent of the author.

About the author: Tracci is a Reiki Practitioner, Metaphysical Artist and Intuitive Advisor. She believes that through perseverance any dream can be realized. For more information on Tracci’s chakra balancing/healing art visit www.shyowl.net or reach her through email at tracci@shyowl.net . To schedule a psychic reading or purchase any of the stones listed in this article, please visit: Esmerelda’s Treasures located at 1513 Germantown Rd
Middletown, Ohio 513-217-2000

Read more at www.shyowl.net/blo

You are walking through the woods as dawn reaches its pinnacle. You take a moment to feel the fleece jacket you are wearing hug your skin, bringing you a cozy warmth in spite of the slight chill in the air around you. Looking up, you are greeted by the majesty of the rising sun’s horizon peeking at you through the trees. Bright orange vibrancy penetrates your soul and fills you with creative, yet grounded energy. Every breath that escapes you is filled with optimism and comfort. As you begin your journey home, you notice the smell of the leaves as they fall through the trees. The crunching sound beneath your feet triggers thoughts of jack-o-lanterns, pumpkin pie and newly roasted pumpkin seeds. Ummm a steeping mug of warm apple cider while sitting next to a roaring bonfire, crackling and dancing its merry dance, a diligent reminder to you that even in the darkest of nights, there is comfort to be found.
Autumn is, for many of us, the best time of year. It is filled with happy memories of jumping into big piles of leaves, hikes with out the onslaught of mosquitoes and gnats that bombard us in the summer. Within the comfort of autumn lies the essence of one of my favorite colors. Love it or hate it, we all are effected by the color orange. Orange is a very versatile color and can not only inspire one romantically, but carries enough brown in it to still be an effective grounding color.
So, you are wondering how it is that orange is a romantic color? You’ve never been left wanting after seeing a pumpkin patch? Lets look at orange for a minute. Orange is the combination of red and brown, it is the vibration of our old friend red that brings orange to the level of romance. In this same respect it is the vibration of the brighter oranges, or those that carry more red content, that have the power to inspire us on even the most dismal of autumn days. Beware! of peach in the bedroom! While it can inspire a romantic mood and is often used to set a Victorian atmosphere, Feng Shui teaches us that peach in the bedroom encourages your mate to wander.
When you think of Halloween, orange is definitely one of the colors that come to mind. It is much more than just falling leaves and pumpkins that inspire this connection. Halloween is a time to reflect on those that have passed on before us. Our orange center, or the sacral chakra connects us to our ancestors just as we were connected to our mother while in the womb. This of course leads us to the fertility/abundance connection with orange. The vibration of orange is all about manifesting abundance be it in a traditional harvest, on the job promotions, material acquisition, or a child.
Manifestation and fertility are only two of the many jobs of the sacral chakra, it is also our creative center, which makes sense since creativity and fertility really go hand in hand. If you are in the creative fields in any way shape or form and find yourself with a blockage, try adding some orange to your environment. A bright orange background dotted with white narcissus is a beautiful addition to almost any color scheme and the brown that is in orange helps it to blend into nearly and setting. Oh, placing this same painting in the farthest left hand corner of your room will help to draw in abundance. It is true that many of the colors work on similar vibrations so just as red’s vibration was good to draw in prosperity and wealth, but since orange is created from red, it carries this quality also.
I love the appearance of a tastefully done orange kitchen. Warm and inviting sum that up easily, but there is a catch to orange in the kitchen….Orange makes you HUNGRY! If you are on a diet, it is best to avoid orange around your food surfaces as it does increase the appetite. On the other side of that coin, if you are trying to gain weight then surrounding yourself with bright, happy oranges (and here peach is a good thing) may just give you the extra boost that you need.
Orange is the great multi-tasker of the color spectrum. It embodies nearly everything we need to enjoy a successful life and for this reason alone, we should all see orange as something more than a tragic victim of the 70’s.
Be blessed in everything you do!
Article copyright held by Tracci Spencer no part of this may be reproduced or reprinted in any way without the express written consent of the author.

We all find ourselves in the position of needing to get to the bottom of things at one point or another. This is a quick and easy truth finder but I caution you, if you are hiding anything you better be wise. This will bring out all hidden truths.
What you need:
1 Red Pillar Candle
1 Round Mirror
Tbsp Rosemary dried is fine but fresh from your garden is better
Quill or other utensil to scribe the candle with

Close your eyes and imagine the situation around you. Feel the sensation of what is being kept from you. Take a deep breath and scribe onto the candle “Blessed Mother let it be that the whole truth of this will be shown to me. For better or for worse, hurt feelings aside, there is no truth that from me any can hide. So it will be.” I know that is a bit that is why the big candle. If you have a person in particular that you are wanting to know about, put their name on the bottom of the candle. Place the candle on the mirror and ring it clockwise with the rosemary.
I would start this at anytime needed and burn it until you know what it is that you need to know. But, do keep in mind, if you are hiding something yourself then you will be exposed right along with everyone else….just so you know.