Early on in my life I learned that I could hear dead people. I didn’t always see them so much, but I could hear. It upset me. They were never unkind or anything, I didn’t fear them, I feared the living. What would people think of me? Would they think I was crazy? Hearing voices? I did my best to keep it quiet.

Now that I am older and have experienced so much more, I am letting it be known that I do this. I have seen how it can help people and I’d like to be able to help. My fears have gone from caring about what people think of me to the fear of letting people down. I gave my first reading last night. One in which I simply sat down with the client, we poured a cup of tea and I listened. I was worried that I wouldn’t pick up on anyone or that no one would show up. I needn’t have worried. It was quite a busy night.

I can hear spirits, I don’t control them. I can’t force them to show up. And if they show up, I can’t force them to talk. I don’t decide who steps into the room and it might not have been who you had hoped for.  As I have more successes I’m feeling better about what I do. Life is a strange thing. So many twists and turns. But for me it’s really nice to know, really know, that once the body dies it isn’t the end. And although our loved ones seem to be gone after they die, you might be surprised to learn that they are much closer than you think.  (photo credit: here)

Pele has been on the move in Hawaii. I’ve been watching it over the past week. I’ve watched newscasters report, incredulously, that people are leaving gifts to the volcano. Notes and other mementos are left behind for the lava flows to consume along with their homes, schools and villages. They say that “strangely”, the people do not seem to be upset. Instead they move their belongings and literally seem to “go with the flow”.  For those of us in other parts of the world, such a literal interpretation of that expression is hard for us to comprehend. For some, the metaphor is terribly difficult to live. Most of us tend to fight change. But for those who live on the Big Island, it is life. They are spiritually connected and understand that when Pele speaks, you listen.  And although I live in a place where volcanoes will never be an issue, I try to listen too. It’s time to move. It’s time to make some changes. It’s time to look at the landscape of our lives and decide what must go and what must grow. It’s especially meaningful to me today on an election day. I have been working to make changes on a personal level for some time, well, continuously really. I think that if we ever stop growing and changing, then we may as well stop living. But today I am looking at a bigger picture. A political and cultural picture. I wonder how Pele will speak to us today? I wonder if Her voice will be heard through the people who are voting? Our landscape needs to change. One way or another Pele ensures us it will. It would be nice though, if it didn’t take a volcano to erupt in order for us to make those changes. I think I will leave my offering to Pele today in the ballot box.

(the oil painting of Pele above is part of my Goddess Emergence Project and will be one of the cards in the Surcadian Oracle coming soon.)

Every year Fredick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park hosts an art competition. They ask for 2D work inspired by the Gardens. The piece above is my entry. I liked to think what might go on at the Gardens after it closed and the public was gone. They have a beautiful Children’s Garden there and I imagine the fairies must hang out there quite alot. My own children and those playful gardens inspired this. I do hope it is accepted. This year has been somewhat difficult and I haven’t been able to spend as much time on my art as I had hoped. But I did promise myself that I would work very hard to get out there more and try to get more of my work seen. So I am proud that I at least was able to complete a piece and get it entered. Now to wait and see what happens!

For my birthday this year I played the role of a Fortune Teller at an amazing Halloween Party in Chicago. The home was a beautiful mansion that must have been built in the late 1800’s. Mostly original fixtures, gorgeous plaster work ceilings, marble and more. The party planner didn’t miss a trick in decorating the circus/carnival theme. I worked for over 4 hours offering readings using my Isis Oracle board and my friend Beth’s beautiful Isidore Tarot. People were crowded into my room and lined up out the door. It was great for my ego! Everyone seemed to love the readings. I wouldn’t mind doing something like that again!