In an earlier post ( The Power of Words) I talked about how the words we use can help or harm us, and others. I talked about the energetic orientation of the words, and how we employ them can work for or against us. How changing negative statements into positive ones can help attract better or more helpful energies to us. After all, speech is spell work. The magic of our words allows us to energetically open and close doors to us and others. We can bind, bless, cast, or conjure with a simple phrase fueled by intent.
In this post I would like to discuss phatic expressions and how they affect the energies we open ourselves to. What is a phatic expressions you ask? Well, a phatic expression is one that conveys social relationships or contracts instead of factual information. We use these expressions every day in our social interactions, but perhaps we do not realize the influence they have over our energy. Certain phatic expressions can leave us open to continued energy flow between us and the person we are communicating with, even after we have stopped the interaction and moved on. Phrases like “You’re welcome” , “No problem”, or “Any time” can leave the door open for energy to keep flowing between you. They imply that your boundaries are still open and they are still “welcome” to your time and energy. Like an unspoken obligation or social contract that continuously feeds energetic cords, draining you in the give and take that is still taking place. These are phrases we probably never think twice about using. They are associated with common courtesy, politeness, and good manners, but do they do more harm than good?
We can still be polite and courteous when interacting socially without keeping ourselves open to energy draining social contracts. Using phrases like “My pleasure”, “Glad I could help”, and  “I was happy to assist you” denote an energetic end to the communication or situation while still being polite. While they don’t necessarily cut the cord (if one was created), they can stop the flow from that interaction.
This can seem like a small thing, hardly worth the time, but if you always feel drained at the end of your day (especially if you deal with the public / provide customer service for a living) it may be well worth the effort. That said, this is also good advice for your personal life as well. Cutting that constant flow / drain of energy with people you socialize or live with all the time is also important. This would be good practice along side regular cord cutting (you aren’t cutting them out, just protecting your energy and returning theirs), and shielding. I think this would be particularly helpful for empaths and energetically sensitive people, but it would be helpful for anyone.
So, how do you feel at the end of the day? Do you practice self-care when it comes to your words? Have you ever considered how these every day phrases affect you energetically? Do you think it is worth changing the way you phrase things after reading this? I would love you know. 

Empaths are a different sort. Experiencing a depth and understanding of emotion that many people don’t. This can seem like both a blessing and a curse. It can take a lot of practice to not let it overwhelm or consume your life.
If you are not aware, there is a difference between sympathy and empathy, as well as empathy and empaths Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone or a situation without experiencing or tuning in to the emotions of the person/people involved. There is a distance and objectivity to the feelings surrounding/within the situation or people involved. Empathy is about being attuned to the feelings of the people involved.  The person empathizing feels a deep connection on an emotional level to the people/situation. This can, if not practiced/experienced, lead to the person taking on the emotional burden, and even present related physical symptoms. One does not have to be an empath to experience empathy. Especially if you have had the same or a similar experience. This can translate to feelings of empathy because you know how you felt when it happened to you. However, even if you haven’t experienced it before, you can still imagine how it would feel, and so empathize with the person or situation. This skill can be developed by anyone. Empaths do this naturally. They have a natural ability to tune into people’s emotions, feel what they are feeling first hand. Sometimes this can be an overwhelming experience. If you are an empath, learning how to shield yourself is very important. So is learning how to tell the difference between your emotions and someone else’s. While that may seem simple, it can be quite frustrating, especially when distracted, unwell, or stressed out and your defenses are down. Large crowds can also pose an issue as empaths can be highly sensitive to their surroundings. They can also have excellent intuition.
There are many benefits to being an empath, not just to the people around you, but to society as a whole. They can be very good at mediating negative/stressful situations. This is helpful in preventing or deescalating aggressive/bullying behavior. On the flip side, empaths can facilitate all kinds of positive behaviors. Their very nature can help improve the well being of those around them by reducing stress, providing strong(er) social networks/bonds, and promoting cooperation, thus helping build and strengthen relationships for those in their personal and professional lives. When empaths are open and communicative about their skills and abilities, and others are open to them and willing to listen, empaths can help bring about better understanding of people’s needs and intentions. This is an important part of moral development. A practiced and experienced empath can contribute a lot of positive elements to any situation.
That said, there is also a darker side of empathic abilities. Being able to feel how others feel and understand what/how they are thinking and feeling can be used in some rather negative ways. There are those that can, and do, take this gift to a dark place. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including early trauma to the empath, a negative influence in their life, a lack of positive morals/values instilled when growing up, or low self-esteem (which they then project onto others), just to name a few. A dark empath could use their gift to control and/or manipulate people instead of helping them. They can create negative spaces, break apart relationships, tear people down, and cause all kinds of trauma and hurt. If they are practiced at this, they could do it without other people, especially those they target, even realizing it is them.  While this sounds absolutely terrible, and I would never condone such behavior, I would like to point out that, just like any other negative experience, this can be seen/used as a learning experience should it ever happen to you or someone you know. Learning to recognize a dark empath is a good first step. You may recognize many of these behaviors as those displayed by narcissists, psychopaths, and sociopaths. While “dark empath” is not clinical diagnosis, any one of the earlier mentioned could be one, or just appear to be one. Tactics often used by dark empaths can include manipulative behaviors like exploiting or praying on people’s weaknesses, deceptive tactics like faking care/concern, pouring on the charm, gaslighting, dark/malicious humor, and fake or forced kindness/generosity. All of these things can overwhelm a person, leaving them confused, exhausted, and even make them feel dependent on the dark empath (for attention/affection/validation), all while the appear emotionally detached to their own feelings, preferring to focus on those of their targets.  All of these behaviors are designed and utilized by the dark empath to gain power and control over others for their own personal gain.
All of this can seem a bit overwhelming, I know. If you are an empath, and this is the case for you, know that there are things you can do to help yourself. There is plenty of information out there (books and online) about how to shield yourself, something I highly recommend. Read up on the topic, you are not alone. If you are not an empath, but you know one,  I encourage you to enquire about it. Try to learn/understand what it is all about. This can benefit both of you. If you happen to come across a dark empath I hope you recognize, protect yourself, and move on safely.
So, are you an empath? Do you know one? Has your experience been mostly positive?

​In a previous post I wrote about the difference between invoking and evoking spirits. If you missed that post, the gist of it is that evoking is calling to you, invoking is calling IN to you. This topic opens the door for a discussion about possession. This is something that Hollywood has given a lot of hype to because there is a lot of profit in fear. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good scary movie, as long as you keep in mind that not everything you see is real.
 
I wanted to cover three main different terms used when discussing topics like possession and how they are different. I covered Invoking before (and I will again), but there is also horsing, and the kind of spirit or demonic possession you may be more familiar with. All of these things require a being/entity to take over your body. The difference here is consent.
 
Invoking would be when, during a ritual or rite, a priest or priestess calls into themselves the chosen deity. This is a ritual practice, and is usually done by an experienced priest/priestesses, and not to be taken/done lightly. This allows the deity to be a  fully participating member of the rite for whatever purpose they were invoked for, either as a participant in a part of the ritual, to be asked questions, or whatever the plan was.
 
Horsing is another form of invoking a deity or spirit to take over the body. The term itself comes from Afro-Caribbean practices like Voudon, Santeria, and others. Whether by this name, or another, many cultures around the world have used this practice to commune/communicate with their deities/spirits. This includes (but is not limited to) Norse, Egyptians, Indigenous Peoples, Ancient Greeks, and many more. In many cultures it would be considered a shamanic practice. There are rituals, offerings, and tools that may be required to accomplish “being ridden” (the act) as a “horse” (the one being ridden). This is a very difficult and serious spiritual event/occupation that requires an excellent rapport with the deities/spirits one wishes to commune with.
 
Most importantly, both invocation and horsing also require consent from both parties; the one wishing to invoke and the one being invoked. No deity or spirit will come and join you simply because you asked, or demanded that they do (I highly do not recommend demanding). Either of these could be practiced for a variety of reasons such as divination, healing, if the deity/spirit wishes to participate in something that requires a physical body, and of course, as practice (if they are willing to help one be a good/better physical host).
 
I have read stories of people participating in very ecstatic rituals where they then became possessed by a deity or spirit, even though that was not their intention to do so. This can get tricky, especially if you do not know the signs that it is happening. Just remember, you do have free will. At events like this there is likely to be no shortage of willing participants, so they can move on if you are not. That said, if you are new to it, or are afraid, it is best to sit out and observe rather than participate.
The last type of possession has nothing do with consent. This is the kind you may see in movies or read about in books. In this case, a spirit, dark entity, or demonic force forcibly takes over your body. This is not the immediate happenstance Hollywood would have you believe. Generally speaking there is a work up to this kind of event. Usually starting with what may seem like a haunting. Some unusual events, things seem off, etc.. This can become more prominent, maybe even violent over time. A more subtle way that these entities gain access to your mind and body is through something called obsession. This is like the little devil that whispers horrible things in your ear. While they do not outright control your body at this point, they know how to manipulate you to do things you may not otherwise do. They make you feel isolated and alone. By now they have been feeding on your fear or other negative emotions; wearing you down. It is after this stage that actual physical possession may occur.
 
A note about consent. We often think of it as actually agreeing to something; out loud or in writing perhaps. This works in the physical world, but in the spiritual world, consent can be a bit trickier. It may look like not taking authority over your body or physical space, or it could mean imagining the horrible things it could/may do to you or a loved one. This can seem like consent to a spirit/entity. Another reason they play on one’s fears. However, just like in the physical realm, one can always revoke their consent, even if they gave it unknowingly.
 
I would like to say that I did not write this post to scare anyone, or make them uncomfortable about the spirit realms. I do believe that knowledge is power, and in the balance of light and dark. I do tend to read a lot of from both sides. How do you feel about these practices? Have you ever experienced a consensual possession? Would you? Would you like more posts about darker topics?

​Trigger Warning: I understand that some of my readers may have a phobia of spiders. If this is the case, then this post may not be for you. That said, there are no pictures or graphic descriptions of spiders here, only myth and lore. The decision to read on is yours. If not, it’s all good, take care of you. I hope to see you next week. 
 
Spiritually speaking, when we think about messengers or guides in animal form, our first thoughts usually go to birds (owls, crows, and ravens come to mind for me) or perhaps something that we may feel we already connect with. We often don’t think about the tiny, nearly invisible creatures that are all around us, but we either don’t notice, or don’t want to notice. One such creature is the spider. Despite being quite unliked, and even feared, these days, they were not always so. Throughout history, spiders have often been respected as messengers, and, dare I say, good omens. Some believed it was taboo to kill one inside.
 
Across many cultures there are deities connected with spiders. They are associated with traits like wisdom, and cunning for deities like Anansi (West African), and creation and destiny for others like Spider Grandmother (Navajo), Uttu (Sumerian), and Neith (Egyptian).  These are just some of them.
 
Spiders featured in Slavic and Romanic cultures as keepers of time, fate, and hidden knowledge.
They also saw the intricate webs of these amazing little spinners as omens depending on where and how their webs were spun. The placement of the web was important. According to Earth Fairy Holistics on Facebook (You should really check her out, she has some fantastic content), across a door could mean a spirit or entity had passed through that area, and low to the ground could be a warning against travel, or speaking too much. On a sacred object it was a blessing and suggested that sacred space/energy was being held there, and was guarded. It was considered especially lucky to find one in your bed or on your hearth. The condition the web is weaved in also has meaning. A messy web is indicative of messy/chaotic energy.
 
According to Steven Farmer in his book Animal Spirit Guides, spiders bring messages about assimilating wisdom, exploring other dimensions/realities, being inspired by Nature, and being aware of possible traps. You can call on spider when things feel wrong or off and you need to regain your equilibrium on all levels.
 
I know that these tiny messengers are widely unliked or feared. Personally, I see them all the time. Though less so than I used to. I have never really been afraid of spiders. These days I tend to try and wrangle them to put them outside, though I have always had an unspoken agreement that if they stay out of my living space they are welcome to their own space. They are helpful in keeping down insect populations, especially mosquitos, cockroaches, and house flies.
 
If you have made it all the way through this post, I would love to know how you feel about spiders? Do you find them fascinating? Do you hate them, or do you feel rather neutral about them? Are you curious about the wisdom they may offer, or are you happy to just let them be?

 Many of us wear jewelry every (or nearly every) day. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc… Sometimes we choose them for aesthetic reasons, or sentimental reasons, but sometimes we choose the jewelry we wear for other, more magical, reasons.
The magical reasons we choose these body adornments can vary greatly, but when we do, we often take great care to choose the right stones and designs for the job, often while still finding it aesthetically pleasing. I wonder though, how often we consider the metals used as well.
Like crystals, metals also have their own frequencies. They lend their influence to our everyday lives and magical practices alike. Two of the most popular metals chosen for jewelry are gold and silver.
Gold, which corresponds to the sun, has a warm energy. It not only holds energy; it attracts and amplifies it as well. A good metal for creating and manifesting.
Silver, which corresponds to the moon, is energetically cool. Like light off the moons surface, its energy is reflective. However, it can also deflect energy, thereby giving it a protective quality. This also means that if you are trying to call something in, it may actually bounce off of you, so be aware.
Other metals used for magical purposes are:
Copper, which is used to conduct energy. It helps create movement, flow, circulation. It is also considered to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual realms.
Lead is used for its grounding and protective characteristics, but also valued, especially by alchemists, for its potential influence over transformation, transmutation, and also exhibited potential for cursing.
Iron, often associated with grounding and strength, also offers protective energies. If you know anything of faery lore, you may have heard that it is supposed to protect against the fey and their magic, though that protection extends out to other potentially malevolent forces/energies as well. It is also said to have a dampening or barrier-like effect towards all magic, and so is sometimes avoided all together by some magical practitioners.
These are just some of the metals used for magical purposes. If you would like to learn more about using/wearing metal for magical purposes there are a few books out on the subject. I recommend Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham.
So, do you use metals in your magical workings? Do you wear them with intention? Do you take their energetic influence into consideration when purchasing jewelry, or do you choose them for purely aesthetic reasons? Would you (re)consider their influence now?

​Playing cards have existed for over a thousand year, in one form or another. It is thought that they started out in China, thought with a different composition that you may be familiar with. Over time (and through much travel) they evolved into the cards we know today. It was actually the French card makers that simplified their design into the four suits that are now standard.
Many of us grew up playing games like Go fish and Crazy Eights. And we got older we may have moved on to play games like Rummy, Crib, Hearts, and Poker. Cards are not just for games though. They have also been used for divination, also known as cartomancy; most popularly between the 18th and 20th centuries. While most are in agreement that the card suits correspond to the suits of the Minor Arcana of tarot (with the same elemental and personal correspondences), there seems to be some differing in opinion/practice when it comes to the meanings/how they are interpreted. Some systems interpret the cards as if they are the familiar Minor Arcana, while others have  a list of specific meanings for each card that deviate from tarot in part or as a whole. If  you would like to learn more about using laying cards for divination I recommend Playing Card Divination for Beginners by Richard Webster.
Another great use for playing cards is as a tool to develop your intuition/psychic abilities, much like Zener cards are used. Begin by shuffling the cards. Before turning over the top card place your hand on it and see if you can determine what it is. You can start small by determining the cards are red or black; recording your results to see how many you get right. Once you are comfortable with your progress you can move on to intuiting the suit, and then eventually the card itself. At first it may seem like you are guessing, but the more you practice and develop your skills you will see it is more than that. 
My final thought on paying cards today, and the reason I wrote this post, is about something I saw on social media. A woman was describing how she just learned that the structure of playing cards represent our calendar (the Gregorian Calendar). I feel like I have heard this theory before, but had forgotten about it. This appears to be the case since about 1582 when the Gregorian Calendar was adopted in Europe to correct discrepancies in the previously used Julian Calendar.  The correspondences to the calendar year are thus:
 

• Red/Black cards = Day and Night
• The 4 suits = the 4 seasons
• 13 cards of each suit = 13 lunar cycles in a year
• 12 Court Cards = the 12 months
• 52 main cards = the weeks of the year
• Additionally, if you add the value of the cards together (where Jacks = 11, Queens = 12, and Kings = 13) you get 364 days. This is where the Jokers come in. Adding one makes the full 365 days of the “normal” year, while adding both equals the 366 days of a leap year.

 
Other themes suggest that the court cards represent specific important historical figures, and that the suits represent varying societal/economic levels from peasants to royalty. If you would like to learn more about this you can find more information on sites like https://www.copagusa.com/blogs/product-information/history-meaning-and-uses-of-a-deck-of-playing-cards?srsltid=AfmBOoq901O5jNJ0q5HBXWPBpuz8MDESVkbJJiMlo10vrItqMaJ84RPM
 
So how do you use playing cards? Are they all just fun and games for you, or do you use them other ways? Have you used them in ways not mentioned here? If so I would love for you to share with us!

​I absolutely love crystals and stones. While naturally beautiful in the shapes and structures they form in, they are also carved (by hand or machine) into other eye pleasing shapes that can be decorative, functional, or both. If you have worked with crystals you know that each crystal has its own energy/frequency which allows them to provide different forms of energetic assistance or healing. Changing the shape of a crystal can change how the energy is directed or dispersed by it, which can help the user better utilize that energy for whatever purpose they need. Some examples are:
 
Single Terminated Point: This is a crystal that has sides that come together at one end while the other end is usually flat or raw. They are used to focus energy into or out from a single point in one direction
Double Terminated Point: This is just like a point, but the sides come together at both ends. Energy goes into or out of the points on each end at the same time.
Cathedral: These crystals are clusters of tiny points and the energy they make going out in the direction each point faces. As they are shaped in a cave formation with all the points facing towards the center, all that energy is focused into the center of the “cave” and is amplified.
Sphere: Energy comes off the whole surface of the sphere equally and in all directions.
Pyramid: Pyramids have a flat square base and four triangles that come together at the top to make a point. That means it can focus energy like a regular point. Energy can come off the flat sides or up through the point at the top.
Obelisks and Towers: An obelisk only has 4 sides and a tower has 5 or more, that come to a point at the top and then are flat on the bottom. Energy flows up and out of both of these shapes through the point. The are usually used to focus energy up towards the universe (the sky), but could also be used like a wand to direct the energy in whatever direction they are pointed in.
 
I want to give special mention to this next shape. While it is technically a double terminated point, it is very specifically cut in order to provide a powerful focus to the energy. This mathematical design was created by Marcel Vogel, hence the name. Vogels are made from crystals in the quartz family, like quartz, amethyst, rose quartz, smokey quartz, and citrine. They have a point at each end (making them double terminated). The “female” end is fatter than the “male” end, and it must have at least 4 facets (faces), but they usually have more. Energy enters through the “female” end and exits through the “male” end. In my opinion, they would make excellent ends to handmade wands, and a potent addition to any grid, but are also excellent for healing purposes, and can be used for energetic entity removal when placed on the body.
 
Most any shape that has a point is effective for use in grids, directing energy one way or another for healing, or used as a wand. Clusters and cathedrals are excellent for charging, clearing, and amplifying energy because of their numerous individual crystals working together in harmony. Others, like spheres, have a less focused and possibly more gentle energy dispersal. That said, some stones and crystals just speak to us loud and proud regardless of their shape.
Of course, other shapes have functions too. The platonic solids have elemental and other correspondences, animal and other such shapes can help draw those particular energies to us, and so on. There are so many more shapes I could talk about here, but that is a rabbit hole far too deep for this blog post. I love working with crystals, both in their natural and man-made forms. They decorate nearly every room in my home, I use them for healing and spell work, and I have plenty of beautiful and energetic jewelry to wear as well. How about you? Do you harness the energy of crystals to enhance your home, work, or life in general? Do you prefer to use (or not use) particular shapes? Did shape even matter to you before? Does it now? 

​Corvids (any bird belonging to the family Corvidae), are known for their intelligence and adaptability. You may be more familiar with specific species names like crow, raven, magpie, jay, nutcracker, etc.. This post will focus on crows and ravens. Here in Canada we see some variety of these birds nearly everywhere. If you don’t know how to tell one from other specifically, you might mistake one for the other. Here are some identifying differences*.
Crows are smaller, have fan shaped tails, slimmer beaks, and smoother/flatter feathers around the throat. They make a harsher higher pitched caw and often travel in larger groups, called “murders”.
Ravens are larger, have larger thicker beaks, a wedge-shaped tail that comes to a point, and a rougher looking patch of feathers at the neck referred to as “hackles”. They produce a deeper and more resonating croak-like sound and generally travel alone or in mated pairs, but also travel in larger groups, called an “unkindness”, when they are young (before bonding with a mate) or much older for feeding or roosting purposes (especially in winter).
Crows and ravens have been associated with many gods and goddesses across many pantheons, including, but not limited to, Odin (Norse), The Morrigan (Celtic), and Mahakala (Buddhist). They have been described as messengers, tricksters, evil spirits, omens (good or bad), and even a form certain deities take. They are often sited as omens of death (they are carrion birds after all), and as one of the birds that does cross the spiritual veil for various purposes. I think this gives them a somewhat bad reputation, however, this is not surprising since people tend to fear death, and so too anything that is associated with it.
Regardless of whether a culture saw them as more positive or negative, it is clear that many cultures respected them; and rightly so. Both crows and ravens are highly intelligent. They can solve complex puzzles, use tools, have pre-planning abilities, and even engage in social manipulation and misdirection. They also have excellent facial recognition skills and remember those who do right or wrong by them. They can also hold a grudge. Another amazing fact is that they can learn to speak human words. This is called vocal mimicry, which also extends to other sounds like other bird calls and even mechanical noises. While their range might not be as large as a parrot’s, that is still very impressive!
Crows and ravens can also appear as spirit animals, guides, and omens to us when we need them. According to Steven D Farmer, Ph.D. in his book Animal Spirit Guides both birds are represented slightly different as on omen or a power animal, and when and why to call on them.
Crows are more about manifestation, big changes, and speaking up for oneself. If it is our power animal, you are likely to be resourceful, highly social, guided more by Spirit and personal integrity, and will speak up when something doesn’t mesh with spiritual laws. You can call on them if you feel someone is trying to trick you, need help with significant changes, or need support for personal development or with manifesting.
Ravens have a more magical/spiritual correspondence. They ask you to pay more attention to dreams, visions, and synchronicities. If they are your power animal you are likely to prefer solitude, it may seem like you always know what to do as you are quite adaptable and feel able to shape-shift or disguise yourself to fit any situation. You may also be a healer, which people just seem to “sense” that about you. It could also mean that you may be susceptible to be derailed from your path by personal shadows, and so you must stay personally aware to avoid this. You can call on them to find clarity regarding intentions for tasks, relationships, or your spiritual path in order to manifest it, to reclaim lost innocence/joy and reclaim the “magic” in your life, or as messengers to send healing energy or prayers to sick loved ones.
You may have heard the popular nursery rhyme called “One For Sorrow” that is often associated with crows (but I believe was originally about magpies):
One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.
     Eight for a wish,
Nine for a kiss,
Ten a surprise you should be careful not to miss,
Eleven for health,
Twelve for wealth,
                                                            Thirteen beware it's the devil himself.**
This extended version was published in 1846. The first recorded version from 1778 was only the first four lines.
There is so much more that I could talk about with these fascinating creatures, but I will leave that up to you to discover. They are deeply rooted in the spirituality of many cultures, and I feel blessed to have them be so prevalent around my home (I hear them every morning outside my window). I have long been fascinated by them, and I hope you are too. They do tend to get a bad rap as omens of ill repute, but I prefer to think better of them. I have heard many stories of people befriending crows or ravens and being given little gifts, and of those who have slighted them and been punished by them for it. Personally, I would love to befriend one, but that is me.
So how do you feel about crows and ravens? Do you bid them good day when you see them? Do you offer them a bite of your food? Would you talk to one? Do you dislike them, or simply prefer to ignore them? Do you feel any differently about them now? I would love to know.
 
 
*There are more differences, but these are some good identifiers for identifying them on the go.
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_for_Sorrow_(nursery_rhyme)

​Astrologically speaking, the planets contribute much energy, not only to our birth charts, but also to the universal energy as a whole. When we talk about a planet going retrograde we are talking about how that planet appears to be moving backwards along its normal course through our solar system. While it does just appear to do so and nothing has actually reversed its progress, the energetic “consequences” can definitely be felt. Each planet, as you may know, has its own connection to different aspects of self and of life. These are the aspects that are affected by the retrograde. They are, however, also affected by the astrological sign that they are in. This means that the personalities and characteristics of the signs can influence how we are affected by the retrograde, and possibly how we can better deal with the potential upcoming issues. Each planet’s retrograde affects our lives in different ways. I believe that knowing what aspects of our lives could be affected by a retrograde could give us not just a heads up for what may be coming, but also help us better prepare to deal with what may lay ahead. Fore warned is fore armed, so to speak. I have only given a most basic outline here, but it should provide enough of an overview to get you started*.
 
Mercury: This one happens most often during the year. It affects technology, communication, and travel. It can cause many misunderstandings and, as many of us have experienced, glitches in technology. It has already happened twice this year (2025), and is set to happen again in September (1-24), and November (9-29)
Venus: If you are familiar with Venus as a goddess you know she corresponds to love, relationships, pleasure, and beauty. As a planet in retrograde she asks us to look at ourselves, what we value, how past and current relationships may or may not serve us, and how we seek love and joy (within and without). This retrograde happened earlier this year in April/March.
Mars: Mars is a planet of action, drive and ambition. During retrograde this may mean we feel obstructed unmotivated, or even out right blocked from our goals. This planet went retrograde at the end of 2024 and this ended on February 23.
Jupiter: This planet represents personal and spiritual growth, wisdom, and expansion. While it seems a bit less harsh than the others, it does caution us that this is the time for introspection and not for making major decisions or overextending oneself. Rather, you should take the time to tune into your intuition, reflect, reassess, and realign yourself with your own path. Jupiter goes retrograde from October 10th to December 30th this year.
Saturn: Saturn is a planet of boundaries, discipline, and authority. This is a good time to reassess your responsibilities, aa well as your roles and views that revolve around structure, authority, and discipline. This planet is currently in retrograde (starting June 13) and will continue to be so until November 27 of this year.  
Uranus: Uranus relates to urges, patterns of personality, and our relationship with change. In particular, retrograde of this planet asks us to be open to new ideas, and reflect on how we adapt to change (or don’t). It also encourages us to tune into our intuition and our own potential. This planet retrogrades on September 6, through 2 astrological signs, and into February of 2026.
Neptune: Another planet that encourages introspection, Neptune also asks us to confront our fears/dreams, and to seek clarity concerning possible disillusionment or self-deception. Have you been trying to escape or avoid the truth/reality of a situation? Neptune may make that a bit more difficult. It may be better just to face to it. This planet went retrograde on July 4th and will continue until December 10th.
Pluto: Pluto is connected to the subconscious. As such, it too has a lot to do with introspection, and  corresponds to concepts like transformation, evolution, and trauma healing. It may bring with it vivid dreams, and reveal things that are hidden, like health issues, truths, and even power struggles. This is another planet that suggests it is better to avoid taking large actions in the outside world at this time, and spend more time with inner action. Pluto is also currently in retrograde. It started May 4th and will End October 13th.
 
For the most part, although times of retrograde can be difficult, and they may seem to ask a lot of us, especially with inner work, they are not solely negative things. If we are willing to learn about them, and do the work, the outcome could be an immensely positive one. I can say that, personally, I did not think too much about it until I started learning more. Now when “weird” things are happening (situation, dreams, etc..) I look to see what the planets are doing. Often this puts things into perspective, and can bring a bit more clarity to the current energies and goings on.
Do you follow the planetary courses through our skies? Do you find that their energies and movement are relevant to what is going on in your life? Did reading about them here help make sense of things going on right now? I would love to know.
 
 
* I have added dates for upcoming retrogrades for this year (2025). I will note that I found some conflicting dates (usually by a few days or so) while researching this post. I left out the astrological signs it happens in, because, while this is can be important information, it also changes each time, so it would  have made the planetary meanings less general and more relevant to this particular year.

​This week I would like to talk about vampires. Not the highly romanticized ones we see in books, movies, and TV shows, but the ones people don’t like to talk about. The ones that feed off people’s energy. Now, you may have read about the vampire as an archetype, and this is a different topic all together that I could go on about at length, but also not what we are going to cover in this post. While the archetype shares similarities to psychic vampires, it is a concept of self; of personality; not the real thing. However, due to the archetype description, and how vampires have been portrayed through the ages, there is a very negative stigma associated with psychic vampires as a whole. I hope to shed some light onto this (sometimes) taboo subject, and even maybe change a few minds.
I will start by saying that I am not a psychic vampire, but it is a topic I have read extensively about (I have more than one shelf in my library dedicated to the topic) and I have known a few personally as well. This is a topic I have long been interested in. There are many theories about why they exist, but we may never know for sure. Are they born that way? Were they born through trauma? Once a soul is a psychic vampire in one life will they continue on that way through other incarnations? It is said they feed on other’s energy because they are not connected to the universal well (as most are) and therefore need to feed on those that are to survive. Does this mean they were disconnected somehow? Were they ever connected? Can they be reconnected? Considering their palpable connection to energy, what could they teach others about gathering, using, and manipulating energy? Questions I would love to find answers to for sure.
There are many books on the topic, many of which are committed to teaching the reader how to identify and/or protect oneself from them. They are portrayed as evil manipulative creatures that will drain you of your energy for their personal benefit. An inaccurate and restricted point of view. Like any other person on the planet there are those that may fit into this picture, but it most certainly does not represent their nature as whole. There are actually entire groups of them out there that gather together like covens do, some practice magic, they generally have rules and an acceptable code of conduct, just like any coven. There are some out there that are unaware of what they are so they do not/cannot control what they are doing. It may seem hard to believe that they would not know, but it can happen to anyone with any gift. Knowledge is power.
There are two main kinds of psychic vampires, which I will describe in the following paragraphs.
The first kind feeds on energy out of need. They are separated into those that feed strictly on energy, whether that is directly from a willing person or the ambient energy that is the natural output of people going about their daily lives. This is an especially effective method of feeding where large crowds gather, like large public spaces, or at events like concerts, clubs, and sporting events. As well as those that feed on blood. Now, this may seem a little “out there” for some, but there are those that feel the need to do so. Blood contains our life force/energy, and that is what they need. What needs to be understood is that this is not like it is in the movies. They do not drain people of their blood, or even drink it by the glassful. All that is really needed is a few drops. Often a small lancet like diabetics use to test their blood sugar is used on a willing donor to draw the blood. One thing that I would like to emphasize here is that regardless of how they gather the needed energy, their “donors” are (generally) willing and have given permission. Unless they are feeding on ambient energy, which takes from the energy already being put out there. In this case, most would never even notice, and expelling that energy whether they are aware they are or not. If you would like to read more about these kinds of psychic vampires I highly recommend The Psychic Vampire Codex and Vampires in Their Own Words: An Anthology of Vampire Voices by Michelle Belanger. Though pretty much any book by her is a good read.
The other kind of psychic vampire does not feed out of need, but rather as spiritual practice. Again, there is generally a code of conduct, and other practices similar to how a coven works. This is a spiritual practice like any other, based in a search for immortality, however you may define that. This is a topic that is best learned about by reading Father Sebastiaan’s book Sanguinomicon.  It is too lengthy a topic to cover properly in this blog post. I simply wanted to make my readers aware.
Regardless of how or why they feed, they are not the “monsters” people (and various media) have made them out to be. One of they best explanations about their purpose in our world was covered in Michelle Belanger’s book The Psychic Vampire Codex. She explained how they help keep the balance, energetically speaking. If you think of the energy flow as a triangle you have the regular people at the top that both give and take. Energy healer’s and other energy workers would be a bottom corner (say the bottom left). They produce/channel an abundance of energy and give to both regular people and psychic vampires. That leaves psychic vampires in the other corner (say bottom right) as those that can only take (as they are not connected to the universal well and therefore have none to give). Thus creating an energetic balance.
Whatever you choose to believe about psychic vampires, I hope that I have at least made you curious about them, and hopefully less afraid (if you were). There are plenty of books about there about psychic protection and shielding if you don’t want to fall victim to one of the few that may not follow any particular code of conduct, but I hope you now know they are not all like that.
So how do you feel about psychic vampires? Have you ever met one? Are you friends with one? Would you be?