I am just about done reading a great book by Christopher Penczak, Buddha, Christ, Merlin: The Three Wise Men For our Age, two of them historical figures, the third a legend. The title caught my eye. I was raised Catholic although I'm also drawn to Buddhism, and from a "what if" point of view very drawn to magical traditions. This book is about how we can blend the three for a more balanced and inclusive approach to spirituality. It's funny because all along, I had an image of a three legged stool in my mind, each leg representing the teachings one of these traditions (Wisdom, Love and Power) and how we topple over if one of these is missing. Imagine my surprise when Penczak used the same metaphor in his conclusion!
The most obvious and potentially worrisome dysfunction would be the use of power without a conscience or concern for others, whether it's magical, economic or political power. I think this is where Buddha and Christ come into play. The first teaches us to be happy with less, following the middle road and separating ourselves from our ego/mind. Whereas in theory, Christianity teaches you to love others and not to be so harsh or judgmental. See here for my earlier posts, Buddhism 101 and Christianity 101. Once we've assimilated both of these lessons, we can work our magic in a responsible and compassionate way.
Penczak also suggests that magic is most effective when it is aligned with the Highest Good of All (Divine Will). This reminds me of a line in the Lords Prayer: Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. We can frame our Intention this way to ensure that we're working for the Highest Good, whether it's a healing session, a visualisation or practical magic. I'm interested in learning to use magic for healing, where you use personal alchemy to shift your energy into a more balanced and harmonious vibration. I had a taste of it this summer in magick class, when we worked with the planets to shift our energy. You feel the effects for days or weeks and then it settles.
I haven't read Penczak's more witchy books but I would definitely recommend this one, or Magick of Reiki. Otherwise Brandy William's Practical Magic for Beginners is also great, from Llewellyn Publishing. As a healer, the book that best represents the Love of Christianity is one called The Power of Healing Prayer by a healer-priest, also one of my favourites. I know they say not to judge a book by it's cover, but trust your intuition and go with the one you are drawn to.
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Regina Chouza is an energy healer, angel medium and the author of A Personal Guide to Self-Healing, Cancer & Love and Chakra Healing & Magick. Blogging at Diary of a Psychic Healer since 2010, her passion is bringing the qualities of love, joy and empowerment to healing pursuits. Read her books to unlock your intuition.
A few weeks ago I did something I NEVER thought I'd do: get up on stage to do Angel Readings in front of a live audience! It was oddly exhilarating, I found myself enjoying it even though I was beyond relieved when I sat down. We had been practicing for weeks in my Angels and Spirit Guides class at The College of Psychic Studies. This class is the main reason I'm in London for the summer, it's the final step on the road to professional readings, and leading workshops. I did the foundation and intermediate classes just for the fun of it but moved to Mexico before I could finish. Coming back this summer was a great opportunity as it gave me a strong push, even though I was hoping we wouldn't have to get on stage this summer, I actually enjoyed it and would love to do it again. Now that, I did not expect!
Being on stage is funny because it puts you in the moment. There's not much you can do to prepare, except survey the audience and get a feel for their vibes. I was drawn to one lady even before I got up. She was wearing a blue top and I felt Archangel Michael's energy around her, but I wasn't clear on the message. It wasn't until after I'd gotten up and introduced myself, that it clicked. That was a sharp contrast to the intermediate level, where we meditated on each person for a few minutes before saying anything. Now it feels like I'm drawn to an angel, an image comes to mind and I start talking without knowing what comes next. I must have done six or seven short readings, in just fifteen minutes. It felt like I took long pauses between them, but I'm told I never stopped talking. The angels kept me calm too, because I didn't feel a hint of stage fright. I have been pushing myself with my weekly radio show. I think public speaking only gets better with lots of practice, and eventually you enjoy it.
This stage event was nearly a month ago. I can't believe how fast the summer has gone by! Next Friday my angels class will do readings at Open Evening, and then it's back to Mexico! I still have one more term before I graduate (and 30 case studies), but fingers crossed I will dial in via Skype this September. I'm also looking forward to the class as the topics change every term. This summer we took turns leading the meditations and giving lectures on the angels. I was lucky enough to introduce Archangel Sandalphon and to guide a meditation with him, the Inner Peace Café 💖
The past two months I have been taking tarot lessons with the incredibly talented Avril Price, at The College of Psychic Studies. After five years of self-study it's been loads of fun interacting with other students and learning from Avril. Class ends next week and our end of term assignment is due. As you may already know, the tarot is divided into the Major Arcana which looks at a Fool's journey through life, and the archetypal life stages he travels through time and time again. The Minor Arcana which looks at struggles and joys of daily life in the suit of fire (creativity), cups (emotion), air (thought) and earth (stability).
The Minor Arcana are easier to grasp and more common in our lives. Our homework is to bring the more elusive Major Arcana to life with a creative project. I opted for movie metaphors, looking at films or characters that match up to the cards. I'm still on the fence with a few of them, so please comment below with your suggestions. In some cases I couldn't think of a single movie or character to match the card, and I have turned to astrology for inspiration instead. Each of the Major Arcana has its own sign or planet and in theory the essence should be the same, but it did give me more leeway. Here we go!
The Fool's Journey Begins!
0) The Fool: This is where the journey begins. We take our first steps into the unknown with out knowing what type of challenges we will face. On some level the Fool succeeds because he is unaware of perceived challenges and his fears don't get in the way. This one reminds me of Forrest Gump because he accomplishes so much, in large part through the absence of self-doubt. The quote about the chocolate box in particular is a "Fools Journey" sentiment.
I had a "Fool's Luck" moment years ago when I decided to apply to business school the week of the admission deadline. The school had me come in for an exam, failing to mention that it was a Spanish translation of the GMAT. Had I known, I would have been nervous and might have failed. Instead, I passed (just barely!) and it ushered in a learning adventure that lasted two years and many more in marketing. The Fool indicates a new phase in life.
Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.
1) The Magician: Here we are forced to test our skills in the real world, and what we lack in experience we make up for in ingenuity. It reminds me of The Hobbit, where Bilbo is plucked from his comfortable life and thrown into the adventure of his life (by a magician, no less). Bilbo forges ahead despite his apparent lack of adventuresomeness and comes out on top. This is based on the book.
2) The High Priestess is about listening to your intuition and developing a personal connection with the divine. I'm going to cheat here and reference a short story that I wrote five or six years ago, when I was barely starting to think about psychic abilities, intuition and magical happenings. The main character is a young witch in training and you could say her mom was the High Priestess (and her dad the High Priest). The funny thing is I had never given any thought to energy healing until one of the characters spontaneously healed another after an unexpected car accident. You could say my intuition opened doors for me with this piece of creative writing. I am kind of embarrassed to share it, but you can read it here...
3) The Empress. This card is about fertility, beauty, abundance and Mother Nature. It's linked with the planet Venus, also love and beauty. The only movie character that comes to mind is Commodus' sister in Gladiator, based on how she behaves throughout and the fact that she will rule after her brother dies ...
4) The Emperor isabout logic, foresight, discipline and drive. It's also linked with the Zodiac sign of Aries, which is about pure action, a natural born leader. The movie that springs to mind is The Aviator, starring DiCaprio. It's about the life of Howard Hughes, an empire builder who followed his passion for aviation.
5) The Hierophant could be about tradition as it's linked with the sign of Taurus. I am going out on a limb here by connecting it with the classic holiday movie, A Christmas Story. The Hierophant can be keen to respect and maintain religious or social institutions, he can also abandon them if they no longer work. Having grown up in the United States, the film certainly feels like a holiday tradition. I also enjoy the leg lamp scene where the mother pretends the lamp isn't there (visualising a new reality) and then breaks an tosses it. On some level, this could represent doing away with old power structures.
Leg Lamp Scene
6) The Lovers is about making choices based on love, trust and passion instead of fear. It can also be about soulmates, marriage and union. Its about knowing what's real and lasting, and what's not. I couldn't help thinking of What Dreams May Come. If you haven't seen it, I won't spoil it. Let's just say it's about recognising the people in our lives for who they are and what they mean to us.
7) The Chariot is about making tough choices and pursuing our objectives. This often requires a good deal of discipline, drive and self-control. It's a mental challenge too, like a marathon. I went with the movie Troy because of the effort that goes into storming a fortress, and the Achilles heel could be the mind.
8) Strength is about having a good deal of inner strength, even if we choose to show it in a gentle way. We're able to stand the test of time, meet our challenges and get through it without breaking (bending is OK). I went to an extreme here with a character that can't control his strength: The Hulk. This particular scene actually from The Avengers, one of the best laughs in the film.
9) The Hermit is a person who leaves civilisation temporarily to find their own truth, understand who they are and come out a new person. They can also seek knowledge that they will eventually share with others. To me, the Hermit's path is a spiritual rabbit hole, we don't know where it goes or when it ends.
10) Wheel of Fortune: What goes around comes around; what goes up must come down. This card can be about karma, changes of fortune, or even cycles of life where we reap what we sow. A bible story came to mind with this one, when Joseph was sold into slavery because his brothers are frightened by a dream where he ruled over them. Joseph somehow managed to become a free man, a successful merchant and eventually triumphed over his brothers.
A Clip from the Musical
11) The Justice card is not surprisingly linked with the sign of Libra. Its about fairness, people getting what they deserve and also our responsibility to look after people who have been wronged or could be seen as underdogs. The movie that springs to mind is Erin Brockovich, fighting to make sure justice is done.
12) The Hanged Man is about taking a time out, looking at things from a different perspective and it can also be about sacrificing yourself for the greater good (or to make a point that you think is for the greater good?). At least one of these themes plays a part in The Life of David Gale, starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet. I won't say any more so as not to ruin the ending, it's worth watching.
13) The Death Card is about cycles in our life coming to an end, whether it's graduating from college, leaving home, leaving a job or getting divorced. Its about a big change to the status quo and having to come to terms with it, even when the change is something we would very much welcome. The movie I chose instead reflects a literal interpretation of a big ending: The Departed. Great film!
14) The Temperance Card is about patience, timing, being balanced and healing by integrating different aspects of your personality in an intuitive way. The image on the Rider Waite deck shows a woman pouring water from one cup to another, with a rainbow around her. She seems to be quite peaceful, in her own world. The movie character that comes to mind is Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series, who always seems to be in the same fuzzy state no matter what is going on at Hogwarts or in the world.
15) The Devil is about attachments to material things like cars, toys, big houses and the silly or fearful things we sometimes to do get them. It can also be about putting ourselves ahead of others and asking our angels (or devils) to fulfil desires that aren't necessarily in anyone's best interests. From a Kabbalistic perspective, the ego (inner devil) is a healthy opponent that tests our resolve and shapes our character, with the best intentions even if it doesn't appear to be the case. For this reason I went with Bedazzled, another favourite of mine!.
16) The Tower is about life crumbling under our feet (or so it seems). It can be very unsettling when our foundations are shaken to their very core, but it also gives us a chance to face our fears and start from scratch with a healthier and more productive environment. I am not sure why I went with The Little Mermaid on this one, I think the King's life crumbled when Ariel was taken from him and he had to face his fears (Ursula) and give in to the little mermaid's wishes. It must have felt like his world was falling apart, and the scene is scary enough...
17) The Star Card is about trusting that things will be alright, and that events in our life are guided by a higher plan. It can also be about following our guiding star out of the darkness. It's also linked with the energy of Aquarius, a forward thinking sign that has our collective evolution on its mind. I went with a song from Jesus Christ Superstar called Everything's Alright. This is one of my faves!
18) The Moon is about our Intuition and psychic insights revealing what is hidden from the conscious mind or from our five senses. Things we feel, even if we can't see them with our eyes or with gadgets. There is a great movie starring Matt Damon called Hereafter, which follows the lives of a psychic medium as he struggles to come to grips with his gift, and a young woman who is touched by a near death experience. Also happens to be directed by Clint Eastwood.
19) The Sun is a welcome message that hard times are over, and the Sun will shine down on our lives. Everything the sun touches grows, and when we are touched by the warm light of the sun we thrive. Initially I was going to go with Little Miss Sunshine but I felt like Annie was a better fit, especially the song Tomorrow.
20) The Judgement Card is about listening to our calling and serving humanity, or just doing what is right even if it's really hard. I see this the class between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson's characters in A Few Good Men. It is related to the energy of Pluto; the planet of transformation, power struggles and exposing secrets.
21) The World is about completion and coming full circle in our lives, although it can also be about coming face to face with our limitations as it is linked with the planet Saturn. If you believe your limitless, the world is your oyster. I don't have a good metaphor for this one so I'll go with the Jamaican Bobsled team that competed in the winter Olympics despite being unfamiliar with snow.
So that is my end of term project on the Major Arcana! I hope you enjoyed it, and please feel free to comment below with any movie suggestions. This is meant to be a working document even if it has been handed in. Thanks in advance for your suggestions 💞💞💞
