Vintage Shivaya: Now Is The Time For Faith

19. January 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: blog · Tags: ,

{1/19/12: I wrote this piece during a very difficult period of my life in 2009. But even on the brightest of days, or the darkest moments — now is the time for faith.}

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Now is the time for faith. Now is the time when your soul is on the verge of being crushed, when there’s not enough money to pay rent or even a security deposit on a new place. When the struggle becomes overwhelming – now is the time for faith. Trust in our power, Raven — we’re here to help you. It’s our specific task to love and support you, wandering one. The list is long. Throw out the list. Give it to the wind. Put down your arms. Quit asking. We hear your every request. Even more, we hear the yearning of your heart, the slight movements of grandiose hope. Feel that freedom, every time, every time against your cheek when that soft wind passes around you. In the call of the osprey. The sleeping, meditative alligators (it’s only your fear; they just want to eat). You know hunger. You know what it means to blow through this world, one eye open, two eyes awake.

This passion, this death scene awakens you. Nothing to lose, Raven. All your cards on the table. Do you think we’d let you down at this precarious moment? Do you think we’d cash in and walk away?

Find your steps toward the truest answer – the calling freedom in your soul. You can do anything. You can live any way you choose. You can have that BMW. The beautiful girlfriend. That life of beauty and happiness. You have it now. You have it now. Reach out for it. Enjoy the essence and watch how the picture is laid out. It’s all here for you.

You are not alone – ever. All of your needs will always be met – and then some. Trust. Have faith. Hold your proud head high. Revel in this life. Delight in your freedom and everything you’ve built. So much more is coming your way – every day, next week, your entire life. Take it. Enjoy, Raven. Enjoy.

Working My Way Back to You, Faith

16. December 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: blog · Tags: , , , , , ,

Karen Hager asked the other night if I still consider myself a Christian.

I don’t — but that doesn’t mean that I’ve given up faith.

No doubt, the tangles of the fundamentalist community caused much suffering. No one wanted me to be gay, including myself. (Read all about my angst here.) Faith meant to distrust mind and heart, but also have belief in Jesus and the redemption found in the cross, the ultimate symbol of suffering. Faith that we’d all be in heaven someday — if we made the cut. “Truth” meant in Christ only.

Not in myself. In fact, I was taught to highly disregard and hold my life in constant suspicion.

Though I left the church in my mid-20s, I still needed to find my way back to faith – not the faith I once learned but the faith that has carried me through every moment of this life. The faith in which I was born (again).

Truth — my truth — walks as closely as faith. They are, hand-in-hand, my guides.

It’s a curious thing that Jesus didn’t answer Pilate when he asked, “What is truth?”

Well, what is faith?

It was drilled into me that faith is belief in that which is unseen. That was a tough row to hoe, as I’m a tangible kind of girl.

However, if God exists in all of us — if we are the walking, talking version– then we can have faith in our being. Our being which is God. (Shivaya means I bow to the God/truth in you.) No religion has a lock on faith. Faith exists and is freely available to all. It doesn’t require any other labels.

Faith: the absolute, ultimate commitment. To whom? You.

Faith: believing that you can actively heal yourself — even from a serious lack of faith.

Faith: having the courage to live your life in the fullest way possible — then actually do it.

“Possible”, of course, is whatever possibility means to you. Which is where unseen nicely comes into play. Envisioning the life of your dreams as the life of now.

Even when the money is perpetually tight.

Even when our partner turns away.

Even when we walk with unanswered questions, undiagnosed lumps and the weariness of daily existence.

Faith can never be shaken once we trust in our presence. To say, yes, I’m here. To live your life in a way that is summarily satisfactory. And then choose to end and begin again.

Faith really isn’t about why you are here, though it’s an excellent topic to examine.

Faith is the unshakable belief in your essence. You are here because you are here. You chose this particular ride, after all.

The trick, the magic, the opening,  is to walk every step — in faith.

It’s Not Just About Tarot

23. September 2011 · 5 comments · Categories: blog · Tags: , , , ,

Ann asked an excellent question about my latest book, The Reluctant Tarot Reader – and received a free copy in return!

Raven, I’m not a Tarot reader. Would I be interested in your book? Is it just about Tarot?

TRTR is a beautiful mix of memoir and storytelling with occasional references to the Tarot. It is not a manual on Tarot (for an excellent one, read Rachel Pollack‘s Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom).

My story of growing up in a fundamentalist Christian family and eventual coming out is an important thread that holds the work together. Another important thread that weaves through the book is my reluctance to embrace my gift as a Tarot reader and the long, slow process of learning what it means to be a healer. I guess you could say that I came out of the closet numerous times!

I’ve been reading cards for nearly a decade, so there are plenty of stories influenced by my clients (told anonymously, of course). I learn so much from them, and hope they do the same for you.

I take critical aim at the metaphysical community as well as religious folk. No one is spared my Aquarian observations. My passion is stripping away the mystique of psychic work, while retaining its beautifully inherent magic.

And I ask plenty of questions: on purpose, love, relationships and loss. I talk about my past and sense of belonging in this world. I wonder over what the Divine has to do with all of it.

What I know without a doubt? TRTR is being embraced by readers because it’s real.

It’s my story — one of many — and I hope you enjoy the ride.

TRTR is comprised of 78 vignettes and a 16 page Introduction for a total of 201 pages. I’ve split the book into four sections based on the Minor Arcana (Fire, Earth, Air, Water). Each story fits with the section and will make you think, laugh and want to continue reading. The vignettes are short enough that you can stop and start as you please.

Listen to my interview on “Tarot Today” about TRTR, read an excerpt here – and please support me by buying a copy. 100% of the profits help continue my healing work.

Thanks for the question, Ann!

 

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