On being a lightworker and a ghost story

A disembodied spirit jumped on to me while I was visiting a recently-ex-drinker. This person had been forced into abstinence by medical necessity. 

Alcoholics tend to attract disembodied spirits, or ghosts, if you like. Ghosts never quite followed the light and are stuck in a miserable space of nowhere, always having needs not being fulfilled, seeking out depression and misery as that is the frequency they dwell in. I guess the ghosts that loved a drink while living, love a drink while dead. Perhaps you could call it some kind of hell? Anyway, I’m not one that physically sees disembodied spirits as I’m walking around in ordinary daylight, (I have seen them while deep in process giving Shiatsu bodywork, but that’s another story) however I’m pretty sure I felt the moment this particular entity decided that I’d do. I was sitting on my friends couch, and I guess this entity was bored shitless as my friend was no longer drinking or smoking, I felt it attach to me.  

I hadn’t had a drink for ages - well a month, but that’s a long time for me. I’d been feeling fabulous and not missing it at all. But on the way home I noticed every. single. bottle shop. And not only every single bottle shop, but every pedestrian that happened to be carrying a bottle of wine. The shops gleamed at me with their yellow lights as I passed by.  

The traffic was terrible, the hour was late, and I realised I'd be home past dinner time with hungry kids and at least half an hour of food prep in front of me, If not more. I decided to go to Rouccos for dinner, order the kids some pizza and spaghetti, and skip the whole clean up altogether. After this decision was made I realised I could order a glass of wine. That’s exactly what happened. I’m pretty sure it was the entity influencing my decisions.  

The wine gave me a terrible headache after a couple of hours. I knew I needed to get rid of this thing. In the meantime I discovered someone I thought a friend had unfriended me over a relatively impersonal disagreement. Yes, it was only facebook, but it still hurt. This was upsetting on top of having an alcoholic entity hanging out with me. 

I knew what I needed to do, I trained in Alana Fairchild's channelled healing modality Soul Guidance and Sacred Mentoring TM- soon to be renamed Saraswati Healing - last year. It is a gorgeous modality that involves creating a sacred container for channelling spiritual light and using the Crystal Mandala Oracle and accompanying books for guided healing processes. It always feels heart expansive and amazing. You come into your session with an intention, and that intention is flooded with spiritual energy to be made manifest. You have the choice of working with Angels, Ascended Masters and Goddesses, each with their own flavour. There are 54 possible unconditionally loving beings within the deck and healing processes to come through and offer healing and guidance for you.  

After a couple of days of finding the time (cause you know, mum life ), I ran an Ascended Masters 333 healing template  

I was drawn to study with Alana because I find she is divinely clear channel. The particular prayer for clearing entities and karmic clearing within the template is exquisite and complete. I made sacred space and using the Crystal Mandala oracle deck, pulled my ascended master for help. Mataji. Mataji is a Hindi word meaning ‘mother.’ As the story goes Matajii is an unconditionally loving spiritual being who lives in the centre of the Earth, holding space for us all with loving embrace. She is a grounding energy and of the base chakra. Perfect, because the base chakra is associated with tribe, family and our sense of belonging. The unfriending had upset me greatly, was weakening my base chakra, and draining my energy.  

The beautiful entity clearing prayer gently encourages the disembodied spirit into the light. A further message and guidance from spirit healed my leaky chakra, ridding me of my emotional upset over the unfriending completely. The whole process takes about an hour, and I was left blissful and relieved of my suffering, and no cravings for alcohol since.  

I’m soon to be offering these sessions one on one and am looking to run group sessions which will be an evening of guided process and sharing in circle. You create an intention for whatever you like, be it personal growth or healing for humanity. 

What I love most about this modality is that every time you offer healing to yourself, you offer healing to all. Gathering with others to generate a sacred container and channel healing light for ourselves that we can then send out to wherever it’s needed is powerful and important. And right now particularly, the world needs healing light. And that is what this is, light work with unconditional love. 

Also I’m going to be running a Goddess template at the Sistahood Rising festival in November  this year, so very much looking forward to that! 

I look forward to sharing more of this with you soon.  

Alana Fairchild can be found at www.alanafairchild.com

The artwork in the background of this image is by Shiloh Sophia Mcloud

4 surprising ways to get True Rest

So often we hear advice to ‘rest’ but what does that really mean?  I’ve noticed, especially when taking what I think of as physical rest, that I often feel like it goes too quick and I’m not any more energised. 

True rest comes in many forms. 

1 Physical Rest

This is what I most regularly think of when I hear the word rest. Quite often I fantasise about lying on the couch watching netflix for as long as I want. Or even better, lying in my bed reading books, laptop and phone within reach,  teapot at my side, uber eats at my fingertips. And then of course, there’s the holiday style of rest, lying by the pool at the resort, sun on your face. Most importantly of all though, there’s sleep. Adequate sleep. That you need to get every single night. 

I used to consider myself a night owl. What my fuzzy brain struggled to understand at 2pm became clear at 9.00pm and suddenly all my resistance was gone and I could work away. When I would eventually get into bed I’d lie awake for a while, and I’d tell myself because I’m not falling asleep there’s definitely no point in getting to bed earlier. 

But then I discovered that by getting into bed at 9.30, reading for half an hour and turning out the lights strictly at 10pm I’d fall asleep almost immediately. I’d sleep all night long and I’d wake up rested. Absolute game changer. 

A ritual bath is another wonderful way to get some physical rest. Run a bath, add flowers, crystals, magnesium salts, essential oils. Light candles and dot them around the room. Play music. Soak. 

And then of course there’s bodywork and massage therapies. As humans we have a fundamental need for physical touch. Receiving kindness in the form of bodywork therapy heals on several different  levels. 

2. Active Rest

The best way to go about this one is to get into your body. Deeply. Perhaps with exercise, such as a run, yoga poses, breath work, slow and deliberate walks in nature. Wonderful sex. Being present in your body can take you out of your mind in supremely positive way. Have you ever had inspiration hit you right in the throes of some heavy exercise, like in a cycle class? I have. Getting into your body can open up some channels to your higher wisdom, because you’re no longer blocking it with lower vibrational or fear based thoughts. The word Inspire is from the Latin word inspirare meaning ‘to breathe in'

3. Emotional Rest

Sometimes a break from the constant worry and pain we put ourselves through, or our loved ones put us through, is a pure blessing. Life can drag you through the ringer. It’s completely normal to be controlled by our emotions, but it’s not necessary.  And then there’s the tight and restrictive emotional anguish caused by guilt, anger and regret. 

This is where forgiveness practices, gratitude practices and acceptance practices shine their light. Finding peace, even temporary peace, with a situation that has been causing anguish and worry offers immense relief, if only for a short time it’s still worth it. Look our for free meditation podcasts on forgiveness. Practice wild compassion with yourself and others. Come into the present. I love the subtle vibrations of flowers and crystals for helping heal on the emotional sphere. Seek out flowers or rocks that attract you. Sit with them with the intention of relief. Or book a flower essence consultation with a qualified practitioner and get your own personal blend. 

4. Mental Rest

Our inner dialogue can really beat the hell out of us if we leave it unchecked. We are so often our most unforgiving critics. Here forgiveness (of self and others), non-judgement* and again, conscious acceptance practices, can bring happiness. Journalling, with a focus on what you like about yourself, lessons you’ve learnt, and advice to your younger self can really help. Exercise, such as in active rest, is wonderful here. If feeling stressed out and anxiety are common there are many wonderful herbs that can help you boost your resilience and find balance. 

So when you’re feeling worn out consider what kind of rest you could most benefit from. Be kind to yourself and schedule some in. Then you can rock on shining your light and being the beautiful, necessary and important beacon you are with a full cup.

*I loved Gabrielle Bernstein’s book Judgement Detox, for understanding and de-constructing our own judgements (hint: all your judgements about others are a reflection of your own fears or pain). And understanding the judgements of others. 

Artwork..... with love ......from Spirit

How incredible is this! Over the past year I’ve seen my lovely friend Wendy van der Laan deliver these beautiful spirit guide and elemental artworks to their recipients with awe and admiration.

It wasn’t until yesterday when I picked up the beautiful piece she had channelled for our family (yes there are spirit guides and messages in this for myself, my husband and my children) was I blown away by the pure unconditional love emanating from her artwork. 

There are faces upon faces upon faces, so much to explore and her skill in bringing the drawings to life is exquisite. 

This is the kind of artwork that promises hours, upon hours, upon hours of staring time. 

Wendy explains her spiritual artworks of charcoal and pastel chalks are visual messages of love, guidance and healing from your own soul. She works in meditation from a photo of you and allows the images and layers to evolve over several hours. 

I feel such a strong connection with my piece. I had intended it to go in my hallway , towards the entrance, like a beautiful welcome home and soul blueprint for our family. But when I saw it I knew it must go straight to my sacred space, where I meditate and give Shiatsu, in the back studio. This artwork needs room to breathe, and to be viewed while seated comfortably, rather than on foot when passing by. Wendy suggested I sit back and meditate with it, and see if any messages come through. So far I’ve sat for a short amount of time with this portrait, I’ve felt so much love from one being in particular and my heart expands immensely connecting with the energy. There’s so much more to explore, so many more beings to connect with. Whenever I see it I feel tremors of joy shimmering through my body.

It’s a treasure I’ll never part with. 

Wendy can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/artfromtheheartbywendy 

Fertile womb breathing to calm your mind

This is great to spark your innate creativity or a wonderfully relaxing exercise when trying to conceive.

1. Lie or sit comfortably

2. Place your palms on your wombspace

3. Shut your eyes and breath deeply in through the now and out through the mouth

4. Feel your belly rise and fall. Let thoughts pass through your mind, keep coming back to your breath.

5. Visualise breathing the colour orange into your womb.

Continue for as long as you like, but try for at least three minutes to start. The more you stay with this exercise the better you will feel at the end. Much love.