July 2025

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Spiritual Energy

CONTENTS Cover Image: Ysbrandcosijn

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Energy 05 Spiritual The Invisible Fuel of a Thriving Business Runic Oracle 13 Ancient Norse Myth and Magic From Hurt to Healing 19 The Power of Trauma Release Sharing Spiritual Energy as We Connect 24 with Our Ancestors Decks 28 Card Soak Up the Sun Transformational Vibes from Sunrise to Sunset

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Spiritual Energy:

THE INVISIBLE FUEL OF A THRIVING BUSINESS YOU DIDN’T JUST OPEN A STORE. YOU CAST A SPELL!

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acred work—real, transformative work—asks for a container.

It demands a form. You heard the call, felt the nudge, maybe even got dragged by the universe into something bigger than yourself. And instead of turning away, you built a business. Along with your products,

you serve your community and hold space for them. You trusted that if you showed up with enough heart and grit, the magic would meet you here.

And it did.

Now you’re in the part no one warns you about. The tending and maintaining of the sacred container of your business. The part where you show up on days when your inner spirit feels dusty and if you’re still the witch for the job.

You face days where nothing flows and uncertainty hovers like smoke.

About the Author: Jacki Smith is the founder and owner of Coventry Creations, a pioneer in the world of spiritual candles for over 30 years. Her parallel journey in the spiritual and business world allowed Jacki to hone her craft of honoring the Business Soul. From books to podcasts, Jacki shares her experiences with the world. Her coaching clients rave about how she helps them find the soul of their business so they can create their ideal life. You can find Jacki on social media at https://www.facebook.com/jacki.smith.official, https://www.instagram.com/ jacki.smith.official/, https://www.threads.net/@jacki.smith.official

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Where customers want more than you have to give, and the systems you rely on buckle under the pressure.

Sometimes, even lighting a candle feels like a chore, not a calling.

Here’s the truth: your business isn’t broken. Your magic isn’t gone.

But the energy might be tired.

Misaligned. You may be hungry for reconnection.

This article isn’t about fi xing you. It’s about helping you remember. Helping you plug back into the current that made you brave enough to do this in the first place.

You don’t need to burn it all down.

You just need to relight the flame.

WHAT IS SPIRITUAL ENERGY IN A BUSINESS CONTEXT? Spiritual energy is the living current behind every choice you make when running a business that serves.

Spiritual energy is the fuel that powers you. It moves through decisions, conversations, creativity, and even your pricing structure. You can’t quantify it on a spreadsheet, but you can feel it shift. That moment when your space lights up.

When you feel in sync with your customers. When your intuition is louder than your fear.

When it’s missing, you feel the drag.

You know your reserves are low when your thoughts are dull and your confidence wavers to the point

where you start looking outside yourself for answers that were once easy to fi nd within.

Spiritual energy is never static. It requires your loving care. It needs your direction or it can become disruptive, and it needs nourishment or it will dissipate leaving you feeling like something is missing or not right with your day. Just like a sacred fire, it needs tending. And you’re the one holding the match.

This energy flows in when you are aligned. It flows out when you overextend or ignore your own wisdom.

Your business—yes, even the receipts and the late-night emails—is a container for your magic. But only if you stay connected to the current that powers it.

HOW ENERGY FLOWS (OR LEAKS) IN YOUR BUSINESS That current you’re connected to, your energy, is always moving. That’s the nature of it. Your job is to pay attention to where it flows, and where it seeps out when you’re not looking.

Let’s talk about energy inflow. That’s the life force that moves through your business and into your spirit— when it’s clean. When it’s aligned.

When it’s welcome.

It’s the spark that lights up when a new idea drops into your lap like a gift. It’s the moment you feel the click between what you’re offering and what your customer is searching for. It’s the stillness that settles in when you start your morning grounded in your own energy rather than someone else’s agenda.

These moments nourish you. They remind you why you said yes to this magical, messy business in the first place.

And when that inflow is strong, when you’re lit up and in sync, it’s easy to miss the slow leaks. The small

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compromises. The quiet drain. Because the energy is still moving, and you’re still functioning.

Until you’re not.

Until the leaks multiply and you’re patching holes instead of creating. Until you’re running on fumes and wondering why everything that once brought joy now feels like a burden. That’s when you realize: it wasn’t burnout that arrived out of nowhere. It was a steady state of misalignment, drip by drip.

The leaks aren’t always obvious.

They slip in sideways, disguised as good business decisions or harmless compromises. But when you trace the thread back, you’ll find they started draining you long before you noticed.

A collaboration that you didn’t follow your intuition on. An overcommitment to an event you didn’t have the bandwidth for. A product on the shelf that you no longer believe in.

Bit by bit, your energy starts to drain.

It feels like fatigue, but it’s actually a series of stacked misalignments weighing on your spirit, cracking your boundaries and creating leaks.

Energy doesn’t just vanish when it gets stuck—it lingers and builds up.

Let it sit too long, and you begin to normalize the heaviness. You forget what your business felt like when it was flowing. You forget what you felt like when you were lit up instead of drained.

This is when it’s time to clear. Clean.

Reset. Even if it starts with something small. One shelf. One drawer.

One moment of honesty.

Clearing doesn’t need punishment.

It doesn’t need you to overhaul everything. It just needs your presence and intention to start with one small thing.

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SHAMANIC ORACLE Nature guides and inspires us. This Oracle invites you to reconnect with your inner light and the earth —offering reflection and deeper self-understanding.

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RUNIC ORACLE Runic Oracle draws on ancient northern myths to lead you on a journey to discover your inner Viking or witch.

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This is your root system. The why beneath the what. The part of your business that doesn’t shift with the market because it’s built on your values, your personal truth, your sacred contracts.

This is the spark. The wild ideas.

The color and the chaos. It’s what helps you solve problems, birth new products, and keep your business from becoming a spreadsheet with a storefront.

When foundational energy is strong, you’re resilient. Grounded. You make decisions from a place of clarity instead of panic.

When creative energy is moving, you feel playful. Inspired. Willing to try something bold, even if it doesn’t make perfect sense yet.

When it’s weak, you feel wobbly.

Reactive. Easily thrown by trends, competition, or scarcity thinking.

When it’s stuck, everything feels like a chore. Your offerings feel stale. You start copying instead of creating.

Replenish it with deep work. Revisiting your origin story. Rewriting your mission in your own voice. Sitting with your ancestors or guides and asking, What am I really building here?

To refi ll it, make art. Doodle. Dance.

Say yes to something strange and joyful. Not because it’s “productive,” but because it gets the magic moving again.

Foundational Energy

THE 3 ENERGIES EVERY SPIRIT-LED BUSINESS NEEDS Not all energy is the same. Just like your body needs different kinds of nourishment—hydration, movement, rest—your business needs different kinds of spiritual energy to stay vibrant and aligned. I think of these as energetic currencies. Each one plays a specific role. Each one deserves your attention.

When one is overdrawn, everything feels off. When all three are tended, you feel magnetic. Alive. In flow.

Let’s break them down.

Creative Energy

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Magnetic Energy This is the current that attracts. Your visibility. Your resonance. It’s not just about marketing—it’s about being seen in your full truth. It’s about radiating energy that calls the right people in.

When magnetic energy is strong, your audience finds you. They feel you before they even know what you sell. Your words land. Your vibe speaks louder than your pricing.

When it’s low, you feel invisible. You second-guess every post. You whisper your value instead of owning it.

To build it back up, stop hiding. Tell the truth—especially the vulnerable kind. Use your voice. Show up even if your hair’s messy. Speak from your heart instead of your sales plan.

Letting any of these three core energies deplete is a straight path to burnout.

BURNOUT IS AN ENERGY CRISIS Let’s call burnout what it really is—a red flag from your spirit, waving wildly, begging you to stop pouring from an empty cup.

It doesn’t arrive overnight. It creeps in quietly. Through skipped days off.

Through “just this one” late-night email. Through the soft, slow erosion of boundaries that used to protect your magic.

And let’s be honest—burnout is often just a more advanced form of the energy leaks we talked about earlier.

But by the time you recognize it as burnout, the leaks aren’t just small drips. They’ve worn through the container. Now you’re standing in the wreckage, holding a ladle, trying to fill a broken well.

But here’s the hidden cost people rarely talk about: the emotional toll of holding space for everyone else while pretending you’re not crumbling. When you’re the leader, people forget that you’re also human. They see the strength, the calm, the steady glow—and they assume you have more to give.

So you give.

You hold space for your customers who are spiraling. You absorb the energy of your staff when they can’t keep it together. You walk into the store when your personal world is falling apart because someone needs a prosperity candle and your name is on the lease.

In spiritual business, we get really good at making our depletion sound noble.

“I’m being tested.”

“It’s just a hard retrograde.”

“This is what holding space looks like.”

But sometimes? The universe isn’t testing you. You’re just tired. You’re over capacity. And your spirit is asking—no, demanding—that you listen.

We romanticize martyrdom in magical work. We reward the business owner who’s doing it all, all the time. But here’s the truth: martyr energy is magnetic… to more depletion.

And it teaches your community to expect your exhaustion as part of the offering.

not a walking resource to be extracted from.

You are the magic that moves your business forward. And when you go offline—energetically, emotionally, physically—so does your spell.

RITUALS = ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE You don’t get your energy back by wishing for it. You get it back by working with it; intentionally, consistently, and sacredly.

Ritual isn’t about theatrical gestures.

It’s about infrastructure. It’s how you build a business that holds you, not just the other way around.

Picture this: A shop owner begins her day by speaking a quiet intention into the stillness of the morning, just a few grounded words before unlocking the door. A way to claim the energy she wants to invite in.

Someone else rings a bell when they enter their store. Not for show. For shift. It clears the residue of yesterday and calls their energy into the now.

You are not here to drain yourself dry in the name of being spiritual.

You are not your inventory. You are not your revenue. You are

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There’s a reader who does a daily vibe check of her space before even turning on the lights.

She paces slowly, paying attention to the feel of each corner like she’s reading the room’s aura. Sometimes she burns sage.

Sometimes she just opens a window.

Sometimes she hums.

Another healer keeps a spray bottle of Florida water behind the counter.

After a draining client interaction, she gives herself a quick spritz and a whispered reminder: That’s not mine.

One spiritual entrepreneur takes a moment before paying bills. She presses her fingers to the payment key and thanks the electric company aloud for powering her spells. Before sending an invoice, she cups her hands over the keyboard and imagines the recipient opening it with joy.

And in quiet, subtle ways, they all mark the end of their workday. A candle snuffed. A bell rung once more. A soft affirmation: That’s enough for today.

These are all rituals you create when you’re living a magical life inside a business. They’re not pageantry.

They’re energetic hygiene. They protect your edges. They realign your center. They help you remember that the work you do isn’t just transactional—it’s transformational.

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This is how you keep the sacred alive in the everyday. This is how you keep your magic plugged in.

HOW TO RECHARGE WHEN THE MAGIC FADES Even the most vibrant spell can go dim. Not from failure but from fatigue, distraction, or simply time passing without tending the fire.

Sometimes it starts subtly. A missed ritual here. A skipped moment of gratitude there. The spark is still there, but the connection thins. You catch yourself walking into your store without checking the energy first. You light the candle but forget to speak your intention.

It’s not burnout yet. Not exactly. But something feels off. Hollow. Your business still functions, but it stops feeding you back.

This is the space between alignment and apathy. A liminal zone where magic waits to be called home again.

And write. Not performatively, not for anyone but yourself. Ask: What was the original spark? When did I last feel it? What am I craving now?

Let the answers be messy. Let them be true.

This isn’t about making your business look magical again. It’s about feeling that magic in your bones.

This is how you close the gap between your spirit and your work.

This is how you return—not to where you were, but to the version of you who’s ready now.

SPIRITUAL ENERGY AS STRATEGY By now, you can feel it—that subtle hum beneath your business, asking for more than just strategy and logistics. It’s asking for intention. For connection. For magic that moves like a current beneath the surface.

Recharging isn’t about doing more.

It’s about returning to what nourishes you.

This is where we stop treating spiritual energy as an afterthought and start seeing it for what it really is: the strategy that sustains.

Start with a flame. Let the simple act of lighting a candle be the signal that you’re ready to reconnect. Don’t ask it to fix anything—just let it reflect you. Sit with it and say, What am I holding that isn’t mine? Say the answers out loud. Even if they surprise you.

There’s a story I like to imagine— about a shopkeeper who once lost her way. The shelves were stocked.

The newsletter was going out. But nothing was landing. Sales dipped.

Staff morale wobbled. Customers stopped lingering. She thought about rebranding. Retargeting. Repricing.

Over the next few mornings, treat your business space like a sacred being. One morning, clean with reverence, not to tidy, but to release.

Next, sit in the silence and listen.

What’s the space trying to tell you?

On the third, physically place your hand on something that anchors you—a wall, a counter, your front door—and say, I’m here. I’m ready to remember.

Instead, she started by relighting her altar.

Every morning, before turning on the lights, she’d sit with the flame. Not to perform, but to remember. She let herself reconnect to why she built this place at all. She cleared the energy before she rearranged the layout. She spoke her intentions

before she wrote new copy.

She let her intuition—not panic—lead.

Bit by bit, the energy shifted. The team relaxed. The space felt warm again. Not because she cracked a marketing code, but because she reentered her business like a priestess, not a manager.

That story isn’t about one person—it’s about all of us. The ones running sacred businesses in a chaotic world. The ones blending margin with meaning.

The shops that thrive? They aren’t always the biggest. Or the ones with the flashiest social media. They’re the ones where you feel something when you walk in. Where the owner’s spirit is present. Where the space is a living altar—not because it has crystals and candles, but because it’s charged with intention.

yours. Not because it will fix everything overnight, but because it’s the only energy that was ever truly sustainable.

When you treat enchantment as part of the business model—not just the packaging—you create something magnetic. Something rooted. Something alive.

So light the candle. Ring the bell.

Speak the truth out loud to your empty store. Write down one sentence that reconnects you to your power. That’s the start.

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That’s the next breath of your magic.

Your business isn’t separate from your spirit. It is your spirit, dressed in brick and mortar, product and purpose.

Reclaim your energy, and you reclaim your business. And that, my magical friend, is a plan worth following.

Spiritual energy isn’t a luxury. It’s not a branding exercise. It’s the secret weapon.

When you tend your energy like it’s your business plan, everything else flows from there.

ENCHANTMENT IS A BUSINESS PLAN Let’s set down the clipboard. Close the spreadsheet. Turn off the self-doubt loop running in the background.

You don’t need to rebuild your store from the ground up. You don’t need to wait for the next trend, the next consultant, the next rescue.

You need to remember the spell you cast when you first said yes to this sacred work. You need to step back into the energy that was always

Email: jeff@raiderocks.com 4651 NW 6th Street Suite C Gainesville, FL. 32609 800-527-4367

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RUNIC ORACLE

ANCIENT NORSE MYTH AND MAGIC Þat kann ek it sétta ef mik særir þegn á rótum rams viðar ok þann hal er mik heipta kveðr þann eta mein heldr en mik I know a magic charm It will save if runes are cut on roots With intent to harm It turns the spell away Hater is cleaved, not me The Havamal, verse 150t translated by the author

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n the far frozen north of ancient Scandinavia, gods and giants stalked the lands. The icy jotun (yo-tun) and powerful asir (ay-seer) beings made people hide in their homes. Their magic, myth and power have transcended time and space to bring you ancient resonance and runes. Born of the universe, the runes fell from the world tree Yggdrasil (Yig-rasil) – magic sigils bringing the raw essence of the cosmos to our hands. Echoes of this power reside within the Runic Oracle. Each time you draw a card,

that power will echo down the variegated valleys of the past, activating quantum codes within your cells. Codes to awaken this energy lie within your body, mind and soul, to help you bring this resonant power to your life in the here and now.

We call magic from the ‘olde worlde’ of the migration and Viking period ‘charm’. This magic was sung and carved into wood, bone and steel – even burned into flesh and spun into cloth. The runes formalised this magic ‘charm’ with mystic hidden energy. Odin,

About the Authors: Richard Lister is a multi-talented teacher and mentor. He is known across the globe for his expertise in runes, spiritual wellbeing and deep healing practices. He is also a speaker, healer, guide, teacher, and mentor working with people to heal and connect to their own personal power, potential, medicine, and magic. He is the author of several books on runes, including Radical Rest and Runes Made Easy.

Selena Moon is an award-winning designer, artist, and author. She was born and raised in Sweden and currently resides in Sydney, Australia. She has been fascinated by art, drawing, and technology since childhood, and her passion for creativity led her to create card decks and journals for card readings.

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the god of magic and war, gifted mortals with 24 glyphs of divine origin.

He hung them from Yggdrasil, making a sacrifice of himself to himself to achieve this magic, this knowledge, this ‘charm’.

These cards you hold in your hands connect you to this ancient power and lore. They are a modern application of these ancient and primal codes of magic. The magic of these charms of the ancient Norse, Saxon and Jute is yours. Yours to access in the palm of your hand. Or at the very least, spread out on the table in front of you! They are a link to the cosmology of the ancient north; to the runes, goddesses and gods; and to the magic and wyrd of myth and legend.

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I invite you to share your spreads, your readings, and your Runic Oracle magic on socials, tag me @richlisteruk, the awesomely talented artist Selena @selena. moon.artist and @rockpoolpublishing.

This mindful sharing builds the Hamingja or ‘luck’ of your deck, your power and our collective energy. Let’s build the net of Runic Oracle energy across the globe.

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A NOTE ON PRONUNCIATION In this deck, I’ve simplified the language I use to make it easier to read for people who speak and read English as a first language, like me.

The names of the runes and gods are from ancient Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, which means they are slightly different from how we speak today. I’ve used English letters to represent Scandinavian ones with sounds we may not be used to.

Please feel free to use the Old Norse or modern Scandinavian names instead if that flows for you. All pronunciations are my version of how to say the words using UK English.

HOW TO USE THE RUNIC ORACLE These cards tap into an essence that flows through us all, from the rocks and walls around us to your dog, cat, potted plant and you. This energy is known as the wyrd in old Norse cosmology. It is a binding link, web or weave. Kind of like a woolly jumper, but where your jumper contains thousands of threads, the wyrd is billions of threads. When you pull a thread on your jumper,

the surrounding threads feel this effect. Similarly, when you are in a bad mood, it affects those around you – this is a manifestation of the wyrd.

While the effects are external, what you do with them is up to you.

This oracle comes in two ‘halves’ or parts: the Rune cards and Deity cards.

RUNE CARDS The Rune cards include 24 runes from the elder Furtharc. This is an ancient set of runes found across northern Europe. These runes told stories, speaking of their owner’s deeds, and were carved on weapons, tools, stones and bones. They have magic associated with them in the form of ancient poems and charms, which were uttered by the volva (vhol-vah) or spel-mann. These ancient sigils were used to harm or heal. Each rune has a meaning and quantum cosmic resonance. Their meanings are neither positive nor negative, they simply are. Runes are basic and simple energies. They are not subtle.

DEITY CARDS Ancient runic magic stands side by side with the gods and goddesses of the north. While the runes are great at abundance or standards, the deities are better at love, communication or systems. When more evolved thinking is needed, the deities stick their heads in. Each of the Norse gods and goddesses represented on the Deity cards brings a unique and special energy, from murder and magic to fury and passion. There are gods of change and goddesses of revenge and power.

This part of the deck adds depth and feeling to your readings, with the goddesses and gods working together to bring story and myth to your reading. The Nordic pantheon has many and varied deities. And this oracle?

Well, it merely dips a toe into this ancient lore. The northern deities were not infallible or all-powerful.

They made mistakes, played practical jokes and got way too drunk at the wrong time. Feel the gods’ human aspects flow into your reading as the ancient ladies and lords of Asgard make themselves known to you.

WAYS TO READ YOUR ORACLE The Runic Oracle draws from the primal constructs of the universe as well as ancient Norse culture and society. When you question, ask and command the cards, don’t be subtle or coy. You will get an answer through this lens of ancient times with the feel and sensations of the frozen far north.

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runes like that – strong and direct is the Viking way. They are not good with subtle hints or suggestions unless you want to play a game.

FIRST WAY Separate the Rune cards and read with them, drawing Deity cards when you want to expand on an idea. I tend to use a one, two, three pattern. The fi rst card represents the now, the second the direction, and the third the action (see following section ‘Track, stalk, strike’).

Ancient magic users conducted energy to their mystical tools with their bodies. That is what you are going to do. I want you to get good results when reading runes.

When our bodies are activated, excited or distracted, this anxious energy can get in the way. Kind of like a toddler on a long-distance flight. So, like the ancient magic users, prepare yourself first: Make sure you are comfortable and bring your focus to your breath. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Aim for a 7-second inhale and an 11-second exhale.

Note that I said ‘aim for’, not ‘must do’.

When you feel your body relax and your heartbeat slow, bring your attention to your hands and feet, making sure you can feel them... Feel the clothes on your skin.

SECOND WAY Mix up all the cards and use like any other oracle. Ask your question, draw your cards and get your answers from the universe. This is the core of the Runic Oracle’s magic. Trust yourself and your intuition. I cannot stress this enough: the way you use your oracle is correct.

Look around the room. Find five things you can see, four you can hear, three you can touch, two you can smell, and one you can taste.

Now you are ready to connect with the energy of your cards. Focus on your question and be aware of the sensations your body is picking up. You know yourself. The more you can feel the subtle ways energy plays with your body, the more powerful you will be in your rune reading.

You’re now in a magical state that lets you connect to your innate powers.

It’s time to draw your cards!

ASK THE QUESTION Asking a question from your cards is an important art of the volva or spel-mann. Asking closed questions will give you rubbish responses. Remember, the Norse energies are brutal and harsh. And the ancient Vikings and people of the north loved a story. With this in mind, ask questions that can tell a story, not ones that require a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response.

Context is everything when it comes to runes and ancient magic. Be specific with the questions you ask. Nebulous questions will get fuzzy answers. Be clear and direct. The 16

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From Hurt to Healing

THE POWER OF TRAUMA RELEASE T

rauma is widespread. According to the National Center for PTSD1, approximately 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. About 6% of the U.S. population will experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point, with around 5% of adults experiencing it in any given year. These rates have remained concerningly high, and awareness of trauma’s long-term impact continues to grow.

But here’s the truth: healing is possible, and the benefits reach into every corner of life — social, physical, mental, psychological, occupational, romantic, and even spiritual.

When people understand the life-changing benefits of healing trauma, they begin to reclaim their health, their relationships, and their future.

1 https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_adults.asp

About the Author: Avery Goodman is a wellness expert and spiritual teacher dedicated to inspiring healing and growth. Through workshops, retreats, and personalized guidance, Avery empowers others to connect with their true selves and live more balanced, authentic, and fulfilling lives.

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The Hidden Benefits of Healing Why Healing Trauma Matters Trauma is often seen as an emotional or psychiatric issue, but its long-term effects can be deeply physical. Symptoms like hypervigilance, sleep deprivation, and chronic stress take a serious toll on the body, especially the heart. Trauma is linked to conditions like broken heart syndrome1and long-term risks such as cardiovascular disease.But it doesn’t stop there. Internal injuries, such as cerebral edema (brain swelling) after physical abuse or traumatic brain injury, can quietly impact long-term health. Domestic violence2 , one of the most common sources of trauma, affects millions annually, with an estimated 5.3 million incidents among U.S. women and 3.2 million among men each year.

And perhaps most heartbreakingly, trauma and PTSD can increase the risk of suicide by more than seven times3 .

Healing is not just about improving your quality of life — it can save lives.

1 https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiomyopathy/what-iscardiomyopathy-in-adults/is-broken-heart-syndrome-real 2 https://www.cdc.gov/intimate-partner-violence/about/?CDC_AAref_ Val=https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/ fastfact.html 3 https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/nov/ptsd-contributes-suicide-risk-particularly-women

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While many people focus on stopping the pain, trauma healing offers even more rewards than most expect: Improved immune function: chronic stress weakens the immune system, but healing restores resilience.

Better emotional balance: reduced irritability, anger, and frustration; increased peace of mind.

Enhanced personal relationships: as you heal, you also heal the connections with friends, family, and loved ones.

Sharper focus and mental clarity: trauma fogs the mind, but healing can lift that fog, improving work and daily functioning.

Higher self-esteem and confidence: healing brings a renewed sense of self-worth and empowerment.

D O N ' T Q U I T

Your Dose of Inspiration

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CONVERGENCE WELLNESS CAMPOUT September 18-21, 2025 Astral Valley Art Park

Effective Trauma Healing Techniques One powerful and simple coping skill is the Spiral Staircase visualization.

When facing a hard moment, imagine yourself walking down a spiral staircase. Focus on your breath, step by step, until you reach the bottom and feel serenity settle over you. In less than five minutes, you can bring your stress level from 100 to zero — anytime, anywhere.

Another excellent treatment is Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which challenges your beliefs about why the traumatic experience happened and helps reshape harmful thoughts. CPT can be done individually or in groups, making it a flexible and highly effective option.

Importantly, healing doesn’t have to happen alone. In fact, group support can amplify your progress, helping you learn from others who are walking the same healing journey.

A place created to support you and designed to guide you through a complete, transformative experience that supports healing, all in one unforgettable weekend.

This life-changing event will feature renowned experts, powerful in-person healing techniques, group workshops, and supportive community connections.

Convergence takes away all the guesswork and overwhelm, offering you a direct path toward healing, renewal, and a flourishing life. Hundreds of people have already experienced profound transformation at Convergence — and now it’s your turn.

Visit www.convergencecampout.com for full details and registration.

Give yourself the gift of healing, connection, and a fresh start!

Additional Sources: Stress effects on the body: www.apa.org/topics/stress/body NIH – Emotional Processing and PTSD Treatment: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6357280/ Relationships - PTSD: National Center for PTSD: www.ptsd.va.gov/family/effect_relationships.asp How trauma causes brain fog & advice for healing: www.rula.com/blog/brain-fog-trauma-response/ Four Signs Trauma Has Affected Your Self-Worth | Psychology Today: www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-ptsd/202308/4-signs-trauma-has-affected-your-self-worth

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SHARING SPIRITUAL ENERGY AS WE CONNECT WITH OUR ANCESTORS O

ur ancestors are trying to contact us . Do you hear them? They may be trying through shouts or whispers, or by signs and symbols. The most frequently reported means of contact is through dream states, waking or sleeping. Waking dreams fall into the realm of synchronistic experiences, déjà vu, or mediative visions.

According to Pew research, fully 53% of Americans report being visited by a departed relative in a dream or another form. And these are just the ones who report or recognized who they were dreaming.

Once our ancestors have passed over into the spirit realm, they become energetic beings. While their physical bodies have passed, the essence of who they have been while embodied is still there, contained now in their energy bodies in the spiritual realm.

Many if not most spiritual traditions have rituals and ceremonies that honor their departed. William Faulkner famously said, “The past is never dead. It is not even past.”

Our ancestors are still with us, and as we acknowledge, honor, bless and help them, they can be of aide to us as well.

About the Author: Linda Yael Schiller, MSW, LICSW is an integrative mind/body/spiritual psychotherapist and consultant with over 40 years’ experience, and a long-term member of The International Association for the Study of Dreams. She is an international speaker and dreamwork and trauma treatment expert. The author of PTSDreams (Llewellyn, 2022), Modern Dreamwork (Llewellyn, 2019) Her upcoming book, Ancestral Dreaming: Healing Generational Wounds with Dreamwork will publish in November 2025.

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A dream or a visit?

There is a visceral difference between a dream of a departed relative and a visit. In a dream, you may have your mom or grandad show up as a character, or there is someone in your dream who reminds you of them. It is clear to you that they are a character in your dream.

When you have a visit, there is a felt sense of presence, a shiver of recognition, a frisson throughout your body.

You may hear their voice, or smell their perfume, or feel their hand touch your cheek. It is more vivid, more tangible.

Energy visits can come in waking or sleeping dreams, through people or signs, or symbols. For example, Marina’s father had passed a few months ago. She had been asking for a sign that he was ok, that he was at peace

and still with her, but had received no dreams or visits. One day she came to the group and excitedly told us that she got a sign. Her father’s name was George, and as she turned the corner, she saw the street sign for George Street. In this case, a literal sign! She recognized his sense of humor.

My friend Julie was worried about her mother’s severe chronic headaches. Her father had passed many years before, but he was a frequent visitor to her dream and waking life.

In despair, one day, Julie said to her dad, “I need an answer. What should I do for her?” And within minutes, her mother came out of the bedroom saying, “Do you think it could be my eyes?” That was the one specialist they hadn’t consulted yet, and when they did, he told them that they got there in the nick of time, before her vision became permanently impaired, and was able to treat her.

In our house, when my daughter was younger and she had a dilemma that we didn’t want to get into a power struggle with her about, I would advise her to ask her grandmothers; both of whom had passed over by that time. I don’t know if she got a dream visit or channeled them, but each time she came back with solid advice that I could get behind. And at a certain age, we know that our kids would rather get advice from anyone but their parents!

The energy of our ancestors is still there, able to be contacted from both sides of the veil.

A continuum of consciousness There is a continuum of consciousness available to us that contains

Plant Power

Heal Yourself with Medicinal Mushrooms, Roots, Flowers, and Herbs Wouter Bijdendijk With Joris Bijdendijk

Dream Wisdom Oracle 46 Cards and Guidebook

Greg Mahr, M.D. Heather Taylor-Zimmerman, Ph.D.

Wouter Bijdendijk explores the ethnobotany and applications of thirty plants, fruits, nuts, bulbs, roots, flowers, and mushrooms that support the immune system, digestion, endurance, vitality, and the brain. $35.00 • Hardcover • 288 pages ISBN 979-8888502693 Full-color throughout

Created by a psychologist-artist and a psychiatrist, this oracle deck will help you harness your dreams for personal growth and healing. This deck includes 46 full-color cards that explore common dream plots, settings, feelings, and figures. They provide guidance on remembering dreams and interacting with them, inducing lucid dreams, and the wisdom of nightmares.

The Complete Smudging Handbook

$30.00 • Cards ISBN 979-8888500453 Includes 46 color cards and 256-page book

$22.99 • Paperback • 176 pages ISBN 979-8888502839 Full-color throughout

67 Herbs, Woods, and Resins for Clearing and Emotional Balance Markus Schirner Offering a comprehensive A–Z catalog of 67 herbs, resins, and woods, Shirner explores the history and traditional and contemporary uses of these materials.

To View More Titles Visit InnerTraditions.com • (800) 246-8648 • AVAILABLE FROM SIMON & SCHUSTER AND WHOLESALERS NATIONWIDE

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energetic qualities and can offer us insight at differ levels of concreteness and consciousness. The continuum of conscious seems to range as follows: Wide Awake > Reverie or Daydreaming > Guided Imagery > Trance or Hypnotic State > Chemically Altered State > Edges of Sleep, The Hypnogogic or Hypnopompic Zones > Light Sleep > REM Sleep (dream state, rapid eye movements) > Lucid Dreaming (awareness of dreaming while asleep) > Transcendent or Spiritually Elevated State.

Ancestral visits containing spiritual energy and messages can come through at any of these states of awareness – we just have to be on the lookout for them.

Dream states and energy Einstein’s famous discovery that E=mc2 states that energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. On the most basic level, the equation says that energy and mass (matter) are interchangeable. They are different forms of the same thing.

Under the right conditions, energy can become mass, and vice versa. So, it is not that far a stretch from where quantum physics is exploring today to see that energetic beings can still be a part of our lives. The energetic imprint of our departed ancestors can still be available and viable after their physical body has departed.

The six types of calls I have identified six types of calls that we may receive from our ancestors. In addition, we can also invite a visit using a process called dream incubation. In that, we simply send out a request to the universe of dreams before we go to sleep at night,

inviting or requesting a visit from a loved one, or to be sent information that they have that we desire.

The six ways our ancestors may come through are as follows:

safety. They are still seeking it, and we can help them to heal this intergenerational trauma with our blessings and rituals, help ourselves as well in the process, and then be able to pass on the healing rather than the trauma to our children and descendants.

Message 1 “Hello, we are still here, you are not alone.”

They come to say hello, to greet you, to comfort you, to assure you that they are still part of your life.

Message 5 “My desire for revenge or my grudge is not yet over – I want you to fix it and carry out my vendetta.”

Message 3

Think here about grudge matches like the Hatfields and the McCoys, or the Capulets and Montagues. Sometimes the original argument is buried so far in history that you don’t even know where or how it started, just that there is someone in your family “we don’t talk to”, or you discover in a genealogy search that has never been mentioned. Whatever the slight or injury was, it is not your job to carry it on in perpetuity. There are several energetic means by which you can shield yourself from these kinds of visits and send them back to the Light to be healed themselves. Please use them before engaging with this type of visitor.

“You need some assistance, let me help you. Please, listen!”

Message 6

Message 2 “Take these gifts or blessings or apologies.”

Here, the ancestors come with a gift to you from their current state of being and knowledge that they were not able to offer in their embodied life. Sometimes they have regrets and now come to offer apologies and ask for your forgiveness for any transgressions that occurred when they were alive.

Like several of the previous examples, our ancestors can come through with advice, solutions, and ideas for problem-solving in our family, our creativity, our health, or our personal lives.

Message 4

“Remember me. Carry my name, my gifts, and my memory on to your children. Tell my stories.”

Pass my memory on to your children and grandchildren, become a good future ancestor yourself as you preserve the memory of those who have passed over.

“Please, please help and heal me, I am still suffering!”

This message comes when our ancestors themselves have died unhealed.

They had been through pain and trauma in their embodied lives and died before they found peace and

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CaRddeckS

SOAK UP THE SUN

Transformational Vibes from Sunrise to Sunset

S

unlight is necessary for our being. It warms us. It provides nourishment. It brightens our mood. Sunshine inspires us and brings forth hope after a fearful night. The sun’s blazing light reveals all to us of our surroundings. Harness its power to nurture, expand, and continually renew during this life journey with these bright fresh decks.

QUEEN OF THE SUN ORACLE: GUIDANCE THROUGH SOLAR & SEASONAL ENERGIES

By Stacey Demarco Published by Rockpool Publishing ISBN: 9781922785022 44 cards, 112-page book $24.95

Sun goddesses and gods from around the world are radiantly illustrated

by Demarco. The cards also feature eclipses, sun flares, Celtic Wheel and the 11-year solar cycle to light seeker’s path forward. The book features small color photos with guidance for each card. A dazzling deck to highlight to your customers!

About the Author: Melinda Carver is a Spiritual Business Expert and an award-winning Author, Psychic Medium and Speaker. She has appeared on TV, radio, podcasts, corporate events, expos and stores. She is the President of the Church of Radiant Lights located in Cleveland, OH. www.MelindaCarver.com

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SUN-STEEPED: A GOLDEN HOUR-INFUSED AFFIRMATION DECK

By Shannon Christie Red Wheel Weiser ISBN: 9782252930 54 cards, 64-page book $19.95

Christie’s hand-drawn illustrations in muted sunshine colors surround the affirmations on each card. She urges seekers to bask in the warmth of wonder, knowledge, self-realization and determination. Showcase this deck next to your tea products!

DARK LIGHT ORACLE

By Carole-Anne Eschenazi, Illustrated by Alexandra V. Bach Published by U.S. Games Systems ISBN: 978646711031 40 cards, 76-page book $22.95

Intensely detailed, Bach’s artwork captures your attention and does not let go. The play of light and shadow, beautiful women, and the moody atmosphere featured on each card are breathtaking. Eschenazi’s booklet features guidance, keywords and affirmations to assist the seeker in exploring their hopes and fears.

Spotlight this luminous deck for seekers looking for help to light the way through their shadows!

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editorial J U LY-AU GUST 202 5

Retailing Insight Magazine is a bimonthly trade magazine specializing in the conscious living retail market. The magazine is published exclusively for qualified retailers and small independent businesses in the United States. Our mission is to share one on business advice, product reviews, advertisement from top sellers and makers in the industry, and exclusive topics to help business continue to thrive.

Editorial Roberta Gazzarolle Art Gisely Fernandes Digital Media & Sales adsales@retailinginsight.com Contributing Writers Melinda Carver Avery Goodman Richard Lister Linda Yael Schiller Jacki Smith

©2025 New Way Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 2372-7977.

Volume 39/ Issue 4/ July-August 2025. The magazine is published bimonthly/ six times a year (January, March, May, July, September, November) by New Way Publishing, LLC.

WWW.RETAILINGINSIGHT.COM Retailing Insight Magazine is published by New Way Publishing, LLC. P.O. Box 12252 Charlotte, NC 28220 circ@retailinginsight.com

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The #1 trade magazine for New Age retailers!

SUBSCRIBE HERE

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A magazine published exclusively for retailers and small independent businesses in the United States, sharing exclusive topics, new products, stories from retailers, and more.

RETAILING INSIGHT July-August 2025