Vision 20 by Gareth

VISION 20 November 2006

P10 Visionaries P14 Afterlife P16 Traditional Halloween P20 Experiences Explained

P22 Spirits of Rome P24 A Little Bird Told Me

Jennifer Love Hewitt

talks to the dead as the Ghost Whisperer on E4

P28 Spirits & the Sea P30 Portraits from Beyond P34 Meet the Ancestors P40 Quiet Meditation P42 Roman Superstitions P43 The Angel Oracle P44 Dream Directory

P36 Stories from the Other Side Gordon Smith gets personal

P48 Taking the Waters P51 Paws for Thought P52 Crystal Healing ... Quick! P54 Cold Remedies P56 Crown Chakra And The Rest ... P58 Coven Corner P5 Monthly News / My Psychic Journal P6 Lifestyle Tips P19 Competitions P26 Destiny Doctors P46 Back Issues P47 Subscriptions P50 Next Month P74 Reviews P77 Vision Shop P82 Day Tripper

P60 Astrological Overview P61 Horoscopes - your November forecast by James Christie P76 Destiny Diary

P38 â&#x20AC;&#x153;My

haunted doll was evil !â&#x20AC;? 3 Vision 20

Vision

ello, and welcome to another Vision! We are rapidly approaching the busiest day of the year for ghost investigators and mediums – Halloween. Naturally, we know that you’ll want an issue full of articles that are appropriate to the time of year as well as informative on other subjects. You’ll find out how to spend a traditional Halloween on P16; how you can get in touch with your ancestors on P34 and a scrying spell in Coven Corner on P59. You can also learn how to perform a

Samhain (Sabbat festival for witches and wiccans) in Coven Corner too. Read up about the latest TV supernatural series on P8 and P14 and buy a whole shop full of goodies on P77! You can also learn all about Roman beliefs as this is our Roman issue too! See P22, P24, P42 and P48 for more about them. Do keep writing in to me with your comments and suggestions – we love to hear from you and you may win a prize! See you next month,

Diana

Letters

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Star Letter Gypsies don’t get a ‘look in’ in other magazines Let me first say how refreshing it is to see a spiritual magazine that is not just aimed at women. Articles I particularly found of interest (in Vision 18) were the article on Spirituality of the Romani – it was fantastic and informative. I have worked within a

I’m chilling out! Just a quick note to say a big “Thank You” for the Chill Out CD that I won in the Gary Plunkett competition in Vision Magazine (issue 14). It is a fantastic CD and I must say that very little work has been done since! Thanks for a superb magazine, I have not long started on my 'journey' and love the info in the mag. Margaret Gouldon, Bude, Cornwall

Vision 20

website: www.visionmagazine.uk.com

Senior Graphic Designer: Angela Benson

Each letter published will receive a copy of Pure Calm from the Pure Series worth £10.95, courtesy of New World Music. Let Stuart Jones’s fluidity and perfection on keyboards clear your mind. The Star Letter will win four titles from the Pure series including Pure Calm, Pure Dreaming, Pure Love & Light and Pure Tranquility – worth a total of £43.80. For further information and a free catalogue, contact New World Music on 01986 891600, or visit www.newworldmusic.com We reserve the right to edit letters.

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few Romani Gypsy sites myself and they usually don’t get a ‘look in’ most mags. Also The Country Table I found to be of great help and do tell Carole Chui to keep up the good work! Geoffrey Keyte’s Crystal Healing: well … I’ve seen more info on his couple of pages than I have seen being taught on so called professional crystal courses! S Cummins, West Hampstead,

A great team! I love having your magazine every month and look forward to it dropping on my mat. You have a great team working for you with so many gifted people willing to share their gift with us and helping us along our spiritual path. Ann Winter, Felixstowe.

Subscriptions: Nikki Letch 0113 286 6789 Visionaries Co-ordinator: Nance Turner-Collings Accounts: Lindsay Deane Distributors Native Publisher Services 0113 236 0559 www.nativeps.co.uk Contributors: Madeleine Walker; Debbie Rushbrooke; Hayley Jo-Anne Kenwright; Marian Green; John Preston; Katie Doherty; Sangeeta Uppaladinni; Kyle Gray; Michelle Jones; Carole Chui; Dave Brennan; Michael Hallowell; Rosalind Collier; Samantha Hamilton; Andrea Rivers; Paula Garton; James Christie.

Logo ©Vision magazine Ltd The Vision logo is a registered trademark. It may not be used by anyone other than ourselves under any conditions.

Founder: Sammi Addey Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those held by the publishers and editors. © Copyright Vision magazine Ltd and/or contributors. All rights reserved. No part, written or visual (including adverts typeset by Vision) of the magazine (including the logo) may be reproduced, without written permission from the publishers. Call 0113 286 6789 for subscriptions and back issues. All images © Vision unless otherwise stated. Competitions: The first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will be notified. Competitions are open to all residents of the UK aged 18 or over except employees of Vision Magazine Ltd, their families, contributors, its printers and anyone else connected to the competition. There is no cash alternative unless otherwise stated. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Ghost Hunt for Children in Need Derby Paranormal Hunts are offering you the chance to attend a live Ghost Hunt at Elvaston Castle on Friday 17th November – in aid of Children in Need. There will be live BBC Coverage at the event as well as some celebrities in the field. For your opportunity to take part in a real ghost hunt and help needy children, contact Derby Paranormal Hunts on 01322 752126 or 07870 584655. Vision hopes to be there, so you can catch up with us then - live! Email: enquiries@derbyparanormalhunters.co.uk

Website: www.derbyparnormalhunters.co.uk

New paranormal film to be released Psychological thriller Puritan is a new film offering, coming to our screens sometime in October or November. Vision have advance notice of this release, which tells the story of a

troubled writer (Simon Puritan), who is struggling through the aftermath of a failed marriage. Puritan has an obsessive interest in paranormal activity and supernatural events and as a result, his main source of income is as a medium in which he brings solace to the bereaved - at a price. Disgusted with himself after his latest crooked séance, Puritan drowns his sorrows and is subsequently almost killed by a train when he drunkenly lunges on the platform as it pulls into the station. A stranger cries out a warning, but it is too late and Puritan’s actions kick start a series of eerie and unexpected events… Puritan is “an intelligent and intense edge-of-your-seat thriller, tackling fascinating issues such as timetravel, communication with the dead and the concept of the ‘Fourth Dimension’”. Starring, amongst others, “Lock Stock’s” Nick Moran, the original ‘Hutch’ David Soul and Ralph Brown known for his cult role in “Withnail and I”. Puritan will hit our screens soon: watch out for it!

Don’t forget Parafest! On Friday October 27th and Saturday October 28th Parafest 2006 will be in full swing. This event combines a Paranormal conference, trade show and the ‘En Masse Passing Over’ - a huge internationally attended sitting, intended to help pass over to the Other Side as many trapped Spirits as possible. Also incorporating a Victorian fun fair; Chinese lion dancers; Native American Dance and a Paranormal Investigation this event is surely going to be huge! Join thousands of people across the world in helping trapped Spirits and have a great time as well. You can meet staff from Vision too! For further details or to book, visit www.parafest2006.com

WIN a free reading from Jay! See how Jay’s psychic quest is progressing first-hand. Send your name and address to the Vision address marked ‘MY PSYCHIC JOURNAL’. One lucky reader will win a free reading from Jay! All Vision rules apply (P4).

don’t want readers to think my path has been all happiness and light. I think everyone doing spiritual work has doubts from time to time. When you go through prolonged periods meditating and tuning in and all you get is a deafening silence from the other side; it is only natural and human for small seeds of doubt to creep in. Even if you’ve had confirmation or hard evidence of the afterlife, you still tend to try to explain it away, whilst silently pleading with ‘them’ for a sign. I’d been doing short meditations in bed every night for many months and one particular night when I was feeling rather grumpy anyway, I lost my temper. “Well, if you can’t be bothered”, I thought angrily, “So much for the lot of you! You’re not real anyway!” and I promptly rolled over to go to sleep. The next thing I felt was a large hand cup the back of my head. This hand raised my head and then ever so gently pushed my head forwards and down

so that my face was forced into a beautiful, large white lotus flower! As the soft petals enveloped my face with their sweet moisture I felt, rather than heard, “right, we’ll show you!”. I was shocked by this and shot bolt upright in bed and opened my eyes. I raised my hand to touch my face; but it was dry. Needless to say I learned my lesson, I had nothing else for several months after this incident either, but I stopped doubting them. You can’t demand of Spirit, they aren’t our puppets just as we aren’t theirs. They have things to do just as we have and if they’ve stepped back for a while, (and usually with good reason), you have to respect that and bide your time. They never abandon us, even if at times you may feel as though they have. You are never alone. Peace always,

Jay 5 Vision 20

Love is not just about partners, it’s also about friends. It is friends that we often take for granted, sometimes even more so than partners. It is friends that we need most when relationships break up. So – if you want to keep your friends, it is important to remind them that you are thinking of them. Show them you care: bake a walnut cake! Even if you are not a good cook – give it a try, your friends will realise how much time and thought you’ve put into it. Also as Walnuts are sacred to Jupiter and will attract luck and good fortune, you can share this cake with your friends; to ensure that now, and in the future, you will experience the good times and bad times together.

Spell for Health You will need: A white candle; some fragrant oil (lavender is good) and a Smudge stick or sage Cleanse and prepare your sacred space (see Coven Corner – see P58/59 for details). When you are happy, anoint the candle with some oil, concentrating hard on your desire. Light the candle and recite the following three times: “Lord and Lady hear my plea Keep my loved ones near to Thee Bless <name> with your healing charm

Keep them healthy and safe from harm An it harm none - make them pain-free And as it will so it shall be!”

Allow the candle to burn down completely (and safely!).

Want a spicy love life? Try a combination of tips from different traditions! Put knick-knacks in pairs, making sure that anything you display in your bedroom reflects happy relationships. A pair of mandarin ducks (Feng Shui) for love or two red candles for good sex, make clear your intentions! Use the right aromas to keep interest (Aromatherapy). A few drops of Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang and Rose in a burner are wonderful for a romantic atmosphere, they also have aphrodisiac properties. For real spice – add ginger! Before you go to sleep, recall the best sex you’ve ever had (Creative Visualisation). Imagine it as strongly as you can, then leave the visualisation to the universe and go to sleep. Repeat until the universe answers.

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Getting on with work colleagues can sometimes be a lot harder than it sounds. Using a little Feng Shui in the office can help immensely and can be done discreetly and inexpensively too. Are you faced with sharp desk corners? If you can’t file them down, put a pot plant on them – it will minimise the effects of negative energy (Shar Chi). Do you feel paranoid at work? Maybe it’s because your back faces others? Move your chair so that you have a wall behind you, you’ll feel better straight away! If you have a window view, are you looking at pylons or spires? These also send out negative energy, so perhaps you can arrange a soft drape around the window, or put a fan or wind chimes between you and the view to minimise the effect.

Have you tried our lifestyle tips and not managed to achieve anything? Have you worked your way through Coven Corner religiously (pun intended) and still not managed to create a single change in your life? Believe it or not, the most critical ingredient to any spell or self-help tip is your attitude. If you want to be able to create a new you, you will have to become one on the inside before the outside is really going to take any notice! So how do you do that? Simple … well, actually .. no it’s not. If you are currently always tired and you desperately would like more energy, you must create a mind-set that you are, right this minute, a full of life and energetic person. To get that spell to work, to create that new you – you must start with some work on yourself. Try it. Then watch it happen.

I’m sure you know, money is not all it appears to be! In dreams, this is especially the case. Many people worry when they’ve had a dream about losing their purse or wallet. There is actually no need to worry about your finances if this happens to you, as what is actually being represented is your inner self and your own value. What you are actually telling yourself in your dream is that you are having difficulty recognizing your own worth – you will not lose money because of it. If you have a dream like this, think about the value of things money can’t buy, and see how many of these you offer other people. Love, friendship, caring, consideration, help? Then see how worthy you really are and the dream will disappear.

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Jennifer Love Hewitt is the Ghost Whisperer, a series about a woman with remarkable psychic talents …

f you’ve been lucky enough to see a good medium doing a demonstration, you will be aware of their contact with Spirit; as they walk and talk with this invisible someone that is giving them such amazing information. There appears to be no difference from a ‘normal’ conversation, except that the other party cannot be seen or heard! If you’ve ever wondered what it is like to be that medium and speak to Spirit, Ghost Whisperer is a ‘must-see’ programme. Starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, the programme follows the adventures of Melinda Gordon, a young woman who has been able to see and hear the dead from an early age. Earthbound spirits who have yet to cross over to the ‘Other Side’ seek out her help to communicate and resolve unfinished business with the living. Melinda sometimes has a hard time accepting her ‘gift’, and although she embraces her unique ‘abilities’ as a blessing and sometimes a curse, she always helps her clients - alive or dead - find emotional closure. 8 Vision 20

The Ghost Whisperer exorcised! Jennifer herself is no newcomer to Spirits. After experiencing a series of paranormal events herself, she had her 1920s-style home cleansed by the woman her character in Ghost Whisperer is based on. Mary Ann Winkowski, a real life communicator with Spirits, says of Jennifer’s ghost, “It was almost like a ‘stalker-ghost’. He went to the same high school that she went to. “Apparently when this guy died, they went to clean out his house and he had a whole wall of nothing but her pictures on it.”

Jennifer says, “I wasn’t really scared by him, but I thought maybe he should be in another place. That way things would stop rattling in my kitchen.” This is why Ghost Whisperer is more than entertainment. Behind the stories are people who are Ghost Whiperers: James Van Praagh (medium and Executive Producer on Ghost Whisperer) and Mary Ann. Ghosts on Film The Spirits are more than happy to make their own guest appearances too, it seems! The cast and crew of the show have noticed a number of inexplicable occurrences on frames of Ghost

Back to the living, Jennifer is delighted that the show has helped some people come to terms with their grief and loss. “I had this woman come up to me and she was so sweet, she was probably 75 and we’re sitting there talking and she’s telling me how on Friday nights she gets together with her husband and they hold hands on the couch and they eat their favorite meal and they watch the show and how she never misses it and she loves it. Like 20 minutes into the conversation, I realised that her husband was dead.

Jennifer as Melinda

“She likes the show because she thinks her husband comes to spend time with her then, but I was broken-hearted because I didn’t know how to be the Ghost Whisperer in real life. I was like, ‘What do I do?’ You can’t fake your way through something like that. It was really hard.” Grandmothers and talking pets

Whisperer film. Editors behind the scenes have spotted strange images when they check back. Producers think that perhaps the dead ‘extras’ are trying to tell loved ones they’ve left behind that they’re OK, but whatever the reason, they are there! Jennifer says, “They find presences on film all the time. In one instance they froze the still and saw a person in the background who wasn’t in the frame before or the frame after.”

Jennifer has had messages from the other side, too. “We had an evening with James where he did this thing and my grandmother came through. She just wanted to say hello and tell me that she was looking out for me. It was really nice.” Jennifer has also called on the services of an animal communicator.

Jennifer explains, “She said that my dog is very upset about the construction work in the neighbourhood, which I thought was cute. (And then) she said that my dog was missing this certain toy, so she had me go get the toy box - yes, my dog has a toy box! She brought out the toy (and) my dog has not stopped playing with this toy - it’s the only toy she wants to play with.” Funeral invitations Ghost Whisperer has had a huge impact on fans, it seems. Jennifer is often invited to appear at funerals because fans confuse her with her character, Melinda. She explains, “I get invited to funerals a lot. I have to kind of laugh about it because I can’t just walk around feeling sad all the time, but a part of me really feels bad that I can’t help these people.” Now showing on Sundays on E4 at 8pm, Ghost Whisperer and the lovely Jennifer bring us closer to the world of the medium and, from the ghostly goings-on during filming, closer to the Spirit world. As well as support from those ‘who know’ behind-the-scenes to add real authenticity to the character of Melinda, the shows are touching and thoughtprovoking. If you want to know what it feels like to have Spirit around you and you want a good ‘night-in’ doing so, Ghost Whisperer should be in your TV viewing diary.

Real Spirit voices used In line with this ghostly trend, one episode of Ghost Whisperer includes real recordings of Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP). The episode entitled Voices features paranormal sounds from those who have passed over and whose voices were captured through electronic devices. CBS, the company that broadcasts Ghost Whisperer in the US, offers background information about the Spirit voices and some additional recordings. You can find these and pictures on their website: www.cbs.com/primetime/ghost_whisperer/) Melinda, with her husband, Jim

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The Time: A wet evening in August The Place: Skipton Castle, Skipton, West Yorkshire The Visionaries: Nance Turner-Collings, Dean Ballance and Diana Jarvis

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ello my friends! Welcome to another monthly fix of The Visionaries. This month we visited the lovely Skipton Castle, in the quaint old town of Skipton in West Yorkshire. Yet again, we have lots of great pictures for you to feast your eyes on and because we have extended the Visionaries, more information about what happened during our vigil. You know, in my opinion, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t beat walking around a castle. One of the joys of being a Visionary is having the opportunity to visit truly wonderful places, and Skipton Castle rates as one of these! Apart from being old, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really quite spooky too: just the way we like it! There is a real rabbit-warren of corridors, with loads of connecting rooms and lots of dark corners, which added to the ambience of the place and

put us in the mood. Normally, I would be afraid of those dark corners. Not, you understand, because of any spirits lurking there … but rather because of Dean, (bless him), who just loves jumping out at me. However, Dean was on his best behaviour this month (maybe because I nagged him publicly last month?). Cheers, Deano! As usual we went to Skipton armed with lots of equipment and enthusiasm, each of us mediums taking a different route around the castle so that we couldn’t possibly collaborate on what we picked up. If we did we’d get a HUGE telling off by Sammi, Vision’s MD (trust me, no-one would want that – but we love you really Sammi!). Because there were so many rooms to cover at the castle, I am just going to give you a run-down of what each of us mediums got individually, just to make things a bit easier to follow for you. Even a map of the castle is unlikely to help. We got lost enough, so I think if I tried to give you a tour round remotely, you’d get even more lost! So here we go, sit back, don’t forget your brew (Yorkshire term for cup of tea or coffee! Ed.), and enjoy our journey through Skipton Castle. Di’s experiences Di started off her tour by walking down to the cellar and then

The imposing entrance to Skipton Castle with the motto Desormais: “Henceforth”.

through to the Dungeon. As she was walking down the stairs to the Dungeon, she reported that she was followed by a miserable man with sideburns and lots of hair on his face and his head. His face was plump and he had ruddy cheeks and looked puffed out. Di said that she felt the man had drunk too much ale and eaten too much good food. She also thought that there was a good possibility that he suffered from Gout. Just to add to the atmosphere of a cold and stony dungeon, Di said that she also got the strong impression that this man was hoping that she would stay in the Dungeons and not come back up again! Charming! However, he didn’t follow her from the area, which was just as well I think, as he had such an awful attitude. On her way round to the courtyard, Di picked up a guard in a corridor that ran from the wine cellar to the courtyard. This guard had a metal helmet and she could see him wearing a hessian (or some similar fabric) tunic. She felt that he was waiting to be relieved from his watch, but that no relief ever came. It seems that he has been loyal to his cause and still kept his watch – centuries later! Di also picked up that there was a Masonic connection in the castle – she felt sure that the Freemason fraternity had been involved in some way with the running of either the

Nance in the courtyard with company!

castle or the town. She could sense that lots of business had been done in the castle – a lot of ‘wheeler-dealing’ … and that it was very important politically. She certainly felt that there was a ‘boys’ club’ atmosphere in a lot of the rooms, but also that the politics talked about were very hush-hush and probably above the knowledge and understanding of the general populace. She was also sensing a bloody battle near the castle. She said that the battle, although small, affected the inhabitants of the castle a great deal. She picked up on a Lord of the castle, and said that he was known as a pillar of the community. However, she felt that he was a womaniser in private and that he was a lot darker than his reputation suggested. Di said he gave her the creeps! In the Lord’s bedchamber she picked up that a girl had been raped, only young, barely 17. Di felt sure that this horrific crime had been hushed up by the family as Di believed the perpetrator to be one of the family, probably the Lord himself! She also believed that this poor girl suffered a miscarriage, which was the result of the rape. What a horrible thought! In the Watchtower, as Di was looking out of the window, she saw a woman with long, jet-black hair in a white shift running across the lawns outside. No, not a real woman … well at least not a real living woman! Di felt that she was trying to escape from someone and also sensed that she was a member of the castle’s family. Dean’s experiences The first thing that Dean picked up was the name George. Along with this name he got a strong feeling that ‘George’ 11 Vision 20

Dean checking out the EMF readings in the room

Di concentrating on a presence in the Chapel

strong feeling that ‘George’ was not a man to be messed with and that he was very important in the history of the castle. He felt that the spirit was a very proud person when he was down here and wanted Dean to know that he still visits here frequently. Dean could definitely feel a combination of respect, awe and fear while George was around. At different times around the castle Dean found he was short of breath, without any good reason. Dean is fit and he simply doesn’t get breathless climbing a few stairs. He also had recurring pains in his right leg. It seems likely that the spirit of ‘George’ was following him! In one of the drawing rooms, Dean felt very ‘out of it’. He seemed quite distant – to the point that it was Di that

mentioned it rather than Dean himself. Dean is a personable and talkative man, so Di (also talkative!) was quite surprised to find him withdrawn. If you look at the history of the Withdrawing Room that he was in, you may see why he was behaving in this out-of-character fashion! Skipton Castle is a confusing collection of rooms that go off in all directions, so I was really impressed when, on one staircase, Dean picked up the dungeon. There were no signs to indicate where the dungeon was and even if there was still one in the castle. We had the tour map taken off us before we went round (to ensure no cheating) so when we went down those stairs and found the dungeon, we knew Dean was tuned in- so well done, Dean!

told that there was always enough food on the table then. I did get the sense (wherever I went in the castle) that I was being watched, and felt that we were welcome, but only to a point. In the living quarters I nearly fainted, I came over all sick and couldn’t wait to get out of there, it took me quite a while to calm down, I didn’t like the energy. I picked up on a very strong royal connection, I felt that someone in this house was very much in favour with royalty, maybe even related? I did sense a family scandal, though, there was such as strong feeling of sadness and shame. I do believe that something had happened that brought about a downfall and that the persons associated with it were repentant, but didn’t want to be here. In the dungeon I felt very cramped. It was smelly and I felt that there were lots of people in here at once, even women. I was given a connection

Nance’s experiences The first thing I picked up on, was a lady. I felt that she was very wellto-do, especially as she was dressed quite elaborately and with carefully coiffured hair. I felt that Skipton Castle was a place that she loved and felt at home in. I also got the name Anne. In the banqueting hall I felt so much energy, the place was buzzing, and felt that there was always something happening in here. I was given the middle 1300s as a significant period and was

Orbs in a doorway from the courtyard

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A spirit presence getting close to Nance?

we couldn’t really take this anomaly any further. In the Withdrawing Room, we had a strong reading near one of the windows, where Di saw the woman with black hair run across the lawns. This was also the room where Dean seemed spaced out. So there we are my friends, another month, another Visionaries. Hope you have enjoyed this month’s edition and if your ever passing through Skipton, take a look inside the castle – there is more there than first meets the eye!

The Visionaries and special guests - are any of the orbs the Spirit of ‘George’?

with Clifford’s Tower (York), and could see shackles on some prisoners. I also picked up on a sentry and someone on lookout above the dungeons. In the chapel in the grounds I did sense a presence but couldn’t pick up any more than that. As you can see from the picture(s) around the font, there does seem to have been someone there.

EMF and Dowsing There were some interesting dowsing results, more so than EMF. In the kitchens the pendulum swayed towards a certain point in the corner and kept doing so. It had not behaved like this anywhere else, but sadly we didn’t get any extraordinary EMF readings in the same area and none of us picked up a spirit, so

Di checking pendulum readings in the withdrawing room

History of Skipton Castle

kipton Castle is one of the most complete and wellpreserved medieval castles in England. It has a beautiful Tudor courtyard with an ancient tree which makes an enchanting place to start a tour of this fascinating building. Skipton has a long and varied history – the most notable name connected with it is the Cliffords – a name that Nance correctly picked up. Nance was also correct that the 1300s were a significant period – it was in 1311 that the castle was granted to Robert, the first Lord Clifford, whose family lived in the castle, from then until 1676 when the last Clifford died. Coincidentally, (or not!) it was Anne Clifford who was that last Clifford – Anne was the name that Nance picked up in connection with her lady. The coincidences continue as Anne Clifford was the daughter of George Clifford. She was born at Skipton Castle, 30th January,

1590. She fought equally tenaciously for her rights and for the King’s cause in the Civil War, when Skipton Castle withstood a three year siege. George Clifford was hugely admired and respected. He was surely the most flamboyant member of the Clifford family, an extravagant courtier and naval adventurer. He was an accomplished jouster - the Queen’s Champion. He was also a distinguished Admiral who played an important part in the destruction of the Spanish Armada and was first Governor of the East India Company. No doubt about it that he would be pretty breathless after all that! We can’t find a reference to a limp as Dean suggested, but if George jousted, he would certainly have had damage to his limbs at some point! Di also picked up a bloody battle near the castle that affected the inhabitants. On 30th December 1460, a foraging party from Sandal Castle near Wakefield, came under attack from the Lancastrian army which had marched to Sandal to besiege the Duke of York. This attack, led by ‘Bloody’ Lord John Clifford

of Skipton Castle and Andrew Trollope, was watched by Richard, Duke of York. Outnumbered roughly 23,000 to 5,000 and tricked by Clifford, the battle’s result was inevitable. Lord Clifford executed Richard and the Duke of York’s second son Edmund, Earl of Rutland. He was sixteen. Despite having surrendered, Lord Clifford murdered Edmund, saying ‘Thy father slayed mine: so shall I slay thee.’ It was from this act that Lord Clifford gained the name ‘Bloody’ Clifford The Butcher. Finally, both Dean and Di had a reaction to one room in the castle. The room in question was the Withdrawing Room where, according to tradition, Mary Queen of Scots was temporarily help prisoner in Skipton Castle. This room has a view towards Scotland that she must have thought of as she looked out of her prison … 13 Vision 20

The supernatural drama series Afterlife returns to our screens in late September. Have you seen it yet? Read on to find out why you should!

Lesley and Andrew as Alison Mundy and Dr Robert Bridge

s Vision reported in the last issue, Afterlife, the superb ITV supernatural drama, will return to our screens in September. By the time you read this article you may already have missed a couple of programmes! So should you bother to tune in? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Lesley Sharp as Alison Mundy The first series of Afterlife introduced us to the talented Lesley Sharp as Alison Mundy. Alison is a medium haunted by her natural ability and who has had ‘the gift’ since she was a 14 Vision 20

child. However, she is constantly being contacted by spirits and is desperately trying to escape from them in a bid to live a ‘normal’ life. “Alison is trying to escape the spirits because she has got to the point where she cannot keep them away for long periods. She finds it debilitating and exhausting,” says Lesley. Most people reading this article would surely wonder why Alison would have such a problem! Certainly, most of our readers would give their right arm for the chance to have such a highly developed mediumistic ability.

However, Afterlife highlights difficulties that some mediums do experience when they have a gift so close to the surface. It is not always easy, and can be very difficult to live with sometimes. Difficult to live with for ‘Alison’ it may be, but Lesley has found it quite easy to live with her new Royal Television Society award for Best Actress that she received for her performance as Alison! Lesley’s co-star in the series is Andrew Lincoln, who plays Dr Robert Bridge, a psychology lecturer and a committed sceptic.

Andrew Lincoln as Robert Bridge The chemistry between the two characters makes compulsive viewing, as their turbulent and emotional relationship moves from one paranormal adventure to the next. “Robert’s interpretation of what is happening is completely opposite to what Alison’s experience is. He is such an arch sceptic, and she is the believer. That is at the heart of the series, and what hopefully will make people watch”, says Andrew.

subject and met Gordon Smith in order to prepare herself.

shape or form, even if that is being kept alive in someone’s memory.

Lesley says, “I met Gordon Smith and watched him conduct a spiritualist meeting. People are in a heightened state of emotion. That makes them very vulnerable and open. I think because of

“My psychic door is closed, but I hope it will open. I am open to friendly spirits.” So how does Andrew feel about the After life and about Spirit?

“They are both damaged human beings, who are finding solace in one another, and finding empathy in one another’s plight. I don’t think they have even considered some kind of romance between them. It is too complicated for there to be romance.” More about the new series The series, like any good series, is as much about the living as it is the dead – if not more so. The characters are truly multi-dimensional, so you get your paranormal fix and also learn, from their point of view, what makes these characters tick. It’s difficult not to get drawn into their lives and their experiences. Many people are already fans from watching the first series and have been desperate for the new one to air. Undoubtedly, that will be partly due to the fact that the first series left viewers hanging (don’t you just hate it when they do that?) as Alison’s life was left in the balance after a séance. The new series opens to Alison recovering from her lifethreatening experience. The episode has also affected Robert, who is now having to reconsider his scepticism about her mediumistic powers. We wondered how Lesley prepared for the complicated role of Alison Mundy?

Andrew and Lesley on location

the world we live in now, people are asking themselves what happens when we die; if this life is so difficult and fraught, is there anything on the other side to offer comfort and help?

“I don’t believe there is this kind of place where people can go and communicate with people. I do believe there is a soul, and people’s spirits, and various qualities of human beings remain with you.

“I think there is growing interest in consulting people who may be able to be conduits to the afterlife. My own thoughts on the subject are unresolved. I want to believe there is some Nirvana that everybody will end up in. But the cynical side of me thinks, as Philip Pullman writes, ‘we really end up as dust, and as part of the universe.’”

“A human being can affect you so profoundly that their spirit is kept with you. I know there are friends of mine I will always keep with me. You can carry their spirit with you even if they are absent by distance or death.

So does Lesley believe in the Afterlife? Does she have any psychic powers herself?

Preparing to be a medium

Spirits and Afterlife

Lesley admits that she felt uneasy at a spiritualist meeting she attended as she prepared for her role as a medium in Afterlife. Before filming began, Lesley read books by mediums, watched television documentaries about the

“Gordon Smith told me that when the spirits come to him it is like downloading information onto a computer. That makes sense to me. “Human life is about energy. One’s energy never ceases to exist in some

“I am very open, and I don’t discount anyone’s beliefs. I have the utmost respect for people’s faiths.” So, with exceptional casting and an ‘edge-of-your-seat’ storyline, here is a series not to be missed! If you have been missing some quality drama and have a hankering for some seriously spooky paranormal viewing, you have both your wishes granted in Afterlife. Catch Lesley and Andrew in the new series, which will start on ITV1 at 9pm from September 16th. We will certainly be watching ... 15 Vision 20

Michelle Jones takes us back to the days of old, when Halloween was more than Trick or Treat. Liven up your Halloween by reviving these ancient traditions

Going back in time

houlies and ghosties and longlegged beasties and things that go bump in the night…what is your view of Halloween? Do you think of it as just a time for the kids to dress up – do you think it is all a load of hocus pocus? Or do you believe that behind the hype and the plastic false teeth, there are messages still just as relevant today as they were in the distant past? Take hold of my hand tightly as we journey back in time, back to the days when storing enough food for the winter could mean the difference between life and death …

and there were no 24 hour supermarkets to rely on for that extra pint of milk! Many of the customs we have today are watered-down versions of ancient practices which, it was believed, would help to ward off evil spirits and bring in good fortune. The time around the end of October and the beginning of November was known as Samhain (pronounced ‘Sow-en’), which translates as Summer’s End. This was also seen as the end of the old year and the start of the new to the Celts and the Ancient Britons. The Autumnal Equinox has just passed, the days are rapidly becoming shorter and the dark time of the year lies ahead, with all its inherent problems.

This is the time when the crone aspect of the Triple Goddess or Cailleach Bheur as she is sometimes called (in Scotland), strides across the land, bringing cold, darkness – and wisdom. She is said to turn to stone on Beltane Eve (April 30th). The last of the crops had to be harvested and brought in by the end of October and a corn dolly would be made from the last sheaf, so that the spirit of the corn has a home until the following year, when he will be ploughed back into the land with the seed, ready to grow once more. Any crops still left in the fields after Samhain were considered unfit to eat, as mischievous spirits and fairies would ruin them. The Pooka was particularly well known for this, and may well be the original root of the word Spook. Bonfire Traditions (Bone-Fire) Samhain is one of four Celtic Fire Festivals which marked the quarters of the year; the others are Imbolc, in February, Beltane in May, and Lughnasadh (or the far more easily pronounced Lammas) in August. As a part of the preparations for surviving the winter, older or weaker animals would be slaughtered for food and salted to preserve the meat – their bones would be burned and this is the root of the word Bonfire, or, more literally Bone-Fire. This is also the origin of the custom still practiced by some of writing down those things you wish to be rid of in your life and burning them – burning the weaknesses away. It was believed (and still is) that the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred on the 31st October. On this night, the ancestors would be honoured and welcomed back into the home… but there was also a worry that evil spirits might

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take advantage of this time and various means of protection were used. One of these forms of protection was taking embers from the bone-fire to start cooking fires in individual homes. This would ensure health and happiness for those who sat at this hearth during the coming year. Other methods of protection included dressing up or Guising (putting on a disguise), so that the ancestral spirits would think you were one of them; this also allowed the Guiser to communicate with the spirits. Interestingly, as well as the connection with the word ‘disguise’, the word ‘guiser’ appears to be the root of our modern slang term Geezer as in ‘E’s a right Diamond Geezer…!’ When Beliefs Combine With the advent of Christianity, the Church brought in festivals of their own and overlaid them on the old dates, so Samhain became All Hallow’s Eve or Hallowe’en on the 31st October, followed by All Saints’/Hallow’s Day on the 1st November and All Souls’ Day on the 2nd November. However, the church could not entirely stamp out the old beliefs; after all the traditions that had been followed for so many hundreds (or possibly thousands) of years were deeply ingrained into the minds of the people. The fact that some traditions survive to this day is an indication of how strong those ancient beliefs actually were. What happened in practice was that Christian beliefs and rituals were intermingled with the old ways; some households would ‘hedge their bets’ by following both sets of traditions, to hopefully ensure that they offended none of the gods or priests! In some ways we still do that today, although perhaps not knowingly! Here are some traditions that carry on today and their origins: The Empty Chair When setting the table for Hallowe’en dinner, or celebrations, an extra place is often set, but left vacant.

This is to allow space for those who have passed to come back and sit with us once more. The spirits will be toasted and remembered: this is the continuing practice of honouring the dead, which may also include tidying up the graves or lighting candles for each soul remembered - plus an extra one for anyone who may have been missed! Trick or Treat The practice today of accompanying (hopefully) small children dressed as vampires, witches, ghosts etc., around the neighbourhood to extort sweets and cash from your long-suffering friends and neighbours is generally considered to be a somewhat irritating import from the USA. However, there are echoes of ‘Trick or Treat’ in the custom of sending children to go from house to house to collect food for the celebrations; and of course there are those old Guisers!

... allow space “ for those who are passed to come back and sit with us once more

”

The carved pumpkin or ‘Jack O’Lantern’. What would Halloween be without pumpkins? Not half as much fun, in my humble opinion – however, it was not a pumpkin that was carved originally, but a turnip! The story goes that there was an exceptionally mean Irishman named Jack, who managed to trap the Devil in an apple tree by first convincing him to climb it – and then carving the sign of a cross onto the trunk, so that he could not get back down. When Jack died, they wouldn’t have him in Heaven because of his meanness – and the Devil would not let him into Hell either (presumably the devil had got out

of the tree by that time), so poor Jack was condemned to wander the earth endlessly. The Devil then took pity on him and gave him an ember to light his way…which Jack placed inside a hollowed out turnip, hence ‘Jack of the Lantern’. The custom followed the Irish settlers to the USA, where the turnip was replaced with the pumpkin. Just as well really, let’s face it, is much easier to carve and looks nicer too! There is another meaning to the carved faces which goes back much further. The Celts were famous for revering skulls and heads, if they defeated a famous warrior in battle, sometimes the skull would be kept as they believed that the powers of the fallen were transferred to the victor. Our friendly pumpkins may be a reminder of that ancient custom. Scrying This means to gaze into a reflective surface with the intent of seeing the future, or communicating with the spirits. The origin of the word comes from the English ‘Descry’, which means to reveal. The Elizabethan scholar John Dee used a black mirror of obsidian that he called his ‘Shewstone’ because it showed –or ‘shewed’ the future. In ancient times, still pools of water may have been used in place of a mirror, and then, as technology changed, beaten metal mirrors. Today, all sorts of reflective surfaces are used from crystal or glass spheres and eggs, to hand crafted black mirrors which can be simply made by painting the reverse side of the glass in a picture frame. Whatever you choose to use, the method is the same. You should be in a dimly lit place, perhaps with a single candle, or outside with just the light of the moon for company. Gaze into the depths of the mirror and allow your eyes to become unfocussed…ask your question and wait for your answer…it may take some practice, but the results can be startling! Here are some other ideas for your own celebrations... 17 Vision 20

Celebrate Halloween by trying these ancient traditions! Loving Reflection

Soul Cakes

Eat an apple, whilst gazing into a mirror and brushing your hair…which may be tricky I know! The only light should be from a single candle. If you watch carefully, you may see the reflection of a future lover behind your left shoulder…

Bake some ‘Soul Cakes’ with lucky charms inside (Please be aware of any choking hazards – make sure your guests know there is something inside!). The charms can represent all sorts of things. You could choose a hazelnut to indicate success through hard work, a ring for impending marriage or perhaps a coin for good fortune and wealth to help you out in the coming year!

Hazlenuts Apple Peel Peel an apple, keeping the peel in one long piece. Throw the peel over your left shoulder and then examine it to see if it has formed the shape of a letter – if it has, this may be the first initial of a future lover!

Find True Love If you wish to discover if a relationship will last the coming twelve months, place two hazelnuts close together on the ground at the edge of the bonfire. If they stay together as they burn, the relationship will last, but if they split apart, the relationship may not stand the test of time.

Apple Bobbing Apple Bobbing was apparently a method of seeing who would marry in the coming yearthe first to bite into and lift an apple clear of the water would be first down the aisle. 18 Vision 20

If you throw a hazelnut onto a Hallowe’en bonfire and it flares up brightly, you should start saving for your bottom drawer, as you may be wed during the coming year.

Enjoy your Halloween! Whatever forms your Hallowe’en celebrations take, do spend some time to remember those that have passed over, if only for a short while. Keep them alive in your hearts and your minds and with ritual and remembrance…and as the stroke of midnight comes, do not fear the spirits! Welcome your loved ones

back into your life and make them live once more, even for just a short time… Michelle Jones is a regular writer for Vision and produces a range of excellent crystal kits for every purpose. See Vision Shop on P78 for further details, or see Michelle’s advert in this issue of Vision.

aunting Breaks have teamed up with Vision to offer you the ultimate activity break! Enjoy the excitement of the unknown during a paranormal investigation or ghost hunt, then relax, sit back, soak up the atmosphere and take in the beautiful surroundings and other amenities on offer.

What is a Haunted Break? We provide the equipment, the professional team, the psychics, dinner

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teaches you everything you need to know about tarot. You’ll find interpretations for every card of the Major and Minor Arcana, advice on how to give a reading, plus practical ways to combine the tarot with numerology, astrology, crystals and the Kabbalah. There are also over 30 tarot layouts you can try for yourself.

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The winners will be the first 10 names drawn at random and will win either a Tarot Bible OR an Angel Bible. One copy of one title per winning entrant only. Only one entry per household. All other Vision rules apply (see P4). No cash alternative. Vision are not responsible for the distribution of the prizes, which will be handled by The Octopus Publishing Group Ltd.

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Diana Jarvis explains your weird experiences Write a Star Letter and win a pair of tickets to a superb ghost investigation with Haunting Breaks! (www.hauntingbreaks.co.uk) Venue to be decided between Haunting Breaks and winner. Editors decision is final. We reserve the right to edit letters. Vision accept no responsibility for the distribution of prizes, which will be handled by Haunting Breaks. There is no cash alternative.

Star Letter Woken in a flash! One morning I got up to use the bathroom at 3am. As I reached my son's bedroom, the door was open. Suddenly, there were 2 flashes just like the ones that you get when you use a camera inside. One was green and the other was yellow. Was this just my mind playing tricks on me or something more? I know it was nothing to do with my son because I checked on him and he was fast asleep. Carol Reid, Slough Diana says: Looking for rational explanations I would question what you have: did your son have a camera, was the television on, could something create a reflection or were there car headlights showing through the window? If you have eliminated all that you can, then I can reassure you that you are not going mad! Believe it or not, this ‘camera flash’ phenomena is common and I have witnessed it a couple of times myself, in the Golden Fleece Inn, in York. I checked all I could for rational reasons and I simply couldn’t find any. The flashes are alleged to be manifestations of spirit. I would hazard a guess that your son has some Spirit protectors that want you to know he is being watched over.

Butterfly dancing One day I was standing near our back door in the garden. A butterfly came dancing around me about shoulder height. It was bright orange, which I had never seen before. The butterfly circled me three times, after which I headed for my kitchen door with it following me. I waved it away and went through to the dining room for lunch, leaving the back door open. After lunch I returned to the kitchen, only to find the butterfly was sat on the inside kitchen door mat. As I came in it flew towards me, but I waved it outside. It wouldn’t go without me so I went outside, telling it that it would die if it stayed inside. The butterfly danced around me twice more and I thought it was thanking me for something. As I thought this, it flew out of sight. Have you any idea what this means? Barbara Gricks, Altrincham Diana says: I’m a bit of a butterfly aficianado and I must admit that I’m not familiar with an all-orange butterfly. The closest I can find is a fritillary (there are several types). Butterflies are usually seen as symbols of transition as they change from greedy caterpillars to stunningly-beautiful winged creatures. Often they are associated with the souls of the dead. However, I have yet to see a butterfly and have a negative experience – they have always preceded periods in my life that are positive and transforming. Orange is the colour of happiness. If there is a message in this visit, it is that you have happy loved ones around and that you should see some spiritual progress.

Are we attracting Spirit? My family and I are spiritual people and our daughter is also spiritually aware and has had contact with Spirit. Could you please confirm if the orbs on the picture are spirits? We are always feeling spirits in and around our house and we live within a stone’s throw of the cemetery. I hope you enjoy the pictures and keep up the great work you do. Clive Selby, Bedfordshire Diana says: I have said it before but I’ll say it again, size isn’t everything! Clive has sent me a few photos, but I have chosen to publish this photo as the orb in the picture is most like those that I have seen that have convinced me of Spirit activity in the past. I can’t confirm (probably ever!) that an orb is Spirit, if that were possible then we’d have proof of life after death and we don’t have proof that the scientific community will accept … yet. Orbs do seem to come up regularly in family photos. I believe that this is because Spirit are drawn to happy family scenes, particularly if it is their own family in them. It is more than likely that you had someone with you, Clive, it is just not possible for me to prove it.

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If you would like to share your experiences, send them to Diana Jarvis at the Vision address or email: experiencesexplained@visionmagazine.uk.com Please give as many details as possible: tell us what you saw, how you felt, and what you sensed etc. The most interesting letter (with or without picture) will win a Haunting Break. We reserve the right to edit letters.

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Mike Hallowell investigates the family-centred beliefs of the Romans … echoes of which are found in our Halloween celebrations

he Roman Empire was the most successful superpower, bar none. Culturally, militarily and politically, Rome stamped its influence anywhere and everywhere it got the opportunity. When it comes to religion and spirituality, few nations in Europe can claim to have remained free from the influence of the gods that governed the Caesars. There is a common perception that Roman religion was very grandiose, and all about ornate temples, priests and priestesses, pomp and ceremony. There is some truth in this, but it certainly isn’t the whole story. Roman spirituality was also a deeply personal exercise that was as much at home in the small dwelling house of a humble gardener as it was in the Senate. Ever practical in nature, the Romans gave their pantheon of gods and goddesses very specific roles to play. Whatever the problem or difficulty, you could bet there’d be a deity who specialised in sorting out that very dilemma. In fact, you could determine this quite literally as soon as you walked across the threshold.

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The door to every Roman home was sacred, and guarded by several divinities. Janus was the principle guardian of the home and every doorway leading into it. Janus – who had two faces looking in opposite directions (or even four faces in some accounts) was the ideal deity to repel unwanted personages from your doorstep. Helping Janus were Forculus, the deity of doors; Cardea the goddess of hinges; and even Limentius who was the god of the doorstep. Rome Is Where the Hearth Is Once inside a typical roman dwelling, the visitor would immediately sense that an intense spiritual atmosphere pervaded everything that took place there. The hearth or fireplace was the centre of household spirituality, and for obvious reasons; in Neolithic

times the hearth was the source of warmth, light and power. Having fire could mean the difference between life and death. This concept was not lost on the Romans, and thus the household fire became the centre of gravity, spiritually speaking. Intriguingly, the Romans believed that the fire in their hearth should never be allowed to die out. Every night female slaves would place logs on the hearth to ensure that it burned

merrily during the night. Replenishing the fire was their first job at dawn the next morning. Sacrifices to land spirits – the lares loci – and the dii manes (spirits of the dead) were usually carried out by the fireside, using figures of clay, stone or wood that were normally kept in a small, enclosed shrine. Fireside rituals were also held on behalf of the dii penates, which were literally “food spirits” or “gods of the storeroom”. Their figurines would often be placed in the kitchen and continually thanked for putting bread on the table of the family. These and many other deities were all part of the dii familiaris cult which was centred in the home and around the family. Currying Favour with Vesta The goddess Vesta was the deity of the hearth and being on good terms with her was of crucial importance. Her figurine was sometimes given a seat at the table, and samples of every dish would be cast into the fire ritually as offerings to her. Vesta had her own festival, the Vestalia, held on June 7th every year. All women who had experienced motherhood could take food offerings to her temple, which was known as the Hearth of Rome. If a

condemned man ever met one of the six Vestal Virgins who tended the temple he was automatically given a reprieve from his sentence. Familiar Spirits Each family in Rome had what was known as a lar familiaris, or male guardian spirit, and it was crucial that respect be shown to him by all who visited the household. It was common for visitors to make a token offering to the family spirit, and a newly-wed person moving in with the in-laws would offer a coin and some other sacrifice so that their presence would not be frowned upon. Images of the household deities or lares were kept in a custom-built shrine known as the lararium (think Gladiator -the movie!). They would often be seen dancing, playing musical instruments or carrying wine flagons to symbolise the joy that they could bestow upon the family who lived with nobility, respect and honour. The lar loci (sometimes called the genius loci) or “spirit of the place” was also housed in the lararium and commonly depicted as a serpent. The Genius and the Iuno The Romans believed that each man had a genius and each woman an iuno. These

were said to be the inner forces of creativity, morality and intellectuality that could help one achieve great things in life. Like the household deities, these “internal” ones were to be honoured and respected. The genius belonging to the father of the family was especially honoured and was often given a special place in the lararium. Typically, the figurine of the genius paterfamilias would be that of a man dressed in a toga with his head covered. Moving Experiences The good thing about the family deities or spirits was that no matter where you travelled they would go with you. You simply packed up your lararium and took it with you. Of course, to us in the 21st century, Roman practices may seem superstitious nonsense, but we should not be quick to judge. By keeping their spiritual activities centred in the home, parents created an environment in which rude behaviour would be seen by the spirits and,quite possibly, punished. In its hey-day, the Roman Empire consisted of families who, for the most part, took their responsibilities seriously and valued the essence of family life and commitment. Perhaps we can learn something from them. Halloween probably comes closest to the essence of the old Roman family festivals, with the emphasis on joy, optimism and maintaining close connections with the spirit world. It brings through from the past the spiritual values of love for our family and home.

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Debbie Rushbrooke delves into the divinatory mysteries of augury - the art of reading signs from birds Ancient bird reading

ugury, divining by studying the habits of birds, was a form of divination used by the Etruscans, who lived on the Italian peninsular during the first millennium. Nobody knows for certain where this art of divination originated, but the Etruscans are the recognised masters of Augury (pronounced O-gu-ri). The Etruscans were known as the “mysterious people” and they were said to be culturally and scientifically more advanced than most cultures - even the Romans couldn’t compete with them until 500BC. It has been said that the birth of Augury began in the city of Tarquinia when Tages, the God of wisdom, was born out of a furrow in the ground. When he emerged he had the head and horns of a Ram, although there are some differences of opinion regarding his appearance. It is believed he taught the people how to read signs and portents via the behaviour of birds. The Etruscan culture was seen as very religious and spiritually aware. They would have used divinatory books

and tools in their everyday life. Even their tombs were built like underground houses, fully decorated throughout with Funerary statues and images showing them the way to the after life. Augury was used in combination with other divinatory methods. Haruspicy, the art of divining using animal entrails, was generally used alongside. The Roman Influence The Romans continued using some of the Etruscan methods during their rule, this was quite a natural transition as, like the Etruscans, Romans worshipped anthropomorphic deities (Gods and Goddesses) and both cultures were extremely superstitious. Once the Romans adopted Augury, they created the Augurs, an official position paid for by Government. The first Roman Augur was Attus Navius, who was a swineherd and vineyard owner. When he lost one of his pigs he asked the Lares (protective spirits of house and land) for help, promising the Lares the best bunch of grapes from his vineyard as an offering. The pig returned

in due course, so Attus started looking for some suitable grapes to offer up to the Lares. As he looked, he noticed there were more birds congregated in one area of his vineyard than anywhere else. Upon entering that area he discovered the biggest bunch of grapes he’d ever seen and gave these to the Lares. Rumour soon spread of what he’d done and he was offered the position as the first official Augur. Methods of Divination The Augurs worked primarily with the help of three deities: Iuppiter (Jupiter) - King of the Gods; Summanus the God of eternal thunder and Minerva Goddess of wisdom (also known as Athena by the Greeks). The legendary king of Rome, Numa Pompilius, started the initial college of Augurs. They were in such a high powered position that they were called upon to give their interpretation on every major governmental decision. After 600BC Augury became even more widespread. Augury was also used in other countries during ancient times, e.g. Italy, Greece, Samoa, and Babylon, but it was not given the same level of importance that it had in Rome. Rituals of Divination

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Augury was not always used on its own. At times it entailed coordinated teamwork. The team would consist of: a Magistrate who observed signs / omens, an Augur who interpreted for him, a Haruspex (animal entrail expert) and the Fugatores – Weather experts. They would probably all have been interpreting their own speciality, but working together to get an overall picture. A Capis (vessel) would have been used as a cleansing ritual before the sacrifice of the selected animal. The

magistrate then sought out a high point in the hills. He would take with him his Litius (wand), which was made of an ash or hazel branch without any knots, ending in a curl. He would draw his Templan (squares) in the sky. Then he would call to the Gods and ask his question. He would also mark out directions, north, east, south and west while standing in the centre. After dividing he would wait however long was needed, allowing the various experts to work and watching the signs. As you can probably guess, this was not a quick process. The Rule of Four This rule refers to the type of weather that Fugatores would consider: 1. Cloud forms: Nimbus, Cirrus, Stratus and Cumulus 2. Precipitation: Snow, Hail, Sleet and Rain 3. Lightning and Thunder: Sheet or Forked; Clap or Rolling

Types of Divination

What the Augur looked at 1. The flight pattern of birds: primarily Eagles, Vultures, Hawks, Crows and Woodpeckers 2. The call of birds: primarily Owls, Ravens, Crows, Chickens and Woodpeckers. The Augur would also have developed his skills using intuitive knowledge and would need to take so much into account: Flight pattern Cries Direction Feeding Feathers Call Movement in air or on the ground Known travel route Species Number seen When landed Where landed Be an Augur

As you can see, there appears to be quite a lot of conflicting information. Perhaps that is why Augers needed a training college? During ancient times there were other forms of divination that were employed. All would have been used with help from Gods and Goddesses, most would have required some form of sacrifice beforehand. Here’s a round-up of the more popular types:

Augury Haruspicy Belomancy Sortleige Astrology

Necromancy Teraphim Sideromancy Leronamancy

Deromancy Oinamancy

4. Light:

Rainbows, Sun Oscillations

While the magistrate, Augur, Haruspices and Fugatores were busy the Tibicine (flautist) would play to please the Gods and possibly to lull the birds into appearing. If the signs were favourable then no action would be taken or the proposed law could be passed, but if the signs were unfavourable then war was declared or the law was revoked. This was serious stuff … and a warning to never get on the wrong side of an Auger! They didn’t tell the future, they just interpreted the asked questions, but the power they wielded was immense!

Here are a few signs an Augur would look for, along with their meanings. A crow’s cawing was a good omen if it came from the left. A raven’s croaking was good if it came from the right. A raven’s plaintive whine was seen as being bad. An owl was thought to bring evil omens and they were seen as Funery birds. A Cock had magic powers when it crowed, it was said they were sending unquiet souls back home. East to south flight was seen as a good omen, but west to north was bad.

Zoomancy Fugatores Chinese Hydromancy

Study of birds Study of animal entrails Arrow divination Sorting by lot Star and planet alignment Consulting the dead Consulting household Gods Pieces of straw burnt on a hot plate Sound or movement when something is put into water Using 14 sided Roman dice Interpretation through colour, consistency and taste of urine. (yuk) Study of animals Thunder and lightening I Ching and Feng Shui Divination of water

So, next time you see an unusual flight pattern of birds in the sky, take a look at weather conditions and take into account the Augurs’ knowledge. With some practice you may well find that you will be able to glean some knowledge about the future from what you see. If someone asks you how you know - you can tell them that a little bird told you! 25 Vision 20

Dave Brennan

Michael Standing Wolf

Do you have a problem which you lack intuition to solve? Do you have any questions about the future to which you seek answers? Native American Michael Standing Wolf will use his Spirit Stones and psychic Dave Brennan will consult the Twist of Fate cards to offer a fresh view on matters.

Should I keep fanning my old flame? Having recently met up with an old flame and started a relationship with an intense amount of emotion on both sides, I wonder if this is the right way to go. Spiritually I feel it is, but my head seems to disagree. Can you help? Dawn, Dundee

Will things ever get easier? Please can you tell me if my life will get easier soon? Money is tight, I don’t enjoy my job, I have family worries and generally feel totally down. Also, will I ever be able to use my healing abilities to any degree? Heather, Ayrshire

Michael Standing Wolf's Spirit Stone Reading: The Cougar, the Badger There is a possibility that this relationship could work, but you need to give the future a great deal of thought. Cougar is the natural-born leader, and urges you to draw clear lines in the sand so that you both know where you stand and what you can and should expect. With all this emotion and intensity in the atmosphere you also need Badger medicine. Badger lives in the ground and has a strong connection to Mother Earth. Badger urges you to "keep your feet on the ground" and maintain a practical, common-sense attitude. Don't rush in to anything, and make sure the lines of communication are kept wide open between you and your old flame. David Brennan’s Twist of Fate Reading. Cards Chosen: Jack of Spades, Queen of Spades, 7 of Hearts, Ace of Hearts, 2 of Clubs, Jack of Hearts, 9 of Spades, 9 of Diamonds, 3 of Hearts. The cards tell me that you should definitely go with your head on this one. Is he still partially tied to another relationship? If he is then she will spoil any chance of a successful outcome on your part. Bad news is indicated, it looks like a letter will come to you containing information and details that you will deem as an injustice to you. Spoken news from the man himself will bring disappointment. Take it easy and you may find that things will work out far better than they will if you rush it. Michael Standing Wolf's Spirit Stone Reading: the Porcupine, the Eagle Instead of worrying about whether your life will get easier, try to focus more on how to deal with life's problems when they arise. Porcupine urges you to change your lifestyle so that you spend more time engaging in activities that bring you joy. Eagle urges you to carry on using your healing abilities, but you must be patient. Many would-be healers go looking for "patients" as soon as they become aware that they have the gift of making others whole. Do not be tempted. Take some time to assess exactly what type of healing you wish to practice, and then make sure that your competence matches up to your desire. When you have satisfied that you are ready to move on to another level, then go for it. David Brennan’s Twist of Fate Reading. Cards Chosen: 9 of Hearts, 2 of Clubs, King of Hearts, 8 of Clubs, 2 of Clubs, Jack of Clubs, Queen of Spades, 10 of Hearts, 7 of Clubs. There seems to be a lot of tittle-tattle going on around you at the moment at work, it looks as if you are out of favour with a work colleague or somebody who is around you quite a lot. Please stop worrying, it will be resolved. The money you receive is the only reward you seem to be getting at the moment, and as you have said, that is tight. Send your problems to the universe and ask for help. I can see an unexpected gift being given to you. As for your healing abilities, if this is one of your most important ambitions, then you will be most successful at it. Ask your guides for spiritual help and your life will definitely improve.

What will life throw at me? I am the proverbial Piscean sceptic, not wanting to ask questions in case I don't like the answers. But, more importantly, I don't really want others spending their time looking into my challenges and situations, because 'if they could' they would effectively know more about my life than me! So out of peer pressure, I have penned this question. Perhaps you could tell me, what challenges I could expect to be thrown at me in the immediate future? Jack Kirby, West Yorkshire

I just can’t budget! Will I ever get the knack of budgeting and be financially stable? Harry Randall, Amsterdam

How can I help my health? I've suffered from irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and a phobia of not being able to get to a toilet for as long as I can remember. I have very negative thoughts and feel low a lot of the time; I feel I'm just allowing my life to drift by. I've tried all kinds of therapies to help with this but don't seem to see any improvement. What must I do in order to overcome this? I feel so helpless! Tanya (25) Kent

Michael Standing Wolf's Spirit Stone Reading: Rattlesnake, Dolphin, Ant The Rattlesnake can't help warning others when it feels they are getting too close. We have little control over who puts us under the microscope, but we can control what they see. Dolphin lives underwater, but comes to the surface when it has to. The lesson of Dolphin is to keep private those aspects of our life we wish to, but willingly declare to others the rest. Dolphin indicates that your largest challenges will be spiritual ones; opening up to the unseen world in a way hitherto not considered. Ant indicates that you are an industrious person and a hard worker, but sometimes we need to forego the security of being practical and pragmatic. Try taking a few little risks. Swim with the dolphins for a while. David Brennan’s Twist of Fate Reading. Cards Chosen: 8 of Spades, King of Clubs, Jack of Hearts, 7 of Clubs, 2 of Clubs, 9 of Diamonds, 10 of Hearts, 7 of Hearts, 9 of Spades. Your personal finances could do with a definite sort out for a start! You have had your disappointments as far as certain projects are concerned. Generally though, I can see satisfaction from employers, and also success on your part. You do not take kindly to people talking about you, and information given to others about yourself is one thing that you deem as an injustice. I can see a journey coming up for you and an associate, this will bring great joy to you, and it will have a successful outcome.

Michael Standing Wolf's Spirit Stone Reading: The Squirrel, the Bobcat. Financial stability is within your grasp. The question is whether you'll reach out and seize it. Squirrel suggests that it is not merely your circumstances, but your tendency to let your heart rule your head when it comes to spending. Renew your efforts to budget well, and don't be afraid to be ruthless with yourself. Squirrel warns you not to “earn and burn"; that is, spend your money as soon as you get it. Like Squirrel, try to accumulate your acorns so that leaner times are easier to cope with. Bobcat wants you to learn the art of patience. Stand still, look around you, focus on what you want and prepare well before you make your move. In the final analysis, remember this; true treasures in this life are those gifted to us by the Grandfathers, such as the trees, the rivers and the mountains. Enjoy what health you have, and the fact that you have a roof over your head. Every time you eat, remember that there are others less fortunate. Perhaps you are wealthier than you think! David Brennan’s Twist of Fate Reading - Cards Chosen: King of Hearts, King of Clubs, 2 of Spades 21, 10 of Hearts, Ace of Clubs, Ace of Diamonds, 2 of Clubs, 8 of Hearts, Ace of Clubs. You make plans and promises to yourself, but when it comes to putting them into practice there seems to be a lack of interest. I can see a new enterprise for you, this time it will work out in your favour if you stick rigidly to the plans. A good turn done by you will turn out to be a success, and may pay dividends. A letter is expected that will bring changes. It could bear sad or bad news. Are you expecting an inheritance? If you are, legal help will be needed, as rivalry may come into it. Generally you are a happy friendly person, and yes, your money and fortune situation for the future (after a few twists and turns) is looking very promising.

Michael Standing Wolf's Spirit Stone Reading: The Spider, the Turtle, the Horse Spider is trying to tell you that your problems are all connected. Your anxiety, phobia, and bowel complaint could well be fuelling each other. In this case, if you help control one problem you might end up being in better control of them all. Turtle is urging you to "go within yourself". Seek out the things that make you feel good and help you relax. Jettison from your life those things which cause you anxiety and stress. Work out where you want to go in life and then take a few months to prepare for the journey. Horse is the great traveller. He is telling you that you should not give up your search for therapies that might help you. Remember, the act of seeking help is a therapy in itself. Find out who you truly are and let Great Mystery carry you forward. Despite your troubles you can truly have a fulfilling life. David Brennan’s Twist of Fate Reading - Cards Chosen: King of Spades, 9 of Diamonds, 2 of Diamonds, 10 of Diamonds, King of Diamonds, 10 of Clubs, Ace of Spades, Queen of Diamonds, 2 of Clubs. The cards indicate a medical problem, they also indicate that your problem can be controlled with the correct medical help. Alternatives such as Reflexology and Reiki can also help, have you tried these alternatives? Good luck seems to be on your side. The cards show that there are people to help you. They also show that you have tried different treatments to no avail, please do not give up, a positive solution is promised. Your cards also indicate that travel plans have had to be put aside. Please offer your problem up to the universe and ask Spirit for help, you will receive it.

Send your questions about the future to: Destiny Doctors, Vision, 42a Main Street, Garforth,LS25 1AA, or email destinydoctors@visionmagazine.uk.com Please include all details you feel are relevant.

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Vision joins Derek Acorah on a spiritual cruise to Amsterdam

Derek on stage with our Vision banner

Then, that evening, 200 Spirits and the Sea attendees joined Derek in the very cosy but comfortable Auditorium for an exclusive demonstration. Derek opened by giving an informative speech about why he does what he does. “There is no such thing as the thing they call death”, he insisted. “I am excited inside just to be here and get another opportunity to demonstrate that life is eternal”. As I’m sure you’ll know, Derek attracts a lot of press and people have mixed impressions of him. All we can do is report what we saw. Derek was incredibly specific with the messages he gave, not on just one piece of information, but again and again and again. Derek was

plenty of amenities, you need never be bored. Derek’s first (of two) demonstrations was scheduled for later that evening, so there was time for attendees to book an ‘Auracam’ reading with Carole Chui, a regular Vision writer. One of the lucky people to get a reading with Carole was our Spirits and the Sea competition winner Kelly Garrett. Kelly was delighted with her aura reading (as

200 eager attendees for Derek’s demo

elebrity cruises are nothing new, but they are usually aimed at the select few. However, Spirits and the Sea is different. We had heard that this cruise would feature Derek Acorah – so we were interested straight away. Then, when we realised that we would also get time in Amsterdam, the chance to go on a ghost walk and have our auras read … well, we had to go! For us, the cruise started before we’d even left the dock. Once we were on board the MS Queen of Scandanavia, we attended a welcome meeting. Apart from itinerary information, we had our first

chance to hear from Derek. He gave a passionate speech about his work to the assembled crowd and also spent a considerable amount of his own time talking to fans afterwards. In the comfortable Columbus lounge with a Buck’s Fizz each, we were already imagining the gently rolling seas and an exciting yet relaxing trip. Sadly, we didn’t imagine that ‘gently’ well enough … but more of that later! After the welcome meeting, we had time to settle in our cabins and explore the ship. The MS Queen of

also adamant about what he was getting ... and never went back on his messages. The evidence was superb and we saw nothing but smiling faces leaving that auditorium. Two lovely ladies (who had travelled all the way from the US just for the cruise) were Jan Yeager and Marilyn, both from California.

Derek with orb courtesy of Michelle Harris

Scandanavia has all the facilities you are likely to need, so the cruise would have been enjoyable even without Derek. However, we’d rather have him there! Having a comfortable home for your cruise is important though, and the ship was certainly comfortable and with 28 Vision 20

Vision competition winner Kelly Garrett

were all of Carole’s customers we spoke to). The machine is truly fascinating and Carole’s interpretations are full of insight into the personality and spiritual abilities of the customers.

“I love the way Derek connects on stage, you can see his interaction with Spirit and feel that you too are having the conversation”, said Jan. “For me it’s the personality of the Spirits that come through that moves me so much and I’m delighted to see that Derek

“I think the evidence was even stronger then! It just shows that if you are working for Spirit they will give you that extra-extra. I had to work, I couldn’t let the audience down: so Spirit made sure I could do it. After the show I was sick three or four times. But I did the show and gave the evidence that Spirit needed.”

communicates with pets”, remarked Marilyn. After Derek’s demonstration, there was the option to party the night away listening to a group in the Columbus lounge, or attend the ship’s disco. We decided we’d just enjoy a celebratory drink and then call it a night. However, we’re not saying how much time we spent doing that … The next day we were in Amsterdam. After a drive into the city from the ferry with an interesting guided tour, we had some time at leisure before attending one of the city’s few ghost walks. In Amsterdam, belief in ghosts is seen as ‘not rational’: Amsterdammers like to think of themselves as rational. However, Bart, our guide, had stories to tell that were both scary and fascinating – both legendary and contemporary.

Derek with orb, courtesy of Michelle Harris

completely incapacitated with seasickness. However, it did not stop Derek or the Spirit World from putting on one amazing performance. Although Derek was pulled and pushed across the auditorium, he delivered convincing evidence from the other side and, for the second night running, amazed the crowd.

Derek said of the event:

Vision staff Sammi, Dean and Nikki on board

That evening we rejoined the MS Queen of Scandanavia for the rest of our weekend. It is at this point that we realised we are not really that good at imagining gently rolling seas. Within a couple of hours of being out on the ocean, everyone could see the effects of the weather. A number of people (including two of our staff) were

“When I arrived with my wife Gwen, Ray my tour manager and my good friend Suzanne, I was led to my cabin. I was delighted to find it was faultless, both pleasant and very comfortable. It’s important for me that if Gwen travels with me she will be happy and I have no cause for concern. The staff on the ship were wonderful – although I’ve been on bigger ships, I did find the DFDS staff more helpful than the larger ships, they were also very flexible and extremely pleasant. “The whole event had a great feeling, although I was not involved in everything, I just felt very comfortable, felt I belonged, there was cohesion and harmony with the whole team. “The first demonstration was under calm sea conditions, so sceptics may think that the crowd would be easier to ‘convince’. As you know, the second night was really bad with many people feeling ill – yet Spirit never let me down.

The Ghost Walk of Amsterdam

All in all, this was a weekend full of excitement and entertainment, and excellent value for money. Every one of Vision’s staff on the cruise had a great time, even those that had trouble with the rolling waves! So what about Derek – would he do it again? “I am here in England despite lots of offers from US-based cruises around the

Caribbean. Although I work in the US, this is where my base is and this is where I’ll always stay. Why should I go out to the US to do a cruise when my calling is here with the English people?” So, look out for the next Spirits and the Sea! Our sincere thanks to Lynda Stenton

Stars of the show, Kirk and Derek

from DFDS and all the crew; Bart of The Ghost Walk of Amsterdam; Kirk Field from Radical Escapes, without whom the event would not have happened. Finally, thanks to Derek for making the weekend really special. If you’d like to go on the next Spirits and the Sea cruise, visit www.spiritsandthesea.com for more details and keep watching Vision, as soon as we have dates we will let you know. 29 Vision 20

Origins of Psychic Art

pirit art derives from Spiritualism, which started up in the mid 1800’s in Hydesville, New York. Two sisters, Margaret and Kate Fox, founded Spiritualism through their innocent child-like games, famously named ‘The Hydesville Rappings’. The knowledge of the Fox’s contact with the other side and the infamous rappings spread amongst Hydesville, and soon the sisters were doing public demonstrations in make-shift churches. In 1854 the Fox sisters officially founded the Spiritualist movement, and its popularity extended across the United States and many years later, globally. During the heyday of spiritualism, a wave of unprecedented series of séances and claims of “contact from the other side” were reported. Photographic evidence of Mediums with ectoplasm seeping out from their physical bodies, voices of the dead using trumpets as an outlet, and objects being moved by unknown forces were just some of the documented experiences. Amongst this wave of spirit phenomena, was the manifestation of some very famous spirit portraits.

Hayley Jo-Anne Kenwright delves into the mysteries of psychic art and reveals how you can become a psychic artist too! The Bangs Sisters

Drawing portraits of Spirit

Elizabeth and May Bangs of Chicago, were two Spiritualist Mediums who had claimed mediumship ability for most of their life, but it wasn’t until the autumn of 1894 (around forty years after the birth of Spiritualism) that their ability to produce spirit art appeared. What was amazing about their art work was that it would just ‘appear’. Not one single paint brush or pot of paint would be in sight! Using only a lock of hair or a small object once belonging to a relative who had ‘passed over’, the Bangs Sisters were able to produce a portrait in less than twenty minutes, which is amazing considering it would take an actual artist many hours to perform a painting of a similar quality. Because it made such an impression on those in the spiritual community, others started to offer a similar style of mediumship with pencils, paints or pastels.

So how do you draw portraits from the other side with no formal artistic training? You don’t need to be a great artist or an advanced medium to do spirit art, see for yourself with the following steps. Practise and have patience. Ambience Creating an atmosphere for spirit art is imperative, as it allows your attention and spiritual energy to be focused on the exercise. You can do this by burning an orange scented/coloured candle during the process, (colour therapy explains that orange possesses creative artist qualities) and by placing a clear Quartz beside you (to induce a spiritual atmosphere, and be sure to cleanse your crystal by leaving it overnight, under the moonlight, before using it.) Most importantly, always be comfortable – Your guides are there helping and protecting you, but if you don’t feel safe at any point, remember you have control over this. You may stop at anytime you wish to, by simply blowing out your candle and asking your guides to draw away.

30 Above Left: Maria the person

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Above Right: Maria, drawn by Hayley Jo-Anne

Coral Polge A very famous lady called Coral Polge also made history with her ability as a Spirit Artist, as she tirelessly spent fiftyfour years devoting her life to ‘proving’ that life after death did exist. Coral often appeared in the media, just for the chance to ‘spread the word’ along with her husband Tom Johanson, who dedicated his life to all aspects of healing, philosophy and the proof of the existence of life after death: reincarnation. Passing to spirit in April of 2001, Coral left her legacy with us, through her wonderful book, Living Images. Coral’s precision and accuracy with her portraits astounded many people, just as the Bangs Sisters once had many years ago. Coral has described what happens when she is drawing: “I don’t actually see the person I am drawing; I am rather drawing what I feel than what I see. It’s something about the personality I am drawing that comes over me and it is developing as I am drawing. Sometimes I get so many links that I start mixing the influences and get wrong results. I cannot concentrate on a specific person; I am drawing whichever spirit of whatever person links with me.”

Above centre: Gentleman whilst living; Two surrounding images: Coral Polge’s drawings

Divine guidance Lined paper will distract you from your drawing, so use plain paper. You will also need a bundle of sharpened quality pencils. Light your orange candle (safely away from your paper, but close enough to offer light over your work space). As you light your candle, ask for divine guidance from your Guides, Deities and

Angels or to your higher self, to inspire and protect you. Igniting creativity Sit comfortably in front of your table, listening to soft background music to ignite your creative spiritual energy centres. This will help calm you and slow down the beta activity of the brain. Now, concentrate on your breathing and slow it down very gently to activate a meditative state of mind, which will encourage a connection between your conscious and subconscious mind. If thoughts of the day enter your mind at this point, register them and then let them go. This is necessary, as it discourages your conscious mind from ‘over trying’ to interpret what you are sensing from spirit, enabling a clearer connection of vibrations and signals from spirit, ready to be drawn on your paper. Towards the sky When you feel ready, close your eyes and visualize a pyramid with a flat top, or a similar vision that includes stepping up towards the sky. The sun is bright, the sky is clear blue. Walk up the steps of the pyramid, counting down from 20. As you reach 1...you will be standing on the top of the pyramid. Now, ask your guide to draw close to you. You might feel a presence or slight energy buzz behind you at this point. Don’t be alarmed. This

Above Left: Gentleman while living

Above Right: Coral Polge’s drawing

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means your guide is ready to work with you. And don’t be alarmed if you feel nothing as this is also common. When you feel ready, ask for your guide’s help to draw someone from the spiritual realms. Inspiration Bring your focus to your heart centre (centre of your chest) and visualize yourself sending energy from your heart, down the arm with which you write. It’s common to feel energy pulsating or buzzing in your arm at this point. Hold your pencil loose and uncontrolled. When you feel ready, begin to draw, do NOT edit or evaluate. A tip I was given when starting out was to start with the eyes, as the eyes are the window of the soul. Draw what comes naturally to you,

feel the inspiration flowing out of your hand and allow it to be interpreted with your pencil. If you think of symbolic images or words, draw them on the same sheet of paper. Don’t Left: drawing by Coral Polge, Right: the same lady while still alive worry about how bad or good your drawing is, capture the Some Answers character of the face and a good likeness to start. Keep drawing until you feel you Sit quietly afterwards and give thanks for have finished. During this time you may the information you have received. You have strange thoughts pop into your may like to take this time to study your mind. Make a note of them, and continue portrait and ask questions about the face drawing as they may be a message for from spirit. The answers come as clear you or your sitter. thoughts in your mind, or by other means such as symbols, colours, voices or senses. So, whose face did you draw? If you don’t know, don’t be disheartened: the one thing I have learnt from spirit art is that the portraits always find a home, whether it’s weeks, months or years later. Spirit symbols Send back the energy to your heart centre, and blow out the candle to signify that you’ve finished the sitting. Keep a diary to keep track of your progress and any spirit messages you may receive. Buying a Dream Interpretations book can be good idea too as it can help interpret the symbolic references spirit like to pass on. Alternatively, you can collate Vision’s Dream Directory if you’ve been collecting all the issues. Confidence Once word gets out, you may get requests from friends and family members. If you find their presence off-putting whilst you’re drawing, ask them to sit silently behind you until you have blown out the candle. This will help you gain more confidence. Remember, spirit portraits of the dearly departed were often done with oils, charcoal and pastels, so why not try different tools each time? Who knows who may end up on your piece of paper!

32 Vision 20

Miss Annie Wheeler, while living

Annie , drawn by Hayley Jo-Anne

33 Vision 20

Marian Green explores the ancient tradition of remembering our ancestors on Halloween … and tells us how we can communicate with them again

Honour your Ancestors

alloween was always a time for family gatherings, for catching up with news and talking of those who had passed away, as the veils between now and then are thin at Halloween. Today we don’t sit round the fire to reminisce about our past, we dig out the videos or other records. We don’t tell tales in the long Winter evenings, and often we know little about our heritage or our family’s background. But these people are our ancestors, their DNA and blood lines run through us, the modern people. If we use magic, we can travel back through time to meet them in the land of Dreams. Today genaology is becoming popular. As people lost touch with their grandparents, moved away from ancestral places, and travelled about the world, many of the ancient threads which connect every human have got stretched. Perhaps this Hallow’s Tide it is time to reconnect to those whose blood we carry, but whose wisdom has been forgotten, before the threads are broken. Do ask your oldest relations about those people who were part of your own family chain, before it is too late. Get out the old photo albums, locate the birth, marriage and death certificates. Draw up your family tree, going back as far as anyone alive can recall. You can easily find websites to guide you on earlier research, as recorded information may be found online. As Halloween approaches, make a simple shrine to your forebears, honour them at parties, remember them as you would like to be recalled.

Make a Scrying Mirror You can make a simple black mirror with a small, round picture frame, by replacing the picture with a sheet of 34 Vision 20

really black material like velvet, or paper. Reassemble the picture frame and set it up and try scrying in it. In practice, almost any shiny, dark surface, or silver or clear glass will work; once you have mastered the technique.

Try to Scry You can use magical methods of reconnecting to the past, especially at Samhain. (Summer’s End). This is a time to master the art of scrying: that is crystal gazing … or seeking pictures in a black mirror. Allow yourself to sink into a relaxed state, perhaps giving yourself suggestions that your inner awareness will function well, and then open your eyes to regard the mirror. Look within the glass, not at its surface and ignore any reflections, or points of light that may be seen on its surface. Sink within it, requesting your ancestors speak to you. Enter a deeply relaxed state, so find a time and place where you won’t be disturbed for at least half an hour. You will need an upright chair and a way of keeping a record. Gently gaze into your black mirror and if you have reached the right mental level you will find the glass seems to cloud over, and through the mist a dark path may appear. You may sink into this and then pictures, faces or words may appear before you. Try seriously a few times, you will gradually master this important skill. To connect to your family or ancestors you could place a photo or

other memento nearby and gaze upon it before focusing on the black mirror, or recall any stories you have heard about them to help you focus on the task in hand and on them too. It is well worth the effort.

A mirror divine Divination is a knack, like balancing on a bicycle or swimming. Once you can do it, practice brings you greater rewards and longer periods of concentration. After a while, you will

find the images remain visible long enough for you to study them. Like remembering dreams, you may need to tell yourself what is happening to fix it in your longer-term memory. It does get easier with practice. You may find that casting a circle around yourself and the table with the mirror on it helps. You could also just light a candle, this brings on a more psychic state of mind. Once you get the hang of this you can not only communicate with your ancestors, but you may be able to get images which will help you to receive some guidance on future events.

Going further back You can stretch further in the past to connect with your ancestral roots than just old pictures. Other ways to use this darkening season to reconnect to your roots can include visits to the places that matter to your ancestors, see things they made in museums, their homes, and new discoveries being uncovered by archaeologists. In everyday life we are unable to hear their songs, although many of their musical instruments have survived. We can hear their stories retold in our language, using our words and meanings, but their own voices are silent, unless we are willing to engage the ancient links which connect. As we begin to understand the power of the seasons and the passage of time, (which can heal and aid us in our own work), we are treading in the same footsteps that those old magicians, shamans and witches trod long ago. We have an unbroken line of wisdom, now we can gently renew a bond of love, honour and respect with the past and draw great strength from it. In this hightechnological age these things are often forgotten - but they are who we are.

Connect to your ancestors You can make an inner journey to connect with our own ancestors. Make your circle (see Coven Corner rituals on P58-P59 for a simple method of doing

so), light only one candle at the centre and have simple reminders of your past and the important people that were a part of it. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to surround yourself with the light and love of protection, so that your loved ones can draw close to you, but you can feel safe and secure. Sit in the sacred space and allow it to form around you, so that you can feel the boundaries. This time your circle is a space ship able to take you back through time, allowing you to glimpse the past and reconnect with it. Relax and focus on returning to your ancestors, and allow the past to flow around you. Become still and let your ancestors approach, feel them with you. Act with respect, see if you can speak to these ancestors, whether they are our known family, or the oldest members of your nation or clan. Be there for as long as you feel comfortable. When it is time to withdraw, offer thanks for their allowing you to be with them, and for any gifts or knowledge you have received. Close the circle (this is explained in Coven Corner rituals, P58-59), but be willing to return on another occasion to explore the past further and deeper. It may be that you do not experience anything the first time you try, but this is something that is well worth the effort, so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give up on your first attempt. Return to you special place and try again another time. Try to remember all these people at other times in your life too. It is in the past that the future was always hidden â&#x20AC;Ś take time this Halloween to reconnect with the vast wisdom that has gone before you. Marian Green is a respected author and country witch. If you would like to find out more about Marian, you can find her advert for the Invisible College in this issue and can pick up a variety of her titles in all good bookshops and from Vision Shop- just give us a call. 35 Vision 20

Gordon Smith talks to Vision about his work as a medium and his decision to publish details of his personal life

edium Gordon Smith has opened his life and his work to readers of his new book: Stories from the Other Side. In this revealing and fascinating book, Gordon talks about his own personal life and upbringings, warts and all. He also details more of his contact with the needy and the famous and, of course, his many contacts with Spirit. Although there is a great deal of information in his book, Vision had a chat with Gordon to find out more. Firstly, everyone would like to know about your work with Most Haunted - and why you left? “Most Haunted was great to work on, we had a real laugh! There is one episode in particular which I will always remember. We were at Bamburgh Castle and we actually found skeletons in the basement. There is one moment where I found these remains and picked up a skull. The skull crumbled in my hand as I held it … and everyone ran out screaming! “I did pick up a serious kidney infection and was hospitalised after working on Most Haunted, so I spent some time recuperating. Then, when the new schedule came 36 Vision 20

out for the subsequent series, I was already so committed to other work that I couldn’t continue on the show.”

she was out at church and he had come through to let her know he was fine - but living on the Other Side!”

So what prompted you to write this book?

Do spirits have to practice to be able to communicate?

“I was asked to do a book that was more in depth about myself as a person, as well as including my encounters with Spirit. I wanted to write a book like that anyway, but I do find it difficult to write on myself, so I worked with an investigative journalist. He would ask straight-to-thepoint questions. I had no choice but to be absolutely frank, I couldn’t work any other way. I hope this comes across in the book.”

“I suppose it depends on the Spirit – if a Spirit was a good communicator in life they tend to be a good one in the afterlife. Some people are just not good at it! For instance, if you had a father who was quiet while living, he will not come through screaming and shouting from the other side. It is new for many to try to link mind to mind – some get it and some don’t.”

“Yes, sometimes I have been pre-warned of a visit. Spirits do sometimes come to me before a demonstration, but they don’t just turn up for nothing. If I see a spirit I know that I will meet someone they are related to sooner or later. I also know that I will know who the person is and know what message to pass on to them.”

Why do you think that there are so many male mediums on TV?

You have moved up the ladder of fame so fast that your feet barely touched the steps! How have you coped with the fame factor?

Mediumship can be the most demanding job. How would you describe you work?

“You may have heard that Spirits can’t come through until they have been dead for a certain time. I don’t find that is the case – I find that Spirit comes through when a person is ready for a reading. I have once had a Spirit come through who died the day they spoke to me! I gave a woman a message in church from her husband. She thanked me, but said that her husband was still alive and at home. When she got back she had to kick the door in, he had had a heart-attack while

“I think that it’s not fear we experience. I think we are just startled. Seeing Spirit is working outside of our normal five senses and that is always surprising. Anything of a spiritual nature heightens our senses and we are simply not used to it. I believe that the following is so true: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure.””

“You know the funny thing is, there was a huge wave of post-menopausal lady mediums not so very long ago. These days a lot of mediums on TV are young gay men! Perhaps we could all be the sons of these women! I feel that we just come as the next generation, but it could also be that we are part of a trend. I’ve also found that a lot of men now watch mediums and admit to it. I’ve had just as many men buy my books and it seems to me that audiences at my demonstrations have just as many men now as they do women.”

Does a spirit come to your demonstrations because they are aware that their loved one is also going to be there?

“It is not the mediumship that is demanding, it is the people who have suffered and are left behind. If I see someone who has had a serious loss, I really don’t want to leave them until I’ve felt a massive change in their feelings. Some people simply aren’t able to receive any help as they are just too cut up. That’s when it’s draining for me, as I so want to help them.

Why do we still get frightened of a visitation from spirit even though we long to hear from our loved ones?

Do spirit ever come through with a message for someone and also give you a message? “Yes, there are lots of messages that come through that I can see apply to my own life. In one case I had to have my beloved Elsa, my golden retriever, put to sleep. That same night I attended a church and the first message I got was a positive one for a lady from her golden retriever. I knew it was a message for me too, that my Elsa was still ok. “The thing we need to understand with pets is that we are all interconnected all the time, right now. Many people have pets that are rescues, but still form an instant and strong bond as if they’d known each other all their lives. It’s not amazing – they were always connected and always will be.”

“I don’t even recognise it! I am far too busy just getting on with things. I think it’s important to keep grounded. I still give demonstrations at Spiritualist churches. I think it’s really important to keep your roots.” Apart from his demonstrations worldwide (as we write Gordon is just about to start a US tour), Gordon is also an active fundraiser for charity. Please do visit the website below to find out more and support one of the Gordon’s favourite charities. www.noahorphans.org.za Finally, look out for Gordon on his UK tour – dates to be announced in Vision when available. For a review of Gordon’s book: Stories from the Other Side, see next month’s Vision. 37 Vision 20

Nicole Sheldon tellsVision about her terrifying childhood experience with a haunted doll - and how it helped to hone her mediumship

hen I was two, my parents lived in what they believed to be a very strange house. At the time, they hadn’t so much seen anything, as felt an odd atmosphere. Because of this house I gave them a very hard time! I was developing mediumistic abilities at the time, but of course I was too young to know about it. It turned out it was me that was strange, not the house!

“... she would have been terrified.” The scariest incident, from their point of view, was with my rag doll. It all started when I found what I thought was an imaginary friend. It all seemed quite harmless to my parents. I told them she was called Dodge, and on the occasions when I actually asked to be put to bed early, I told my parents it was because ‘Dodge’ was coming to play with me. My Mum seemed to accept this, although I suspect she was looking forward to the peace and quiet! If she had actually known who Dodge really was, she would have been terrified. I sat in my bed and waited.

“The doll spoke back to me.” About ten minutes after I went to bed, my Father would leave the lounge to go and make a coffee. He has told me since that he could hear a conversation coming from my bedroom. Thinking it was cute that I was talking to myself, he got my Mum and they both crept up the stairs. My bedroom door was ajar and so, without letting me know they were there, they sat down at the top of the stairs and peered into my room. I was sitting on the floor at the foot of my bed, holding one of my favourite toys. It was my rag-doll. At first I was talking to the doll, and my parents sat there listening, grinning at each other. But then, everything changed. The doll spoke back to me. 38 Vision 20

Nicole now happily communicates with spirit

“... the colour drained from my mother’s face.” A hideous, croaky, old lady’s voice (that just emanated evil), came from the doll. My parents looked at each other in horror, and Dad said the colour drained from my mother’s face. My Dad leapt to his feet, burst into the room and snatched the rag-doll from me. In a total panic he rushed downstairs and tore the doll apart, even cutting open the body with scissors and pulling all the stuffing out. In the meantime my mother picked me up and carried me out of the room, and all the while I was screaming that my Father had taken Dodge away from me. My Mum and Dad were shaken by this incident and to this day, they can’t explain it. They thought they had got rid of Dodge, but she was still with me. She would make me do naughty things, like one day when she told me to go into my

parents room and take all my Mum’s perfume from the dresser, pour it down the toilet, and then fill the empty bottles with water. Soon Dodge started appearing to me. She was very, very old and frail looking, and dressed all in black. She always wore a black shawl that looked like it had been knitted, and a black headscarf. She had a long thin face with a long straight nose and a sharp chin. In fact the best way to describe her is that she looked just like the wicked witch from The Wizard of Oz, only much older!

“Things would go missing and then turn up in the most unusual of places.” Her visits gradually became less frequent, but she was still around. The house was always cold. There was always

an unhappy atmosphere there. Things would go missing and then turn up in the most unusual of places. My parents would get up in the morning only to find the lights on, taps running and the fire switched on, even though they knew they had thoroughly checked everything before going to bed. My Dad used to work nightshifts, and he commented that every morning when he was hanging his coat up in the hall, someone would tap him on the shoulder. When he was working on a nightshift, my mother was so afraid in the house, that she had me, my sister, and my brother in her room with her all the time.

“... nasty-looking old lady walked right through the wall ...” Then one day a man who lived alone next door to us told my Dad that he had got up to go to the loo one night and had seen a crooked and nasty-looking old lady walk down his staircase and pass right through the wall into our house. He was describing Dodge. The strangest thing was that only a few weeks later, upon returning from a night shift, my Dad could see a fire burning through the neighbour’s glass front door. He managed to break in to find the man’s staircase on fire. Luckily he managed to get the neighbour out unharmed and though my father put it down to coincidence, I believe it was Dodge up to her old tricks. The house definitely had an evil aura to it, and I believe Dodge was responsible. Whilst we were living there, the house was broken into several times, one of those times being Christmas Eve, and we children woke up to find we had no presents. When I was a bit older, and we still lived in the same house, I shared a bedroom with my sister. I vividly recall one particular evening when we were lying in our beds, talking. We were disturbed by a vibrating noise coming from the other end of the room. We sat up to see a toy vac shaking violently, before moving across the floor on its own, and coming to rest against my bed. Of course, we both screamed, and my

father came running up. Trying to calm us down, he explained we had both had a nightmare and that the vac was exactly where it was when he had tucked us in. We both knew he was telling us this to calm us down - we knew what we had witnessed. It was impossible that we both could have dreamed the same dream!

“He paused at the top of the stairs and turned to look at me.” One morning, I woke up to find a leather jacket on the end of my bed. Nobody ever found out who the jacket belonged to, but I believed it belonged to, or had been left by, one of the ghostly visitors who frequented the house. Another time I had got up through the night to go to the bathroom. When I climbed back into bed I couldn’t sleep, so I took out my drawing book and pens. After a few moments I was drawn to look into the hall, and I saw a man walk across the landing to the staircase. He paused at the top of the stairs and turned to look at me. He winked at me, and then continued silently down the stairs. There was no doubt the spirits knew I could see them. We lived in that dreadful house for eleven years, while my parents tried desperately to find somewhere else. Even

to this day, when I am used to talking to spirits all the time, I get a shiver when I think of Dodge, I believe she was an evil presence in the house. As I witnessed a few other spirit people there, I believe that maybe there was some kind of vortex in the house, as I only saw the other spirits on the odd occasion, as if they were just passing through. But I believe Dodge was linked to the house, as she was there all the time we lived there. My mother has unfortunately passed away now, so I can’t ask her anything else about the house. My father refuses to talk about it these days, only describing his time in that house as the blackest times of his life. I do have a lot of my own memories of the house, things I have never forgotten. I know that my parents had many personal experiences of their own though, some of them I know of and others they didn’t share with me. I think at the time, my parents felt they would be ridiculed and that nobody would believe them, so I believe my parents only talked about it with close family and friends. Personally, I know what happened in the house and I am not afraid to talk about it. I remember the incidents as though they happened only yesterday. Since moving, I never heard from Dodge again. As I grew older, my fascination with the afterlife grew. I didn’t understand what was happening to me, and I tried to find anyone willing to help me find out. I met up with other mediums, began meditating and opening up my abilities regularly. I found I had never lost my gift, it came to me so naturally, just as it had when I was a child. Nowadays, people often ask me what made me choose to be a medium. I simply answer “I didn’t choose to be a medium, it chose me”.

Nicoles childhood rag doll, Dodge.

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John Preston talks us through meditation and explains how we can quieten our noisy minds Why meditate?

editation is a journey. A journey into the most fascinating mystery of all – one’s own mind. Meditation is like putting your mind under the microscope to enable you to see and understand your own inner workings. When you are sitting in meditation and watching your mind, it very soon becomes apparent that our mental life consists of a series of thoughts, feelings, emotions and memories; each arising and rapidly passing away. Meditation, as a selfhelp system, involves recognising the fact that these inner personal events (thoughts, feelings etc.) do not arise indiscriminately or ‘out of the blue’, but rather are the result of previous, similar mental activity. The Buddha said, “ what you make much of, what you think about a lot, biases the mind in that direction”. Thoughts dig grooves in the mind. For instance, football fans will tend to think increasingly about their particular sport and a worrier is conditioning his or her mind to respond to events ever more anxiously. Meditation is coming to see, from within one’s own experience, how

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we create our own personal universe. After all, each of us is the author of our own biography; each captain of our own ship. At any moment we might feel positive or negative; pleasant or unpleasant. On the level of everyday experience we’ve created this. Meditation enables us to see that in the last

To some, this might sound rather severe, but accepting that distress is a reaction, a response, opens up the possibility of meeting life more positively. Positivity can significantly reduce our tendency to be hurt, troubled or stressed. A Buddhist teacher once remarked, “Meditation should, perhaps,

analysis it’s not really other people or external situations that are the primary cause of distress. Rather, it’s our own inappropriate response, our unhelpful reaction to what life presents, that is the problem. Meditation is coming to see, to realise experientially, that distress and frustration are largely selfinflicted. Put bluntly, in everyday situations we do this to ourselves.

carry some sort of health warning – “For once you start you forfeit forever the right to say: “Now look what you’ve made me do”!” Meditation can involve a number of different techniques, all of which have their benefits and their followers. I have listed some for you so that you can experiment: do try different techniques until you find one that works for you. As in all spiritual matters: find your own way!

Being positive

Types of Meditation Visualisation. Repeating a mantra. Concentrating on a bodily activity (like breathing or walking). Focusing on the transient nature of experience. Cultivating a more positive emotional state.

Go with the flow Another popular technique is to concentrate on a single neutral object, and focus your attention on that. This allows the mind to clarify, to quieten. Looking inwards, we glimpse the fact (and for many it’s a life-changing revelation) that our mind, left to itself, is perfectly okay and can look after itself. Our essential problem is NOT our mind; rather it’s our tendency to constantly interfere, to accept and be party to a stubborn refusal to simply relax and “Go with the flow”.

A clear lake

temporarily muddied, spoilt and obscured and that peaceful and idyllic lake becomes confusing and alien. On one occasion an ancient teacher put a question to his students. He asked what would they do if they came across a muddy lake (such bodies of water would have been their only water source). The students looked uncertain, but eventually one blurted-out that there was nothing that could be done. One would just have to patiently sit on the bank and wait for the sediment to settle. The teacher suggested that this was an excellent description of meditation!

Accessing constant calm The basic nature of water is to be clear - if it’s not clear then something (currents, fish, etc) is kicking-up the mud. In a similar way, if the mind is not clear and calm then something is kickingup the “mental mud”.

“

A helpful picture is to imagine your mind as being like a cross-section down through the ocean. Here, all the waves, turmoil, the frothing and foaming are on the surface. Dive down and one discovers levels of calmness, clarity, stillness and silence. Extending the analogy a little further, the greater the turmoil at the surface – the deeper we would need to swim to find the calmness ... but it’s always there. So, if we are strictly accurate, meditation does not artificially create calmness. Rather it’s a means of accessing levels of calmness that are constantly present. Meditation gives us the means to gradually identify less with the superficial froth and turmoil and to open up more to the beauty of our essential nature – the ever-present calmness within. John Preston worked for many years as a senior social services manager, counsellor and lecturer. For five years he trained as a monk at a Buddhist meditation monastery. Returning to lay-life he now teaches meditation as a practice promoting personal growth. He works in a variety of settings: doctor’s surgeries, within employing organisations as part of staff support and at many universities and colleges around the UK.

Meditation gives us the means to ... open more to the beauty of our essential nature – the ever-present calmness within.

This is our resistance to the present moment, which is where we truly should live. Basically, this resistance is a resistance to life itself. Teachers of meditation down through the centuries have often likened the mind (in its natural unstressed state) to a clear mountain lake. Imagine standing on the edge of such a lake and peering down into the water. We would clearly see the sand and rocks at the bottom, the water plants and the fish swimming about. Everything is clear, visible, perfect just as it is. However, if we were to plunge into the lake in a vain attempt to improve or change things all we would achieve is the kicking-up of mud and sediment. So, what was previously crystal clear is now

”

Meditation is discovering just what that “something” might be. From a meditative perspective many of us expend much time and effort kicking up the mud. We call it stress!

For details of Meditation and Buddhist Studies courses please Email: beaufortmeditation@hotmail.com

Study the Ocean Meditation quietens the mind. The calm, relaxed state experienced in a meditation is always available, however stressed, frustrated or unhappy we may feel. At a deeper level there is always clarity and calmness to be found. 41 Vision 20

t its peak, the Roman Empire was considered one of the greatest in history. It included all of southern Europe as well as France, southern Germany, England and Wales, northern Africa and the Middle East. Its military strategy is still analysed and used in modern warfare and its cultural influences are still felt today throughout much of the western world.

Rosalind Collier visits the ancient Roman Empire to find out what superstitions affected the daily lives of the Romans countries. Some of these can still be found in circulation in the UK today, most notably those involving the black cat. The Romans viewed a black cat entering a house as a sign of great misfortune or an omen of disaster. Similarly, the superstition of blessing someone when they sneeze is also present

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hearing an owl hoot and thus it was considered an omen of death to hear one. Dreams and their meanings Dreams were also thought to carry hidden meanings. This was especially so with nightmares. The Romans thought that nightmares were an omen of bad luck and it was not unusual for someone to change their plans or even stay indoors all day, following a nightmare. The Romans, like the Greeks and Egyptians, also recognised the power of herbs and used them for both medicinal and superstitious purposes. For example, it was believed that herbs could open closed or locked doors, they could dry up a river or swamp, and could force an enemy into retreat. Although some of these superstitions have died along with the Roman Empire, it is interesting to see that some of them still have enough power to hold us faithful to them today.

The Romans viewed a black cat entering a house as a sign of great misfortune or an omen of disaster.

Deeply superstitious Romans In contrast to their conquering prowess, the Romans were deeply superstitious and had many beliefs and practices to ensure a prosperous life. Nearly every aspect of life, ranging from combat to land ownership and even to politics, were ruled by superstitions and omens, in fact the Romans were so influenced by these beliefs that laws would be invalidated if certain omens and practices were not adhered to. Like many cultures around the world Romans wore amulets as a defence against the ‘Evil Eye’. As part of their religion, the Romans practiced haruspicy, which is a kind of divination involving the inspection of the entrails of sacrified animals, especially the liver. From this they believed they may glean some insight of a future event. It is believed that the practice of haruspicy orginated with the Etruscans and was adopted by the Romans along with their belief that natural phenomena such as lightening, storms and eclipses could be signs or omens of future events or messages from the gods. Interestingly, many Roman superstitions were brought to and influenced superstitions in conquered

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”

in Roman culture. The Romans are believed to have said “long may you live” instead of our traditional “God Bless You!”, because they thought sneezing was a way of expelling all the bad energy from the body. Owls, a source of evil Unlike modern England today however, the black cat was not as much of a problem as owls were. To the Romans, owls were a source of evil and they had several superstitions involving them. For example, an owl nailed to the door of a house would prevent the evil of other owls coming in. The Romans also believed that to dream of an owl while travelling, meant that the traveller would be robbed on land or shipwrecked on the water. Another superstition involving owls evolved through coincidence, in that several leaders died within two days of

arvellous medium and angel communicator Kyle Gray answers your questions with the help of your spirit guides and guardian angels. Drop us a line with

your questions. Kyle will then let you know what your Angels think and give you a special key from them to meditate and concentrate on.

Why do I panic so much?

Does my loved one still live on?

I wonder if you can help me. I suffer from quite severe panic attacks, but I don’t think my doctor is taking me seriously, when I approach him on the subject. I am wondering if all this is in my head and it’s me that is causing these attacks. Can you put my mind at rest? Sarah Jones, Carmarthen

I have recently lost someone very close to me and I am not sure that I believe they do live on afterwards. Could you see if you can find out anything that would help me to believe they are ok? Martha Wheelwright, Cambridge

When I made a link to your angel he told me you’re a sensitive person who can empathically feel what’s going on around you. I feel these panic attacks are rooted to you not putting up psychic protection: imagine a blue cloak around you from Archangel Michael and these panic attacks will leave for good! It’s not in your head, its just you have a gift! You’re a natural Counsellor and Empath! Well done you!

It is normal for our minds to question an afterlife when a close one passes around us. I was made aware of a sudden passing and I feel the energy of a female coming forward, she says the name Elisabeth and she wants to say George is safe. The male and female who are older than you are fine and they send their love. I hear the month of February as important (birthday, anniversary or passing) and a joke about smoking cigars.

Special Key: Amethyst Crystal

Special key: Trust and accept yourself!

How will my business grow?

Cats and missing objects

I have my own holistic business, but would like to know where it is headed and how it will affect my home life; at the moment I don't seem to have any time for me, but I need to grow the business in order to be financially secure. Marjorie Ellis, Portsmouth, Hampshire

My daughter, who is 9, keeps on seeing ghostly cats, I have also seen them. We also have things going missing right in front of us! Some A4 pockets were on the floor behind a chair. I kept on sliding on them as I passed back and forth, then all of a sudden they were gone! We have no idea where they are. What is going on? Amy, Hayling Island, Hampshire

You are the unhealed healer! You need time for yourself! The angels are all around you, however they tell me you’re not asking them for their help. “We can help your business; we can help you manifest what you need in finance and time. Remember who you are, remember only love is real and it will appear.” This is a message from your angels, Marjorie. Ask them to help you with finding time and accept the abundance of support that comes to you.

Special Key: Harmony and Archangel Metatron

Amy, there are spirit energies all over your home! They will continue to do this unless you tell them you know they are there and ask them to stop! The spirit world will try to move things to show they are around. As for your Daughter seeing cats, within Wicca this is a symbol of Psychic powers. Your daughter has a gift, I feel it’s connected with Animals. Ask your angels to send these spirit people back to the light!

Special Key: Self-Acceptance

Send your questions for your Angels to The Angel Oracle, Vision, 42a Main Street, Garforth,LS25 1AA, or email angels@visionmagazine.uk.com Please include all details you feel are relevant. Letters are received on the understanding that they may be published without further communication.We reserve the right to edit letters.

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Intuitive astrologer, psychic and dream interpreter Samantha Hamilton continues Vision’s monthly alphabet round-up of the most common dream scenarios.

Common dreams beginning with the letter Ulcer To dream of an ulcer indicates unpleasant times ahead and a need to keep your distance from friends. If you feel that you don’t have any friends around you, it indicates that you should work on your personal future. Umbrella If an umbrella was the main feature of your dream this indicates protection and financial independence. However, if you were carrying a closed umbrella and it was raining; this predicts unfortunate circumstances ahead for business plans you may have. If you had the umbrella open and over you, this is a sign of good luck. However, an umbrella that leaks, predicts a disagreement with someone you feel close to. To have the umbrella with you when the weather is warm and sunny foretells unexpected news which will have a dramatic effect on your future plans. Umpire If your dream involved an argument over a decision you have made while umpiring a game, this suggest a falling out with a family member. To find fault with an umpire while watching a game, indicates a relative will be watching your every move, as they are considering leaving you some money. Uncle To see a relative such as an Uncle in your dream, predicts unpleasant news regarding someone you love. If you were having an argument with him, this

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suggests problems within your family which could soon start affecting your health. Underground If you were dreaming of living in a house underground, this is a sign of financial troubles and changes in your status. To travel on an underground train is a sign that you are feeling nervous and uncomfortable about your current lifestyle. Undertaker If you dream of a solemn and unpleasant undertaker, this is an omen that someone is going to try to steal your identity. It is important to ensure all marriage and birth certificates are kept in a safe place where no one else will find them. To dream that you were the undertaker symbolizes you should take control of your actions and responsibilities. Uniform A woman who dreams of seeing herself wearing a uniform signifies love and harmony; if you are a man, your current position in society will be significantly improved. If someone else was wearing the uniform, this indicates a wealthy friend who will be useful to you. An unhappy soldier in uniform can foretell sad news, ill health, or a longer period of time away. Undressing To dream of seeing someone of the opposite sex getting undressed, is warning you to be cautious about trusting

‘U’ recent acquaintances you have met. It can also bring bad luck in love or with money. You will soon uncover the secret to an unsolved mystery if you saw someone of the same sex removing their clothes in front of you. To see someone naked predicts misfortune in love. Unicorn A symbol of enlightenment, power and purity. To have a unicorn featured in your dream predicts positive changes in your future and present situation. It also indicates your disposition to favour one person or side over another. University To dream of a university is indicating you are experiencing a period of social or cultural changes. This dream reflects your current situation and emphasizes any tension you are feeling if you currently attend university. This is a good time to improve your life skills and fulfil your goals. It is also important to consider other aspects such as whether you felt happy, made friends or were lonely. Urn This is a symbol of the past. An urn that has new flowers in it is a sign of happiness, one that is empty or with the flowers wilting indicates you have troubles ahead. If the urn was filled with ashes of the dead, you are likely to travel to an interesting destination, or can expect news of an inheritance. A broken urn foretells unhappiness will confront you.

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Free CD Native Americans Derek Acorah Angels Are you Psychic? Crystal Healing

Mystical China Spirit Guides Feng Shui Auras I Ching Dreams Bruce Lee

Pagan Roots Gordon Smith Numerology Richard Felix Pagan Magic The Afterlife

Ancient Egypt Are you Clairvoyant? Stephen Holbrook Seichem Reflexology Aromatherapy

FREE Palm Pal Vedic India Indian head Massage Jane McDonald Learn Yoga Vaastu Lifestyle

Japan Yvette Fielding Reiki Healing Shiatsu Scrying Japanese Ghosts

Druid Britain Derek Acorah Diana Cooper Merlin & Magic Druid Astrology Moon Phases

Ancient Greece Angels Past Lives Sacred Sounds Hedgewitch Healing Dreaming

Mayans Gordon Smith Your Spirit Guides Learn Psychic Skills Crystal Astrology Indigo Children

China Learn Palmistry Feng Shui Love Herb Magic Ghost Pictures Spirit Guides

Hawaii Chris Fleming Johnathan Cainer Healing Runes The Root Chakra Imaginary Friends

Native Americans Gillian McKeith Harry Potter Destiny Numbers Faeries Midsummer Magick

Africa Robbie Williams Psychic Protection Ouija Boards Poltergeists Spice up your Sex Life

Celtic Magic James Van Praagh Celtic Witchcraft Harp Therapy Speak to Spirit Tree Spirit Healing

Gypsies Uri Geller Read Playing Cards Natural Beauty Jewellery Magic Crystal Healing

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Lost Atlantis Doreen Virtue Gordon Smith Guardian Angels Mediumship Karma

Norse Mythology Sea of Souls X-Exorcist Read Runes UFOs Earth Energies

Aztecs Mia Dolan Sex Spells Test the Therapy TAI Divination Sacred Journeys

Aborigines Faeries Dreamtime Bush Flower Essences Aborigine Astrology Shamen Stones

Hidden Tibet Derek Acorah Are you Psychic? Your Love Tarot DIY Qi Gong Crystal ball

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Bathing and Baths

he act of bathing may be seen as a universal task these days, but looking back to the times of the Romans, bathing was quite a different experience. Many roman settlements had public baths and spas located in different parts of their cities. Whether these were natural or manmade, they provided the city’s inhabitants with a place to relax, keep clean and socialise on a regular basis. Today the art of relaxation using bath and spa treatments proves that their legacy still lives on. Bathing has become a somewhat private and personal activity in today’s culture, but inspiration that has been taken from the Romans has helped to create many different treatments, to help heal and relax. Not only can we experience such relaxation, but it can provide us with elements to work with, when we use it for ritualistic purposes. Today, we see bathing as a form of cleanliness, relaxation and rejuvenation. To be clean feels great: feeling cleansed and fresh can produce a fantastic feeling in oneself. This idea can be furthered through different forms of therapy that will not only connect you to your inner self but can, and has, been proven to heal certain ailments.

Honouring the Waters The media have often publicised the healing power of baths and spas. People who may be affected by certain illnesses or disorders may bathe in the powerful water and quite often their illnesses cease or their symptoms lessen. Lourdes, for instance, has become a very popular place for people to attend in the hope of 48 Vision 20

Katie Doherty looks at the Roman tradition of bathing and how sacred waters are still important to us today getting healed. Such sacred healing waters can be found closer to home in many towns and cities. One such city that has proved to be incredibly popular, is the English town of Bath. Bath has gained a reputation for having a spring that will cure all ills. Year after year, many people have flocked there in the hope that just a dash of water can help heal them. However, bathing isn’t just about healing or socialising, it has become a much more spiritual event. For years people have taken part in water worship, dedicating the water to its goddesses; making wishes in wells; constructing altars and of course welldressing, which is still very popular in Derbyshire. Springs were and are considered sacred and items were regularly thrown in to please and thank the gods. We still do this today, although we may have forgotten the origins of the tradition – you will rarely see a public fountain or wishing well without coins in! Water has become an extremely important part of our lives, whether we wish by it, or bathe in it.

Make Bathing a Ritual Bathing has come a long way. From the discussion of politics and general banter to the purification of oneself - it can help provide an intimate connection with the divine. Bathing can be, and often is, a ritual in itself. Whether you take a traditional bath or (a modern take on hot springs), a shower, you can (and probably do) use oils, lotions and herbs

to relax the mind, stimulate the body and connect with the spirit. If you want to prepare for any type of magic or ritual, you will be doing the same. It is believed that cleansing the body and mind can help focus and can help connect with the God and Goddess. Strengthening this connection with the divine helps the person wanting to cast a spell focus on the intention of their ritual.

Prepare to purify Preparation is, and was, everything; whether you were attending a dinner or calling the quarters, how you get ready is extremely important. Not only would the Romans bathe in preparation for their rituals, but their facilities within the cities included saunas and gymnasiums which would allow them to work up a sweat, get rid of any toxins and then relax by bathing and then having massage. Special oils were often used by some of the most wealthy roman men. Using such invigorating concoctions before they dined or attended an important function was important, it was crucial that physical and mental preparation was completed. Roman gladiators were often oiled before they fought too. There were two reasons for this. One, to make them slippery so that they could not easily be held down by their opponents. Two, when they had a bath at the end of the fight (assuming they won) they would be scraped down and the oil and sweat bottled. This would then be sold to their adoring female fans as an aphrodisiac perfume!

We still use the custom of bathing before a function today. Who wouldn’t have a bath or shower before an important function such as dinner or a party? And who wouldn’t perform a ritual without purifying the mind, body and spirit?

Spa-aah! We not only use our homes as sanctuaries. Health spas have now become the ultimate place to relax, with invigorating oils, burning candles, relaxing music and a huge range of treatments to pamper even the most hectic person. One of the many treatments that is available from health spas is a massage. In Rome, masseurs were always available to their visitors. Rubbing olive oil into their skin while performing a massage was very popular, and this would usually help them relax and condition their skin. Another example of a spa treatment the Romans used was the Laconicum. In Roman times this was part of a bath complex and was a very hot room … a sauna. Even now saunas are thought of as a social event. Many health spas use segregated rooms: men and women are left to “gossip” about the opposite sex or just have general discussions about the week’s events. Interestingly, the routine of the Romans (exercise, sauna and bathe) still exists and is a popular order of treatments. All of these things remind us that the Roman’s influence still affects us. The treatments they created still exist today: but instead of referring to them as a roman idea, we like to think of them as “having some ‘me time’” or “connecting with oneself”. The grind of everyday life can make us tired and feel run down … you know the feeling? When you have had a bad day, what is the first thing you do? Kick off your shoes and run a hot bath and add some potent, yet relaxing, oils or soap. Bathing always allows you to have time to yourself to think

and reflect. We may not bathe in groups any more except, for hot tubs (which interestingly were a key innovation in the times of the Romans, at the time fires heated the bath and now, it can be compared to a hot tub).

Water of Life It is difficult to believe that customs used so many years ago are still in use today. Treatments that I have discussed are

used around the world, companies are now specialising in such treatments, in the hope of making a healthier and more relaxed nation. So many traditions around the world are now lost to the use of technology and modern ideas. Bathing is one tradition that won’t be leaving us any time soon. People have used baths for years and they will continue to do so, even if technology becomes even more advanced we will still be using the most important element, water …the true source of life and longevity.

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ave you wondered why your pets behave the way they do? Would you like to ask them? Our new columnist, Madeleine Walker, can talk to your pets for you!

I know my cat talks to me! I am very close to my cat, Freya. I sense that she has a lot to tell me and I would love to know what she is saying. Can you help? Jo James, Tadcaster

What a beautiful cat! I’m seeing a black cat with white feet, which I think was Freya in a previous life, and she has come back to help. There's a man that she really likes and I'm being told something about a whip lash accident concerning someone that Freya knows. Has Freya had a fall or a lucky escape?

Our dog ignores us! Our dog is quite a character. We would really like to know if he is happy with us and if he hurts anywhere – he is very old. Sometimes we wonder if he really understands roads and he certainly doesn’t seem to understand any commands. Can you tell us why? Val & Dave Williams, Selby

I'm getting some pain in his lower back and some arthritis in his paws: the right paw seems slightly worse. Has he had any trouble with his right ear? He's telling me about a younger brownish dog that he loses his patience with. He is fairly happy to plod on, but he does like peace and quiet! I get the feeling that he

She still seems to be holding fear from that incident. She likes her routine and doesn't like her routine disturbed. She's showing me a pretty sunny garden, but outside the front door she’s showing me a red brick house or building and a silver car. She is showing me a toy fabric mouse and a little orange ball and a big tower scratching post that she's not sure about! Has the owner had trouble with her knees? The black cat had heart and liver problems which may have been the problems that caused the end of that particular life. I keep seeing Freya with kittens (or maybe she would like kittens!). I feel that the owner is pushing herself too hard and needs to reflect on the next steps in her life choices. Ask Freya! She says that her owner pushed herself as a young child

and was hard on herself. Sit comfortably and cuddle Freya, and allow the options to float into your mind from hers and just see what happens!

might have been rescued or had a very tough past life- I can see him being very thin and scavenging. Does his owner have a connection with India? I can hear music and see beautiful colours and smell spices. Brimstone doesn't really feel that he has to always do as he's told! He certainly has selective hearing. He’s not ignorant, he just chooses to ignore you sometimes! Has there been any trouble with damp in the house? I get the sense that his owner is worried about the cost of renovation. Does the owner have Inner Ear problems? Brimstone is concerned about stairs. He's quite a self contained dog really, but affectionate in his own way. Is the owner worried about a male relation? Brimstone says he will be fine. He says he likes gravy and vegetable scraps! He doesn't really

understand traffic as he is more used to rural environments – he doesn't realise the danger. He likes his basket and doesn’t like to share! He's happy doing his own thing at his own pace!

Send your questions about the future to: Paws for Thought, Vision, 42a Main Street, Garforth,LS25 1AA, or email psychicpets@visionmagazine.uk.com Please include all details you feel are relevant.

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Sangeeta Uppaladinni reveals some simple crystal remedies for common aches and pains

rystalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; naturally charged energies have helped protect people for thousands of years. They were and are used to cure and help relieve a plethora of physical and emotional problems. Crystals are powerful components of the earth. When one feels ill and uncomfortable, it is a result of being disconnected from our natural environment. The use of crystals can help to clear negativity, rebalance, realign and recharge our being to

become a complete and stronger entity. This can be accomplished with crystal layouts, in which small stones are placed on or around the body in healing sessions. Alternatively, appropriate crystal jewellery can be worn as it works on the cellular level from the outside in. Proper placement of stones in oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home or workplace helps continue that positive energy. Crystal elixirs works from the inside out to realign the

vibration frequency toward a more synchronised wavelength. In healing, crystals become receptive to emotional energies, so cleansing your crystal back to a neutral state ensures that accumulated negative energies are not passed on. This process also reenergises the crystal and ensures that it functions at its highest level. Intention of purpose is essential too, as well as purity of mind.

Healing crystals for specific ailments

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Relieving chest complaints Place some amber in a silk cloth and tie around your neck with a string. Ensure that it does not cover the throat chakra. Only wear your amber necklace for about an hour each day, because if worn for too long the amber tends to

direct the energy inwards into itself instead of flowing outwards which could cause your chest complaint(s) to prolong or even worsen. Have the intention of your chest complaint dispersing and your amber will do the rest of the work for you.

Soothing headaches Place rose quartz, aventurine or blue lace agate crystals on the affected area for 5 minutes. Visualise the image you feel is right, perhaps you might visualise a bright light leaving the crystal and entering your head to

replace the affected area with clean

energy. For sharp headaches, hold the crystals against your temples. For duller headaches lay with your head against a soft pillow and place a crystal at the back of your head at the point where the base of the skull meets the neck.

Stress relief Lie comfortably on the floor and place a single terminated quartz crystal across your solar plexus chakra, with the terminated end pointing upwards towards the crown

chakra. Visualise the negative energy being drawn out of your body and discharged into the air. It is important to clear the room of dispersed negative energy after this session. This can be done by ringing a bell in all four corners

of the room, or smudging the room with incense.

Benefit the blood stream Carnelian and amethyst when placed together help purify the blood stream. They strengthen muscles and boost immunity from infections. Both these stones have irradiated iron as a colouring agent, which also helps the wearer to

shake off sluggishness. Iron is one of the six active body minerals essential for life. Chrysocolla aids in the assimilation of iron into the body. Hemetite is also used to help balance the blood stream by being worn on any part of the body.

nother method suitable for cures and maintaining good health is to charge pure water with the healing energy of crystals and gems. Water has the ability to hold energy patterns intact for long periods of time. To imprint the healing energies of crystals on to water, just focus your attention, your intention, and add sunlight or moonlight as required.

Direct methods of preparing the elixir Select your crystals or gems for healing, whilst thinking pure thoughts. The crystals should be good quality and natural. Fill a transparent glass with distilled or spring water. Place the cleansed gem in the glass of water. Sensitise your hands by rubbing the palms together. Hold your hands, palms downwards, about six to seven centimetres above the water. If they are sensitive and your concentration is strong, you will feel a quivering sensation between your hands and the water. Make a circular clockwise movement with your hands with the

palms still downwards, two or three times. The charged water now incorporates the properties and energy of the stone you placed in it. The effects will be much stronger, however, if you place this outside on a sunny day to absorb the rays of the sunlight and moonlight for twenty four hours. The sunlight emphasizes yang energy, and moonlight yin energy. Whilst outside, mentally reinforce the intention, as it will have maximum effect. Minimise your direct physical contact with the stones and water in order to keep the crystal energy from absorbing your own energy and affecting

the elixir. You can remove the stones from the elixir with a spoon. After filtering, you can then sip the elixir or keep in the fridge to drink later. To maintain the efficacy of the elixir when stored for any length of time, mix it with an alcohol such as brandy. The alcohol is used to inhibit bacterial growth and may also help to fix the vibration. Gem elixirs are often used undiluted. Place two to five drops of the elixir under the tongue, two to four times a day. The elixir can be used topically on skin, put into bath water or added to sprays that you use for room or aura cleansing.

Indirect methods of preparing elixirs Place your chosen crystal in a smaller container, and then place it in a larger container of water. Keep six crystals of the same type around the container. Use quartz points to amplify and direct the energy of the stones into the water. Another way to make an elixir is to position a crystal sideways touching a glass for 10 to 15 seconds, and focus your intent that the crystal will charge the water with its energy. This is most effective if you are skilled at focussing your intention, but it is not usually as long lasting as using a conventional method and may be more suitable for making a single glass of charged water to be used within a short time. Direct method example - Jade Elixir properties: Maintains the functioning of the metabolism. Helps strengthen the adrenals, important to combat stress. Awakens hidden inner knowledge and helps us to delve into our subconscious for answers to everyday lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problems. Dosage: Three drops under the tongue several times a day between meals.

Indirect method example - Sapphire Elixir properties: Ability to direct scattered energies towards one goal. Useful for improving eyesight. Helps to calm those who are depressed. Useful for all ailments that derive from an overburdened nervous system. Induces the release of toxins and old thought forms. Dosage: Three to four drops a day in distilled water. To be taken between meals.

You now hold the key to help you hold the ideal pattern in your body. By your intent, the crystal stores only the healing energy that your body needs. With practise you will soon be working in tandem with your healing crystals. After all, the actual healer is already there inside you! Please Note: You should ensure that the crystal you are using is safe to put in water and will not release any toxins before you make a crystal elixir. Consult a reputable author (see Vision Shop for titles) if unsure.

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Sangeeta Uppaladinni takes a look at the common cold and suggests some healthy home remedies to help

he common cold, also known as acute coryza, is an inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and is caused by rhinoviruses. The virus is airborne, but you are more likely to get sick if you touch your eyes, nose or mouth after handling a contaminated object. However, the intensity of the cold depends upon the state of health of the person at the time, as well as some environmental factors. Poor health, exposure to cold, lack of sleep, mental depression, fatigue, and factors such as sudden changes in temperature and dust, are important contributory factors. It’s aptly named ‘common cold’ as it occurs more often than any other illness. The initial signs of a cold are a sore throat and congestion of the nasal passages. Although the illness normally begins in the nose and throat, it affects the whole body. It usually starts with a runny nose, sneezing, headache, and chills. The eyes start watering and then lethargy; a slight fever; aches and pains in the body occur. A sore throat may or may not accompany the cold.

Over-the-counter cold medications and pain relievers offer some symptom relief, but they won’t prevent a cold or shorten its duration. Common medical treatments include analgesics, zinc lozenges, nasal decongestants and cough syrups. There is no medically proven treatment for curing the cold virus. Only the body’s immune system can effectively destroy the invader, a process which generally takes about seven days in healthy individuals. Within a few days of having a cold, the body begins to mass - produce an antibody that can prevent the virus from infecting cells, and white blood cells which destroy the virus through phagocytosis. This destroys infected cells to prevent them multiplying any further. Since the duration of infection hovers between three days and one week, even a proven cure could only reduce the duration by a few days. Everybody gets

better from a common cold, even if it is left untreated. Easing the discomfort and alleviating the symptoms so that you can breathe easier and feel happier is always a welcome relief, so many turn to cold remedies. Cold remedies are as common as the common cold, and many are nearly as ancient. Imagine living in ancient Rome, where you might have sipped a broth made by soaking an onion in warm water to relieve some of the unpleasant cold symptoms! In colonial America, cold remedies were quite something! You might have relied on pennyroyal tea; or an herbal concoction made from plants such as sage, hyssop, yarrow, black cohosh, buckthorn, coltsfoot, goldenseal, cubeb berries, or bloodroot. The use of chicken soup as a congestion cure dates back centuries and has become a byword for comfort in the USA.

Here’s a look at some common cold home remedies

Saline solution For a dry and stuffy nose, try normal saline (salt water) or saline nasal drops. You can make the latter by adding a teaspoon of table salt to about 4ml of lukewarm water. Use a clean dropper to apply one to two drops to each nostril several times a day.

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Steaming hot chicken soup This hearty soup has been proven to help relieve cold symptoms in different ways. It acts as an antiinflammatory agent and it also temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose, helping to relive congestion. It works by soothing the irritated respiratory passages with its steam.

Fragrant root ginger About ten grammes of ginger should be cut into small pieces and boiled in a cup of water. It should then be strained and half a teaspoon of sugar added to it. This decoction should be drunk whilst hot. Alternatively, add half an inch of grated ginger to a pan of boiling water, add tea leaves and sugar if desired. Ginger is an effective remedy against cold and fevers. It also adds extra heat to the decoction.

The versatile lemon Vitamin C-rich lemon juice increases body resistance, decreases toxicity and reduces the duration of the illness. One lemon should be diluted in a glass of warm water to which a teaspoon of honey is added. Drink twice daily.

Inhalation for a stuffy nose Mix natural apple cider vinegar and water in equal parts. Boil this solution in a pot. When the fumes rise, lean over the pot and inhale the fumes.

The mighty garlic Garlic soup is an old remedy to reduce the severity of a cold and should be taken daily. The soup can be prepared by boiling three or four cloves of chopped garlic in a cup of water. Garlic contains antiseptic and antispasmodic properties, besides several other medicinal values. The oil contained in the garlic helps to open up the respiratory passages. In soup form, it flushes out all toxins from the system and thus helps bring down the fever associated with the cold. Five drops of garlic oil combined with a teaspoon of onion juice diluted in a glass of water should be drunk two or three times a day. Eating garlic regularly helps build up a natural resistance to getting a common cold.

The earthy turmeric Turmeric is an effective remedy for colds and soothes the throat. Half a teaspoon of fresh turmeric powder mixed in 30 ml of warm milk, and taken once or twice daily, is a useful prescription for these conditions as it had got antiseptic qualities and medicinal properties.

Herbal remedies For head congestion steep fenugreek seeds in boiling water for ten minutes and drink warm. Prepare a solution using four drops of lavender essential oil and pine essential oil, three drops of peppermint essential oil and seven drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Inhale the vapours of this solution by putting it on a cotton ball or an aromatherapy diffuser. Alternatively, put a few drops in a warm bath. The steam and vapour help to unclog a congested chest. For a cough, steep some sage in boiling water for twenty minutes and then drink hot or cold.

e reassured whenever you have the common cold, that help is only a store cupboard away. And with a battalion of tissues, hot water bottle and your favourite hot toddy, you are fully prepared to meet it head on!

Important note: Please check all contra-indications and any allergies before you try any of these remedies. Vision and its contributors accept no responsibility for the effects of these remedies, check with your doctor if unsure.

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Carole Chui introduces us to the Crown chakra and its correspondences in the last of this series The Crown Chakra (sometimes called the Sahasrara Chakra) Position and function The 7th and highest chakra in this system is positioned at the crown of the head, at the place where, in babies, there is the fontanelle. This chakra connects us with the infinite, and our own higher selves. Colour The colour is violet, or purple, a colour in earlier days connected with majesty. It is a sumptuous and glowing colour, yet the lightest vibration level. Glands and Organs The pituitary is connected with this chakra. Some assign the pineal, but I believe that is more properly connected with the Brow Chakra (see last month). The pituitary gland is the master gland, secreting hormones that control the whole endocrine system. Crystals Crystals which work with the Brow Chakra will also affect the Crown Chakra and vice versa. Purple amethyst is traditionally connected with this chakra. I have also found that Angelite and the ethereal looking pale crystal, blue Celestite produce wonderful effects on the higher chakras. Clear Quartz will work with all the chakras, including the crown. On my aura machine, I have seen a brilliant pulsating circle of colour and energy surround both the higher chakras as a person holds one of these crystals. 56 Vision 20

Is your Chakra Healthy? When the 7th chakra is open and balanced, you are connected to the higher parts of yourself and to the spiritual realm. If it is too over-energised, a person can be unbalanced, living in dreams and visions and at worst, unable to function in the world. If it is closed, a person is only interested in the material world and apt to deny that anything else exists. Helping your Crown Chakra When working alone, you particularly need to work within the balanced framework of all 7 chakras. Practising meditation and other spiritual exercises will help you gently open this chakra, but group work is more advisable. However, here is a safe and simple exercise to keep all chakras balanced and healthy. Find somewhere safe and quiet, where you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be disturbed, and sit or lie comfortably. If it helps, have the crystals set out. Begin with the lowest chakra, the Base Chakra. Breathe in a glowing red, directing the breath into that chakra. See or feel the chakra take in the red and begin to glow, and feel the chakra spin until there is a clear, glowing, balanced red chakra at the base. When you are satisfied, allow some of that energy to move up to the Sacral Chakra, and then

begin to breathe in a brilliant orange. Once you feel the energy balanced and clear, allow some energy to rise to the Solar Plexus Chakra, and then breathe in the purest of yellows. Once your inner sun glows warmly at the centre of you, you can move up energy to the heart, and breathe in lush green, allowing it to spread to that area. When you are ready, you can move the energy up to your throat. Feel physical tension leave the throat as you breathe in a wonderful blue. When that chakra balances and energises, breathe in indigo, and direct it to the third eye, in the middle of your two mundane eyes and just above the nose. Then you may allow the energy to rise, and breathe purple in, directing it to your crown. As the energy rises to your crown, feel how you are connected through your Base Chakra to the Earth, and through your Crown Chakra can reach up to the heavens. As the energy rises, allow it to rise in a fountain of white light, as all the colours become merged in the brilliance of the white light, and feel its healing radiance around you. Sit within the white light for as long as you need. Then return yourself to everyday, but know that your chakras have been cleansed and refreshed. Make sure you are grounded (eat and/or drink something) before you go off to your ordinary life).

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elcome once again to Coven Corner. Now the cold times of winter are drawing ever closer with the coming of the most important of the eight festivals - Samhain (also known as Calan Gaeaf or All Hallows) on the 31st October. This date was seen as the first day of winter and the start of the New Year and the festival was the Celtic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Feast of the Deadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, signifying the last days of the old Sun. The Goddess withdraws from the land and no more green things start to grow. At this time the boundaries between this world and the Otherworld grow thin, allowing spirits to cross in either direction. This is a time to remember the joys and lives of those who have gone before us and, maybe, we may hear from them!

he wand is another important tool for a Wiccan practitioner. Some traditions see the wand as representing fire, and some air. South is the direction the wand would be placed on your altar or circle. A wand's ideal length is traditionally the same distance as your elbow from your finger-tips. As with all other tools, it is up to you what it is made of - even metal. You can even cut the wand from a tree but always seek the permission of the tree first! Many prefer to use fallen wood or reclaimed wood instead. Wands can have symbols carved into them or gemstones set into them - whatever feels

right for you. Wands have many uses, some include: casting circles; channelling energy; manifestation and inviting and controlling entities. It is worth researching the properties of the chosen material before making the wand.

Bright Blessings,

Andrea.

God of the month The Roman God Janus Janus was the Roman god of doors and doorways, beginnings and endings. He was unusual in that he had two faces which look in opposite directions. This allowed Janus to guard the threshold between the worlds in ritual. He was worshipped at harvest, planting time, marriages, births and the coming of age of young people. The month of January is named after him - the Roman 11th month.

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Buy this wand! See P78 for details

You wil need: 1x mirror ( large enough to see head and shoulders ) 1x glass of water 1x white candle This spell is best performed on a new moon , and is also a good one to perform at Samhain. The scrying mirror will allow you to see your guides and loved ones who have passed on to the Summerlands. First of all you must put a sphere of protective white or blue light around yourself and ask that only those Spirits of love and light may step forward and show themselves in the mirror! Also asking your guides or Archangel Michael for protection is always a good thing to do!

A ritual for the Samhain festival You will need: 1 x fireproof dish suitable for burning charcoal on, and 1 or 2 charcoal blocks 4 x suitably carved pumpkin/turnip lanterns and candles to light them with Juniper berries to use as incense After the sun has set, find a convenient grove or area out in nature (weather permitting). Be sure to pick your area

Take the mirror and place it on a secure surface where it will not fall and break and where you can sit comfortably in front of it. Take some of the water and sprinkle it on the mirror (enough to make your reflection slightly obscure), then place the candle in front of the mirror and light it (make sure the candle will not set anything on fire and you are sitting at a safe distance away). Relax and ask for either your guide or one of your loved ones to step forward in the mirror, keep looking into the mirror and if you are lucky you may catch a glimpse of someone! Do not attempt this without first putting protection around yourself.

Witches Kitchen: Turnip Gender: Female Planet: Moon Element: Earth Properties: Protection, ending relationships and endings in general. Ritual Uses: Traditionally used on or around the Samhain festival and hollowed out, (often with holes carved in the sides in the form of faces), with candles lit within. These were carried or placed in areas, facing outwards, to ward off evil spirits, particularly in window ledges or doorways. Turnips are also used to dissuade unwanted admirers from further pursuing their targets.

carefully, where nothing can catch fire from your fire or lanterns. In the following order, place a lantern first in the east, then south, then west and finally north. Light the lanterns in the same sequence and make sure the faces on them face out of the circle. Cast your circle by extending your index finger (whichever hand suits you best), and imagine a golden light shooting out of your finger whilst turning clockwise (sometimes called deosil direction) from the starting point in the east until you come back round to the east once again. Now say “the circle is cast.” Place the fireproof dish in the centre of the circle and light your charcoal and put some juniper berries on the top. Sit and write down your messages to your loved ones in the Summerlands, then burn the messages whilst visualising your loved ones receiving what you have sent. Then when all is done, close the circle by tracing with your finger anticlockwise (sometimes known as widdershins) from east back to east – then say “the circle is closed,” Allow the lanterns to exhaust their candles place them in any doorway or window to ward off any negativity for the rest of the night (or until you go to bed). When you get up in the morning, scatter the ashes to the winds.

If you have a question or need help with a problem, you can write to Coven Corner at the Vision address or email covencorner@visionmagazine.uk.com Please remember that we may not be able to respond to all your letters, but we will try to cover all the subjects.

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Paula Garton takes a look at the effect of the planets in November

his is a very ‘scorpic’ month with Mars and Jupiter joining the usual Sun, Mercury, and Venus trio in Scorpio. Mars is the energy giver, and will help you sustain your energy levels and renew them when needed, through sheer willpower. Scorpios themselves will be more secretive, stubborn and wilful than usual, with Jupiter giving them a desire for knowledge about the mysteries and healing tools associated with the psyche. The asteroid Chiron sends difficult beams to the trio of planets, this will make us behave out of character, so it is difficult to get support from our usual circle of friends and work colleagues. The new moon in Scorpio on 20th will cause emotional intensity over family issues and a need to take control

gatherings, meetings or large events as you will not be able to contact people easily. It will seem as if phone lines have fallen down and your computer has gone on holiday. No doubt emails will get lost and answer phones will ignore messages – hold off on sending important messages now if you can! As Mercury is in Scorpio the effects will be hidden to some extent, so it will not be until it has turned direct again that you notice the return to normality. Confidence returns The Tee Square formed by Neptune, Saturn and Jupiter is now dissipating as Neptune is being left behind by Saturn and Jupiter as they move much faster. Jupiter is moving out

Throughout the month, Saturn will be slowing down before it turns retrograde in December. This pulls it away from Jupiter and allows it to operate on its own, sending positive beams of energy to Pluto and giving Pluto the thumbs up for change! You will find that your boss is more supportive of your needs, prestige and promotion will be easier to obtain now that Jupiter and Neptune are out of the equation. You will feel more disciplined and able to get your

of the situation to avoid feeling vulnerable.

of its awkward position with Saturn by the end of the month, which means the confusion and lack of support and frustration at not being able to achieve anything substantial is finally ending. Jupiter moves out of Scorpio on the 25th, where its buoyancy and confidence is not expressed very easily and its ideas and knowledge have remained secret. It deposits itself into its ruling sign of Sagittarius, where it can let its energy flow with vigour. We will all feel more able to get on with life and move upward and onward; as confidence returns and

head down to hard work and planning ahead. Hard work now while the planets are in our favour will help to secure future success and financial security. Globally, governments will be more ready to talk and compromise, but decisions made before the 18th will be changed or cancelled until Mercury is direct. It is a month of getting round the table and taking in the information needed to make peace, so that treaties can be signed from the 19th onwards. Another busy month again in the cosmos, so take a deep breath and go for it!

Mercury in retrograde Mercury is retrograde again in another water sign from 28th October to 18th November. As I’m sure you know now, this will cause chaos around all types of communication and thought processes. So take heed – November is not the month for signing contracts, hiring staff, changing your car or buying phones, computers, faxes or printers. Try to avoid the dentists or arranging 60 Vision 20

the need to deal with things quickly, positively and directly, allows us to move forward with freedom, knowledge and the confidence that we can achieve our ambitions. Future success

Not a fantastic amount of energy around during the first week of November; you’ll tend to feel tired and listless without much enthusiasm for anything. With this in mind, pace yourself accordingly and don’t bite off any more than you can chew, either in professional or personal affairs. Things

All in all, this should be a pretty good month for business affairs, career advancements and cash gains. This is made so, I suspect, by the degree of attention you’ll be paying to these matters: here are aspects of your life that you can change and control (unlike some of the emotional issues that you are having to deal with) and what you can’t do in one compartment of your life you’ll do very effectively in another - in this case it’s with your money. The 17th, 18th and 19th sees you talking to bankers and other money providers and new financial commitments will be discussed at this time. It looks as though there is a major purchase on the horizon in the very near future and throughout November you are getting your money sorted out and putting it in place where it can be used at short notice to your greatest advantage. Not everyone will agree with your financial priorities, but it’s your money we’re talking about here, so spend it as you see fit.

perk up noticeably around the 10th when you will be on the receiving end of some good news (possibly with an overseas connection), that will tie in with a specific career ambition. Someone’s emotional attitude changes for the better around the 15th, heralding brighter romantic times ahead. However, be

Let Vision’s no-nonsense astrologer James Christie guide you through the month ahead ...

aware of the fact that a major division of emotional loyalties is not something that can be changed overnight – and there are a few such divisions of loyalties that do have to be resolved sooner or later, no matter how you try to avoid them. This cannot happen until you know exactly what you want and who you want it with - so sort that out this month if you can and things will definitely improve for you.

On more than one occasion, free and single Scorpios will find themselves re-writing the Karma Sutra from page sixty nine backwards – and that’s great! On the other hand, for Scorpios who are not free and single and who find themselves in the same position, but with someone other than their regular partner, this is not great at all. Indeed, it’s a long slippery slope into intrigue and deceit, and while this can bring a degree of excitement, it’s the wrong kind of excitement insofar as it brings tension and disharmony not to mention a few plain old-fashioned feelings of guilt. So, if you’re free to go for it, go for it by all means. But if you’re not, use some patience and discretion, and hold back in the face of temptation, because you are more than likely to regret any dalliances now. This is not the time to rock the boat unless you’ve got a great big pair of water wings stashed away somewhere close and convenient to get you out of the mess you will surely find yourself in!

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Good for finances: All month Dealing with banks: 17th-19th

Sexual highs for singles: All month Beware of temptation: All month

Good news from overseas: 10th Emotional support: 15th

24 Oct - 23 Nov

Without being negative or low key, November will be a ‘thoughtful’ month during which you will quietly redefine some of your targets and priorities. This will be done within the framework of your own personal needs and wants, and will not, at this time, involve discussions or consultations with third parties.

Something (almost certainly involving other members of your family), that occurs around the 20th of the month will focus your attention on what you want and where you want to be four or five years from now, and although in some respects that might seem like a lifetime away, you still need to start putting these

Fresh new romances for the footloose and fancy free! Although that sounds lovely it could all too easily get messed up if sweet young Sagittarians take it all a bit too much for granted and do not pay heed to the fact that there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. If, rather than being footloose and fancy free, you’re footsore and not quite so fancy as you were a few years back, then this may be time to take stock – of where you’ve been, where you are and where you want to go. I’m not sure than anything really happens just by accident and I do feel that this is a time when you must reach out and take a much tighter grip on the reigns of life, crack the whip, and demand to be taken to the destination of your own choosing. I’m not honestly sure what it is, but something that occurs between the 19th and the 23rd is going to change your thinking in quite a major and dramatic way.

Following on from my comments in the overview section, this is, as you might gather, a key time for examining the wealth and worth of current career positions. I suspect there is something better than what you’ve got right now staring you in the face, but the fact that you are too close to it might, in itself, make it difficult to see. This is where a third party could be of great service, and because I do feel that there are new job opportunities and financial gains very close at hand, maybe I need to draw your attention to close friends and members of your family. I feel certain that someone from these circles may have some answers and solutions for you. There is practical help here, not just wordy advice. If your personal finances are a little fragile right now this might not be entirely a bad thing if it pushes you into taking some kind of action that you would not take if you were rolling in it.

Cash & Career:

Love & Sex

Third party help: All month Financial action: All month

Change of thinking: 19th - 23rd Take control: All month

24 Nov - 21 Dec

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plans and ideas in place, even if it’s only on a mental level. Current job routines are less than satisfactory, and as there isn’t a total degree of job security with you at the moment, this is a time when you could do yourself a favour by examining a few career alternatives.

Family future decisions: 20th General future plans: All month

As is the case with your fellow Earth Signs (Taurus & Virgo), November is going to be a very busy and potentially highly stressful month for you and not only are you going to have to keep your wits about you at all times, you’re also going to have stay calm and serene while the whirlwinds and

tornadoes of change whistle round your ears and ankles. Other people, and especially partners and lovers, will be looking for you to take the lead in all things and I suppose it’s got to be said that if you want something done properly you’re better off doing it yourself! Career and business aspects dominate the first

couple of weeks of November, but it is domestic and personal aspects that take on much greater importance during the last half of the month, so make sure you pay particular attention to these. Travel aspects around the 19th and 20th should be very significant and the last few days of the month brings important family reunions, so there are plenty of signs that November will be an especially important and trying (but rewarding) month.

This is a time wherein you’re going to be looking for a lot of support from lovers and partners and although it may be there for you in spirit, it might be a little thin on the ground in all practical aspects. If there are a few personality clashes throughout the month of November you can put this down to tiredness and tension rather than antagonism or any degree of illwill, but I guess it’s got to be said that this is probably not the most romantic month of your year for you – although moods and atmospheres could change dramatically to reverse this trend once you’re into the last few days – say the 24th or 25th onwards. Indeed, it has to be acknowledged that this is a period in which other people change their attitudes towards you, seeing you in the strength of your true light and responding with great praise and admiration (which I know you’ll love!). Whether you’re male or female it’s time to wear the trousers in all affairs of the heart.

Between the 2nd and the 14th you’ll be working flat out at full burn – long hours, long days, tight schedules and timetables. The pressure comes off briefly around the 16th, but is piled on again around the 19th, 20th and 21st, when major domestic changes (such as house moves or changes of business premises) cause a degree of chaos. It has to be said that this is ‘organised’ chaos though, and throughout the whole process you are very much in charge, keeping a steady hand upon the helm and steering into clearer waters. (You won’t always feel steady and in charge ... but that’s a different kettle of fish entirely). This looks as though it is going to be a very expensive month for you, but I’m not too worried because it would seem that you will have budgeted accordingly, so the outlay will have been accounted for in advance of actually spending it.

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Hard work: 2nd - 14th Respite from pressure: 16th - 19th

Personality Clashes: All month Positve attitudes: All month

Major domestic change: 19th-21st Travel: 19th & 20th

22 Dec - 20 Jan

There is always a great divide between the “haves” and “have nots” and as you move through the broad sweep of November you will come to feel that increasingly you are in the latter of these two categories – and this is inevitably going to cause some inner feelings of resentment and injustice. I doubt that

you’ll say anything to anyone else, but rather will keep these simmering feelings very much to yourself and brood in silence. Looked at though other peoples’ eyes, it could be said that you’re doing all right, but the truth of the matter is that these ‘other people’ simply do not know how you feel and do not have the

November will be a very busy month on the work scene and although you will be doing your best to stay on top of various projects and commitments, my feeling is that you’ll be doing it by the numbers and just for the money. On more than many occasions I can see that your heart and mind will be elsewhere. The 7th and 8th brings a sparkle of freshness into the scheme of things, when you will find yourself in receipt of some extra money that is owed to you, but there may be domestic clashes around the 11th to the 14th when you find yourself arguing with a partner about financial priorities. Perhaps this is prompted by the extra cash? There will be some interesting new ideas and almost certainly some kind of extra curricular business opportunity presented to you in the last week of the month, which comes from a close friend of the same sex, or possibly from a relative, but someone who is not part of your bloodline. Definitely worth looking out for.

requisite degree of sensitivity towards your own needs and ambitions. Perhaps you should tell ‘em – but then there’s that other part of you that says why bother, because they probably wouldn’t understand anyway. The thing is, you won’t know if they will be supportive until you try. It’s your call!

Aquarians who are in safe and secure relationships will carry on in safe and secure relationships – but there are times when the imagination will get a grip and you’ll find yourself dreaming of the green grass on the far side of the hill. Aquarians in boring and stale relationships start suffering from an acute degree of emotional claustrophobia and will find themselves looking for ways to get out of romantic cul de sacs. Younger Aquarians looking for the ‘right’ relationship might have to settle for a sexual adventure instead, but at least this could be seen as a step in the right direction. All members of the sign must draw a line of distinction between what is a practical possibility and what is a fantastic dream – and some Aquarians will go out on a limb to make the dream a reality. This is definitely a time where you will be reevaluating what you really want from your relationships- just be careful that you are sure of what you want before you go out and try to get it.

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Extra Money: 7th & 8th Work Opportunity: End of month

Romantic Dissatisfaction: All month Unrealsitic Dreaming: All month

21st Jan - 19 Feb

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Domestic Clashes: 11th - 14th Unhappy with your lot: All month

Anything you can do this month to break free from the restraints of traditional routines must be seen as a major step in the right direction towards finding a greater sense of meaning and excitement in your life, which you do so need at this time. Do not feel that you have to travel alone in

this quest, because there is plenty of room for partners and special friends – but if you haven’t got anyone like that in your life don’t worry too much because it would seem to me that November is a marvellous month for making contact with new people who can do a great deal to add some extra sparkle to your

lifestyle ... and that has got to be a good thing. While it is true that there are some new money-making ideas in the wind (the 4th, 5th 6th and again around the 22nd and 23rd), please be aware that nothing is going to be handed to you on a plate and some effort and commitment will be called for on your part if you are to consolidate these opportunities. Don’t miss the boat and put the extra effort in it will all be worthwhile.

Without any shadow of doubt the period around the 16th, 17th and 18th is the most interesting and potentially profitable time in all aspects of your business and working life. There will be a flurry of meetings and discussions and it is at this time that a third party will bring you in on some of their plans and ideas – which might sense of their rather odd behaviour earlier in the year when they have been playing their cards very close to their chest. This is a good time for taking calculated risks and for making investments – not only financial investments but also investments of your time. Between the 22nd and 26th you receive excellent news concerning business ventures you have committed yourself to much earlier in the year, and there should be some sort of hard cash dividend paid into bank accounts before the end of the month. Don’t forget to keep some for Christmas!

Travel aspects tie in with social and sexual agendas quite early in the month and the whole period from the 1st to the 7th augers well for finding new romances or enhancing existing unions. The 8th to the 11th sees your social scene expanding and favours all kinds of group activities, (I get this lovely image of a dozen people splashing around naked in a swimming pool at midnight, but you could just as easily end up on a Derby and Joan coach tour to The Cotswolds). On a different note, while calculated financial risks are fine, risks of all kinds in affairs of the heart should be avoided and this is a time in which you need to be candid and open with a partner, taking them fully into your confidence with regard to your plans, dreams and desires. Soft cheese and rubber toys. You know the kind of thing I mean. (No James, we don’t ... please explain? Ed.)

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Profitable period: 16th - 18th Good business news: 22nd - 26th

Break from tradition: All month Make new friends: All month

New Romance: 1st - 7th Social Fun: 8th - 11th

20 Feb - 20 Mar

While you will be dealing with the necessary detail of daily routines, getting on with the business of earning a crust and paying the bills while trying your best to compromise with others, there is an undercurrent of tension thrumming away beneath the surface caused by a virus of discontent and frustration. Increasingly you come to the

conclusion that this is not the life or the lifestyle that you want – but there’s very little you can do about it, not without taking some major risks and upsetting a whole load of other people along the way. Therefore, you will be looking for ways in which to compensate for this spiritual shortfall and as such November will turn out to be a month of wild extravagances

If someone asks you to do something, then there’s every chance you’re going to do it. If someone tells you that you’ve got to do something, then there’s every chance you’re going to tell them to ‘get stuffed’. Arians who are their own bosses probably have a better November than those who are on the corporate career ladder, but whoever you are and whatever you are doing, there will be this fundamental unwillingness to conform to other peoples’ standards and expectations. The 9th, 10th and 11th is a period of intense discussion and negotiation, and like it or not, you are going to have to make some compromises. You will clearly recognise this fact, so this in itself isn’t a problem, but what might be a problem is getting other people to meet you half way and make a few compromises of their own. The 20th through to the 25th is a good period for financial gain, but it will be hard won and probably will not bring you the sense of achievement you are so desperately looking for at this time.

Vision 20

November 1st through until around the 6th augers well for affairs of the heart and indeed new social contacts could really get the blood flowing and fire up all kinds of wild imaginings and sexual twitches. Fine if you’re free and single, but not so fine if you’re not, and indeed, if you are not free and single, I’d expect some manure to start hitting the fan around the 11th or 12th caused by a partner’s jealousy and not entirely unjustified suspicions. Depending upon what you want, damage limitation exercises are the order of the day from the 13th or 14th onwards – either that, or some sad plans are put into place as you realise it might be time to move on and break free from emotional restraints that are causing far more distress than contentment. By no means can November be an easy month for Arians, but in some ways it may well turn out to be the most important emotional month of the year.

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Negotiations: 9th - 11th Financial gain: 20th - 25th

Jealousy: 11th or 12th Compromise: 13th or 14th

21 Mar - 20 Apr

where your social spending is concerned. You will open up the envelope on the work scene, and, more importantly, take one or two risks in affairs of the heart: especially if there is someone close at hand who is plucking ever so gently at the heart string. It’s all very compensational though, with the cheque book trying to free the soul!

Tension: All month Risk taking: All month

November is going to be the busiest month of your year – busy bordering on the chaotic – and stress levels are going to be very high indeed. Certainly you can relax in December, but to get to December you must first battle your way through November, and it is probably going to

be an absolute pig of a month! A lot of Taureans are changing address this month while others will be engaged in major home refurbishments etc. Relationships with partners are likely to be fractious, either caused by the inherent tension generated from other sources, or possibly even being the cause

of it. Work load will be very high until around the 15th and although there is some good money to be earned during the first two weeks of November, you run the risk of becoming over stretched and over tired. Try not to run yourself into the ground. November 20th (give me 24 hours either side!) will be a key date for all domestic issues and a lot of pressure will be relieved after the 23rd or 24th.

As was the case in October, November is not the most beautifully romantic month of your year, but it is a foundation stone month in which certain building bricks will be put in place that should generate a far greater degree of happiness and contentment just a little way further up the road. In the meantime there are tensions in relationships, but these are not caused by emotional situations – more by external factors that take up a lot of time and cause a fair old degree of stress and tension. There is a tremendous build-up of frustration and anxiety between the 3rd and the 15th, but by the 20th or 21st much of that anxiety will be speedily removed. This does not mean that either your mood or your circumstances change overnight, but that 20th/21st period is something of a watershed, and from the 22nd and 23rd onwards you can look forward to calmer seas.

Between the 2nd and the 15th you’re going to be working long hours and hard days, but the financial rewards should be significant. A major change of work routine – something which probably has been long planned – starts coming on line around the 16th or 17th, but it will still take a number of weeks before the affects of these changes – which are very much indeed for the better, by the way – will fully be felt. Despite the heavy workload during the first fortnight of November you will be frequently distracted with thoughts regarding what you’re going to be doing during the second fortnight of the month and throughout this whole period there looks to be a high degree of involvement with red tape, papers, contracts and legal documents. This is a time for facing the challenges with a stout heart, playing your hunches, and having faith in a better brighter future.

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Long hours: 2nd - 15th Work change: 16th - 17th

Frustration: 3rd - 15th Calm: 22nd onwards

High stress: All month House move: This month

21 Apr - 21 May

The practical side of your Gemini nature will be highlighted throughout November and as such this looks like being a promising period for any kind of DIY or home improvement scheme and you’ll be in a “let’s get things done now” mood both in your domestic environment and your

place of work. The period between the 7th and the 10th sees you coming up with some fresh new ideas which should go down very well with both family and colleagues alike. Although you might not necessarily be looking to be Mr or Miss Popularity, it should be refreshing and rewarding to be on the receiving end of

Gentlemen, you might be more than willing to shack up with your beloved in that tent I was talking about earlier, but ladies of the sign most certainly will not! Female Geminis will be looking for fluffy carpets and silk sheets – and they’ll be attracted to blokes who are steady wage earners. Probably the best time for social (and sexual) highlights is around the 23rd or 24th and there certainly should be more than one or two wild parties in this late month period. Younger Geminis (16-20’s) might find November a bit of a low key month, but more mature members of the sign who are involved with homemaking should be highly rewarded. There is certainly a lot of pleasure to be had out of the simple things in life and making love on the kitchen table can be just as much fun as making love on that moonlit desert island beach.

There will be a bit of belt tightening between the 1st and the 7th when you look at bank accounts and think “Ooops!”, but by the 15th or 16th things are flowing quite freely once again and some new cash gains on the 20th or 21st put the financial smile back on your face. The last ten days of the month sees business and pleasure mixing nicely, and certainly for those of you who are self employed, more business will be done out of the office than in it! This is a very auspicious period for launching new ventures and exploring fresh ideas and there is a certain degree of excitement in the wind, as you bring new people into your circle who are very much in tune with your way of thinking. This could lead to a few late night drinking sessions with mates and colleagues and overall your place of work is probably a great place to be.

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Save hard: 1st- 7th Cash in: 20th - 21st

Parties: 23rd & 24th Praise: All month

22 May - 21 Jun

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some well deserved praise and recognition which you well deserve. A practical attitude also serves you well in affairs of the heart and sexual unions and although you might love someone to death, you are not going to live with them in a leaking tent at the end of a muddy field.

New ideas: 7th - 10th DIY: All month

November promises to be a much brighter and lighter month than some you have known this year and there seems to be quite a lot going on in connection with home entertaining; home run businesses; new romantic interests and, although I don’t like the concept of “luck”, for want of a better

word it could be said that your luck is taking a turn for the better at this time of year, which will reflect not just in what you do or what you get, but how you feel. There is a sense of optimism here and a new found feeling of confidence that has often been missing in 2006 and if there is a lot more laughter dancing over the

Self employed entrepreneurial members of the sign, and especially those who work from home, should have a fairly jolly month – one can see you sitting at your computer with some scantily clad sex slave dancing attendance to make sure you don’t get bored between shifts in front of the VDU. Certainly the period between the 4th and the 13th brings a heightened sense of sexual awareness to all of your work related agendas and if, perchance, you’re working in any aspect of the sex industry, this early half of November should be particularly stimulating and exhilarating. For less exotic Cancerians who are more concerned with finance than flesh, November still brings high rewards and you’ll enjoy a wonderful feeling of satisfaction as you reap what you have sown earlier in the year. November 24th or 25th sees you negotiating an exciting financial deal, and this will be over the dinner table and not the office desk.

Cancerian airwaves then it is to be welcomed and comes not before time. As much as anything else this is provoked and stimulated by what is happening in your sex life, but it has to be said that having your finances on an even keel also helps a lot and will put you in the perfect mood. Cancerians haven’t had it good of late but there is plenty to look forward to throughout this month.

There is quite a nice sexy buzz humming along throughout November and regardless of what you’re doing, what kind of lifestyle you lead, and irrespective of your age, it is definitely your libido that is pressing all the “go” buttons at this moment in time. Home entertaining has an unusually high profile both at the beginning and towards the end of the month and on these occasions it might be a good idea to keep your flirtatious streak in check. Mid-month, say between the 12th and 22nd, flirtatiousness aside, you’ll be playing hard to impress a member of the opposite sex, this will open a whole new series of opportunities for you to explore the deeper needs and machinations of your sexuality. One word of warning, and that is around the 27th or 28th don’t joke about having sex with somebody. Other ears will take your words seriously and inevitably, there’ll be a few consequences.

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Flirt at work: 4th - 13th Business deal: 24th or 25th

Sexy times: All month New romance: 12th - 22nd

Happiness: All month Optimism: All month

22 June - 22 July

There will be a few awkward family aspects cropping up in the month of November, where divided loyalties and misunderstandings can easily get blown out of proportion. In an attempt to resolve these “silly irritations” you may find yourself laying down the law – and then

you’ll get it in the neck for being too bossy or for being insensitive to the needs of others, which is a whole load of rubbish, but that’s how other people will see the situation. The 17th and 18th sees your attention turning away from family matters as you concentrate more on one to one romantic and sexual associations

The key work period this month is probably around the 13th or 14th, when something important falls into place that opens other doorways of opportunity in the early quarter of 2007. Indeed, much of your work effort at this time will be focused on or around the new year and a number of new projects that you’ll be trying to get off the ground before the advent of the spring. Thus, in part, November is very much a planning month but this should not detract from local gains and successes, not only around the 13th but also much later in the month around the 27th. There are legal aspects coming on line during the last week and if some very important documents were signed on the 27th or 28th I wouldn’t be at all surprised. One little note of caution suggests that in the last 24 hours of the month you should be careful about words spoken over a telephone. Be on the safe side, send a letter or a text message instead.

Vision 20

Romantic prospects in November are really rather bright and bouncy with the 17th of the month acting as epicentre for a brand new lease of sexual energy. Either a new relationship is getting off the ground or an established union is moving into more exciting territory, and certainly the second half of the month sees you concentrating much more on your personal life than, say, the professional or domestic side of things. Reassuringly, and perhaps a little surprisingly, a partner will be very caring and supportive when you find yourself discussing long term plans and ideas and they should make it abundantly clear that they expect to be part of those plans and ideas – and yeah, okay, for a small percentage of you out there this could be the knee wobbling kiss of death, take time to think about it before you make any hasty decisions, but for the vast majority of lovable Leos this is very good news that couldn’t come soon enough.

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Opportunities: 13th or 14th Success: 13th & 27th

Sexy times: 17th Romance: 23rd

23 July - 22 Aug

and by the 23rd you should be flying very high on a wave on unprecedented popularity. Also in November, there is something to do with eye tests and zebras. Maybe it’s just an indication of you seeing your way clear to undertake a long journey to Africa. Or it could just be a warning about crossing roads.

Legal documents: 27th or 28th Avoid phonecalls: 30th

November will be busy enough, but there’s an odd mood of anti-climax, or if I’ve got that wrong, a sense of frustration that future plans are not panning out nearly as quickly or as smoothly as you would like them to pan out. Certainly, November has its highs and the first days of the month

will see you on the receiving end of some professional and public acclaim accept this with pride and you will be able to think more positive about the future. Also on the face of it, finances seem quite strong and nobody appears to be rocking any emotional boats – so, what’s up doc? Why the long face and why that uneasy

queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach? I suggest it may be because you don’t trust the soundness of your own success, so come on, have a little more faith in your own achievements and abilities and don’t go looking for problems where there aren’t any lurking under your kitchen sink.Overall, the skies have dealt you a pretty good month so take up opportunities instead of sitting there dwelling on what could have been.

The first 24 or 36 hours of the month will be rather tense and low key as you deal with some simmering resentments carried over from October, but long before the 4th or 5th your mood will be brightening considerably and should anniversaries be celebrated at this time - they have got absolutely nothing at all to do with Bonfire Night. While you should be quite busy on the work scene during the first ten or fourteen days of the month, there is a good social buzz here and there are a lot of laughs to be had, and if you are involved professionally with an emotional partner there is a gorgeous sparkle here that proves that you can and should do business with friends. Single Virgos suffer fatal attractions between the 15th and 20th while at the same time maiden ladies from Marlborough get their taste buds tickled by toy boys in tight jeans. Make the most of this month whether you are single or attached - there are good time to be had.

There is a subtle but very important shift in your career patterns this month. It’s not so much a change of job but more a case of changing job routines and responsibilities and if there is no immediate benefit from this, please be patient, it won’t be too long before the benefit is felt. This trend comes on line around the 17th to 22nd, but it’s hard to pin down to a specific set of dates because this is an evolutionary process of career direction and realignment. Business and pleasure mix nicely in the first couple of weeks of November, there is a tearful departure or retirement party in the third week, and then it’s nose to the grindstone time once again for the last seven or eight days. You will not always feel as though you are making a lot of progress, if any, but when you look back over November from December, you will come to realise just how critical and important this four week plus period has been for you.

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Slow change: 17th - 22nd Fun at work: 1st - 14th

Tension: 1st & 2nd Happiness: 4th & 5th

Frustration: All month Party time: 1st - 14th

23 Aug - 22 Sept

Perhaps a quiet and reflective opening to the month – a time of figuring out why your get up and go has got up and gone – and coming to a couple of conclusions that you’ll reformat as hard decisions before the month is down. From the 6th or 7th onwards you’ll deliberately choose to spend rather more

money than you can afford on personal luxuries until you realise (around the 24th or 25th) that you’ve bought one luxury too many and need to apply the brakes. Around the 16th, 17th and 18th you’ll be using friends as a sounding board for new ideas – ideas that have more of an emotional element. A snap

There are some weird energies oozing through the House of Libra throughout the whole of November and while there are no major pitfalls or tragedies on the horizon there is a mood of uneasy disquiet. I think it’s probably caused by not knowing exactly what it is that you want and not being able to evaluate the worth of what you’ve got. Nevertheless, there are a few high points in the month and in particular the events of the 16th, 17th and 18th should put a bit of a smile on your face and provide you with some fresh options and alternative pathways. Sadly, there are some darker moods on the horizon once you’re moving into the last half of the month and ladies will find themselves on the receiving end of a partner’s jealousy and suspicion while gentlemen of the sign might find that their levels of emotional security are being rocked a little too much.

There is a definite ‘feel good’ factor permeating through all the professional and work related aspects of your life and whether you’re earning a pittance or a fortune, you’ll feel content within the framework of your lot. Artistic Librans should receive great inspiration at this time and those of you who are on any kind of spiritual pathway will benefit from some clear vision and a significant enhancement of psychic awareness. Your skills as a negotiator will be called upon around the 20th and whether you are negotiating for yourself or for a third party, you should be successful in your quest but only on condition that you keep a calm head and don’t lose your temper if those negotiations get a bit heated. Money moves between bank accounts (I’m seeing Hapsburg eagles and black horses) but this does not necessarily put more paper in your pocket.

Cash & Career

Love & Sex

Feel good: All month Negotiate: 20th

Jealous males: 14th - 31st New path: 16th - 18th

23 Sept - 23 Oct

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decision around the 19th or 20th will take partners and immediate family members by surprise and although they may accuse you of being impulsive, you’ll know what you’re doing and it’s very important that you stick to your guns, especially where matters of principle are concerned.

Spend: 6th onwards New ideas: 17th & 18th

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Recommended: 8 Ways To Tell Your Fortune by Sarah Bartlett (Godsfield Press, £14.99) This is a book which I wish had been available twenty years ago. It covers eight different methods of divination in plain English, the graphics only add to the books overall attraction. I dived right in to the numerology section and pretty soon, after following the simple instructions, I had my personality and destiny numbers worked out. Turning then to the relevant numbers I read an informative insight into myself. In particular I enjoyed working with the

The Angel Bible by Hazel Raven (Godsfield Press, £12.99) Wow! What a fantastic book, this touches on every aspect on working with angels, and lots more besides, I was really impressed. The book is a nice size, extremely well presented and contains many beautiful pictures on practically every page. It covers a wide range of topics including, colours, visions, healing and crystals and also essential oils. I certainly had no previous concept as to the number of different ways angels can assist us or be called upon for support in so many of our earthly circumstances. There’s a whole chapter on meditations, which are particularly good

The Tarot Bible by Sarah Bartlett (Godsfield Press, £12.99) This is another gem from the pen of Sarah Bartlett; she is an excellent author who really knows her stuff! The Tarot Bible covers every conceivable aspect of tarot and tarot reading. It outlines the history of the tarot, then plunges into the meanings of each card, all wrote in clear, uncomplicated terms. I was delighted to find further into the book a ‘favourite and least favourite’ spread for reading the cards, this can tell you so much about yourself at the time of the reading. Basically, you draw the card which appeals most (at that particular moment) 74 Vision 20

‘Reading Auras’ section, it had a short questionnaire (which really got me thinking about my personality).This is a great test as you can do it again and again as our auras change with our moods and circumstances. I found the tarot section informative and very importantly, uncomplicated. The book also has a section on the crystal zodiac, which also covers reading gemstones and crystals. Bursting with tips and suggestions, explanations and advice 8 Ways To Tell Your Fortune manages to teach without being patronising. I’d highly recommend this book. Jay

Want this book? Call Vision Shop on 0113 286 3939 and Quote Vision 20 Reviews

for the novice or anyone who is a little nervous about meditation, as working with the angels is always very gentle and loving and a great place to start. The meditations in this book really put you at your ease. There’s also a great section on modern day angelic encounters, which makes for fascinating reading. Hazel Raven has produced a timeless masterpiece with this book, with every turn of the page there is something new to discover, it even covers angels from other belief systems. I have never really felt a deep ‘rapport’ with angels as such and have never really tried to work with them before but this book has really got me thinking and wanting to try. The

Angel Bible is both educational and beautiful with the added bonus of also being a practical workbook. A ‘must buy’ for all, I will certainly be opening my purse for this one. Jay Want this book? Call Vision Shop (see above)

followed by the card which most repels you, you then draw a third card which will give you guidance on how to deal with what you learned from the previous two. This spread can be used again and again and I’ve only heard of this particular spread once in all the years I’ve collected cards!

I used the book to do a quick past, present future reading, and rather than root about for cards I closed my eyes and let my fingers do the talking. I was quite impressed with the scope of the meaning for each card I selected. The number of layouts for tarot in this book is quite astounding and there is something there for everyone. I’d recommend this book to all, even very skilled readers, there is always something new to learn. A great book from a great author, fantastic! Jay Want this book? Call Vision Shop (see above)

Rune Wisdom by Jonathan Dee (CICO Books, £12.99) Beautifully presented in a smart black box, Rune Wisdom is immediately eyecatching. The box contains 25 runes; they’re nice to the touch, the stones are black and with the symbols done in white it makes this set very attractive. The set also includes a velvet drawstring bag in which to store the runes, and a neat little book. I eagerly drew three for a past, present, future reading and turned to the book. I was pleased to find enlarged pictures of each rune, which really helped when flicking through to find the appropriate page and with the meanings

The Witch’s Almanac 2007, by Marie Bruce (Foulsham, £9.99) If you want to use this book, don’t try borrowing it from Vision’s office! As a 2007 version of Marie’s popular Almanac last year, we find it’s information indispensable. It is truly a lovely book, whether you are a Witch (Wiccan, Pagan, whatever!) with more information on timings and days than you can shake a wand at! As well and information on moon timings and some planetary movements, here is a compendium of both Sabbat and sundry spells to keep

Colour Magic For Beginners by Richard Webster (Llewellyn, Price TBA) I have to say I was extremely impressed with this book, colour is something we all take for granted; it’s all around us, so bright and beautiful, but it goes virtually

laid out on the opposite page, the book was certainly clear and easy to understand. I must admit to feeling a little flutter of excitement as I read my future rune, as it seems to confirm what I already sense.

The book, though small, is packed full of information, from an overview of the runes through to the individual meanings of each runic symbol, including the reverse meanings where applicable. Towards the end of the book are sample layouts, giving you the opportunity to dig a little deeper when you feel you are ready. The runes may also be drawn one per day, which is very handy if you are busy. Rune Wisdom is a lovely set and well worth purchasing, it’s ideal for the novice and experienced alike, I’d recommend this set to all. Jay Want this book? Available in all good bookshops or call CICO on 01256 302692

you in magic for the whole year. Not only are the ingredients for the spells readily available, but you will also find them easy to perform and efficacious to boot! Although some spells appeared in Marie’s 2006 Almanac, there is new information here and, of course, the timings are accurate for 2007. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who will be casting spells next year – and of course, although the years move on, the spells are there for you to use forever. Diana Jarvis Want this book? See Vision Shop P81

unnoticed much of the time. This book explores colour in great depth, its symbolism, its energy and how we can all draw on the power of colour very easily and apply it to so many situations in our daily lives. The book contains rituals and exercises for you to try; it explains how we can use colour to enhance meditation and healing. I was also surprised to find that picking up on the colours in tarot cards, or crystals can give much greater depth and scope when reading them. The book also explains how colour can affect your moods and attitudes. This book is a veritable colour bible; you could decorate your house

after studying this book, wear the right colours for different occasions, such as interviews and it could even influence your decision when choosing the colour of your car! It even touches on numerology! Colour Magic is a fascinating book, extremely well researched and presented. A definite ‘must buy’ for artists, and anyone working with auras, energy and healing. Spiritual workers at all stages of development will find this book useful. Buy this book - you won’t be disappointed! Jay Want this book? Call Vision Shop (see P74 or P81) 75 Vision 20

Mercury in retrograde Don’t sign anything until the 19th

Try for a baby All Saints’ Day Festival of Isis

Remember your loved ones - send them a card

Make things go with a bang! Celebrate!

All Souls’ Day

Bonfire Night & Full Moon

Remembrance of ancestors -buy a poppy ArmisticeDay St. Martin’s day

Mercury moves forward - things moving smoother from now on

Flower of the month: Chrysanthemum

A good day to start a new project New Moon Take control of new situations

Old Clem’s Night St. Clement – patron saint of Blacksmiths

Sing your heart out! Or A good day for an audition! St. Andrew’s Day

Crystal of the month: Topaz

Tree of the Month: Reed

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Angel of the month: Adnachiel

For even more choice, visit Vision shop at www.visionmagazine.uk.com

Crystal Ball in Cauldron

Black Scrying Mirror

This wonderful ball comes complete with its own cauldron which acts as a stand. Approximately 15cm tall, with the ball 11cm in diameter. £35.00

Black wiccan scrying mirror, with script around the edges. 30cm in diameter £25.00

The Quest Tarot by Joseph E Martin

Witch Stones

This deck is the first that allows you to use the tarot like a Ouija board, getting answers to yes/no questions, names and phrases. Instruction book included. £32.00 + £2.95 P+P

Suitable for beginners these beautiful gemstones come complete with explaination and casting chart. £13.00

Rune Spells

A complete collection of genuine runic magickal spells, easy to work and with full instructions. Choose from the following: Health, Lottery, Love, Luck, Wealth and Wish. £8.00 each

Magical Angel Guidance Oracle Board by Doreen Virtue This board gives you quick and clear guidance about your career, love life, finances, etc. The pack includes: A folding board; pair of crystal dice, angel markers; instruction booklet. £15.99 + £2.95 P & P

To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf

To Stir a Magick Cauldron by Silver Ravenwolf

To Light a Sacred Flame by Silver Ravenwolf

A bestseller and the perfect book for a beginner in the Craft. First in a series of three £12.99 + £2.95 P & P

The second in a series of three. Here are more indispensible tips and techniques of witchcraft for today. £12.99 + £2.95 P & P

The third in the series. Collect them all to have enough witchraft tecniques to see you from acolyte to initiate! £12.99 + £2.95 P & P

C Eason's Book of Spells Here is the ultimate book of spells. Happiness spells, healing, success and protective spells; love spells; rituals and rites to perform are all included. £19.99 + £2.95 P & P

Book of Shadows

Book of Shadows Gorgeous blue Book of Shadows, left blank for you to write in your spells and rituals. £19.99

Dragon Spell Book

Crystal Balls & Crystal Bowls by Ted Andrews

Delve into the ancient process of divination! £10.99 + £2.95 P & P

Perfect for your own collection of spells or for use as a Book of Shadows. Stunning image on ceramic cover, plain pages inside. Approximately 20cm by 14.5cm. £13.50 Disclaimer: All items are sold on their quality and aesthetics only. No magical results are guaranteed.

This is a blank book designed for use as a magical diary. Imitation leather cloth cover. An instruction sheet for consecration and use is included. £10.99

How to be a Ghost Hunter Richard Southall So you want to investigate a haunting? This book is full of practical advice. Find out what you are dealing with and how to deal with it! £10.99 + £2.95 P & P

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For even more choice, visit Vision shop at www.visionmagazine.uk.com

Real crystal balls

Real crystal wands

Semi-precious balls, carved from real crystal (not lead crystal), perfect for scrying. 40mm diameter. £12.00

Chakras for Beginners by David Pond

Chakras: The Key to Spiritual Opening (Cassette) By Mary Ellen Flora This audiotape instructs you on how to utilize all the power that you have in your spiritual system. Side One teaches you powerful techniques to help you effectively utilize your body. Side Two leads you through a meditation. £9.95 + £2.95 P & P

With this book you will discover what is causing any imbalances, how to align your energies, and how to achieve higher levels of consciousness. £8.99 + £2.95 P & P

Anna Riva’s 7 Chakras Oil Kit Complete kit of oils specifically designed to aid work with the chakras. Instructions included. £13.00

Pear Shaped Chakra pendant A most unusual arrangement of chakra stones create this wonderfully balanced and eye-catching pendant. Mounted on Sterling Silver and with an 18” Sterling Silver chain. £35.00

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Semi-precious wands, perfect for magickal or healing work. 4” long. £17.50

Chakra Wand This is a truly wonderful wand, with stones for each chakra and a crystal point and sphere, one at each end. Length 110mm £29.50

Crystal Kits for everything

Now a wider selection than ever and even better value with more crystals! Choose from: Chakras; Passion and Spice; Paranormal Protection, Ultimate Protection (pictured) and Earth Grounding. £ 12.00

It’s back! Chakra Pendant By popular demand we have reintroduced this lovely chakra pendant, with a stone for each chakra. Comes on 18” Sterling Silver chain. £25.00

Tourmaline and chakra stone pendant An unusual and beautiful pendant combining the power of tourmaline along with a semi-precious stone for each chakra. Mounted on Sterling Silver and with a Sterling Silver 18” chain. £35.00

Disclaimer: All items are sold on their quality and aesthetics only. No magical results are guaranteed.

Chakra Pendulum A stone for each chakra in a really unusual pointed pendulum. Perfect for dowsing for healing remedies. £25.00

‘Egyptian cut’ Pendulum

Spherical Crystal Pendulum

Pendulum in semiprecious stone. Easy to use and nicely priced! Choose from the following: Aventurine, Amethyst, Quartz, Rose Quartz. £10.00

Witches’ Pendulum Complete with chart for divination and instructions, this pendulum is designed to help with magical questions. £13.00

Crystal and Copper Pendulum Copper is traditionally used for divining. Combine the power of copper with the amplifying power of quartz! £17.50

Blue Obsidian is back! You can also choose this pendulum in the following stones: Fluorite, Astrophylite, Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst, New Jade, Hematite, Quartz, Rose Quartz £16.90

Love Pendulum

Complete with a chart for divination and instruction leaflet, this pendulum is especially designed for questions of love. £13.00

Faceted Pendulum Simple but effective pendulum in a variety of stones (see Egyptian Cut). Small crystal on end of chain. £12.00

Semi-precious pointed pendulum Pointed pendulum on a silver-coloured chain. Choose from: Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Clear Quartz and Aventurine. £12.50 each

Oracle Pendulum

Complete with a divinatory chart, this pendulum is your oracle of answers! £13.00

Cone Shaped Pendulum Unusual but beautifully balanced coneshaped pendulum. Variety of stone choices (see Egyptian Cut). £14.00

Twist of Fate divination tool

Spellbinders Rune Set Hand chosen gemstone rune set, complete with instructions and pouch. £20.00

The Cosmic Tarot by Norbert Losche

One of the most popular decks for simplicity and design. £11.99 + £2.95 P & P

Disclaimer: All items are sold on their quality and aesthetics only. No magical results are guaranteed.

Twist of Fate enables you to easily tell fortunes with cards. This original item makes it easy for an absolute beginner to give readings immediately with accuracy. £33.95

Divining Rods

These beautifully crafted wood and brass rods are perfect for any type of divining. The arm of the rod moves independently from the upright, assuring you of accurate responses. Do not confuse these with lighter, inferior alternatives. £22.99

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For even more choice, visit Vision shop at www.visionmagazine.uk.com

Turqouise/Lapis Lazuli Pendant Oval turquoise pendant set with beautiful blue lapis lazuli for a stunning contrast. Approx 34⁄ ” width. Includes an 18” Sterling Silver Figaro chain. £25.00

Labradorite Pendant

Stunning double stone labradorite pendant, it glints green and blue like a butterfly’s wing! Approx width 34⁄ " 18” Sterling Silver Figaro chain included. £21.00

Opalite Pendant Beautiful triple stone opalite pendant. Please note the small stone in the middle may vary. Approx 3”. Price includes an 18” Sterling Silver Figaro Chain. Also available in: Amethyst; Rainbow Moonstone; Amethyst/Rainbow Moonstone. Please state preference when ordering. £32.00

Point and Facet pendant * A stunning range of faceted crystal points with a faceted stone mounted on top. Comes with 18” Sterling Silver chain. Choose from: Amethyst point/Topaz facet; Crystal point/Amethyst facet; Rose Quartz point/Garnet facet; Rose Quartz point/Amethyst facet. £19.00

For Magick Crescent Moon Crystal Point Pendant Crescent moon crystal point pendant set with a pretty moonstone cabochon. Approx height 1” excl. bale. Includes an 18” Sterling Silver Figaro Chain. £16.00

Rose Quartz Pendant * Beautiful faceted point pendant on Sterling Silver Mount. Complete with 18” Sterling Silver chain. £13.00

Amethyst / Blue Topaz OR Rainbow Mooonstone / Amethyst Pendant Absolutely beautiful amethyst pendant set with faceted blue topaz for a stunning contrast. Approx height 1” excl bale. Sterling Silver 18” Figaro chain included. Please state preference when ordering £30.00

Teardrop Amethyst Necklace

Beautiful 8 stone amethyst teardrop necklace with adjustable chain length to a maximum of 18”. Matching bracelet also available at a matching price! £22.00

Fashion Donut crystal and thong pendant or Fashion Curved Stone and crystal thong pendant * Wear your favourite crystal in the latest style! Choose your style and your crystal from:

Gemstone Heart Charm Bracelet and Necklace * A charming and fashionable necklace and bracelet set. £18.00

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Disclaimer: All items are sold on their quality and aesthetics only. No magical results are guaranteed.

Rainbow Moonstone Pendant

Very pretty double stone rainbow moonstone pendant. Approx length inc. bale 2”. Sterling Silver 18” Figaro Chain included. Also available in: Labradorite; Blue Lace with smaller rose quartz; Turquoise. £22.00

Dolphin with Crystal Ball * Sterling silver dolphin surrounding a real crystal ball. Crystal may vary from illustration. Complete with 18” Sterling Silver chain. £16.00

Snowflake Obsidian, Botswana Agate, Unakite, Hematite, Moss Agate, Ocean Jasper, Carnelian, Mookaite, Green Avenurine, Agate, Tiger Iron, Rhodonite. £15.00

Mobile phone or purse charm Very fashionable charm to attach to a phone, purse or keys. A collection of real gemstones make up this lovely accessory. £10.00

For Positivity The Earth Star

For Love Dolphin Triskilian

Wear this pendant for guidance, inner peace and love. Silver-plated pewter and crystal, boxed and on matching chain £11.00

Pewter with silver and Swarovski crystal, this charming piece will help attract wealth and well being into your life. Complete with gift box, and matching chain £13.00

Triple Goddess Pendant Cast in sterling silver this pendant is reputed to bring the wearer love and happiness. Presented in a gift box with black cord necklace. £18.50

Bast This pendant in silver and gold-plated pewter comes in its own gift box and on a chain £13.00

Triple Goddess Symbol (Sterling Silver) Symbolic of the Goddess this charm is reputed to bring stability and security. £8.50

Pentagram of Pan Beautiful pentagram formed from wood and leaves. Connect with the evergreen Spirit of the Woodland with the lovely pentagram £15.00

Pentagram of Swords (Silver Plated Pewter)

Directs magical energy and works as a protective shield. Includes 18” chain. £19.50

Ankh This amulet is finished in gold and silver on a pewter base. Known for its connection with health, prosperity and long life it comes with matching chain and a presentation box. £13.00 Celtic design tumblestone case pendant

Beautifully detailed heavier weight Sterling Silver celtic tumblestone case. Supplied with 18” Sterling Silver Figaro chain. £25.00

Practical Guide to the Development of Psychic Powers by Denning & Phillips

A useful and simple-tounderstand guide to developing your innate psychic ability. £8.99 + £2.95 P & P

Practical Guide to Astral Projection by Denning & Phillips Develop your ability to astrally project and go anywhere! £8.99 + £2.95 + P & P

Witch’s Almanac 2007 Next year’s complete guide to witchcraft through all the seasons. Important dates, Astrology and lots of spells for the year included. £9.99 + £2.95 P & P

Touched by Angels Cassandra Eason

Great Spirit Told Me by Michael Standing Wolf

All you could want to know about angels Superb meditation album with calming and how to work magickally with them. and centring music and the voice of Some lovely meditations included. Michael Standing Wolf. Recommended. £8.99 + £2.99 P & P £10.99 + £2.95 P & P

The Yorkshire Way of Feng Shui by Carole Chui and Angi Brereton

No-nonsense and simple Feng Shui techniques for anybody, anywhere! £9.99 + £2.95 P & P

The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall

Clearly illustrated easy-to-read reference to the properties and uses of all the major crystals and a lot of rarer ones besides!A musthave! £12.99 + £2.95 P&P

Disclaimer: All items are sold on their quality and aesthetics only. No magical results are guaranteed. 1. To order you can phone, fax, email or write to Vision Shop, 42a Main Street, Garforth, LS25 1AA. Tel: 0113 286 6789 Fax: 0113 287 2293 Email: sales@visionmagazine.uk.com We accept postal orders/ cheques/ credit/ debit cards. 2. All goods are subject to availability. 3. All prices include VAT plus free postage and packaging. (Unless otherwise stated) 4. We require 28 days for delivery although most deliveries are dispatched within 7-14 days of receipt of order. 5. Damaged goods notification must be made within 7 days of delivery. 6. If you are not satified with your goods a full refund will be given, providing goods are returned within 7 days.

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Send your events to: Day Tripper, Vision, 42a Main Street, Garforth, Leeds, LS25 1AA enclosing a cheque or postal order for £5 for each entry required, space

Every Tuesday: between September 5th 2005 and May 22nd 2007, 7.30pm. Spiritual and mediumship development and awareness groups covering basic to advanced topics. Safe Haven Spiritual Community, the Peel Centre, Dronfield, Derbyshire S18 1PY. Contact Pat on 01246 452090 or visit www.safehavenspirit.org.uk Friday October 20th: Indian Head Massage, Heights of Tranquility, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Call: 07753 637897 or email: djrushy@yahoo.com £35. Learn the basics of this fantastic massage. Use this on friends and family to gain

ere at Vision we truly value the loyal support of our readers.We also value all those staff behind the scenes that do all they can to make Vision available nationwide. This month and every month, we’d like to show our appreciation for their efforts. We need your help to be able to do this!

experience before committing yourself to the full course. This course is designed for beginners it will not give you a practicing certificate at the end. All courses and workshops are designed for both young adults and adults alike. Friday October 27th and Saturday October 28th: Parafest 2006, Paranormal conference, trade show and En Masse Passing Over. Victorian fun fair, Chinese lion dancers, Native American Dance, Paranormal Investigation and the highlight and purpose of the event – the En Masse Passing Over. Join thousands of people

How to Enter Every month we will print the best pictures of Vision displays, where they were displayed and who arranged the display. The display that we think is best will win a prize for both the person who puts it

Thank you to Mayfayre News, King Street, South Shields and Asda, Bolden Colliery Tyne & Wear, who have kindly displayed Vision on their shelves.

across the world in helping trapped Spirits to pass over to the other side and meet staff from Vision, as well as some of the Visionaries. For further details or to book, visit www.parafest2006.com Saturday November 11th: Pagan Federation North East Conference 2006. Newcastle College, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne at 10-6pm. Speakers include: Pete Jennings, Suzanne White, Gordon Strachan and many more. Tickets in Advance £8 PF members; £10 NonMembers; Minor Arcana £5; Stalls £10. Call 07811 401812 or www.PFNEConference.co.uk

on the shelves and the reader who sends it in. So, get out your mobiles and cameras and take a picture of the store where you buy your Vision. If we choose your picture you will be able to look forward to a Vision goodie bag with items worth around £25! The store merchandiser will also win a goodie bag as a thank you, too! This Month’s Winner! Thank you Jackie from South Shields for sending in your pictures. Well done to Mayfayre News, who have put us right at the front of their display. Please send your pictures to editor@visionmagazine.uk.com or to the usual Vision address.

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