Recently I have found myself getting aggravated by a lot of little things. For example, my husband and I would be driving around town and I’d find myself offended when I saw a bumper sticker that didn’t align with my beliefs. Or, I’d see a Facebook post from a “friend” that would rub me the wrong way and I’d get into a snit. Or, I’d see something by a fellow psychic or medium and get my nose out of joint for no particular reason.
 
These annoyances were little things, which quite honestly have nothing to do with me. What does it matter to me if a complete stranger, someone I’m likely never going to meet, has a bumper sticker on their car that I don’t like? It’s not hurting me any. And, they have the right to believe what they want.
 
Same thing with the Facebook “friend.” S/he has the right to say (and do) what they please. Just because it isn’t what I would do, doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
 
And with the fellow psychic or medium, they have a job to do just like I do. They are promoting their business in the manner that is best for them. If it’s similar to my tactics, GREAT! If it’s different, maybe I should be taking a look at it.
 
But all these things were getting under my skin, and that bothered me. Why should I be frustrated by these inconsequential matters? And why was I having such a hard time letting them go?
 
In order to figure it out, I paused. After some reflection, I came to the following conclusions:
 

• While I already knew this, I needed to remind myself that there ARE going to be people who don’t believe what I do. Each of us are here, in this lifetime, with unique and individual lessons. As a result, my truth is not going to be the same as yours. You will see things differently than I do.

• I also reminded myself, that because everyone’s truth is different, it is IMPOSSIBLE to avoid people who don’t agree with me. For example, unless I never leave the house again (not realistic) I am going to see a bumper sticker, or billboard, or something, I don’t like. And, even if I were to never leave the house again – unless I divorce my husband and abandon my daughter – I will still be around people who will likely disagree with me or do something I don’t agree with. What I can do, however, is minimize that exposure. For example, the Facebook friend, she (and a few others) have been unfollowed

• I also realized, like the quote “Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it” by Ernest Holmes suggests, my aggravation has to do more with me than with them. And this was where it got hard. I realized I haven’t been speaking MY truth as much. So the aggravation boiled down to a jealousy for not being heard. 

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• Building off the last, I came to the conclusion life is too short to not be speaking, or more importantly living my truth. 

Once I realized those things and taken small steps, it is amazing how much better I have felt (and how much more sleep I have gotten).
 
So next time you find yourself in a place where lots of situations are getting under your skin, rather than get mad, pause and ask yourself – “What’s really the matter?” Once you know that, you can fix it. Until then, you’ll just be addressing the symptoms not the cause.

Spirit Guides. They are energies I talk about a lot. I converse with mine (and my clients) ALL THE TIME. Why? Because it is their job to help your soul accomplish its purpose. And because of that, they know you better than you know yourself. They were with you before you were born, and some of them will be with you after you die.
 
That being said, unless you are clairvoyant or clairaudient (and even then) it can be hard to know they are around. Guides tend to speak in a whisper of metaphors and signs that if you aren’t looking, can be missed. Additionally, it can be easy to ask when bad things happen or when situations don’t play out the way you had hoped – “Where are you?”
 
I know that doubt and cynicism all too well. I have seen it. I have lived it.
 
Most recently I’ve watched a dear friend struggle through it. She had been through a rough patch. But through grit and hard work has gotten herself on a good path. She has a good, steady job. This job afforded her the ability to purchase a beautiful car that she’d always dreamed of. And most recently, she was able to purchase a home of her own.
 
The only thing missing from her life was love.
 
Her guides indicated through readings that it was coming. Additionally, she could feel it in every bone of her body.
 
Knowing the clearer you are with your guides, the easier it is to help you accomplish you goals. She and I discussed tips on how she could work with her guides. I encouraged her to make a list of all the qualities she desired in a partner. She did that. She was also encouraged to ask her guides for specific signs to let her know she was on the right path. She asked them to play a song whenever the person was near with the agreement that whenever she heard it, she would get in the car and go to the place that was in her head at the moment. She even asked her guides to help point the person out by having them wear a particular color.
 
Day by day she prayed to her guides and trusted them wholeheartedly. She went out of her comfort zone and followed the signs that her guides continued to give her. She also took the time to listen for them. She even learned the Tarot to enhance that connection.
 
She did everything she was asked to…. and yet, her person didn’t come in.
 
Finding herself in the same place she started, she came to me frustrated and angry. Doubt ran through her, and she indicated she felt like a fool and was having a hard time believing any of this was true.
 
At that moment I knew there is nothing I could say that could bring her peace. Words of encouragement and have faith only go so far. The proof really is in the pudding and the only thing could bring that is Time. Because, I truly believed her guides were still working on it.
 
A month later (and seven months after starting her search), she met her person. This individual was everything her guides said they’d be. Everything that was on her list. The song had played and there was a hint of the designated color. My friend’s guides did what they said they were going to. It just took longer than expected.
 
And when I saw her again, after she had met her person, she was smiling ear to ear telling me her frustration with her guides was a thing of the past. She now understood why it took the time it did – not everything was lined up sooner. After she began dating her person, she found out that they were not emotionally available at the time she started her search.
 
Hindsight is ALWAYS twenty twenty.
 
So next time you feel like getting down on your guides, try to have faith that they are working on it. And remember, that once they start plucking that the spider web there are many moving parts that need to be arranged that it just takes time.
 
So give them a break. Give yourself a break. And maybe a glass of wine!
 
Want to know more about Spirit Guides? Check out my YouTube Channel for more

​On the days I am at my East Aurora office my daughter stays with my mom or aunt. They adore (and spoil) her. As a result, I look forward to picking her up and hearing about their excursions and the fun tales they have to tell.
 
The other night when I picked my daughter up from my aunt’s was no different.
 
They had played outside for a bit, but after getting a call from my uncle they headed over there to help his daughter (my cousin) clean out the attic. As my uncle’s house has been in the family for generations and we know that it’s haunted – fortunately by OUR family – I assumed she was going to tell me that Tierney saw Aunt Norma or another deceased family member.
 
Boy was I surprised (and slightly scared) when the story started by her telling me that while in the attic she and my cousin stumbled upon an old Ouija Board.

Now, I’m not afraid of Ouija Boards. In fact I have a couple of my own. What does always worry me, however, is how this spiritual tool is used. As my aunt continued the story, I found myself holding my breath worrying what mess she and my cousin created (and that I would be cleaning up).
 
You see, after finding the Ouija Board, the two were intrigued and decided they would give it a try. Unfortunately, neither was certain how it worked. So they plopped themselves on the attic floor and started reading the directions. After they thought they had an understanding from the directions (and what they’ve “seen on tv”) they placed the board between them and put their fingers on the planchette.

As soon as they did, my daughter who had been contently playing by herself across the room, ran over to the board and pulled the yellowed top with the alphabet and yes/no off. She then preceded to rip it in three. She concluded by pointing her finger and firmly saying, "NO!"

My aunt continued by saying she and my cousin still hoped to try it out. Once my daughter dropped the pieces, my aunt attempted to reconstruct the board.
 
My daughter DID NOT like this and responded by vehemently grabbing the pieces and ripping them again. All the while she empathetically time shook her head and yelled, "NONONONONO!"

At this point the board was beyond repair. Both laughed and gave up.  
 
My aunt concluded her story by saying, “I think Baby Girl saved us from getting into trouble.”
 
Both my husband and I responded sarcastically, “Ummm… Yeah!”
 
Again, it’s not because we think Ouija Boards are inherently bad. It’s just that people (like my aunt and cousin) don’t know how to use them properly. And, as with anything, if you don’t use it properly you are opening yourself up to problems.
 
In the case of a Ouija (or Spirit) Board, you are opening a portal. Anything (good or bad) can come through. Ideally, you want to take all precautions and ensure only good and Spirits for your highest and best come through. Unfortunately, spiritual protocols are not included in the directions.

Fortunately, those spiritual protocols are really quite easy….
 
First, you PRAY. Pray for protection. Pray to keep the creepy crawlies and cranky spooks away. Personally, I always ask for the Archangel Michael to guard the gateway. He’s the great protector. If you have another entity that you prefer that works too.
 
Next, SET YOUR GUIDELINES. Who do you want to step in? What is your purpose for using the board? I always ask for that messages only be brought in for the highest and best for those present. This allows for both family and guides to step in.
 
Then you get to the fun part! ASK for Spirit to show up. Advice: don’t just ask for anyone. You wouldn’t stand at your front door and shout out to the neighborhood, “Hey! I have some beers in here, anyone want to join me?” You don’t know who will show up. Same thing with the Ouija Board, ask for someone specific or someone for a specific purpose, i.e. specific sitter.
 
When Spirit shows up, ENJOY THE VISIT!
 
Spirit will hang out until they (or you) run out of steam. When this happens, CLOSE THE PORTAL. This is done by saying good-bye to all those who visited, including whomever you asked for protection. As you say good-bye to your guardian, ask that the portal be closed until next time so that no further Spirits can enter. If you want to doubly ensure that spirits don’t enter, place a piece of paper or fabric between the board and the planchette.
 
Easy? Right?
 
And yet, if you’ve never done it you don’t know. That’s when you can get in trouble and allow spirits with less than good intentions to step in.
 
Fortunately, today my aunt and cousin avoided any issues by Baby Girl’s insistence that they not use the board. And hopefully this will help you next time you come in contact with a Ouija Board. 

Want more? Check out my video on the topic from my YouTube Channel. 
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I am a big believer in the mind-body-spirit connection. As such, I believe that our emotional and spiritual wounds can manifest into physical ailments of the body. (Interested in learning more about this? Check out Louise Hay’s book You Can Heal Your Life).
 
I have seen emotional hurts manifest themselves physically over the years in both myself and others. I’ve developed kidney stones at times when I have allowed my frustration with family members and friends to fester. Gallstones developed during a time of bitterness due to feelings of hopelessness. And, it even manifested as pains in the knuckles of my big toes during a time of hesitation before a big career leap. Fortunately, once I worked through these emotional struggles the pain disappeared.
 
Like all things, those pains crop back up. Recently, I have found my energy getting stuck (and causing a great deal of discomfort) in my shoulders, especially the right one.
 
To minimize the physical discomfort (as I avoid dealing the emotional stress feeding into these knots and praying that the stress will just go away) I’ve been seeing Dr. Krista Haller, a chiropractor and licensed massage therapist, to get me taken care of. If you recognize her name it’s because you’ve heard me speak of her before in this Blog.
 
What’s great about Krista, not only is she a licensed massage therapist and chiropractor, she’s also a Reiki practitioner and intuitive. As a result, while she works on my physical body she also works on the energetic. This is often through insightful comments regarding the potential spiritual nature of my discomfort. Over our last few visits, she has reminded me that the shoulders represent responsibility and chronic pain there indicates that an individual feels as though they are shouldering the weight of the world. Additionally, knowing the shoulders represent the future she questioned what is making me feel stuck or scared of the future.
 
This theme continues to arise… but as I mentioned, I’ve been avoiding the emotional causes for my shoulder discomfort. Unfortunately, ignoring these things isn’t working. This week she informed me the issue is getting bigger (resulting in bigger knots) and my liver (or anger) meridian is starting to feel tender as well.
 
She had several recommendations, including telling people to “F@#k off.”  But she then asked me an interesting question, “Dawn, who reads you?”
 
Taken aback, I stumbled and said, “You know I don’t really have anyone.”
 
And, I don’t.
 
Yes, I get little readings from my students now and again. In fact at both of last month’s tarot circles, those present insisted that they read me. In retrospect, that was probably a sign something is going on that I need to deal with.
 
I do try to get a reading about once a year to check-in. But, because I know it is hard to read someone you know. And, because the metaphysical community in Buffalo isn’t THAT big – I know or have heard of most of the readers in the area. I usually wait to get a reading until I am out of town. As a result, it’s been awhile.
 
Just like most psychological counselors who go to someone to talk through their experiences, mediums need to do the same. Another person’s insight can help bring light to the emotional or spiritual issues I am obviously avoiding. Hopefully by bringing healing to the emotional and spiritual body, the physical body will follow suit and this pain in my shoulder will finally go away!
 
And my tidbit for you, next time you have a physical ailment that doesn’t seem to go away or has stumped the doctors and remains undiagnosed… think about that emotional stress you are going through at the time. You might just find your answer (and relief) there.