MysticMag interview with Shirley O’Donoghue on Teaching Holistic & Complementary Therapies

Please click on the link below to take you to the MysticMag website where the interview is posted

Predictions for October

By Pauline Gerosa 01/10/24

1-4 October MOON IN LIBRA

A lack of trust in your own creative powers forces you into trying too hard. Instead of being able to trip lightly along your life path with a song in your heart, you are burdened by the urge to meet expectations that are not yours to fulfil. It is time to tune into what you truly wish to accomplish. Once you have chosen a goal that really resonates with you, everything becomes easier.

2 October 2024 NEW MOON IN LIBRA (Annular Solar Eclipse)

This is the right time to initiate a new basis for partnership projects. You are looking to collaborate on fifty-fifty equal shares terms, with both parties balancing the amount they give and take. There must be absolutely no feelings of resentment from one side towards the other, as this could create the kind of sub-conscious competition which causes animosity and prevents ongoing mutual agreement. The individual roles of everyone involved must be clearly defined, with regular reviews to ensure that peace and harmony continue to reign over your endeavours. The solar eclipse could empower your ability to create the kind of win/win scenarios which satisfy all concerned because there is a sense that everyone has been treated fairly due to their individual wants and needs being taken into consideration.

Because this New Moon is positioned between the South Node and Mercury in Libra it is important to remember that you have on-demand, instant access to an inter-dimensional archive of valuable information inherited from your ancestors. If you are struggling to make a choice or decide which way to go, call on the previous generations in your gene pool to point you in the right direction.

4-6 October MOON IN SCORPIO

You could be a powerful force within partnerships, particularly in situations where you and/or the person you are involved with are going through some type of transition or evolutionary change. You might be filling a therapeutic role where your energy and insight inspire transformation, regeneration and rebirth.

6-9 October MOON IN SAGITTARIUS

Rather than running away in an effort to avoid the lessons to be learned from facing your fears it is better to take your courage in both hands and confront the situation, however scary it may seem. Your bravery provides the bridge that will carry you across troubled waters to a higher plane of consciousness.

9-11 October MOON IN CAPRICORN

Your ability to work creatively with challenging situations proves how resourceful you really are. These tough times mark key turning points in your Soul Plan. They are designed to test your commitment to achieving the potentials you were born to fulfil. You are learning that determination rather than deadlines is the best force to drive your progress forward.

11-13 October MOON IN AQUARIUS

You have everything going for you in the design department, but hypothetical theories will only take you so far. Strong emotional input is required if you want to manifest your concept in 3D reality. Your undying passion is the X-factor which empowers your ideas and turns them from abstract into actual.

13-15 October MOON IN PISCES

There is no limit to the scope of your imagination. When you’re in the Dreamtime, anything is possible – anytime, anywhere. Your great learning curve is to understand how to interpret multi-dimensional imagery and translate it into real life terminology so it can be communicated to all the souls who are currently incarnated on planet Earth.

15-17 October MOON IN ARIES

Your self-healing process demands a considerable amount of courage. It involves having to defeat the impression that you are being punished for reasons you cannot remember or that you are being blamed for actions you did not take. This self-pitying stance must be substituted for the assertive attitude of a Wise Wounded Warrior. You are fighting for freedom and against suffering, regardless of who created the problems in the first place.

17 October 2024 FULL MOON IN ARIES

The potential in this energy is for you to accept that you have reached some sort of winning post. At the very least, you need to impress upon yourself how brave you are to have come this far. You have achieved a lot to be where you are now and there are many more medals to be won, so take steps to stay motivated. It is vital to maintain momentum by strengthening your levels of enthusiasm and excitement. These positive emotions fuel your courage to continue and re-boot your physical stamina so there is no chance that your interest and energy start to wane.

Dwarf Planet Eris sits right beside this Full Moon and her feisty fighting spirit can help to reinforce your ability to assert your will to win, no matter how fierce the competition. In fact, rivalry could be a significant driving force behind the actions you take to hit your targets.

17-19 October MOON IN TAURUS

You are in a great place, anticipating rich rewards for the resolve and resourcefulness you have contributed thanks to your natural talents and abilities. But a negative mindset could sabotage your success. Under no circumstances should you allow destructive thoughts to prevent you from accepting the honours that await you.

19-21 October MOON IN GEMINI

There is huge potential for personal growth, provided you are able to surmount the shady spectres of doubt and fear. Set your sights high but try to manage expectations so you don’t anticipate results you are not yet ready to deliver. Like a student at the start of a new semester, you will need time to settle into each new set of circumstances you encounter.

21-24 October MOON IN CANCER

You are in a deeply productive phase, but there could be some painful periods in the process of giving birth to your oeuvre d’art. You may have to delve into hurtful memories in order to expose the raw emotions which fuel your creative drive and add power to the process that takes you from seed stage to fruition.

24-26 October MOON IN LEO

You must believe that life always has your best interests at heart. Through the harshest of tests and the toughest of times your light shines bright. Take pride in the knowledge that you are a highly beloved, irreplaceable Child of the Cosmos – so special you have a value all your own.

26-29 October MOON IN VIRGO

It is vital that you stay committed to the goals you have been working on for some time. Feel free to update and adapt your plans but please do not abandon them. Doubts, fears, distractions and temptations must not be allowed to throw you off course. They exist only to test your resilience and resolve to carry on climbing until you reach the top!

29-31 October MOON IN LIBRA

If you are feeling over-awed by the apparent steepness of the climb which lies ahead of you, please remember that help is always at hand. The ancestors, angels, wise guides and other members of your soul plane entourage are available 24/7 to assist your progress as you travel along your life path. No degree of difficulty will prevent them from answering your call, but you are the one who has to make it. They cannot intervene in your earthly existence unless you invite them to do so.

For a more in-depth forecast please visit Pauline Gerosa website via the link below.

Predictions For Early September

By Pauline Gerosa 30/08/24

Tuesday 3 September

NEW MOON IN VIRGO

This is a very good time to set your intentions on optimising the general efficiency, health and wellbeing of your daily life. Sow the seeds for practices which will help you stick to rhythms, routines, regimes and recipes that can enhance your everyday existence.

Aim to start afresh insofar as your anxiety levels are concerned. However keen you are to be of service, bear in mind that it is not your job to heal the world, or to carry the burdens of people who are too arrogant or lazy to look after themselves.

Wednesday 18 September

FULL MOON IN PISCES (Partial Lunar Eclipse)

There could be a sense that what started out as an intangible idea has become reality, even if not quite in the way you imagined it would. All the same, you have proved to yourself that you are capable of making dreams come true.

Your creative project is a magical process which must ebb and flow to its own rhythm and dance to its own tune, nourished by your faith that it will come to fruition exactly when and how it is meant to.

The partial lunar eclipse must not be allowed to shadow your hopes with vague misgivings about the viability of your vision. There is no room for feelings of regret or nostalgic longings for what should have, could have or might have been.

For a more in-depth forecast please visit Pauline Gerosa website via the link below.

Do Crystals Have a Consciousness

Quartz Point

What is a Crystal?

Crystals have captured the imagination of mankind for centuries. Defined as solid materials in which atoms are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, crystals have unique properties that set them apart from other materials.

One of the defining characteristics of crystals is their geometric shape, which results from the specific arrangement of atoms within the crystal lattice. This is what gives crystals their distinct symmetry as well as their various optical and physical properties. 

In addition to their aesthetic appeal, crystals have a long association with spiritual and healing uses as well as  rituals in many ancient cultures. From amethyst for calming energy to quartz for clarity and focus, different types of crystals are believed to possess different energies that could influence well-being, provide protection and healing as well as endorse and empower those in positions of privilege and power.

Their beauty, diversity, and purported metaphysical qualities make them a fascinating subject to research.

How Do Crystals Grow?

 Crystallization is the process which forms crystals.   Unlike living organisms, crystals do not possess cells or biological functions. Instead, they grow, through the arrangement of atoms or molecules in a highly ordered and repeating pattern.

The growth of crystals starts with the nucleation process, where individual atoms or molecules come together to form a nucleus. This nucleus then serves as a template for further growth, with additional atoms or molecules attaching themselves to the existing structure in a specific arrangement.

As more atoms or molecules join the crystal lattice, the crystal grows in size and complexity. Crystal growth can be influenced by many factors such as temperature, pressure as well as chemical composition of the surrounding environment.

While crystals may not exhibit characteristics of living organisms such as metabolism or reproduction, their growth process is governed by physical laws and principles that result in their unique shapes and structures. 

Grow Your Own Crystals

To start growing a crystal, you will need to create a saturated solution.  This is done by dissolving a solute (common solutes can be Table Salt, Sugar, Copper Sulphate or Epsom Salts) in hot water until no more can be dissolved. When the solution cools and the water evaporate, crystals will begin to form as the excess material solidifies.  In the case of Copper Sulphate vibrant blue crystals form. Table Salt, Sugar and Epsom Salts usually form white/opaque coloured crystals but you can take it a step further by adding food colouring to the original solution which will give the crystals a colour!

The key to successful crystal growth lies in controlling factors such as temperature, concentration, and rate of cooling. By manipulating these variables, you can influence the size and shape of your crystals.

Whilst some patience is needed when growing crystals in this way, as it can take several days or even weeks for them to fully form, it should be acknowledged  that nature is more patient than us humans and natural crystals take thousands if not millions  of years to come into being!

Whether you are interested in creating decorative crystals or conducting scientific experiments, growing crystals at home is a fun, educational experience that anyone, especially children, can enjoy.

Crystals,  Science & Consciousness

Whilst science generally assumes that there is no evidence that a crystal is alive, many people are beginning to think the opposite and are open to the possibility that everything in our universe is alive. Geologists such as Arnold Rheshar and Pierre Escollet believe stones showcase vital activity that is simply much slower than other organisms on earth.

Science generally follows a very rigorous framework and can, therefore, only answer what is contained within the parameters it fully understands. Most of the world and inter-connection of our universe remains outside the realm of science. For example, although we know what magnetism is, we cannot fully explain it? Similarly, we know what crystals are, but we cannot fully explain them either. 

Nikola Tesla, the famous Inventor, and electrical engineer believed in the potential of the properties contained within crystals.  He explored the use of crystals in experiments with energy transmission and resonance. Tesla is known to have investigated the electrical charge, generated from some crystals called Piezoelectricity which results from mechanical stress being directed at them. He discovered that crystals could harness and amplify energy.

Tesla said “In a crystal we have clear evidence of the existence of a formative life principle, and though we cannot understand the life of a crystal, it is nonetheless a living being.”

So do crystals have some kind of life force energy?  As we have seen,  crystals are not alive in the same way other organisms are, however, they share very interesting properties with life forms and life principles.  Einstein’s famous equation (E=mc2) implies that mass can be converted into energy and vice versa, this lays the foundation for understanding the interconnectedness of matter and energy in the universe, so, it is conceivable that crystals have their own unique energies. Here are four main reasons for this:

Atomic Structure – due to the highly ordered arrangement of atoms, crystals can influence how they interact with electromagnetic fields.  The atomic structure can affect electrical and thermal conductivity. 

Resonance – crystals resonate at specific frequencies which is why they are used in quartz watches and oscillators for example.  Linked to their atomic structure this also influences how the crystal conducts electricity.

Piezoelectricity – Quartz in particular, exhibits a piezoelectric charge when placed under mechanical pressure.  This energy is applied in different ways for example microphones and pressure sensors.

Metaphysical Beliefs – So many cultures and civilisations have attributed crystals with healing, spiritual or energetic properties.  Although a surge of interest in crystal healing came about in the 1980s many varied ancient civilisations have used them for thousands of years

Metaphysical Use of Crystals

Rudolf Steiner was a spiritual philosopher in the early 20th Century and in many ways the founder of the new age.  He viewed crystals as significant in understanding the spiritual and energetic aspects of the natural world.  Steiner connected crystals to the development of human spirituality and the evolution of consciousness. 

The famous psychologist Carl Jung also acknowledged the potential of crystals through symbolism, tools for self exploration and psychological insight.  He considered that crystals could hold personal significance for individuals which could  reflect their inner states.

Both Steiner and Jung believed that  the potential of crystals  extended to far beyond their physical properties and explored the capacity for crystals to work symbolically, psychologically and spiritually.  Certainly I work with crystals in this way, as I am sure, so do many other crystal healers.

Everyday Uses of Crystals

 Nowadays as science and technology harness the energy of crystals, it is possible to grow crystals artificially for commercial use in a laboratory. 

Crystals have various scientific and technological applications.  They are used in space exploration and, when unaffected by the conditions found on earth, crystals in outer space can grow perfectly.  Key elements which are different is a lack of gravitational forces can lead to different crystal growth patterns i.e. grow larger and more uniformly.  In the cold vacuum of space crystals grow more slowly and can form different structures.  In the space there are higher levels of radiation which may alter the atomic structure and lead to defects that change their properties.  Crystals also are able to grow in more stable conditions in space so they are not so affected by environmental factors which can be found on Earth.

Crystals are used in electronics and optics, for example watches, computers, sonars, ultrasounds, and lasers all have crystals installed within them.  Chemists, Physicists and Geologists study different aspect regarding the specific properties of crystals and of course jewellers who craft and design crystals because of their perceived beauty.

Humans have used crystals as talismans throughout the ages and there is still an enduring interest in the modern western world, despite some scepticism, in working with them as spiritual tools. Crystals healers believe they hold specific energies which, in order to work with them effectively, we should learn how to attune ourselves to.  This can be done via meditation, carrying crystals around or wearing them, placing them on an alter but each activity should be done with pure intention and focus.  Some people, me included, are “born’ crystal healers and experience a “calling” from particular crystals at certain times in their lives.  This can range from suddenly experiencing an energy from the crystal – usually variously described as heat, cold, tingling, buzzing etc.  Others when meditating feel an emotion or see visions.  Others are not so fortunate, and many people have to learn how to work intuitively with crystals.  The good news is that it is not difficult and can add another dimension to your everyday life, helping you to develop both spiritually and personally.

Their atomic structure is reminiscent of sacred geometry found in temples around the world which invites us again to consider the divinity, organisation, and inter-connection of everything.  Many crystal healers acknowledge that the shape of the crystal – whether natural or man-made can enhance or empower the metaphysical properties of the crystal.  They also sometimes arrange crystals in geometric patterns or placements for similar reasons. 

As we enter the reputed Age of Aquarius never in the history of mankind has there been a better more appropriate time for us to harness the esoteric energies of crystals. 

Crystals are widely available nowadays and many crystal healing techniques are simple and accessible to all – the key is to connect with them through meditation, intuition, and intention –  I have had an amazing journey with crystals – maybe it’s time for you to as well?

Copyright Shirley O’Donoghue August 2024  

Latest Course Programme

Current Course Programme

Latest Podcast Link: Flower Essences, Herbs and Homeopathy

 https://www.luciscollege.com/light-insights-podcast

24 July - Aligning To Our New Energy Systems - Working With Earth Star, Soul Star and Stellar Gateway Using Crystals  £80 Shirley O’Donoghue

29 July – Reiki Level 2 FHT Accredited 2 days 10-4 £250

30 July – Indian Head Massage Intro £80 Shirley

3 August  - Monthly Reiki Support Group 10.30-1.00 £10 & Spiritual Development Group £20 1.30-4.30

7 August – Community Wellbeing Hub – Merstham – call 07958663041 to book for therapies or more info

8 August – Introduction To Colour Healing £80 Shirley

10 August – Animal Healing – using healing tools and techniques  Shirley £80

10 & 11  August – Face Mapping and Diagnosis £140 Pia Gronroos

14 August – Community Wellbeing Hub – Merstham – call 07958663041 to book for therapies or more info

17 August – Reiki Level 1 FHT Accredited 2 days 10-4 £250 Brian Thorpe  * in Kent*

17 August – Crystal Healing – Using Crystals for Spiritual & Personal Development Shirley £80

24 August – Reiki Level 1 FHT Accredited 2 days £250 with Shirley O’Donoghue

28 August – Sound Healing Introduction £80 Shirley

29 August – EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique for professional and personal use £80 Shirley

3 September – Flower Essences – How To Use Them and Make Your Own £80

11 September – Reiki Master Practitioner – 1 day £200 10-4

14 September – Crystal Face Massage FHT accredited

15 September – Chakra Workshop Brian Thorpe & Rosie Ritchie £80 * in Kent*

17 September – Hopi Ear Candling - £100 includes 2 sets of ear candles 10-4 with Shirley O’Donoghue

20 September – Thai Foot Massage FHT accredited Shirley O’Donoghue

21 September  – Dowsing and Earth Energies Shirley & Phil O’Donoghue £80

21 September – Introduction To Crystal Healing £80 10-4 Brian Thorpe & Rosie Ritchie

26 September – Using Tissue Salts for Health & Wellbeing £70 Shirley O’Donoghue

28 September - Monthly Healing Support Group 10.30-1.00 £10 * in Kent*

28 September - Celebrating & Healing Our Ancestral Heritage With Astrology, Quantum Healing & Crystals Shirley and Pauline Gerosa £90 10-4

12 October – Crystals, Sound Healing & Flower Essences For Complementary Therapy Practitioners £80 Shirley O’Donoghue 10-4

12 October – Reiki Level 2 FHT Accredited 2 days 10-4 £250 Brian Thorpe * in Kent*

19 October – Channelling, Mediumship & Crystals With Claire Broad & Shirley O’Donoghue £120.  10-4

26 October – Introduction To Crystal Healing £80 10-4 Brian Thorpe & Rosie Ritchie

More upcoming workshops – dates to be arranged including:

Reflexology Practitioner FHT Accredited available in September contact Kate.winter@ntlworld.com

For Jewellery Making, Crystal Wire Wrapping and other craft workshops please contact Sheila Corner via email: sheilac64@hotmail.com

More dates to be confirmed  - please contact us if there are any courses not listed you would like to attend or if the dates given aren’t suitable for you.  Courses also available in Kent. 

Contact: shirley@lucisgroup.com or call 07958 663041 for more information or to book 

First in a series of Lucis College workshops with experts in their fields.

Available to pre-order: The Beginner's Guide to Crystal Healing

A full-color guide to working with gemstones for self-healing, energy work, and spiritual growth

• Explains how to choose your crystals and cleanse them, how to energize and charge them, as well as how to get to know your crystals and attune to them

• Explores the correspondences between gemstones and colors and discusses the effects of crystals on the chakras, the meridians, and the aura

• Reveals how to craft crystal essences, heal animals with gemstones, work with crystal grids, and combine crystal therapy with ancestral healing, Reiki, reflexology, acupuncture, and massage

In this full-color guide to working with crystals, Shirley O’Donoghue shares the basics of crystal therapy, enabling anyone to begin using crystals for self-healing, energy work, and spiritual growth.

The book is available to pre-order at the links below:

US:

Simon & Schuster
Amazon US
Barnes and Noble
Inner Traditions
Books A Million
Bookshop.org

UK:

Simon & Schuster UK

Crystals For Winter Solstice and Christmas – How To Work With Them

Winter traditionally was once a time for us to retreat and hibernate. Replenish and relinquish that which no longer serves us so that we start the new year moving into spring with new energy and perspectives. Perhaps our modern day lives don’t give us quite as much time as we used to have to take time for contemplation and healing. Most of us still must go to work and what winter holidays we do have can sometimes leave us frazzled, drained and tired. Its not all doom and gloom however and we should try to enjoy the aspects of the Christmas break – feasting, partying, family time and gift giving – by giving ourselves a little space to rest and step back from the hurly burly. The best way to do this is to wrap up well and take a walk in nature. Crystals can help you to realign and recharge your energies but also help us to make a stronger connection with the natural world.

Here's some crystals I recommend for this time of year with some ideas on how you can work with them.

Amethyst: Spiritual and protective, Amethyst is perfect to support the space we need to create when we want to recharge and replenish our energy

Anthrasite Palmstone: Great for some serious introspection when you want to take time to think about new beginnings and perhaps endings as well. A wonderful “journey” stone which helps you accept change and transition and look forward. Supports people during periods of depression and anxiety.

Citrine: A crystal which bring abundance, Citrine is forward looking and positive, great for charging up your energies with positivity, it is also linked to the sun and helps to shine a light in the darkness of winter promising us that the warmer days of spring and summer will soon be with us.

Moonstone: Helps us to connect to the moon energy and perhaps this is a good time to focus on the moon cycles, using them to support our own individual planting and sowings of new ideas, perspectives, and ways to live our lives.

Angelite: Tradition Christian beliefs focus on the angels’ messages around the nativity. Working with the angelic consciousness at this time of year inspires compassion thoughts and actions.

Rose Quartz: Will enhance our capability to give self-care and self-love as a gift to ourselves for Christmas. Time spent embodying this will also support you in staying balanced and compassionate when faced with friends, family, and relatives etc.

Bloodstone: Christmas Green with red flecks reflecting the colours of Holly and Ivy, Moss Agate will enhance your ability to connect with the energy of nature as it goes through its own cycle of death and rebirth. It’s a stone that also bring vitality and energy, strength and passion. It’s energy is both mystical and magical.

White Calcite: A crystal which can shine light in the darkness, great for clarity and guidance when you feel you want to illuminate and see ways forward.

Ways To Use Crystals

• Create a Winter Solstice Altar using crystals but also other things that you wish to focus on: photos of relatives/ancestors, affirmations etc

• Make a crystal healing grid. You can welcome in the new and release the old by creating a crystal grid – place crystals of your choice in a space where they won’t be disturbed. You can also incorporate something from nature that you may have come across during a walk – a feather, piece of agate, holly, ivy etc. Just spend a few moments contemplating the grid and if you want to hold the energy of the grid in your hands by feeling the energy generated from the crystals. You could also add a candle if you wish but make sure it is not left unattended. Then you can just leave the crystals to continue to do their magic

• Make a crystal essence using a selection of Christmas crystals and perhaps Christmas plants. You could make the crystal essence into a Christmas spray adding appropriate essential oils such as orange, cinnamon, frankincense, myrrh etc.

• Give crystals away to your friends as gifts

• Wear crystals to support your energies as you spend time with friends and family – aid communication, protect energies, generate compassion etc.

• Add to Christmas decorations – wreaths etc.

• Use them to help with meditation and self-healing

• Try bringing out your “inner witch” by scrying with crystal balls

We have a selection of the crystals listed as well as essential oils which you can buy from our shop.

Our specially selected Solstice Crystal Set comes in a beautiful box with the selection of crystals mentioned in this article which can be used during the solstice but also individually whenever needed.

The Day of the Dead

Day of the dead         Día de los Muertos

by Pia Gronroos

In Western cultures we tend to fear death, perhaps for the fear of being punished by God for all our sins or maybe fearing the unknown, but we also fear loosing our loved ones. In our society there is no place for communicating with the departed. Everything needs to be scientifically researched, tests need to repeatable (will uncle John want to take part every time, probably not) and get the same outcome to be seen as reliable results. Does it mean it’s a scam or does it mean the equipment we made aren’t good enough? Mediums - it’s all a scam, or is it? Finding a good medium can be a hit and miss, but they are out there, and when you do, you will be amazed!

In past cultures, such Tibet, Egypt and Mexico, death played a central role. When someone died, their heart and soul were to be light as a feather, with goddess Ma’at weighing the soul of the de-parted against an ostrich feather. There is a strong emphasis on learning how to die a conscious death n the Toltec and Aztec traditions in Mexico, as there are in Buddhist teachings.

Our ancestors and parted family play a major part in our lives. In the West we grieve them, we re-member them fondly or not, and often notice resemblances of family traits in ourselves and family members. In the Mexican traditions, whilst we are alive we are to experience ego and attachments - enjoying the rich colour of experiences of love, joy, happiness, having possessions, adventures but also the other spectrum of emotions loss, grief, anger, distrust, resentment when we don’t get what we want. All of these create the experience of living, but ultimately we need to learn to have some-thing and then be able to let go of the attachment to it, so that when we die we won’t get stuck in the underworlds. In this sense, the saying “life is precious” takes on an even more powerful mean-ing; we have a chance whilst alive to clear our baggage once and for all. When we are dead, the op-portunity to heal any strong emotions, is not easy. The dead need someone in the family line who is alive to do it.

These attachments and heavy emotions go down the family line until someone heals them, and when they do, the whole family line is cleared from it. So sometime if we call in ancestors we think that they will heal us, but the opposite is true. When we heal our great grandmother, we heal all the entire family line thereafter, including ourselves and our children.

The Tibetan book of the dead says “enlightenment is gained when we die and don’t loose con-sciousness of being alive”. The Toltec teachings tells us how to go through the tunnel of light and how to go through what happens next. If we manage to get through the death experience we can choose where we go afterwards. Do we want to merge with the sun and disappear into a higher consciousness? Do we want to come back to help humanity? Do we want to live forever? The prac-tice will tell us how to navigate the death experience for the outcome we choose.

Traditionally the teachings of dying and healing the ancestors wasn’t left to the two days we know as the Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos. Originally the practices started in September lasting for of 60 days. This is not the only time to do conscious death practices, a practitioner should do them once every 20 days and more often when death was approaching.

As a result of the European/Spanish invasion in the 1500, forced conversion to Christianity (Cathol-icism in particular), and ongoing colonisation of what today is known as Mexico, Dia de los Muer-tos now takes place on November 1 and 2, having merged with the Catholic All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. November 1 is to honour children and infants, known as Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels). November 2nd honours adults and is known as Día de Muertos.

In Mexico the days are prepared long in advance and the cities and villages are covered in colourful displays of orange tagetes called cempasúchil, skulls, candles widely situated around cities and vil-lages. The living make altars at home and decorate the graves with all their love for their past rela-tives.

The Disney movie Coco, made the village of Mixquic famous, and for a good reason. It had a tem-ple where the skills how to die and heal the ancestors were taught. Sometime after the conquest like in many other places in Mexico, a Catholic church was built there and a statue of an angel was placed in the courtyard. In 2017 the angel was removed and a statue of the Lord and Lady of the Land of the Dead, Mictlantecuhtli and Mictancicuatl was returned to the site. The Mexicans were amazing stone carvers, but this one with the two standing back to back as one were much rougher than the ones you would see in the museums in Mexico city. The Lord and Lady of the Dead be-longed to the energy of the North and the night, so they were carved in the middle of the night without much light.

On November the 1st the church rings the bells to call in the ancestors. On November the 2nd the cemetery next to it is covered in the most beautiful flower arrangements, offerings of food, drink, wine, music and copal (incense) smoke filling the air, families sitting by the graves talking with their ancestors. On the 2nd the church bells ring to send the departed back to the Land of the Dead.

If you would like to honour your family and ancestors and friends that are departed you can do the following :

October 27 light a white candle

for those who died alone without family to remember them. Also for beloved pets.

October 28 light a white candle

for those who died in an accident or other unexpected manner.

October 29 light a white candle

for those who died by drowning

October 30 light a white candle

for those who died unidentified and without food. Light a white candle and place bread and food on the altar for them.

October 31-November 1st Make an altar for the infants, children and those not able to be born. (It is said if a child dies before the age of 7 come back again to the same family)

November 2 This is the main day for all the ancestors and adults.

Making an altar

If you would like to make an altar, the Mexican way is to make it in three tiers and place

• Photos of the deceased ones.

• Add according to your religious/spiritual beliefs photos or symbols, such as pictures of the Ma-donna, a cross, in Mexico often a picture of the Lady of Guadaloupe.

• Candles to show them the way to the land of the dead.

• Skulls to remember the wisdom and knowledge that the deceased left. Sugar skulls with names of loved ones on them - I haven’t been able to find any of these in the UK.

• Salt to absorb the departed’s attachments.

• Water as the dead can get thirsty on their travels.

• Bread to represent the body. Pan de Muerto - round bread with bones across and a single tear drop on top for sorrow is a typical bread for the altars.

• Flowers, traditionally marigolds, create protection for the soul on its journey to the land of the dead.

• Lay a beautiful colourful tablecloth. Arrange the altar for important visitors.

• Toys, alcohol, sweets, cakes, fruit etc - anything the departed would have liked in life.

• Incense, generally copal in Mexico but use what you have.

• Traditionally you would have colourful punched paper to let the you know when the spirits arrive.

If you don’t have what is needed you can make a simple altar, use what you have. The intention is much more important than having everything on the list. If an altar is too much to create, just light a candle.

Pia Gronroos has trained with her Mexican teacher Sergio Magaña in the Toltec traditions for several years and is a practitioner in the Toltec healing arts. She has been a practicing acupuncturist in the Stems and Branches and 5 Elements tradition for over 20 years and has a wide array of knowledge and expertise in many areas as her curiosity of life and how it works is endless. She works is Horsham, East Grinstead, Merstham community hub and Dorking as a practitioner and teaches workshops at Lucis College in Dorking. If you want to contact her for more information please email her at pia_gronroos@yahoo.com.

Do Crystals Have A Consciousness

What is a Crystal?

A crystal is defined as follows: ‘a piece of a homogeneous solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces.’ In chemistry, it is ‘any solid consisting of a symmetrical, ordered, three-dimensional aggregation of atoms or molecules. In electronics, it is ’a crystalline piece of semiconductor used as an oscillator or transducer.’

A definition of crystal used by Robert Simmons is “the regular form which a substance tends to assume in solidifying, through the inherent power of cohesive attraction. It is bounded by plane surfaces, symmetrically arranged, and each species of crystal has fixed axial ratios.” He uses this definition to detail the particularities of the crystalline world which could lead us to conclude that crystals are another type of living organism on earth. The power of cohesive attraction sounds like the organizing intelligence that governs so much in the universe, including our bodies. The idea of symmetrical arrangement invites the consideration of an organizing principle, bringing order and harmony to what could simply be chaos. Also, crystals have species, exactly like living organisms do. These are all interesting properties that connect crystals to the world of the living, however, crystals are not considered alive by scientific standards.

Do Crystals Grow?

Crystals do share, just like living organisms, the ability to grow. The atomic structure of a crystal follows a particular growth pattern which requires specific pressure and chemical composition in the environment to evolve. This is a little bit like a plant seed which needs specific requirements to germinate, except in the case of the seed the parameters are water, heat, and perhaps the adequate soil. Crystals need pressure, heat, chemical elements, and enough space to crystallize in it’s intended form.

Spirit quartz, which is a type of quartz that has undergone different crystallization processes triggered by geological happenings like earthquakes, offers us a good example of the crystallization process. To learn more about it, click here.

Grow Your Own Crystals

You can very easily ‘grow’ crystals, just like you grow a plant from seed. Crystals grow over time following very specific combinations of atoms or molecules, and simple experiments can showcase the process of crystallization. If you are interested in growing your own crystals, you do not need to buy a crystal growing kit from the store, although those can be very fun, particularly for children to discover the wonders of different crystallization types. You can do a very simple experiment at home to grow your own sugar crystals.

Growing your own crystals may be a beautiful way of initiating yourself or a loved one to the question ‘are crystals alive’?

Crystals and Science

Western science generally posits that we do not have evidence that a crystal is alive. However, more and more people are coming out stating it is important to consider that everything in our universe is alive, one way or another. Some geologists such as Arnold Rheshar and Pierre Escollet do believe stones showcase vital activity that is much slower than other organisms on earth.

This brings us to consider that science follows a very rigorous framework and can only answer what is contained within the parameters it fully understands. Most of the world and inter-connection of our universe remains outside the realm of science. For example, did you know what although we know what magnetism is, we cannot explain it? In a similar way, we know what crystals are, but we cannot fully explain them.

Uses of Crystals

Crystals are used in scientific settings, as well as technological settings. Did you know that scientists aboard our space station orbiting around earth grow crystals that are used in scientific research? Unaffected by the conditions found on earth, crystals in outer space can grow perfectly and be used in all sorts of types of experiments, including pharmaceutical research. Crystals and crystalline elements are used in technology, like watches, computers, or even sonars, ultrasounds or even lasers.

Crystals and Consciousness

Nicola Tesla, the famous scientist and researcher, stated “In a crystal we have clear evidence of the existence of a formative life principle, and though we cannot understand the life of a crystal, it is nonetheless a living being.” His pioneering research focused extensively on the importance of frequency and vibration, which are also alluded to in spiritual realms dealing with the evolution of consciousness.

What can be deduced from the facts listed above is that crystals have their own type of ‘aliveness’, and open us to different considerations of divine organization which are spiritual in nature. Science classifies things in order to understand them in a specific framework, which often overlooks the very essence of what makes us human, meaning, consciousness.

Humans have used crystals as talismans for ages, and there is a strong popularity in the modern western world to use them as spiritual tools. Crystals are seen as holding a very specific type of frequency, to which we can attune ourselves, in order to grow in self-awareness and be a better person.

Do Crystals Have Energy?

Based on the information above, do you believe crystals to be alive? Personally, I think the idea is very attractive. Crystals are not alive in the same way other organisms are, but share very interesting properties with life forms and life principles. Just as science has proven that everything is energy, one way or another, we can affirm that crystals do have their own unique energies, although we are not necessarily able to measure it with today’s instruments.

The fact their atomic structure is so beautifully reminiscent of sacred geometry found in temples around the world invites us to consider the divine organization and inter-connection of all things, and I find is a beautiful indicator that it is not wrong to associate these beautiful objects to spiritual growth and human evolution. From this point of view, I believe it is helpful for individuals to align themselves with their intentions to be a better person, and use crystals and gemstones as spiritual tools.

I invite everyone to consider the use of crystals and talismans as spiritual tools. You can browse the pocket stone section of the website and see what you are naturally drawn to. See if the properties associated with the gemstones that catch your attention are associated with growth and self-awareness principles that you currently wish to embody more!

Copyright Lucis College 2023

Psychic Hygiene

Maintaining good psychic hygiene is a great way to ensure that your energy field is working as effectively as possible as this will obviously impact on your overall wellbeing.

We can pick up toxic energy from so many sources now than ever before.  Here are some that you may  be aware of but perhaps others that you aren’t:

·         Electromagnetic frequencies – computers, microwave, radar, mobile phones etc

·         Toxicity from internet sites such as Google, Twitter, You Tube etc as well as MSM

·         Surrounded by negative people

·         Questionable earth energies or rooms/houses where there has been negative relationships etc

·         Toxic self beliefs or negative thinking – especially during negative times

Stagnant energies in your subtle energy system can crystallise into dis-ease which can manifest as emotional, physical or spiritual blockages so it makes sense to cleanse and re-energise when you can.  Here are some ideas to inspire you to carry out an energetic detox.  Spring is a good time to focus on this as it helps to clear out the “heavier” winter energies and invite new energy to come in.

Physical

1.       Juice fast, parasite cleanse (Dr Hulda Clarke), heavy metals – see www.thegoodinside.com/cleanse -heavy-metals/) as well as cutting down on time in front of phones, ipads, computers etc.

2.       Mushrooms and certain plants can help your body adapt to stress,  these are known as adaptogens.  You can buy them in capsule and supplement form to take or use food/drinks that contain them (see  www.healthline.com/health/stress/smart-girls-guide -to-adaptogens).  Well known adaptogens from nature are Sacred Basil, Nettle, Hawthorn and Ashwagandha. 

3.       Boost your immune system with teas such as nettle and dandelion.

Energy Clearing

1.       Regular healing treatments such as Reiki as well as activities such as Yoga, Chi Gong, Tai Chi etc.

2.       Epsom or sea salt baths – a good handful or two of either in a bath.  You can also add some essential oils or plants such as rosemary to the bath.  Swimming in the sea is a great natural energy clearing activity.

3.       Smudging rooms and auras are great ways of clearing stagnant/old energy old and bringing in new energy.  Generally Sage sticks tend to clear out stagnant energy and Palo Santo brings in fresh uplifting energy to the aura or a room/home.  You can also use a combination of essential oils and Bach Flower remedies or incense and crystals placed strategically in a room with intention such as clear quartz or rose quartz. 

4.       Music is a great energy uplifter.  You can simply play music in your room that uplifts you or select some solfeggio frequency music from Spotify or You Tube that is generating the frequency you require.

5.       Wearing or carrying crystals which will help to protect (Black Toumaline, Carnelian) or Cleanse (Clear Quartz, Amethyst) can help.   You can also sleep with crystals to carry on the clearing when you go to bed.

6.       Ensure you stay grounded as much as possible when not carrying out your spiritual practices.  Walk on the ground, preferably in nature, when you can.  You can also use visualisation such as placing yourself in a bubble of light. 

7.       Add a handful of salt into the washing machine to cleanse clothes that you feel have been in negative environments too.

8.       Turn wifi off at night if possible and reduce the amount of time you have it on in your house.  Use crystals such as Shungite which are reputed to modulate EMPs as well as Tourmaline for grounding and protecting.

9.       Artemisia plants (sometimes called Wormwood, Mugwort and Sagebrush) are great to have near your home to prevent anything toxic from entering.  Place the plant with intention to invoke the spirit of the plant to work with you as you require for the good of all, harm of none but for the highest good.

Lucis College’s online shop sells a vast array of space clearing tools.  Don’t hesitate to contact us for advice or further information at shirley@lucisgroup.com or see our website www.luciscollege.com

Copyright Shirley O’Donoghue April 2023

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Latest Covid update from the Complementary Therapist Association

Dear valued members,

We are thrilled to finally announce in light of the government’s announcement yesterday (Thursday 9 July) that close contact service businesses will be permitted to reopen from Monday 13th July in England. The government has published further COVID-19 secure guidance in a 43 page document which we have uploaded to the members hub for you to easily access. This guidance applies to England, except for Leicester and would not apply to other regions if a local lockdown is enforced by the government.

Re-opening of close contact businesses in England from 13 July

The following businesses which had to remain closed by law will be permitted to reopen from Monday 13 July as outlined in the table below with links to guidance to ensure their safe reopening.

• Spas

• Nail bars and salons and beauty salons

• Tanning booths and salons

• Massage parlours

• Tattoo parlours

• Body and skin piercing services

Business or Venue

Spas
Nail bars and salons and beauty salons Tanning booths and salons
Massage parlours
Tattoo parlours
Body and skin piercing services

Guidance for re-opening safely

All close-contact service providers are strongly advised to follow guidance on how to work safely available to download from the CThA members hub.

From 25 July, subject to assessment the evidence at the time regarding the rates of transmission, it is proposed that sports facilities and venues, such as indoor gyms, fitness and dance studios, indoor swimming pools and indoor water parks will be permitted to open.

Scope of Restrictions

The Devolved Administrations have issued their own guidance and regulations. The guidance can be found below:

Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Executive's confirmation statement on July 2, said resumption of close contact service, including massage, spas, tattooing and piercing could commence from Monday, 6 July. (The relaxation pertaining to spas does not apply to thermal treatment aspects of spas, including saunas and steam rooms, hydrotherapy pools and cold and ice rooms.)

Wales
First Minister of the Welsh Government, Mr Drakeford is expected to signal to begin preparing to reopen from July 27, depending on the state of Covid-19 in Wales at that time. We will of course keep our Welsh members informed.

Scotland
We have been advised by NHS Scotland that close contact services may not resume at this time. We will of course keep our Scottish members informed of changes.

Track and trace

The opening up of the economy following the COVID-19 outbreak is being supported by NHS Test and Trace. You should assist this service by keeping a temporary record of your customers and visitors for 21 days, in a way that is manageable for your business, and assist NHS Test and Trace with requests for that data if needed. This could help contain clusters or outbreaks. Many businesses that take bookings already have systems for recording their customers and visitors – including restaurants, hotels, and hair salons. If you do not already do this, you should do so to help fight the virus. We will work with industry and relevant bodies to design this system in line with data protection legislation and set out details shortly.

Gatherings

People should continue to socially distance from those they do not live with wherever possible. Social interactions should be limited to a group of no more than two households (indoors and out) or up to six people from different households (if outdoors). It is against the law for gatherings of more than 30 people to take place in private homes (including gardens and other outdoor spaces) except where specified in the Regulations.

Businesses and venues following COVID-19 Secure guidelines can host larger groups. This is also the case for events in public outdoor spaces that are organised by businesses, charitable or political organisations, and public bodies, provided they take reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of transmission, in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance and including completion of a risk assessment. Any other gathering in an outdoor space must not be any larger than 30 people except where specified in the Regulations.

Businesses should demonstrate to their workers and attendees that they have properly assessed their risk and taken appropriate measures to mitigate it, for example by publishing their risk assessment online or making it available at the premises/event.
 
In particular, those operating venues or running events following COVID-19 Secure guidelines should take additional steps to ensure the safety of the public and prevent large gatherings or mass events from taking place. At this time, venues should not permit live performances, including drama, comedy and music, to take place in front of a live audience; and should not permit indoor grassroots sport to take place.

Individual businesses or venues should also consider the cumulative impact of many venues re-opening in a small area. This means working with local authorities, neighbouring businesses and travel operators to assess this risk and applying additional mitigations.

These could include:

• Further lowering capacity - even if it is possible to safely seat a number of people inside a venue, it may not be safe for them all to travel or enter that venue.

• Staggering entry times with other venues and taking steps to avoid queues building up in surrounding areas.

• Arranging one-way travel routes between transport hubs and venues.

• Advising patrons to avoid particular forms of transport or routes and to avoid crowded areas when in transit to the venue.

Local authorities should avoid issuing licenses for events that could lead to larger gatherings forming and provide advice to businesses on how to manage events of this type. If appropriate, the Government has powers under schedule 22 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 to close venues hosting large gatherings or prohibit certain events (or types of event) from taking place, and a power under Regulation 6 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020 to restrict access to a public place.

Compliance

As of 26 March 2020, the Regulations (which have now been replaced with consolidated Regulations to take account of the gradual relaxation of restrictions) imposed enforceable restrictions on people in England.

The Regulations are reviewed regularly to ensure they are effective and proportionate to the risk to public health. The most recent and up to date England Regulations can be found on the legislation website. Everyone is required to comply with these Regulations issued by the government in relation to coronavirus, in order to protect both themselves and others, to fail to do so can constitute a criminal offence.

An owner, proprietor or manager carrying out a business (or a person responsible for other premises) who contravenes the Regulations, without reasonable excuse, commits an offence. The restrictions on gatherings of more than 30 persons apply to everyone in the gathering.

In England, Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers will monitor compliance with these regulations, with police support provided if appropriate. Businesses and venues that breach restrictions will potentially be subject to prohibition notices, and a person who is 18 or over, who carries on a business in contravention of the Regulations may be issued with a fixed penalty.

With the support of the police, prohibition notices can be used to require compliance with the Regulations including requiring that an activity ceases. It is also an offence, without reasonable excuse, to fail to comply with a prohibition notice.
 
If prohibition notices are not complied with, or a fixed penalty notice not paid, you may also be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose potentially unlimited fines.
 

Business support

In England, under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) measures announced on Monday March 16, businesses and venues in England in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will be eligible for cash grants of up to £25,000 per property.

Eligible businesses and venues in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of up to £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000. Eligible businesses and venues in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of between £15,001 and £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000. Businesses and venues with a rateable value of over £51,000 are not included in this scheme.

For more information please visit the government’s business support page.

Business rates
 
In England, as announced on Monday 16 March, the government will provide a business rates holiday for businesses and venues in the retail, hospitality and/or leisure sector. This includes the businesses and venues in scope for closure listed above. The relief will apply to business rates bills for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.

Further Information

This guidance will be updated regularly as the situation develops and to reflect frequently asked questions. For information about support for business, please go to the government’s business support page or visit GOV.UK.

Exciting Online Workshop With 3 Experts In Crystals, Astrology & Mediumship

Crystal attunement guide

Crystal Attunement

Always cleanse your crystal before and after the attunement. 

If you wish to work with different chakras for example you can pre-select a crystal which is the same colour as the chakra you wish to work with, likewise if you want to work on something particular, you might like to choose a crystal which has qualities to support that such as Yellow Tigers Eye to support self-esteem or a blue crystal such as Turquoise or Blue Lace Agate to support communication etc.  The directional flow suggested in this meditation can be altered to suit your reasons for undertaking this meditation e.g. use Amethyst to send energy to the Crown Chakra to stimulate it in order to enhance meditation practice for example.

Some people say that you should use the left hand for receiving energy from crystals and the right hand for giving.  I feel that you should hold the crystal however feels more comfortable for you. 

Holding the crystal in your hand and sitting comfortably take a deep in breath through the nose and breathe out through the mouth. 

Look at the crystal and notice the colour, shape, texture of the crystal.  Does this “say” anything to you? 

When you are ready, close your eyes and again take 2 or 3 deep breaths.  Now take your focus again to the crystal but this time concentrate on what the crystal feels like.  Is it smooth or rough, does it have chips or fissures, can you sense the shape, and is the temperature warm or cool?  (Sometimes people can also sense a tingling or buzzing sensation)

After a few moments,  visualise your palm chakra starting to open and connect with the crystal you are holding in your hand as you breath in.  Breathing out visualise the energy from the crystal starting to flow up your hand and along your arm.  The next breath takes the energy past your elbow and up to your shoulder.  Pause here for a moment and then you can visualise/imagine the energy at this point.  Taking another breath, and with intention send the energy to any chakra or part of your body you feel drawn to work with.

Sit with the energy until you feel that you are done.  Then you can either visualise the energy returning to the crystal in the palm of your hand or just gently release the energy from your aura into the earth. 

Typical responses to this exercise are:

·       Heightened colour in Brow Chakra or pictures

·       Buzzing and tingling in the hands from the crystals

·       Temperature variations from what would normally be expected e.g. cooler, warmer than expected, got colder or got hotter as the visualisation progressed

·       Sense of energy moving up the arm

·       Sense of energy reactions from chakras

·       Surge of emotion

Taken from Crystal Alchemy – A Practical Guide To Crystal Therapy by Shirley O’Donoghue

ISBN 978-1-913088-08-8    RRP £14.00 Available from Lucis College, Amazon etc.

Copywrite Lucis College Ltd 2020

New FHT Article

FHT magazine have kindly published an article covering a day in the life of Shirley

Just Announced: Crystal Alchemy - a new book by Shirley O'Donoghue

Lucis College are proud to announce that Shirley O’Donoghue’s book Crystal Alchemy will be published by Lotus Publishing in December.