BOOK REVIEW: Chicago's Haunt Detective

Chicago’s Haunt Detective

Raymond Johnson

2011  http://www.schifferbooks.com

ISBN #: 978-0-7643-3718-5

PB $16.99

If you like true ghost stories AND true crime, then this is the book for you as it nicely combines both in what is a very entertaining read.  The author, Raymond Johnson, is a former police officer.  The book opens with his accounts of his own paranormal experiences that occurred in his childhood home.  All of the recounted stories in this book are told with some humor usually inserted as parenthetical remarks that make the book sound like this is a friend telling you some cool ghost stories over a beer rather than reading them out of a book.  For example, in discussing his own scary experience the author notes that covering one’s head with a blanket “is, of course, the first line of defense” against an earth-bound spirit (p. 17).  That’s just one example.  There are plenty more, but always included with good taste.

The book opens with the classic story of “Resurrection Mary.”  A personal note about her, before I continue.  I’m originally from northern Illinois (Waukegan) and a number of times my friends and I hung out across the street or a bit down the street from Resurrection Cemetery hoping to catch a glimpse of this very famous phantom.  We were always disappointed, but I do have a friend who claims to have seen her while in the car with his brother.  Mary was standing alongside the road as they were approaching the cemetery evidently thumbing for a ride.  Although my friend was willing, his brother would not slow down to pick her up.

Resurrection Mary is a special ghost story because she has become beloved by the locals and the location and her true identity have been a closely guarded secret since the 1930s when she first passed away and then began putting in post-mortem appearances.  The author states that he received threatening emails because they thought he was out to debunk her existence.  He notes in reference to the scary emails, “[a]nd you thought ghosts were scary …”    As a former local of the area I found that to be quite interesting as I have myself seen the locals behave very protectively towards her.  They are not too willing to speak of her except to say she is there and yes, she is very real.  Raymond Johnson offers several hypotheses as to who the real Mary could have been along with supporting evidence that I found to be all quite interesting.  His conclusion is the same as the one I drew years ago.  It doesn’t matter who she once was in life, the fascinating thing is that she still appears long after her death.

The book is presented in a forensic style including eye witness accounts, the historical background of the event or ghosts involved, examinations of death and census records, and the historical background of the haunted location.

Other stories in the book include:  a ghost who solves her own murder (again, presented with eye witness testimony and evidence), and the use of a Ouija board that may have lead to the main user’s untimely demise.   The book concludes with a section about modern-day paranormal investigative techniques and a chapter on the use of psychics by the police.

The book is 160 pages long including an index, bibliography, and photographs.  The author’s sense of humor is evident throughout the book.  His expertise as a police officer who spent a career collecting and analyzing evidence is also very much apparent.  Chicago’s Haunt Detective is an enjoyable read throughout and I highly recommend it to those of you who like a good ghost story and also are interested in modern-day paranormal investigative technique.  

~ Nefer Khepri, Ph. D.

http://www.magickal-musings.com 

IsisRaAnpu@aol.com

BOOK & DECK REVIEW: Illuminara: Intuitive Journal with Cards

Illuminara: Intuitive Journal with Cards

Elaine Clayton

ISBN# 978-0-7643-3550-5

$29.95, hardcover spiral bound

http://www.schifferbooks.com

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own a deck you could use for self-exploration & divination that had all of your own interpretations so that you wouldn’t have to depend on learning the interpretations from some book?  If so, then the Illuminara: Intuitive Journal with Cards is made for you.

If you practice journaling or tarot journaling, Illuminara adds a new dimension to one’s journaling pursuits.  Usually, when I journal I’m focused on a personal experience, dream, or tarot reading I’ve had.  When I tarot journal I make note of the date, lunar phase, question, cards received, & my thoughts & interpretations of those cards.  Illuminara is different in that it contains a set of 40 5 X 7” cards of a random collection of images taken from Elaine Clayton’s art she has created over the years.  Unlike a tarot or oracle deck, she does not provide any meanings or interpretations of any of the images.  Instead, she leaves that up to the reader, namely – you.

Elaine Clayton’s method is based upon Carl Jung’s theory of the “personal unconscious,” which consists of the symbols to which each of us has assigned personal meaning specific to each of us as individuals.  For example, we’re all familiar with the universal symbol for “peace.”  However, growing up a friend of mine had spent his early years on a farm.  He would always laugh when he saw a peace sign because to him it did not represent peace.  For him it was a chicken’s foot inside a circle.  In his case he had assigned his own meaning to a symbol that has the same meaning for many of us, but not for him.  

This is exactly what readers are meant to do with this deck.  Examine the cards, answer journaling prompts provided by the author on blank journaling pages (also provided) and derive your own meanings for these images based upon associations they bring up to the surface from your own memories and emotions.  By so doing you’re creating a system of self-exploration and divination that is unique to you.

The same image viewed by different people conjures up a different memory or association for each observer.  These memories, in turn, illicit different emotional reactions from each viewer.  This is the reason everyone’s meaning for each of these images will be unique to that person. 

The process of journal keeping helps a person to explore their outer world that then leads to discovery and exploration of their inner world.  We then begin to feel “intuitively connected and informed.  We are participating consciously with stimuli, rather than simply being hammered by stimuli” (Clayton, p. 12).  Furthermore, maintaining a journal helps us to create and reaffirm “our own pictoral language, the unique, dynamic, and wondrous visual inner library we bring with us wherever we go” (Clayton, p. 13). 

The cards consist of random images from everyday life; such as, a dog,  a girl looking up at birds in a tree, a plate of lemons, a tree stump, a sea turtle, an angel, a lifeguard, and an old couple, just to name a few.  The art style is eclectic and ranges in complexity from simple line sketches rendered in pencil, such as a boy seated at a table (see image above), to more involved line drawings rendered in pen and ink to full color watercolor and acrylic paintings.  The concept behind the cards is to choose one or a few each day.  Upon finding their corresponding page in the book (each card is numbered for ease of reference), the reader then answers the journaling prompts for the card they have drawn. You can draw the card consciously or intuitively, the choice is yours.  The prompts are the same for each image.

I chose the dog simply because it’s card number 1 and then I looked through all the images and chose the sea turtle because I love them.  The image of the dog reminded me of the dog I had while growing up.  She and I were together for fifteen years.  I ended up crying because of the feelings I allowed to surface for the first time in over twenty years.  Feelings of love, happiness, and grief overwhelmed me.  In the end I was very grateful for the experience and I found it to be healing.

For the sea turtle my reaction was very different.  I have always loved sea turtles from afar, never experiencing one in person until recently (except in an aquarium exhibit, of course).  This image brought up feelings of joy for me as I responded to the journaling prompts by writing about my experience last June during a snorkeling excursion in Maui, Hawaii.  It was one of the most fantastic and glorious experiences of my life.  Based upon my journaling exercise with these two cards, if I were to use this deck in a reading and these cards appeared the dog for me would represent loyalty and friendship, but also loss and grief.  If the sea turtle appeared in a reading it would represent great joy and the realization of a life-long dream.  So you can see how once you’ve completed the journaling prompts for each card that these cards can be a successful tool of self-exploration and even divination.

The book itself is spiral bound within a hard cover and consists of a brief section that runs only twenty pages.  More is not necessary due to the author’s system being very straight-forward and uncomplicated.  The remaining 110 pages consist of a color reproduction of each card accompanied by a journaling space on the following page and thirty blank “Psychic Journal” pages conclude the book.  Packaging consists of a hardback book with internal spiral binding so the book will lie flat in order to facilitate the journaling process.  The cards are housed in a large pocket inside the back cover.  This is a unique approach that I feel many people would find fun, exciting, and helpful.  

~ Nefer Khepri, Ph. D., R. M-T.

IsisRaAnpu@aol.com

http://www.magickal-musings.com

BOOK REVIEW: Tarot Diva

Tarot Diva, by Sasha Graham                     

Llewellyn Publications, Woodbury, Minnesota

http://www.llewellyn.com

ISBN #:  978-0-7387-2604-5

PB:  $18.95

300 pages

Tarot Diva is written in first person, which causes the entire book to read as though you and Sasha are sitting down in your living room having a nice long tarot chat over several cups of coffee.   First person for a tarot book presents the reader with a fresh perspective written in a personal voice and this causes the entire text to be easily readable and accessible, even to tarot newcomers.

For a newcomer to tarot, Tarot Diva has it all:  brief interpretations, meditations, exercises, spells, tarot charms, cooking recipes, and more.  The book provides a wealth of information all in one place that is easily readable, understandable, and is presented in a charming and friendly manner.  For anyone, the book is an enjoyable read.

The word, “diva,” is Italian for “goddess.”  The term is used “to describe any woman of unusually glamorous and successful talent …  anyone who walks the walk, talks the talk …  A diva is not to be crossed or messed with” (p. 6).  The chief premise of this book is that tarot cards can help you to discover and to release your inner diva by cultivating your intuition.  

Sasha Graham presents information on how to keep a tarot journal, creating tarot charms to manifest desired outcomes, the major and minor arcana experiences in life and how to tell the difference between the two, kitchen tarot focusing on how to apply the tarot archetypes to your cooking, and how to discover and refine your sense of personal style through the tarot archetypes.

Specific to tarot, Sasha Graham presents information on how to choose a deck that best fits you, creating sacred space and tarot ritual, archetypes, and the four suits and their associations.  What I found enjoyable was her discussion of the court cards as though they were personality types one would actually know.  For example, the Knight of Pentacles as the good looking popular boy who drives a nice car and comes from a family with money.  In other words, “beefcake dreaminess” (p. 154).  Her descriptions of the court cards brought them to life for me.   Her discussion of the minor arcana is thorough.  Ace – ten of each suit is discussed in terms of not only their basic interpretations, but each is accompanied by one or more of the following:  journaling exercises, spreads, beauty tips and practices, charms and spells, methods to strengthen a card’s energies in your life, even health and diet are all topics addressed and connected to particular cards.  

Regarding the process of doing a reading, basic topics are included; such as, how to shuffle (many people do wonder about this), spreads (1 & 3-card, Stairway, Celtic Cross), reading for yourself and others.   What I found particularly enjoyable about this section was how the author broke down the 10-card Celtic Cross spread into several smaller readings with question prompts to ask yourself that will help a reader to learn the deeper meanings of each card position within that spread.  

All in all, Tarot Diva, is not only informative, but the information is presented in a very entertaining manner.  This is a book to enjoy and then to keep on your tarot bookshelf for years to come as a good reference.

Lillies of the Field: How the Universe Takes Care of Us

From Luke 12:27 - 28:   "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you"  ~ Jesus Christ.
 

A little story to demonstrate in what wonderful ways the universe works.  In mid-July I performed an enchantment for myself regarding the upcoming Mercury retrograde period.  My business always takes a nosedive & I end up getting sick at some point every time Mercury goes Rx.  I focused on being prosperous, even if it was just $50 a day, every single day of the Rx & of course, focusing on my health. 

The Rx hit & the orders just never stopped coming in and I've been incredibly busy to the point I have no time for myself.  However, I am NOT complaining!  Far from it!  I'm very grateful, especially with Ariel starting school . I always buy her school clothes so that's where most of it has gone, plus I had already enjoyed such a good summer I was able to pay off all my debt. 

The other day I had a painfully swollen lymph node under my chin.  I began rubbing it.  I felt it "move", but I guess maybe I popped it.  The gunk in it moved up along my jawline until it found an outlet.  I'll spare you all the gory details.  Still, I feel that was going to be an infection starting, but since I massaged my neck/chin area I got it to clear up.  I never even felt sick from it, but there was a lot of pain.

Yesterday I didn't receive a single order.  However, to show you how the universe still took care of me & how my enchantment still managed to manifest prosperity for me - I took Ariel to Kohl's for her school clothes.  I had 3 expired $10 Kohl's Cash coupons.  The nice lady took all 3 so that removed $30 off the top of my bill, plus I had a 15% off coupon.  I ended up saving $78, not to mention everything we bought was also on sale.  Grand total of savings was around $340.  I never buy anything full price anyway so I don't pay much attention to that, still it was nice to see.

Stuart brings in the mail yesterday evening & says to me, "This is intriguing."  I look and it's from HP saying "open immediately."  I have an HP laptop & printer.  I figured it was a recall notification.  Instead, it was notification that a rebate check for $50 from 2008 had never been cashed.  HP wanted to know if I still wanted it.  Oh, yeah! 

Later in email a new client of mine, Julie, offered to send me a book, so a day of no orders ended up being filled with prosperity anyhow, plus a present.  This just goes to show me how the universe was still taking good care of me.  Overall, a really great day.

Where Have I Gone???

Greetings Everyone!

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything other than a review.  Things have been crazy this summer & I'm very thankful for that.

This time last year I was in a full-scale panic.  My business (Magickal-Musings.com) had not generated more than $150 in income during the month of July, 2010.  My husband had been unemployed earlier in the spring and into early summer for 7 weeks and we were struggling to catch up with necessary bills.

Due to his job loss, my near lack of an income for July (and not much more came in during the month of June), last year my husband gave me an ultimatum.  On a THURSDAY he told me if I didn't bring in $500 by MONDAY that he would consider my business defunct & have me shut it down & hit the pavement on Monday to look for a new job.

All this occurred last August.  I sent out a plea to all of my contacts asking them if they had been thinking of ordering anything from my site, to please do so ASAP since I was in immediate danger of losing my business.

The response I received was immediate and it was also very touching.  One client, Henri, sent me $11 saying the numerology of his donation would help me to manifest more.  He didn't order anything.  Another client ordered a $150 Tarot Annual Forecast.  She told me to get it to her "whenever" as she knew I had a lot on my mind.  Many who could not afford to order at the time sent me encouraging emails, most of whom begged me not to close my business and said I was the only one they trusted for enchantments and readings.  Many of those people went on to say how much I had helped them and some people have been clients for a decade.

I received 114 supportive and loving emails, some from clients I hadn't heard from in years.  Along with those emails orders began to trickle in.  A $45 reading here, a $50 enchantment there.  I was amazed that after sending the mass email out on Thursday evening that by Saturday I had received orders totaling nearly $400.  I was only a mere $100 from my Monday goal of $500.  By that Monday, not only had my clients come through for me, but they did so with flying colors.  My business generated just over $700 in a mere 4 days.

It is due to my clients that Magickal-Musings.com is still here and I am still able to do the work that I love so much, which is helping others and being of service in a spiritual manner.   I sent out another mass email thanking everyone for their support and informing them that my business was safe.  In fact, after removing the names, I allowed my husband to read some of those supportive emails.

You see, I'm like a Catholic priest or a lawyer.  I believe in client/practitioner confidentiality. I do not share ANY details of any case with my husband, daughter, or anyone else.  People come to me with very sensitive issues and I have enough respect for my clients to keep all the information to myself.  So my husband was really clueless as to exactly what I did or how readings or spells could be of any help to anyone.

Once he began to read those emails he got tears in his eyes.  He kept saying, "I had no idea!"  He then told me that I was providing a highly valuable service and that if anything ever got that bad for us again he assured me that I would be able to keep working and to maintain my business.  So I never have to worry again.

Now, flash forward to now, August, 2011, just 1 year after I nearly lost my business.  Summers are notoriously slow for me.  People go on vacation, the kids are home wanting to be taken to the movies and the mall.  Come August it's time to shop for school clothes and supplies.  During the summer people just don't have the disposable income they have during other times of the year.  A business like mine, you see, depends upon "disposable" income, which is that part of your income you do not have immediate need for in terms of getting bills paid, keeping a roof over your head, or food in your tummy.  When people have a few extra bucks, that's when they order from a site like mine.

So, as June approached I figured oh dear, here we go again, but I'll have plenty of time to have fun with my 12 year old daughter, plus I knew for my June birthday my wonderful husband was taking me to Maui, Hawaii for a second time (we first went in 2009).

While in Maui many wonderful things occurred.  I fulfilled my life-long dream of snorkeling with sea turtles, whom I dearly love.  As an added bonus on that snorkeling trip I got splashed in the face by a dolphin - who did so on purpose and it thought its antics were hilarious while the splash left another lady on the boat and I screaming.  Another dolphin popped its head up at us and also laughed. It was awesome.  Probably one of the best memories I'll ever have.  I was blessed with the addition of a new spirit guide while on Maui and I received a very strong emotional healing from Nature Herself while there.

However, also while in Maui I had to keep my iPhone handy constantly.  I began receiving a lot of inquiry emails from prospective clients who had found my site somehow.  Then the orders began to come in.  By the time we returned home a week later I was booked solid for the coming week!  I have never in my 12 years of being online have been booked solid a week in advance.

The amazing thing was that the orders - many from new people - just kept coming in.  So by the end of that first very hectic week back at work the end of June I was booked solid for another week. I even had to break my cardinal rule of reserving weekends for family.  I worked the entire 4th of July 3-day weekend just so I could keep up with demand!

The pace has continued and so that is where I have been.  I am "here" as being online, but I've been performing enchantments, doing readings, creating a Manifestation Mandala (which is nearly completed, see the photo at left), plus in between all that taking care of our house, our child, making meals, washing dishes, doing laundry, vacuuming, buying the groceries, and doing all the other "mom" things that I do on a regular basis.  I didn't even have time to focus on my own art work - my Magickal Musings Tarot has languished for most of the summer. I only returned to working on it in earnest this past weekend and a new card, the Ace of Birds, is now nearly complete.

I am incredibly grateful for the huge growth spurt my business has experienced during a time that has been historically very slow.  I don't know what's going on.  Many tell me they find my site through a google search.  If you google "how to contact spirit guides" or "contact spirit guides," my page on how to contact your spirit guides comes up as Number ONE.  I had no idea!!  How it happened, again, I have no idea.

Also, creating a presence for myself on Facebook has been a HUGE help.  I have my regular profile page, a business page, and my groups:  Living in the NOW:  Gratitude & Appreciation Society (the newest group), Magickal Musings (the oldest group), Magickal Musings Tarot, and Manifestation Mandalas.  Through my profile page, business page and groups I have "met" online many interesting and wonderful people.  The Living in the NOW group is very special and dear to my heart.  It's barely a month old and we already have 76 members. The goal is to find three things about which you can express gratitude every single day.  The idea being that the more we express gratitude to the Universe the more wonderful blessings we shall receive.  Due to all my business-related activity on Facebook this has also brought me new clients, plus it helps to keep me in the eye of regular clients who can keep up with what's going on with me through my posts and by joining my groups and liking my business page.

This has been a totally insane summer.  I've had to work every single weekend in July just to keep up with demand, but it's been a wonderful feeling.  I've helped many people over the years on every continent (except Antartica) and I am so very, very thankful that I am able to continue to fulfill my Soul's Purpose in this lifetime, which is to act as a spiritual bridge for others and to also empower them to learn more about spirituality so that eventually they shall have enough information that they will be able to do such things on their own.

Despite being so incredibly busy that I often don't know whether I'm coming or going, I'm incredibly grateful for the faith and trust that total strangers place in me and I endeavor always to do my very best in filling every single order and I also make myself available in email to all my clients.  All these years it's been a real pleasure to get to know many of you and I look forward to many  years of service to come.

I wish you all a very blessed week.  I'll post again in a few days as I have a book review almost ready.