Finding Time: 1 Month 11 Days into Breaking My Social Media Addiction

It's Wordy Wednesday here on the blog! Since chopping my time on social media by 90% or so (Facebook, Instagram being the main culprits) I do sometimes feel EMPTY, even one month, eleven days into it. The URGE is still there; to check the feed, see what's new and fill every second with a new image, person, artwork, website, etc.

BUT I resist.

I do still check out friend's pages and for some reason Juliette Lewis' Instagram account (man, is she kick ass!) and I post occasionally, but not obsessively, thereby sparing myself the need to keep up with 'likes' and comments and such.

My business, as a soul reader/artist/writer/teacher rolls on in spite of it., but the big difference is TIME. I have more of it. More time to reflect and create. That's a BIGGIE. How 'bout you? Have you tried to break your addiction yet? If not, why not? Need help? I'm here.

Click here for previous posts on social media addiction and how to beat it.

Hiking the Santa Rosa Plateau

Can You Dream a Better Tomorrow?

Surrounded by grey-ness - raining blues, she closes her eyes and dreams of you...her spirit friend appears in the sky, a seagull flying high. A diamond in magenta appears next; a geometry of lines to carry her forward, not into sadness, but hope. As a flower, a lotus? a tulip? in pink appears. She will close her eyes and dream a better tomorrow.

365 Days of Paint + Words

On Nov. 1, 2016 I began a project to make a painting and to write about it and post it on my blog or Instagram for 365 days WOW! This painting is no. 9 from that project.

What is Ethical Hand Mining of Crystals All About?

What is Ethical Hand Mining?

I recently spoke with Stephen Wells, the owner of Kacha Stones about the importance of ethical hand mining.

In terms of crystal mining, ethical means dealing with smaller scale miners that aren’t causing wholesale destruction. An example of this kind of destruction would be dynamiting methods used in Brazil for example, where a hillside is destroyed and the rubble sorted and sold for everything from jewellery to road fill.

I mine myself here in Wales and travel to India twice a year to collect my Himalayan and Tibetan quartz from people I have known for nearly twenty years. My other main item is Brandberg quartz where I deal directly with individual miners through another long term contact.  What these four locations have in common, is that the mining is done by hand and holes refilled. The only way you can have any control over this trade is by buying directly from the people digging, which is what I do wherever possible.

As these people work for themselves, the chances are they aren’t treating themselves unethically so other exploitation of labour issues – almost exclusively related to the mining of precious stones – don’t really come into play.

If you want to read more about Stephen's journey check out this delightful interview I did with him a few years back.

Stephen of Kacha Stones - hand mining

Stephen of Kacha Stones Mining

Omapeleki Brandberg Quartz ~ NEW ARRIVALS!

 "If you haven’t got a negative, the Omapelekis are literally unbelievable, you could pick one online here, I recently bought this years find. It was like Christmas ... but better." ~ Stephen Wells

Here's another beautiful Omapeleki. This picture (below) shows the refined internal layers of a skeletal face. Bottom right of the shaft contains a negative manifestation enhydro ~ a perfect DT crystal water pocket. This "inside-out" nature of the formation is why the photographic term "negative" was used.

Omapeleki healing crystal from Kacha Stones

Water Crystals Another interesting feature of the Negative Manifestation formation is that the internal "crystals" (crystal shaped hollows full of water) always have angles parallel to the parent crystal, indicating their resonance with the whole. The water they contain is easily programmed, acting like a re-writable liquid hard disc. More Negative Manifestation Enhydros can be seen on this page.

Negative Manifestation Crystals ~ Omapeleki Brandbergs by Kacha Stones

Negative Manifestation Enhydros Photo from Kacha Stones

Good for Scrying ~ Enhydro Quartz Smoky Flame Brandberg Crystal We have seen a lot of the rare negative manifestation enhydros, but in the vast majority of cases, the water pockets are irregular and curved like in the picture (see below). The thinness of this hollow causes the bubble to sit at the bottom. One of the reasons crystals are used for scrying is that quartz naturally lends itself as a blackboard for our subconscious to scribble on. This smoky flame Brandberg is a good example.

Brandberg Amethyst from Kacha Stones

Stonehenge Inner Circle ~ Preseli BluestonePreseli Bluestone is famous for its use in the original inner rings of Stonehenge. Approximately 80 of these bluestone columns, each one harder than granite and weighing about four tons, were transported over 240 miles (385 km) to Salisbury Plain. They originated, as do these, in the Preseli Hills of West Wales. Kacha Stones is within view of these ancient hills, giving us a special connection with this magical stone.

Bluestone was taken over 240 miles for a reason. There is archaeological evidence that small pieces were given to pilgrims visiting Stonehenge over 4000 years ago by the priests. Ancient Welsh folklore also attributes magical and healing powers to this unique stone.

Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain, 12th centuryIn Monmouth's story, when planning Stonehenge Merlin suggests to Aurelius that he ought to send an expedition to the far West of Britain to fetch the stones. The King begins to laugh and asks: "How can such large stones be moved from so far-distant a country?" he asked. "It is hardly as if Britain itself is lacking in stones big enough for the job!" "Try not to laugh in a foolish way, your Majesty," answered Merlin. "What I am suggesting has nothing ludicrous about it. These stones are connected with certain secret religious rites and they have various properties which are medicinally important. Their [giants] plan was that, whenever they felt ill, baths should be prepared at the foot of the stones; for they used to pour water over them and to run this water into baths in which their sick were cured. What is more, they mixed the water with herbal concoctions and so healed their wounds. There is not a single stone among them which hasn't some medicinal value."

preseli bluestone-a Pendant from Kacha Stones

Kacha Stones*

Glasfryn Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire SA38 9LT

+44 1559 371503

Ethically mined healing crystals and jewellery. We specialize in rare crystals including Brandbergs, Himalayan and Tibetan. Online for over 15 years. Worldwide Shipping.

kacha-stones.com

*Use KATHY as the discount code at checkout to receive a 10% discount!

Kathy Crabbe Bio Pic

About Kathy

Kathy Crabbe has been an artist forever and a soul reader since awakening her intuitive gifts at age forty after five years painting with her non-dominant left hand. This awoke her intuition in a big way. In 2008 she created a Lefty Oracle deck and started giving intuitive soul readings that have touched many lives in profound and playful ways. Kathy lives in sunny Southern California with her pet muses and architect husband in an adobe home they built themselves.

How to Make Your Spring Altar Come Alive

My Spring altar with a pic of my shamanic mentor Francesca De Grandis

If you're looking for inspiration to decorate your spring or fall altar then look no further! Each month at the New and Full Moon I post suggestions for your altar to go along with the zodiac sign of the Moon such as: gemstones, goddesses, foods, herbs, tarot cards, colors, affirmations and creative prompts.

Feel free to take my material and use it to dress up your altar so that your Moon Meditation is an especially blessed event. I hope that the wildflowers below, picked from the sunny Southern California hillside behind my home inspire you as much as they do me! Blessed Be.

At each New and Full Moon I also include a Lefty card from my Lefty Oracle Deck. The Deck is divided into the elements of nature: earth/air/fire/water and of course Spirit. I channel a short, inspirational message specifically for that moon and include a Lefty Affirmation. I encourage you to try out non-dominant hand drawing to stimulate your brain and help you focus and center. Here's what an art therapist has to say about drawing with both hands ie. bi-lateral hand drawing:

“In the case of bilateral drawing, there is an assumption that because both hands are engaged that both hemispheres of the brain are stimulated…I believe bilateral drawing, guided by a helping professional, is helpful simply as a method of self-regulation...Making marks or gestures on paper with both hands simultaneously also creates an attention shift away from the distressing sensations in the body to a different, action-oriented and self-empowered focus. It capitalizes on embodied, self-soothing experiences ...and takes advantage of the power of “drawing on both sides” to alter one’s own internal rhythms for self-regulation and well-being.” ~ Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, Art Therapist

Lefty Oracle Deck by Kathy Crabbe

Lefty Oracle Card Spread for a Soul Reading by Kathy Crabbe 2

Lefty Oracle Card Spread for a Soul Reading by Kathy Crabbe

To dither or not to dither, that is the question (from the Lefty Oracle Deck) by Kathy Crabbe

Miss Talitha spider-sister (Lefty Oracle Deck) by Kathy Crabbe

I call wrinkles 'god-points' and so far I'm winning (Lefty Oracle Card) by Kathy Crabbe

My desk

Kathy Crabbe Creative Soul Guide in Temecula Wine Country, California

About Kathy

Kathy Crabbe has been an artist forever and a soul reader since awakening her intuitive gifts at age forty.

Kathy lives in sunny Southern California with her architect husband and pet muses, Abby the shaggy black dog and Djinn Djinn, the small scruffy one in an adobe home they built themselves.

To order a Soul Reading please click here.

The Everything Reading: An Intuitive Psychic Reading, Astro Report, Soul Essence Portrait & More!

I just created a brand new Soul Reading that includes a little bit of everything I do and named it The Everything Reading. The Everything Reading includes:

1. A Deluxe Soul Reading valued at $150 2. A Deluxe Astrology Report valued at $50 3. A Soul Essence Portrait & Reading valued at $125 4. Email & phone support & follow up

The Everything Reading is available in  my Etsy Shop.

With the Everything Reading you will receive:

1. A Deluxe Soul Reading

This reading includes:

• A Soul Reading
• A Creative Soul Guidebook
• Email & phone support
• Five bonus gifts

About your Soul Reading

A Soul Reading is an intuitive, channeled reading of your soul’s energy during which Kathy may see, hear, feel or sense your past, present and future lives. Guidance is received from the Divine, your ancestors, and spirit guides in response to your questions. Your reading will include affirmations, action steps, gemstone healing and oracle card guidance.

All you need is within you already. Kathy guides you towards the deep inner wisdom that you already possess. She offers you proven tools, techniques and resources to build your confidence and uncover your passion and purpose based upon her experience giving thousands of readings.

Your Soul Reading includes a three to five page beautifully illustrated ‘book’ or pdf of your life delivered to your email inbox for you to print out and treasure forever.

Suggested issues or questions for your Creative Soul Reading *No more than three questions per reading*

• Work/career
• Life/soul purpose
• Relationships/love
• Healing and health
• Ancestor/mediumship, spirit guidance
• Past lives and karmic issues

Here are some samples of Creative Soul Readings with client comments.

About your Creative Soul Guidebook

Your Creative Soul Guidebook will help you understand and process your Creative Soul Reading and inspire your Creative Soul Life. Your Guidebook includes sixteen beautifully illustrated pages, plus a resources page, and five extra blank pages with hand painted borders for you to continue exploring your creative soul journey on your own.

Your Creative Soul Guidebook includes these topics: Understanding your reading, how to connect with your spirit guides and gemstone guides, how to meditate, practice yoga, journal, and create sacred space.

Support and Follow-Up

Discuss your Creative Soul Reading and Guidebook with Kathy by email or by phone to make sure you understand and benefit from your Reading on a soul-deep level. You will  also receive firm, gentle support, accountability and direction from Kathy in a follow-up Creative Soul Coaching email.

“People like Kathy Crabbe are here to help us with our hearts. An artist and soul reader, Kathy Crabbe shows you where the cracks are and helps us to let the light in.” ~ Christine C. Reed, BlissChick

Bonus Gifts

1. A Creative Soul Bookmark illustrated with one of the Creative Soul cards chosen for your reading.
2. Two downloads: A Creative Soul Journal & The Moon Musing Playsheets
3. Two Astrology Reports of your choice (see below):

• 14 page Goddess Asteroids Report: for greater insight into how you interact with the rest of the world.
• 22 page Friends & Lovers Report: To offer you insights into a specific relationship.
• 12 page Time Line Report: A three month forecast that looks at major events in your life, including monthly highlights.

Cost: $150.00

2. A Deluxe Astrology Report

What you will receive:

1. 1. An Astro Report and a Moon Chart (see above).
2. 2. Your astrological birth chart wheel (pdf) plus links to websites that will help you understand and interpret the symbols and language of your birth chart wheel.
3. Two complimentary reports:

• 14 page Goddess Report to shed new light on important areas of emotion & experience plus greater insight into how you interact with the rest of the world
• 12 page Time Line Report: A three month forecast that looks at major events in your life, including monthly highlights

Your reports, chart wheel and links will be emailed to you within 3-5 days. *This is a great way to introduce yourself to the most important elements of your chart.

Cost: $50.00

3. A Soul Essence Portrait and Reading

A Soul Essence Portrait is a true gift to yourself and a way to discover new facets of your inner being. Discover joy and healing when your inner voice is understood and deeply listened to. This can be a source of inspiration and a reminder of your soul’s beauty and strength.

As a Creative Soul Guide and artist I have been guided to combine my talents in new ways to create your Soul Essence Portrait. You will receive the double benefit of receiving intuitive guidance from a Soul Reading as well as owning a Kathy Crabbe original watercolor painting.

WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE 1. A Soul Essence Portrait: an original watercolor painting created just for you measuring 8x11 inches on acid free 100 lb. paper. 2. A Soul Reading by phone (1 question max). A pdf transcript of your reading is also available for an additional $30. 3. A two page list of the oracle cards and healing stones chosen for your reading plus their meaning and a list of helpful resources. 4. Bonus Gift: a digital file of your head cropped from the original Portrait useful as an avatar or profile photo on Facebook, etc. Please credit me as the artist: Kathy Crabbe.

Please EMAIL ME a photo of yourself, but keep in mind your Soul Essence Portrait may look nothing at all like you; it's your Soul we're dealing with here!

Cost: $125.00

Kathy Crabbe is a Creative Soul Guide, artist, author and educator who has devoted her life to exploring spirituality and creativity with passion and integrity. Kathy empowers soul-seekers to live the life of their dreams through online resources, inspirational art, Divine Feminine eClasses, eBooks, and Creative Soul Readings infused with a rich background in the arts.