Irish Dreamer Aquarian Ellen & The Spiral Goddess

Full Moon in Aquarius July 25, 2010 6:36 pm PDT

Spotlight on Irish Artist, Ellen Roche Shop: www.spiralgodess.etsy.com

I am an Aquarian and Jewelry maker. I live in Ireland in the heart of the country with my partner and children. Born in Dublin City into a strict Catholic family that knelt twice daily for prayer there was little talk of star signs or astrology. Although he didn’t speak of it in front of my Mother too often, my father who was also an Aquarian would drop little snippets of fascinating information to us as children. While out walking in the woods or by rivers he would have us searching for fairy folk as he told us of the ancient Irish legends. The first time I ever heard the word Pagan was from my Father. After I learned the story of St. Patrick in school, I was retelling it at the supper table and my father answered, “ Yes, he saved us from the lovely Pagans we were”. I had never heard it said that way; we were always sinners not “lovely Pagans”. That stayed with me and I suppose started my questions at a very early age.

Excerpt from the Irish Fairy tale, The Children of Lir

Finnuala looked down, her long dark hair no longer swirled around her, white feathers grew over her skin and in place of her arms were two white wings. Too frightened to scream she looked to her brothers just in time to see their rosy cheeks disappear into smooth white feathers. Finnuala and her brothers had been turned into Swans...

As I grew I questioned everything about our religion and instead of being home for prayer I would be in the woods or by the river with my feet in it even in the pouring rain, sometimes building dams between stepping-stones to see how the water flowed. I was the ever-inquiring Aquarian water bearer and I refused to conform in my teenage years and stopped going to mass, praying, everything but continued my own spiritual path by being with nature.

One day in my twenties I picked up a book called “The Wiccan Mysteries” and there was my whole life laid out in print! I could not believe it. I read and reread every page, checked every reference. I was so excited at last I had a name for all I believed in. It had always been inside me calling to me and I read book after book. I cried when I read The Descent of the Goddess. I started to meditate and keep a dream diary as my dreams had always been so vivid but I didn’t know why. I went to a Tarot reader who told me one day I would read the Tarot myself and that I wasn’t just dreaming but astral traveling. She pointed me in the right direction and showed me how to control my dreams if I wished. I felt elated and things just seemed to take on a life of their own. At work one day a man came in, a complete stranger and we somehow got to talking about Tarot reading and he told me he was a reader and said that I would one day be a reader, I dismissed the comment but the very next day he came back with the most beautiful deck of Tarot cards along with a book of explanation and a beautiful cloth to keep them in. I couldn’t believe it!  “For when you're ready” he said… I didn’t open them for five years.

In Irish the label reads A Gra Mo Chroi The Love of my Heart

But when I did a whole new world of visions, dreaming and messages opened up. I would read for friends and friends of friends and before I knew it I had regular clients. I continued with my spiritual path and at one stage contacted a coven (very hard to find in Ireland believe me) and while it was lovely to talk with others who held the same beliefs (my Aquarian mind would not be held to rules or regulations) but I also loved to be alone. So, one night, I drove to my favourite spot and in the moonlight, dedicated myself to the Goddess and Universe. I continue to practice as a solitary Pagan.

I dreamt about my partner before I met him and spotted him in a bar and knew it was he. We now live in the country and everything I love most; my family and nature surround me. It’s not easy being a Pagan in Ireland; there is still a lot of suspicion and folklore that surrounds us. Even in this day and age country folk are very strict Catholics and some still believe that Pagan’s worship the Devil, so I don’t broadcast my beliefs, but if anyone is interested I gladly answer questions. While it is not all love and light on any path my beliefs help me cope with every situation.

The name for my shop, The Spiral Goddess came at my darkest hour. About ten years ago, after a personal traumatic situation I meditated and The Spiral Goddess came to me and I came out of the meditation bathed in golden light, full of love and sobbing with relief. It was the most amazing experience so I have called my shop after the Goddess for she inspires me every day.

I love the path I have chosen and writing this is such an affirmation. I wish you many Blessings in love in light..

How To Develop Your Psychic & Intuitive Abilities - Part 1

This blog post was written in response to a question emailed to me by one of my clients. It was such a good question that I thought it deserved a blog post (or 2, or 3)!

Andrea's Question: "Do you have any recommendations about how one should go about furthering their psychic abilities? I've read tarot cards on and off, and seem to have a knack, and then of course there's my natural ability to "read" people. But not necessarily with dates & times and all that predictive stuff"

My Response: I personally like to learn experientially in a hands-on fashion, but my very earliest experiences with the intuitive realms involved private exploration of dreams and dream journaling, astrology, tarot and paganism. I began learning about these things in my early teens and have gone on to develop my natural intuitive abilities (which we all have) with the help of teachers, through group classes, workshops, lectures, books and private sessions with healers and intuitive guides.

Dreams

I started out by working with my dreams and recommend keeping a dream journal by your bed where you can record dreams when you wake up or by setting an alarm clock to wake yourself up at an odd hour to facilitate dream remembrance. Significant dreams will stay with you and resonate for years to come and you will begin to know which dreams are significant with practice. You can also work with lucid dreaming or by asking yourself a question before falling asleep and requesting that the answer come to you in a dream. Often dreams will allow you to re-connect with deceased friends or relatives and sometimes you may astro travel as well.

Recommended books: “Symbols for Self Understanding” by Betty Bethard

Astrology

There is much more to astrology than just your sun sign (determined by the day you were born.) Becoming involved with the study of the planets and stars will expand your awareness on a universal level connecting you with the bigger picture crossing generations and even universes. My own studies in metaphysics began with dreams, then astrology.

Recommended books: “The Only Way To Learn Astrology” (6 Volumes) by Marion March & Joan McEvers, “Planets in Transit” by Robert Hand, “Astrology for the Soul” by Jan Spiller, “The Liquid Light of Sex” by Barbara Hand Clow, “The Changing Sky” by Steven Forrest

Recommended magazine: “The Mountain Astrologer”

Recommended authors & teachers: Steven Forrest, Barbara Hand Clow

Tarot

Tarot decks are a whole world onto themselves and can involve you in an ancient study of images and symbols with mysterious origins. Working with tarot cards has allowed me to access the many realms depicted in the cards. By working with a Pre-Celtic Shamanistic deck called “The Greenwood Deck” I first encountered one of my main spirit guides while meditating upon the Ancestor card.

Recommended books: “Tarot For Yourself” by Mary K. Greer

Paganism & Goddess Worship:

I became involved with the study of paganism and ancient goddess religions when I was at university taking a Women’s Studies class, but was first introduced on a personal level to this topic by a male friend of mine who liked to dress up as Pan on Halloween. I have attended several goddess groups and pagan rituals but prefer to practice my own solitary, eclectic and personal blend of reverence for Mother Earth. Currently I practice Third Celtic Faerie Shamanism and was initiated into this tradition in 2017 by Francesca De Grandis.

Recommended books:”The Language of the Goddess” by Marija Gimbutas (archaeology), “The Motherpeace Tarot” deck and book by Vicki Noble, “The Book of Goddesses & Heroines” by Patricia Monaghan

Recommended authors, teachers & leaders: Starhawk, Szusanna Budapest, COG (Covenant of the Goddess)

This blog post details how I developed my own metaphysical practices and studies and I hope you will expand upon these suggestions in your own personal way. Upcoming posts will delve into: shamanism, energy healing, herbs, mediumship, crystal healing, channeling, psychic work, law of attraction, meditation, yoga and past life regression.

To read more posts about My Psychic Background please click here and for Psychic Development please click here.

Hallowe'en Kick-Off Samhain Seance

I love Hallowe'en because it's the most magickal and mystical time of the year. I can feel it's potency, its power, its drama and its ancient pull upon my Soul. The Ancestors are there and I can't wait to say hello, to honour them, bless them, and see what they have to say. But this year, it's going to be different, because this year I'm sharing it with you!

WHAT IS A HALLOWE'EN SAMHAIN SEANCE?

Hallowe'en or Samhain (Sowen) was originally a Celtic/North European pagan seasonal celebration that marked the halfway point between the Fall Equinox and the Winter Solstice. It was the Celtic New Year and the beginning of the dark half of the year. The veil between the worlds of the living and the dead are thinnest at this time of year and the usual barriers are lifted making it the very best time of year to attempt to make contact with our Ancestors and retrieve ancient knowledge, as well as honour the memories of those who have passed over. Dressing up for Hallowe'en is like a Celtic New Year's Resolution, so have some fun and dress up in a costume that reflects what you would like to achieve or who you would like to be in the coming year.

WHY A (VIRTUAL) GROUP?
Join with me in forming a Virtual Online Samhain Circle on Hallowe'en. By joining together at a specific hour we can increase our strength and powers of perception just by joining forces. Together we will read or listen to the Guided Meditation I will be sending you (via email) and together we will light a candle, burn incense or sage ourselves in preparation for this special Worldwide Samhain Circle. I will be holding energy for the entire group and in cases of unwanted Spirits, all that are unwelcome will be requested to leave at once. Afterwards you are welcome to share your experiences and questions with me, personally, or with the entire group via an email exchange.

FAQ

What can I expect from my Ancestors and how will I know I am hearing from them?

It is a good idea to come prepared with a list of Ancestors you would like to make contact with along with some questions you would like to ask them (to make sure who they are.) The Ancestors will usually show up with a specific message just for you because that is the whole point of them 'coming through' so to speak.

Do these answers from our Ancestors come through via signs, thoughts, voices? Are we able to ask them questions?

It depends on how the person receiving the message will tune in - most times the Ancestor will be seen with the mind's eye, but it is also possible to sense them by hearing them or feeling them as well. Yes, you can question them and you can request that they come closer so that you can see them more clearly.

Do you recommend having photos of them close by?

Yes, photos can be helpful to look at beforehand.

Do we verbally question them out loud or do we say it to ourselves?

Either way is fine - whatever works best for you - you will know what works by how comfortable you feel doing it :)

What was it like the first time for you?

It's hard to remember, because I have been communicating with the Ancestors and Guides for a long time. But the first time I officially did it, in my class - I just stood up in the middle of our circle, closed my eyes and almost immediately saw someone - then I described them and asked specific questions relating to everything about them - the point was to describe the person in enough detail so that someone in our group absolutely, and without a doubt, knew that the person was their for them - we had to give 3 specific pieces of info about them and be right on - then we requested a message from them.

SEANCE SYNOPSIS:

Myself and one virtual friend explored the Realm of the Ancestors together on Hallowe'en day and afterward shared our experiences. C___ experienced all kinds of magical enchantments during her Guided Meditation but unfortunately was not able to connect with her Ancestors. Practicing at a set time and set place on a regular basis will help but sometimes it can take years to make contact. "Practice makes perfect," was my psychic teacher's favorite piece of advice and this still applies even in the nether realms!