I just wanted to let you know that after receiving the reading, something sort of clicked and I have been really happy to feel as though I not only can, but need to pause every day to make sure I am not losing myself in tasks that will never be completed. I think the greatest gift of the reading though, was the feeling that I am growing from one phase of my life into another. It's a process to let go of the need to make myself feel worthy by accomplishing any number of things I set up for myself but I have, on the whole, felt as though it's getting easier and easier. I have also taken to heart the notion of seeing myself as a joyful person instead of just as a responsible person and it's getting easier to do that as well.

I was happy to see that my bookmark was "Jonie, perpetual daisy dreamer" because shortly after I got this reading I pulled out my art journal for the first time in months and made a "dreaming" page :)

~ Jen Swanson

A 1 Question Soul Reading for Jennifer Swanson, June, 2010

*reprinted with kind permission from Jen.

How a Soul Reading Works:

My preferred mode of reading someone's soul-energy is via distance - this allows me to focus on you, your spirit and your guides in a focused way clear of distractions. Each reading involves preparations such as meditation and yoga to help me focus. I will often pull healing stones and a card(s) from one of my four self-designed and painted oracle card decks, but unlike a tarot reading I will not actually look at the card until after your reading is finished. The card imagery and description often serve to accentuate and emphasize certain points in your reading and along with the healing stones may also give you some more tools to work with on your own after the reading is over.

This reading is in response to Jen's question:

How can I start seeing myself as worthwhile because of who I am, not how much I get done?

The very first thing I am drawn to for your reading is an unusual gemstone called Nuumite. This stone instructs me to create a lovely cocoon for you – a place to rest, recharge and rejuvenate – a sacred cave that you can visualize any time you want.

Nuumite can help one to bravely and honestly face the shadow self and find Love in one’s heart for those aspects of self that one has denied, vilified or ignored.

Affirmation: I willingly go into the depths of myself to heal and recover what has been lost, and I achieve self-mastery in so doing.

It’s like you’re constantly weighing out the balance of things and taking a count… ie. this is worth so much and this so much, and so on. It’s like a laundry list (I smell soap!)

But what about joy? The fun heart? The light-hearted you?

For some insight I pull a card from my Lefty Oracle deck and it is called “To dither or not to dither, that is the question."

You allow your workload to bury the joyful, fun, light-hearted part of you.

I suggest working with a lovely starry, blue stone called Lapis Lazuli (or with an image of this stone, more about how to do this is included at the end of your reading) to help you see the bigger picture and to access your Goddess-self.

Lapis Lazuli helps to purge or cleanse souls of a past that is no longer necessary. You are getting prepared for a period of growth and an enhanced understanding of your path and purpose here. You may need to do some soul searching right now.

In ancient Egypt, the deep blue cobalt color of Lapis was revered as a messenger from the heavens. The gold flecks were like the stars in the night-time sky and were regarded as touchstones for truth and light. Lapis draws the mind inward to seek its own source of power, it penetrates rather than heals. Lapis represents going through your own darkness and illusion and your own subconscious, to truly identify with your Goddess Self and it’s flecks of gold symbolize the wisdom that is achieved upon completing this process.

It will not be difficult for you to access higher realms and your higher purpose because you are someone who can do pretty much whatever you set your mind to, right?!

Once you can acknowledge that your higher self, purpose and Joy Self exists then you are ready to access this side of yourself in the best way possible. (This is the first step, now on to the second step.)

To help inspire you I pull a card from my Goddess Zodiac deck and it is called “Aquarius Goddess.”

Aquarius teaches us about independence, detachment and individuality.

Aquarian Challenge: Your purpose is to see the patterns of ideas, networks and human relations. Your challenge is to know what you feel and to build intimacy and collectivity. Although you may need to learn tact, Aquarius offers you a natural political knack, a tribal consciousness and an abstract, iconoclastic soul.

How to get inspired?

By letting go and releasing into a free flowing, natural way of being – not difficult at all. With this release comes an acceptance of your higher purpose.

Just one glimpse and one step into this realm (that is all within you) will shape your vision forever and you can never go back to the old way of being, the way of feeling inferior and overworked and over burdened with too much to do.

You will let go and allow what is heart and soul-important to take precedence - a new you is born within the seeds of the old you.

Pick a good book, filled with inspiration to keep by your side and also a small journal for love – love of you. Be kind to yourself.

I pull another card just for you and it is called “Jonie, perpetual daisy dreamer."

Every way is the right way, because it’s all within you.

Oracle Card Summary:

You tend to get buried in the little things. Aquarius is asking you to expand your horizons in every way possible and to see beyond the mundane world.

Jonie dreams and so too can you, you just need permission and that must come from within.

I’m ending your reading by surrounding you with love, a pure heart, faith and angelic helpers – a whole chorus, to sing you on.

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