My Spiritual Practices

WOW! Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to my blog, what I thought was going to be a short across-town move ended up being 600 miles! Ain’t life grand?

Anyway, recently someone asked me about my spiritual practices. Shoot, I guess I never thought of it in that way, so after some deliberation I decided to write a quick blog post.

So, what are my Spiritual Practices?

Above all, I seek to honor the Earth, all of Nature, all of Creation.

I meditate, but that’s not necessarily a spiritual practice. In particular I do guided meditations, because my brain refuses to quiet sometimes and it’s easier for me to follow along, at least at first. More often than not, I go off on my own to take my own journey, or doze off, or occasionally go out of body.

Lightwork is another facet of meditation to me, at a certain time I make a point to send healing to the world in general or specific situations if I feel called.

Reiki is a method for reaching personal enlightenment, and an energetic healing technique. It’s not associated with any religion, anybody can learn and be attuned.

I practice Shamanic journeying. The drumming puts you into an altered state, so it’s a good idea to have a competent and practiced guide around in case you drift off and start to snore. Also, strange journeys are always possible and it’s good to have a journeying veteran around to talk about it with. The advantage that journeying has for me is that I stay present much more than when I meditate.

Druidry is another way of connecting with Nature, inner knowledge, and higher wisdom. It’s about connecting with both the Ancestors and honoring the Spirit that lives in all things.

The ceremony I do is Native American inspired, but to many it looks like spells in Witchcraft.

Sooooo… are you a witch?

I don’t identify myself as a witch. I do all kinds of stuff, to some that would make me an eclectic solitary witch, but to me, I’m just me. I do my thing, and when I can, I help you do yours.

Let me take a moment to mention the difference between being a witch and being Wiccan. Wicca is a religion, albeit informal. Witchcraft is about practice, not worship. It’s a fine and fuzzy line. One can be either, or both. I don’t necessarily feel like I’m either, though I have a little guided experience with both.

I do identify with what most view as Pagan Gods and Goddesses. To me they are all facets of Great Spirit, the Infinite Light, The God and Goddess.

How does divination fit in to all this?

Before I read or dowse or engage in healing of any kind, I ask for presence and guidance, whether it’s for me or someone else. I allow only beings in alignment with the Infinite Light. If it is necessary to communicate or work with lower vibrational entities it is only done through the Infinite Light.

By the way, I’m also a complete science nerd. Metaphysics is the flip side of quantum physics.

Don’t try to figure me out, it’ll just give you a headache.

Think you want to work with me? cristine@theessenceofspirit.com

Or join me on my email list: www.theessenceofspirit.com/list

And just what do I do?

“Spiritual Life Path Counseling”, what the heck is that?

It is my unique method of combining my particular gifts, healing, and divination to help illuminate and navigate my client’s path.

Wha?

I am psychic medium, a Reiki Master Teacher, and an ordained minister in the Order of Melchizedek. I read cards and runes using both psychic means and mediumship. I divine using pendulums and dowsing rods to search for items and answers.

I do consider myself a medium, as I communicate across the veil with my Spirit Guides, my passed loved ones, and your Spirit Guides, and they often bring through your passed loved ones, but if you’re looking to connect to your late uncle Amos, I’m probably not the reader for you. My specialty is *your* path, connecting you to your highest good.

That said, it’s not unusual for passed loved ones to pop in for a quick “Howdy”.

So how does it work?

Divination (tarot, oracles, runes, dowsing) is helpful in discovering the roots of issues that are arising right now, and can warn against ones that may arise in the future. Mediumship is useful if it’s necessary to communicate with those across the veil to access information that’s not available in this plane. Reiki, Crystal Healing, and Chakra Balancing are good for discovering and dealing with issues on a personal energetic level.

When I work, I do everything, psychic, medium, Reiki, divining. Some people compartmentalize and may do one thing at a time. That’s not wrong, it’s just not how I work. I can’t, my brain doesn’t work that way. I believe it’s all the same energy, we’re all the same energy, not just people or animals or living things, but EVERYTHING.

Ok, so what don’t you do?

What I DON’T do:
Astrology
Angels
Channel
Kiss butt

No disrespect to Astrologers, Channels, or Angels, just not my thing.

If you’re not ready to hear it strait, I’m not your girl. If you’re not ready to dig deep and address your issues, I’m not your girl. If you’re more interested in what you want to hear than what you need to hear, guess what? You got it, ‘not your girl’.

But if you’re ready to start this journey and think we’ll vibe, email me, Facebook me, whatever makes you tingle.

Cristine

So, why should you hire me?

I don’t know, why should you?

Because reasons.

• Not because I was the first reader you came across. (maybe I was, still not a good reason)
• Not because I have “ABC” certifications and have taken “XYZ” classes. (it’s just paper unless you use it)
• Not because I’ve been talking to the dead since I was 2. (OK, maybe not 2… but I did grow up in a haunted house, and have been seeing spirits and hearing animals for as long as I can remember )
• Not because I allege some sort of “hereditary” virtue or special connection to the great beyond. (all I know is it comes from my father’s side)
• Not because I claim to be “internationally known” or “world renowned” or some other grandiose crap. (a Facebook friend from Canada doesn’t count, dangit)

Because experience.

I’ve been reading cards for the general public (not just friends [2000]) since 2009, and have been honored to be included in Shea’s Theater’s Martini Gras for 3 years, and Lily Dale’s Funfest for 4 years. I’ve done hundreds of private readings, dozens of fairs, festivals and expos, and a buttload of parties. Recently I’ve been convinced to start doing gallery mediumship, just to expand my mind and experience, even though it’s not my specialty.

I have been using hands on healing (Angels of the Earth) for about 17 years and attained my Usui Reiki Master Degree in January of 2009. I offer Reiki to both animals and people, and I teach Reiki.

I was Ordained in the Order of Melchizedek by the Sanctuary of the Beloved Church in June of 2013.

I also offer card reading and pendulum dowsing classes.

… And I design kitchens freelance.

Because I’ve been there.

I’ve struggled with the 9-5, working for “Big Corporate” for years, then having my highly skilled position outsourced to a call center (no joke); with having a position I loved more than almost anything in the world, that I didn’t get paid for, and having the people I loved there turn their backs on me for trying to protect their interests; and that one new boss who was terrified that I was going to curse him or some other such bull (I don’t do that, and I don’t believe in it) and buried me in lies and slander to get me fired.

And done that.

I’ve had my share of shitty boyfriends, from the one who was secretly married (but separated) for the 6 years we were together; to the one who was a closet alcoholic and couldn’t leave the house without having a cocktail first; to the one who finally admitted that he was polyamorous after 5 years. (I have no problem with alternative lifestyles, people should be free to love who they love. However, people also need to be completely upfront about who they are and what they expect out of a relationship. Full Disclosure before you get into a relationship, of WHATEVER kind.)

Bought the T-Shirt.

Seven years ago, within a matter of 4 months I had to leave our homestead and subsequently moved four times, often not knowing where I was going to sleep. I seriously considered the unbelievably gut wrenching decision to rehome my furkids. We never felt safe; I was in constant fear of having them put out. Since I was in fear of the landlord or his son coming into the apartment, which they did everyday when I was at work, I never slept there. At the last minute before becoming officially homeless, things fell together thanks to a few very close friends, my cats stayed with me.

And wore it out.

Now I work for myself, reading, healing, teaching, making jewelry. I have an amazing man in my life, we’re going on 5 years this August, and we’re looking into buying a home – with the fur kids.

Hire me because we vibe.

If you’ve gotten this far, we probably will.

Have a question? I’m an open book. Aside from actually writing a fairly boring autobiography, that’s the best way for you to get to know me.

Shoot me an email anytime. Facebook me. Whatever floats your boat. I’m here for you.

Shoot for the Moon!

Cristine

Just who am I anyway?

Yep, so I realized that my WHOLE internet and marketing image did not fit me anymore, honestly, maybe it never did.

I had it exactly the way I wanted it, beautiful and calm and serene. I love the beautiful and sophisticated pages out there with all the Light shining through, and that’s what I was trying to get across, but it’s not me.

Whenever I thought about posting an article or opinion about anything, I began to realize that my ideas just didn’t fit the image that I’d cultivated. As beautiful as that was, it just didn’t reflect who I am.

Sure, I Meditate and Journey. I Reiki and Earth. But I also cuss and get pissed, I’m loud and opinionated, and sometimes obnoxious. (OK, more than sometimes.) That’s human. It’s not about all this “rise above” bullshit, it’s not about banishing thoughts and feelings that people tell you are of a “low vibration”, it’s not about some sort of airy-fairy “I fart rainbows and crap sunshine” schtick. It’s not about walking around with your high-and-mighty nose in the air like your sh*t don’t stink and making others feel like less.

Don’t let yourself be pressured into trying to fit some spiritual mold that just doesn’t fit. Be YOU! YOU are the only one that knows your path, you are the only one walking it, you are the only one who CAN walk it. Read, learn, integrate the best of what you find along the way, but DON’T lose yourself trying to fit ANYONE ELSE’S idea of who you should be!

Don’t get me wrong, there are/were a few genuinely Enlightened beings that have graced this Earth (who they are and what constitutes Enlightenment are not up for debate in this forum), but that’s not what this life is for! It’s for dancing in the rain and making mud pies and sweating and swearing and crying and loving and hurting and starting all over, hopefully wiser.

It’s about BALANCE, it’s about being REAL.

Don’t deny your Shadow, it’s just as much you as anything; who’s to tell you where your shadow ends and your light begins? I you’re not hurting anyone, including yourself, BE IT, DO IT, whatever “IT” is!

Embrace all of you!

That being said, I shall endeavor to shake off the idea of “image” and “marketing” and just be the only thing I can: the real, authentic, messy, ME; and in doing so I hope to help as many people as I can.

From here on, I’ll be on a conscious journey of rediscovery, of revolution, of recreation.

Just so there’s no mistake, I’m a pierced, tattooed, tree hugging, bug loving, animal saving, crazy cat lady, geek, liberal, neo-hippie, flower child, LGBT allied, Earth worshiping, Spiritualist, Pagan, Alpha female Goddess! I like to sleep in and stay up late. I like to sleep in the sun and dance under the moon. I can be your best friend or your worst enemy, so if you don’t like it, **** off!