Sandra Francis's Blog, page 2

Amazonite: The Go With the Flow Stone

Here’s another stone you might not be familiar with. Amazonite is named after the famous river, because the presence of lead and water in the stone’s composition means it shimmers with different shades of pale green and blue, and catches the light, reminiscent of a river in full flow. It’s serene energy earned it the nickname the ‘Go With the Flow’ stone, as it helps calm turbulent relationships and soothe the mind.

Amazonite is also considered to be a stone of good fortune, resulting in another nickname, the ‘Gambler’s Stone.’ It goes back a long time – Tutankhamun’s famous gold death mask is inlaid with amazonite, and it’s also regarded as a stone for hope and faith in the future. The ancient Egyptians would have seen it as a necessary companion to the pharaoh on his journey into the afterlife. The Amazon warriors are also said to have lined their shields with amazonite to give them hope and strength in battle.

Amazonite inlaid into the death mask of Tutankhamun, almost 4,000 years ago

For those of us in the here and now, Amazonite can help us embrace change and bring our emotions under control, helping us avoid overwhelm. Physically, it aids cell renewal after illness or accident and is helpful to those suffering from joint problems or muscle cramps and spasms. If restless leg syndrome is an issue, try keeping a piece of amazonite on the bedside table. Its tranquil energy will also help you sleep well and banish overthinking. Amazonite can also help you absorb calcium into the body and regulate thyroid problems.

Spiritually, amazonite helps with issues of self-esteem and encourages self care. Its calm energy helps us work towards acceptance of things we can’t change, helping us let go of the ties that bind us to the past. Amazonite is linked to the heart and throat chakras, so it can help us trust again, speak our truth and let love and friendship back into our lives. It’s a real heart opener, helping us to love ourselves just as we are rather than being self-critical.

The mighty Amazon River, after which Amazonite is named

While amazonite and other healing crystals can help with emotional and physical wellbeing, they are not meant to replace conventional treatments. If you experience symptoms that are giving you cause for concern, get checked out by an appropriate health professional. Healing crystals are intended for use as complementary, holistic treatments, and should always be regarded as such.

Amazonite is linked to the heart and throat chakras – blue and green on the image

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Lepidolite: The Grandmother Stone

Lepidolite is not in the top 10 of the best known crystals – in fact it’s probably not even in the top 100, but once you encounter it you’ll be so glad it found its way to you. It’s calming, gentle energy seems to envelop you in a comforting hug, which is why one of its nicknames is the Grandmother Stone. It’s also known as the Peace Stone and the Stone of Transition, and these names give us a clue why we might need lepidolite in our lives.

Natural lepidolite is usually a soft, lilac-grey colour, and when it was first discovered in the mid 19th century, it was called Lilalite. Lepidolite comes from the Greek word lepidos, meaning ‘scales,’ and in fact the natural stone does have the appearance of having scales, like a dragon! It’s quite a soft stone – 2.5 – 3 on the Mohs Scale of hardness, while quartz is 7, and that accounts for the scale-like appearance that prompted its name.

Lepidolite’s name comes from the Greek lepidos, meaning ‘scales.’ The softness of the stone gives it a scaly appearance, rather like dragon scales!

Like all purple stones, lepidolite is good for easing anxiety, but it has the edge on some, because it contains lithium, which is used in antidepressant and calming medications. The levels are safe, but you shouldn’t make infused crystal water with lepidolite for two reasons; it’s a soft stone and can be easily damaged by immersion in water and there’s the risk of other minerals leaching out into the water. Just keep the stone close, where you can see it often and feel its comforting energy.

Because it’s a calming stone, lepidolite is a great stress reliever, and it can help you sleep better if it’s kept in the bedroom. Physically, it promotes the release of dopamine, which tones down the ‘fight or flight’ stress response, lowering the blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease or stroke. It’s also known to boost the immune system and the central nervous system by promoting feelings of tranquility and allowing the body to repair itself and fight infection in the absence of stress.

Lepidolite is excellent for calming anxiety and harmonising the spirit

Lepidolite can also help with hormonal irregularities, such as PMS or menopause symptoms, and because of the lithium in its makeup, it can even relieve and guard against Alzheimer’s and dementia. You know that wonderful feeling of calm that descended on you as a child when you were wrapped in a big Grandma hug? Lepidolite is pretty good at restoring that calm, contented energy!

Lepidolite is excellent for helping you accept and embrace change rather than resisting it, which is why it’s known as the Transition Stone. It can help you deal with grief and trauma, and cut ties with the past so you can live more in the present moment. If you need help with accepting change and moving on, hold your lepidolite in your non-dominant hand and set the intention for it to help you heal from trauma and let go of the past so you can enjoy the present, because that’s all that really matters. We can’t change the past, so we shouldn’t dwell there, and we don’t know what the future holds, so it’s pointless worrying about it!

While lepidolite and other healing crystals can help with emotional and physical wellbeing, they are not meant to replace conventional treatments. If you experience symptoms that are giving you cause for concern, get checked out by an appropriate health professional. Healing crystals are intended for use as complementary, holistic treatments, and should always be regarded as such.

Lepidolite helps you let go of what no longer serves you and accept change

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Party with the Angels? What’s that about?

If you’ve picked up one of my leaflets at one of the events I’ve attended or checked out my Facebook Page, or the home page on this website, you’ll have noticed I do group events called Party With the Angels. Briefly, this happens when a group of friends get together for two or three hours of relaxation and fun, as we get to know the Angels better, work with our energy, and find out more about ourselves. What does it entail? Let’s talk about a recent one I held near my home in Algorfa.

My beautiful friend and mentor Sam, also known as Yoga Wellbeing Coach, asked if I would do an Angel Party for some of her yogis. Normally, this would be for a group of 4 – 6 people, plus the host, but Sam had 10 ladies interested so I said I’d accommodate everyone, but we wouldn’t be able to include the usual short card reading for each person. The normal activities of the party can take up to an hour and a half, before we get to readings, so even a 10 minute reading per person would have had us going for about 4 hours!

Tea and carrot cake before the fun starts!

We all arrived to a fabulous welcome of tea and carrot cake, and while the ladies settled down in the beautiful energy of the flower and crystal circle Sam had created, I laid out crystals and other spiritual goodies for them to browse before they left. One ingredient of my Angel Parties is talking about crystals and tuning into and using their healing energy, and people are often inspired to choose crystals to take home to work with.

I like to get everyone into the best energy condition possible, so they can fully enjoy the experience, so after introducing myself, and making a few jokes to raise a laugh and raise the energy, I start the session with a Cord Cutting Visualisation. You can read more about that here, but briefly, it helps people let go of the past so they can live more in the moment. When we’d discussed the visualisation and I’d answered any questions that had arisen, it was time for the first card reading.

As the visualisation involved Archangel Michael, I encouraged each guest to choose a card from Radleigh Valentine’s Archangel Michael Sword of Light Oracle. Many of the ladies were surprised – or even gobsmacked! – to see just how accurate their card was, and how it related to what we’d just done and what had arisen for them, but I wasn’t! I know that, however the cards are chosen, they will highlight what each person needs to know or work on right now, and offer confirmation, guidance and reassurance.

Enjoying the sociability and spiritual power of the circle

Next it was time for the chakra clearing visualisation. The group was pretty familiar with the chakras, being yogis, and as Sam had been working on opening up the heart chakra during the week’s classes, I promised we’d work some more on that once we had all the chakras cleared, cleansed and aligned. Everyone enjoyed this visualisation, and felt better for it, but I think what went down best was actually being able to see the difference in their energy, before and after clearing! Working with energy is largely a trust thing, because you can’t see it, but by using a pendulum, you can see the difference between a blocked chakra and a free flowing one. Read more about that, and find the chakra clearing visualisation here.

A couple of the ladies felt a bit ‘spaced out’ after this, including Sam, whose chakras were already in pretty good shape from her teaching anyway, so I used the opportunity to demonstrate a grounding visualisation. That’s the thing with my Angel Parties – we work with what arises, there’s no fixed formula. That means each event is unique, and personalised to the guests, making it fun and beneficial for everyone, including me!

After so much energy work, we needed a little break to top up on water and relax for a while, then it was time for the second card reading of the afternoon. This time, I used Radleigh Valentine’s Archangel Power Tarot deck. Angel Tarot cards have the same structure as regular Tarot decks, but I find they are easier for clients to follow, and also less threatening for those who associate some Tarot cards with doom and gloom. Again, everyone was amazed by the appropriateness of their cards and the accuracy of the information that came through for them.

It’s good to browse crystals and ask for advice in a calm, friendly environment

Finally, now everyone’s energy was in great shape and they had a good idea of how they needed to navigate any challenges that were happening in their lives, we worked on opening up our heart chakra, making it easier to give and receive love and be kind and compassionate to others. The heart chakra – Anahata in Sanskrit – is located in the area of the heart, in the middle of the body. It’s the seat of happiness, grief and anger, and when it’s balanced, it has an infinite capacity for sending and receiving love, so it’s important to keep it in good shape and avoid stress and upset. This beautiful visualisation allows you to connect with and send love to anyone, on the Earth plane or in Spirit, and it can also be used for forgiveness.

There, then, is a guide to what happens when you and your friends decide to Party With the Angels. It’s fun, it’s uplifting, it’s informative and it’s sociable. The great thing is, everyone leaves feeling so much better than when they arrived, and there’s no hangover to deal with either! Follow the links to try out the visualisations for yourself, and if you’d like to host an Angel Party yourself, get in touch and we’ll talk about your requirements. Love and blessings.

Image credits: Sam Biddles, Yoga Wellbeing Coach

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DIY Chakra clearing: a quick, simple visualisation

It’s fabulous to receive a chakra clearing from an energy worker. It’s so relaxing and at the same time energising, I call it spring cleaning for the soul, because you really do feel so much better after it. It’s also possible to clear your own chakras, as this article explains. There’s also a quick visualisation you can use any time you feel a bit jaded. I use this at Angel Parties, so the guests are in the best energetic space for the experience, and I’m sharing it here with you. It’s not one of my own visualisations, it’s something a friend used when she gave me my first-ever chakra clearing, and it’s very effective.

As I’ve mentioned previously, in my book, The Soul Cave, chakras are invisible energy centres, usually thought of as wheels, since the word itself derives from the Sanskrit word for ‘wheel’ or ‘circle.’ In this visualisation, I use the wheel concept to spin, clear and cleanse the chakras. It’s a really simple visualisation that anyone can do, whether they are experienced in energy work or not.

When I conduct chakra balancing sessions, I use crystals, an energy generator and various visualisations. I also bring in Archangels and spirit guides for a profound experience that leaves the client relaxed and feeling lighter and more positive. It’s a fabulous experience, and the good news is, you can recreate it at home.

Crystals aligned for chakra clearing

You don’t even need to use crystals, although they do serve to raise the energetic vibrations, focus your intent, and give you an idea of where you should be directing the energy flow during the visualisation. This is how it works.

Visualisation for clearing and aligning the 7 main chakra centres

As with any spiritual practice, it pays to be in a state of relaxation before you begin, so take the time to breathe in through the nose for a count of three, hold for three, then exhale through the mouth for three. Do this 3 – 5 times, then follow these simple instructions.

A pendulum is a visible energy check, before and after chakra clearingCheck your energy by holding a pendulum above each chakra in turn. If they are blocked, the pendulum will hardly move. If the energy is flowing freely, it will swing around in a circle. The lower, more physical chakras are more likely to be blocked than the higher ones, but you need to align all the chakras together for best results.Place each of the crystals alongside the relevant chakras. The positions don’t need to be precise, as long as they are in the general vicinity of the chakra centres. Not sure where they are? This article will explain.Close your eyes, and visualise the root chakra as a red wheel. Imagine it turning clockwise, in a steady spin. When you have achieved the desired effect, do the same with an orange wheel representing the sacral chakra, but keep the momentum going with the root chakra, so they spin in alignment.Repeat this process through all the chakras – solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, crown – allowing 30 seconds to a minute for each one. Imagine that you are building a spinning pole, similar to an old-fashioned barber’s pole, using the traditional colours of the chakras for each wheel, all the way up through your torso. (see the bottom of the page for an illustrated colour guide to the chakras)Once all 7 chakra wheels are steadily spinning in alignment, slow down the process by reversing the spin so the wheels are now travelling anti-clockwise.Wait until your body feels normal again, and the wheels are no longer spinning. Come slowly back into the room, then take a drink of water to ground yourself. If you’re still feeling a bit spaced out, use this grounding exercise to return your energy to normal.Now check the energy in each of the chakra points with the pendulum once more. You should see a marked improvement, and you will feel relaxed and lighter. Repeat this ritual whenever you feel your energies need clearing to flow more readily.

You can use this visualisation for yourself, guide others through it, or even do a simultaneous chakra balancing with your partner or a friend. Lie on the floor or the bed, and set out the crystals between you before beginning the visualisation and leading your companion through it with you. You’ll find the increased energy levels will benefit each of you, and it’s a great way to strengthen your soul connection.

I hope this visualisation will help you connect with your energy on a deeper level than ever before. Let me know how you get on – I’d love to know. Love and blessings.

Chakra colours, left to right: Red, root chakra, orange, sacral, yellow, solar plexus, green heart, blue, throat, indigo, third eye, violet, crown chakra

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A visualisation for sending love and forgiveness

This beautiful visualisation was channelled to me by Archangel Chamuel, as I was reading for a lady who was desperately missing her family back in the UK. It helped her connect with them and lessened the pain of separation, and it can help you connect with your heart centre and send love to anyone, living or in Spirit – even yourself, if your self esteem is low, or you’ve been unnecessarily hard on yourself, or super critical of your choices!

It’s a versatile visualisation that can also be used to send forgiveness for those who have wronged you, and it can be done at any time, in just a few moments. I guarantee you will feel so much better after using this, for whatever reason.

Sending love and forgiveness helps open up the heart chakraFirst make sure that you won’t be disturbed for a while and then sit comfortably with your eyes closed and feet resting on the floor. Relax and place your right hand over your heart.Now visualise a small pinprick of pink light, focused like a laser beam, under the palm of your hand.See it grow slowly and spread until it fills your whole torso. You may begin to feel warmer or sense that your hand is lifting away from your heart. Don’t resist these feelings, flow with them.Visualise the pink light expanding out of your body and surrounding you like an aura. Rest in this warm feeling for a few moments.Who do you want to send love to? It could be anyone, living or in the spirit world, or it could be a group of people. It may be a family member or a friend. It may even be someone whom you wish to forgive for past hurts. See them standing in front of you, neither too close nor too far away, and spend a few moments observing them, being thankful for their presence.Now, gently and deliberately expand your surrounding aura of pink light so that it also includes this person. See them wrapped in the light and connected to you, and enjoy the peaceful feeling that comes with this.When you feel ready, begin to draw the pink light back from the other person, so that first it surrounds your own body again and then grows smaller until it’s back to the original pinprick of energy you started with. Whenever you do energy work, remember to return your energy to the starting place.Let your hand come to rest, then open your eyes and come back to the present moment. Allow a few minutes for the energy to settle before moving your limbs. Take a drink of cool water to help rebalance your energy.

Using this visualisation for forgiveness

Archangel Chamuel helps us to send love to ourselves and others

True forgiveness is an act of love, and to forgive someone and let go of the past, you need to send love to them. Obviously this is more difficult than sending love to those close to you, but it can be done, with practice! Remember forgiveness is a gift to yourself, and it doesn’t mean you condone the behaviour of the person you need to forgive. It will help you to release any residual anger and bitterness, allowing you to live in joy in the present moment.

Follow the steps above, and when you have surrounded the person or people needing forgiveness with the pink light of love, send this thought, or something of your own devising or choice:

It’s over, I forgive you, I move forward with love

Repeat this thought three times, as this amplifies the power of your intention. If you find it difficult to send love to those who have wronged you, try again another time. If you really want to move forward with grace and growth, you will manage it!

You can find this visualisation, along with others exclusively channelled to me through the Angels, in my book, The Soul Cave. Follow the link to read extracts and order your copy.

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Cutting Energetic Cords with Archangel Michael

I’m blessed to enjoy a close connection with the Angels, and sometimes they channel a visualisation or meditation through for me to use to help people overcome their challenges and shift their energy to a more positive perspective. This particular visualisation was given to me by Archangel Michael during the first Covid 19 lockdown, while I was talking to a friend in business who was very concerned about the restrictions and how it would impact on both their business and their personal life. I talked them through it on the phone as I received the channelling, and they said it left them feeling less fearful and much more positive. Next day, they told me they’d had the best night’s sleep since lockdown was first announced!

Archangel Michael is the Angel of Protection and Justice, and one of his functions is to help us cut energetic cords from people and situations that bind us to the past. If we accept that everything is energy, then everything we think and do must leave trails that keep us attached to whatever has happened in our lives. Some of these attachments are welcome, while others are not, as they prevent us from moving on from anything that no longer serves us.

This visualisation can help you detach from anything that may be keeping you anchored in the past, and it will leave you feeling lighter and happier, as you are effectively parcelling up the negative influences in your life and separating yourself from them. This can help you see things from a clearer perspective, which is a vital part of processing hurt, accepting what can’t be changed, healing and moving on. Use this visualisation whenever you find impressions from the past intruding and stealing your joy in the present moment.

A representation of Archangel Michael, coloured and mounted by meMake yourself comfortable, in a chair or lying down, as you prefer, and close your eyes. You should be completely relaxed before you begin this visualisation.Now imagine you have a ball of black modelling clay in your hands. It’s quite small, but as you roll it around, see yourself adding layers by transferring all your concerns to the ball, and seeing it grow larger. This can be people, places, situations past and present -in fact anything that’s stealing your joy and preventing you from living in the present moment. When you feel that everything that’s worrying you has now been added to the ball, make a final layer from any subconscious worries and triggers you can’t even bring to mind.Attach a string to the ball. It doesn’t matter how long or short it is, or what it’s made from, it will be exactly right for your purpose, so don’t worry about it – just know it is there.Hold the end of the string between your thumb and forefinger, and cup the ball containing everything that no longer serves you in the palm of your hand. Fling it as hard and as far as you can, and watch as it goes out of sight.Because you are still attached to the ball via the string, it comes bouncing back towards you, very fast. Don’t worry, it’s all part of the process, and it’s not going to hit you.Now call on Archangel Michael to step forward with his Sword of Light and cut through the energetic cords represented by the string in your hand. See the sword – which is a bit like Darth Vader’s Light sabre, but used for good, rather than evil – slice through the cord with one blow.Once again, watch the black ball move out of your sight. Interestingly, now Archangel Michael has severed the energetic cords, it has no power or strength, and drifts aimlessly out of sight. And it isn’t coming back.Thank Archangel Michael for his help. You may feel a comforting presence, like a hug, around your shoulders. If you don’t, don’t worry, just trust that he is there, because you called on him for help.When you feel ready, bring yourself back to the here and now and open your eyes. If you want to take some time to meditate or reflect on your visualisation, now is the best time, while it’s all fresh in your mind.These cards, from Radleigh Valentine’s Sword of Light Oracle Card deck, perfectly sum up the benefits of cutting energetic cords regularly to let go of the past and take back your power

After any sort of energy work, such as meditation or visualisation, it’s important to take a drink of water, to restore your body’s natural balance. Remember that visualisations are not something you do once and then tick off that box. You will need to do this regularly, whenever you feel overwhelmed or tied to the past.

You can find this visualisation, along with others exclusively channelled to me through the Angels, in my book, The Soul Cave. Follow the link to read extracts and order your copy.

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Experiencing Yoga Nidra for the first time: Everyone should try this!

When my good friend and yoga teacher Sam Biddles, AKA Yoga Wellbeing Coach, offered me a Yoga Nidra session, I jumped at the chance – even though I had no idea what it was! However, I’m never going to turn down something that’s good for my physical and emotional energy, and Sam was so enthusiastic about it, I was soon off to her studio with my yoga mat and moons and stars cushion in the back of the car.

This article is all about my experiences during my first Yoga Nidra session but if, like me, you want to know more about it, and what it can do for you personally, check out Sam’s excellent blog post here. As well as explaining the practice in simple terms that everyone can understand, Sam shares the challenges and heartache she endured over almost a decade which resulted in her suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She had no idea how to deal with it without resorting to chemical assistance, and that was the last thing she wanted to do.

Yoga Nidra, also called Sleep Yoga, does not involve poses or movement

After just a few sessions of Yoga Nidra, Sam rediscovered her zest for life and vowed to train as a yoga teacher herself so she could introduce family, friends and neighbours to the benefits of all types of yoga. She spent a month of intensive training in India, and now offers a range of different yoga classes in and around Algorfa, on Spain’s Costa Blanca.

I must say my initial enthusiasm for Yoga Nidra began to evaporate a bit when Sam explained that I would spend the next hour lying on the floor, but definitely NOT going to sleep! I could see several problems with this. For a start, I live with Lupus, an autoimmune condition similar to Rheumatoid Arthritis which also affects the organs. Getting down on the floor is a challenge, staying there for an hour without discomfort was likely to be impossible, and staying awake when I was in the midst of a bad Lupus flare and chronic fatigue meant I fell asleep as soon as I sat down or lay down seemed little more than a pipe dream. It was about as likely to happen as winning the Euromillions Rollover or stunning Simon Cowell with my version of Lyin’ Eyes and snagging myself a recording contract and world tour!

Still, I’m nothing if not positive – most of the time – so I just got down there and waited to feel uncomfortable. That was the first revelation. As soon as I was settled, Sam began to guide me through the session. As she encouraged me to bring awareness to every part of my body and acknowledge it but not focus on it, I felt more and more relaxed and comfortable, as if I was sinking into a beautiful mattress, specially designed to support and caress every inch of my body. And I found no difficulty in staying conscious, because I found I really needed to hear Sam’s voice, connecting me to my very soul, and my deepest needs.

Yoga Wellbeing Coach Sam Biddles, taking a class out in Nature in Algorfa

If you know me well, or if you’ve read my book The Soul Cave, you’ll know that I, too have spent a lot of time and energy healing from my own traumas. As an energy worker, I know that there’s always something more to heal from and release, but I didn’t expect to be releasing as much as I did during the Yoga Nidra session. I experienced a vision of small, bean-shaped entities with human characteristics such as eyes, hands and arms climbing from my chest, in the area of the heart chakra. Seeing this written down, it looks scary but it really wasn’t. It was like I was giving myself permission to release what I needed to, and I was happy that it was happening.

This was followed by the most beautiful display of colours – green, purple and gold – sweeping through my body, lightening it, lifting the energy, deepening my spiritual connections. According to this article, and many experts, seeing colours during meditation is a sure sign that you are connecting at a deep level with your own energy system. Seeing shades of purple means you’re accessing your intuition and and external spiritual connections, or more simply, your connection with the Universe. Yellow shows you’re accessing your personal power and confidence, and green is linked to the heart chakra, empathy and kindness. It’s also the colour of physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

Quite simply, my Yoga Nidra session was so intense and beautiful I didn’t want it to end. Of course, every experience will be different, and mine was informed and enhanced by my psychic and energy work. That said, the benefits of deep relaxation, peace of mind and relief from physical and emotional pain are readily accessible to everyone. Yoga Nidra is also called Sleep Yoga, and although you are not actually asleep, your body is able to access that state of restorative rest where cell repair and renewal can happen, and the effects begin immediately and last for several days.

You may see many colours during a Yoga Nidra Session. Image credit Pixabay

At the end of the session, rather than needing the help of a chair or a wall to rise from my yoga mat, I was able to literally unfold gracefully to a standing position. The first thing I noticed was that I had no stiffness at all, despite spending an hour motionless on the floor with just a yoga mat, a cushion and a rolled towel behind the knees for support.

However, the most astounding thing for me was that for the first time in more than 30 years, my entire body was pain free. Since my Lupus diagnosis, I have never spent a day pain free, although most of the time it’s well managed. They say what can’t be cured must be endured, and after living with Lupus for so long, my pain threshold has increased considerably and most days pain doesn’t stop me living a happy life or impact negatively on me.

This totally pain free state continued for several days after the session, and my energy levels were higher than I’d experienced since early October, when I contracted a severe respiratory infection. Living with Lupus means even an ordinary cough or cold can wipe me out for weeks or even months, so it was a wonderful gift to enjoy these days free from pain, with high energy levels.

Yoga Nidra can help you cope with physical and emotional pain without the need for medication. Image credit Pixabay

Perhaps the greatest gift though was the intense strengthening of my spiritual connection. I’m told I’m very good at reading people’s energy and accessing higher wisdom from Spirit, and I suppose I must be, or people wouldn’t keep coming to me and recommending me to their friends. However, in the days following my Yoga Nidra session it seemed like my psychic connection switched up a gear.

The following day, at a very busy and noisy birthday party for a friend, the late father of the person I was sitting next to came through with comforting messages for his son. It turned out that the son – who I don’t know well enough to know any details of his life – had just been thinking how much his father would have enjoyed the evening. Clearly I picked up on that, and the father was able to communicate with his son through me.

Some of you might be thinking, ‘So what? You’re a psychic, it’s what you’re supposed to do!’ However, it’s very difficult in a noisy, busy setting for Spirit to come through and for people like me to communicate with them and pass on messages accurately. That manifestation, together with all the other beautiful benefits, convinces me that I want Yoga Nidra in my life from now on.

If reading this has piqued your interest in Yoga Nidra, check out the opportunities where you live. Remember to ask to see the teacher’s qualifications, to be sure your experience will be as safe and fulfilling as mine was. And if you’re local to Algorfa, contact Sam and ask about having a Yoga Nidra session in your home or in her studio. You can contact her through her Facebook Page, website for more details. Namaste.

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My Marley Moment when Luna showed me everything was gonna be alright!

Remember the Bob Marley song Three Little Birds, and the message ‘Every little thing is gonna be alright?’ Well, a couple of days ago, I had my own Marley Moment, and it was Luna, along with another three little birds, who delivered my own much-needed message that everything would indeed be alright. Before I tell you about it, here’s some essential background information on what’s been happening in my world recently, and why that message mattered so much to me.

Generally speaking, 2023 was my best year in a long time. I finally feel I’ve healed from the traumas of recent years, I’m happier than I’ve been for ages, and my first book, The Soul Cave, has been very well received. More importantly, feedback shows it’s helping people heal from their own challenges, just as writing it was critical to helping me forgive, heal and move forward with my life. I’m much more positive and relaxed, and I live in the present moment, rather than harking back to the past or worrying about what may be around the corner.

I’ve put in the work and I’m reaping the rewards, practically and energetically. That’s why what happened to me at the end of December came as a real shock to the system. It started at the beginning of the month, when I had a problem with hot water. I didn’t have any, and when a savvy friend came around to check it out, it soon became apparent that the reason I didn’t have any hot water was I didn’t have any gas, and I didn’t have any gas because I didn’t have a gas meter!

It’s a long story for another time and place but briefly, when we were transferred to natural gas several years ago, the company never filed the direct debit, so we were never charged. We never received a bill, or any communication other than the original contract, and it only came to a head when another company took over from the original one. The account was in my late husband’s name, and they insisted they needed to speak to him, even though they would need a medium to do so!

My late husband Tony. Although I have accepted his loss, the gas company were unable to!

Because I had no bills, I couldn’t set up another supplier. I’m not trying to get out of paying for the gas I’ve used, but the original company, and the one that took over, don’t exactly fill me with confidence. It would be another 5 weeks before I was finally reconnected, so most of December and the beginning of January consisted of either braving a cold shower or counting on the kindness of friends for a hot one, but at least I had water, so I was grateful for that.

Then a few days after Christmas, late on Friday afternoon before everything closed for the New Year weekend, I was presented with a €400 water bill for the final quarter of the year; it’s usually around €50, so clearly I had a leak. Until the following Tuesday, it was a case of filling up buckets, bowls and jugs then switching off the water at the mains. Could things possibly get any worse? What do you think!

Christmas 2023 is the first I’ve ever spent alone in my 71 years, as my friend Glenys, who house shared with me here in Spain, decided to return to the UK due to health issues. December was a busy month for me, and I decided to spend Christmas and New Year at home with my dog Luna. I needed to rest and recharge, and she’d been left alone at home more than usual, so she deserved some quality time with Mum.

I thoroughly enjoyed Christmas Day. I took Luna for a walk to one of our favourite bars to enjoy drinks with friends, then went home and cooked a turkey dinner for two, after which I settled in front of the TV with Luna by my side, gently snoring and not-so-gently farting. Maybe I should have stuck to regular dog food for her!

Not Luna, but this was what she was doing on Christmas Day on the couch!

I had the same game plan for New Year’s Eve, but when I got up, I could hardly put my right foot to the floor. Some years ago the doctor told me my knee would need replacing eventually, and it looked like eventually had showed up now. It meant I couldn’t go for the planned walk and sociable afternoon with Luna, and while I’m happy with my own company and wasn’t bothered about going out to see in the New Year, being forcibly confined to barracks is very different to choosing to stay at home.

I saw in 2024 through a curtain of tears; even the London fireworks, an hour after our Spanish New Year didn’t lift my mood. Ah well, I thought, at least I have an evening out to look forward to on New Year’s Day. I was going with friends to see a Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison tribute act, and we were going to really make an evening of it to celebrate the dawn of a shiny, untouched New Year. Then on the morning of January 1, my friends cancelled. They’d only recently recovered from Covid, and didn’t feel up to venturing out on a cold night, especially as they had an early flight to catch the following day. Cue even more tears!

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I am generally a very positive person, and will find the good in the direst of situations, but my energy was at rock bottom. And I was full of self-blame for feeling that way. Nothing that had happened over the previous month could have been avoided, nor was it anyone’s fault. People get ill, mistakes happen, plans have to change. Then I decided I had to pull myself up, because after being mostly happy and positive, I didn’t like feeling this way.

Even the New Year fireworks couldn’t lift my energy!

I came up with a short list of three or four friends who might be able to make the evening at short notice, and I knew I was on the right track when the first person I called said she’d be delighted to join me. We had a great evening, and she encouraged me to talk about how I felt and why. She said I was always there for other people, so it followed that sometimes I needed someone to confide in myself. I came home feeling better than I had for days, but I was still concerned about how much extra money I’d have to find over the next few weeks, as well as the normal bills.

I asked the Angels for guidance, and when I woke up the next morning, I knew what I was going to do. I had a beautiful Turkish gold necklace and matching bracelet, studded with tiny rubies and diamonds, that my husband had bought for me 25 years previously. I wore it quite a lot in the UK, but it’s a bit dressy for life in Spain. The only time it’s seen the light of day in recent years is at my 70th birthday party almost two years ago, so I decided to sell it rather than leaving it in a drawer for the family to inherit when I pass to Spirit. It’s not the sort of thing any of them would wear, so I might as well use it to lighten my load now.

I had a ball park figure for what I expected to get, so I was delighted when I was offered almost double that amount. I ended up getting almost as much as it cost, and I’ve had the pleasure of owning it and wearing it for all these years. My Attitude of Gratitude was well and truly back where it belonged!

Within a week, I had my water restored and the gas reconnected. And it turns out I may not be responsible for paying for the repairs and the excess water consumption as the leak was on community property, not my own. That brings us nicely up to date and the Marley Moment.

Every morning, when I get out of bed, I sit on the side while I ground and protect my energy for the day and give gratitude for a new dawn. So many people don’t enjoy that privilege, and grounding and gratitude make a fabulous start to every day. I call it my spiritual breakfast, and Luna often sits by my side, waiting patiently for her morning treat.

When I opened my eyes, Luna was relaxed, but her head was moving. She was clearly watching something, but there were no raised hackles. I followed her gaze to the tree opposite the window, to find she was closely watching – you guessed it – three little birds!

Three little birds in a tree in winter, just like in my garden a few days ago

Normally such a sight would have immediately propelled Luna outside, amid a flurry of barking, to ‘play’ with the birds, who of course would promptly head off to another, safer tree in a different garden. However, on this day, she was content to observe, her head and eyes following every movement. Then she did the most magical thing. She turned and looked deep into my eyes as if to say, ‘Are you watching Mum? Isn’t this just wonderful?’

At that moment, I felt such a deep, soul-to-soul connection with my beautiful girl, the dog formerly known as Luna-tic because she was so manic. I knew I’d received a message of some sort, I just couldn’t work out what it was, and it didn’t really matter, because all I needed to know was that I felt absolutely wonderful. My energy was high, and I felt an extra special connection to Luna. It felt like everything would be okay, and when I shared the story with a close spiritual friend later, he agreed.

My friend went further, saying it was a sign from Spirit to trust that everything would work out as it was meant to. I didn’t feel I could write about it straight away, although I knew I needed to, as I felt it would be helpful to lots of my readers too.

My spiritual friend Rai, who identified the message from Spirit. He and Luna are great friends

I just felt something was missing from the story. And as I started to write today, because I felt if I left it any longer I might forget some of the detail, I made the final connection. I saw three birds, and I realised everything was okay again. So that was my Marley Moment, and I have Luna to thank for it. She’s taught me so much; patience, tolerance, the power of unconditional love, and now she’s taught me that nothing is more important than living in the moment and trusting that life is working out exactly as it should.

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Happy Anniversary Dad: My mentor from beyond the grave!

November 21, 1968 is a day that will forever be engraved on my soul. It’s the day, 55 years ago, that my father passed, suddenly and unexpectedly from a brain haemhorrage. He’d cheated death twice before, once after surgery when I was just three years old and again in 1966 when a routine medical found advanced tuberculosis.

In a cruel twist of fate, less than 24 hours earlier, he’d been given a clean bill of health by his consultant, and told he could return to work, running our fish and chip shop with my Mum. When he woke with a blinding headache soon after 7.00 am that morning, we put it down to the overenthusiastic celebrating he’d indulged in the night before, but before we could bring him aspirin and water, he was dead.

I was just 16 years old at the time, and it was a dreadful shock. My Dad was my champion, defending me to his mother when she called my mini skirt – which to be fair, was more like a wide belt – indecent. He wasn’t that enthusiastic himself, but he told Gran I looked lovely and he was proud of me. He refused to send me to change before I went to the local Wednesday hop with my friends.

A very mini mini skirt – similar to the one that scandalised my Gran all those years ago!

The previous Christmas, when Mum had sent me to bring back Dad and his brothers and nephews from the pub for lunch, he’d brought me a Babycham because I was his favourite daughter. Well, his only daughter, but he was under the influence at the time. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been standing on the table singing The Lonely Goatherd from The Sound of Music, complete with impressive yodels. Now that fun and zest for life was snuffed out, at the heartbreakingly early age of 49.

Those who know me will tell you that I inherited that sense of fun and love of life, as did my younger brother and the grandchildren he never met on this side of life, but it wasn’t the only legacy my beloved father left behind. My father was responsible for one of my first spirit contacts, and in the last few years, he has been a consistent support from beyond the grave. He is now my spiritual gatekeeper, and is a source of wisdom and comfort.

My brother (centre) and me with Dad, Blackpool, probably 1958. We’ve both inherited Dad’s sense of humour and zest for life, even though we’ve lived most of our lives without him.

Just a few days after his passing, Dad came to me in a dream with two other gentlemen, one of whom I recognised as my maternal grandfather, who had passed five years previously. The other I assumed to be my father’s father, who passed to Spirit before I was born, and Dad confirmed this. He said they had all come to reassure me that although Dad had been on his own when his body gave up on the struggle for life, his father and father in law accompanied him to the other side of life, so he didn’t travel alone. He also said he was now happy and free from pain, and he wanted me to remember him as he was, rather than the trauma of that final morning.

Over the years, I often found myself thinking ‘What would Dad do?’ when I faced difficult choices or navigated challenges, and it seemed as if the answer just came to me, either instantaneously or within a few hours. I believed then, and I know now, that Dad was indeed advising and encouraging me from the other side of life.

Fast forward to 2018, and I was facing a very difficult time as my husband progressed through his final illness, which brought violent mood swings in its wake. By now, I had turned to meditation and spirituality in an effort to achieve peace of mind, and had also completed a psychic development course. This caused me some much-needed hilarity one night when I came home from a session. Tony, my husband didn’t believe in what I was doing, and asked if I’d been ‘Talking to Daddy.’ Quick as a flash, I replied, ‘Yes, and he says he’s looking forward to meeting you next week!’

Tony was having trouble coming to terms with his own mortality, so it was a bit of a low blow on my part. In my defence, though, I am almost certain Dad put that thought in my head. It was the sort of thing he’d have come out with in life! Then again, I am definitely my father’s daughter, so perhaps the put down was mine after all.

Senior Service, Dad’s favourite cigarettes. Their distinctive aroma announced his presence in the early days of my spiritual development

When I first started to read oracle and angel cards at development circle, I was very nervous when it came to my turn, but all of a sudden, I smelled tobacco, but not just any old tobacco, it was the distinctive, pungent aroma of Senior Service, the cigarettes he smoked. I thought I was imagining it, as it was a no smoking house, but other members of the circle could also smell it, and that gave me the confidence to go on and read the cards. I’ve never looked back since, and reading cards is a big part of my work today.

Like many people starting on their spiritual path, I tended to wonder if I was really sensing things or if it was wishful thinking, but because others picked up the same aroma, it gave me confidence that I was truly connecting with Spirit, and it wasn’t my imagination. These days, I recognise Dad’s energy as soon as he comes through, but in those early days of my development, he would announce his arrival with the tobacco and a hand on my shoulder, which was a gesture I remembered from childhood.

In 2018, on the 50th anniversary of Dad’s passing, I felt the need to go to the local spiritualist church. Sure enough, Dad came through for the medium, and told me everything was going to be okay, although I had some difficult times to navigate through over the next few months, and I’d have to make some tough choices if I wanted to be happy again. He was right – less than four months later, my dog Paddy was killed in front of me with a knife that was meant for me during one of my husband’s mood swings. For my own safety, I had no choice but to leave my husband, and in April 2020, he passed to Spirit and finally found peace.

Perhaps the most crucial service my Dad performed for me from beyond the grave was bringing Tony’s spirit to me for forgiveness before his passing. My Mum came too, explaining that Tony’s guilt was holding him back, and also they felt I needed closure, so that I could move on and remember the good times I’d shared with Tony over our 30 years together, rather than the last traumatic months.

The front cover of The Soul Cave, where Dad’s name is joined with mine

The detailed account is in my book, The Soul Cave, but essentially, Mum and Dad brought Tony’s spirit to me twice, on the Tuesday afternoon and also on Wednesday, as Tony couldn’t believe I had truly forgiven him. On Thursday, at 3.30 pm, 24 hours after I had assured him for the second time that I forgave him, as his illness was responsible for his actions, he passed to Spirit, and 24 hours after that, Tony came to me and thanked me for the loving obituary I had written for him. Since then I have been able to remember him with love. And as Dad foretold five years ago, I am happy again.

I would dearly have loved to have my Dad sharing my life growing up, but it wasn’t possible. However, I am so grateful to have him mentoring me from beyond the grave. And because he has been, and still is, such a big support with my spiritual work, he’s part of my book in more ways than one. I write as Sandra Francis because that was his Christian name. It’s a fitting reminder that although he isn’t physically with me, he walks beside me in my work and in my life.

It’s been 55 years since I last spoke to you Dad, but I have never stopped loving you and I think of you all the time. Thanks for everything you do, and for still being my Dad from the other side of life. Until we meet again.

Dad in his happy place, Blackpool

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Pamela Goodall: Teaching the true meaning of forgiveness and gratitude

On my spiritual journey, I’ve learned a lot from many people, often online, but sometimes face to face as well. Pamela Goodall, or Pam as she prefers to answer to, is one of the most spiritual people I have ever had the privilege to meet. Based in Plymouth, Devon, Pam runs a regular spiritual development circle and various workshops. She’s the author of four books and hosts the Ki Changes website and Facebook Page.

I met Pam several years ago, through Brunswick Spiritualist Church in Plymouth, and whenever I’m in the UK, I attend her development circle. I’ve learned a lot from her, but perhaps the most important things she’s helped me with is understanding the concepts of forgiveness and gratitude, each of which are essential components of a spiritual life, and each of which can seem deceptively simple at first glance.

Pam believes we should be grateful for everything, good and bad, because the bad things can teach us the most valuable lessons

True forgiveness is not just a matter of accepting an apology, or deciding to move on without one. It’s about realising that forgiveness is, more than anything, a gift to ourselves. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean we condone the actions of others, it’s a choice we make to accept that we can’t change what’s happened and so we need to distance ourselves, and we can only do that when we truly forgive. Pam likens forgiveness to removing layers from an onion; just as you think you’ve finished, something else surfaces that needs to be dealt with, but each layer takes you closer to the sacred act of true forgiveness.

At the basis of this, and all spiritual activity, is love, and Pam insists that we can send love to anyone; we don’t have to actually love them, or even like them, but unless we can send love, we can’t truly forgive and move on. She advocates visualising pink clouds of love, just like candy floss, to those we need to forgive, and that led myself and my friend Glenys to turn up to circle one day with a bucket of pink candy floss for Pam! We all had a good laugh about that, because Pam has a great sense of fun, which makes it easy to absorb her teachings.

Pam’s a great communicator, and like the best communicators, she’s also a good listener. That comes in very useful for spiritual counselling, and for receiving channelings from Angels and other spiritual beings, including the Arcturians, who originate from a different galaxy. Like Pam herself, the channelings are all about light and love, and she’s written three volumes of channelings, as well as a spiritual memoir, Drawn to the Light, published in July 2023. Look out for Volume Two, coming soon.

Drawn to the Light is deceptively easy to read, yet it contains some hard-hitting messages and lessons which are all the more powerful due to the gentle, understated style of Pam’s writing. As you’d expect, love and forgiveness are major themes, as is gratitude. Without giving too much away, I can tell you Pam has a pretty unique take on how gratitude figures in her own life, and she uses personal examples to explain why we should be thankful even to those who have hurt us the most, because that’s where our most valuable life lessons can be learned.

Pamela Goodall practices what she preaches by living a life filled with love, forgiveness and gratitude, and she’s an example and an inspiration to everyone she meets. Like me, she came late to working with Spirit, although she’s had many psychic experiences over the years. Check out her website and her books and you will soon realise why I count the Queen of the Candy Floss among my most loved and respected mentors, teachers and friends.

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