Monday Message from Merlin 3-8-10

Good day! I do greet all of you beautiful souls in the midst of your Earthly journey from the realms of Spirit. My name is Merlin, and I am the Master Teacher of this beloved soul called Rose with whom I work in this lifetime. I am honored to be her mentor, and I am equally honored to be with you in this manner today as we all strive to reach our highest potential as spiritual beings.

Yes, even I, in my present form, am still learning, still growing, still expanding the depth and breadth of my knowledge of the Universe and the Great Divine Presence that permeates it all. How exciting is this for all of us, to be in such a form, to be children sitting at the feet of the Unknown, thirsting to learn and to experience All That Is? What a privilege to be here, and what a true manifestation of the love and blessings that the Divine provides for us!

I asked Rose to choose the photo above today to go with my words because of the beautiful image of the melting ice. Spring is on its way in the part of the world where Rose resides, and there is a melting of fear and isolation from the hearts of those who have felt the chill and loneliness of winter. We are on the cusp of a new day, a new season, a new beginning, and there is excitement and anticipation in the air. Do you feel it stirring within yourself? What have you been preparing for through the long, dark months of winter? Most feel compelled to withdraw, to look within, to retreat from the outer world to spend time in the inner sanctum. And this is a sacred process for those who truly wish to delve deeply into their spiritual selves. Often this process can cause fear and doubt, never easy to wrestle with in the dark recesses of the soul. And yet it is only through confronting fear and doubt that true enlightenment can be achieved. Now, as the Wheel of the Year once more turns toward Spring, the Light that returns to our lives can nurture the qualities, attributes, and situations we most want and need to grow. Embrace this loving Light! Allow it to cast your fears away and to warm your soul! Know that you are a powerful being, with loving, compassionate intentions, and that you can achieve the hopes and dreams that you have by trusting in your own divine nature. Know that you yourself are a seed, and within you in the sprout that can and will grow into a sturdy oak with the right care. You can accomplish so much if you trust yourself, trust the Universe, and trust the growth process. Allow it to be what it needs to be. Allow yourself the space to make mistakes and to change your mind, for these are the ways we learn to trust our intuition and to understand how it works in the physical world. Ask for guidance from your spirit teachers, but know that you are ultimately in charge of your forward progress. Expect good to come, and it will–perhaps not always in the form that you anticipated, but always for your highest and best spiritual fulfillment.

You are loved, beautiful souls, more than you can possibly know. If you were here in the planes of Spirit, you would feel the constant, undeniable energy of this great, consuming, powerful love. Since you are not, you must trust that it is there–no easy feat, I understand, but one that gives great comfort and great strength to those who embrace it. This starts with recognizing your own personal divinity–different from ego, which drives achievement at the cost of all else. Divinity recognizes the beauty of every living entity and strives only to resonate and vibrate at the highest energy possible–love energy! Do all that you do with love. Put love first, always, in your life, and you will never go wrong. Let love, which is the energy of Creator, permeate all that you do. When you start from this compassionate, peaceful, beneficent place, you will attract only good into your life, and you will have heaven on Earth.

Let your hearts melt at this time. Let them open, like the new buds on the trees, to soak up the Light that returns to you now. You have never been alone; the Light has always been there. But sometimes we need it to be terribly dark before we can actually see the Light, no matter how tiny it is.

I take your leave now, Earth angels, and bid you peace, love, and blessings in all you do. Until next time…

Merlin

Tarot and Men’s Figure Skating, Part 2

Well, the Men’s Figure Skating results were interesting to watch! Congratulations to all of the medalists:

Gold Medal: Evan Lysacek, United States
Silver Medal: Evgeni Plushenko, Russian Federation
Bronze Medal: Daisuke Takahashi, Japan

If you follow my blog and read my last post, you’ll see that the Tarot did a pretty decent job of predicting medal winners, if not the colors of the medals the men achieved. That was an interpretation on my part, which is all part of reading Tarot. It’s very possible that I may have interpreted things differently had I pulled more than one card for each skater, which would have given a lot more detail to their upcoming energies. I put more stock in the upset power of Major Arcana The Tower than perhaps I should have in predicting Evgeni Plushenko might not even medal in the competition. Obviously, he did win silver, a great achievement–but honestly, after reading some of the comments he’s made since the competition and the reactions of fans to these comments, his ego is possibly causing some damage to his image. This could be the big lesson that The Tower’s energy is trying to teach him at this time, or there could be more shake-ups coming for him as he goes forward.

Major Arcana The Magician did seem to indicate the strong possibility of a gold medal win for Evan Lysacek, which was awesome. Evan can continue to capitalize on this manifestation energy as he goes forward. Things are looking bright for him!

The appearance of Major Arcana The Hermit for Daisuke Takahashi also seemed to indicate a medal performance, which obviously happened. I will be interested to see if he goes on to become a skating teacher in the future, as this card often symbolizes a leadership energy, one who wishes to pass knowledge on to others.

This was a fun project! I’ll have to do more of this in the future. But first, maybe I’ll read the cards to see if that’s a good idea…

Happy Tuesday, all.

Tarot and Men’s Figure Skating

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been enjoying watching the Winter Olympics from Vancouver this last week. Even though I’m in the final week of rehearsal for my show, I HATE HAMLET, I have been DVRing the events and watching them the next day when I can. After a long rehearsal last night, it’s nice to have a day off, so I sat down at lunch today (with my new healthy eating plan) to catch the Men’s Figure Skating Short Programs. I love the artistry of figure skating, and, I’ll be honest–the jumps are incredible to watch when they’re well executed. As usual, there were some terrible mishaps on the ice for some of the competitors, but an exciting battle has shaped up for the gold medal between leader and 2006 gold medalist Evgeni Pleshenko of Russia, Evan Lysacek of the United States, and Daisuke Takahashi of Japan. These athletes are only separated by small margins as they currently stand in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, respectively.

So, as I watched these men and their competitors this afternoon, I thought it might be fun to do a one-card Tarot pull for each of the top six, to see who may end up on the podium on Thursday night after the Free Skate. Those top six are:

1. Evgeni Pleshenko, Russia
2. Evan Lysacek, United States
3. Daisuke Takahashi, Japan
4. Nobunari Oda, Japan
5. Stephane Lambiel, Switzerland
6. Johnny Weir, United States

I’ll use the Rider-Waite deck to take a peek at what may be in store for each man in the finals on Thursday. Let’s see what comes up!

1. Evgeni Pleshenko: Major Arcana The Tower
2. Evan Lysacek: Major Arcana The Magician
3. Daisuke Takahashi: Major Arcana The Hermit
4. Nobunari Oda: 5 of Swords
5. Stephane Lambiel: 7 of Swords
6. Johnny Weir: Major Arcana The Moon

Wow! Out of six cards and for six different men, Major Arcana cards came up 4 times! This is an important turning point for all of these gentlemen, which I’m sure they realize. Spirit reminds them with these cards that they are not only fulfilling dreams in these games, but life plans. They are right where they need to be, and there are important lessons for each of them to take away from this opportunity, win or lose.

The appearance of Major Arcana The Tower for leader Evgeni Pleshenko worries me. He is known for his amazing jumps and his bravado, but The Tower forecasts destruction of the foundation on which he stands. He may have something that shakes his faith in himself before Thursday that throws a wrench into his hopes for another Olympic win. Because of the power of The Tower, there is a vital lesson for him to learn here: he has physical strength and determination, but extraneous ego may strip him of his win. The outlook for him is ominous. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes a very costly mistake that bumps him completely off the medal podium, opening the door wider for one of his competitors. I wouldn’t rule out a possible injury, either.

On the other hand, Major Arcana The Magician for Evan Lysacek indicates that he has the magic to manifest a personal best and a podium win in these games. Everything is working for him right now; he needs to focus and concentrate his will to make his dreams a reality. A medal certainly looks promising with the appearance of this card, and it would not surprise me one bit, under this card’s influence, to see Lysacek bring gold home to the United States.

Daisuke Takahashi looks to have a strong chance for a medal as well with Major Arcana The Hermit appearing as his card. The Hermit is an energy that lights the way, not just for the self, but for others. I get the sense that Takahashi must remain committed to his coach and the teachings that have been passed on to him; he must remember all the nuances of what he has been taught to succeed. He also needs to meditate and go within to pull the very best performance out of himself that he can. Success looks assured, however, and as The Hermit is the card of the teacher, Takahashi may go on to instruct others and continue the cycle of excellence and pride.

Nobunari Oda has drawn the 5 of Swords in this reading of his energy, which indicates that he may take something away from one of the other more well-known competitors. His finish may upset a favorite, but this may come at a high price. Some may see him as a usurper. Still, Oda seems to have what it takes to win a place on the podium at Vancouver. He does need to keep his ego in check to ensure success.

Our fifth skater, Stephane Lambiel, has drawn the 7 of Swords. This card seems to indicate someone stealing something away from him, which makes me believe his chances of medaling at these games are slim. The 7 of Swords can be a deceitful card, which I hate to see in any sporting event. It brings to mind cheating or some sort of dishonesty. I wonder if this athlete will be judged fairly, but I’m not sure that’s something that will be discovered if it happens to be the truth. It could also mean a win for Lambiel as a result of deceit. I don’t feel good about this card, however, and I don’t think Lambiel will make it to the podium after his performance on Thursday.

Finally, our last competitor in the top six, Johnny Weir, falls under the influence of Major Arcana The Moon. The Moon can be a temperamental, cranky sort of card. She can indicate mystical influences, but often she symbolizes illusions. I think Weir’s hopes of medaling at this Olympics may be a reflection of those illusory Moon qualities. He is certainly true to himself, but there is a quality about him that makes me think he may not know himself as well as he thinks he does. This makes him vulnerable and perhaps a bit uncertain, which may be his downfall when it comes to performing under intense scrutiny and pressure. I don’t think he’ll medal here, but this won’t tarnish him in the eyes of his fans, who see him in an iconic sort of way. In reality, this card indicates that he’s a completely different person than we may think–and he may want to keep it that way.

So, based on these cards, here are my predictions:

Gold Medal: Evan Lysacek, United States
Silver Medal: Daisuke Takahashi, Japan
Bronze Medal: Nobunari Oda, Japan

It will be fun to see if these predictions turn out to be accurate. I’ll be sure to post again after Thursday’s results to reflect on the competition and the card reading.

Happy Wednesday, everyone! xox

TONIGHT: ASK A MEDIUM Lecture and Booksigning

I’m pleased as punch to be appearing tonight at my church, The United Spiritualists of the Christ Light, for a lecture based on my new book Ask a Medium, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Bring your friends and your questions about the spirit world, and we’ll have a wonderful, entertaining discussion! After the lecture, we’ll serve light refreshments, and I’ll have books for sale and will sign any that aren’t nailed down. We do collect a love donation for the church for the lecture, just so you know.

The USCL’s address:

4412 Carver Woods Drive Suite 210
Blue Ash, OH 45242

I’d direct you to the USCL website, but it’s currently down. We hope to have it back up soon.

Hope to see you tonight! Have a great weekend!

xox

ASK A MEDIUM on Sale At Llewellyn!

My current book, ASK A MEDIUM , is on sale now through Llewellyn Worldwide’s website. It will make a perfect Valentine’s gift for someone you know and love—or for yourself!

Hope you’re all doing well and enjoying the lovely winter weather. We’ve got plenty of snow in my neck of the woods. I’m a little mad at the groundhog right now.

Blessings to you all! xo

Monday Message from Merlin 2-8-10

Greetings to you all! It is my great pleasure to come forward today and speak to you from the realms of Spirit! I am Merlin, the Master Teacher of my beloved Rose, who allows me to use this forum as a way to communicate with you all. I cherish the times I am able to be with you, for you are all precious and important to me.

My beautiful Rose is happy this day, as she has been trying a new eating plan and has seen much success from her efforts. I praise her for this, but not because she is losing weight, as is so important to so many in your culture. I am happy for her because this makes her healthier not only in her physical body, but also in her mental and spiritual bodies. Many worry about being overweight or not looking attractive, and perhaps in your culture this is something to address, as so many people have become heavier in recent times. Physical beauty, however, should not be your motivation for embracing a healthier lifestyle. Do this instead because you love yourself enough to want to be stronger, happier, and more focused in every aspect of your life! Eating more nutritious foods, exercising, and getting adequate amounts of sleep will increase your energy vibration and help you to be more in tune with the spirit world around you. You will be more focused and find it easier to concentrate if you choose to meditate. You will find exercise to be a marvelous form of meditation, and you, with your busy lifestyle, will be able to incorporate your health consciousness into your spiritual consciousness thus! As Rose would say, isn’t that a win-win situation? Of course it is!

Changing to a healthier lifestyle need not be a chore. Ask your own guides and spirit teachers to help you through the process. I know Rose was expecting her change to be difficult, but she DID remember to ask me and her other guides to aid her this time–and what a difference it has made! She has adapted easily to her new routine, and now that she has experienced the benefits and been pleased with the results, she wants to continue with these healthier changes. I am excited for her to concentrate more on taking good care of herself–she has many important things to accomplish, and this will only help her to undertake them. You, too, have important tasks to face in your life–tasks vital to your spiritual progression–and any advantage you can give to yourself will be beneficial as you embark on your journey. Why not make a pledge that you will eat more nutritious foods and drink better beverages? Your guides will help you to select a meal plan that works for you. Promise yourself that you will exercise and get the sleep you need. Your guides will help you to schedule your day and evening so that you can fit in these important components. All you have to do is ask, and you will find things moving in a different direction, due to your intent and the subtle intervention of your spirit helpers. We want nothing more than for you to succeed in your endeavors! Make your health a priority!

A short message today, for as usual, my Rose has many obligations. But you are all important to her, and to me, and so I thank you for reading and for considering my message. May the days ahead be blessed and bright for you!

In love and peace, I take your leave.

Merlin

Best of Cincinnati Awards

I am thrilled and humbled to discover that I have been nominated for several City Beat “Best of Cincinnati” awards! I have been nominated in the following categories:

Religious Leader
Massage Therapist
Local Actress
Local Author

It really is super to be acknowledged in such a way. If you’d like to cast your votes, you can visit the site here . There are lots of great categories to vote in, too, so don’t be shy. Cincinnati is a terrific city, so let’s support all the wonderful people, places, and events we have!

Happy Tuesday, everyone. Blessings to you all!

Monday Message from Merlin 1-25-10

Greetings to each and every one of you, my fellow seekers, my brothers and sisters in the Light! It has been some time since I have been able to be with you in this way, and I am happy to speak through my beloved Rose to bring you a message of hope and love this night. I am Merlin, and I have watched from afar as events in your world have unfolded in the past few weeks. How sad and upsetting to see the devastation of the beautiful island of Haiti and the suffering of the beloved souls who reside there. When these things happen, many ask the questions, “Why? Are they being punished? How can the Divine allow such suffering in the world?” There are many answers to these questions, my special ones, and many in humanity have a difficult time accepting the reasons. As my Rose likes to say, “It is hard to wrap our minds around these concepts.” There are issues of Earth and environmental healing happening in this instance. There are issues of group karma–and remember that karma does not equate with punishment, it equates with balance and equilibrium. There are issues here of awareness that must be brought to the surface of humankind’s understanding at this time, awareness of the needs of communities of people who have been overlooked for so long by richer, more powerful cultures. All of these, and other layers of meaning, are at the core of this event, and meditating on these ideas will bring you to a deeper understanding of the lessons for all that are involved.

But still, there is hope. There is love. There is compassion and beauty and wisdom that is the natural by-product of this terrible event. And it is in this energy of ultimate, Divine love that we must reside. This awareness will bring comfort, guidance, strength, and enlightenment to those who trod this path. Questions are always good, and yet, as I tell Rose, they mostly lead to more questions. The best teachers of the physical world were and are the ones who, when asked a question, answer it with another. Why do teachers do this? It is not to make you crazy! It is, indeed, to make you think–to force you to expand and grow and stretch, as a new seedling does as it seeks the sun. Do you not seek the Light of progression? You do! So, then, you must ask your questions and find your answers. I, like all spirit teachers, will help to guide you, but I can’t provide all the answers. What would you learn then except laziness? I do not reprimand you, dear ones, never think it! But I do encourage you to find these answers yourself. Read great teachers and what they have to say about such matters. Delve into the depths of your soul and explore your own fears and frustrations. Ask for help from your own guides and teachers. As you do this, you will begin to see a glimmer of Light, and this will encourage you to keep excavating. The greatest source of gold is hidden deep within the dirt. Your greatest treasures–your greatest truths–are hidden, too, deep within your soul. The only way to find these nuggets is to tunnel deep within. This is what magick truly is. But that is another topic all together!

And so, this night, beloved ones, send healing to Haiti and her people. Encircle them in the White Light of Creator that transmutes all darkness into positive, productive, beautiful energy. Know that as you do this, you also welcome this Light into your own being, and it transforms you, allowing you the space you need for deeper understanding. Let the healing peace of the Divine wash over and through you like a tidal wave of love. Heal your own heart as you heal the woes of your fellow beings, and know that this small action has great and powerful repercussions.

As always, I send you love, peace, and many blessings. Thank you for allowing me to serve.

Merlin

Book Release Party Tonight!

I’m very excited about the book release party tonight for Ask a Medium: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions About the Spirit World. The party will kick off tonight (Friday, January 22, 2010) at 7 p.m. with an hour-long discussion and question-and-answer session about the book. Starting at 8 p.m., I’ll begin selling and signing books, and my terrific office partner, Joanne Franchina, will serve refreshments. I hope to have my husband take pictures of the event, so hopefully, I’ll post those soon.

If you’re in the Greater Cincinnati area, come on out for the festivities! The address of my office:

10901 Reed Hartman Highway
Blue Ash, Ohio 45242

I’d love to meet you there!

If you can’t make it tonight but can get to Hamilton, Ohio, tomorrow, I’m doing a lecture about the book and signing copies at Maiden, Mother, Crone (a small metaphysical shop) beginning at 1 p.m. The store is located at 343 South B Street, Hamilton, OH 45013-3311, and their telephone number is (513) 737-0059.‎ It will be great to connect with even more people there!

Happy Friday to all! I send you all love, peace, and blessings.

Dear Blog…

Dear Blog (and beloved blog readers),

I’m so sorry I’ve been neglecting you lately. There’s been a lot going on in my life. Some good things, some great things, some worrisome things–in a nutshell, life has been happening, and it’s been blowing past me at the speed of light.

Here are some good and great things that have happened:

1. I was cast in a play! I am playing the wonderful role of elderly German agent Lillian in Fairfield Footlighers’ production of I Hate Hamlet. I am very excited to be working on a creative project, and so far, I am loving every moment of it. I’ve been feeling a creative void recently, and acting always helps to fill that up for me. As a director, I’m also enjoying watching this production come together, and I admire the way Heidi, our director, handles everything with her no-nonsense, fun approach. I can’t wait to go to rehearsal, which I take as a very good sign. Maybe some of you will be able to come out and see the show, which opens on February 19. Ah, theatre–how I adore you!

2. Our son was awarded a $20,000 scholarship to Roger Bacon High School for the next four years. This is a huge accomplishment, and we are bursting with pride over the news. We are confident that both of our sons will do well at this institution, and we look forward to working with them towards more great achievements when they begin high school in the fall. Having the decision of where they’ll attend high school out of the way also relieves a tremendous burden from our list of worries. We’ve still got to get through the rest of this school year, though!

3. My new book, Ask a Medium: Answers To Your Frequently Asked Questions About the Spirit World, is now available for sale! I am very excited to have this book available to readers. I’ve tried to compile the questions that I’m most frequently asked by clients and other seekers concerning the spirit world, what happens when we die, why ghosts and spirits do certain things, and other sundry metaphysical topics, and I try to provide answers based on research and my own experiences as a medium. I hope readers will truly benefit from this book. And, in other good news: if you’re in the Cincinnati area, my office partner, Joanne, and I are hosting a ASK A MEDIUM discussion and booksigning on Friday, January 22. Starting at 7 p.m., I will talk about the book and answer audience questions. At 8 p.m., the book sales and signings will begin, and we will serve refreshments and socialize as well. Please come if you can, and bring your family and friends for a fun and enlightening evening. For the address for the event, visit my website.

3. The snow is finally melting. Enough said about that.

4. My husband and sons are healthy. Really, that’s important enough to write about, I think, because I’ve been down the unhealthy road before, and yes, I am grateful.

I’ve decided after looking at this list that the positives far outweigh the negatives. Life is good. I’m not even going to discuss the not-so-good things, thereby giving them no energy to thrive. In light of this, you’d think I’d have more time for the blogosphere, right?

Well, I’m going to try to make more time. It’s nice to sometimes gather all of my thoughts together and put out a post. It’s hard, though, to always come up with topics to write about. I don’t want to keep re-hashing the same old stuff.

So, if you have suggestions of what you’d like to see on the blog or information you’d like to read about, please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what it is.

Dearly beloved blog…friends….I’ll hopefully see you again soon.

xox