Discovery - Confirmation - Empowerment

Ask A Witch: Coven Leader in Findlay, OH

Earthshod — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:17:00 GMT

Dear Alexandra,

I feel that my coven is falling apart and I do not know what to do. One
my soul sisters moved away and she did not keep in touch, and another
sister choose a guy over the coven. I am just afraid that I did something
wrong or something, but I do not know what to do. I think they were the
wrong people for the coven.

Coven Leader in Findlay, OH

__________

Dear CL,

Running a coven can be a difficult job, like herding cats! Some covens form and dissipate like the energy raised within a circle. Each member is an individual with a life outside the group. Each member can and should be able to choose a guy over the coven. Family and work often must come first. I suggest that you call a coven meeting to discuss your concerns openly. It may be that other people have the same feelings. You might decide to open membership to newcomers, or to limit membership. Or even to make meetings less frequent until the time is right.

Light!
Alexandra

02 Nov 2003

About the "Ask A Witch" Column

Reading Testimonials Critically

Earthshod — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:05:00 GMT

I made a rather disheartening discovery lately that a fellow local psychic has been copying and pasting reviews of another psychic and using them as her own. Not only is that bad for her, as it happened to also be plagiarized text from a copyrighted source, but it is bad for clients who are fooled into believing a lie about a service they want to buy and it reflects very poorly on the rest of us. Just last month, somebody posted a comment to the reviews that clients directly post onto my web-site, writing: "These are clearly all fake." At the time, I was tickled about it. I laughed, told my husband and friends, and was actually quite flattered that the reviews on my web-site appeared, at least to one person, to be too good to be true! However, I am now sobered by the knowledge that the comment was a symptom of a larger problem, not only in my industry, but for a wide range of service providers. So, today's lesson is how you can read and think critically when viewing reviews, ratings and testimonials!

Note the context! If you're looking at a cartoon advertisement with some character saying "this service is helpful," it's perfectly ethical if that testimonial took some literary license. A person who looked identical to that character didn't have to say those exact words in that exact situation for that statement to not be misleading or false. Likewise, it is perfectly ethical to edit on-line testimonials for brevity or spelling and punctuation errors. Understand that this might be the case. Take all reviews provided by a seller with a grain of salt, especially if he or she has the power to omit negative reviews.
Do some detective work! Are all the reviews posted by the same person, indicating that ratings might have been padded by a friend? Are there inconsistencies in statements such as number of years of experience or even accuracy rate? Be very wary of a person's accuracy stated as a number. Everyone has good days and bad days at work. Notice if the same language style is used over and over again. If the ratings are typed on-line, copy and paste them into Google in quotations to see if they are posted elsewhere on the Internet. If the people who posted them elsewhere don't seem to have the same identity, go ahead and shoot them each an email and draw attention to it. It is one thing to take some literary license with edited reviews and quite another to steal the reviews earned by another!
Follow up with references! Go ahead and ask for references that you can call or write. It is one thing to read an anonymous review on a page, and quite another to talk directly with a person about his or her experience, and the strengths and weaknesses of the service provider. Experienced and legitimate readers will not be insulted by this process and will gladly take this as an opportunity to showcase their past successes! No news is not good news in this case, and a service provider that doesn't yet have anyone willing to brag about them may be somebody you should worry about! Note that you may have to ask the service provider for references. It is not a red flag if he or she does not post her clients' contact information everywhere, but there should be at least three people who have given their permission to be contacted.

If you ever feel that false advertising misled you, see 10 Actions For Unsatisfied Clients & Fraud Victims

Fortune Telling Using Wine Readings

Earthshod — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:11:00 GMT

The following is an excerpt of an interview of me by a writer.

Karen Dale: When you practice oenomancy, how often is it at the request of the client? Why would someone prefer it or what would lead you to suggest it, as opposed to tarot, tea leaves, etcetera?

Alexandra Chauran: I have never had a client specifically request wine readings when booking an appointment, however, once I am working if I am in a setting in which wine is being poured, I have had clients ask. Most often I might suggest it in the setting. The benefit of any form of scrying over tarot is that there is more freedom in what can be seen. For example, one can never see letters in a name in a tarot card! The benefit of using wine over tea or coffee grounds is simply that you don't require heated water, and it can be more fun in an intimate group, especially as liquid confidence helps more interesting questions get asked! I might suggest this form of divination at a bachelorette party, Valentine's day date, 21st birthday, New Year's event, engagement celebration or a girls' night out!

Karen Dale: What do you know about the origins of oenomancy and how did you learn to do it? Can you estimate how many practitioners exist in the U.S.? Is there a registry, professional organization?

Alexandra Chauran: I'm a mythology buff, so the only story I know is that it was used by a Priestess of Bacchus, which is a good enough history for me! As with all my forms of divination, I began as a personal spiritual practice and have been trained to scry by several teachers directly. My mother is also a professional fortune teller. I am confident that there is no registry or professional organization. In fact, I don't know of any other professional who practices it. I put a shout-out on several international lists of hundreds of professional readers today, and got no responses from anyone else who does the readings professionally, though two people responded saying they knew people who did it as a personal practice and one responded saying she's done it for fun. Based on that response, I'd estimate that there are thousands of people who do it in their own homes, but less than a hundred professionals.

Karen Dale: Do you provide the wine or does the client? Any recommended winemakers or varietals? How do you know if a bottle contains sediment?

Alexandra Chauran: I use red wine. I do not ever provide the wine as there are many legal barriers to distribution of wine that I do not want to touch with a ten-foot pole! I do not even pour the wine as I am not current in my food handler's permit or alcoholic beverage server's license. I've found that home-made un-filtered wines are the very best of all! When wine shopping, you can actually see sediments in the bottom of the bottle if you lift it up over your head and tilt it gently to allow the sediments to drift across the bottom of the bottle. If you kindly write to the company that produces the wine, they're also happy to tell you which of their wines, if any, have visible sediments.

Karen Dale: Do you read “spilled” wine, lees, or other sediment? Do you read any other qualities of the wine? Is there a ritual?

Alexandra Chauran: Though it can be fun to read spilled wine if a mistake happens at a party, I don't ever purposely spill good wine! I do read the dark lees that I believe is residual tannins and other stuff! Though there can be a ritual for any form of scrying, one is not necessary unless you count the very practice as a ritual in itself. The client getting the reading is to sip the wine while thinking about a topic of focus or a question that he or she would like answered by the reading. Afterwards, the last bit is swirled clockwise by me three times upwards in the glass before it is read. Sometimes the glass is overturned depending on the quality of the sediment. After this, I prepare myself internally and enter a light trance to interpret the shapes seen. The best time to do it is a full moon, and some readers believe that the moon's pull affects the liquid in the wine positively for readings.

Karen Dale: Have you had any interface with wine professionals or aficionados about oenomancy? If so, please give details.

Alexandra Chauran: No, just hobby wine makers about ways to make the wine ideal for
readings. I did offer to do readings at a local winery, but they declined. Pity.

Karen Dale: More than one of my sources holds the opinion that the symbols in oenomancy are best interpreted by the person seeking the information, as in dream work, for example. Care to comment?

Alexandra Chauran: I can see where they're coming from. When reading for a client, I do view the symbols and offer an interpretation myself, rather than having my client find them and interpret them. I believe that it takes an experienced eye to see them sometimes, although I do point them out, and some clients do see them. I find that others just don't have the knack for it right off the bat. There are traditional meanings, and I offer those, as well as my own understanding since it was myself who saw them for the client. But we're an interpretive team, and so often times the symbol that I see has deep meaning to the client as well.

Ask A Witch: Mystery Religion in Columbia, MO

Earthshod — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:18:00 GMT

Dear Alexandra,

I'm not sure where to go from here and I need some advice. I have a
psychic gentleman I have been speaking too for some time now. He is not
a 800 number he is a believer in the God's and Goddesses and practices
I believe many different things maybe rolled up into one. When I have
spoke to him in the past he has (I believe) been developing me.

It started with meeting him and his readings were very intense and of course
turned out to hit the nail on the head. During our readings he has been
guiding me towards different levels in my spiritualism. Most recently,
I had mentioned that I have dreams that become true within eight hours,
eight days and up to eight months. He told me to meditate and told me
that I have a power along with the Goddess to unleash the dreams and to
pay very close attention to them something on what you dream will
become reality and what reality is you will dream something on those terms.
I have become very spiritual over a few years building and my!
dreams are very frequent although I cannot remember all I know that I
do not sleep much because I am dreaming and only those that are to come
true I remember and those I write in a book to figure out the meanings
as he told me to do.

I'm very confused I come from a Catholic religion
and I believe in God or shall a say a Higher Spirit. I believe in the
Four elements, Mother Nature, Universe and the God's and Goddesses but
believe that there is One Higher Power. Maybe, I'm confused in all of
this. I have also been able to make things happen when angry, such as
things falling off shelves, when happy things can turn out better than
expected. When I ask for help with a specific situation I ask God to
bring me the help or the four elements and Universe direct me or help me.

I'm sorry for rambling on here I'm confused as to what religion I would
belong to is it Wicca or what? I know this isn't being a Catholic by
any means they would shutter to even think I did these things but
I don't feel as if I'm a Catholic anymore. I feel like it is hard to
explain but in tune with nature, a feeling of peace that I have never
experienced before in my life an inner peace that I wish all could
understand and feel as I do. I feel as if I have been lifted and wish that
others could feel the way that I do. So many things have been coming
about since I have made contact with this man. I just don't know which
direction to take or should I continue to focus on the whole I mean
everything that I believe in. It is working for me. I have never done
spells in the way that I have read in some books. When I have needed
things to be done I have meditated and called upon the elements or such
and the it was carried out. I love to help people and I have a good
heart.

I can read all the books out there but still feel like what
religion do I practice or have I found my own? I don't think I feel that
any religion is totally right. Sometimes I feel if we took a piece of
every religion out there we would find the real one. I'm very
open-minded and I listen to everyone and get my own meaning out of it. What do
you think? I hope you don't think I'm nuts or something I'm really
confused. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Mystery Religion in Columbia, MO

__________

Dear MR,

It sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders! Though that doesn't necessarily describe Wicca, it is not important to assign a label to your religion. No matter how much a person's practices match those in a book, that person will still have their own personal religion. I like to think of religion as its word components. As a "re-linking" to deity. It sure sounds like you're nurturing your relationship with deity just fine. I'm glad you're keeping a dream journal, and I want to impress upon you that much of dreams are merely symbolic. That means that they might not come true to the letter, but rather their events will hold a more metaphorical message about things to come. For right now, it sounds like you should keep exploring your blooming spirituality. Keep doing the things that feel comfortable and right!

Light!
Alexandra

02 Nov 2003

About the "Ask A Witch" Column

Psychic Life Readings

Earthshod — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:05:00 GMT

     In the next year, will your job be at the forefront of your mind, or will your relationship have all of your attention? In five years will you be content with your career and your love life? If you would love to experience the inner peace associated with knowing the answers to those questions, it may be time for you to experience Psychic Life Readings with an online psychic!

     It may be tempting to search for a free psychic online to get one life reading and have it be done with. If you think you know all of the psychic predictions you would need to keep you happy for the rest of your life, it is easy to think that there is one life reading that is the blueprint for your happiness. However, your life changes with every decision you make, so psychic readings are mere snapshots in time! As you learn to use psychic readings to guide each decision towards the arrangement in life that you want using the psychic predictions, you'll soon find out how important it is to find trusted and professional psychic mediums instead of just any free psychic online.

   If you're interested in Psychic Life Readings, start with a reputable source and choose a few of the psychic mediums that feels right to you! Ask him or her for a general reading, not yet revealing the topic of focus that you may want psychic predictions about! The psychic mediums you choose will come back with readings that may touch on several areas of your life. Many of your questions may now be answered by their psychic predictions, but some of them may have just touched on the iceberg of a larger issue that you may be dealing with!

     For example, if you have just come out of a break-up and are interested in finding out whether your ex-boyfriend will return to you, you might want to select three psychic mediums to perform three separate psychic readings for you. When your readings are done, all three may have touched on some exciting career moves that you've been going through at the same time, but only one may have also focused on your relationship problem at hand. Contact him or her again, this time asking specifically for your love problem to be the topic of focus for your reading and asking for some psychic predictions surrounding it!

     As you can see, Psychic Life Readings are not just a one-time event for each person on this earth, and can't be trusted to just one free psychic online! After you've sorted through the psychic mediums to find a trusted adviser, you may move on to explore other aspects of your life with psychic readings. In time, you can find your psychic adviser to be an important part of driving your life's choices to the sort of outcome that you would like to see, instead of being satisfied with only one picture of how it might turn out!

Ask A Witch: Last Priority in Renton, WA

Earthshod — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:39:00 GMT

Dear Alexandra,

I'm dating this guy for 4 years. At first he used to come around
at least once on the weekends, now he doesn't even come at all. He
always has things to do and is so into his family and kids that he
doesn't seem to have time for me. We have really great phone
conversations though. What do you think about that?

Last Priority in Renton, WA

_____________

Dear LP,

I think that long-distance relationships are tough, and even if he
lives very close to you, if he doesn't come around very often, that's
exactly the kind of relationship you're having. If you need more to
hold than a telephone, ask him to schedule you in for a regular
meeting. If he is too busy for that, then he may be too busy for
anything other than a long-distance relationship.

Love,
Alexandra

About the "Ask A Witch" Column

Ask A Witch: Torn in Renton, WA

Earthshod — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:49:00 GMT

Dear Alexandra,

I just ended a relationship of 14 months but now I'm pretty
confused as to whether I should start a new relationship. I have two
guys asking me out for a serious date. I admire the first guy for his
inward calmness and matured attitude but not his physical appearance
(he is 30 years old). While I admire the physical appearance of the
second guy, I have a feeling that he is fake. He also does not seem to
be mature (he is 28 years old), a graduate yet to get a job, while I
am 34 years old. Who should I go for?

Torn in Renton, WA

_____________

Dear Torn,

When you're just out of a relationship, you can feel very vulnerable,
so it is natural that you are approaching both these men with caution.
However, there's no reason you should have to be exclusive with
somebody new right away! After the unpleasantness of a break-up, you
can allow yourself to celebrate by getting to know some interesting
people with some fun dates. You don't need to know their blood type or
ultimate compatibility with you for that!

Love,
Alexandra

About the "Ask A Witch" Column

Ask A Witch: Neglected in Renton, WA

Earthshod — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:35:00 GMT

Dear Alexandra,

I am currently in a relationship, of which I don't know whether I
shall call it a relationship or what. We hardly see or spend time
together as a couple, especially on the weekend. I now discovered
that there's a woman who wants to get married to him (I just saw it on
his e-mail). When I confronted him about it, he denied it saying that
it is not true and that he is not planning to get married anytime
soon. Do you think he is telling me the truth? Do you also think think
that he loves me? I am so confused right now and am beginning to doubt
his love for me. I want to spend the rest of my life with him; do you
think he is the right man for me? Most importantly, is he gonna marry
me?

Neglected in Renton, WA

_____________

Dear Neglected,

Let's see now, you've got a man who you know lies to you, and you
already don't trust him so much that you feel forced to snoop in his
email and don't believe a word he says. Believe him when he says he
doesn't want to get married, as he has nothing to lose except for you
by saying that. Do you still want love without marriage, need or
trust? I say, you deserve more!

Love,
Alexandra

About the "Ask A Witch" Column

Press Release - Fortune Teller Predicts Partnership With Educators

Earthshod — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:05:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Fortune Teller Predicts Partnership With Educators

Renton, WA - November 6, 2009 - The Renton Chamber of Commerce is hosting it's Business and Education Exchange in February of 2010, this time sponsored in part by fortune teller and Chamber member, Alexandra Chauran! During this annual event, business participants are matched up with assigned teachers, visiting each others' places of work, giving the students an opportunity for authentic learning experiences related to their local community. "The children of Renton School District are our future local business people," Chauran says, "and I have a strong interest in the future!"

The Renton Chamber of Commerce's mission is, "to improve business and economic conditions, and the general welfare of the community." Chauran holds a Masters in Teaching from Seattle University, and has experience educating middle school and high school children, receiving the 2007-2008 Classroom Partner Program Award from Facing the Future. Some 2009 events for which Chauran has been hired for her services include a Newport Way Library Association teen event and a Childrens' Hope Auction put on by the World Association for Children and Parents.

###

Ask A Witch: Wanting to be Wanted in Springfield, MA

Earthshod — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:23:00 GMT

Dear Alexandra,

Does my best friend Noah like me, and does my ex-boyfriend Corban miss me?

Wanting to be Wanted in Springfield, MA

__________

Dear WTBW,

With a question like this, one wonders why the answer matters! Clearly you're ready to move on from Corban, and you need only ask Noah to find out if he likes you more than a friend! I wonder whether whatever answer I give here would even change your course of action. How about we skip the formalities and you just consider this letter a confirmation of your own knowledge? Forget about Corban and have a heart to heart with Noah about your feelings before moving on to new interests!

Light!
Alexandra

15 Oct 2006
About the "Ask A Witch" Column

Horoscopes

Earthshod — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:34:00 GMT

Aries - The Ram (March 21 - April 20)

You may have been buried in details for a while now and slowly picking your way out. You usually like things to have a quick turn-around time, so with the time this is taking, some frustration in leadership is bound to arise. Don't be passive-aggressive!

Taurus - The Bull (April 21 - May 21)

Your dreams may have been of special importance lately, so keep a journal if you haven't already. Pay attention, also, to what people around you are on the same wavelength. There is somebody you could feel a special kinship with, perhaps even love.

Gemini - The Twins (May 22 - June 21)

They say you make your own good luck, and your attitude will greatly affect you own good fortune at this time. Generosity can increase your social standing and bring back to you what you give and then some!

Cancer - The Crab (June 22 - July 22)

Treat yourself to some alone-time where you don't really self-analyze too much. Put away any journals or work and instead allow yourself to meditate, or failing that, zone out and watch the television or your belly button in the bubble bath.

Leo - The Lion (July 23 -August 21)

Sometimes your love is seen as protective and loving, and other times it may seem to be smothering and stifling. Be careful, as you may be subconsciously or consciously expanding your control to the point that it may step on someone's toes!

Virgo - The Virgin (August 22 - September 23)

This week, look before you leap when trying to sync your energies with a romantic partner. It could be that pushing too soon could cause a reaction that you don't necessarily want! Use words before action whenever possible.

Libra - The Scales (September 24 - October 23)

Economical climate got you down? You may feel weary, and want to take the right actions to secure your emotional health but feel trapped by finances. Turn to friends and lovers for comfort in order to recognize what is truly important!

Scorpio - The Scorpion (October 24 - November 22)

A very important announcement may be coming in your life! Be ready to be civil and diplomatic no matter what sort of bold decisions had to be made. Be cautious with travel during this time as snafus can arise!

Sagittarius - The Archer (November 23 - December 22)

It is a good time to move onward and upward financially. If you are seeking a new job, now is the time to meet with important people or send out your resume. Find a way to organize your space and the people around you into a more productive configuration!

Capricorn - The Goat-Fish (December 23 - January 20)

At a time during which you would normally splurge or travel, you may have to be limited and set some responsible boundaries. That's never fun to start with, but you can still work to add some surprises into your plans for others!

Aquarius - The Water Bearer (January 21 - February 19)

A flood of debate and give and take in your life is often just what you need to get your analytical juices flowing! But it may seem exhausting at the moment. Take time for exercise or games to have a more socially acceptable way to engage!

Pisces - The Fish (February 20- March 20)

Sometimes you're the lucky one who can get away with anything! In this case, if you want to make a little move in your household dynamics, if you play your cards right, your way could work. Likewise in the workplace, be subtle but persistent!

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What You Need To Hear

Earthshod — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:29:00 GMT

Today's question came to me from Twitter, when a user asked me the following:

@earthshod so I'm interested in your services but I don't want to be told I'm wrong. Lol. Is that not gonna work out?

   My reply to her on Twitter was that, "readings aren't for everyone! If you're already confident with your decisions, it isn't necessary! I always leave choices though!" But this is a topic that can be addressed with more than 140 characters!

   On some level, we all want to be told what we want to hear. But in my personal desires, I want that to be the truth. I know that some would-be clients don't care whether or not it is the truth! Many of them just want somebody in some spiritual authority to assure them that "it's all going to be okay." Some want more than that. They want the picture-perfect situation to either fall into their lap or they want to manifest it through hard work no matter how unlikely the circumstances may be.

   There are proper ways to address those needs in a reading, but there are wrong ways as well. Understand that the future is written in sand, not stone, and that you are in charge of your own destiny. If you've already made your choices and charted out your course of action, now many not be the time for a reading. But, if you'd like a little help along the way...

DON'T ask, "I he coming back to me?" If you already want him back no matter what.
DO ask, "Even though I know it is unlikely, what actions best increase my chances of making the relationship work?"

Snow Moon Prayer Requests

Earthshod — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:56:00 GMT

The full moon of November 2nd is upon us. It is a time to ask the universe for the grandest of blessings, that they may manifest in abundance! I see that there are a few who come here that use readings to address the body and mind, but with a starving soul drawing them back. If you are the one who is too far deep in your thoughts to trust your spirit, let yourself comment this day. My prayer postings have gotten more comments and many more e-mails each time I post them, and I appreciate those who have let me know that their prayers have been answered. In lieu of payment, please pass my blog on to others who may be in need of prayer. As always, my oaths as a Priestess forbid me to charge money for spell-work or for using the Art, so my prayers are free since I do use words and power passed down to me from my ancestors in the Craft. Comment here today as the moon reaches Her peak to be added to my prayer list.

Ask A Witch: Seeing Zoey on Halloween in Oshawa, ONT

Earthshod — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:17:00 GMT

Dear Alexandra,

I have a question about the meaning of the name Zoey. That name has past my path an inordinate number of times in the 3 days prior to Halloween. I cant help but think it is some sort of sign. The only references I can find are to the Greek word for life and to the Byzantine empress. Do you have any other insights?

Seeing Zoey on Halloween in Oshawa, ONT

__________

Dear SZOH,

There are many Numerology systems that can be used to calculate further meanings and correspondences for Zoey. You can purchase a reading on Numerology and Kabbalah Name analysis or research on your own. You'll find an abundance of opinions on the topic, and maybe some that will nudge your own intuition.

Light!
Alexandra

29 Oct 2004
About the "Ask A Witch" Column

Ask A Witch: Victim of Gossip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Earthshod — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:58:00 GMT

Dear Alexandra,

What shall I do to silence the gossiper who always hurt me? Shall
create a spell? If so, what is the spell shall I do?

Victim of Gossip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

__________

Dear VOG,

Negative spell-work may bring bad things back upon the caster, and at the very least might bind you energetically to the very gossiper you hate! So, I would not recommend creating a spell against your enemy. Besides, that person will be punished by their own negativity! The best revenge you could have, would to not let this person's actions ruin your own life. Great business people always say that positive gossip is the best weapon as well.

Light!
Alexandra

08 Jul 2003
About the "Ask A Witch" Column