Tag Archive | Insights

Psychic Abilities

Are You Psychic? 

How many times have you said to yourself, or someone else “I have a gut feeling”, or “This place or person feels creepy”? We all do it. We all have that inner instinct that tries to warn of danger. Most people ignore those gut feelings. Or dismiss them as imagination or paranoia. But did you ever think, those feelings might be accurate and real?

Psychic: (greek psychiokos – psyche, soul or that which is mental) to sense, to understand and to interpret for practical purposes, a force that enters in and emanates out of the body, mind and/or spiritual or ethereal realms without use of the 5 physical senses.

Being Psychic
Everyone is psychic to some degree, some people are just more in-tune with that side of their mind-body-spirit connection than others. These “gifts” are really just part of your senses. Those gut feelings, they’re really just your natural senses picking up on very subtle energy around you and warning you or sending you a message. Continue reading

Merry Imbolg & Lammas 2018

Celebration of the return Sun

Celebration of the Sun

The Festival of Lights and Fire

The time of Spring is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere as the Sun begins his return to warm our hearts and extend his light in our day. His return rings in the first of the Spring Holidays known as Imbolc, Imbolg, Brigid’s Day or the Festival of Lights.

In the Southern Hemisphere the summer is marked by its peak of the Sun during the Fire Festival. It is the time of Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas or the Fire Festival which honors the Celtic hero Lugh. It is the first of the Pagan Harvest Festivals and the time of year to thank the Tuatha Dé Danann (the Faeries) for their help in our gardens.

These Sabbats (Pagan Holidays) are observed on February 1st or 2nd, depending on one’s personal Tradition (spiritual denomination). Because Pagans celebrate on a Lunar Calendar schedule, our holiday observances actually begin  at sunset on the evening before the scheduled day.

Those who recognize February 1st as the observed holiday, will begin their rituals on January 31st. While others, like my Clan, being our celebrations tonight and observe the holiday on February 1st.

This year we’re blessed with the energy of GrandMother Moon’s full phase, ringing in the Snow Moon for the north and the  Thunder Moon of the south.

Everyone here at Springwolf Reflections and Spring’s Haven extend our wishes to you and yours for a wonderful and joyous celebration of warmth and light. Where ever you are in the world,

May Your Season Be Blessed with Abundance and Happiness

© Springwolfs Hanko

© 2014 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D. Springwolf Reflections / Springs Haven, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Stop Mixing Mysticism with Science!

Merlin's Blood Moon by Springwolf 🐾

Merlin’s Blood Moon by Springwolf 🐾

NO, IT IS NOT A FULL BLUE BLOOD MOON!

I wish these mainstream media people would stop mixing mysticism with science. If you’re going to mix spiritual mysticism with scientific explanation, you should at least get the mysticism part right.

Early Pagans coined the phrase “Blood Moon” to signify the full moon phases of the Fall Harvest. Every full moon during the harvest season was once known as the Blood Moon and it has nothing to do with the color of the Moon.

Over time, that monthly harvest celebration evolved to become the Full Moon nearest the Autumn Equinox or the first full moon of the autumn harvest, also known as the Harvest Moon. For most Pagans, that Full Harvest Moon occurs in September or October, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere. Continue reading

Moon Magik

Mystic Moon Wallpaper by WPNature

The Esbats: Working With The Moon Phases

In the world of Pagan Metaphysics, we call the observance of the Moon, Esbat days, or Ritual days. These phases are where we combine the energy of the Divine Goddess, in this case in the form of Grandmother Moon, with your own energy, for magikal working.

Every magikal practitioner should know which days to work with the Moon and which days to take off. Which Moon phases are best for what kind of casting and which are for rest.

These guidelines are not cast in stone and certainly if you have a friend in dire need of healing, you don’t need to wait until the next Waxing Moon to conduct a ritual. But for some of the best results, here are a few guidelines, interesting tid-bits, and helpful hints to keep in mind.

Picture the movement of the moon in terms of a clock whose hands are moving backward. The moon rests on the clock’s hour hand, Earth sits at the clock’s center. While the sun shines far off in the direction of 12 o’clock. As the moon orbits counterclockwise around Earth, its position relative to the sun and Earth changes, giving us the varied phases of the moon. Each phase of the moon lasts approximately 5 days.

Not everyone observes all 5 days as Magikal Working days. Some cultures recognize 3 days, the day before the pinnacle of the phase, the day of pinnacle and the day after. In other words, the day before a Full Moon, the day of the Full Moon and the day after. While other culture only recognize the day of the event. I’m partial to the 3 day concept. It lines up with the idea that magik is practiced in whole, as a union between the physical world and spiritual world. A better way to think of this would be in the Divine Conscious state of Mind, Body and Spirit. Continue reading

The Subtleties of Energy

How Your Thoughts Impact Your Day

I’d like to share something about energy. It seems to be a topic of conversation this week. Most everyone who works with energy in some way sees the spiritual impact of that work. You may pull energy in for healing, send it out through prayers, summon Divine energy for blessings or clearing and cleansing etc. Spiritual practitioners also connect to it in order to provide readings or interpretations for clients. In magik, we pull in energy to manipulate it to our intent and send it back out again. But do you take time to really understand how that energy impacts you, specifically, over time?

When you’re adept at working with energy, a lot of subtle energies can be picked up on and can unexpectedly impact other things in your life. That connection to a client or another person can translate and manifest in some interesting ways. Let me explain that in a little story that happened to me that can help explain where this is going for everyone, professional and layman alike.

I was asked to provide an interpretation of something for a friend. For over a week I’ve tried to fulfill that request. But odd things kept happening blocking my ability to complete that ‘mission’. Every time I sat down to start-up my laptop to type up the interpretation and send it off, our wi-fi would go out. Continue reading

2018 New Year Full Moon & Blue Moon

Moonlit Newgrange Burial Chamber and Standing Stone, County Meath, Ireland.
Photographer: Tim Hannan

January 1st Full Moon

Are you ready for the Full Moon on January 1st? It’s the Winter Wolf Moon in my Clan. And because the moon is still so close to Earth in its Perigee during December 2017, a lot of folks are also calling this coming full moon the Supermoon for 2018.

Supermoons aren’t anything extra special in the world of science. It’s just a commercial name for when the Moon is closest to Earth during its regular orbit around the planet. Because the Moon is closer to Earth in its perigee, it appears to be bigger than what we’re used to seeing during any other full moon through the year.

For Pagans, these closer moons can mean GrandMother Moon is coming in close to look in on the Children of Mother Earth. Esbat rituals (special observances for the phases of the moon) may give special honor to the Old Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess.

January Blue Moon

To top it off, because the full moon is occurring so early in the month, it allows us to squeeze in a 2nd full moon for this month. A Blue Moon, which graces our presence on January 31st, 2018 at 8:27am.

Many in the media are trying to promote this Blue Moon as a “Blood Moon”. It’s not! A Blood Moon is a very specific time of the year for Pagans. And since the name comes from a Pagan observance, I think we get to say when it occurs.  They need to Stop Mixing Mysticism with Science –  No it’s not a Blood Moon.

There are several articles here on my blog that talk more in-depth about these special phases of the Moon that you might be interested in.

© Springwolfs Hanko

© 2017 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D. Springwolf Reflections / Springs Haven, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

What is Yuletide?

Merry Yuletide

The Time of Yule

December 21st marks the Winter Solstice for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Solstice celebrations are expected to be held all around the world, recognizing a variety of secular and non-secular events. But the Solstice also rings in the time of Yule for yet another variety of people, Pagans.

Pagan observance of Yule begin at Sunset
on December 20th, 2017.

Have you ever wondered why we call this time Yuletide? Why is there a Yuletide log? Or what about Yuletide carols? Well of course these are things that evolved overtime. Most are rooted in Paganism, some were co-opted by other religions in an effort to convert Pagans, typically to Christianity. And some have nothing to do with Pagans at all.

Yuletide is a combination word. Yule + tide. It’s the tide part people don’t generally give much thought to in our modern observances. But let’s talk about that for a moment. Continue reading

Meditation Exercises

Visualized Meditations

Each of the following visualized meditations have a common beginning, the lighting of a ‘spiritual’ candle, saying a prayer for assistance, and a process for a visualized protection of yourself and your surroundings. Remember these are only suggestions. Variations of these techniques or others not discussed here may work better for you.

Following this section are three examples of meditative prayers used specifically to identify the intent of the meditation. The first is used for the sole purpose of protection, the second for calling upon your guides and teachers to assist with a reading, and the final prayer is used primarily for closing a reading, or special meditation.

Meditations should be performed in a location of your house or office reserved for spiritual practices. You can use any variety of spiritual or new age music if you choose. Crystals, candles and other spiritual tools are also encouraged.

If you find a piece of music you really like for meditation, stick with it. If you use the same piece each time you meditate, you will pre-program your mind to step into a state of relaxation. Each time you practice, your mind will move into this state with less effort and more quickly, allowing you more time for greater meditative work. My personal favorite piece is called Ascension to All That Is by Robert Slap. You can find it on Amazon.com

Preparing the Room
The room you choose to perform a reading, healing or any spiritual work, should be cleared of negative and unwanted energy. And filled with positive energy that promotes the intent you’re setting the space for spiritual work. There are many techniques to perform this task, the following are just 2 common examples.

Smudging / Incense
A smudge stick is a collection of dried herbs wrapped together with string. Smudge sticks are usually made from sage and a more fragrant herb such as lavender or sandlewood. The sage is used to ward off unwanted or negative energies, the second herb typically denotes the purpose of the stick. I have found sage and lavender to be an excellent cleansing mixture for meditation, healing and divination. And sage and cedar for setting protection, which can also be used for meditation, creating space for spiritual work and celebrations. But these are just two of many combinations you can use.

You can also use an Incense stick or cone if you prefer that form of fragrance instead. Again the variation in fragrance varies widely. Nag Champa, Sunrise Sandalwood, Midnight Patchouli are some of the popular options. I’m partial to Nag Champa and Patchouli. But as with all things on the spiritual path, it’s up to you.

  1. You will need a smudge stick or incense, a book of matches or a lighter. A small bowl to place the smudge or incense, after the blessing. Set the items out before you on the floor or on a coffee table. If you choose to use spiritual music, begin the tape now. <
  2. Sit quietly in the center of the room and close your eyes. Take a few moments to say a brief prayer of protection and to call upon your guide(s) for assistance. Open your eyes and light the smudge stick at one end. Let the herbs burn for about 10 to 15 seconds. Blow out the flames and allow the herbs to smolder.
  3. Stand and face North, raise the smudge toward the ceiling and say: ‘Bless the element of air. The power of the mind’.
  4. Turn to your right to face the East, raise the smudge and say: ‘Bless the element of fire. The power of spirit’.
  5. Turn to your right to face the South, raise the smudge and say: ‘Bless the element of water. The power of emotion’.
  6. Turn to your right to face West, raise the smudge and say: ‘Bless the element of earth. The power of the physical.’
  7. Turn to your right to face North once more, lower the smudge toward the ground and say: ‘Bless the Mother Earth’.
  8. Raise the smudge over your head and say: ‘Bless the Father Sun’.
  9. Lower the smudge to chest level. Fan the smoke toward your body with your hand or a large feather and say: ‘Bless this house, myself and my purpose. Please remove any negative energies out into the universe where they can be dissipated and can no longer do harm to anyone. Send to me the most positive light and power to fulfill my plan for this day. In return I give my thanks and gratitude, my love and positive light for the universal good of all. Amen.’
  10. Place the smudge stick in the small bowl and let it continue to smoke. When the client arrives ask if they mind leaving the smudge burning during the session. If they do, simply turn the stick upside down and gently grind the burning embers into the bowl. Do not use water to put out the remaining coals as this will ruin your smudge stick.
  11. If the client has no opposition to the smudge stick, place it on a table on the opposite side of the room. That way the smoke from the stick will not interfere with your ability to perceive the clients aura. Just remember to extinguish the stick after the reading.

Energetic Meditation

An Altar For Working

Using Energy alone is all about you and how you connect with the Divine and raise energy for spiritual working. This method uses visualization and a few tools to help you focus your intent and energy.

The following images help to balance your own energy, while at the same time adds to your personal power level for cleansing the ‘reading’ room. This meditation will also help to protect you from unwanted intrusions created by negative energies.

You will want to surround your space with spiritual items that mean something to you. A crystal ball, a statue or some representation of your spirit animal, your magikal journal and a cauldron can all be used to help you “get into” the spiritual frame of mind.  You can use any tools you like, it doesn’t have to be any of these, except for the candle. You can also choose a piece of meditation music to help drown out distracting noises around your space.

Select a quiet space that will comfortably fit everyone who will be in your circle. Make sure everyone has room to move, stretch, sit comfortably and so on. If the space is just for you, the same requirements will be needed to help you remain focused on the task at hand.

  1. You will need a white candle and something to light it with. If you choose to use spiritual music, press play now.
  2. Sit in the center of the space, either on a chair or on the floor. Make sure your back is straight and the position you choose is comfortable for about a 10-15 minute session. This allows the positive energy to flow through you and assist in the process of your ritual.
  3. Take a minute to relax and focus your energies. Light the white candle and imagine the flame is coming from within your own consciousness.
  4. Close your eyes and take in 3 deep breaths through your nose. As you do, imagine the positive white light of the universe entering your body and energizing your lungs. As you exhale through your mouth, imagine any negativity, stress and anxiety exiting your body. Say to yourself ‘I release all stress and negative emotions to the universe from my body and my home, where they can be dissipated and no longer do harm to anyone’.
  5. As you take in the final breath, imagine God’s energy filling your lungs with a large ball of pure protective white light. Now return to normal breathing and imagine the ball of light in your lungs beginning to grow as it mixes with your own energy. As the ball becomes larger, the positive light pushes through your organs, tissue and muscles, forcing any leftover stress out of your body and into the universe to be dispersed. Imagine the energy pushing up through your chest, neck and head. Then see the energy pushing downward, through your stomach, hips, legs and feet. When you have imagined the white light fully encompassing your entire body, turn your thought to the solar plexus (the solar plexus is located in the area where the lower part of your rib cage joins together).
  6. Beginning at the solar plexus, imagine a gold spear of light moving down your spine. Take the spear in your mind down through the floor, through the foundation of your house, through the bedrock, and molten lava until it reaches the pure yellow fire within the center of the earth. Imagine the end of your gold spear plugging into the earths core like an electrical cord into an outlet. Once the connection is made, the grounding yellow energy from the earth quickly travels up the spear, through the floor and into your body along the spinal cord. The energy continues up the spine and out the top of your head reaching far out into the universe. As you continue this thought for a few moments, the yellow light from the earth is helping to ground you mentally, emotionally and physically.
  7. When you’re ready to proceed, image a second spear beginning back at your solar plexus. This time, run the gold spear up your spine, out the top of your head, through the roof of your house, through the earths atmosphere and out into the deepest portions of the universe. Now imagine the white energized light of the universe attaching itself to your spear, as if it were a lightening rod. The positive electrical energy quickly travels downward toward the earth, through the roof top, through your head, down through your body alongside the spinal cord, reaching down through the house toward the center of the earth. As you continue this thought for a few moments, the power of the universe is energizing your spiritual and physical bodies.
  8. Now the power from the earth, the power from the universe and your own power of protection mix together and flows freely up and down your body. As you continue this thought for a few moments, each external energy is supplementing your own. The universe and the earth are assisting to balance your energies to enhance the reading. The earth and sky will also provide you with the additional amount of energy you may expended during the session.
  9. When you’re ready to resume, imagine all this revitalizing energy pushing out through the confines of your body. As it grows and moves farther and farther out into the room, all negative and disruptive energy is being pushed out of your house to the universe where it will be dispersed. Continue this image until your entire house is energized with the pure positive energy.
  10. Ask your guide(s) to help protect your house from any negative or earth bound forces. Ask them to watch over you and the events of the day, to bless you and keep you safe. Sit for a few more moments, then when your ready thank your guide(s) and teachers and close the mediation.

Visualized meditations can be very powerful tools for any situation. But the important thing to remember is you’re not alone, so ask for help from your guides and spiritual teachers, but don’t forget to thank those unseen forces for their assistance.

Created: 10/07/1996        Updated: 01/17/2009, 11/24/2019

© Springwolfs Hanko


© 2012-2019 Springwolf, D.D., Ph.D. Springwolf Reflections / Springs Haven, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The December 2017 Supermoon

"Merlin In The Moon" by Springwolf 🐾

“Merlin In The Moon” by Springwolf 🐾

The Last Full Moon of 2017

According to my “Moon Phase: Pro” app, December’s full moon occurs at 10:47am Sunday December 3rd, 2017 Eastern US time. Thanks to modern science we can pinpoint the exact time of each moon phase. And thanks to the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Astronomical Applications Department and the internet, we don’t need an app to help us find those precise moments.

In centuries past, the folks we like to call the Ancient Pagans, didn’t have the precise tools we have today. They did have their own eyes and their early forms of astronomy to help them track the heavenly bodies in the sky. All around the world they used early methods to mark the important times of what know today as the months and the seasonal changes to honor the spirits and the natural world in their lives.

They may not have understood the concept of perigee within the celestial bodies, giving rise to some wondrous myths and legends. Today we know that Perigee occurs once a year when the moon is at its closest point to Earth during its orbit around the planet. This makes the Moon appear larger from our perspective, than we usually witness. Continue reading