What Are The Akasic Records The Akashic Records are a spiritual record of the entire human race, containing all thoughts, words, emotions and actions since the beginning of time. They are believed to be one of the most powerful tools for healing, self-awareness and personal growth available today. As we live our lives on Earth we create an energetic blueprint that is recorded in the Akashic Records. This blueprint contains everything from our past lives (including karma), present circumstances and potential future outcomes based on our current choices and actions. The Akashic Records are not organized in a linear fashion like a text book or encyclopedia—instead, they are organized by vibration, meaning that you will find memories and experiences related to your own personal vibrations. If you resonate with a particular memory or experience that is not your own, this means that it is still relevant for you to explore further. Healing the Past This is a great way to get a handle on the past, whether you are looking for healing or understanding. By accessing information in your Akashic Record, you can learn where it is coming from and what needs to change in order for you to move forward with your life. This also works when looking at your purpose as well. If you have been feeling lost in life, then this is something that may be affecting your sense of purpose and direction. The Akashic Records can help you discover where that disconnection lies for you so that it can be resolved during this lifetime and beyond. Accessing the Akashic Records for Spiritual Development and Guidance Many people use their Akashic records to access spiritual development and guidance. Accessing the Akashic records for spiritual development and guidance can be a great way to get in touch with your higher self and learn more about your purpose. You may also gain insight into what experiences are coming up for you in the future so that you can prepare accordingly. When you ask your questions in the records, sometimes when the answers are given you may see images or words that appear as if you were looking at a movie screen or reading a book. These images can give insight into past events that have shaped who you are today and how they can help shape your future. When seeking guidance in the records, It's important to remember that these answers aren't necessarily going to be literal; they can be symbolic or metaphorical. They might point you in the direction of what needs to happen next in your life, but it may not be clear exactly how it will happen or when it will happen. Opening the Akashic Records Opening the Akashic records is relatively easy. Anywone can learn the process to do it. However, many people soon discover that once they have learned to enter the Askasha it is a little different then what they expected. or instance, when you ask your questions You may receive a response immediately, or it may take some time for you to become aware of where you are and what is happening around you. When you have successfully opened the records, you will notice the energy will shift as soon as you ask for guidance on a specific question or request for information from the Akashic Records. This may feel strange at first, but once there, be open and receptive; allow whatever comes through with ease and grace. If an image comes into your mind's eye (or appears before your inner eye) allow yourself ample time and space to absorb all that is being offered at that moment—there may be much more than one message presented at any given time! Feel free throughout this process of exploration into past lives/lives lived elsewhere in the universe/other dimensions. Karma and Past Lives Karma is the energetic residue of our actions. We all have karma, which can be cleansed by forgiveness, prayer, meditation and other spiritual practices. The goal of these practices is to bring about more peace in your life. This energy does not go away until it has been confronted and forgiven. If you have not confronted your karma, it will continue to haunt you in this life and future. In order to move on from something that happened in a past life, try writing down all the details of what happened and how it made you feel. This can help you release negative emotions attached to the memory so that they no longer hold power over your present-day emotions. Viewing past lives while accessing the Akashic Records is a quick way to gain insight into your life purpose, relationships with others, or any other area where clarity may be needed. You may see yourself as a person who looks or acts very different from you do now—maybe they have a different complexion or different hair, or maybe they're a man and you're a woman, or vice versa. This is because we all have many lives, and many bodies, and over time we've experienced many things. We can also choose to remember some things and forget others.These past life visions are often accompanied by vivid emotions: joy, anger, peace. Sometimes these emotions are felt strongly enough that you can actually remember them later on—and this can be incredibly helpful in understanding yourself better! Some Ground Rules For ASking Questions in The Akashic Records The records are not a crystal ball or fortune-telling device. They are the invisible, timeless, and universal storehouse of all thoughts, words, emotions, and events that have ever occurred in your life and the lives of your ancestors. The Akashic records are a sacred space, every thought holds a memory in the Akashic records. Your family lineages are recorded there as well as all past lives. All that you think or feel is recorded forever in this field of energy. Before you begin your journey, here are a few do's & don'ts The Do's 1. When you access the records, it is always best to be in a quiet place. You should be in a state of serenity and peace before you attempt to access the Akashic records. 2. You must enter the Akashic records with an open mind and heart. 3. The Akashic records are not meant to be used for selfish purposes or to manipulate others in any way. They are meant to help you better understand yourself and your place in the universe, so that you may serve others more effectively and with greater compassion and love. 4. Remember that what you see is only one piece of the larger puzzle, so try not to make rash decisions based solely on what you find in the Akashic records; remember also that sometimes it takes many lifetimes for us to learn our lessons, so if something seems too difficult for you now, don't give up hope! 5. Do rememberto close the records once you have finished your trip there. Remember to thank your guides and the other attendant beings in the records before you leave. The Don'ts Don't ask for information you don't need. Don't ask for data that is not relevant to your life. Don't ask for information that is not relevant to your healing. Don't use it for revenge or other negative purposes Respect the Record's wisdom and power Returning the Reords again and again Visiting the Akashic Records is safe, and anyone who explores their records is sure to gain insight and understanding of their souls journey.Each time you access the Akashic records, you gain insight into what has happened before in your life and why you are where you are today. You'll gain clarity about your purpose on this plane and how to live according to it. You'll also be able to see how past experiences have influenced who you've become today—and how they can be used for good now instead of being held in the past. If you would like to become an Akashic Records Reader please visit the link below. In my career, I am what you might call a professional mystic. I teach and work with spiritual seekers from all over the world. My love and passion for the mystic arts are what drives me to keep creating, sharing and educating others. I love to bring my diverse knowledge of metaphysical knowledge and depth of experience to my clients and students through providing intuitive and spiritual services. I'm Known for my ability to blend fun with professionalism, and I'm proud to offer nearly three decades of esoteric experience which includes the co-creation of the Sirian Starseed Tarot, several books, classes, manuals & the Seekers Oracle. In my professional practice, I am a master tarot reader & teacher, second-generation traditional western astrologer, numerologist, certified professional past-life regressionist, Reiki Grand Master Teacher, Certified Life coach, author, artist, and founder of North Star Mystic Academy, which opened in 2019. I live and work in Ontario, Canada Email: hello@northstarmystic.com Classes & Courses: https://www.northstarmystic.com/calendar Books: www.AchilleaFortuna.com Become a Patron: https://www.northstarmystic.com/north-star-mystic-patron

As a reiki healer, you're probably like me and constantly seeking ways to expand your practice and improve your results. I have found that crystals can help you bring an increased sense of peace and balance to your client's energy field. They offer vibrational healing complementary to reiki and just about every form of energy healing. Since crystals are natural, safe, and inexpensive, it's worth experimenting with them yourself. Here are five types of crystals that I recommend for every reiki healer. These crystals are sure to inspire if you're looking for a way to advance your skills, deepen your healing practice, and help you take your practice in bold new directions by opening up new dimensions of awareness and helping you see things from a fresh perspective. Selenite Selenite is an excellent stone to use when cleansing your space. It's also a powerful stone you can use to clear negative energy that might have accumulated in your home or office. Selenite is an excellent crystal to use when you're feeling drained, as it helps restore Qi by opening the heart chakra and raising overall energy levels. The cleansing properties of selenite are also helpful if you feel like there's some kind of blockage preventing you from moving forward with specific tasks or if you feel weighed down by an ongoing situation at work or in your personal life. Clear Quartz Clear quartz is a powerful healing stone that is commonly used in reiki practice. It is said to be able to amplify other stones' energy, making it a good choice for any healer who needs a boost. Clear quartz is also thought to help regulate the chakras and cleanse your aura. It’s important to note that while clear quartz can help those sensitive to energy, it can also make people more sensitive than they may want at the moment. This is because Clear Quartz amplifies energy. If you are concerned with this crystal amping up the wrong energies, pair it with a grounding stone that is appropriate for your work with your client. Goethite Hematite Goethite Hematite is a grounding stone. It helps to calm the mind and body and relieve stress and anxiety. Goethite Hematite can also aid reiki in removing toxic energies from the body. It is excellent for those who are experiencing trauma or depression! Hematite is an excellent stone for meditation, as it helps you clear your mind and focus on breathing. It can also be used to help relieve stress, anxiety and depression. Rose Quartz Rose quartz is a beautiful crystal that promotes love, healing and compassion. It is also used for self-love. It is also associated with the heart chakra, representing love and relationship. This stone has been used to heal emotional wounds in all areas of life, including romantic relationships. If you want to deepen your connection with another person or are working toward forgiveness in a problematic situation, rose quartz may also be a good choice. It can help to open your heart center so that you can receive more love from others—and give more of it as well! Additionally, rose quartz can help break through blocks around receiving love from others or accepting compliments from people around you (or maybe even yourself). Amazonite Amazonite is a soothing stone that helps with stress and anxiety. If your client is feeling anxious or stressed, amazonite can help ground them in the present moment by helping them let go of past issues and worries. Amazonite can also help you see the bigger picture by giving you more clarity of mind. It's great for anyone who feels overwhelmed by their own feelings or other people's emotions! Amazonite is also an excellent stone for creativity. It helps you tap into your imagination and come up with new ideas. These five crystals are useful for any healer or reiki practitioner. They can be used by themselves or in combination with other crystals to create a healing space that will help you clear energy, align with your higher self, and heal yourself and others from illness and disease. In my career, I am what you might call a professional mystic. I teach and work with spiritual seekers from all over the world. My love and passion for the mystic arts are what drives me to keep creating, sharing and educating others. I love to bring my diverse knowledge of metaphysical knowledge and depth of experience to my clients and students through providing intuitive and spiritual services. I'm Known for my ability to blend fun with professionalism, and I'm proud to offer nearly three decades of esoteric experience which includes the co-creation of the Sirian Starseed Tarot, several books, classes, manuals & the Seekers Oracle. In my professional practice, I am a master tarot reader & teacher, second-generation traditional western astrologer, numerologist, certified professional past-life regressionist, Reiki Grand Master Teacher, Certified Life coach, author, artist, and founder of North Star Mystic Academy, which opened in 2019. I live and work in Ontario, Canada Email: hello@northstarmystic.com Classes & Courses: https://www.northstarmystic.com/calendar Books: www.AchilleaFortuna.com Become a Patron: https://www.northstarmystic.com/north-star-mystic-patron

Tarot is more than a simple collection of 78 cards. It is more than the artwork on the deck and the explanations you may find within a booklet. Tarot is more than a source for guidance and divination or an Occult curiosity. It is more than all of those things because it is the story of the human experience. I remember the first time I heard Tarot referred to as the fool's journey. It confused me a bit but intrigued me even more. That tiny statement sent a cascade of questions tumbling from my mind and out of my mouth. Any time I had the opportunity to speak with someone who was seasoned in the use of those mysterious cards, I would ask as many questions as they were willing to answer. Thankfully, most of those folks were generous and happy to share their knowledge with a young seeker such as me. For my part, as my journey has unfolded over the years, I would come to understand that the Fool's Journey was, in actuality, describing the very conditions I found myself in. That is to say, I was living The Fool's Journey, not just in my learning Tarot, but literally in everyday life. You see, Tarot encapsulates the human experience in two ways. First, in the subtle mundanities of life. The daily tasks we all perform, the inconspicuous ebb and flow of life. This is represented eloquently in the minor Arcana, with subtlety and grace. The figures and their environments invite us to explore an outer realm that is intrinsically linked to our inner experience. Then, the second way is through the larger narrative of the themes and phases we each must: Take your time - I always tell my students that learning Tarot takes a lifetime. Even those who created the Tarot as we know it today were students of the Universe and its secrets. In other words, even the people who used their magical, occult and arcane knowledge didn’t have it all figured out. Tarot, in a way, is a living body of work and consciousness. Though it was created in antiquity, it is very much immersed in our contemporary stream of consciousness, evolving with practitioners; while simultaneously remaining a whole and complete work. So, if you are just starting out with the Tarot, remember that you don’t have to know everything by heart to give accurate, insightful, and relevant readings. Get lots of good books, take courses, and above all, don’t pressure yourself to learn too quickly. Learn the meaning of the symbols - When most people start out reading Tarot, they make 3 big mistakes. The first is that they believe that they have to memorize every single card in order to read Tarot accurately. Second, some people mistakenly believe that they can read Tarot strictly intuitively. Or third, they believe that the booklet/ book that comes with a deck will give all the answers needed to read the cards. The truth is that Tarot is a tool for guidance, direction and divination, and it delivers these through symbols. Those symbols act like an alphabet. Each symbol expresses a concept, thought, feeling or energy, which, when read alone or especially together, creates a statement that can then be turned into a story. I always tell my students that the cards have no wasted space. Everything from the background to the use of colours and even the way objects, figures and composition of the images in the cards have meaning. Learning the meaning of symbols in Tarot is the fastest and often the best way to learn to use the cards to their fullest potential. Read reversals - This is one of those points people tend to get rather heated over. Though it seems a small thing, reading reversed or upside-down cards in a Tarot spread is absolutely necessary. The fundamental reason for this is that the cards are intended to acknowledge and reflect the dualistic nature of life and the human experience. I’m sure you can agree that not every single day is rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes we find ourselves faced with difficulty, loss, defeat, and delays. Reversed cards can forewarn these experiences, thusly helping you to prepare or redirect when necessary. Not only can reversed cards warn us of not-so-good or worsening conditions, but they can tell us of release, freedom and renewal. Sometimes a reversed card is the best card in the spread. In any case, learning reversals can seem intimidating, making learning tarot seem even more discouraging. But, if you stick to it and learn, you will have not just 78 cards to work with but 156! Practice, practice, practice - This is the REAL key to learning Tarot. The more you practice reading, the more you will learn to interpret the symbols in the cards and apply them to the myriad of questions you will be confronted with. You will quickly see with more practice that the same card can come up in different readings and have entirely different meanings… or sometimes the same. Occasionally you will draw the same card for the same person on the same subject in a new and different spread. Practice teaches you how to read the cards with fluency that only comes from experience. It also helps you to build your confidence and accuracy! Don’t worry; you’re intuitive enough! Nearly every student I have taught, with only a few exceptions, has worried that they weren’t intuitive enough to read Tarot. Or, they worried that their intuition wasn’t strong or reliable enough to do readings. Another concern has been to worry about whether the intuitive “hits” were real or imaginary. Still, some people worry that even if their intuition is correct, they won’t be able to use it when they need it… or trust it. So, my dear Mystic here’s the thing; you are, in fact, very intuitive. You have an inner compass that will guide you if you ask it. You must learn how it “speaks” to you and then practice using it. Each person has a unique “frequency” they can use to tune into the collection and or super stream of consciousness, and you are no different. The main thing that divides those who work with their intuition and those who do not is, PRACTICE, FOCUS and CONCENTRATION. All of those things can be cultivated. And if you are afraid to trust your intuition because of a bad experience in your past or fears rooted in more recent experiences, that is understandable. However, you can always rebuild your relationship with your intuition by healing and creating a gentle practice. It is there, and it works. You only need to tap into it!! So, here are my 5 tips for beginner Tarot readers! I hope you find it helpful and are excited to read those cards! A little about me - My tarot practice started a little over 28 years ago when I picked up my first Tarot deck, which first belonged to my father. It was the Celtic Tarot, and I loved it. I worked with it incessantly for more than a few years before beginning at my husband refers to as an obscene collection of cards. Later my Tarot journey would take on a new dimension when I co-created The Sirian Starseed Tarot with Patricia Cori. This experience was what I would call a master class in Tarot, as I learned more about the symbols and subtleties woven into the images of these cards than I could have ever anticipated. I read for clients all over the world, from the UK to Australia, Italy, The United States and, of course, here on my home turf in Canada. I also teach Tarot from the beginner level all the way to the certification level. Tarot has given me soooo much, and I love to use it as a tool to give to others!

The changes in thought paradigms, personal values, and belief structures that occur can be painful, as it is often a result of circumstances that force the burning off of all that is inessential. This refinement is necessary as it is the gateway to catharsis and liberty. However, that doesn’t mean that the path toward transformation is easy or even transparent. But hey, that's what makes it fun, right? After all, at the heart of things, isn’t what we all desire; freedom? Each of us reaching for a measure of personal liberty. Seeking The kind of agency that allows for self-expression and unmitigated self-actualization.... To live in the fullness of who you were created to be. I think that level of self-realization is much of what makes up the substance of both personal satisfaction and dissatisfaction in the way we view our lives. Yet, for many, there seems to be innumerable barriers and blockades at every turn. Many people are dogged by the nagging anxieties that plague the lack of measurable success. Moving forward becomes impossible when you get caught up in things like - What will my family think? How will my friends react? What about my partner... Will they leave… Or worse... Will they laugh? How will I survive if everyone I know looks at whom I've become and doesn't like what they see? Will anyone take me seriously? Or my personal favourite… who the hell am I to do or talk about any of this? All those questions are not bad, and they're not wrong to ask. They are perfectly rational and sensible questions. Wondering at the validity of your qualifications is, in my opinion, one point of measurable self-awareness. And, to be completely honest, this self-awareness is only attainable if you, in fact, are concerned with your impact on those around you. A.K.A. giving a fuck. You might be thinking… but doesn't that make me weak? Doesn't that mean I'm attracting the wrong things or sending out the wrong vibes? Doesn't that mean I'm giving my power away to someone else? Well, my sweet mystic, let me relieve you of that fear... HELL NO! Read that twice! HELL, NO, it does not make you weak, Nor does it mean that you are attracting more of what you don’t want, and it certainly doesn't mean that you are giving away your power. However, it does make you vulnerable! Now, before you pack up your sage and stop reading, let me expand on why being vulnerable, caring what others think (to an extent) and being sensitive is not only normal and healthy but absolutely critical to your success. Questioning anything is the beginning place of growth. Caring about what others think is an integral part of the system of your survival imperative. In other words, to some degree, caring about what others think can, in fact, make a difference in terms of your safety and survival. If you think back to when we lived in smaller communities or tribal groups, the thoughts of our caretakers were often born of experience, and we consulted with our elders and fellow community members in order to sustain ourselves safely. Like, imagine you and I are walking to the local watering hole. When we arrive, we see a really LARGE kitty. Now, I LOVE cats and pretty much want to pet all of them and give them snacky treats. So imagine if you told me, Alysa, I don’t think you should pet that kitty (in this case, let's pretend the kitty is a super hungry person-eating tiger. what? Tigers are kitties too); it will eat your face off. To which I look at you with a big disbelieving grin and say to you … I don’t care what you think, kitties are good and it clearly needs me! Then I proceed to go skipping over to said LARGE kitty, only to realize a second, and a face-eating-bite too late, that maybe you were right and what you thought about the big kitty was correct after all. That would be a super hard lesson, wouldn't it?! So even if that was a silly example of how caring about what others think can have a very real and practical role in your decision-making, I’m sure you get the idea. Yet, as always, there is a notable caveat to that. At the end of the day, you should NEVER, and I mean never, ever replace someone else's judgment or thoughts for your own inner wisdom. Aside from your personal safety and holistic well-being, taking a discerning approach is ALWAYS wise. But Alysa, what if I want to make changes, I’ve asked my friends, family, guides and goldfish and I still feel lost, unsafe or scared to move ahead? What if I try to make big changes, and I’m still stuck?? Then what, Alysa? Then what?? Well, darling, there are two things I will say to you regarding that. Thing number 1: Most of us, myself included, sometimes spend a lot of time feeling lost, confused and scared. We all either try to hide it to varying degrees of success, or we muddle through. Thing number 2: ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF! Ask for help! For many people, staying silent and invisible is easier than dealing with what they believe will likely be the harsh criticism, rejection and/or dismissive treatment from those they love. Some people believe the people they are asking for support from will have a negative opinion of them or what they wish to do with their lives. Other times it's a matter of feeling unworthy, and as though asking for anything you’re not “owed’ is going to be a MASSIVE hardship or imposition on the person/s you request assistance from. See, the trouble with this thinking is that sometimes it's true, and sometimes it's not. When thinking this way, again, you are doing a very normal and rational thing. You are assessing risk! If you believe the risk to be too significant, you will likely find yourself standing on the sidelines of your life, longing for that day that ain’t ever gonna dawn. Ouch, oof, truth. If you are still with me, Mystic adventurer, I’d like to invite you into an exploration. Especially if there are things in your life you wish to do but feel you can’t, or if there is an aspect of your identity that you keep hidden. I would like to invite you to think about the nature of permanence! What, what’s that you say, Alysa? Permanence? What the HELL does that have to do with anything? Yes, Mystic, permanence. And, it has to do with everything! As human beings, we often think about our lives from the perspective of absolutes. We look at situations and say to ourselves, I absolutely adore chocolate and absolutely hate butterscotch. I absolutely think that if I tell my friends, I see dead people, they will absolutely think I’m barking mad, and they will absolutely treat me differently or stop speaking to me altogether. Or, I must quit my accounts receivable job to be a successful spiritual practitioner. Welp, I’m here to tell you when you are thinking of things from the perspectives of absolutes, you are in BIG trouble. Because nothing is genuinely absolute, and this is because nothing lasts forever on the physical plane. Therefore, even circumstances, opinions and beliefs are subject to change. This is really good news because as you continue to transform through your own natural evolution, so too does everything (and everyone else) around you. Nothing remains the same because nothing on this plane of existence is permanent. So, while you may have been telling yourself that you shouldn’t care about what others think, and you should adopt an “I don’t give a F*CK” attitude that will empower you with just enough worthiness to embrace your truest self… I’m here lovingly holding up a HUGE sign that says… “WRONG WAY.” You don’t need to do that at all. You need to give plenty of F*cks! Part of caring what others think helps you to remain sensitive, aware, emotionally intelligent… and… dare I say, compassionate. Understanding that transformation, evolution and caring can all coexist is like having a superpower that imbues you with the worthiness, clarity and direction you have been seeking. But there is one rule about using this superpower. Learn what to give your attention to! This, my dear Mystic, is an acquired skill. You will have to consciously sift through self-imposed garbage your WHOLE life. You will have moments where you return to the waiting place and or the lands of confusion and the sandbar of inaction many, many, many times in your life. This is an irrefutable fact of life. Sometimes life circumstances or even people will knock you on your ass, sending you spinning in every direction except for the one that leads you home leads you home. Finding your way back is far easier than you think. It always begins with accepting your humanness, which leads to asking for help. Which means, you, like me, like everyone else, takes a wee bit of bravery and trust. When you can extend those things, transformation is inevitable. If this is the first time we are "meeting" through this blog, WELCOME! Welcome to my world and my blog. This is a place where I share my thoughts, observations, musings and other things. Hopefully, you will browse around and find something useful to you. If you'd like to get to know me better, check out my bio Here It's not ridiculously long, but you will get to know about what I do. If you want to become part of my community (I hope you do), please feel free to join. There are lots of benefits for you to enjoy, and lots of other people that make up a thriving, beautiful, curious, creative and beautiful people for you to meet and connect with. I offer loads of events that you can participate in that will help you grow. Click here for details Lastly, I also offer a Podcast that you can listen to. It's on I tunes, Spotify, pandora, Castbox and a few more. Or you can listen to it right here. I love to talk about all kinds of stuff. Anything that stimulates conversation bends your mind or expands the soul. It's worth a listen... Thanks for reading. All my love. Alysa

You know the best thoughts are shower thoughts. All kinds of cool ideas just seem to pop up while you’re singing at embarrassingly high pitches, shampooing the squirrels out of your hair. So this morning, while I was in the shower, enjoying 15 minutes of brainlessness, A thought occurred to me. No, don’t worry, it didn’t die of loneliness! For whatever reason, I started thinking about what people sometimes say when you work as a psychic, intuitive or medium. ( or, in my case, a Mystic.) I think most of the time it’s meant harmlessly, but I gotta be honest, sometimes it does feel a bit dismissive when someone says to you something like - “what am I thinking?” or “If you’re psychic, how come you don’t just give yourself the winning lottery numbers?” These are just examples of the most common crap that is said. So, I thought I would mention a few things you can tell people if you work in a spiritual business or if you are someone who isn’t all that sure about how a psychic does their thing. Whatever the case, I just wanted to share with you a few things that a professional psychic is… and a few things they are not. A magic 8 Ball - I know it might be tempting to shake some people when you want a straight answer, but your psychic is not one of them. Intuitive folks don’t have canned answers. In other words, it takes LOADS of energy and many years of learning and practice so that they can access the information that will help guide them. Over the years, I have been practicing intuitive work; I have chosen to continuously educate myself. I firmly believe that one person can never know everything about a tool or technique. Therefore, I continue to study. It is through this study that & people like me can provide excellent services. Additionally, doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, psychologists and therapists are all required to engage in continuous learning, and most people feel at ease trusting these folks with their lives. An expert in everything - Not all intuitives, psychics and healers are created equal. Most of us will specialize in a few things, but none of us do it all. I’m a great example of this. I have multiple certificates in several different disciplines. I’m an astrologer, psychic tarot reader, past life regressionist, certified life coach, reiki master teacher, and spiritual mentor. However, for all things I do, there is a ton of things that I don’t. I’m not a paranormal investigator or medium. I don’t work with herbs or spells. However, what I know, I know very well ( see the previous point), and for the things I don’t know, I will likely have someone in my circle to who I can refer you to. This is why I keep a community of expert colleagues in my circle! Cause if I can’t help you, I most likely know someone who can! Right about everything - As much as it would be nice, no one, including your favourite intuitive, is always right. However, because of the nature of psychic work, there is an extra emphasis on accuracy and correctness. If you have ever had a psychic reading, then you will understand what I’m about to say - You have booked time with your psychic, and you are going into the reading with some questions about your life. The answers to these questions are very important to you and will to a greater or lesser degree, impact your decisions. The decisions you make will guide your life in a direction that you hope will bring you happiness. But! Oh yeah, there’s always a but! But what if the advice, prediction or direction you are given is totally wrong? What if your reading sounds good, but nothing ever comes to pass as you had been told? Does that mean all psychics are wrong or fakes? Or maybe it's the intuitive you saw just sucks, and they didn’t do their job. Well, here’s the deal, in most cases, the reader you see is generally extremely concerned with their accuracy. For the folks I teach, and mentor, one of the most consistent issues budding psychics have is being right for the people they work with. They want to be of service so much that sometimes they never work for others for the fear of being wrong. So rest assured, you’re not the only one who wants your reading to be correct! Responsible for your actions - This is a big one! Influence and responsibility are a natural byproduct of giving advice of any kind. However, as a psychic, intuitive or alternative healer, it almost seems as though you are taking twice the risk of helping people through guidance and advice. I believe this is a result of there has been a significant history of fraud and charlatan psychics. As well as the fact that many people think of psychics/ intuitives as nuts, quacks and fakes. I think this largely is due to the fact that the media has played a big role in reporting how science has never proven anything legitimate in terms of how this so-called phenomenon works. So, when giving advice as a psychic or receiving advice, there should be clear communication between those involved that the choices each person makes are his/ her own and that whatever advice you take, you can equally choose to reject it. A satanist, pagan or occultist - Oh boy! Here is a classic example of when people don’t ask enough questions. I can’t tell you how many times people have made the assumption that I practice or follow some sort of religious or particular belief structure that could be defined as ritualistic or religious in some way. I think because there are many unusual-looking symbols and techniques and a long history of these things being kept secret, it is easy to conclude that people who do intuitive work are doing things rather darkly. Additionally, there has been a great defaming visited on psychics by certain mass market religions and industrialized media that shoves a negative image of anyone who practices ancient or pre-Christian beliefs. It sucks; it really does because that only serves to separate us from our ancestral past in all of its intricacies and beauty and doesn’t allow us to fully witness our own collective evolution. As for me, my spirituality is very private and sacred and cannot be defined under a label that would be recognizable as a religion. I personally approach my interaction with creation and the Prime Creator as a co-creation. (I said creation a lot there, didn’t I?) a way in which I affect and am affected by my environment and the experiences that result of this engagement… and that’s just the notes in the margin of a very long and detailed description. So as you can see, many of the labels that apply to some psychic folk do not apply to me, and in the same way, each individual has their own approach to their spiritual beliefs. There is no one size fits all, and to further that statement, it is kinder and more respectful to acknowledge that each person has a unique spiritual path, even if they join others in sharing it. Alysa is a professional mystic, who teaches and works with spiritual seekers from all over the world. Her dynamic personality and passion for the mystic arts are infectious. She loves to bring her wealth of metaphysical knowledge and depth of experience to her clients and students through providing intuitive and spiritual services. Known for her ability to blend fun with professionalism, Alysa offers nearly 3 decades of esoteric experience which includes the co-creation of the Sirian Starseed Tarot & the Seekers Oracle. In her professional practice, Alysa is a master tarot reader & teacher, second-generation traditional western astrologer, numerologist, certified professional past-life regressionist, Reiki Master Teacher, Certified Life coach, published author, artist, and founder of North Star Mystic Academy, which opened in 2019. Alysa lives and works in Ontario, Canada Email: hello@northstarmystic.com Web address: www.northstarmystic.com Classes & Courses: www.NSMAcademy.org Books by Alysa: www.AchilleaFortuna.com

Have you ever noticed how everything you see is pointing out how much happier you could be? Have you noticed that social media seems to have 1001 ads offering you a new and improved way to be happier, thinner, richer or fitter or sexier or more powerful? Have you noticed that not one of these ads, offers, classes, tips, tricks, hacks or webinars ever teaches you anything tangible...relatable, or usable without you first making some kind of purchase? If you have said yes - or kinda, sometimes, or even maybe - then have I got news for you!!! Oh yeah! I'm gonna share something with you that will change your life FOREVER...maybe. ( I really hope you read that in the Sham-Wow guy's voice!) In order to truly glean all that you can from what I'm about to share with you, I will need your undivided attention for at least long enough to read through this. STEP 1 - You have to keep what you don't like. You shouldn't send it back; nobody likes complainers. Let's say life is like a diner. You go to the diner, you stay a while, and then you leave. Maybe this is your first time at this diner, and you decide to order something you're familiar with... like a basket of fries. You order fries because they are pretty universal. Even if they have slight differences from place to place, you still know what you are getting into for the most part. So, now imagine your order of fries show up... and, um... YUCK. They've been overcooked in old fryer grease. You can't call them burnt, but they sure aren't what you were expecting. Even the taste, colour and smell are off. So you wave over the server, thinking you want to send your order back to the kitchen. But when they get there, you can tell they have had a rough day, and you don't wanna make it worse, so instead of asking for new fries... you ask for more ketchup. So, now you are suffering silently with grody fries and a bunch of ketchup to choke them down with. Not only are you likely to have a tummy ache.... you will probably feel bad because you kept something you didn't want. See, this, my dear, is a prime example of how you can screw yourself over by not advocating for your own happiness. Sometimes, you may have to ask for more, rock the boat, stand up for yourself, or even just send the damn fries back. The trick is to do it in the most mindful way you can. Sometimes things that happen are out of everyone's control, it may not seem like it, but it is a simple cosmic law. Even when you know who is responsible, the highest form of practising unconditional kindness is to ask for what you need, but do so gently... even when you're tempted to rain down hellfire on a deserving participant in your discomfort. Step 2 - SUCK IT UP PRINCESS - Sometimes you have to muscle through the fuckery that life throws at you. You have to greet the garbage life sprawls across your lawn with a stiff upper lip and a can-do attitude. But there are times when you need to be vulnerable. Times in your life where you need to slow down and ask for a little help. But, if you are reading this, chances are you aren't always so good at asking for help. You take what is served to you and "Suck it up" If you can relate to this, then I'm pretty sure you have been told to be tougher enough times that you learned to stop asking for help. I once read something that talked about refusing to ask for help is a "trauma." Step 3. Keep your opinions to yourself - Nobody likes an opinionated big mouth! I mean, isn't life so much better when you keep your thoughts to yourself? I hope you can sense the sarcastic tone in my "voice." Here's the tits, my love - your opinion matters. Don't let anybody convince you otherwise. You wanna know why your thoughts count? Well, it's because they are a unique perspective on what may in ace be a shared experience. I ask for other people's opinions all the time because I know... I KNOW that I don't know everything! Your opinion on a matter if offered tactfully and thoughtfully, could go a long way to improve someone else's life. Just don't forget to educate yourself before offering your opinion. Because uneducated opinions have a nasty habit of morphing into excuses... which are a lot like assholes - they pretty much ALWAYS STINK! Step 4. Stay RIGHT where you are! Nothing kills happiness more than inertia. Sometimes, for whatever reason, we resist change even if we know we need it. It's funny how you can convince yourself you are actually comfortable; you are just afraid. I'm not pointing this out to shame anyone; rather, I'm just sharing an observation. I've made this observation even in myself. There have been one or twelve times when I have stayed in super unhealthy relationships, dissatisfying jobs and even kept exceptionally shitty self "care' routines because I thought I was comfortable.... or safe. When in fact, I was just terrified of what I thought I might lose if I let go of my discomfort and embraced the potential that waited in an unknown future. The minute I abandoned my fear and leapt into the eye of the hurricane, I found the most vital component of the happiness that I was avoiding. Wanna know what that crucial, super-secret sauce is? It's faith! Faith that it's all gonna work out in my favour. If you can trust in yourself and the universe's desire to support you fiercely and unconditionally, then all you need to do is have faith! 5. WORK as HARD as you can, ALWAYS!! - Now, don't get it twisted. I'm not saying you should never rest or that you should forego life's pleasures, grind constantly, or become a workaholic. Not at all. What I am saying is to work at the capacity you are able. Some days I got all kinds of energy and fire. Some days you might need to test me for a pulse. Sometimes I'm inspired, and I move mountains. Other days I'd rather lick the window. What shocks me is that many people are surprised when I disclose that my success has never been contingent on working constantly. Instead, it has been about working CONSISTENTLY. That's what I mean when I say work as hard AS YOU CAN always. Some days you will be able to knock everything off your to-do list like it's your job, and then there will be all the other times when you won't. But if you maintain a consistent and persistent pace, you will find happiness. So I guess if you have read this far then, you have figured out I don't really want you to sabotage your life. What I really want is for you to thrive. To meet your fullest potential - the highest expression of yourself. You can meet your potential and exceed your own expectations! Of this, I am confident! All my love, dear Mystic!

Like so many things in the world of spiritual tools, there are bonds that connect one system of divination to another. Take, for example, Tarot and astrology. As I'm sure you are aware, Tarot is a system of divination that gives guidance to a person through reading the cards in a spread or even one at a time, which offers a reflection on your past, present and future. But did you know that the Tarot is closely related to astrology as each card in a tarot deck relates to a planet, element, or astrological sign? Tarot cards are most often used for divination, and many people associate them with fortune-telling. But, many psychologists have used them as well, feeling that the cards often make patients delve into how they feel about themselves and situations in their past and present. For example, let's say you know work is not going well, but you do not allow yourself to think about it. Getting a tarot card reading that shows you need to change occupations is not really telling your future so much as it is making you face what is really going on in your life. In fact, you will find that, more often than not, a good tarot reading will affirm what you already may know, thus empowering you with the confidence needed to follow through on your plans. So my dear Mystic, let's talk a little bit about what Tarot is! A tarot card deck consists of 78 cards that fall into two distinctive parts. The first category of cards that most people are familiar with is called the Major Arcana. This part of the deck has 22 cards, 21 suitless cards referred to as trumps and one card called The Fool. These cards represent different stages of life that we go through. Many are recognizable such as the Magician (associated with the planet Mercury), the Lovers (associated with the astrological sign Gemini), and the Death card (associated with Scorpio). The other 56 cards are referred to as the Minor Arcana. Arcana is taken from the Latin word arcanum, meaning secret. The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits, just like regular playing cards. The four suits are the Cups, the Wands, the Swords, and the Pentacles. Each of these cards represents a certain element of the Earth and is associated with certain astrological signs. The Cups represent water and are associated most closely with Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. The Cups stand for emotions, spirituality, and the unconscious. The Wands represent fire and are associated with Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. The Wands stand for action, creativeness, and personal growth. The Swords represent air and are associated with Libra, Gemini, and Aquarius. The Swords stand for the mind, intelligence, and knowledge. The final suit, the Pentacles, represents earth itself and is associated with Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. The Pentacles stand for physical resources, bodily experiences, and practicality. In addition to the four suits, there are also Court cards, including the King, Queen, Prince, and Princess, for each suit. The Minor Arcana cards provide more details to the Major Arcana cards. The Major Arcana gives an individual direction and information about their personal life and emotional and mental state. The Minor Arcana cards offer additional guidance in areas such as relationships, activities, failures, and successes. The Major Arcana cards are seen as more spiritual, while the Minor Arcana cards are seen as material. While you are likely familiar with the Rider Waite Smith Tarot deck, many regard it as the first tarot deck to become accessible to the general public. Though some people find it old-fashioned and maybe even a little boring, it remains my favourite deck to teach with. Some people feel that modern decks of tarot cards are much more expressive than the earlier version, due in part to the ever-widening variety of themed decks to choose from. You can find a tarot deck to suit nearly every taste! Many card sets are often viewed as works of art because of the detailed pictures on each one. Which is directly responsible for my somewhat compulsive need to collect more decks! Whether you get a tarot card reading virtually or in person, there are several things you should keep in mind. The tarot card reading should not scare you but rather give you a better understanding of yourself. They will help you with not only what your future holds but also what is presently going on in your life. You should leave the reading with a positive attitude and feel enlightened. If you are interested in learning more about Tarot, I offer courses here. If you would like to book a reading, click here A little about me - My tarot practice started a little over 28 years ago when I picked up my first Tarot deck, which first belonged to my father. It was the Celtic Tarot, and I loved it. I worked with it incessantly for more than a few years before beginning at my husband refers to as an obscene collection of cards. Later my Tarot journey would take on a new dimension when I co-created The Sirian Starseed Tarot with Patricia Cori. This experience was what I would call a master class in Tarot, as I learned more about the symbols and subtleties woven into the images of these cards than I could have ever anticipated. As of now, I read for clients all over the world, from the UK to Australia, Italy, The United States and of course, here on my home turf in Canada. I also teach Tarot from the beginner level all the way to the certification level. Tarot has given me soooo much, and I love to use it as a tool to give to others!

The world today can be overwhelming! Each year, society seems to revolve more and more around technology, screens, and stress. It is far too easy to get caught up comparing ourselves to the perfectly curated lives we see on social media or feel overwhelmed by the never-ending 24-hour news cycle. It’s no wonder we can often find ourselves feeling caught in negative cycles of anxiety, fear, and stress. Thankfully, we are all born with the ability to access a tool that can help us overcome all of today's modern struggles. A tool that can help guide us through life and stay on the right path. It is our one true superpower, ancient wisdom buried within each of us. What I’m talking about, my dear Mystic is your intuition! The definition of intuition is, “the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning”. In other words, it's the bridging of the gap between our conscious and unconscious minds. For example, have you ever had an unexplainable feeling in your gut that instinctively told you when something you were doing was right or wrong? That was your intuition speaking. Now imagine what your life would be like if you were able to access that inner guidance system whenever you needed it. That sounds amazing, right? Who wouldn’t want more of that? Listening and trusting that little voice is a marvellous thing on its own, but working to develop that little voice can make it even more powerful. We all have the sacred ability to grow and strengthen our intuition. The more we use it, the more it can expand and evolve. Imagine your intuition as a muscle that needs exercise and nourishment to flourish. Let’s take a look at the 11 best ways to get in tune with and develop your amazing gift! Meditation Unless you have been living under a rock for the past 5 years, you have no doubt heard that you should be meditating. We hear about it everywhere! We all know that we should be meditating more. Let's take a look at mediation through the lens of helping us tune into and grow our intuition. For most people, intuition has a very soft voice. If our minds are busy with the stresses of daily life, it can be very hard to hear that little voice. Meditation is a great way to clear the mind, quiet the constant inner dialogue and make room for our intuition to come through. Try this basic meditation to help you listen and tune into your inner spirit! Set a timer for 10 minutes. Find a relaxing and comfortable place to sit. Close your eyes and stay quiet. Listen to and feel your breath (really pay attention to it) without trying to change it. Just observe the breath. Notice any sensations that arise. Just BE present. When your mind wanders, just bring your focus back to your breath. When your timer goes off, slowly open your eyes and take a moment to write down any important thoughts, messages, feelings, or insights you may have received during your meditation. Dreams: During our waking hours, our cognitive brain is in control. It uses logic and reasoning to override our subconscious mind. However, during sleep, that conscious mind rests, allowing our inner subconscious to shine through. We can learn a lot about overcoming issues or problems by listening to this inner consciousness. Keep a dream journal. Keep a notebook and pen right next to your bed, and immediately upon rising try to record everything you remember about your dreams. Dreams begin to fade from memory immediately upon waking, so make sure to grab your dream journal before you do anything else. Like most things, this takes practice, you will get better over time at interpreting and recording these dreams. You will be able to see patterns and occasions where your inner consciousness is trying to help you solve problems or guide you in the right direction. In my Dreamwork Class, I always encourage my students to avoid judging their dreams no matter how weird they are. Even if your dream doesn't make sense, there is guidance in there! If you judge your dreams, chances are you will lose access to a powerful message. Before going to bed, visualize yourself remembering your dreams. Picture yourself waking up and recording these dreams in your journal. Try to keep this thought in your head as you fall asleep. This will help imprint the practice in your mind and make it easier the next morning. More nature Spending time in nature, away from technology, is one of the best ways to quiet the mind. Nature is a great way for us to get in tune with our ancestral self and our celestial intuition. This is where we come from, our ancestors relied on their intuition for everything. For finding food, avoiding predators, and finding the right path, intuition was one of the most important aspects of life. Anytime we immerse ourselves in nature's beauty, we have an opportunity to dip our toes in another world, a world where intuition rules. Get creative Do something creative! Paint, draw, build, sketch, anything that elevates your creative mind. When we are young, our inner voice is loud and not hesitant to shine through. As we get older, that inner voice is pushed down with responsibilities and the stresses of life. Tapping into this creative part of our brain can help re-ignite those pathways and amplify our intuitions. Get in tune with all your senses Your intuition can flow through any of your five senses. It may come as a strange or loving sensation you feel physically within your body or as a thought that seems to appear out of nowhere. It may be triggered by a certain scent or even taste. Start noticing and paying attention to all of your senses. When was the last time that you really concentrated on your breathing, your sense of smell, your taste? We have all heard the phrase, “stop and smell the roses”, but it really can help in developing your intuition. The more you practice getting in tune with these senses, the more your “6th sense” can flourish as well. Follow your hunches A surefire way to develop your intuition is to test out your hunches. When you are going about your daily life, keep a journal and write it down every time you have a hunch. When that little voice chimes in, be sure to write it down so you can record and see how these hunches play out. It can be as simple as seeing the weather reporting rain for tomorrow, but you have a feeling it will be sunny. Maybe a friend's partner gives you bad vibes, write down your feelings and see if it plays out. Follow your hunches and see what you can learn about your intuition. Switch up your daily routine The conscious brain loves routine and order, but the more regimented your life is, the further your inner voice is pushed down. When the mind is busy, it can be especially hard to hear that little voice. Switching things up can throw your cognitive brain for a loop and let your intuition shine through. Escape the daily routine, slow down and do something different. Your intuition will thank you. Replay past events Sit down and try to think back to a situation where things didn't go as planned or didn't go as you wanted. Visualize yourself back in that situation, and notice any feelings or moments where you felt as if something was wrong. Was there an opportunity to go a different way? Did your inner voice speak up for a moment, only to be overtaken by your cognitive mind? Try to evaluate some of these occurrences and look for patterns; look for ways that you could do things differently the next time. Look for ways your intuition was trying to guide you and the things it was trying to tell you. Breathework Hands down, breathwork is one of the best ways to quiet the mind and get in tune with your inner voice. Try this 4-7-8 method to give your intuition the opportunity to shine through and bring your consciousness to the present. Start by emptying your lungs of air. Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds. Hold that breath for 7 seconds. Exhale slowly through your mouth for 8 seconds. Repeat this process 4 times. This 4-7-8 technique will not only help with intuition it is a great way to mitigate stress and lower anxiety. Basically, the whole world would be a much better place if everyone would practice this simple technique once a day! Think less, feel more Our cognitive brain thinks, and our intuition feels. Our minds are always reasoning, questioning and thinking their way through the day. After so many years of this, we don't even realize it's happening. If people could hear all the questions, our cognitive brain is bouncing around all day; they would think we are crazy! Try to slow down and “feel” more. Feelings that are grounded in your body are also grounded in truth. These feelings will never lie. Learn to listen to them more. Pay attention to those little signals that our body gives us. Heart beating faster, that knot in the pit of your stomach, feeling hot, feeling cold or a tingling sensation. You know the situation; you meet someone and immediately know something is off about them; you can just feel it. Maybe they are lying to you or treating someone poorly; your physical body can feel that and alert you. If you pay more attention to these physical cues, you could avoid many uncomfortable, painful or awkward situations. This is your intuition speaking, and it's trying to guide you in the right direction. Practice “sensing” people before meeting them This is a great way to test and grow your intuition. Put yourself into a situation where you can sit and observe someone before meeting them. Imagine yourself in line at the coffee shop; try to imagine what the person behind the counter will be like before you speak to them or meet them. Take in everything you can about them just by looking at them and trusting your feelings. Try to create a mental picture of what they will be like, sound like, are they friendly, are they sociable or not? You can use this in almost any situation to test your intuition. This is a powerful and actionable way to help you get in tune with your senses, your body and your inner voice. Have Gratitude In this day and age, it's easy to look at the negative aspects of life and forget about all that we are blessed to have. We all do it! It can be so easy to overlook our health, the love of our families, food and water, our home or our community. Take time every day to recognize and give thanks for a few of these amazing things that we are lucky enough to have in our lives. This simple practice can open us up to a higher frequency and allow more of life's wonders to find their way to us. -Gratitude improves relationships. -Gratitude improves sleep. -Gratitude improves physical health. -Gratitude improves self-esteem. -Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. -Gratitude improves psychological health. The benefits of practicing gratitude have been scientifically researched and proven to be powerful, real tools. Think about just how much a few of those positive benefits could drastically change our daily lives. Gratitude can truly open a plethora of doors to a better life, which in turn, will help our intuitions flourish!

Communication from Spirit Guides is somewhat of a mystery to most of us, yet, there are those who say they can openly communicate with other-worldly beings they call Guides and spirits. Knowing this may have left you wondering just how this is done... and if you too can do it. The good news is YES! There are a variety of ways in which you can connect with what I like to call your spiritual entourage. The fastest way to link up this spiritual "WhatsApp" is through getting familiar with your “clair senses.” Clair-senses is a collective word, meaning that the Guide’s communication can utilize any of the following types of psychic sensitivity, which co-mingles the physical body’s normal five senses. The five senses and the clair sense involved are: 1. Clairaudience: Clairaudience perceives sounds (or words) that a person can actually hear when, in fact, no one is speaking, and nothing physical is causing the sounds. The sounds are thought to be impressions that register themselves on the spirilla of the ear’s pineal gland. It is believed that clairaudience sounds go through the same process that normal hearing does, passing through the Third Eye chakra of the head. 2. Clairsavorance: Clairsavorance is translated as clear tasting. The person experiences taste in the mouth without putting anything physical actually in the mouth. 3. Clairscient: Clairscient means to smell a fragrance or odour of a substance which is not physical in nature. For example, you might smell cigarette smoke when you are in a place where it is certain no one is smoking or has smoked. 4. Clairsentience. Clairsentience allows a psychic to perceive information as a feeling within the whole body without any other stimuli related to this feeling or information, which comes from within the body, down the kundalini to the stomach area or solar plexus. 5. Clairvoyance. Clairvoyance means to see into an ethereal dimension without using physical eyes. Some describe it as reaching into another vibration frequency and visually perceiving “within the head,” something like moving pictures. The third eye area of the forehead is one of the other strongest communication centers that Guides frequently use to communicate. In his historical writings of “Psychic Science,” Sir Oliver Lodge spoke about what he called “clairvoyance or lucidity” and raised the older concepts that were coined as “reading with the pit of the stomach.” According to Lodge, using the stomach or belly area as the channel for psychic communications was an established practice. That is an interesting observation when you look more globally at the ancient beliefs about the belly. The Chinese called this belly chakra the “chi point,” while the Japanese termed it the “hara” or “ki point.” As the body’s balancing chakra, this area is located one and a half inches below the navel and one and a half inches inward toward the spine. It is the “energy” that the body generates; some call it a power center. I love to teach my Reiki Master Students about this energy reservoir because once they understand how to replenish this energy center, it allows them to channel more powerful healing energies. When you are attempting to connect with the beings in your Spiritual Entourage, you should be aware that every person has more than one guide. Each guide serves a specific purpose in your life, and connecting with your guide consciously can help you to navigate life more easily. In my book "Essential Psychic Development" I talk about the unique categories of guides we each have and the work that they do in your life. When you use Meditation, Dreamwork, Prayer or Shamanic work to connect with your guides, your Clair senses will be activated. It is important to record everything you experience. Whether it is something subtle like a scent or something more dramatic like a vision of your guide, write down every detail! I also advise drawing any images that appear to you. Even if they seem somewhat jumbled or disconnected, draw them anyway. Over time you will see the pieces come together, forming a clear and concise picture of your spiritual helpers! Remember, everyone is unique, and you may find that some of your clairs may be more dominant than others. This doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong; it just means that the ones that work the strongest are the ones that come easiest to you. The others can be strengthened over time!

Throughout history, meditation has been an integral part of many cultures. Records indicate that meditation was practiced in ancient Greece and India more than 5,000 years ago. In the Buddhist religion, meditation is an important part of their spiritual practice. Different forms of meditation are practiced in China and Japan, and Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have traditions similar to meditation. The word meditation comes from the Latin meditate which means: exercise, turn something over in one's mind, think, consider. It is defined as consciously directing your attention to alter your state of mind. Meditation is one of the proven alternative therapies that in recent years have been classified under mind-body medicine therapies. It is continuing to gain popularity, as more and more health experts believe that there is more to the connection between mind and body than modern medicine can explain. According to researchers, meditation has been shown to aid the immune system and improve brain activity. More and more doctors are prescribing meditation as a way to lower blood pressure, improve exercise performance, help people with asthma breathe easier, relieve insomnia, and generally relax everyday stresses of life. Many hospitals now offer meditation classes for their patients because of the health benefits. All promote physiological health and well-being. Traditionally, meditation has been used for spiritual growth but more recently has become a valuable tool for managing stress and finding a place of peace, relaxation, and tranquillity in a demanding fast-paced world. Benefits resulting from meditation include physical and emotional healing; easing stress, fear, and grief; improved breathing; developing intuition; deep relaxation; exploring higher realities; finding inner guidance; unlocking creativity; manifesting change; emotional cleansing and balancing; and deepening concentration and insight. Meditation elicits stillness, silence, tranquillity, peace, quiet, and calm. All counter stress and tension. Lama Surya Das in his book Awakening The Buddha Within says, Meditation is not just something to do; it's a method of being and seeing an unconditional way of living moment by moment. In other words, learning to live in this moment because this moment is all we have. Henry Winkler is quoted as saying; A human being's first responsibility is to shake hands with herself. Meditation is an opportunity to shake hands with ourselves in a safe, simple way and to balance our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. If you are interested in exploring guided meditation, I have some I have created for purchase here - https://www.northstarmystic.com/mystic-meditations Alysa is a professional mystic, who teaches and works with spiritual seekers from all over the world. Her dynamic personality and passion for the mystic arts are infectious. She loves to bring her wealth of metaphysical knowledge and depth of experience to her clients and students through providing intuitive and spiritual services. Known for her ability to blend fun with professionalism, Alysa offers nearly three decades of esoteric experience which includes the co-creation of the Sirian Starseed Tarot & the Seekers Oracle. In her professional practice, Alysa is a master tarot reader & teacher, second-generation traditional western astrologer, numerologist, certified professional past-life regressionist, Reiki Grandmaster Teacher, Certified Life coach, published author, artist, and founder of North Star Mystic Academy which opened in 2019. Alysa has authored several metaphysical, esoteric and energy healing books. ​For a full list of her titles please visit Achillea Fortuna Publishing Alysa lives and works in Hillsburgh, Ontario

Ok, you wanna read Tarot but you're not sure where to start. So you open your new deck of possibilities (other people call the cards but you know they are more than that.) and you are instantly overtaken by a wave of anxiety as you see 78 cards sit staring back at you - making you painfully aware of just how in over your head you really are. Trying not to give up you grab the little book that came with the deck...maybe and thumb through it trying to figure out how you're gonna unlock the mystical secrets found within these cards. .... Or not If you know these feelings then you are on the right track! Oh yes, you are! The interesting thing about Tarot is that its not really for everybody. What I'm saying is that though everyone is capable of learning not everyone has the intestinal fortitude to stick it out. It's a super long learning curve, but it's also immeasurably rewarding. Assuming that you are willing to take the time out to learn the Tarot, you will quickly understand that learning Tarot is much like learning a new language. It is full of symbols, nuance and energy. Tarot is a living and vital tool, and in my opinion, it is intended to help people by creating an avenue for higher guidance to travel on, So my dear, as you learn the esoteric symbols and the energies that are interwoven into each card I would like to extend you a helping hand. Much like a kitten with a ball of yarn you may feel as though you are batting around your own thoughts and perceptions trying to unwind the language of Tarot. So, I wanted to help you unravel that ball of yarn, hopefully making your experience a little easier. Here are your 5 Pro tips... ok more like 7, but whatev's 1. BE PATIENT! You will get frustrated once or twice along the way. You may even feel like you're just "not getting it" I'm sure if you've already hit this wall you might be rolling your eyes going...uh yeah, no more patients left Alysa, now what? Here's what you need to do. Take a freaking break. Yup that's right don't look at your cards for a few days. Sometimes you can get information overload when learning something new and if you are sensitive to energy... hahaha, guess what, Tarot is bubbling over with energy. So take a break and ruminate. That rhymed - I feel clever! Let your brain have a break and when you come back to your study, you may be surprised at how much you've actually learned. 2. LEARN THE SYMBOLS I cannot stress enough how important it is to learn the symbolism in Tarot. Every little detail in the cards has meaning! I always say there is no such thing as wasted space in a Tarot card. Everything has meaning. From the Yod symbols in the Ace of swords to the angles of the mountains in The Fool, to the Colour of The Magician's sash. It all has meaning. And while reading intuitively is powerful, reading with an understanding of the esoteric symbols and the archetypal energies portrayed in the cards will add depth and dimension to your readings that you cannot have any other way. 3. TRUST YOUR IMPRESSIONS This is the hardest thing to do when you're just getting started. All newbies want to get everything JUST RIGHT when reading. So the tendency is to hesitate when you are guided to say something or express an impression you are getting. Using your intuition or psychic faculties is a process. That is to say, the more you work with your intuition the clearer and more reliable it will become. You will learn how to trust the feelings you get if you are willing to risk being wrong sometimes. 4. START WITH THE RIDER-WAITE I recommend starting with the R/W simply because there are a TON of resources available. The Rider deck (as it's often referred to) was published first The cards were originally published in 1910 by the publisher William Rider & Son of London. I have found that the wide variety of resources that use this deck are helpful in terms of learning the meanings of each key. Also, because the art is very simple and straight forward it is easier to understand the esoteric and mundane meanings of the cards which are essential for fluency when reading Tarot. 5. PRACTICE, PRACTICE and PRACTICE SOME MORE You can never really practice enough with Tarot. No- seriously you can't. Even after over 20 years of reading Tarot, illustrating a best-selling deck and collecting cards I still find something new when reading Tarot. Sometimes it's just a matter of a new level of understanding a card. Sometimes it's a new spread. Sometimes it's a new relationship within the cards. No matter what, you never really stop learning from the Tarot as long as you are willing to continue to practice. 6. JOURNAL Keeping a journal is a great way to retain what you learn about each of the 78 cards in the Tarot pantheon. In your journal, you can make quick and easy references in your own word for the interpretations of the cards. You can also deepen your knowledge by writing down your personal experiences working with the energies while reading cards for your self or others. I have several journals dedicated to my Tarot studies, and over the years I can see just how much I have grown in my practice. I'm still adding to my journals even now. 7. TAKE A COURSE YES! It never hurts to get instruction. Learning from an experienced teacher is a powerful way to accelerate your reading skills. A good teacher will not only instruct you in the meanings of cards, spreads and so forth - they will also teach you how to work with other people ethically. They will teach you how to protect yourself from absorbing unwanted energies as well as how to decode your own intuitive senses. I have been fortunate enough to have really knowledgeable and experienced mentors that taught me waaaaaaay more than I could have ever learned on my own. I hope your journey with Tarot is fulfilling and that you gain as much fulfillment as I have from working with this wondrous tool of self-discovery. That's all for now. Love Alysa

Ok, you wanna read Tarot but you're not sure where to start. So you open your new deck of possibilities (other people call the cards but you know they are more than that.) and you are instantly overtaken by a wave of anxiety as you see 78 cards sit staring back at you - making you painfully aware of just how in over your head you really are. Trying not to give up you grab the little book that came with the deck...maybe and thumb trough it trying to figure out how you're gonna unlock the mystical secrets found within these cards. .... Or not If you know these feelings then you are on the right track! Oh yes you are! The interesting thing about Tarot is that its not really for everybody. What I'm saying is that though everyone is capable of learning not everyone has the intestinal fortitude to stick it out. It's a super long learning curve, but it's also immeasurably rewarding. Assuming that you are willing to take the time out to learn the Tarot, you will quickly understand that learning Tarot is much like learning a new language. It is full of symbols, nuance and energy. Tarot is a living and vital tool, and in my opinion it is intended to help people by creating an avenue for higher guidance to travel on, So my dear, as you learn the esoteric symbols and the energies that are interwoven into each card I would like to extend you a helping hand. Much like a kitten with a ball of yarn you may feel as though you are batting around your own thoughts and perceptions trying to unwind the language of Tarot. So, I wanted to help you unravel that ball of yarn, hopefully making your experience a little easier. Here are your 5 Pro tips... ok more like 7, but whatev's 1. BE PATIENT! You will get frustrated once or twice along the way. You may even feel like you're just "not getting it" I'm sure if you've already hit this wall you might be rolling your eyes going...uh yeah, no more patients left Alysa, now what? Here's what you need to do. Take a freaking break. Yup that's right don't look at your cards for a few days. Sometimes you can get information overload when learning something new and if you are sensitive to energy... hahaha, guess what Tarot is bubbling over with energy. So take a break and ruminate. That rhymed - I feel clever! Let your brain have a break and when you come back to your study, you may be surprised at how much you've actually learned. 2. LEARN THE SYMBOLS I cannot stress enough how important it is to learn the symbolism in Tarot. Every little detail in the cards! I always say there is no such thing as wasted space in a Tarot card. Everything has meaning. From the Yod symbols in the Ace of swords to the angles of the mountains in The Fool, to the Color of The Magician's sash. It all has meaning. And while reading intuitively is powerful, reading with an understanding of the esoteric symbols and the archetypal energies portrayed in the cards will add a depth and dimension to your readings that you cannot have any other way. 3. TRUST YOUR IMPRESSIONS This is the hardest thing to do when your just getting started. All newbies want to get everything JUST RIGHT when reading. So the tendency is to hesitate when you are guided to say something or express an impression you are getting. Using your intuition or psychic faculties is a process. That is to say, the more you work with your intuition the clearer and more reliable it will become. You will learn how to trust the feelings you get if you are willing to risk being wrong sometimes. 4. START WITH THE RIDER-WAITE I recommend starting with the R/W simply because there are a TON of resources available. The Rider deck ( as it's often refereed to) was published first The cards were originally published in 1910 by the publisher William Rider & Son of London. I have found that the wide variety of resources that use this deck are helpful in terms of learning the meanings of each key. Also, because the art is very simple and straight forward it is easier to understand the esoteric and mundane meanings of the cards which is essential for fluency when reading Tarot. 5. PRACTICE, PRACTICE and PRACTICE SOME MORE You can never really practice enough with Tarot. No- seriously you can't. Even after over 20 years of reading Tarot, illustrating a best selling deck and collecting cards I still find something new when reading Tarot. Sometimes it's just a matter of a new level of understanding a card. Sometimes it's a new spread. Sometimes it's a new relationship within the cards. No matter what, you never really stop learning from the Tarot as long as you are willing to continue to practice. 6. JOURNAL Keeping a journal is a great way to retain what you learn about each of the 78 cards in the Tarot pantheon. In your journal you can make quick and easy references in your own word for the interpretations of the cards. You can also deepen you knowledge by writing down your personal experiences working with the energies while reading cards for your self or others. I have several journals dedicated to my Tarot studies, and over the years I can see just how much I have grown in my practice. I'm still adding to my journals even now. 7. TAKE A COURSE YES! It never hurts to get instruction. Learning from an experienced teacher is a powerful way to accelerate your reading skills. A good teacher will not only instruct you in the meanings of cards, spreads and so forth - they will also teach you how to work with other people ethically. They will also teach you how to protect yourself from absorbing unwanted energies as well as how to decode your own intuitive senses. I have been fortunate enough to have really knowledgeable and experienced mentors that taught me waaaaaaay more than I could have ever learned on my own. I hope your journey with Tarot is fulfilling and that you gain as much fulfillment as I have from working with this wondrous tool of self discovery. That's all for now. Love Alysa