When I last commented on the spiritual energies of 2010 on March 1, it seemed as though the fast moving, explosive way in which the year was unfolding couldn’t get much more intense.

But here we are nearly two months down the line, and even the most energy-aware among us would concede that they hadn’t anticipated the rate at which the Earth shifts would continue or the ways in which significant numbers of people would be affected. 

Over the last few weeks, it’s suddenly become a reality that we can’t take overseas travel for granted, that we can’t assume our air will be clean and our water will remain unpolluted, and we certainly can’t rely on the Government to provide cost-free, quick fix solutions to environmental problems.

For lots of people, the instability of recent events has brought insecurity, and a deep sense of fear and panic. The comfort blanket of living in Western society has, in a small way, been revealed as illusion and the UK has been exposed as being equally as vulnerable to the consequences of Earth shifts as any other nation on this planet.

While TV news reports preferred to focus on irate, distressed travellers stranded in airports, running out of cash and losing all hope of returning home in a timely fashion while the cloud of volcanic ash lingered over the UK, the affect of Iceland’s latest eruption was not all doom and gloom. It’s worth pointing out that many positive individual stories emerged from the recent flight embargo, and the lessons learned are indicative of the perfect opportunities the Universe has provided to facilitate the awakening of those who are prepared to listen.

One of the most poignant lessons on offer for many was that of self-responsibility. Faced with the choice of sitting tight in foreign climes with no promise of a flight back to the UK, many travellers chose to make the decision to use their own resources and resourcefulness to find their way home via alternative routes. For some, this meant using public transport, hiring vehicles, booking ferries or venturing onto overland rail networks – an enforced adventure began that required them to think spontaneously and out of the box and develop solutions step by step, making use of the opportunities and possibilities that were presented to them at the time.

Although some experienced long journeys with extended waiting periods, a large number of travellers made it home through sheer determination and in the realisation that they would have to take responsibility for their own destiny. It’s worth thanking the Universe for this – there is no better time for this set of life lessons to surface than just before a general election!

Another unforeseen benefit of the lack of flights in or out of the UK was that hundreds, maybe thousands, of families and friends were granted an extended period of time together, forced to enjoy a little extra play and relaxation time – a luxury that will have made a huge difference to personal relationships and family bonding. Equally, many were involuntarily separated from their loved ones, forced to spend time alone, cope independently and to reflect on just how valuable those special people in their lives really are. Thanks again, Universe, for reminding us not to take the people that mean the most to us for granted.

For me, however, unaffected by the practicalities of the flight ban and simply observing events from my spiritual perspective, the most obvious message that emerged through all the chaos and mayhem lay right above my head, as I gazed day and night at the clearer, more natural skies, free from the noise of aircraft and the sight of the unhealthy chemtrails to which we’ve become so accustomed. Reminded that circumstances had provided me with a unique opportunity to survey an open sky similar to the one my ancient ancestors had enjoyed, I thanked the Universe for showing me that it’s totally possible for our dysfunctional system to crumble without taking everyone down with it, and that if we open our eyes and stay awake, there is always a new horizon ahead.

Rhian Gibbings

Psychic development is something that most aspiring healers and spiritual seekers touch upon at some point in their journey, and many teachers working in this field will agree that there is nothing more rewarding than watching their students grow in confidence as they rediscover and re-ignite their natural psychic and intuitive gifts.

Whether the ultimate goal is to work as a psychic, develop greater insights as a healer or simply live in a more intuitive and successful way, the first step is always to recognise the Higher Self and, if it feels right, many will go on to acknowledge and explore the notion of their personal spiritual guides – the unique ‘spirit team’ that’s agreed to support an individual’s journey during this physical incarnation.

For those determined to follow a life path of authenticity, there can be many pitfalls when exploring the spiritual and esoteric. Illusion based distractions can often emerge that feed the Ego rather than open the Heart-centre to spiritual truths. For example, it’s far more interesting to believe that you were Queen Nefertiti in a past life than to accept you were actually a simple farmer’s wife and it can feel much more significant to be guided by a famous figure from history or mythology than to receive messages from an unglamorous spirit person who never had any real notoriety!

Of course, it’s entirely plausible to enjoy strong connections with Deity or historical and mythological figures, but when students are preoccupied with this level of guidance without first considering the basics that relate to them specifically as individuals, their guidance is most likely only coming from an aspect of the self that is reflected in the qualities they find appealing in their chosen archetype. Additionally, they’re probably less likely to have accepted and integrated their ‘shadow’ side – the darker and less comfortable aspects of the self that it’s often easier to ignore. Their spiritual quest may then be at risk of becoming preoccupied with self congratulation and grandeur rather than the achievement of truth and balance.

The most effective techniques for facilitating the connection between an individual and their spiritual guides involve empowering the student to access their own spiritual experiences while supporting them energetically. Psychic validation is always valuable, but teachers should develop students who are confident to do the work themselves and who are not solely reliant on the psychic perceptions of their mentor. It’s of little value to a student when their teacher offers messages from an amazing spiritual guide during tuition sessions, but once they’re working alone and really need the guidance, they don’t know where to start and can’t make the link.

With a little determination, lots of self-belief and plenty of guidance in relation to the general principles of working with their energy anatomy, many students find that the process of identifying their guides can offer powerful insights into the spiritual paths and techniques they have been drawn towards. As their path progresses and their true selves emerge, they start to live more naturally and intuitively, becoming increasingly aware of their life lessons, karmic patterns and soul contracts. When psychic skills are honed and working in tandem with the 3 dimensional senses, challenges presented by the gift of Free Will are more easily overcome and there’s a satisfying sense of integration in Body, Mind and Spirit.

For those who are ready, connecting with spiritual guides can even trigger the exploration of past life and parallel existences, mysterious but compelling notions that can also offer a fascinating insight into the relationships and experiences of the here and now.

The teaching and guidance of aspiring healers, psychics and spiritual seekers is a responsible, powerful role and the best facilitators cut through illusion, supporting their students to access their own personal truths. A really good teacher will recognise and value the unique nature of your every experience – their authenticity and determination to support you to connect with your spiritual guides yourself will remind you just how much they contribute to this beautiful journey of self discovery – a path that feels so significant in these swift moving times.

Rhian Gibbings

Many spiritual teachers insist that when we express our desire to live purposefully and in joy, the Universe will reflect this in our experiences, often delivered in the most beautiful ways possible. Is it really that simple?

For those who have a rigid notion of what ‘living in purpose’ means, the life changes required can appear risky, scary and, at times, totally unrealistic.

Whether we seek escape from an unrewarding day job, long for a soul mate relationship or feel drawn to relocate to a new area, decisions must probably be made that will jeopardise our financial or emotional security and challenge the self imposed expectations resulting from social and familial conditioning. We may feel angry and trapped, experiencing resentment and bitterness towards life in general.

For others, however, it’s difficult to pinpoint what aspects of life need to change. There’s a simple sense of lack and we’re just not enjoying life to its full potential. This brings frustration and discontentments, making everything feel foggy and dull.

Strategies to break down our personal barriers to purposeful living can seem elusive and prove expensive – many on a long term quest to ‘live in purpose’ will admit to spending excessive amounts of cash on therapies, workshops and self-help books in the hope that the key to fulfilment is around the corner. For some, the journey feels endless – it’s one step forward and two steps back, and despite embracing the tough process of healing and change, a joyful, purposeful life seems as distant as ever.

From an Energy Healer’s perspective, clients for whom change seems elusive and who complain that their lives deliver disappointment almost always present with an unbalanced or blocked Higher Heart Chakra. In the majority of cases, the root of a Higher Heart issue is arguably the most significant personal barrier to ‘living in purpose’. While the Healer can offer the catalyst to render the client more open to change, an acknowledgement of personal responsibility and the determination to self-heal is essential in tackling this particular problem – low self esteem.

Low self esteem, whatever the cause, is linked to the everyday anxieties and irrational behaviours that hold us back from consciously bringing our dreams into reality and that keep our daily experiences ‘liveable’ rather than ‘loveable’. It keeps us separate from potentiality, asking us to expect failure and accept less in every scenario. It shrouds aspiration with guilt and clouds greatness with Ego, consistently nagging us into self sabotage and limitation.

With low self esteem, not only does ‘living in purpose’ seem like an unobtainable dream, it feels so far from reality we don’t believe we can ever truly experience it in the here and now. Emotional discomfort becomes the status quo and our negative beliefs about ourselves are reflected back in our life experiences – unfulfilling careers, abusive relationships and dysfunctional lifestyles are experienced by detached, numb individuals in a state of semi-consciousness.

In the worst cases, we become so detached from our aspirations that we can no longer recognise what our Soul yearns for, what makes us feel fulfilled and whole and what we really want from life. So it’s a vicious circle, and a downward spiral of fear and failure, and purpose is lost.

Making the conscious decision to ‘live in purpose’ is really only the first step to breaking the cycle. Seeking support from complementary therapies, such as Reiki and Seichem, from vibrational medicine, such as Homeopathy or Flower Remedies, or from the regular practice of Yoga or meditation can be helpful – achieving a clear, aligned energy anatomy is certainly important in terms of integrating body, mind and spirit.

However, understanding when and how low self esteem rears its ugly head is essential if we’re to learn the real life lessons from the karma it represents. Acknowledging each incident of low self esteem as a trigger that impairs the Higher Heart and seeing the resulting irrational, anxiety fuelled responses as the negative untruths they really are helps us access our true, authentic self. In this way, we naturally ease open and rebalance this important Chakra as we come to intuit what it is that really belongs in our lives.

As the authentic self is revealed and the balanced Higher Heart emerges, it becomes clear that there is no room for the limitations of low self esteem, that manifestation flows freely from positive intent and potentiality with choice is experienced in place of desperation and yearning. Life becomes joyful and exciting, every challenge represents an opportunity and free will becomes more aligned with the notions of Divine Timing and the Highest Good.

Living purposefully and in joy is not elusive, and certainly doesn’t belong in the dream world. And yes, the key is simple – unlock the Higher Heart and recognise the limitless path that lies ahead. Hold on tight to the ultimate high of the authentic self, and watch the personal demon that is low self esteem slink away and diminish, denied the nourishment provided by insecurities and limiting beliefs. Step into purpose with pride in this conscious choice – live the life you love, love the life you live.

Rhian Gibbings

Since ancient times, pilgrims have been visiting places of special spiritual significance. Taking a meaningful trip to a place where strong connections are felt with Deity or to ancient sites of worship can be a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience, and is often the catalyst for deep personal change.

In more recent times, the notion of pilgrimage has evolved into the concept of the ‘sacred journey’ – which seems to allude to the special nature of the whole process of the trip, from the point of departure to that of return.  

Participants in today’s sacred journeys often feel that the people they meet, the routes they travel and the anecdotal experiences that arise all play a part in their spiritual development, perhaps even reconnecting them in some way with situations they once encountered in mysterious previous incarnations.

Others simply feel a greater sense of connection, an increased appreciation of the beauty of nature and that invaluable sense of freedom that facilitates clearer self reflection, personal insights and more intense spiritual experiences.

Nibal Sulaiman was so inspired by his sacred journey to Mount Kailash, Tibet, in 2006 that he recently launched Parishanta Travel to help others realise their dreams of visiting Tibet, Nepal, India and Bhutan.

Mount Kailash, known as Kang Rinpoche in Tibetan or ‘precious jewel of snow’ holds a special place in the hearts of the region’s four major religions: Hindu, Buddhist, Jains, and the shamanic Bön tradition of pre-Buddhist Tibet.

It is said to be the Earth’s crown chakra, and the abode of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati, as well as that of Demchok, a wrathful manifestation of Buddha Sakyamuni. It cuts an intriguing figure against the snowy and unforgiving terrain of Western Tibet. 

‘In late 2005, a thought suddenly came into my mind that I needed to visit Mount Kailash. I didn’t know why but I knew I had to. So in May 2006 I flew out to Kathmandu, Nepal, to meet my guide before flying to Lhasa’ writes Nibal.

‘The first night in Kathmandu I had a vision where I was ‘transported’ to the base of Mount Kailash to meet its guardian who questioned my credentials three times and only embraced me on the third positive response. After gathering some provisions, we visited Pashupatinath Temple on what later I found out was Lord Shiva’s day. This felt like we had received His permission and blessings. From Lhasa we slowly began travelling west to get fully acclimatised. Along the way we visited many Buddhist monasteries. I recall the Maitreya Buddha statues in particular seem to stand out – like they were communicating with their eyes.

Upon arrival at Mount Kailash, the energy felt so, so familiar. I can only describe it as akin to seeing an old friend again after a very long time. The following day we began the Kalish kora – walking round the mountain in a clockwise direction. I recall walking at a great pace as if I had a multitude of invisible beings behind me. This prompted my Tibetan guide to comment that I ‘walk like a Tibetan’! After three days, we completed the kora. The felt exhaustion but complete peace and tranquillity. It felt like a cycle in my life had just ended and a new one started.

Till this day this sacred journey is one I look back on with such reverence and awe and I thank the universe for an amazing, life changing experience.’

It’s easy to empathise with Nibal’s sentiment and the depth of feeling with which he writes about this journey.

For me, the ‘sacred journey’ has been more significant than I ever realised.  From the regular, short pilgrimages I make to Avebury and Stonehenge that serve to reaffirm my connection with the Divine Feminine and the ancient Be-ings I acknowledge as part of my soul group, to one-off visits I have enjoyed to the West of Ireland and parts of Devon and Cornwall, the energy experiences I’ve had in sacred places have  triggered the sense of inner knowledge and remembering that has shaped  the woman I am today.

More recently, travels to parts of Europe and to the beloved land of Egypt have profoundly influenced both my personal spiritual practice and the core values I bring to my healing and divination work.

The sacred journey in the way I know it is, perhaps, a privilege mainly enjoyed by spiritual seekers from developed societies to which car, boat and plane travel has become affordable and accessible. However, it’s clear that spiritual tourism offers valuable economic support to a number of less affluent countries, and as long as modern day pilgrims are happy to immerse themselves in the cultural diversity they encounter, local businesses and tour guides are usually happy to welcome them.

For my part, I’m totally hooked. Every travel opportunity serves as a sacred journey for me, and I’m always drawn to new places to enhance my path of reconnection both here in the UK and further afield.

Rhian Gibbings

With little regard for the grey skies and persistent rain, a very Heart-centred gathering took place at Avebury on Saturday to celebrate the Spring Equinox.  

Adrian Mieras held the space and led a gentle meditation in the Sun Circle, setting the group intention for World peace.

The focus of this intent was held around a huge, impressive Shiva Lingham stone that Adrian holds for the project Peace Across The Planet.

Shiva Lingham stones have an ancient role in sacred ceremony in the temples of India, and were traditionally gathered by monks from the bed of the Narmada River who would prepare them with wax or oil before giving them pride of place within the temple. 

Peace Across the Planet has placed a number of large Shiva Lingham stones with caretakers across the Globe who will hold sacred ceremonies to anchor a shared intent for Peace.

The powerful moment of Equinox at 5.32pm brought a sense of stillness and connectedness to the circle at Avebury and it seemed appropriate that the intense Divine Feminine vortex of the Henge was enhanced by the balancing masculine energy of the large Shiva Lingham.

After a short break, there was an evening of meditation and sound healing offered by a number of ‘Gong Masters’ who had brought together an impressive set of Paiste Planet Gongs. Each performance stilled the occupants of the room into a profound state of inner peace, evocative of a breathtaking personal journey through the Solar system.

Experiencing the gong is both intense and emotional, as it seems to penetrate every atom of the body and activate the human energy system in an all-encompassing way.

A trance-like, meditative state is very easily achieved with the gong and any sense of time and place is almost immediately suspended. This feeling of complete interconnectedness with the Universe reminds us that we are indeed an aspect of Creator and that there is a gateway within each of us to the infinite space and limitlessness mirrored in the stars, if we choose to find it. It is from this space that we can draw down pure Light from Source to assist with our Spiritual journey in this human incarnation.

The presence of the mysterious Spirit Orbs apparent in the photographs taken at this amazing Spring Equinox gathering is no real surprise, given the immense Spiritual energy at Avebury coupled with the resonance created by the gongs and the simple presence of so many Light and Energy aware people in one place with an aligned purpose.

Lets welcome the next quarter of this already eventful year with positive anticipation and embrace the changes that flow with the gift of the Spring Equinox – the creative energy of awakening.

Rhian Gibbings

With increasing awareness among pregnant women that natural birth without medical interference is better for mother and baby while intervention rates are high and caesarean remains an option in the spirit of informed choice, it’s not surprising that many women look back on their past experiences of birth and shudder.

Many women will recall their hospital photos with dismay, clearly recognising the shock and detachment in their own face, or realising they hardly feature in their baby albums because they felt so traumatised at the time, and the last thing they wanted to do was pose for the camera.

For some, the painful memories dissolve almost as soon as their baby is placed into their arms but many mothers are troubled by flashbacks of a traumatic birth, and the experience shapes their attitudes to breastfeeding, intimacy, the trust of others and even their relationship with their child. The women who fare worst are perhaps those who have been the most passionate about their role as a mother, determined to live up to the expectations they have set themselves to birth their child naturally and instinctively. 

Although the body heals with time, the shock delivered by the emotional trauma tends to remain deep rooted and the pain sits right at the core of the feminine centre, disempowering women and feeding negative concepts like low self esteem, a lack of self belief and fear of failure.

Experienced energy healers would usually agree that memories of a traumatic birth will be stored in the very cells of a woman’s body, constantly impairing the flow of their feminine life-force. If not released, the problem could eventually manifest as physical illness, most likely in the reproductive system, which is related to the Sacral Chakra. This will compound the ongoing energetic and emotional issues, leaving mothers with feelings of sadness, inadequacy and loss that are hard to ignore.

When difficult memories surface the use of self help techniques, such as formulating positive affirmations, can be handy. Admitting to a trusted friend or partner that there’s a problem is sometimes the first step in acknowledging that help is needed.

Hypnosis can be useful in releasing any past trauma, and an experienced Hypnotherapist can gently regress the woman to the circumstances of the difficult experience so that they can revise their attitudes towards the memories when they surface. There are other kinds of ‘journeying’ therapies that can also help, whereby the woman is guided into a trance-like state so that negative outcomes can literally be transformed into positive ones through accessing the unconscious mind.

Reiki and Seichem practitioners or those who use crystals to promote energetic balance find that a relaxed state is easily achieved during healing sessions. They might guide the woman through a gentle meditation while allowing the energy healing to catalyse a much needed vibrational shift. Crystals like Moonstone, Apache Tears or Jade might be selected to help heal the trauma of a difficult birth while Garnet, Carnelian or Red Coral might be chosen to help strengthen and re-energise the feminine centre.

If you’re the thoughtful type, it might seem interesting that through negative past experiences of birth, many women have the chance to understand the depths of despair that accompany the ‘feminine wound’ before they tread the path of re-empowerment. For those who choose to question why life has thrown this particular challenge in their face, maybe the answer is that they’ve been given the opportunity to re-birth themselves as part of the process.

Be honest, it’s hard to deny that our children offer us a huge opportunity for personal growth and change as they are catapulted into this world, whether it’s by fair means or foul. And in the end, the fact that we’ve chosen to grow through the tough life lesson of a traumatic birth becomes immaterial – to be granted a ticket to travel through the Divine Feminine Void and emerge reborn with self esteem, feminine courage and pride in the simple fact of one’s existence is a priceless gift indeed.

Rhian Gibbings

On International Women’s Day, the annual occasion designed to highlight the economical, social and political achievements of women past, present and future, the media has been quick to remind us of the extreme highs and lows experienced by women across the globe.

But while the WAGs and glossy celebrities from the world of entertainment never lack media attention and there are always worthy campaigns to address inequalities, discrimination and abuse that deserve all the publicity they can get, I didn’t need to look too far today to find examples of truly incredible women who have overcome adversity, risen to the challenge and proven themselves as completely inspirational – just by finding their way through the ups and downs of ‘normal’ life.

One of my loveliest friends is single-handedly raising an autistic child, having strived for the right diagnosis, battled for schooling that meets his needs and maintained her sanity through the breakdown of her relationship. During this time she’s continued to run her own business and supported a sick relative, yet whenever we meet she glows with a beautiful smile and remains unquestionably motivated and driven to carry on.

I’ll never cease to admire another fantastic woman I’ve known since 2001. Despite facing some incredibly tough health issues and being the unfortunate victim of workplace bullying several times in the last few years, she’s always been there for me when I’ve needed someone to talk to, effortlessly putting her own worries aside. In her working life, a commitment to helping vulnerable people has pulled her through. She does a tough job with a challenging client group, and she never loses the motivation to be there for those who need her the most. This woman has no idea how much she’s admired, and I, for one, honour her for the times when she’s been there with her listening ear and unfaltering support. Respect is due.

There’s also a third beautiful lady I have to tip my hat to today. Having lost nearly everything of any material or emotional value in a drawn out, traumatic divorce from an adulterous husband, her self-esteem journey has been almost tortuous, and it’s been one step forward, two steps back. Yet this lady oozes unconditional love for her friends and family, and she’s one of the most generous people I’ve ever met.

Looking around at my female friends, I could easily write a paragraph about each and every one as testimony to what fabulous, incredible, strong, beautiful women they are. What amazes me, though, is that not one of them fully realises it. Perhaps acknowledging that unique inner Light we women have is something we all need to do a bit more of, though, because it’s what really sets the ‘Feminine’ aside as ‘Divine’ – our ability to find the depths to continue to strive, to continue to love and to continue to reach out to the world without even questioning it.

So here’s to all ‘my girls’ on this special day, and here’s my final thought – we don’t need a special occasion to acknowledge what we’ve achieved; we’re doing a brilliant job every day just being US – together we mirror the infinite faces of the Goddess, and yes, we are all things to all men… We women are fabulous, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

 Rhian Gibbings

Following on from the theme of the ‘quickening’ – the flow of changes that we currently all seem to be part of – and at the end of a whirlwind week during which I’ve been lucky enough to observe, support and trigger some powerful shifts for others, I’m pondering a question I was asked earlier today – why does the healing process so often seem to hurt?

Tuning in to the emotional aspects of the human energy anatomy, it’s a fact that we seldom explore our personal energetic state with true honesty.

If asked to consider their level of emotional comfort on a linear scale, most people would probably place themselves somewhere in the middle on an average day, in a sort of midpoint state of ‘okay’. However, if challenged to really access their truth in an environment free from judgment, such as on the healing couch, it’s probable that many would admit to the state of ‘okay’ really being one of total or partial emotional numbness. Their emotional pain is tucked away somewhere lonely and dark, ready to surface in a quiet, personal moment, or waiting for a trigger from a family member or work colleague that will send them into that all too familiar spiral of blame and shame.

When emotional pain surfaces in our daily interactions, it’s a natural tendency to try to project it towards some unfortunate target person or to turn it inward and further feed the low-density energies lurking within the psyche and energy body.

The more conscious types are likely to recognise and analyse the issues that arise, perhaps using energy-healing or psychological techniques to understand what’s going on in an effort to release and transform the negativity. This is an important part of breaking the unpleasant patterns that hold us back and progressing with the healing journey. Of course it’s painful to wake from the state of ‘numbness’ and really admit how we feel, especially when it seems to happen in fits and starts and it’s often quite a shock, but the benefits are there once we’ve energetically shifted sufficiently to access a new, lighter way of being.

To some, all this might be stating the obvious, but the real question is how can we make the healing process less painful and dramatic? Plenty of Spiritual seekers and individuals ‘on the path’ can be observed bouncing from drama to crisis, regularly sharing explosive, emotional releases with anyone within the furthest reach of their shock-wave. Surely this can’t be the only way to experience change?

This brings us back to the first point – that most people seldom examine their own personal energetic state with true honesty.

Recognising that numb state of just ‘okay’ is surely worth incorporating in our daily routine. Furthermore, there has to be recognition that the ‘numb’ state of being is a product of self judgment and the nemesis of the individual who simply won’t regularly look within…or who only takes a peek when their hand is forced. All experience is a reflection of the self, after all.

Finding personal strategies to remind us of the fact that we’re awake and alive has to be key, along with that liberating realisation that it’s okay not to be ‘okay’. That way, we know when to seek help from our own reserves or through the healing services of others, but when the shifts happen and the triggers arise, we don’t have to stumble along in prolonged, painful states of confusion, and healing can occur in an instant, leaving us unscathed and feeling whole.

 Rhian Gibbings

It’s the start of another Month and already I’m looking back and wondering where the beginning of the year went. It seems like only yesterday that I was welcoming in 2010 with friends at the Buddhist Temple here in Milton Keynes, but on reflection so much has happened in such a short period of time.

As a healer who also offers spiritual readings, I’ve found many of my clients and contacts completely empathising when I’ve commented that our lives seem to be shifting and changing in almost an instant at the moment, and most would agree that they’re not currently where they’d thought they’d be if you’d asked them about their lives this time last year.

Making plans often feels pointless – nothing seems certain any more. Personally, 2010 has brought a tidal wave of unanticipated change for me and it feels like I’ve been constantly re-evaluating my life and evolving my priorities on every level.

It seems that with the arrival of 2010, all our issues have started staring us in the face with a little more determination, demanding that we address them and continue the healing process. As the year progresses, those with health problems won’t cease to seek solutions, those with financial hiccups will be forced to take the bull by the horns, and cracks will continue to appear in relationships and working arrangements that are not aligned for the highest good.  Somehow it seems that if it’s not right, it’s going to get fixed – whether we like it or not! That’s if it didn’t start happening for you before – we’re all at different stages in the process.

It’s always interesting when it’s clear that the experiences of individuals are echoed within wider communities, and from the perspective of one who believes in the power of group consciousness, I’m left wondering what greater influences we’re picking up on at the moment and why the energy of the times is so fast moving for so many people and feels…simply volcanic!

We seem to have well and truly entered a period of ‘quickening’ on many levels – body, mind and Spirit. The Earth’s atmospheric and physical grumblings that have manifested in the catastrophic natural disasters in Haiti, Madeira and Chile, as well as the brutal storm that hit Western France this week are surely echoed in the World political arena, and especially so here in the UK where it’s increasingly looking like the people are hankering for change.  And increasingly I’m meeting ‘ordinary’ people who are waking up to ‘conscious’ living, looking for new ways of Being that suit them, happily challenging the status quo.

Perhaps, for those who are willing and ready, we’re looking at a process of conscious discernment that is more evident than ever before and we’re each standing at our own personal crossroads, faced with the choice to step up to the mark, or not, as the case may be. Sometimes it can be tiring, demoralising and confusing, maybe even a little scary, but at other times riding these waves of change is exhilarating and shows us we’re evolving and vibrating even higher, holding more Light when we safely reach the shore.  

So if it feels like you jumped on an energetic rollercoaster on January 1st, and you’re still not quite sure what you’ve let yourself in for or whether you’ll make it to the finish line, hold on tight – something tells me that for those of us upholding that dream of ascension into a whole new world, the beginning of the end has started, and we’re in for a beautiful, perfect, bumpy ride.

Rhian Gibbings

I spent last weekend working with Teacher, Therapist and Author, David Furlong, as a student on his Earth Energies training programme.

For me personally, the purpose of this experience was to increase my understanding of energies on the Earth plane and to revisit some of the space clearing techniques I had learnt previously, so that I could decide whether this is a service I will offer clients as an extension of my healing work.

In my experience as a healer, clients can be heavily debilitated by negative attachments – unwelcome energies that have literally ‘hooked’ into the aura – and these can be a significant problem for their health and well-being. Clients can walk around unaware of an unwelcome energetic visitor for days, months, or even years and struggle to find a root cause for their ailments, negative thought patterns and general lack of energy.

I’ve been used to tackling such problems with Spirit Release techniques and energy healing. However, imbalanced energies can exist in places and spaces due to the residual vibration of events and the disturbance of the energetic flow of the Earth and underground water, attracting unhappy or ‘stuck’ Spirits and the physical interference of 3D activities with the natural order of things. This is increasingly likely to be a problem as we continue to progress with urbanisation.

One fascinating technique I learnt this weekend was the use of dowsing rods. Dowsing, once known as Water Witching due to its notoriety as a method for locating water sources, is a tried and tested method of divination that can be traced back to the 15th Century. As an experienced pendulum dowser, I was probably at an advantage, being used to connecting with a divination tool as an extension of my own senses. But having never tried this particular art before, I was amazed at how easy it was to get going and how responsive the dowsing rods felt in my hands.

I worked with two L-shaped metal rods, one held in each hand. The rods act as an extension of the user’s own sensitivities to energy, and simply cross when a particular target is detected. The user determines the target by focusing their mind on what it is they are seeking. So the dowser could focus, for example, on finding a particular concentration of negative energy within a place or space, and the behaviour of their dowsing rods will lead them to an appropriate location. The dowser has then found their focus of attention and can then begin identifying the issue and the most appropriate healing or space clearing work to restore the energetic balance.

Dowsing rods somehow felt more appropriate for divination in spaces and places than the crystal pendulum, partly because they are practical to use outside and probably more reliable when walking around a room or outdoor space.

Having cleared the energies in my own and other people’s properties this weekend I feel confident there is a real place for this work as a service to people and to Mother Earth herself. We need to see ourselves as an integral part of the world around us and to recognise the interconnectedness of our existence – healing ourselves as individuals is only part of the picture. Ignoring our immediate and wider environments, such as our homes, workplaces and outdoor spaces is never going to be a satisfactory approach if we want to enjoy a harmonious future.

Rhian Gibbings