I'm surprised that I actually survived 2007.  From the return of a cured illness, to a devastating heartbreak, to financial despair...you name it, it happened.  Surely 2008 will improve in all of these areas?  I'm still not over the relationship, even though it's been a year, and although I now have a job, but struggling with the low pay, and also trying to deal with the side affects of a debilitating illness.  I've become very spiritual and recently discovered I have an interest in reading auras.  Should I pursue this, or something else that I'm not aware of yet?  I feel that I'm gifted, but not sure about what it is.  What area do you feel I should focus on?  Thank you so much for your talents and insights.

Kathleen
12/24/1955
p.s.  This is my first post, and I apologize if I've posted incorrectly.  Thank you again.

Hi Kathleen,

I am sorry you had such a rocky 2007 I hope that 2008 will be much better. My advice to you would be to explore a wide range of things, try them all! lol. Auras are a part of many disciplines from reiki to crystal healing and also used in chakra and colour healing. Reading auras is great fun I love it too.

I have used some of my Avalon Oracle cards as a focus to help answer your question and the first card is The Raven. The large black bird that is very symbolic of the ways of magic. Not just things like witchraft and the wiccan ways but true magic, the natural kind. Perhaps you might find a love of animals and trees and use herblore and healing plants, use crystals and stones to help others? Have you thought of taking any classes, either online or in person, why not look and see what you are drawn to? There are free courses here too and lots of information that will help you decide

I am just like yourself dealing with the many side effects (including anxiety and depression) of a chronic and debilitating illness, and therefore feel a great sense of empathy with you in your current and ongoing difficulties. Having to put up with your symptoms is bad enough without also having to be concerned as to where the money is going to come from to pay the endless bills.

I wish now to extend and build upon what my gifted colleague Lady of Avalon has already wisely told you with regard to the use of "natural magic", as part of an overall healing regimen.

While there are many things provided by nature to speed up the healing process, possibly the most powerful ally we have in restoring our precious sense of good health and well being are the thoughts which we continually focus upon. The problem as I see it is that having a long term debilitating illness often provides you with more opportunities than most other people are given to focus upon negative thoughts which can quickly destroy any motivation we feel to keep going with what you are doing to try to make things better for ourselves.

While at first your logical questioning mind will almost certainly regard any positive affirmations as being ridiculous as any person can see that they do not presently reflect the reality of the situation, they are addressed instead to your subconscious mind, where the real magic can begin. There are many books and websites devoted to positive spiritual or health affirmations, but often the most effective ones are those which you design for yourself.

Always keep them as simple as possible, and use them on a regular basis. Yes it will probably take some time to turn things around again in a more positive and hopeful direction, but also yes, you will discover that the time and effort was well worth it in the end. In combination with the excellent advice which you have already been given, daily affirmations or simple positive statements to your subconscious mind can significantly enhance any assistance a qualified doctor could offer you.

This is precisely why I prefer the term complementary rather than alternate healing. Please let your doctor know if you are using any complementary healing treatments as well as medication which he or she has prescribed for you, as they can on occasions interact in totally unexpected ways, and could potentially only further add to your problems.

You are in my healing thoughts and prayers,

eye_of_tiger

Thank you both for the wonderful readings.  I read them multiple times so I could absorb everything you were saying.  To Lady of Avalon, I have a deep seeded love and compassion for animals and nature and also minimal knowledge about crystals and stones from the many websites I've stumbled upon.  You've inspired me to pursue these areas, and hopefully find my niche.   To eye of tiger...you're so right about the negative thoughts.  I've been aware of them for some time now, and although I've improved, and try to stay conscious of my thoughts, I still have frequent episodes of anger and bitterness, where I vent to no one in particular.  My entire life here, has been full of events that are not the norm, almost like I have a mean spirited angel who enjoys playing tricks on me, and I don't know where it comes from, but somehow I always manage to have hope, that things will get better.  I would like to be as you, are...helping others in spite of my situation, and send you wishes for improvement with your own, illness.  

Blessings and Light,

Kathleen

Thanking you in return for your healing thoughts and prayers, but I wondered if you realised that you are already helping others in spite of your own illness by admitting that you constantly struggle with your negative thoughts and feelings, but that you also have many yet untapped inner strengths which allow you to effectively hold your ground.

Let us face it. Having a chronic illness or being trapped in a body which does not always allow us to do what we want in our lives seems grossly unfair, and our understandable anger at this bubbles just below the surface of consciousness, and on occasion breaks out and pity anyone who gets in the way when this happens.

Perhaps it is not the emotion of anger in itself which is negative, but rather in the way in which we use it. Just like a motor car it can either be used as a weapon to destroy lives, or to help us more easily move from where we already are, to where we are going. We can therefore use our anger in a decidedly positive manner to motivate us to change things decidedly for the better, both in other people's lives as well as our own.

When you said that you did not know where the energy comes from which continues to give you hope for the future in spite of your many difficulties, in my mind the answer lies mainly with your positive use of your anger. You are simply unwilling to be a victim of your circumstances any longer, and you have decided that you will fight on other people's behalves as well as your own.

Some teachers say that we should learn to accept and even love our illness for the many blessings it brings into our life, but I will continue to use my my anger more as an agent of positive change against all the injustices and inequalities of life I see around me, by helping others to the very best of my abilities at all times.

May the force be with you,

eye_of_tiger