Shamanic Journey Introduction

Introductory Session

(Kingsdown, Bristol)

Saturday 17th July 2010

11.30am – 1.30pm

£15 (non- refundable)

All places need to be booked and paid for in advance, There are limited spaces.

To book your place please email me: intro@freyaeostre.com

For further information please check the page; ‘Shamanic Journeys and Readings’.

Freya’s Astro Advice

JUNE 2010

An intuitive reading for each sign of the zodiac…

ARIES

10 Swords, Black Tourmaline, Gentleness

You have reached the end of the road with something that you may have been deeply involved in. You are positive person but something about this situation is beginning to feel decidedly negative or ‘wrong’ to you, and it is important to listen to your feelings. ‘Pushing ahead’ may be your usual way of dealing with things but in this instance you need to gently remove yourself from the situation.

TAURUS

The Star, Clear Quartz, Reflection

Things have felt a little chaotic or unsettled lately. This month you have the opportunity to regain a sense of hope and renewal, as long as that is what you strive for. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but to get there some personal effort will be required. You are being asked to take some time out for quiet reflection. Create a space for mental clarity and you will soon feel rejuvenated.

GEMINI

Knight of Vesicas, Moonstone, Spirit Guide

You are in a relatively stable place right now which means you are in a great position to make changes. It is time to review this years resolutions and goals and be honest with yourself about how you are getting on. You may well discover that it is time to break free from an entrenched emotional pattern that is holding you back. When you reach out, Spirit will give you all the support you need!

CANCER

2 Cups, Garnet, Water

Cancer, you are in the mood for some loving this month! There is the opportunity to combine ‘true love’ with passion and excitement. It is time to spice things up in the romantic department: If you are in a relationship then allow your partner to woo you or take the initiative and create a romantic surprise. Single? Get out there and show off your charms, you never know who you might meet!

LEO

Ace of Wands, Jasper, Stability

Your enthusiasm for life will return this month with a new project, activity or interest. This is just what you have been looking for, as being involved makes you feel more alive. However, you need to approach this in a more grounded, practical way. To grow tall branches you need strong roots, so make sure you conserve your energy and direct it towards creating a strong, reliable foundation.

VIRGO

3 Vesicas, Hematite, Fire

The focus of the next month is on work or creative projects. You are is an assessment phase and you may discover that some challenging adjustments need to be made somewhere along the line. Allow your passion to lead you to the right answers and be willing to stand behind your convictions. Once you have the solution be prepared to stick to your guns and/or cut through any barriers to progress.

LIBRA

9 Vesicas, Ruby, Creativity

You are in the middle of a process which is taking its time, as all good processes do. In order to facilitate this process, it is important that you look at how you’re spending your energy. You need to pace yourself and make sure you don’t burn out before it is time to ‘give birth’. Think of creative ways to get things done, while enabling you to maintain your energy levels ready for the big push.

SCORPIO

Queen of Staffs, Rhodochrosite, Challenge

Part of you is ready for pastures new and itching to ‘get going’. You know that there are better options for you and you feel an deep inner desire for some kind of change. Unfortunately your inner child has other ideas! You feel blocked because part of you doesn’t want to let go or face the uncertainty of new pastures. You are strong, but you also have a deep vulnerability that you rarely admit, even to yourself. Comfort your frightened inner child by acknowledging your deepest fears.

SAGGITARIUS

Knight of Swords, Tigers Eye, Gentleness

You have a clear goal and right now something is standing in the way of you attaining it. It may feel like a thick of brambles that need cutting down with determination and a sharp knife, but this is not the case. You are feeling angry, frustrated or possibly even scared and it is making you behave in a defensive manner. Relax Sagittarius! Take things one step at a time and look for the gentle solution.

CAPRICORN

Ace of Vesicas, Lapis Lazuli, Connection

You are currently focussed on creating some kind of foundation in your life, one which will enable you to feel more connected to your inner self and possibly to other people. This foundation relies on you developing your ability to listen to your inner voice and to act on it. If things are not yet clear, then trust that when the time is right, they will become so and you will know exactly what to do.

AQUARIUS

8 Vesicas, Citrine, Community

It is important that you continue to work at things and don’t be put off by the apparent lack of results. If you have a dream, then it takes time to actualise and you have to be patient, committed and persevering – all things you find difficult! What will really help keep you going is some comrades on the same path. Join a network or group of like-minded souls or start one yourself.

PISCES

Queen of Swords, Rhodonite, Love

You find yourself questioning whether someone loves you or not because their actions don’t match their words. You are prone to wanting to see the best in people and give others the benefit of any doubts you may have. You need to learn to stand up for yourself as no one else is going to do it for you. Remember the old saying ‘actions speak louder than words’? Protect your wounded heart.

Psyche in the City – ‘How can we deal with feelings?’

‘It takes remarkable courage to reveal your vulnerability to another human being.’ Freya ♥

Many of us struggle with not knowing how to handle feelings in both ourselves and others. We all have feelings, but it seems many of us grow up developing unhealthy strategies for dealing with them. Sometimes we find it hard to show we have feelings at all and other times they can flood over us in a scary and uncontrollable way. So,
how can we learn to deal with our feelings?

Most of us were taught in childhood that some or all of our feelings were unacceptable to those who cared for us. Sometimes this can be due to social or cultural conditioning (for example ‘boys don’t cry’) but it is just as likely to be because the adults themselves didn’t know how to handle their own feelings and were therefore unable to help the child learn to manage theirs.

When a parent doesn’t know how to deal with their feelings they will naturally find their child’s feelings difficult to handle. When the struggling parent (inevitably) rejects the child’s feelings, the child becomes fearful and ashamed: fearful because they don’t know what to do with their feelings and ashamed because they experience the parents’ rejection of their feelings as a rejection of themselves. The child becomes distressed and seeks to control their feelings in order to feel safe again. When a child is unable to maintain control they end up ‘acting out’ their feelings in unhealthy ways.

There are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ feelings, they are simply natural, instinctive emotional responses to a stimulus. When our feelings are not accepted by our care givers, we end up with a huge back log of unexpressed emotional energy inside of us. Unresolved feelings don’t evaporate, they are stored in the body until they can be released. (Many health problems are the result of suppressed feelings stored in the body.) When something or someone ‘pushes our buttons’, we may end up losing control and having an emotional reaction which at best appears illogical and at worst causes us to harm ourselves or others.

Unresolved feelings and unhealthy ‘acting out’ patterns developed in childhood are carried with us into adulthood. If we have children of our own, we will unwittingly pass the problem on, that is unless we become conscious of the problem within ourselves and seek to resolve it. We are only just beginning to recognise the true cost of this collective fear and shame of feelings to individuals and society as a whole. Fortunately more and more people are seeking help with processing childhood feelings and finding healthier strategies for managing difficult feelings in the present.

If you struggle with feelings, you are far from alone. Acknowledging this this is an essential first step on the road to recovery. It is also important to recognise that if you struggle with feelings; it is because you were never taught how to deal with them, not because there is something wrong with you. If you didn’t learn how to manage your feelings as a child, then your first task is to begin the process of befriending them today, especially the ones you are still carrying from childhood.

When we are children our parents are responsible for helping us manage feelings. Once you reach adulthood, the responsibility lies solely with you. If you are struggling and want to develop healthier relationships with yourself and/or others then it is essential that you reach out. You need to find someone to explore your feelings with who is supportive, non-judgmental and trustworthy.

The only way to release feelings is by sharing them with someone who will completely accept them.

Of course, this can be a frightening prospect if you have a backlog of unresolved childhood feelings. Many people avoid these by telling themselves that they can sort things out by themselves, that they don’t need ‘help’ or that it is best not to ‘dwell on things’. Many people, especially men, believe that it is a sign of weakness to talk about feelings or to seek help with them if they are struggling. Nothing could be further from the truth; it takes remarkable courage to reveal your vulnerability to another human being. Here are some common signs that we are having problems managing our feelings:

• Chronic or recurrent depression, anxiety, irritability, rage, guilt, shame or loneliness

• Chronic feelings of low self-worth, feeling somehow ‘different’ or separate from others

• Painful or destructive relationships with our partner, family, friends and/or colleagues

• We have a child who is is very withdrawn, angry or who’s behaviour is out of control

• Avoidance of social interaction, close friendships or sexual relationships

• Addiction to alcohol, drugs, smoking, shopping, sex, work, food, gambling, computers etc

• Eating disorders and self harming

• Suicidal thoughts or attempts (past or present)

• Criminal, ‘insane’ or other destructive behaviour

If you suffer anything on the above list, then it would be a great benefit to you and the people around you if you found support. Most of the time we don’t even notice how estranged we are from our feelings, we just wonder why our life seems so empty or chaotic. Sooner or later, whatever we find too painful or difficult to deal with will have a detrimental effect on our relationship to ourselves and others. And whatever unresolved feelings we have been carrying with us from childhood will continue to follow us around until we choose to heal.

Reach out to at least one other human being who is able to offer support and guidance.

Start befriending your feelings by:

• Talking honestly with a close friend or relative about how you are feeling today. This can help get the ball rolling in the right direction. However, we usually also need someone who is experienced and impartial to guide us through this challenging process.

• Finding a counsellor or therapist you like and trust. Both are widely available privately and through various organisations. You may even be able to get one through your employer, academic establishment or the NHS (if you are persistent!)

• Joining a 12 Step group or other appropriate self help group. Sharing your feelings in a (healthy) group of non-judgemental peers is a powerful healing experience. Codependents Anonymous is specifically for improving our relationships to ourselves and others. In a healthy 12 Step meeting, people work the steps in sponsorship and follow the traditions.

Wherever you choose to go, make sure the support offered helps you to lessen your fear and shame. Sharing with safe and accepting people will enable you to begin to explore your deepest feelings and will help you to discover a new freedom to be yourself. Remember there are no quick fixes, it takes commitment and perseverance to change. Good luck!