NEW MOON AND MERCURY RETROGRADE! OH MY!

I do not claim to be an astrologist, but I do keep up with the phases of the moon and certain events in the skies that seem to have an effect on my life and the life of those around me.

So this morning on the east coast, a little after midnight, we experienced a new moon in Taurus.

Taurus is an earth sign, and has to do with self worth, personal values, and things that are related to our life in the earth realm.

Depending on whose blogs you read, new moons can be about manifesting new things or letting go of old stuff.

Here is my understanding.

The dark moon and the new moon are a bit different, although they are sometimes used interchangeably.

The dark moon is when there is NO moon, It is dark.

The new moon is right after that. When the darkness of the moon begins to pass and the next phase begins its trek across our sky and our experience.

Symbolically you may correctly ascertain that the best time for releasing things out of your life is when the moon is waning and going into the dark stage and the best time for manifesting would be when the moon begins to become visible again!

This particular new moon is accompanied by a Mercury Retrograde which lasts approximately three weeks. Mercury is all about communication, Traditionally Mercury Retrogrades affects anything having to with our communications with others. Since in modern times we often communicate via the internet, phones, and other electronic devices, be sure that these items may not always function the way they should during Mercury Retrogrades.

However, Mercury Retrogrades are not necessarily a bad thing,  We get to revisit our communications with others, We get to bring closure to outstanding issues in our lives. We get to take some time out and look at our recent past and see if there are some things we have been avoiding. With the new moon in Taurus, this is a perfect time for revisiting our relationships with others, our relationship with our money, our values, and things that are important to us. If there is an imbalance, now is the perfect time to set things right.

This past week my body indicated to me that there was an imbalance. I found it necessary to experience an emergency appendectomy. Up until that day, I will admit that I had allowed my life to become a bit imbalanced. I was charging forward like Taurus the bull, accepting every invite, every opportunity that presented itself. Working full time again at the Post Office, doing weddings and readings and classes on weekends and sometimes after a full day at the Post Office, I was headed toward a screeching halt.

This week is my week to recharge. To decide which opportunities to take, and which ones to release. What a perfect week to do this!

I am planning a double whammy ritual this evening. The actual dark moon has passed, and the new moon is now upon us. However, I have a two fold agenda. I am making two lists. One list contains the things I am ready to release, and the other list contains the things I am ready to invite or manifest into my life.

May I suggest you do something similar in your time with Spirit as well.

I like to incorporate the particular element that is related to the moon when doing my rituals. In this case Taurus is an earth sign, so I will bring the earth into my ritual. I will take my two pieces of paper containing my intentions. The one that  contains the things I am releasing, I will stand outside (weather permitting) and say something like this:

Higher Beings of Love and Light, Universe, Higher Self and My Own Soul, I thank you for the experiences of life that have brought me to this moment, I thank all of the things that I am now releasing for the lessons you have taught me and the value you have had in my life up until this point. I am now ready to release you to the earth and out of my life.

I will then dig a hole in the earth, asking the Earth for permission first of course and asking where in the Earth to dig the hole. I will tear up the paper into tiny pieces and bury the pieces into the earth, thanking the Earth for accepting the energy of those things to the betterment of my soul.

Now to the second part of my ritual. I will take my second list of things I want to manifest into my life. I will say a similar incantation, or prayer, something like this:

Higher Beings of Love and Light, Universe, Higher Self and My Own Soul: I now humbly ask your help in manifesting these things into my life. As I team up with you I thank you for your partnership with me in bringing into my life my intentions. 

Now is the fun part! Being spring and time to plant new things in your yard or whatever space you have available, find a pot of dirt and a plant that you would like to grow. You can tear up your piece of paper into little pieces and place it in the bottom of the pot. Fill the pot with dirt and the plant and water it. Thank the plant and the dirt for its partnership with you as you manifest your intentions!

If you do not possess a green thumb or the ability to grow a plant, for whatever reason,you can do your ritual in whatever way speaks to you. Place your paper under a rock. Rocks are very powerful earth elements. Go to the mountains somewhere and plant your intentions. Use the element of earth. Even if you burn the paper and then spread the ashes into the earth somewhere that is still using the element of earth in your ritual. Have fun! Use your favorite spiritual tools. Remember to make your ritual speak to your soul.

The earth, the stars and the planets, whether you believe that they have real power over your life or not, are there to remind you of the things of the Spirit. Nothing really has any meaning unless it has meaning to YOU. Rituals are for your benefit. They bring your thoughts and words and actions together for a specific purpose.

Have fun and relax! Remember that life is on your side! These tools that I suggest are for your benefit and are meant to bring joy into your life in a greater way! Whatever means you find to bring joy into your life is good!

If you would like some personal attention, I am always available for phone, Skype or email consultations. If you live near me, I am available at specific dates and times listed on my WEBSITE.

Blessings to you on this special day!

12/12/2014

Are you ready to invite some change into your life?

December to me has always represented a month of new beginnings. It is the month when, for centuries, people have celebrated the birth of a baby. Not just any baby, mind you, but a savior of mankind. Whether or not you subscribe to that belief is really of no consequence. Symbolically this time of  year represents the hope of the human race that something or someone higher than themselves has come down to our human, earthly lives, taken interest on us, and given us the chance at a new beginning.

In my years of receiving messages from the Spirit world, I have learned that Spirit talks to us in symbols. It is easier for the Angels or Higher Beings to send us a message through an image than to send us a message in words. The year I started a new life for myself years ago, I suddenly became obsessed with Anne Gedde, the famous photographer of babies. I bought an Anne Gedde calendar and hung it in my kitchen. I dreamed of babies frequently, or of being pregnant, despite the fact that this was not something I had intended to create in the natural world by any means. The symbol of a baby is a universal symbol of new beginnings. A friend of mine who is getting ready to retire recently told me that she has dreamed of being pregnant or of other women who are pregnant several times recently. This is an easy way for Spirit to tell her that she is about to embark upon a new beginning.

You can take advantage of the energies of December if you want to embark upon a new beginning in your life!

All it takes is a little focus and an intention. What is an intention? It is kind of like a prayer, but it is not necessary that you seek the help of a Higher Power with an intention, although if you want to, you certainly can. With an intention, you are really just connecting with your own Higher Self and your Soul. You are saying to yourself and the Universe that you intend to create something new!

An intention might go something like this:

"I intend to create my perfect career."

Most really good intentions are not too wordy. Seven words or less is best.

Be really willing to allow this intention to come in whatever form is best for your soul at this time. It is easier for Spirit to bring something to you that is for your highest good if you are not too specific in how it manifests.

According to numerology, this particular year, December (12) 2014 is a 10 month or a 1 month, the number of new beginnings. This number can be obtained by adding all the numbers together: 1+2+2+0+1+4 =10. And then again 1+0=1.  If you add today's date: 12 to that equation, you get 13. In the tarot 13 is the death card. Death is not a bad thing, but a card of a final ending of a chapter and the beginning of a new chapter.

As you can see, Spirit is sending us a message universally that this month can be a month of great change and new beginnings! Now if you had a rich aunt who suddenly died and left you a million dollars, but no one told you that the money was yours, you would not benefit from the gift, would you? But the  million dollars is out there, just waiting for you to realize that you are entitled to it. At some point, you  might have to make yourself known to the person who is in charge of settling the aunt's accounts.

The energies of December for new beginnings is like the rich aunt. All you have to do is align yourself with the energies and claim those new beginnings for yourself!

Now let's take the energies one step further.

It seems like every day for a month or more I have just happened to look at the clock every day at exactly 12:12. This has been an indicator to me that a transmission of Higher Energy was headed my way. I have looked forward to today, December 12th, (12-12) since I began to notice the time on the clock, knowing that the Higher Beings were sending me a sign that today was to be a special day of transmission of light, love and higher energy frequencies from the Upper Realms.

So my intention for today is that I will receive a transmission of love and light from the Higher Realms. What if I never take any time to connect with Spirit today? What will happen to my intention?

I think nothing. It is like that million dollars is out there, waiting for me, and I am not accessing my account.

Just for today, take a moment and connect with Source. Ask for your transmission of love and light to manifest in whatever form is best for you at this time in your journey through life. Don't be specific as to how it manifests. Just believe and know that you have received a transmission of love and light.

Notice any subtle changes you may feel. You may notice nothing but other people may notice a change in you. Or maybe something in the physical world will manifest as a gift to you.

Remember to say thank you!

I would love to hear your stories of how and when you received your transmission of love and light today.

All We Need is Love..

Ever have one of those days, or weeks, or months, where nothing you planned turned out the way you wanted it to? It seemed like it was hard to get up in the morning, you drug through your day, forced yourself to do those things that were necessary? Everything you tried to accomplish seemed just beyond your reach?

I can't really say every day this month has been this way, but let's just say that there have been a few difficult days. Getting up at 5 a.m. just has seemed to be harder than usual. I force myself outside to run. Sometimes getting things accomplished has been like pulling teeth.

This morning I got up and it just seemed like I could not wake up. I drug myself into the bathroom to get ready for work, and my mind was just REALLY complaining. My warm bed kept calling me to come back come back!!

I am one of those proponents for what you think in your heart, that is what you create in your life. At first my mind was too groggy to start this early creating anything, but my spirit was wide awake, and began to call my mind to come into line!

Okay, Joy, I began to quietly talk to myself, it is only your mind who doesn't like getting up this early. You begin to think and believe that you enjoy getting up, that you are happy to do it! That you LOVE getting up to go to work.

Immediately my mind came into line!

I created in my mind the intention that I enjoyed getting up to go to work! I began to feel better!

When I set my intention that I loved to get up and that it was not a hard thing to do, but I really LOVED it, my attitude immediately changed!

It was then that Spirit prompted me that my assignment today was to send love to anything and everything that came to my mind or that came across my path. I sent love to my warm bed and that sweet man that lay sleeping in it. That was easy.

Then I sent love to my soul. Then to my toothbrush. Throughout the day, I would remember and once again send love... to the mail I was weighing, to the computer, even to the trash can. To the floor under my feet. To the air I was breathing. To all the people who touch my life, whether on purpose or by default.

I have often said that every thought you think is a prayer. My question for you today is, what are you praying for?

When we spend our time sending love to all those who come across our path, whether they be loved ones or challenging ones, whether they be human or plant or animal or even non-breathing, then love cannot help but come back to us multiplied! 

Do not send love with the intention of getting something in return! Just send love with the intention of sending love for love's sake! Go throughout your day, enjoying each moment, whether you are doing something that is easy to love or whether you are choosing to love what you are doing, your mind does not know the difference! 

You will be amazed at how differently your day unfolds!

Just for today, send love! Send love intentionally, and send it arbitrarily. Remember also to send love to yourself! If you want love, then BE LOVE.

And love is all there is anyway.

New Moon, New Possibilities!

In a previous blog post, I shared how we sometimes interchange the terms "new moon" and "dark moon," however, originally, these were two different days. Originally, the dark moon was the night with no moon. Makes sense, right? And the new moon was a day or so later when that first little sliver of the "new" moon was visible. I have decided I like this way of labeling these particular phases, because they just make sense to me.

That being said, this weekend is the "dark moon" on Saturday, in Leo. This is a good week to really think about what aspects of your life experience you are ready to release. Write all those aspects down on a piece of paper, light a candle, put on some "mood" music and really get serious about letting some "stuff" go! Burn your paper in the candle, taking whatever necessary safety precautions are necessary, of course.

If you are really serious about letting go of some "stuff," do this ritual three times on three different days, the last day being Saturday, three being the magic number of manifestation! I like to dance around the candle or fire three times, counter clockwise! The third time, which should be on Saturday, the actual dark moon, you should dance around your fire nine times: nine being three times three!

You should really be good and cleansed by Sunday or Monday (depending on which calendar you look at), when that first sliver of a moon appears. Now you are ready to manifest!

Using the same ritual, now you are going to write down what things you want to bring into your life! Really connect with your heart and decide what is in your highest good according to your soul. Just wanting a new car or a new couch is not what I am talking about here.

Where does your soul want to go from here?

Are there other people involved in what you are trying to manifest?

Let's say, for example, you are getting a divorce, and you have small children. You, your ex, and your children, are all going to be affected by this decision, whether it was your decision or not. You might say something like this: 

I now ask and request of my (Higher Power, or My Soul) that this divorce be manifest in the best possible way and that everyone who is affected may benefit in some way. May all circumstances come together to bring the highest good for everyone concerned.

You will write this, or your own affirmation on a piece of paper three times, burn it in a candle or fire three times on three different days, dance around the fire, this time clockwise, three times, and the last day nine times.

Then, let it go.

Yes, that is right! You don't have to mull over it, think about it, visualize it, feel it, or any of that! Completely give it up to your Soul or your Higher Power or the Angels. Expect that it is taken care of. Expect results.

And don't go around bad mouthing your ex or complaining about any details or challenges you may face in the interim. 

Do you get my drift?

As you can see, rituals can be simple or extravagant. 

Intention is everything.

Of course, my hope is that you will tailor this ritual to fit your own personal agenda, plans, or intentions. Don't ever try to cross free will, and always ask for the highest good for everyone concerned.

If you would like personal attention with some specific issue you are facing, or you would just like a spiritual tuneup, please don't hesitate to contact me to schedule a private session! I offer email, phone, skype, and in person readings. I also do shamanic energy healings, Reiki, and connecting with your loved ones on the other side. 

Look for an upcoming blog where I introduce my newest book and offer you some great incentives to adding this book to your personal collection!

Summer Solstice

The summer solstice is upon us, a time to celebrate summer, long days, the sun shining longer this time of year, and reflect on the first half of the year, making necessary changes or adjusting your goals for the second half of the year. Many people make resolutions or goals at the beginning of the year, but not so many use the solstice to reflect on those goals or make adjustments.

A full moon is a time to really focus on manifesting. The energy of the full moon is good up to three days after, and then after that the energy of the moon is waning and better used for help with releasing things that are no longer helpful for you in your life's journey.

Take this time of year to celebrate with like minded friends and acquaintances. Find rituals that are meaningful for you to honor the earth, the sun, and the moon and thank them for their participation in your life. Here are a few ideas!!

Think about your goals for this year. Have you been working on them or have distractions or obstacles seemed to come against you? Do you even remember what your goals were at the beginning of the year?

 Now is a great time for calling upon the powers of the Universe for help manifesting.

Remember that anything you do with intention has power!!

Everything has a meaning, but only the meaning you attach to it. If I say that when I see a butterfly I think of transformation and the power of going within yourself to bring forth a thing of beauty, that is because that is the meaning I have attached to a butterfly. What if, when you were a child, you had a dream that you were attacked and eaten by a butterfly? You would probably not attach the same meaning to it as I did!  Go within yourself and find meaning in rituals, or certain meaningful objects.

Think of an affirmation that describes what you would like to achieve for the second half of the year and focus on that intention during your ritual. Make sure it is seven words or less (something taught to me by my shamanic mentor, which she learned from her mentor... too many words cause a weakened affirmation.)  You could do something artistic, like write it out on a piece of wood or a rock and place it in a natural setting. Be sure to ask permission from any natural object before using it for a ritual. Many people ask me how to know whether the object has given you permission or not. I get an inside feeling, like yes or no. Sometimes, especially on rocks, I will see a smiley face if it is a yes or a frown if it is a no.

Here are some sample affirmations:

 My life is blessed with abundant prosperity .

I enjoy abundant health.

My relationships are mutually beneficial for all.

I manifest a deeper Divine connection.

I surrender my plans to the Universe.

My path is headed in the right direction.

I now easily manifest.......(you fill in the blanks)


In my spiritual class to be held at my home in Winchester, Virginia, on the solstice, we are going to celebrate using all four elements, water, fire, air and earth, using these elements to increase the power of our intentions. We will seek council from Spirit for adjusting our intentions, and thank the Universe by drumming, dancing, and other powerful rituals. If you would like to join with us as we magnify our intentions by doing them in a group, contact me for directions and instructions.

You can contact me here:

joyandreasen@gmail.com or just visit my website  www.whispersofjoy.net

The Gift

I have heard many times over that celebrating the Christmas holiday has become too commercialized, with stores displaying Christmas decorations well ahead of Thanksgiving, sometimes before the Halloween decorations have been removed. In past years I have been in agreement with this philosophy, wishing out loud that we could just skip right over the whole month of December. Looking back I am not sure what fed my disdain for Christmas. Perhaps it was feeling obligated to buy gifts for people I didn't really even like, or feeling the superficiality of the whole gift buying obligation. I recognized that many times people feel the financial strain of having to buy presents when they were having a hard time making their rent, or paying their electric bills, but for some reason there is this mentality that it is expected. I remember many years ago when I had no money for presents, I would give presents of things that I made myself, and I still find this a wonderful alternative for people with limited income. But this year something within me shifted. I found myself looking forward to the holiday season. In contemplation, I have come to the conclusion that this is what changed.

When we look at an obligation as an obligation, as a sacrifice that we are making that is taking away from us in some form, then that obligation becomes to us a burden. We feel we are losing something. This applies to gift giving but it also applies to anything that we do. If we feel that in the giving of a gift that we are sacrificing our hard earned income in order to give something to someone else, then that gift is a burden to us and to the other person it will be a burden as well, because even if it is a fine gift, that person will always feel the energy of our sacrifice.

If we look at Christmas as a time when businesses are all rallying to rid us of our hard earned money, then rid us they will.

If we think that the real meaning of Christmas is being lost, that there is no real Christmas Spirit left, that Santa Claus has replaced Jesus, then this is what will be true for us.

What I am suggesting is that the real meaning of  Christmas cannot be lost if it is not lost within each of us as individuals. Gift giving is not a burden unless we make it one. Businesses are not trying to rid us of our money. Most of them are trying to make a living, just like we all are.

Why not change our perspective? Look at a gift we are giving to another as an extension of the love that we have within us. Look at it as a blessing we are happy to give, not a burden or an obligation that is somehow taking away something from us. Look at the different aspects of the holiday from a perspective of something that we want to do, not something that we have to do.

I have news for you. Jesus wasn't born in December anyway. I am happy to celebrate his birthday, but what if the gifts we give each other were one way of giving a birthday gift to Jesus? He is not here in physical form to accept a gift for his birthday, so the gifts we give each other are our way of giving him a gift. And for my non- religious readers, what if the gifts you give represent some aspect of the giving of the love you have within your heart? Fill your gifts with the energy of the love in your heart. Give with the attitude that you are just sharing of the abundance that is within you, not that you are sacrificing your hard earned income and that you really don't like so and so anyway, why do you have to give them a gift?

There was a movie out a few years ago of a girl who was a chef, and every emotion she felt would go into the food she prepared in such a way that the people in the restaurant would respond in direct response to the emotions she was feeling as she prepared the food. So if she was mad, then all her customers would be mad. If she was upset, those eating at the restaurant would all start crying. What if this was an exaggerated illustration of a profound truth? What if the emotions we feel really do go into everything we do and into the food we prepare and the gifts we give one another?

What if everything we did, we did with the attitude that we were choosing to do this thing, that it was something we wanted to do, not something we felt obligated to do? I think our world would change. If love went into all our activities, that we had the attitude that when we went to work that we were giving a gift to our employer, that we enjoyed working and even looked at our difficult bosses with the attitude that we were giving them a gift of love and blessing, and not obligation, not sacrifice, how would our days change?

Just for today, any time you think that you are sacrificing of yourself of that you are giving something up, change your perspective. Decide to think instead that you are choosing to do an activity that you would otherwise think of as an obligation or a sacrifice. Choose to give a gift to someone who you don't really care for. Instead of thinking about what you want, think about what you can give. Instead of thinking about what you need, think about what you have. Give to someone something that you would like for yourself. If you would like to be understood, give understanding. If you would like respect, give respect. Most of all, if you need love, then give love.

Put love into every gift you give this year. Remember that every thought you think in some way is transmitted energetically to those around you. Even that crazy driver who just cut you off. Even that ex that did this or did that. That boss who annoys you or that check out clerk who is rude to you. None of them can take from you unless you allow it. Choose to be a blessing.  Go the extra mile. Send out the energy of love into every activity.

Give everyone the respect to celebrate the holidays the way that they decide to do so. Remember that there is no right or wrong way to deal with the holidays. The only thing you are responsible for is how you choose to live your life. Do so with abandon!!

Halloween Spells

A good friend of mine a long time ago once told me that in her belief system, any spell cast on Halloween was guaranteed to come to pass. The energies, she told me, were greater that day than any other. I hadn't thought about that for years but this morning it came to my mind. Of course I don't propose that we all go out and start casting spells, unless of course they follow the cardinal rule "DO NO HARM."  But let us think about this for a moment.

Yesterday I was supposed to officiate at a wedding in Virginia Beach, but decided to err on the side of caution and request it be postponed, due to the hurricane. So I ended up with a day to myself, since my original plans had been cancelled. I was walking into the grocery store, not really thinking about anything in particular, when my guides told me that I really had to watch my words, because words that came out of my mouth were very powerful and had the capability of changing worlds.

This kind of coincides with this morning's thought about casting spells on Halloween. Now casting spells kind of has an evil connotation, with all the media and movies that have glamorized the practice and the tendency for religion to demonize the practice, but really, it is no different than saying a prayer. A long time ago my guides told me that every thought I thought was a prayer. Every intention or every affirmation I repeated is a kind of spell that I am casting for something that I expect to manifest in my life. Anything that any of us do with intention has power to bring about change in our lives.

So what if my friend has a valid point? What if any spell we cast on Halloween has extra power? Why not use this to our advantage? Let us all spend a moment today to send out prayers, intentions, thoughts of love and light, or whatever you want to call your prayers, out to those in harm's way? To all those affected by the storm, let us send out our intentions that the ability to reclaim their losses will be intensified, that their hearts will be comforted in their losses. Let us send out the intention to the political candidates that the best man for the job will win, that whatever is best for our country and for all those that live here and call it our home will manifest, that whatever the outcome that we may all learn to love and accept one another no matter our differences of opinion, that all may have equal opportunities to live life according to their heart, and that we not blame the government or anyone outside of ourselves for our situations. Let us set aside our judgements and our thoughts of what is right and wrong, and simply love one another.

Some may call it casting a spell and some may call it saying a prayer. Some may light candles to intensify their prayers and some may do other rituals, but as long as no living thing is harmed in the process, what difference does it make what the ritual is or to whom the prayer is addressed? I believe our Source and the Creator of all that is has bigger things to think about than how He/She is addressed and what rituals are performed to request assistance.The bottom line is that it is our intention with which we perform our rituals or pray our prayers that has the real power.

May our intentions be of the highest order, that all may be blessed and that no one be harmed as we all celebrate Halloween in our own way. Do not judge others in their beliefs, whether they be similar to yours or different, as long as no harm is caused or intended. Blessed be!!