MAKING A BESOM

MAKING A BESOM by Carrie Hengel-Mitchell

If you would like a besom (Witches Broom) of your own, they are fairly easy to find in craft stores, country markets, or folk art fairs, or can invest your time and energies into making one.  Birch, ash, and willow are popular and traditional materials to use, but anything can be used.  And I mean anything!  It’s ultimately up to the individual Witch what materials will be used in making your besom.

     Materials: 

A dowel or stick: one inch in diameter and 1-4 feet long

Ball of Hemp twine 

Scissors 

Straw, grass, or other long strands of pliable herbs or sticks 

Almond oil

Sea Salt and warm water

Sand paper

Optional: Carving tools

Take the straw, or another herb you have chosen for the bristles, and allow them to soak from 10 minutes to overnight in warm, lightly salted water.  The water softens the straws to make them pliable, and the salt soaks out former energies. 

If you are using a stick found out in nature, it is best to remove the bark, sand it down, and treat the wood by rubbing the surface with the almond oil.  The handle part of the besom can be decorated with pagan symbols, your craft name, or any other embellishments you choose.   Remember there is no right or wrong way when it comes to making and creating your own personal tools.  

Now you are ready to make your besom.  

Remove the straw or herbs from the water and allow them to dry a bit, but not so much that they lose the suppleness you will need to turn them into your besom. 

Find a work area where you can lay out the length of your broom stick, and begin lining the straws alongside it.  Starting about three inches from the bottom lay the straws, moving backward, along the length of the dowel.  Begin binding these to the dowel with the twine.  You will need to tie them very securely.  You can add as many layers of straw as you wish, depending on how full you would like your besom to be. 

When the straw is secured, you can either cut the top straws or grass with a scissors for a straight edge, or you can bend the top straws down over the twine ties.  When they are all gently pulled over, tie off the straws again a few inches below the original tie.  Also remember to cut the bottom of your “bristles” for a straight edge as well.  Now use the twine on the top of the handle to make a loop for hanging.  Hang the besom overnight to allow the straw to dry. 

Once you have finished the besom, you may dedicate it to a spirit or deity of your choice as you would with any other tool, bless and consecrate it, and charge it with protective energies. Traditionally, it can be hung over a doorway or stood with bristles facing upwards to protect a home. It is also used to "sweep away" residual psychic energies and negativity in a circle.  

Reliving Past Lives - Past Life Regression

Reliving Past Lives - Past Life Regression by Per Hogseth

Who were you in your last life? Were you a soldier, a scientist, a nurse or a king?

A hypnotic past life regression can give your the answer to this and many other questionsrelating to reincarnation.

Books such as "The Search for Bridey Murphy", and television programs such as:

"More Lives Than One?" have made more and more people in the western world awareof reincarnation. However, for most of the world`s population reincarnation and karmaare part of life and are generally accepted.

I vividly recall, many years ago in India, when a small boy related his story of a past life in a small village hundreds of miles from his home.

Every detail of his story was checked out and found to be valid. All of this was printed in the newspapers without additional comments. It was regarded as being just another proofor validation of something that everyone knew anyway. It is a slightly different story here,but gradually things are changing. I ask everyone who comes to see me privately if they believe in reincarnation, and a surprisingly number say "Yes".

Past life regression simply involves placing a person under hypnosis and asking them to go back through their childhood to a time before they were born. In many cases the person begins talking about his or her life or lives before the present lifetime, about their previous death and about the time between lives including the planning of the present lifetime.

The main reason why at least some of these claims must be considered as evidence are:

• the regression frequently leads to a cure of a physical illness
• in some cases the person regressed begins to speak an unlearned foreign language
• in some cases the person being regressed remembers details of astonishing accuracy which when checked out are verified by the top historians
• the emotional intensity of the experience is such that it convinces many formerly skeptical psychiatrists who are used to dealing with fantasy and imagined regressions
• in some cases the alleged cause of death in an immediate past life is reflected by a birthmark in the present life.

WHY DO PEOPLE SEEK HYPNOTIC REGRESSIONS?

There are many numbers of experiences from past lives that can negatively affect us in this life.

Someone who is scared of water may have drowned. A recent example is someone who came to me because his left hand had always been weak. Under hypnosis he related how he had lost his left hand in a sword fight. Once he knew the reason why his hand had always been weak, it gradually gained strength.

Another interesting recent case was a lady who suffered from frigidity. Under regression it turned out that she had been rejected by her husband in a precious life because she had been raped. Her husband in this lifetime was the same husband she had had before, and she was repaying him by being frigid. Once she became aware of this, her frigidity vanished.

Possibly the greatest benefit of having a regression is the evidence that it gives that we are all constantly changing and evolving. This can change our perspective on life and give a realization of why we are what we are, and also of what we are supposed to be doing here.

About the Author: Per Hogseth is an acclaimed psychic reader from Norway who also do past life regressions.
To learn more about his work, please go to:
http://www.powerful-psychic-reading.com
OR mail to: pehogset@online.no

Palmistry - The Thumb

Palmistry - The Thumb by Per Hogseth

Thumb in a way, represents the whole hand. Hence more importance is attached to the thumb than it is given to the lines in the palm. The thumb reveals the whole identity of the individual to the palm reader. The thumb is considered as the root of the whole hand. The thumb is considered as the center of the will-power. It is formed by 2 pieces of bones. The first phalange of the thumb indicates logic and the phalange containing the nail indicates will-power.

According to medical sciences, no harm is done for the individual if the four fingers are cut off. But if the thumb is torn and there is profuse bleeding then the person might go insane and even results in his death.

Parts of the thumb

First phalange of the thumb

If the first phalange of the thumb is very long, then such a person is self-willed while he has less desire to work if the thumb is shorter. Such persons are weak-willed. If the fore part of the thumb is square, the person is clever in legal matters and is respected for his acts of justice. He is very obstinate if the fore part of the thumb is wide. If the forepart of the thumb is extraordinarily long then such a person is a murderer or a dacoit or remain engrossed in anti-social activities.

The Second Phalange of the Thumb

Persons whose second phalange is long, are clever, careful and a take a lead in social activities. They are held in high esteem by the society. If the phalange is short, the person works without any forethought. He works in acts of dangerous magnitude. If this phalange is clumsy, then he is devoid of the power of reasoning. If this phalange is depressed then the person's mind is sharp and sensitive.

Third part of thumb or Place of Venus

The third part of the thumb is not a phalange, instead it the place of Venus. A person who has this part more prominent, elegant with a pink tinge is well-advanced in love matters. They gain full popularity among friends. They succeed in life and smile under difficulties as well. If the mount of Venus is very protruded, then the person would be sexually immoral. If this part is less prominent or submerged with more than necessary lines then the person would be having a frustrated temperament.

Different types of thumbs

Long Thumb - Such persons are self-willed, self -dependent and control others. In their lives intelligence has more importance and they are called intellectuals, and they are especially interested in mathematics and engineering.

Short Thumb- Such persons do not work with their own mind instead do so at the influence of others. Emotions have prominent place in their lives than intelligence. They take special interest in poetry, painting or music.

Hard Thumb- Such persons ae obstinate and alert. They possess the capacity to keep anything to themselves. They are wanting in emotions in their lives and they mostly work on the strength of intelligence.

Flexible and Supple Thumb- A person with such a thumb is much interested in amassing wealth and is capable of adjusting according to circumstances.

Obtuse-angled thumb- If the thumb makes an obtuse angle with the index finger then it comes under this category. Such thumbs are well-formed, long and thin. They are called gentle thumbs. Persons having such thumbs are gentle and sweet-tempered. They are Artists and Musicians.

Right-angled thumb- These are those thumbs which form a right angle with the index finger. These thumbs are elegant, strong and appear like pillars. Such a person believes in hard work. They are short-tempered but quickly cool off. They stick to their words. The feeling of revenge is very strong in them. Such persons can be neither good friends not good enemies.

Acute- Angled Thumb- Thumbs which make an acute angle at the joint with the index finger come under this category. The length of such thumbs are comparatively smaller and look clumsy. Such thumbs are classed as of evil quality.

Persons with this kind of thumb are frustrated throughout their lives. They are very lazy. They do not complete any work. They remain in bad habits with lavish spending. They are less interested in religion and are more inclined towards ghosts, spirits and the like.

They are always attracted towards the other women in life.

About the Author: Per Hogseth is a highly acclaimed palmist and psychic reader from Norway.
To learn more about his teachings, please go to:
http://www.powerful-psychic-reading.com

Palmistry - Hand And Finger Combinations

Palmistry - Hand And Finger Combinations by Per Hogseth

HAND AND FINGER COMBINATIONS

Before reading the palm, look at the fingers to see if they’re short or long. This isn’t always easy to gauge when you’re just beginning, but a little practice will enable you to assess the finger length at a glance.

The fingers are considered long if they can fold back and touch a spot at least seven-eights of the way along the palm. Unfortunately, there are exceptions, as some people have extremely flexible hands while others are very stiff. Also, someone with an extremely oblong palm may have long fingers that only reach halfway down the palm, as the palm itself is very long. With experience you’ll be able to look at someone’s palm and instantly know if the fingers are long or short.

The problem comes when you’re first learning and find a hand with fingers that seem to be neither long nor short. Fortunately, we can cover that situation as well.

Long Fingers

If the fingers are long, the person pays attention to detail and you can say:

“You enjoy complex work. You’re patient and enjoy all the fiddly bits – you like the details in things. Your work must be very consuming and gratifying. If it’s too simple you lose interest very quickly.”

Short Fingers

Someone with short fingers is almost the opposite. They’ll be more interested in the broad strokes rather than the details and won’t have much patience.

You could say:

“You’re always busy. Sometimes you may start something new before you’ve finished the last task. You often have several things on the go at the same time. You tend to want everything right now, so patience is not your strong suit. Your impulsiveness has gotten you into trouble in the past. In some ways you are a jack-of-all-trades.”

Medium Length Fingers

Naturally, someone with fingers that are neither long nor short will fall into a middle category.

You might say:

“At times you can be very patient. However, at other times you’re inclined to jump first and think later. If something really interests you, you want to get right down to the bottom of it and work it all out. If it’s only a passing interest, you’re more inclined to skim over it and not learn it in much detail.”

We now have four possibilities to look at:

1. Square hands with short fingers
2. Square hands with long fingers
3. Oblong hands with short fingers
4. Oblong hands with long fingers

This is the classification used in Chinese palmistry. It comes from Fred Getting’s monumental book, The Book of the Hand. The four types are named after the four elements of the ancients:

Fire, Earth, Air and Water. These relate very well to the descriptions of the Fire, Earth, Air and Water signs of astrology, but it does not necessarily mean that a Sagittarian (a Fire sign), would have a Fire hand. You’ll find people with all four types of hands in every sign of the Zodiac.

The four elements: Fire, Earth, Air and Water

Fire Hands

Fire is hot, energizing and constantly moving. It can provide gentle heat, but can also burn. Consequently it needs careful handling. A Fire hand is oblong with short fingers. Someone with a hand like this is likely to be emotional, enthusiastic and creative. The short fingers mean a dislike for detail. The long palm adds intuition.

For someone with a hand like this you might say:

“You have a great mind, full of wonderful ideas. These ideas excite you. Your enthusiasm may not last for long, but it’s extremely important to you at the time. Your emotions can be a bit hard to handle at times, but they enable you to experience life to the fullest. Details are not your strong point and you tend to prefer the overall picture to the fiddly bits. You are likely to be creative and need to be busy to be happy.”

Earth Hands

Earth is the dry, solid part of our planet. Everything that happens on earth is subject to the natural rhythms of germination, growth, death and decay. Earth is timeless and expresses stability.

However, below its surface all sorts of changes are constantly occurring. This can lead to earthquakes and other upheavals. The Earth hand is very like the practical hand. It consists of a square palm and short fingers.

People with this type of hand are reliable, down-to-earth and practical. They enjoy repetitive work and are good with their hands. They enjoy rhythm. They are conservative, reserved and possessive.

However, like earth itself, they can also react violently if they deem it necessary.

You might say to someone with Earth hands:

“You’re a hard worker. You enjoy physical challenges and your hands can think for themselves. You can be stubborn at times, and you don’t easily change your mind. You enjoy rhythm and movement. You’re not usually good with details, unless you’re making something. You probably prefer working outdoors, doing something practical. You’re reliable, honest and somewhat reserved.”

Air Hands

Air is essential for life. We take it for granted and seldom notice it, except on windy days. Air is also essential for communications, as it carries sound waves. Creatures of the air, such as birds and flying insects, are fast moving and active.

The Air hand consists of a square palm and long fingers. These people tend to use logic more than intuition. They’re quick-witted and express themselves clearly. They enjoy communicating and often have careers that utilize their skills.

Their strong emphasis on logic means these people tend to distrust emotions, both their own and other people’s.

We could say something along these lines to someone with Air hands:

“You’re intelligent, clear-thinking and discriminating. Relationships are important to you, but you sometimes find logic getting in the way of your feelings. You’re reliable and like to do things completely. You’re a stimulating companion and life is never dull when you’re around.”

Water Hands

Finally, water. If you think about it, water is essentially still. Other forces have to act upon it to make it change. It’s also shapeless as it simply moves to fill up whatever space is available.

The Moon has a strong influence on water, creating the tides in our oceans. The saying, “still waters run deep”, is very pertinent to the Water hand. The Water hand consists of an oblong palm with long fingers. It’s sometimes called the intuitive hand, as these people are extremely aware and receptive.

People with this type of hand are changeable, impressionable and emotional. They’re idealistic and highly imaginative.

To someone with water hands, you could say:

“You have an extremely rich inner life. Your imagination is keen and you fantasize about just about everything. You can be influenced by others, so you’re flexible with your ideas. Your intuition is strong. You’re emotional. If you’re interested in someone, you love spending time with them. You also need time by yourself to reflect on your own life. You are happiest inside the right relationship with someone to depend and rely upon.”

About the Author: Per Hogseth is an acclaimed psychic reader from Norway. To learn more about his teachings and work and get his FREE palm reading ebook: "Palmistry for fun", go NOW to: http://www.powerful-psychic-reading.com or mail to: pehogset@online.no

A Beginners Guide to Palmistry

A Beginners Guide to Palmistry by Kephri Ra

Palmistry is an ancient art thought to have originated in the East more than 5000 years ago. What we now know as palmistry is actually composed of what were originally two distinct disciplines: Chirognomy and Chiromancy.

Chirognomy uses the shape and size of a person’s hand and digits to assess their character and personality. Chiromancy is what people usually think of when they think of palmistry, and uses the lines on the palm of the hand to give a reading which can divine the major events of a person’s life and give some insight into what they may expect from the future.

In this article I will describe some of the most important indicators from both schools of palmistry, which will enable you to perform a basic reading either on yourself or for friends and family.

The first thing you must recognize is that the two hands will often be different. The dominant hand, that is the hand which you use to write with, indicates the way things stand at the moment. By that I mean not only events that have already happened, and are currently happening, but also the direction in which your life is heading and therefore what you can reasonably expect from the future. The non-dominant hand reveals what you wish for, and also what you have the potential to become if you change the course of events.

Beginning with Chirognomy, and looking at the shape of the hands to assess character, the main indicators are probably the so called 'Mounts' of the hand. These are the fleshy raised pads that can be found at various places on the palm.

The Mount of Venus: This is the largest of the mounts and can be found at the base of the thumb. It indicates the ability to express emotion and affection, as well as a person’s level of vitality. A particularly large, firm and well developed mount of Venus shows someone with great energy and vitality, as well as a strong (perhaps too strong) sex drive. A particularly flat or soft mount of Venus shows someone who may easily succumb to apathy or listlessness. They will have a weak libido, and may suffer poor health due to a lack of vital energy.

The Mount of the Moon: This can be found on the bottom of the palm just above the wrist, on the opposite side to the thumb and the mount of Venus. It indicates intuition and imagination. An underdeveloped mount of the moon shows a person who is very logical and sceptical, perhaps with a strong practical intelligence, but with an inability to make intuitive leaps beyond what is directly in front of them which may make them seem dull minded. A very large pad here indicates a very imaginative and creative person, who may sometimes be a fantasist who becomes enamoured with the idea of a thing and blinds themselves from all evidence to the contrary, perhaps losing touch with reality. These two are obviously the extremes, with most people being somewhere in between.

Moving on to Chiromancy I will now describe the major line of the palm and how you can use them to provide a reading:

The Life Line: This line begins on the side of the hand between the thumb and the forefinger, and curves down around the mount of Venus The life line indicates the Major events of a person’s life, and the quality of the physical energy. A common misconception is that the length of the line indicates how long a person will live. This is not the case, and actually the quality of the line is more important than the length. A strong, clear, and unbroken line indicates abundant physical energy and strength, and therefore the likelihood of good health and long life. The beginning of the line above the thumb relates to childhood and the other end relates to old age. If the line becomes weak or feathery at one point more than others this indicates difficulties and possible health problems at that stage in a person’s life. If it is crossed by smaller lines then this can indicate important events in a person’s life, such as marriage, retirement etc.

The Fate Line: This line travels vertically up the centre of the palm. It shows the general direction your life will take your career and interests, and worldly affairs in general. The fate lie can start in a number of different places. If the line begins on the mount of Venus, for example, shows someone strongly influenced by childhood event or family background. This person may have difficulty overcoming a traumatic childhood experience (esp. if the line is weak or broken at this end) or maybe a person who lives their life in the same social setting, and perhaps career, as their parents, never moving far from their roots. If he ne begins on the mount of the moon, on the other hand, the opposite is true. This person will take a very individual path in life, going their own way rather than fulfilling expectations. In either case a clear unbroken line shows a clear path that a person will follow - they may have a lifelong career, or some other singular focus. Forks and branches in the line indicate diverse interests and endeavours, and a weak line show a person being pulled along without having any strong passion or attachment to what they are doing. Some people do not have a fate line at all, which means they are a person who live in the moment and is very fluid in their approach to life.

The Bracelets of Neptune: This is an interesting place to finish. They run across the inside of the wrist just before it meets the hand. They indicate good fortune. The stronger and clearer they are the more fortune you will have in life. The top line is also particularly associated with health, with a straight, deep line and no feathering being the ideal.

If you are interested in learning more about palm reading then I would recommend you downloads this Palmistry Software from the Morning Star Portal website, which also features other New Age Software which you can download.

Making Essential Oils - Steam Distillation, Absolutes, And CO2's Explained

Making Essential Oils - Steam Distillation, Absolutes, And CO2's Explained by Misty Rae Cech

Aromatherapy Goes 'High Tech'

New methods of essential oil extraction are entering the mainstream of aromatherapy, offering new choices in oils never before available. With the new labels of 'CO2' and 'SCO2', along with the traditional 'steam' and 'hydro' distillations, 'absolutes', and 'cold pressing', a little education for the aromatherapy enthusiast can go a long way in essential oil selection. Is one process better than another? Does one produce a nicer smelling oil, or one with greater aromatherapeutic value? It turns out that essential oil production, like winemaking, is an art form as well as a science. The value of the newer processing methods depends greatly on the experience of the distiller, as well as the intended application of the final product. Each method is important, and has it's place in the making of aromatherapy-grade essential oils.

Steam and Hydro Distillation

Steam distillation, the most common method of essential oil production, involves the flow of steam into a chamber holding the raw plant material. The steam causes small sacs containing essential oil to burst. The oil is then carried by the steam out of the chamber and into a chilled condenser, where the steam once again becomes water. (Hydro-distillation is a similar process where the plant material is boiled, with the resultant steam being captured and condensed). The oil and water are then separated; the water, referred to as a 'hydrosol', can be retained as it will have some of the plant essence. Rose hydrosol, for example, is commonly used for it's mild antiseptic and soothing properties, as well as it's pleasing floral aroma.

A number of factors determine the final quality of a steam distilled essential oil. Aside from the plant material itself, most important are time, temperature and pressure, and the quality of the distillation equipment. Essential oils are very complex products; each is made up of many, sometimes hundreds, of distinct molecules which come together to form the oil's aroma and therapeutic properties. Some of these molecules are fairly delicate structures which can be altered or destroyed by adverse environmental conditions. So, much like a fine meal is more flavorful when made with patience, most oils benefit from a long, slow 'cooking' process.

The temperature of the extraction chamber cannot be too high, lest some components of the oil be altered or destroyed. The same is true of the chamber's pressure. Lavender essential oil, for example, should not be processed at over 245 degrees F and three pounds per square inch of pressure (3 psi). Higher temperatures and/or pressures result in a 'harsh' aroma – more chemical than floral – and lessen the oil's therapeutic effects. Also, the extraction period must be allowed to continue for a certain period of time in order to flush ALL the oil's components from the plant, as some are released more quickly than others.

Despite the drawbacks of aggressive processing, high temperatures and pressures are often used to produces large quantities of oil in a short period of time. These oils are usually destined for use in cosmetic and processed food manufacturing, but are sometimes sold to final consumers as essential oils for use in aromatherapy. These oils will be less expensive, but are of limited therapeutic value, and the difference is apparent when the aromas are compared side-by-side.

Absolutes

Some plants, and particularly flowers, do not lend themselves to steam distilling. They are too delicate, or their fragrance and therapeutic essences cannot be completely released by water alone. These oils will be produced as 'absolutes' – and while not technically considered essential oils they can still be of therapeutic value. Jasmine oil and Rose oil in particular are delicate flowers who's oils are often found in 'absolute' form.

The processing of an absolute first involves the hydrocarbon solvent extraction of a 'concrete' from the plant material, a semi-solid mixture of typically 50% wax and 50% volatile oil. The concrete is again processed using ethyl alcohol (the same alcohol found in beer, wine, etc.) in which the wax is only slightly soluble. The volatile plant oil separates into the alcohol and this mixture is removed. The alcohol is then evaporated and the result is an almost pure plant extract – depending on the care taken in the evaporation process, sometimes 2% or less of the ethyl alcohol may remain. The use of solvents in the extraction process notwithstanding, absolutes can have incredibly deep and complex aromas.

CO2's and SCO2's

And now for the most modern technologies, Carbon Dioxide and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide extraction. Both methods involve the use of carbon dioxide as the 'solvent' which carries the essential oil away from the raw plant material. The lower pressure CO2 extraction involves chilling carbon dioxide to between 35 and 55 degrees F, and pumping it through the plant material at about 1000 psi. The carbon dioxide in this condition is condensed to a liquid. Supercritical CO2 extraction (SCO2) involves carbon dioxide heated to 87 degrees F and pumped through the plant material at around 8,000 psi – under these conditions, the carbon dioxide is likened to a 'dense fog' or vapor. With release of the pressure in either process, the carbon dioxide escapes in its gaseous form, leaving the essential oil behind.

These carbon dioxide methods have a couple of advantages: Like steam distillation, there are no solvent residues left behind, and the resultant product is quite pure. Like solvent extraction, there is no heat applied to the plant material or essential oil to alter it in any way. The oil produced is very accurate with respect to the original state of the plant. The CO2 methods also are the most efficient, producing the most oil per amount of plant (one of the reasons for the high cost of essential oils is the low yield of oil from most plants – one ton of Rose petals produces less than 1 pound of oil, for example). The efficiency of CO2 extraction is particularly important when rare or endangered plant species are involved, such as Indian Sandalwood oil – less of the precious plant is needed to produce an equivalent amount of oil.

Cold Pressing

Finally, there is the 'cold pressing' of citrus oils from the peels of fruit, as is done with Bergamot oil, Orange oil , Lemon oil , and the like. This method involves the simple pressing of the rind at about 120 degrees F to extract the oil. Little, if any, alteration from the oil's original state occurs – these citrus oils retain their bright, fresh, uplifting aromas like that of smelling a wonderfully ripe fruit.

Which Method is Best?

CO2's, with some obvious advantages, are not always the best choice for a particular need. They still are the most expensive, despite their higher yields. The resultant product differs slightly compared to one produced another way – the oils produced by steam distillation of some plants may sometimes be found to have a more agreeable aroma. Patchouli oil, for example, seems to benefit from the steam distillation process by becoming a little warmer and richer. Many other essential oils are quite effectively produced via steam distillation, with little alteration from the original plant state. Oils from other plant species do seem more 'complete' with CO2 processing, with Frankincense oil and most of the 'spice' oils being good examples where a little something special is present in the aroma. This likely translates to greater therapeautic properties.

Producing essential oils of aromatherapeutic grade is skill requiring years of experience. It takes the work of a dedicated artesian at every step, from growing and harvesting to fine-tuning the distillation process, to produce a truly fine oil. The making of a fine essential oil relies far more on knowledge and experience than it does on the particular extraction method. There are, however, legitimate reasons to select one distillation method over another – some plants simply require a particular process to produce a fine oil, and the oil needed for a particular application may only be made by one process. In the end, as is often the case in aromatherapy, your own sense of smell can tell you which oil will work best for you.

About the Author: Misty Rae Cech, ND, is a naturopath and yoga teacher practicing in Boulder, Colorado. She enjoys pure essential oils, using aromatherapy in conjunction with other natural therapies. More can be found at the Ananda Apothecary, http://www.anandaapothecary.com

Understanding Your Personal Year

Understanding Your Personal Year by John Culbertson

There are a descending series of numerological cycles that affect your life. Some of them will be in play for decades at a time. Others will only affect your life for a matter of days, or even a single day. Of all of them, the one cycle that you’ll feel the most blatantly is your Personal Year cycle.

In numerology, each year of your life is part of a nine-year cycle that evolves through specific steps. The cycles begin at your birth, progress through the nine year pattern, complete the cycle and begin again. Each nine year cycle begins with a 1 Personal Year and progresses year by year through the numbers until you complete a 9 Personal Year. Each year in the cycle is characterized by the opportunities offered you and by the lessons that you can learn during that particular part of the cycle.

Each year in the cycle has a tone that is influenced by number of the Personal Year. Thus, a 1 Personal Year will have the qualities associated with the number 1 – beginnings, creating and solidifying identity, working on the self, and so on. A 5 Personal Year will involve immersion in all things sensual in some way or another, and so on for each of the years.

How to Find Your Personal Year

Finding your Personal Year for any given year is a simple calculation. You simply add the numerical month and date of your birth to the Universal Year number for the year you want to identify.

Ex: If your birthday is January 27, and you want to know your Personal Year number for 2006, you would add:

(Month – 01) + (Date: - 27 – 2 + 7 = 9) + (Universal Year: 2 + 0 + 0 + 6 = 8)

1 + 9 + 8 = 18 = 1 + 8 = 9

The year 2006 is a 9 Personal Year for a person whose birthday is January 27.

Interpreting Your Personal Year

Of course, knowing your Personal Year doesn’t do you much good if you don’t know what each year means. While there are many other influences at play throughout the year, including Personal Month Numbers and Personal Day Numbers, your Personal Year number will give you a general feel for what is going on in your life during the year.

A note about your birthday: Many numerologists will tell you that your Personal Year begins on your birthday each year. The Personal Year is influenced by the Universal Year, so your Personal Year will be in effect throughout the calendar year. However, its influence will be more strongly felt in the months closest to your birthday month, while the preceding and succeeding years’ influences will also be felt in the months before and after your birthday.

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1 Personal Year

New beginnings, new ideas, increased vitality

A 1 personal year brings new beginnings and new ideas. It is a time to launch new projects, conceive new businesses, embark on new relationships. You may find that things that have been important in the last decade or so lose their importance now as new ideas take their place.

In a 1 personal year, you are setting the stage for the next nine years of your life. This is not a time to sit back and wait for things to happen. You will have the opportunity to start making things happen. The things that you do and dream this year contain the seeds for the plants that will grow over the next nine years. A personal 1 year also often brings increased physical vitality

2 Personal Year

Cooperation, Continuation, Nurturing, Development

A 2 personal year can be frustrating after the intense energy and excitement of a 1 year. This is the year that seeds start to grow – the projects and relationships you’ve begun require nurturing and patience. This is a year to keep plugging away, slowly and steadily, while you continue to build on your dreams.

In a 2 personal year, the focus may be on relationships of all kinds as well. It's not uncommon for new relationships to start and old ones to end during this personal year.

3 Personal Year

Expansion, Successes, Blossoming

In a 3 year, you’ll begin to see the fruits of your labor. The 3 year is a social year full of excitement and creativity. You may find yourself involved in a whirl of activities, social, business and romantic. Your enthusiasm is contagious this year, and others will be drawn to you by it. Successes seem to fall into your lap in every area of your life, and opportunities to expand your circles will abound. The biggest issue you may face in a 3 personal year is an overabundance of opportunities. Keeping your focus may be difficult when there is so much to choose from.

The 3 personal year many times can result in a person feeling as though they are having to deal with everyone else's problems, yet are feeling as though they have little time to focus on their own. It's important that the focus go toward the self first, and then if energy and time is left over to bring the attention to others.

4 Personal Year

Foundation, Maintenance, Responsibility

4 is the number of the Square, the four-sided figure that provides a strong foundation for building. A 4 year may seem dull and restrictive, but it’s the time when you are cementing your foundations and solidifying everything you’ve accomplished in the past three years. This is the year that you will become aware of the responsibilities and work required to maintain the momentum needed to build your dreams. A 4 year is an ideal year to take a close look at your finances and physical needs and do what you have to ensure that your needs are met.

5 Personal Year

Independence, Freedom, Personal Rewards, Change

The 5 is the most sensual and creative of all numbers. It is also the most self-indulgent. A 5 year offers rewards that grow from your efforts of the past four years – or deviate wildly from them. Opportunities for travel, enrichment and excitement will often come your way in a 5 personal year. This is a great year to launch yourself from last year’s foundation. If you built a solid foundation in the past year, you’ll find that this year brings rich rewards.

If, however, a solid foundation was not built you may find yourself unintentionally swept away in the chaos of sudden and/or unexpected change and you may have little to no control over it. Thus, the hard work of the four year is extremely important to ensure that the five year is a year of joy, fun, and pleasure.

6 Personal Year

Love, Family, Responsibility, and Home

Romance, family and friends take on a great deal of importance in a 6 year. You’ll find the focus on domestic matters, and love interests are often highlighted during a 6 years. This is the year that many people meet their soul mate (or life mate), and friends that you make during a 6 year will often be friends for life.

This is also a year where responsibility comes into focus. You may pick up new responsibilities or you may find yourself completing and letting go of old ones. Chances are both will be occurring in some form or another.

7 Personal Year

Reflection, Spirituality and Self-analysis

During a 7 year, the focus often turns to the inside. Self-reflection and refinement grow in importance. Many people find themselves questioning the purpose of their lives, and turning toward spirituality. A 7 year is a good time to spend time alone, getting in touch with what really matters and how to accomplish it.

8 Personal Year

Health, Wealth and Attraction

The 8 is a double 4, and in an 8 year you could feel a bit stodgy and bound by responsibility. On the other hand, you’ll also often find that your foundation and building of the past seven years has borne an abundance of fruit and it is easy to attract all the things that you want. After the personal reflection of last year, however, you may be starting to feel as if it just isn’t enough. As the 8 year continues, you may find yourself feeling restless and ready to move on to something new.

Be careful of conflict during this year, as power struggles are not only possible, but very likely. It's important, this year, to learn when to "fight" and when to "just let it go." These decisions will largely impact if and when you end up reaping the previously mentioned rewards.

9 Personal Year

Completion, Resolution, End of an Era

The 9 personal year brings you to the end of a personal cycle and invites you to take stock of where you are and where you want to go. This is the year that you’ll be resolving many of the experiences and issues of the past in preparation for beginning the cycle anew. This can be an unsettling time, where you feel as if you’ve outgrown your life, but haven’t quite released your responsibilities and ties to the past yet.

Interesting stuff eh?

It's funny, but numerology is one of those things in our field that EVERYONE could stand to know a bit about.

When a psychic asks you for your birth information, 8 times out of 10 they are requesting it for numerology reasons and not astrology reasons.

Numerology also makes a great first symbol system and can be used in conjunction with astrology, kabbalah, tarot, and most other new age/metaphysical disciplines.

Thanks for reading and, as the Rosicrucian's would say, "best wishes for peace profound!"

~John Culbertson

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