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December 6 through December 12, 2021

A peaceful week awaits as we move forward with renewed confidence and faith in the future. We'll do our best work on Monday under the Capricorn Moon, so we'll need to move our agenda for the week around so that the most pressing obligations on our list are taken care of then. Tuesday and Wednesday unfold under an Aquarius Moon, bringing our humanitarian and unity to the forefront. Friendships need to be attended to, as some things have fallen to the wayside, and if there are any connections we feel ready to leave behind (for whatever reason), now is the time to consider walking away from them. The Moon will travel through Pisces Thursday through Saturday, evoking our spiritual and artistic sides. This is an ideal time to get busy if you're planning on making holiday gifts for loved ones, as the creative energy in the air prevails. It's also a wonderful time for a retreat into ourselves to evaluate, eliminate and reconfigure what we value and what we are ready to release. Sunday's Aries Moon will encourage us to cast heavy energy aside and have some fun! Permission to goof off!

How to Screen Scammers for Cursing Cons, by Diana Rajchel

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

San Francisco has an unusual law for fortune-tellers. This law requires that anyone who offers fortune-telling services to apply for a license with the city and report to city hall for fingerprinting. As someone who reads tarot as part of a metaphysical solutions practice, I balked when I found out about this. Sure, a business license made sense—the city's taxes and budget needs are enormous for anyone who moved there after 1970—but fingerprints? Tarot somehow meant criminal activity in a place with the mystical history San Francisco?

Not long after this discovery, a post on NextDoor from the San Francisco PD explained everything. Scammers were exploiting vulnerable people in public spaces, marching up to them in shopping malls and at gas stations to offer readings, and then convincing their targets that they were cursed. To remove these afflictions, these "readers" demanded hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

In some cases, if the person refused the scammer, the fake reader might then persuade them that they would be cursed if they didn't pay up. (In at least one case I know of the scammer did follow up with a negative working.)

San Francisco has always had a reputation for pirates and plunderers, so fortune-telling scammers come as no surprise. What did shock me was the frequency to which these villains still succeed in their evil deeds. For people like myself that are in the business of ruling out (or acknowledging) curses to break bad patterns, scammers pose a massive and complicated problem. How can you operate a business that requires faith and trust with people claiming your field with the very intention of violating faith and trust?

Scam victims are a regular and painful part of life for legitimate members of the spiritual field. Anyone who works in this business more than ten years has at least one story about a terrified client seeking a second opinion after an encounter with a spiritual scammer. By the time these folks come see someone legitimate, they have already lost hundreds to thousands of dollars because of these manipulations.

This puts me in a rough position with San Francisco's regulations. I object to the law, but I can't ignore the reasoning behind it: vulnerable people need protection.

That's the very reason I started down a path that includes curse diagnostics and breaking. Those of us raised in colonizer cultures unfortunately make the problem worse because of our own cognitive dissonance around cursing. Curses are billed as "ridiculous" and "superstitious" and yet it's people from all backgrounds that end up on that scam victim list. The way it's been handled so far is to gaslight and add to the dissonance—either insisting that "that doesn’t happen," or insisting that "only those people from that culture and practice have curses."

Sometimes, the colonizer mentality doubles up on the gaslight/put-down and suggests that "those people" are just "uneducated." "Those people" are the only real experts on the realities of their lives and if someone from outside my cultural bubble comes to me believing they may be cursed, I listen, rather than dismiss. If someone comes to me thousands of dollars poorer because of a scam, I don't chastise or judge, I listen to why they think it might be so.

My exposure to people far outside my bubble of birth has left me convinced of two things: curses are real, and con artists are common. Finding an ethical person to diagnose and resolve a curse is even more difficult when navigating a community that has both people casting real spells and people faking it to scare people into handing over their money. The spiritual scam victim and the person who bought into the "curses don't exist" modern party line ends up having much the same questions: Are curses real? Am I vulnerable? How do I rule this out? Can I even find an honest person for a second opinion? What the hell do I do about it if I am cursed—I don't have $500!

I can't offer absolute protection from scams; these people know how to cold-read and pick their targets with care. The most resistant person can get caught up by a scammer if picked on the wrong day.

I also can't give guarantees on my workings. Hired spiritual work is similar to working with a lawyer, or a doctor, in that you pay for a certain kind of expertise that cannot be guaranteed. You can't always win the lawsuit, and you can't always see the results you might want from a spell or spell breaking.

With this dilemma in mind, I offer the following guidelines if someone says you have a curse on you.

1. First, were you even considering you might carry a curse before the conversation began? 
2. Second, did you seek this person out, or did they blindly solicit you? Are they offering to "lift" the curse that you weren't even concerned that you had for an exorbitant fee? Assume someone who walks up to you on the street or cold-calls you on social media to tell you you have a curse is lying. Scaring people into limbic hijack so that they can't think clearly to question what they're told is a common method of grifters.
3. Third, if you think you might be cursed, why? What seeded that idea? If you are seeing a string of increasing and bizarre bad luck, that might merit exploration. Most of the time, you will find out that you aren't cursed, that you have more of a "clog" because of energy build up. Those are often much less expensive to fix, and you can often take care of yourself.For example, if you have a streak of tiny accidents, it might come from a spiteful magic worker. Still, rule out all logical explanations. Your coordination might be off because you don't get enough sleep, or you keep running late because you forgot to reset your devices to your current time zone. Assess on a scale of normal/horror movie/cartoon how improbable strange incidences are. If you find yourself in situations that in any way resemble Supernatural or South Park, please call someone. You might not be cursed per se, but you still need help.

If signs are pointing towards a cursing, try to keep an open mind about who and how. Stay as calm as you can. Do not trouble yourself too much over why unless you did something especially unconscionable.

Get divination from someone who has a good reputation but who doesn't know you or the situation. Look at reviews for local metaphysical shops, and if the shop has positive feedback in multiple places, give them a call and ask about their readers. Forums such as RateMyPsychic can also help you track down someone that can help. Before you hire a reader, also take a look at their social media platforms. Look for an authentic person showing themselves. Someone that expresses critical thought about popular spiritual ideals is more likely to handle a tough problem than someone that only posts inspirational memes.

Never call a "psychic" that advertises by dropping glowing reviews on the profiles of other psychics. "I got my husband back..." these usually begin. These people are invariably scammers.

If you honestly believe someone has worked harm to you via magic, then put the same effort into finding someone to help you that you would put into finding a contractor for home repairs.

All curses are breakable. It may take persistence, and in some risky cases, it may well involve expense—but an ethical worker will take every effort to work themselves out of a job, and will start with the least expensive solutions first.

We live in a big universe, one large enough to contain curses, cures, and con artists. Part of making the world better is cursing the cons, curing the innocently cursed, and raising ourselves beyond the need for any of it. Until then, tread carefully, think critically, try to rule out the supernatural before seeking spiritual help, and never believe a guy at the 7-11 who walks up to you out of nowhere and tells you about a “dark energy” in your aura.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2021. All rights reserved.

I am wondering about my twins, Amanda and Aiden, born at 7:15 a.m. and 7:23 a.m. on March 23, 1988. I had their astrology charts done and they appear to be virtually identical, yet these two could not be more different from each other. Is this because they are fraternal (one male and one female), or could the few minutes they were born apart cause a huge difference? Thank you for your time!

- Monica

Susyn:

The study of astrology is fascinating, especially when it comes to twins. One would assume that because they were born on the same day at virtually the same time, they would behave in identical ways, but this is often not the case.

Because Amanda and Aiden are fraternal twins, one male and one female, obvious differences will be apparent right away. As a rule, the male and female members of any sign carry very different traits. For example, many Pisces men come across as passive and easygoing, while many Pisces women possess a stronger, more determined nature.

Along the same vein, a Capricorn man will carry a strong sense of duty, responsibility and stability, while a Capricorn women may appear to be flighty or unpredictable. If you compare the male and female members of any sign, you'll notice they tend to be very different from each other. To learn more about these common differences, I recommend Linda Goodman's book Sun Signs, for it's one of the most comprehensive studies on the traits of males and females born under each sign.

Another aspect to consider regarding Amanda and Aiden in particular is that they were born near the cusp of two signs, Pisces and Aries. When this happens, one twin will tend to take on the traits of the zodiac sign the Sun has just exited, while the other will embrace the nature of the sign it has just entered.

You may notice that your daughter tends to be dreamy, moody, artistic and unpredictable like a Pisces, while your son embodies the determined, adventurous and action-oriented nature of an Aries - or vice versa. Even if your twins were identical and of the same gender, it wouldn't be unusual to note big differences between twins born near or on the cusp of a sign.

As you mentioned, your kids' astrological charts appear to be virtually identical. It's important to keep in mind that natal charts are like road maps; their basic purpose is to indicate where the planets were located at the time of one's birth. There are all sorts of other forces that influence the development of an individual's personality.

Environment, gender and the placement of certain planets all contribute to which aspects of a sign an individual will embody. It's also important to keep in mind that we all have a specific destiny and soul purpose, so even when a natal chart appears to be identical to another chart, the soul will shine through above all.

Thank you for your question, Monica. Your letter indicates that you respect the differences between your twins, which suggests that you have encouraged them to follow their own paths and be their own people.

2635

Oceania:

There are three factors that make up a personality: nature, nurture, and free will. Nature refers to genetic material. When twins are fraternal rather than identical, they share no more genetic material than any other two siblings, so Amanda and Aiden may have inherited completely different sets of physical and personality traits.

Nurture refers to environmental influences including family, friends, school and culture. Even though your twins share most of the same outside influences, their different personalities may cause them to react differently to those influences and to evoke different attitudes from others as well. A mellow, happy baby will elicit different reactions than an aggressive complainer. Your twins are also of different genders, and many people react differently to boys and girls because of preconceived notions about gender roles.

There is a third factor that contributes to personality: free will or as I like to call it soul power. I believe we come into life with some degree of this energy, and that it grows every time we face and overcome a challenge by turning roadblocks into stepping stones.

Drawing upon this energetic force, we can choose to override the impulses of body and mind and thus transcend both nature and nurture. For example, a person may inherit a genetic tendency towards obesity and have a family who reinforces it through poor diet, but choose to draw upon free will and make healthy choices to become fit.

A person may inherit a propensity towards anxiety and grow up with poor role models who cope with stress by drinking, drugging or other self-destructive behavior, yet that individual may still muster the will power to avoid such patterns.

We can also use our will to seek out help when we need it. While working as a psychologist, I observed two types of clients: those with flourishing soul power and those without it. The first group was eager to learn and grow by actively shedding parts of their lives and themselves that no longer served them. These clients reminded me of water flowing freely in a stream. (Maybe these are the so-called old souls!)

The second group seemed unable to override the forces of nature and nurture; regardless of intervention, they remained much the same. These clients reminded me of water stagnating in a swamp; it might swirl in a tiny circle but it isn't going far.

Your twins are different not because they were born minutes apart but because they inherited different personality traits, have had different life experiences, and have freely exercised their soul power to choose who they would like to be.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.