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July 5 through July 11, 2021

Our best bet for getting anything productive will be under Monday's Taurus Moon, as the rest of the week unfolds under a veil of emotional confusion and the tendency to go hide in our Cancer shells. We'll need to watch for gossip or misinformation on Tuesday and Wednesday as the Gemini Moon inspires people to share without the facts or make comments that could be taken the wrong way. Our best bet during this phase is to watch and listen, rather than advising or sharing our opinions. The Moon will dive into emotional Cancer on Thursday, culminating in a Cancer new Moon on Friday. If you feel the urge to hide out under the covers or draw the drapes and take the phone off the hook, it's not a bad idea, as feelings are easily hurt and self-doubt or confusion can make it difficult to interact with the rest of the world. On an up note, this time of isolation will give us a chance to go deep within and revisit our spiritual centers, clearing out whatever messages or ideas aren't working while encouraging us to trust our intuition more readily. Sunday's Leo Moon will have us feeling more like ourselves, ready to face the world again, and thanks to Mercury's entry into Cancer, encouraging us to share from the heart and soul.

Ghost Hunting in the Gilded Age, by Rich Newman

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

We live in a fantastic time to be paranormal enthusiasts. Dozens of ghost hunting programs are currently featured on television. There are websites dedicated to developing and selling ghost hunting gear, and tourism for haunted locations is so high that hotels and restaurants often post their ghost stories right on their own websites. But, believe it or not, this isn't the first time that America has been captured by the mystique of ghosts and hauntings.

After Margaretta and Catherine Fox claimed to have made contact with a spirit in Hydesville, New York in 1848, a new movement quickly swept across the country: Spiritualism. Not to be confused with Spiritism (a movement started by Allan Kardec in the 1850s that was largely concerned with reincarnation), Americans were suddenly holding séances in their homes, playing with talking boards, and having parties all concerned with speaking to the dead.

While most of the ghostly activity of this period is associated with the use of mediums—people with the psychic ability to channel spirits and even allow them to temporarily possess them—there were also techniques used by the psychically challenged to interact with spirits, too. Many of these were quite effective and can even be used today by modern ghost hunters. Let's talk about a few of these.

Setting aside the use of a medium (a practice that is actually used by some paranormal groups today), the most common means of spectral communication by Spiritualists was a technique known as "table turning." Also known as table tilting, table tipping, and table tapping, this involved a group of people sitting around a small, light (usually round) table with their finger tips resting gently on the surface. A designated speaker would then ask questions from any spirits who were present and ask that he/she turn or tilt the table. Sometimes this would be more of a vibration than dramatic movement, but any activity would pretty much be interpreted as interaction. If a spirit was particularly energetic, the speaker might then ask questions with one-word answers, and then proceed to slowly say the alphabet. The spirit could then move the table when certain letters were said to spell out a word.

Today, this practice is simply known as table tipping, and I've seen it used in the field a number of times. In my experience it seems to work best when yes or no questions are asked and the spirit is directed to interact with the table to answer. For instance, the speaker might say, "Please let us know when what I say is correct. Did you live in this house?" If there was an answering movement involved with the table, it would be taken as a "yes."

Another simple, but effective, item that Spiritualists would use is the candle. In addition to lighting the parlor for a séance, candles were often used by a small group to indicate when a ghost was present. This typically involved placing a single candle on a mantle or table, eliminating any wind moving through the room by closing doors and windows, and then the Spiritualists sitting on the other side of the room (so nobody could inadvertently blow out the candle). A speaker would then entreat any spirits to indicated their presence by blowing out the candle.

I have to admit that this sounds like the premise for a low budget horror movie, on par with the old Bloody Mary legend, but it's actually quite viable for the present day with a small, but recommended, change. Instead of simply sitting the candle away from everyone, a better way to guard against accidentally blowing it out would be to surround it with glass or plexiglass—essentially sitting it inside a small, transparent box. You would, of course, still need to have the top open to allow the flame to burn, but with high enough walls you could be assured that any extinguished candles were not the result of a wandering breeze.

A popular variation of this technique is something that modern ghost hunters call the "Irish Wind Chime." Essentially it's exactly the same premise as the candle-in-a-cage, only you are placing a small set of wind chimes that are hanging from a mini stand under a glass "hurricane"-style cover. Since they are sitting in a micro, sealed environment, any movement of the chimes would be an indicator of a spiritual presence. Care just has to be taken to insure that nothing is shaking the area where the chimes are sitting.

The most controversial method used by Gilded Age ghost hunters was, without a doubt, the infamous "talking board." After frustrated Spiritualists got tired of the slow method of speaking to the dead by reading aloud the alphabet, it only goes to reason that some enterprising soul would think to simply write the letters and numbers on a table of sorts. The actual origin of the talking board is something of a mystery, but most historians agree that it began making appearances in parlors during the late 1880s.

What we now think of as the "Ouija Board" was first marketed by the Kennard Novelty Company in the early 1890s. Some have supposed that the name came from the combined French (oui) and German (ja) words for "yes," but talking board historian Robert Murch has stated that the name was supplied by a medium named Helen Peters who claimed she got the moniker from a spirit she communicated with via a board. She said that it meant "good luck."

Spiritualists loved the Ouija Board, and by 1893 it was a best selling novelty of the day. Interestingly, in order to sell the device to the public, the Kennard Novelty Company had to prove to the patent office that it worked. After a quick session where the board spelled out the name of the patent officer, it was granted its patent and the new craze began.

The modern version of the talking board, or Ouija Board (as Hasbro still markets it), might be made of plastic and cardboard vs. the original wood, but it essentially is the same. The alphabet, numbers, and words "yes, no, hello, and goodbye" adorn the board, while a planchette is used to communicate with spirits.

Just as they were used in the Gilded Age, two or more people are supposed to sit around the board with their fingers lightly touching the planchette. Questions are then asked and the planchette (hopefully) moves to the appropriate answers—sometimes spelling out words, dates, etc. During the late 1800s, the talking board was a popular parlor activity, with the only negative being the possibility that somebody among them was purposely pushing the planchette.

Today the board is still popular, but it has a bit of a mixed reception. Thanks to a few popular horror movies, and rather vocal followers of organized religion, many believe that these boards are "evil" and used, exclusively, to speak to non-human entities, such as "demons," "djinn," etc. This is, of course, nonsense. There is nothing inherently evil in a Hasbro board game—or any other incarnation of the talking board. Like most objects used to interact with the dead, there is nothing inherently good or bad about it.

In fact, the linking of the talking board with the occult and evil practices is a modern belief that began in the 1970s (with some pointing directly at the book/film The Exorcist as the cause). Before then, the most famous case involving a talking board is that of Pearl Curran who came into contact with a spirit named "Patience Worth" via a board. Curran would produce novels, poetry, and other prose all supposedly sourced from Patience Worth. But this is hardly anything of a sinister nature.

Much like practitioners at the turn of the century, you, too, can use a talking board while ghost hunting, but you might want to make sure that everyone present is okay with it before doing so. There's no sense in scaring or angering anyone. Ironically, I'd actually suggest using it without any human interaction. Since plastic is such a poor conductor of electricity/energy, there's really no need for anyone to place their fingers on the planchette. Just use the lightest planchette possible and ask any spirits present to move it. If anyone wants to "share energy" with spirits via a planchette, I'd suggest constructing one of copper or aluminum for better conductivity.

The last thing I'd like to touch on concerning Spiritualism is the concept of "debunking." While there were certainly hardcore followers who were quick to believe most everything was of a paranormal nature, there were also practitioners of the day who reveled in exposing fraudulent mediums, fakery, and criticizing the new practice of "spirit photography."

Much like today, one of the favorite tools of Victorian ghost hunters was the use of a camera. Taking photos before and during séances often produced images of spirits, and would sometimes capture live activity in the parlor, such as the appearance of "ectoplasm." People like famed illusionist Harry Houdini took great delight in debunking double exposures and ectoplasm that would actually be various substances, including cheesecloth and a potato starch/gelatin that was usually swallowed and then regurgitated during the séance.

In many ways, fake spirit photography in the Gilded Age is quite similar to modern ghost hunting photos and the appearance of "orbs." Thankfully, many of us take a cue from Mr. Houdini and take the time to scrutinize photos taken from haunted places—and we debunk our own photos that contain orbs that are nothing more than bits of airborne dust, pollen, etc.

So, while we may think of Spiritualism as a movement from the late 1800s—and perhaps a bit outdated—the truth is that we have taken a lot from our ghost hunting ancestors. And though we may be safe with throwing out some of their more outlandish forms of communicating with the dead (I don't think the "spirit trumpet" will be coming back into fashion any time soon), every time we ask a ghost to make a rapping sound for us, or take part in a table tipping session, we are continuing an American tradition. One that, thankfully, won't be ending any time soon.

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

I've been seeing an acupuncturist for healing for almost a year now. From the beginning of our relationship, I had a strong sense that there was a connection between the two of us. He felt very familiar to me, and there was a definite sharing of energies between the two of us. From the first moment we met, my intuition began telling me that he was attracted to me. We quickly bonded emotionally and had some very intimate conversations. It was several months before I could admit that I was attracted to him as well. I began to have dreams about him on a nightly basis, and I decided to mention the dreams to him as a way to talk to him about my feelings for him. He immediately got defensive about his healing methods, and began to challenge me by telling me that my feelings for him were not love and that we were not soul mates because he did not believe in soul mates. I have discontinued my acupuncture appointments with him but I still feel a very strong connection to him. Now I am left feeling sad, manipulated, and betrayed. I also feel like my intuition failed me. Was I imagining the emotional connection and intimate nature of our relationship, or was my intuition correct all along?

Emily

Susyn:

People often get emotionally attached to individuals they see for healing and guidance. It's perfectly natural for these attachments to form as we interact with people who guide, nurture and support us with our goals and dreams.

Whether they are in conventional medical or holistic fields, health care professionals must maintain strong boundaries with their clients. Given the intimate conversations you shared, it doesn't sound like your acupuncturist did this. I doubt your intuition was off when you sensed he was attracted to you. However, even if he was very attracted to you, he could not act on his feelings. Since becoming involved was not an option, anything he said or did that led you on was a lapse in integrity.

When we keep these kinds of emotions or attractions to ourselves, they tend to take on a life of their own, growing stronger as we wrestle with ourselves to make sense of them. This is a one-sided phenomenon that unfortunately can drive us to entertain fantasies that may not have any basis in reality. In that regard, you allowed your feelings to get the better of you.

Ethically, if this acupuncturist had feelings for you, he should have advised you that he could no longer treat you. That would have freed the two of you to explore your mutual attraction. Because you were the first to address these feelings, you put yourself at risk for rejection.

Men have more experience with this than women. They tend to handle it better and do not succumb to shame, embarrassment or the sense that they have been betrayed. This is more of a female experience, which is why it is always wise to let the man come to you instead of putting yourself out there first.

In the future, if you engage the services of anyone you find yourself attracted to, you should discontinue working with them and find a different practitioner. If there is real attraction between the two of you, let them be the first to express it.

Feelings and intuitions can conflict with each other. The best way to tell them apart is by evaluating how they feel. Intuition will come as a thought or action that is unemotional; it is designed to alert and direct you when you reach a crossroads or need to be aware of your options. When what you are feeling has a strong emotional charge, it is unlikely to be your intuition. If you feel an intense feeling of fear, desire, or some other emotion, you're not dealing with an intuition and are probably too emotional to hear your inner guidance clearly.

*****

Oceania:

I'm not so sure your intuition failed you. It's very possible that you and your acupuncturist were attracted to each other. There will always be people in your life with whom you share mutual attraction, but that doesn't mean you have to act on it. There are times when acting on attraction can do more harm than good.

Your feelings sound normal under the circumstances. You're feeling sad as you grieve the loss of your healer and your dream of sharing something deeper with him. You're feeling manipulated and are perhaps wondering if he misled you to ensure your loyalty as a client. You feel betrayed that he seemingly led you on and then denied his feelings and discounted yours.

In general, when a healer of any kind helps remove blocks and frees us to expand on a physical, mental, emotional or spiritual level, we DO tend to feel like we're falling in love, but it's the energy flow and increased sense of well-being that we are really in love with!

Healers, being in a professional role, carry power and authority. The dynamic between a helper and a client is similar to that of parent and child. Whenever we feel dependent upon someone, it stirs up feelings from our earliest life, when we idealized our parents and felt in love with them. This phenomenon is known as transference, and tends to happen in almost every therapeutic and teaching relationship to one degree or another.

It's possible your acupuncturist DID feel attracted to you, which is known as countertransference. In the course of therapy, be it massage therapy, acupuncture, psychotherapy, etc., the healer can't possibly come to know a client fully as an individual in the context of normal life, so any feelings that arise are NOT completely based upon the actual client but are usually mixed in with feelings for someone in the healer's past.

Your acupuncturist may have denied his feelings because he felt uncomfortable acknowledging them. Perhaps he did not have proper support or training in how to best manage feelings for a client. If he engaged in intimate conversations with you, it's possible he crossed a professional line. His defensiveness may indicate that he felt guilty for doing so.

It's a good rule of thumb to steer clear of entering personal relationships with our teachers and healers unless the professional relationship is terminated and time is invested in getting to know each other in a natural context. Until that takes place, feelings of attraction or connection should always remain suspect.

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.