Over the past month I have spoken with a number of people about letting go of past issues and baggage.  This is a very common thing for many people and I know that the idea of letting go of the past can be a very scary thing for many people.  However, in order for us to move forward, we need to be able to release the past.  This is especially true when it comes to past relationship issues.

Regardless of the circumstances, there comes a point when you must let go of the other person both emotionally and energetically.  The process of letting go moves at a different speed for everyone and there really is no one way to effectively cut cords.  However there are things that can be done to help alleviate the heartache and stress so that the healing can begin.

There are two cards in the deck that immediately make me think of the breakdown in relationships, the 5 of Cups and the 3 of Swords.  Each of these tell the same story for me but with very different reactions.  The 5 of Cups shows us a woman in rage throwing three of her cups in to a river of emotion.  She is volatile and angry, so much so that she does not even see the other two cups behind her in the golden glow.  She is focused on the pain and anguish of her situation and has lost sight of the good feelings that she still has. In the3 of Swords, we see a woman holding a rose in the rain.  Behind her is a figure running away under the light of a street lamp.  She is sad, but does not turn to watch the other figure leave or try to follow them.  She seems to know that it is over and there is no use chasing after what is gone.

Both of these emotional reactions happen for all of us throughout our process of letting go.  We rage at the loss of what we held so dear only to completely blind ourselves from the love and light that is still in our grasp.  However, at some point, we find a way to shift from the feelings of loss and anguish to a realization that it is time to let go and move on.

Unfortunately, many of us get stuck in the rage and anguish part for way too long.  So how do we work on getting past this stage and on to the energetic release?   We need to take action.  The anger, frustration and sadness that is developed when we are hurt often creates a lot of pent up energy in us that needs to be released.  Putting this energy into intended actions can significantly reduce the pain and help you to move on.  One suggestion is to hold a candle ceremony to neutralize the energy in the relationship and allow you to start over.  This ceremony can be as elaborate or as simple as you like.  The important part is that you put your intentions into the candles and allow your energy to be released through them.  It is always important to keep your intentions pure and love based.  This ceremony is designed to neutralize the energy between you, not create any feelings of ill will or resentment for either party.

This ceremony is best done over two to three days leading up to and culminating with the New Moon.  I also recommend using candles that will burn for a minimum of 3-4 hours total.

What you will need:

Your own sacred space that can remain undisturbed for 2-3 days (as much as a room or as little as a TV tray will be fine)

(2) white candles to symbolize you and the other person in the relationship*

(1) gray candle

candle holders that will catch any excess drips and hold the candles well

On day one of the ceremony, place the three candles on your sacred space with the two white candles on opposite sides of the gray candle, about an inch or two apart.  Call in your Angles, Guides and whatever other protective energies you wish to help you keep any negative energies out of your sacred space and help you to keep your intentions pure.  As you light the far left candle, say out loud or to yourself that this candle represents your energy in this relationship.  Light the far right candle and set the intention that this candle represents the other person’s energy.   Now light the gray candle in the middle and hold the intention that this candle is neutralizing the energy between both people and allowing them to let go quickly and easily.  While these candles burn, meditate on and visualize the other person walking away from you.  Allow your emotions to flow naturally and process the feelings that come up.  Sadness, anger, relief, happiness…whatever comes up, let it flow through you so you do not carry it with you after the ceremony.  This part may take 10 minutes and it may take an hour.  When you feel you are done, extinguish the candles in the reverse order that you lit them.  Release your protective energies/Angels/Guides and thank them for their help.

On day two, move the two white candles an additional 1-2 inches away from each other while leaving the gray candle in place.  Call in your protection and repeat the lighting and intention setting from day one.  Meditate and visualize yourself walking away from the other person this time.  Think of the things that you can and/or would do now that you have this freedom.  Let your mind run free and do not limit yourself in any way.  When you feel you are done, release and thank your protective energies.

On the day of the new moon, again move the white candles 1-2 inches apart while leaving the gray candle in place.  Call in your protection and repeat the lighting and intentions.  This time, set your meditations and visualization on limitless freedom.  Do not allow yourself to be bound by financial, material or even physical limitations.  If the other person comes to mind, let them see you in your freedom and accept them in theirs.  This ceremony is not intended to cause jealousy, anger or resentment but rather a neutrality between you so that each can feel comfortable following their path.  When you feel you are done, allow the candles to burn down completely and release your protection with much love and gratitude for their help.

*As a side note, you can use colored candles to signify each person based on primary zodiac colors but I prefer to use white to symbolize the equality of both parties.

Is letting go hard for you?  What steps do you take to release?  Please share your thoughts on this ceremony and how you let go.

Blessings!

Well, that was an interesting turn out from what I was seeing on Monday.  While some of the outcomes did not really match up with my predictions, that made me very happy on a couple occasions.  Let’s take a look at what happened last night during the battles.

First up was Cee Lo’s team with Nakia and Tje performing “Closer” and both did put on a great performance.  Tje gave it all he had and I think he really lived up to the Sun card that I pulled for him.  His smooth sound and great stage presence sold me and had me focused on him for the song.  Nakia held his own and really seemed to take Cee Lo’s advice well.  I personally thought his sound was a bit rough for me but Cee Lo did not agree and picked Nakia to move on the live rounds.  Maybe it was that roughness that the Ace of pentacles was picking up on.

Blake’s team was up second with Elenowen and Jared Blake singing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.  This one really did not go the way I expected though I was very happy with the turn-out.  Elenowen never really grabbed the energy of the crowd and didn’t really command the song either.  I still think that Nicole’s energy set the tone for them and unfortunately it just wasn’t that strong.  This song was really a stretch for Jared and despite his challenge with it, he nailed the performance on stage.  Jared’s energy and voice really got the crowd and the coaches into it.  Blake did go with the crowd favorite, Jared, but it was not my original predicted outcome.

Javier Colon and Angela Wolff sang the classic “Stand by Me” for Adam’s team battle.  I was sold on Javier from his blind audition and I was concerned to see that the cards were showing a possible victory for Angela.  Both singers brought a lot to the ring, but I was happy to see that the King of Cups performance that Javier had was just as soulful and beautiful as I had hoped.  Angela’s voice was balanced and hit the notes that she needed to, but the technical Emperor-like performance was not enough to overcome Javier’s soul.  In retrospect, it looks like the Queen of Swords that Adam got was looking at the contestant that was going to be cut, not the one that was safe.  Guess I should have seen that coming from the Queen of Swords, huh?

The final battle was from Christina’s team with Beverley McClellan paring up against Justin Grennan to sing “Baba O’Rielly”.  This was a great performance by both singers especially since Justin was not really familiar with this song before the practice sessions.  Justin gave it his all and had a great opening to the song.  It was this opening, in my opinion, that gave Beverley the assistance she needed to knock it out of the park.  Beverley’s fiery energy and throaty voice gave her performance the edge it needed to sell her to all the coaches and the crowd.  I think more than anything, the real connection that I saw with Justin’s Sun card and his performance was the fact that he really didn’t make any eye contact with Beverley.  It was almost like he was trying so hard to stay in his little world that he couldn’t even look at her.  This wasn’t as much of a tough call as I originally thought it would be, but definitely a great win for Beverley.

Tune in again next week as we look at week three of the battle rounds and see who else will be going to the live rounds and who will be packing it in and going home.  Share your thoughts below on the performances and who you thought gave the best showing.

Ok, so I have learned a lot about how they are going to run the battle rounds and this week they have given a peek at who will be competing.  So, I have changed my format a bit to accommodate for this greater level of knowledge.  For this week, I have pulled three cards for each battle.  The first two cards will be for the performers and the third will be a card for the coach’s decision and the outcome of the battle.  The one thing that I am not sure of is what order the teams will be competing in so these are listed in the order that they appear on the sneak peek video from NBC (which will probably coincide with performance order too…maybe).

First up will be Cee Lo’s team with Tje Austin squaring off against Nakia.  Look for a great showing from both as Tje received The Sun and Nakia got The Fool, both very positive Major cards for me.  As I look at these, I am seeing Tje putting on a performance that truly sums up what he has to offer the show.  This will be a song that people will associate with him well after the battle.  Nakia will show us what he is capable of as well and I think that he will definitely show Cee Lo that he was paying attention to guidance during rehearsals.  However, I’m feeling some sort of slip up or overzealousness that will keep him just short of the prize.  Cee Lo’s outcome card is the Ace of Pentacles and I see this choice really coming down to not just who performed the best, but who will also be more marketable in the long run.

Christina will be pitting Beverley McClellan against Justin Grennan for this round and I am smelling a questionable call for this match-up.  Beverley’s Six of Swords gives me the impression that her performance may start off a bit rough but by balancing off of Justin she will find her groove quickly and be off to a smooth performance.  Justin’s card is The Sun and like Tje, I am seeing him show us everything he has.  It will be a shining performance for him and a tough call for Christina.  The Coach’s card is the Four of Pentacles and was a tough card to read for this.  When I looked at the cards together, Beverley’s card was looking at the Four of Pentacles and Justin’s was looking away (actually looking above it).  The figure on the the Four of Pents is looking straight out from the card and is balanced in almost every aspect on the right and left.  However, his right hand (card’s left side) is down signifying to me that Christina will try to stay impartial, but will end up choosing Beverley over Justin.  I’m not sure the audience will agree with her on this one but  there seems to be something there that swings the vote to her.

Blake’s line up features the husband and wife duo that perform under the stage name of Elenowen and Jared Blake.  I did not see the blind audition for Elenowen and I am not sure how I feel about the idea of duets being able to compete as one but we shall see how it plays out.  The Moon card came up for Elenowen in this round and I do think that it will be the female energy of this card and this pair that really sets the mood for the performance.  I am looking for something unexpected from them as well since things aren’t always that clear to the eye under the moonlight.  Jared’s Seven of Cups is not looking strong to me.  I am seeing him struggling to really make a connection with the audience and the song as he is just not sure where to focus his energy.  The outcome card for this battle is the Ten of Pentacles and I see this card giving Blake the crowd favorite choice of Elenowen over Jared.

If the tradition of saving the best for last holds out for this week, then we are in for a powerhouse of a show from Adam’s fighters, Javier Colon and Angela Wolff.  When the cards fell, I was already blown away to see Javier’s King of Cups going against Angela’s Emperor.  Talk about a Battle Royale!  Look for a powerfully soulful performance from Javier as he uses that water energy to show us that he can master the emotional power  of a song with his voice.  Angela, on the other hand, will be blowing us away with perfect technique and commanding energy.  Adam will have a very had time with this one but with the energy of the Queen of Swords on his side, he will be able to make the tough call.  This card gives me the impression that Adam will be looking for that sharp, honed styling in this song and will go with Angela over Javier for the live rounds.

I am anxiously awaiting tomorrow night’s show and the wonderful performances that are in store for us.  While we wait, please share your thoughts on the upcoming battles and any predictions you may have!

I’m sure we have all seen the bumper stickers that say “God is my Co-Pilot” at some point or another.  It’s a fairly standard Christian idea that God is there to help us along the way through our lives and always has our back.  I hadn’t really thought much about this idea until I saw a church marquee  that read “If God is your co-pilot, switch seats.”

I’ve always had a habit of taking the short messages on church signs and really blowing them out to see how they relate to my life.  This one really got me thinking about the role I place my higher power into.  Is Spirit my pilot, my co-pilot, or even a passenger on this crazy flight of life?  Well, to start, let’s look at how I view the roles in the cockpit.  For me, the pilot has the ultimate control over the actions of the plane.  He has the wheel and the throttle and can point the plane wherever he ultimately chooses.  The pilot relies on the co-pilot for guidance and added communication.  He does the mapping and sets the intended course for the trip.  However, as I mentioned before, the pilot has the ultimate choice as to whether or not to follow that intended outline.

When I think about it, neither of these roles really fit into where I see Spirit in my life.  My free will allows me to set the course of my life and I believe that it is my soul/higher self that has set the intended course for my life.  So, where does that leave Spirit?  From my perspective, this places my higher power as the owner of the plane and sole passenger on my flight.  To put this in perspective, think of it like this.  Spirit has the idea for where my life should go during this incarnation.  The necessary tools, supplies, etc are all provided by Spirit and the intention is communicated to my soul.  Prior to incarnation, my soul set up the necessary contracts and plans for how to get me there.  Now that I am here and on my path, it is up to me as the pilot to communicate with my higher self to accomplish that which Spirit has intended for me.

If all goes well and and communication and cooperation stays strong, then the goal is accomplished and my life’s soul contracts are fulfilled.  If I choose to pick a new path or refuse to take off at all, then life becomes very difficult and contracts are left unfinished.

Where do you see yourself in this scenario?  Are you holding the controls in your plane?  Share your thoughts!

Ok, so I was a bit overzealous with my predictions.  As this is a new show, I wasn’t sure just how many people would be singing tonight.  But, since it was kept secret who would be singing, it worked out anyway that I pulled a card for everybody.

This week featured some absolutely amazing performances and some very tough choices by the coaches.  First up from Christina’s team was Tarralyn and Frenchie singing “Single Ladies.”  I was mistaken right off the bat on Tarralyn’s having it easy tonight as Frenchie was belting it out right there with her.  I was impressed with both singers stage presence equally but this is a vocal competition and Frenchie edged out Tarralyn with a smoother performance and just the right amount of added soul and edge.

From Blake’s team we saw Patrick Thomas and Tyler Robinson squaring off with Elvis’ “Burning Love.”  The cards were spot on for this one as Patrick’s performance was smooth, powerful and amazing.  Tyler was amazing as well and definitely blended well with Patrick to give this performance a great blend of style, passion and flair.  This was a tough call for Blake but I agreed with his choice to stick with the raw talent of Patrick over Tyler’s more soulful style.

Adam put together the only male/female competition of the night with Tim Mahoney singing with Casey Weston on “Leather and Lace”.  I have to say that I was not terribly impressed with either singer as there was just too much vibrato for me.  However, this was definitely a time that both had to bring their “A” game if they wanted to stick around.  Tim’s vocal range was a huge plus for him but it was not enough to set him apart from Casey.  Casey has a lot of room to grow in her stage presence and overall performance but with Adam’s help she has the potential to be amazing.

As is the custom with TV, the best performance came last.  Cee Lo pitted Vicci Martinez against Niki Dawson to sing Pink’s “Perfect.”  OMG!  These two need to put an album out together and forget this show.  The combined voices and energy that they put into the song just blew away the coaches and the audience.  This was definitely a choice for Cee Lo but it was the flair and presentation that Vicci put into her performance that set her apart and kept her on the team.

I can’t wait to see what happens next week  and I will be here with my predictions before the show as well.

See you all next week!

I have been inspired by my Face Book friends Donnaleigh de LaRose and Corrine Kenner to use the Tarot to play along with the performers on NBC’s The Voice.  In a similar manner to Donnaleigh and Corrine’s Idol Psychic blogs, I will be pulling cards before the evening’s competition to see what energies the performers will be bringing to the table.  After the show (probably the next day) I will post a recap on how I see the performances playing out compared to my predictions.

Tonight begins the “battle round” for the performers and it is looking like it will be a great night of stiff competition.  The teams are set and ready to begin the trek towards becoming “The Voice”!  I have pulled a single card for each person and grouped them by their team.  Let’s see what the Tarot has to say about the performances tonight!

Cristina’s Team

Tarralyn Ramsey: 4 of Swords – This may be a week that Tarralyn gets to rest a bit as I am getting the impression that her first week will be easy for her to maintain her place on the team.

Frenchie Davis: The Moon – Going with gut feelings and improvising in just the right places will help set Frenchie apart tonight.  There are three performers with the Moon card though and things may not be as clear as they seem on the surface.

Beverly McClellan: The Moon – Beverly is hiding something tonight and it just may surprise the coaches.  Again, these Moon performers are not just what they seem on the surface.

Lily Elise: 8 of Pentacles – Lily has been working hard to lead up to tonight and it will show.  It may not be perfection, but the heart and soul that she puts in tonight will not be lost.

Cherie Oakley: 2 of Swords – I am seeing a bit of a mistake headed her way tonight but it will not be if she messes up that matters, but how she recovers.  Stick with it or fall apart?  we shall see…

Raquel Castro: 6 of Swords – There are a few performers that I think may be helped out by singing with another person tonight.  Raquel is one of those that I think my benefit from having someone else there beside her, even if they are competing.

Julia Eason: 10 of Swords – Tonight is not boding well for Julia.  Sharp tones and possibly even a little sabotage may be headed her way. Keep your head up Julia!

Justin Grennan: High Priestess – Smug success were the words that were coming to minds for Justin.  I think he knows what he needs to do tonight and will execute it flawlessly.

Blake’s Team

Patrick Thomas: Temperance – Calm and collected, Patrick get the card that embodies art and music.  I am looking for a great performance from him tonight.

Elenowen: 5 of Swords – Power and drive are behind Elenowen in her performance.  She may have the chance to really blow away the competition tonight.  As long as she doesn’t let it go to her head.

Xenia: King of Wands – I am getting the impression that Xenia has been really paying attention to her coach.  We will see tonight if what he has said will help her edge out the competition.

Jared Blake: Knight of Wands – Light it up!  Jared is another one that I am looking forward to tonight.

Tyler Robinson: 6 of Swords – Similar to Raquel, I think Tyler will benefit from singing along side someone tonight.  HOwever, I’m just not sure he will fair as well as Raquel.

Dia Frampton: Knight of Cups – Dia has the heart and soul, but I’m not getting the feeling that she will bring it out tonight when it matters.  No time for patience Dia, sing it!

Serabee: Queen of Cups – Let it flow and go Serabee.  I am looking for a hot and passionate performance from her tonight.  Give it soul!

Sara Oromchi: 7 of Wands – Sara my struggle a bit tonight and I think she will be fighting for her place on the show.  It’s gonna be a hard night for her.

Cee Lo’s Team

Vicci Martinez: King of Pentacles – Vicci is another that seems to be taking a lot from her coach.  Though I am seeing more effort in stage presence than actual vocal effort tonight.

Kelsey Rey: Princess of Wands – Sing it like its the first time Kelsey.  I am expecting a bit of an immature but powerful performance tonight here.

Tje Austin: The Star – Wow, Tje is yet another that I can’t wait to hear.  Look for a song that is just belted out with pure natural skill.

Nakia: The Moon – I am very curious to see what happens here.  I did not see any of Nakia’s previous perfomances and I have no clear messagesw as to what to expect.  Interesting…

Tori and Taylor:  Queen of Wands – The fire will be there but I am sensing a bit of a stiff performance for these two.  They have some things to learn from their coach and the older performers.

Emily Valentine: The Tower – Not looking forward to this one…not because I think she is a bad performer but with this card, I am seeing something cracking that may send her home quick.

Curtis Grimes: 3 of Wands – Previous successes will help Curtis out tonight but I feel he may be left hanging on his own.  He will do well but those around him will just be that much better.

Niki Dawson: 2 of Swords – Tough choices need to be made here.  However this time I think it will be the coaches that have to make this choice and stick with it.  NOt sure she’s gonna be around for the next round.

Adam’s Team

Jeff Jenkins: 7 of Cups – Another unclear pick for the coaches. However, there will be something in tonight’s song that helps set Jeff apart from his competition.

Rebecca Loebe: Princess of Swords – The skill is there, but I am not picking up on any great performance here.  A bit sharp and just kind of cold.

Javier Colon: Six of Pentacles – Rousing support from all tonight for Javier.  I am looking forward to a great show from him tonight.

Angela Wolff: The Fool – What better card to start off a competition?  I don’t think Angela will blow anyone away tonight, but there are great things coming from her in the future

Devon Barley: 7 of Swords – He may steal the show, but not necessarily in a good way.  I’m looking for some antics from Devon tonight.

Casey Weston: Princess of Swords – Casey is in the same boat as Rebecca tonight.  She will need to really nail it to move on.

Tim Mahoney: 3 of Wands – Set apart from the others or left alone in the dust.  It’s going to take a killer showing to get him moving in the right direction

Casey Desmond: 9 of Wands – Casey will be fighting for it tonight.  May end up a bit defensive but will definitely leave it all on the stage.

Well it’s just about time to star the show!  Let’s see what happens!