Gurus, Spiritual Teachers + How to find your own way on the Spiritual Path

The following post (with a couple edits) was originally part of a newsletter sent out on 27th August 2017. It had such a big response I thought I'd post it as a blog for y'all. x

The news in India of riots and people being killed in the streets over the arrest of a guru has shone a massive light on the whole guru thing this week. My heart really goes out to all those affected, but I can't help but look at all this and just wonder where we're going so wrong.

The internet is ablaze again this week over the news that Doreen Virtue is giving up Tarot and predictive readings, taking her name off her Angel Tarot decks and moving even closer to her Christian path.

This has brought up a lot for people, and we are holding space in the Spiritual Journey Pitstop for anyone who feels that they need to talk about what all this is bringing up for them with no judgement from either side. However you are feeling about all this is totally valid and important for you to express and move through, but I have been asking people to share from a place of what this is bringing up for them personally, rather than making assumptions about DV, her path, work and publisher, because even though we feel like we know her, we really have no idea what is really going on and speculation doesn't really help us to move through it.

As you may know, I've been a big fan of hers for years, but I honestly, personally don't give a hoot if she burns all her decks in a Christian ritual on top of a hill and gives her life to Jesus or not. (I did that once myself but it's a story for another time).

I really just wanted to talk in this blog post about the whole "guru" thing and how it's failing us, and how we are failing ourselves by looking up to peeps to be our gurus and what we can do instead.

I've actually unfollowed a few people on Instagram recently after I have had in-person encounters with them that left me reeling, feeling that who they are behind the Instagram is actually not in alignment with what they teach + preach online.

We are all very human and we can't put someone on a pedestal just because they have a book deal and we don't.

Be your own Hierophant - from the Cosmic Tarot x

I have people message me sometimes saying that I'm their "spiritual teacher" and while that's incredibly flattering it also freaks me out! LOL!

Because I'm just another person on the path really. If anything, I prefer to see myself as a kind of "bridge".

My job is to help you to get from over there to over here, more aligned on your path, more connected to your own guidance.

That's what a spiritual teacher is really supposed to do for us I think, just help us find our own way. 

When we put so much pressure on one person, or a group of people, to have all the answers for us, to do the work for us, or to always be on the same path as us, things get dangerous.

We are all on our own journey and what I share with you guys is just where I'm at with mine.

Find your own way through meditation! Card from the NewAgeHipster InstaOracle x

If we'd met 20 years ago I would have been dragging you along with me to my fave mega church, another few years before that I would've been asking you to join my Wicca based high school coven!

My journey is going to change, just like yours is.

You always have the choice to keep following my journey or not. 

The choice is yours.

When we are looking for spiritual info there are some things we can do to help us be discerning about someone else's story and teachings to help us find our own path.

And as always, even this list might not totally resonate with you! Take what does, leave the rest. :D

1. Follow people who say "take what resonates and leave the rest".

:P

2. Avoid people who have any sort of vibe that their way is the "right" way and other ways are "wrong".

Dogma is so old paradigm.

3. Read and research

whatever you're into, read loads of different books by different authors, watch videos on YouTube, listen to Podcasts etc. Cast your net for teachings wide.

4. Work with your own energy first and foremost.

When we protect (check out my free e-book for that!), clear and ground ourselves it's much easier to tune into our own intuition and guidance. (Woo Woo 101 starts soooon!)

5. Remember that your spiritual teachers are just as human as you. 

A book deal doesn't make you more enlightened and a whole lot of followers doesn't mean you're more connected to the universe.

6. Unfollow and let go of whatever doesn't vibe with you, or no longer vibes.

We are never going to resonate with anyone 100% but if you no longer find someone's content useful or interesting or empowering in anyway, you can just hit unfollow and move on.

My work is moving more and more into a direction of helping you find the answers for yourself. 

I reaaaaally want to help you do the work that's going to help you find your own path. I'm not interested in you doing things "my way", I just want you to find the right way for you.

You can work with me via a spiritual mentoring session and I'll hold space for you and help you find your own connection to your own guidance. Come join the SPJ group or keep hanging out for free content, but whatever you do, just do what feels right for you. 

With love, light and going your own way,

Vix

x

Thoughts on the Burning Times + Persecution in the Spiritual Community

So, I got called a witch burner.

A couple of times actually.

I wrote a post recently about my thoughts and experience on being a Christian Witch. A lot of people really dug it. Some people didn't.

And that's totally cool. I think it's really important for us to hold space for people who think and feel differently from what we do.

But being called a witch burner definitely brought up a lot of stuff for me.

I spent a bit of time in my late teens in the church. I sang in the worship team and I was slain in the spirit and my friends spoke tongues at me in the car park. 

I was pretty gutted I never got the gift of tongues. I did receive the gift of prophecy though. I bet my friends at bible camp didn't think this is where I'd end up with it though.

It was pretty cool times.

I noticed pretty swiftly however, how freaked out and pissed off people were when I told them I had become born again in Christ.

People stopped talking to me, people tried to convince me I was brainwashed. People were just generally really nasty about my choices.

One time a man even yelled at me in Tesco because I was wearing a crucifix. 

People always ask me, "what's it like to come out of the spiritual closet?", and I gotta tell you, it was a heck of a lot easier, in my experience (it's different for all of us of course) to come out as a professional tarot reader than it ever was to tell people I was a born again Christian.

Since coming out as a Christian Witch (just one of many labels I use, I also dig lightworker, starseed and Hufflepuff) it's really highlighted just how much we still persecute each other in the spiritual community.

#giphy x

I mean I've literally had people call me a witch burner. 

I've been told not to call myself a Christian Witch because I'll lose followers.

I had someone I really looked up to in the community totally shut me down after seeing my post.

With all the accusations and finger pointing going on I started to feel like I was actually about to be burned at the stake myself.

There is a lot of persecution in the spiritual community.

For years I've never felt like I belonged anywhere in the community. I was too witchy for the Christians, too love and light for the tarot community, too much of a Jesus freak for the witchy circles.

It was the main reason I started my group Spiritual Journey Pitstop on Facebook (which you are so, so welcome to join!) and opened the doors for people of all belief systems to share their paths free from judgement. 

There is a lot of finger pointing in the community and I wonder when it's going to stop. 

When are we going to realise that the finger pointers were to blame along with the witch burners?

The burning times were totally messed up.

Also, many "witches" weren't burned either. I'm just using the term "burning times" because y'all know what I mean. But there were many other horrendous ways people were killed.

#giphy

But I think we've become so focused on the "witch" in witch burning that we've forgotten what the burning times were actually about.

Many of those who were burned were not even witches.

We must remember that these were frightening times, and the choice was often to name someone as a witch or die yourself.

So the finger pointing began. 

We can't deny that the burning times were a result of using religion to control the people and some men of the time in power not being able to deal with the divine feminine and women in general but I think sometimes we put so much blame on those in power and deny what was happening in the community.

Sisters, mothers, best friends were pointing the finger and offering each other up.

And I wonder when we're going to stop pointing the finger.

I've done it too of course. I am not a perfect person. I've judged and assumed and accused.

And I think we need to have compassion for those who've been finger pointing. It usually always comes from a place of fear.

But it feels like time we stopped throwing each other in the fire.

To truly clear and heal the karma of the burning times we don't need to bring down Christianity, or Christians or those who identify as Christian Witches, we need to stop pointing fingers, and stop throwing each other in the fire.

There is finger pointing of all kinds going on in the spiritual community.

I've been called out dozens of times for spiritual bypassing, being too love and light, not doing any shadow work, not being spiritual enough, not going deep enough, not owning enough dark tarot decks, not using my platform to post about politics, not reading tarot "the right way" (like there is one), not talking about enough big heavy stuff on my blog and now, also being called a witch burner.

And all this from other people in the spiritual community who don't know anything about me.

Not from my Christian friends who've known me since high school. Not from my Muslim friends. Not from my atheist friends. From other people in the spiritual community.

And then we look outside the community at the world around us and we see horrific things happening and yet we still point fingers at each other. You're not political enough. Why aren't you talking about this?

And yes, being political and talking about big important stuff is important AF.

But if you're not talking about it, that's OK too.

If you're a Christian, or a Muslim, or a Witch, or a Christian Witch or if you don't even have a clue how to begin labelling yourself, that's OK too.

We have all, all of us, every religion, every belief system, we have all been persecuted. We have all been killed for our beliefs. 

And often times we've been killed for our perceived beliefs.

Many of those executed were not witches at all. Why do we never talk of them?

Witches often feel as if they own the burning times, and we do, but not alone.

All of you who have ever been persecuted, all of you who have been killed or harmed or hurt because someone pointed the finger or called you out, for truth or lies, it's all of us who own the burning times, and all of us who are here to heal the karma of it.

and we clear that karma when we stop turning on each other and start working together.

#giphy

Just visualise with me for a moment. We're back in the burning times and instead of pointing the finger we did a quick whip around of everyone in the villages and gathered a huge group of people all standing together. Men, women, Christians, followers of the old ways, all walking towards the gallows and the stakes and dismantling them. Gracefully throwing the power crazed leaders out of the court houses and town halls and replacing them with people in the community who were well respected and wise.

We move forward when we decide to hold hands with the Christian Witch next door instead of pointing the finger and throwing her in the gallows.

If this is triggering for you, I get it. Christianity is something many people find triggering for all sorts of reasons, and if you've been affected by Christianity in a negative way I send you so much love, light and healing.

But please know that my brand of magic and faith is aligned in love and compassion and kindness and contrary to popular belief, I am definitely not a witch burner. 

With so much love, light and healing,

Vix

x

Clueless Tarot + or Oracle Spread

The other day I had big plans to sit down and watch Twilight with a massive bowl of popcorn slathered in butter but Netflix had taken it down! Why??

So I hit the teen movies section and watched Clueless for like, the 50th time or something. OMG it never loses it's edge. In fact, it's  a movie that may even be getting better with age. It did make me pretty nostalgic for the 90's though. 

So grab your deck of cards (any cards you have will work!) and your favourite plaid outfit and let's get clued up!

1. What are you being totally clueless about right now?

We all have the ability to be a little bit Cher-like. Where are you being clueless in your life?

2. What are you cluing into?

What are you starting to get? What are you learning? What's finally making sense?

3. Where are you ignoring your intuition and guidance?

We all ignore our own guidance sometimes, what are you ignoring right now?

4. What's right in front of you that you're not seeing?

This is like when Cher realises she likes Josh. What is the Josh to your Cher? 

If you wanna share your spread on Instagram please tag me in the photo or story so I can find you! :D

And if you're still feeling a little clueless or just want some help working through some stuff, check out my shop for all my readings + offerings.

With so much love, light and over-the-knee socks,

Vix

x

Dreamweaver Dream Interpretation Spread for Tarot and/or Oracle cards x

K, hands up who's been having some super funky dreams lately? Me! I have!

So has Seinfeld! Also, when the actual eff is Seinfeld coming to Netflix already??

I had a real corker of a dream the other night, you know those ones where you wake up and you kind of feel like it really happened?

And then you kinda know that there were some big messages and important insights in that dream but you pretty much have no idea WTF they are?

Yep. Totally right?

So I made this spread for when that happens.

So grab a deck and hit play on the video below for your soundtrack. :D

1. Dreamseed: what seeded this dream?

So this is like the foundation of the dream, what seeded it, what's been going on for you that may have been the the starting point for this kind of dream to turn up in your life.

2. Who or what sent this dream?

If you're into the idea of angels or guides or galactic forces of some kind delivering dreams to you in the night, this card may help you to work out exactly who or what energy has sent this to you. It may just be that your subconscious or fears or someone or something in your waking life sent it too.

3. What is the subconscious up to?

The subconscious can be doing all sorts of things we aren't usually all that aware of. Uh, obvs. This card can help you to understand what your subconscious is really up to. 

4. What is this dream trying to communicate to me?

Here you'll find some clarity around the message of the dream for you.

5. What do I do with this experience and knowledge?

It can be tricky sometimes to understand what we're meant to do with this kind of full on experience. This card will help you figure it out.

6. What am I supposed to learn/know from this?

Here you should find a clear(ish) message about what you are supposed to have learned or understood from this dream. 

7. How can I bring this understanding into my waking life?

And here you'll find some info about how to integrate what you've learned about this dream into your regular waking life.

So how was that for you? I hope this spread helps you to find some clarity around your dreams. You may want to pull more cards for each position, use more than one deck and/or also include some journalling in your process for extra clarity.

If you're looking for more spreads to play with head to the Start Here page!

And be sure to share your spreads with me on Instagram! Tag me in your posts so I can find you and maybe even help you out if you're stuck, and feel free to share this spread with your friends who are also having freaky dreams too! :)

If you're really stuck and can't shake your freaky AF dreams you can grab a session with me here.

With love, light and sweet dreams,

Vix

x

Ten Ways to Clear your Energy

Knowing how to clear your own energy is everything.

I'm a big believer in the quadruple threat of energy work - grounding, clearing, protecting + connecting.

I'm a massive energy protection geek and if you need a hand with protecting your energy check out my free e-book: How to Stay Shiny.

K, so how can you tell if your energy needs clearing? Well, it's different for everyone, but for me it feels something like:

• Sluggish
• Tired
• Heavy
• Blah
• Icky
• Gunky
• Like I'm carrying a lot of stuff around that isn't necessarily mine
• Thinking or worrying a lot
• Thinking or worrying a lot about other people's stuff!
• Just generally energetically drained
• Really hungry!

Of course if you are feeling any of these symptoms for more than a couple of days it could be worth checking in with your doctor.

Clearing your energy can help you shift away any old gunk, negativity and anything that you've picked up along the way that isn't yours. :)

Not a bad way to clear the ole' chakras! x

Light

Letting in some light can clear your energy in a jiffy! If you can get under the sun for just a few minutes, brilliant.

If you can't get out for a beach walk, visualising white light (or any colour of your choice, sometimes rainbow is fun!) coming in through your crown chakra and down through your body is a fab way to center and clear your energy and the best part is you can do this anywhere, even on the tube! :D

Crystals

Working with clear quartz can help you to clear your energy. Hold one during meditation, wear one during the day or pop one in a glass of water or your bath. 

Sound

Playing your fave tunes, ringing bells and even clapping through your aura can shift negative energy!

Salt Baths

For a more intensive clearing, throw a handful of salt in the bath (regular kitchen salt will do!) with a few drops of essential oils of your choosing, oh but check they aren't the burning kind!

Angels from the NewAgeHipster InstaOracle, grab a deck here!

Angels

I like calling in Archangel Michael and Raphael as a duo to help shift and clear my energy for me. I just literally call their names and ask them to clear my energy. Simples!

Smudge

Waft a smudge stick or a stick of Palo Santo or even an incense stick through your aura.

Rest

This is such an underrated way to clear energy! Take some down time and let your energy banks refill while you chill.

Drink water

Make sure you're drinking enough water! Before you take a sip put your hands over the water and set the intention that this water is to clear your energy.

Nature

Getting out in nature is a brilliant way to clear your energy. A beach or a bush walk or even just a stroll in the park can clear out even the most stubborn of gunked up chakras. 

A bush walk can clear those cobwebs in no time! x

Cord Cutting

Cord Cutting is a powerful clearing tool. Cord Cutting involves identifying and energetically cutting cords of negativity that are affecting your energy. You can grab my Cord Cutting kit here. :D

And if you want to learn more about working with your energy and connecting with your own guidance check out Woo Woo School! :O

With so much love, light and mega clearing vibes!

Vix

x

Five of Wands Spread for Times of Conflict

This blog post is brought to you as part of the International Tarot Day 2017 blog hop! :D Brought to you by the gorgeous Bree at Nym's Divination.

To hop through all 78 cards check the links at the bottom of this post. x

Here on New Age Hipster we're hanging out with the Five of Wands, the good ole' conflict card.

Feeling like this? This spread is for you! :D x

I dunno how you read Tarot, but I like my readings to be empowering, and sometimes when this card comes up in a reading I feel a little dis-empowered. A card that shows you that things are totally not aligned right now. Cool guides, but I'm more interested in knowing how I can align myself and move through conflict than just seeing that it's there. 

This spread can help you when you have some conflict popping up in your life, but it can also be used to help you open up your readings when the Five of Wands comes up.

If you're a newbie and you're not sure what I mean by "open up your readings" it's basically when you focus on one of the cards a spread by pulling more cards about that card. It's a great way to really dive deep into your stuff, and great for when a card kind of throws you or you just want more guidance.

You can use this spread for both conflicts in the outer world and conflicts within yourself.

So go grab yourself a deck of cards, your Tarot journal and a cuppa and let's get stuck in! :D

Here's one I made earlier with the Hanson Roberts Tarot x

I like to start this spread by placing the Five of Wands at the bottom, whether I'm opening up from the card or not, just as a bit of a signifier but you can do whatever floats your boat.

Card one: what is the foundation of this conflict?

This card will give you an idea of where the conflict came from and what the roots of this conflict really are. Oftentimes what you're fighting about is really not "the thing" right?

Card two: what part have you played in this conflict?

Oh, we all like to think we are blameless in these situations, but even if we're mostly blameless there are always things we perhaps could've done differently. Taking some responsibility for your part is powerful and will help you move through conflict with grace.

Card three: what is the lesson to be learned?

Conflict can be one of our greatest teachers. When we allow ourselves to learn through challenges we can actually move through them much quicker!

Card four: how can this conflict be resolved?

What do you need to do to resolve this conflict? Maybe you need to take some action to smooth things over, maybe the action you need to take is walk away. This card will let you know!

Card five: how can you avoid this kind of conflict in the future?

This card will give you some advice on how you can avoid seeing the Five of Wands again for a while! :D

You can find a list of all my other spreads over here and if you'd like to hook up a session with me you can hit the shop here.

Check the links for the previous + next blog in the hop!

PREVIOUS            MASTER LIST            NEXT

Happy International Tarot Day! :D

With love, light and conflict resolution,

Vix

x

Full Moon Magic - 33 Ways to Work with the Energy of the Full Moon

It's a powerful and potent time for magic when mamma moon is out in full force!

It's a great time to work some magic, and this post is gonna offer up a few ideas of ways you can harness this power for your own magical, spiritual and energetic uses.

If you're looking for info about the New Moon you can check out the sister post - New Moon Magic to this one!

For me the full moon is a great time to connect to my intuition and do some releasing work. as the moon begins to wane I know I'm releasing with her. :)

The full moon can often feel quite heavy to me too, so it's always a time when I need to focus on self-care and being nice to myself.

So let's get into it! Here's 33 ways you can work with the energy of the full moon!

+++

Read your own Tarot or Oracle cards

Invite some friends over and read cards for each other

Alternatively, get on Skype with a witchy friend and read for each other online style!

Write down what you want to release, rip it up and burn it

Light a candle for those you love

Light a candle for those you've lost

Honour your ancestors with incense, candles and chanting or singing

Write a letter to a passed over loved one and burn it to send it off to them (they will be there watching you write it of course anyway!)

Research the Goddesses on Wikipedia and see who's calling you

Call on Archangel Michael to help you clear and heal your fears

Try a cord cutting ritual (grab my Cord-Cutting Kit here!)

Dance

Go outside when it's dark and just sit and absorb the moon's energy

Draw down the moon with a ritual

Look out your window and talk to her like she's a (very, very) very old friend

Do a past life regression or a past life reading

Play with Moonstone or Selenite

Give yourself a Reiki healing, or ask the Angels of Reiki to do it for you

Do some super deep meditation

Meditate on the High Priestess card

Visit the Akashic Records

Take a ritual bath with salt, Rosemary, Frankincense oil and Moonstone crystals or whatever else you fancy

Make a Mala

Start a (new) gratitude journal

Pull some Goddess cards

Make a potion

Put your crystals out by the window to clear and charge them

Tidy your wallet, your bathroom shelves and your bedroom to help release any stagnant energy and create a flow of money, beauty and relaxation/love

Clear your home with white light, sage, Archangel Michael or tools and beings of choice

Eat comfort food (I like macaroni cheese!)

Go to bed early with a good book

Focus on self-love and cut yourself a break

Watch The Craft

Share with us in the comments what other magical activities you like getting up to on the Full Moon!

And if you want to come join in with a little online ritual each full and new moon, be sure to come hang with us at the Spiritual Journey Pitstop group on Facebook!

With love, and moonlight,

Vix

x

If you found this post useful check out my online spiritual development group The Circle for more spreads, meditations, workbooks and spiritual support. :)

Boys of Summer Spread

Inspired by the Boys of Summer by Don Henley this little spread will help you connect to the vibes of summer and take them with you when summer is over.

Perfect for the Summer Solstice or those warm lazy days soaking up the sun's rays in the backyard while you sip on crystal infused ice tea. :D

If you try this spread out be sure to tag me in your pics on Instagram!

There are loads more spreads to get your paws on over at the Start-Here page.

With love, light and neverending summer vibes,

Vix

x

Hazy Shade of Winter Spread

Inspired by the Bangle's Hazy Shade of Winter (yes I know Simon & Garfunkel did it first), here's a spread that's perfect for wintry days, the Winter Solstice or anytime you want to check in with yourself while sitting on the couch under a blanket with a mug of tea. 

If you dig the spread you can find a whole list of my spreads on the Start-Here page.

And if you wanna share your readings on Instagram be sure to tag me in your pics so I can find you! :D

Here's a pic of me and Vicki Peterson from the Bangles from like 10 years ago! x

With love, light and hazes clearing,

Vix

x

Wonder Woman Tarot and/or Oracle Spread

If you haven't seen Wonder Woman yet, get thee to a cinema ASAP and enjoy the girl power delights for your eyes!

If you're ready for the divine feminine to rise, you're going to freaking love this film.

I took my mum to see it the other day and my inner Goddess was like "yeaaaaaaaaaah giiirrrrrrrrrl" through the whole thing.

Also, did anyone else have major Atlantean flashbacks during the scenes on Themyscira? :O

Anyway, let's get down to bizniz!

This spread, inspired by Wonder Woman is perfect for trying times, times of battle or difficulty, times when you're starting to feel exhausted from fighting the patriarchy or generally when you feel you could use some Wonder Woman energy.

You can use Tarot or Oracle cards, or a combo of both. Whatever deck you have to hand is perfect. :)

Card one: Headband: What is your intuition telling you?

Sometimes when we're fighting something or someone, we can get so caught up in the situation that we forget to check in with what our intuition and guidance is telling us about the way through.

This card will help you reconnect to your own intuition and guidance about the issue at hand.

Card two: Shield: What do you need to protect?

When moving through challenges, protection is vital. This card can help you to see what it is that needs to be protected at this time.

Card three: Lasso: What do you need to sacrifice?

In all battles there are always things we need to sacrifice in order to win the war. This card will help you see what it is that you need to gracefully sacrifice in order to move forward.

Card four: Sword: What are you fighting for?

When we've been fighting for a while we can start to forget how we even got there, and what we're even fighting for. This card can help you to see what the big picture of the situation is.

Card five: Armbands: How can you deflect negativity?

You can't win a battle if you're getting hit by energy bullets. This card can help you to see how you can deflect negativity around you so you can stand in your power and light.

Please tag me if you share your reading on Instagram so I can find you! :D

If you liked this spread and want more, head to the Start Here page for a list of all spreads on this blog.

And if you fancy a reading with me check out the New Age Hipster Shop.

With so much love, light and divine feminine power,

Vix

x