Snake Oil Tinfoil Covering The Baby Jesus (one of my first Snake Oil’s from back in 2003!)
I grew up in a large Catholic family where Christmas rituals were an important part of our holiday experience. Amidst the craziness of Santa Claus, Christmas shopping and stuffing our faces full of sugar through most of December, our family still celebrated “the true meaning of Christmas.” It was the time when Christ the savior was born. Like almost every child raised in a Christian home, we were taught the importance of remembering “the truth” about Christmas. Even from what we believed to be our enlightened perspective, we were still all about the indulgence that Christmas seemed to usher in, and as a child I loved every minute of it.
During the holidays, atop the television set was placed a small figurine of the baby Jesus. The figurine was part of a nativity scene. In our family we placed a piece of tinfoil over the small statue. My mother explained this practice to us: “until Christmas Day comes, Jesus had not yet been born.” She would inevitably ask us each Christmas morning if we had pulled the tinfoil off of Jesus before we began opening our presents. We never remembered. The excitement and lure of greedily tearing open presents far outweighed any interest in mom's custom. Still, we dutifully faked reverence in front of Mom, pulling off the tinfoil only to instantly place all of our attention back to the presents.
Young children, understandably, aren't into philosophy, morality, and religious rituals. As a child, most of the things I was taught about Christian teachings weren't really interesting and were often scary. Pictures of Christ nailed to a cross with bleeding hands and feet were horrifying. The picture common in Christian homes of Christ praying with a huge beating, burning heart in his chest terrified me. To please my mother, I pretended to be interested in the Bible. Our children's Bible was illustrated with pictures that mostly gave me nightmares. Stories and pictures of pestilence, lepers, children being sacrificed, people dying and a man who was hung to die on a cross did not make for comfortable bedtime stories.
Understanding parables, Christ's message of love, and other biblical stories can be excellent ways to connect to our spiritual sides. Young children, though, simply are not ready for this type of thing. I can safely guarantee that any child of any religion that is happy about learning this stuff is faking it to please their parents or guardians. Young children are not able to grasp the significance of spiritual teachings, and that is exactly as it should be. Why not let children enjoy Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and all the fun stuff until they are old enough to grasp the deeper meanings of religion and spirituality?
Even as we approach our forties, around Christmas, my little sister and I still tease each other about whether we have pulled the tinfoil off of the baby Jesus. We playfully and sarcastically joke about this and some of the other bizarre rituals we were taught. Maybe we haven't really grown up yet, maybe and hopefully we never will.
Jim Ventura 10-2003
Editors note:
We are smack in the middle of the holiday season again! This one came in fast. Keeping with the nature of the Universal year of “5” in Numerology and its rapid pace, push for change, and turbulence, it is likely to end with a bang. Whether you are happy about it or not, the world will not come to an end because Obama was reelected, the Mayan calendar said it would, the economy is still struggling, or any number of other reasons why we were told it would! The Universal energy of the “6” in the coming year will feel quite a bit different as the focus shifts to service, home, family, and creating harmony. The holiday season, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas, are good reminders to prioritize the value of family (the ones we were born into or the ones we more consciously chose later on in life with our partners and friends!) and celebrating in harmony. While Christ was probably not born in December, we can see Christmas as a reminder to celebrate the energy of compassion, love, and the healing energy of kindness that the Christ energy represents. Plus having an excuse to be indulgent temporarily has its own benefits!
I am offering a gift certificate special this month for everyone who is currently receiving my monthly column, My current subscribers always get $5 off listed prices on sessions, but for the month of December 2012 everyone can purchase gift certificates for themselves or friends and family for any sessions I offer (good for one full year once purchased) for $15.00 off my listed prices on 45 and 70 minute sessions, and $20 off extended 90 minute sessions! In addition, purchasing three or more will get you an additional 10 percent off your total cost. We often are inclined to give someone a “thing” as a gift. Sometimes this can be awesome and appropriate, but consider the benefit of giving the gift of a session (or opportunities to use personal training sessions, massage, manicure etc...). Often the increased knowledge about ourselves and the transformative power of a session will be far more appreciated and may even help change someone’s life! Check out the information about purchasing holiday gift certificates later on in this newsletter.
I have scheduled Michael classes here in my home beginning in March of 2012. I will also be posting a few other classes for the spring and summer in my January newsletter. I am in the process of recording some of my classes (including the Michael classes) on CD at this time. This will enable you to take my classes at home at your leisure. More information about these will come in the next few months. Wishing everyone Happy holidays and a Happy New year! Cheers. Jim V
Gift certificates:
The holidays are approaching. Give a gift to someone you love that they will really appreciate: a reading/personal session with Jim Ventura. All gift certificates purchased from now until December 31 st., will be at a discounted rate for all of my clients who are currently on my mailing list (Snake Oil) $15.00 off my normal prices on 45 and 70 minute sessions, $20 off extended 90 minute sessions! Price list for services are at the end of this newsletter. The gift certificates are good for one full year and can be used any time in 2013. I will either mail them to you or, if you prefer, mail them directly to the people who you want to receive them (snail mail or email). You may want to buy a gift certificate(s) for yourself as well - do you know anyone else who deserves a gift as much as you do? You can purchase up to four gift certificates at this rate until the end of the year. Sessions can be in person or by phone for out-of-area clients.
You can also add a copy of my first book or audio DVD version of Dirty Little Secrets, or Snake Oil Volume One for an extra $12.00 (includes tax) ($3.00 more for shipping) if you want to sweeten the package. Order both books and shipping is free! ($24.00 total) Email or call to purchase your Gift Certificates. This discount offer is good until December 31st of 2012.
*If anyone in your family has recently had a new addition (child) a 45 minute Astrology chart is also a great gift idea. Understanding our own Astrology, (or the people we care about) is beneficial in so many ways. I often get letters from people telling me how useful and “right-on” the chart interpretation I did for their son/daughter 10 years ago...
“When you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.” Vera Nazarian
“Knowing others is Wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.” Lao Tzu
Snake Oil Radio
Every Thursday at 3:30 pm (there will be three live broadcasts this month)
My next live broadcast of Snake Oil Radio will be Thursday, December 6th, at 2:30 p.m. (MST - First show of the month will be an hour earlier than usual, but will go back to starting at 3:30 for the rest of the month). Every Thursday you can catch a new show. Each 45 minute show will expand on my current column’s subject matter. It will also offer an opportunity for you to call in live (or chat with other listeners in the chat room) with comments and your thoughts about the topic of discussion. Halfway though the show you can even ask me for a free 5 minute mini reading with your personal question. If you miss the live show, you can catch any of my previously recorded shows on the web site’s archive. You can also catch Snake Oil Radio on I-tunes (download my pod-casts there).
All you need to do is be at a computer and tuned into: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jim-Ventura You may also access it by going to blogtalkradio.com. Type “Snake Oil” into the search option.
You can also go to the shows that are currently “On air” at that time and find me. The call in number is 646-200-3966 for questions and comments.
Join me for a special interview show with Soul Usher Elizabeth Dahlmeier. Elizabeth’s bio:
From an early age, I knew I wanted to help others heal their wounds and reach their potential.
I became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and worked with folks in the capacity of helping them heal their wounds for 20 years. This began to take a toll on me, so I closed my practice and moved out of town. I am now embracing my new path, taking it one step at a time.
On this new path, I call myself a Soul Usher - ushering souls into life (birth), out of life (death), and through every stage of life (daily living). I'm passionate about helping people find and understand why they are here on Earth, and what they have to contribute that the rest of us need and want.
There are many tools available for helping people understand their hearts and souls in a deeper way.
~Working with individuals, couples and groups as a SoulCollage(R) Facilitator - awakening inner intuition through mindfulness and art.
~I believe we can release and shift energy as easily as "blowing smoke," so I do a type of healing of mind, body, heart and spirit through a combination of Energy Movement, Breathing and Body Tapping.
~Using more traditional coaching tools, people can discover their passion, write a mission statement, make vision boards, and have accountability for the commitments they make to themselves.
~I collaborate with an Astrologer, Arlene Hougland, who has discovered a method of identifying the Soul's Purpose through a specific point on the Natal Chart. We facilitate workshops together to help people gain clarity and a deeper understanding of this energy. It's amazing how knowing this can change a
person's life, get them on a path that aligns the mind, body, spirit.
~ I also collaborate with an Angel Communicator and Intuitive Artist. We facilitate workshops to help people connect and interact with their Angels. A very transformative experience! We are never alone and we are loved SO much more than we have the capacity to comprehend.
“Start viewing your problems as decisions that need to be made.” Dick Sutphen
Spring Classes
MICHAEL MATERIAL
* What is your soul age? The soul age of friends and family ?
* How do past lifetimes influence us in the present ?
* What does karma feel like, and how does it work ?
* How does your chief negative feature impact your life, and can it be changed?
* What happens when your partner is an idealist and you are a realist ?
* What is your life goal? Is it dominance, acceptance, flow or submission ?
*What is your essence, your soul mate’s essence ? Artisan, priest, king, server, sage, warrior or scholar ?
* What is a soul mate, task companion, heart link ?
* What do the higher centers feel like?
After this workshop you will understand all of these questions and many more, and more importantly have the answers.
There are no tests to pass, just some great information. 5 classes, 2 hours each.
What is the Michael teaching?
The main goal of the Michael teaching is agape or unconditional love. The teaching views life as a learning game in which fragments of the Tao - that essential part of each human being - set up lessons which continue over lifetimes. These lessons are learned via the personality which Essence chooses each lifetime. Michael teaches us what the components of the personality are so that we can learn to use and see these components in ourselves and in others. In that way we can learn to understand why human beings behave as they do. Michael is composed of 1,050 individual Essences who have lived on the physical plane and now teach from another plane. One of the most basic and important principles of the teaching is that it is not a religion or a belief system. Michael encourages their students to self validate all of the information they receive. The system was originally in print in over 12 volumes of information. “My studies of this material have been extensive and now I offer what I have learned to my students” Jim Ventura (Old Scholar). The classes will help you to use and understand the material without the need to read all the out of print books.
Saturday mornings 10 am till noon March 9, 16, 23, 30th and April . $90.00 for all five classes ($80.00 pre-paid and for current Regular clients). Maximum of 8 students for this home class (one student may call in out-of-area on speaker phone) and minimum of 4 sign ups to hold the classes. A $20 deposit is required to hold your space in this series.
Private Parties
I am available to do private parties with “mini readings” for your guests. Parties can be booked with either 20, 30 or 45 minute session blocks. Many of the different oracles I work with can be chosen for your specific event.
The parties are a fun way to enable family and friends to become more comfortable with the benefits of oracle readings. I have done many of these parties in the past and they are truly memorable events for all of the guests.
Minimum and maximum numbers of readings are required to book a party. If more than the minimum is booked than the host gets his/her session free! $50.00 non-refundable deposit is required to hold a party date. 20 minute sessions for $30.00. 30 minute sessions for $45.00. Call or email me for more information. Any home parties booked in December 2012 or january 2013 are $40 for 30 minute sessions!
Here’s my contact information to make an appointment for a session, or information on current classes: Phone: (602)957-3035 Email: Venturasag@yahoo.com
Information about the different sessions and types of readings and services, past Snake Oil columns, and how to order my books and audio CD’s can be found at my website: Http://JimVentura.com
“Friend” me on Facebook to get other extra offers and in between column extras! Signing up for my fan page will also get you even more extra’s and first shot at reading specials.
All Current Snake Oil subscribers get $5.00 off all listed prices below.
All sessions/readings for 2012-2013 are: Full (70 minutes) $110.00; Shorter session (45 minutes) $80.00; Extended (90 minutes) $130.00 (two people can split an extended session back to back for $65.00 each).
I accept cash, checks, debit cards, Master Card, Visa, and PayPal for payments on sessions and for books and classes. Send me your Birthday month and year to get added to the yearly Birthday mailer promotion.
December extra:
“The Mechanics of Experience: Your world and everything in it exists first in the imagination. You have been taught to focus all of your attention upon physical events, so that they carry the authenticity of reality for you. Thoughts, feelings, or beliefs appear to be secondary, subjective-or somehow not real-and they seem to rise in response to an already established field of data.
You usually think, for example, that your feelings about a given event are primarily reactions to the event itself. It seldom occurs to you that the feelings themselves might be primary, and that the particular event was somehow a response to your emotions, rather than the other way around. The all-important matter of your focus is largely responsible for your interpretation of any event...”
“Even those of you who intellectually agree that you form your own reality find it difficult to accept emotionally in certain areas. You are, of course, literally hypnotized into believing that your feelings arise in response to events. Your feelings, however, cause the events you perceive. Secondarily, you do of course then react to those events..” From The Individual and the Nature of Mass Events by Jane Roberts.
The ideas expressed here can be really exciting to grasp when we have something “good” happen in our lives, yet can be an uncomfortable consideration when we experience “bad” events. In personal sessions, when I read Tarot cards for myself or clients, I remind them that the patterns in the cards are simply representations of probable events from your current perspective in your reality creating process. We can change our reality anytime (and often do so without realizing that we did!) when we recognize what is working and what may not be working. This is where the benefits of card readings and other Oracles can be of real value. Not so much in the predictions that are shown, (even though they can often be surprisingly accurate) but in the awakening of your ability to see where you may be blocked in the way you are both looking at something and at the same time creating it! The best part of this recognition is for the most part, anything you have created by your beliefs can also changed for the better. This is where Oracles can be of extreme value. We can see what patterns we are in the process of creating and this can help us navigate and direct our abilities to change what we find is not working for us! Jim V
