Snake Oil Along Came a Spider
I woke up one morning a few months ago to two rather large and elaborate spider webs that covered the fire place area in my condominium home. I was amazed at how much work these two spiders were able to accomplish in one night. While I appreciated their creations and their obvious interest in helping to catch some of the annoying flies that get in my house more often than usual in the spring, I already have a talented fly catcher - my cat! When flies or other flying insects gets into my home, she usually spots them within an hour or so and catches and happily eats them. I solved the issue in a gentle old soul way by catching each spider in a jar, thanked them for their efforts, and put them outside to find a new place to set up shop. While I cleaned up the webs around the fireplace, I could feel my intuitive self screaming in tandem with my intellect that there was a definite message in all of this!
Around eight years ago I decided to switch to Eastern Feng Shui as opposed to following the Western methods that had actually worked well for me in the past. This change in placement put my fireplace area in the “helpful people, travel area” of my homes Bagua map.* Over the last few months I had been contemplating making some changes in these areas of my life, yet I knew there was definitely something deeper connected with this area that I wasn’t seeing. I knew from Lakota teachings that spider represented being trapped in a web of fear. From an astrological perspective spiders relate to the negative side of the Saturn influence. It signifies areas where we are cautious, inhibited, blocked, and have uncomfortable lessons to learn. I decided to meditate, and to be open to insight from spirit for a few days on the spiders message to see what I could pick up.
Two days later a client who came in for a session offered me some helpful information. She was happy with the insight she received in our reading, but when she was getting ready to leave, she said, “I want to share something with you if this is okay? She had done some Feng Shui work years ago and couldn’t help noticing that my fire place area was in the wealth, prosperity, financial area of the Bagua map. She followed the maps and placement of Western Feng Shui. She shared her insight and said that she guessed I had been having some financial struggles for awhile. “It’s likely that you have been feeling like that when you get money it burns up rapidly or slips away too quickly.” She shared a bit more wisdom with me and suggested some cures to solve the problems.
I was happy she was willing to share her insight and she was absolutely right. My business and finances were not terrible by any means, but they were not where I wanted them to be. The extreme financial struggles I had purged through during the peak of the recession a few years back were thankfully over, yet it still was far tighter than I wanted it to ideally be, and money did seem to burn up too rapidly. I decided to take action and use some of her cures and suggestions, while researching a bit more on my own. I cleaned out my fireplace that had been filled with soot and ashes for months. Probably even more important that the fireplace itself was what was behind it. There was an outside storage closet filled with mostly useless crap, boxes, and things that were covered in dust. It also had a 12 year old bicycle that I never used, or really ever even liked that had two flat tires! There were quite a few things I had stored in that closet that were negative and the door to the closet itself was often hard to open. There were so many things that were blocking, broken, and useless, no wonder my finances had been blocked in some respects for the last few years.
As I cleaned out the area over a span of three of four days, and picked up some cool knick-knacks to make the area look and feel better, I could feel things shifting around in my psyche. Old limiting beliefs, anger, and fear from my past moved uncomfortably into my conscious mind. As I became more aware of the limitations I found it easier to release them. New ideas and memories of the many times when things were good in the past surfaced as well. I was releasing the negative parts of the past and reconnecting to good experiences and times of past prosperity. While I was doing squats at my gym during this transition I kept noticing a sign on the wall in front of me that listed some of the rules of the gym. The line that my eyes kept focusing on each time I came up from a squat said, “Allow Access.” It began to dawn on me that in some ways I was still “hiding,” and not as aggressive as I could be in reaching new clients. I was very much out there with social media, my column, books, and radio shows, but I was resistant to any other forms of advertising because I feared I might get “too busy.” I also had some problems in the past when I used advertising. I did bring in some new clients from magazine and newspaper ads years ago, yet I also got my share of oddballs. From crazy people who believed they were being molested by ghosts every night, to delusional oversexed gay men who contacted me because somehow they saw my picture in the ad and decided I was a “sensual massage therapist,” who might help them in a way that I was definitely never going to do. I had even more no-show appointments, people canceling at the last minute, and other assorted irritations that were part of non-referral client connections. Past advertising experiences had left me a bit phobic to say the least.
After I did my cleaning and fixed up the area around my fire place, I became mildly obsessed with studying ways to advertise inexpensively and often for free online. For two weeks I researched and discovered many different opportunities for reaching a larger audience. My commitment to go “back to school” kept me up some nights until 3 am. I realized that I was resistant to advertising again because I was waiting for someone to come along who would do my marketing for me. I have never been a big fan of self-promotion. It became clear that I needed to take this job, so I plunged right in. I allowed more people access to me with ads, videos, and great first time promotions. My business increased by around 30 percent in the first few weeks.
A few weeks later, while cooking breakfast one morning, I realized I really liked the look of the fireplace now. I really was never happy with it before. Western Feng Shui was a better fit for me and I would go back to using it in other areas as well. The whole area of my house had really improved and I was feeling good about the progress.While cooking and thinking about all of the changes that were happening, I saw a hummingbird buzzing around my patio. The next day I saw another one that came right up to the glass door. My cat saw it also and I thought she would explode with excitement with her desire to catch it. Fortunately she was not able to do so. I decided to look up the totem of Hummingbird. It symbolized joy and playfulness, as well as adaptability. It was about lifting up negativity, being more present, and developing the ability to respond quickly to anything. Hummingbirds can change direction quickly and smoothly, gliding easily from one place to another. Hummingbird was an invitation to shift your path, and to be willing to bend forward and backward. The wisdom carried in this spirit totem is all about flexibility and a lighter approach. From spiders to hummingbirds - fear and restriction, to lightness and adaptability. What if I had to deal with a few more “crazies” and I occasionally got a little overwhelmed from being “too busy?” I also got some great new clients from advertising and I could adapt to the increased business, and the increased prosperity was awesome! The Universe was prompting me, guiding me, and helping me. All it took was a willingness to ask for help, and an openness to pay attention and act on the answers that came my way.
Jim Ventura 7-2013
Editors note:
*Bagua map
If you are not familiar with Feng Shui you may not know how Feng Shui or Bagua maps work. Feng Shui is the art of placement. The Bagua is essentially a diagram of the areas of your home that relate to both the compass directions and the primary focuses of our lives (Relationships, health, career, family, etc...). When an area of your home and corresponding Bagua placement are out of balance, then we often experience blocks and difficulties in that area. Working with a competent Feng Shui practitioner or studying Feng Shui yourself, and applying cures is something I highly recommend to assist in manifesting more harmony, flow, and abundance. If you live in Phoenix and you are looking for a Feng Shui practitioner feel free to request the email addresses of either of the two I have worked with.
I am currently working to put together online classes and seminars for 2014. These classes will be video conference calls. If you are not a local here in Phoenix, you will be able to attend classes online with other students all over the country. The maximum number of students for each seminar will be 8. The price of these online classes will be quite inexpensive, about $15-$25 for each class.
My summer special is over, but I have decided to offer a fall special to new clients for $20 off my listed prices for all sessions booked in September through November of 2013. Please mention this to friends and family members so they can take advantage of the opportunity. Any new referrals sent my way will earn my session clients and Snake Oil subscribers $10-$25 off of your next session for each referral! I send emails with your collected discount(s) out every six months. Four or more referrals can earn you a free session!
There are still openings in my fall classes. Email me if you are interested in attending before they get filled. We still have another painfully hot month here in Phoenix and no more monsoon storms to cool things down. September is that uncomfortable month in Phoenix when the nicer weather is just so close, yet so far... My happy thought is fall is around the corner though, and it’s my favorite season. Wishing everyone a happy September. Cheers, Jim V
“Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.” Buddha
“To be upset over what you don’t have is to waste what you do have.” Ken S. Keyes
FALL CLASSES:
Past Life Journeys
Does reincarnation exist, and if so, how does it work? How can I become aware of my other lifetimes? What value is there in exploring my past lifetimes? What is karma?
Many aspects of past life exploration, from hypnosis to dreaming techniques will be discussed. By understanding the influence of karma and the past lives we have already lived, we will show how our past experiences affect us in our present life. The class focuses on setting up a past life journal, and explores the progression of our soul’s journeys. Astrology, Numerology, and many other tools will be utilized to aid you in becoming aware of your past lifetimes. “Desire to live again, because that will be your lot in any case.” Nietzsche
Saturday October 19th, 10 am until 12:30 pm. Pre-paid $20. $25 on day of the class (current Regular clients $15 pre-paid $20 day of the class). Maximum of 8 students, minimum of four to hold class.
Exploring The Dream State
What are dreams? Does everyone dream? Is there a way for me to remember my dreams? What value is there in increasing dream recall? Is it possible for me to Astral project (travel out of body)?
This workshop will focus on increasing awareness of the many different elements of the dream state. We will explore astral projection, remote viewing, lucid dreaming and analyzing your dream symbols. Dreams can be recalled and enhanced with simple techniques that are easy to learn. By becoming more conscious of your dreaming self you can awaken tremendous untapped potential. In addition, by expanding your memory and the activities of your dreaming self, you will tap into valuable, practical tools for expanding your waking life.
Sunday November 3rd, 10 am until 12:30 pm. Pre-paid $20. $25 on day of the class (current Regular clients $15 pre-paid $20 day of the class). Maximum of 8 students, minimum of four to hold class.
New Client Promotion
New clients who have never had a session with me before can take advantage of the last month of my summer special. Any of the sessions I offer (check out the different options on my website) are discounted $20 off my listed rates! 45 minute - 90 minute sessions all receive the discount. No other offers or discounts apply with this special. The new client’s $20 discount is good for in office or phone sessions and will run from September 1st, 2013 through November 30th 2013. You can buy one for a friend (new client) at this rate even if you have already had a session with me in the past if you want to give someone a gift!
Snake Oil Radio
Thursdays at 3:30 pm (there will be three live broadcasts this month)
My next live broadcast of Snake Oil Radio will be Thursday, September 5th, at 3:30 p.m. (MST -AZ doesn’t use daylight savings time). Almost 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 through some of the shows 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.
“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.” J. Robert Oppenheimer
Here’s my contact information to make an appointment for a session, or information on current classes: Phone: (602) 957-3035 text: 602-349-0746 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 get you even more extras and first shot at reading specials. Simply click on “like” on the fan page and you will automatically get my weekly updates.
All Current Snake Oil subscribers get $5.00 off all listed prices for any 45-90 minute sessions. Local in office visits receive another $5 off listed prices for cash payments.
All sessions/readings for 2013 are: Full (70 minutes) $110.00; Shorter session (45 minutes) $80.00; Extended session (90 minutes) $130.00 (two people can split an extended session back to back for $65.00 each). Email me for information about my Regular Client Program for even bigger discounts on session prices with the added benefit of monthly or quarterly check-ins.
I accept cash, checks, debit cards, Master Card, Visa, and PayPal for payments on sessions and for books and classes. Send me your birth month, day and year to get added to the yearly Birthday mailer promotion.
