January 2017 Snake Oil/Closer To The Heart

Snake Oil

Closer To The Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quBCjo2rUZg

One of my fondest memories of my early twenties was attending many different rock concerts. I saw amazing groups like Yes, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, The Fixx, and so many other notable bands. My friends and I would bring our concert paraphernalia and just hang out and listen to incredible live music with other fans. I have been blessed to have wonderful memories of many, many good times associated with music. One of my favorite bands was Rush. To this day, they still are making great music, although it has been about twenty eight years since I attended my last Rush concert. During every concert they always eventually sang one of their most profound and touching songs called “Closer To The Heart.” It was always the same pattern in every concert. When the first few chords of the song began everyone would stand up and quietly light their lighters and raise them in the air. Each individual flame creating a sea of light. It might sound silly if you have never experienced something like this, but it was always a powerful event and an emotional wave that lit up the room in a really touching way. There were no arguments or disagreements about what this song meant. Everyone there was connected, each in their own way and feeling the same universal hope of “building a new reality that was closer to the heart.”

2016 is over and few of us would argue that it was an extremely difficult year. I actually personally had a fairly good year, but I helped a lot of people who experienced some really difficult tests that challenged them. The tragic news stories, losses of major celebrities, artists, and musicians were far too frequent. The terrorist activities here in America and abroad were brutal. There was a period in the early summer where there seemed to be weekly stories that were incomprehensible. One of my friends at my gym who is just a few years older than me wisely remarked that he felt bad for young people today because they were “sadly becoming used to this stuff.”  They would never know a time when tragedies and terrorist attacks weren’t a normal thing. The elections were relentlessly mud-sliding, fake news stories were everywhere, attacks on men and women of color, and the slaying of police officers were some of the darkest stuff I have ever seen so far in my lifetime. Not only were the candidates at times smearing each other, but the memes I saw on FaceBook from friends on either side were at times incredibly uncomfortable to look at. I never unfriended anyone, but I did have to unfollow a few people who were posting things that were quite ugly. It is one thing to disagree and express a point of view and another to atrociously attack people who disagree. The election was fascinating to follow. It was unlike anything we have ever seen before. It was uncomfortable to watch and hard to turn completely away from at the same time. 

I often heard during the year that a high percentage of Americans’ feel things are going in the “wrong direction.” There might be some truth in this belief. Stagnant wages, corrupt politicians, and the shrinking of the middle class are among a host of difficult areas that are hard to deny. Yet, we sometimes seem to overlook how far we have come in the last three decades when it comes to human rights. When I was a young man interracial dating was often extremely frowned upon. Mixed couples (it almost seems silly saying those words now) were frequently taunted, disowned, and treated horribly. Woman still had all kinds of nonsense to deal with; a list too long to list here. Racial, sexual, and religious bias were were still at levels that young people today could not comprehend. Now more people can comfortably admit they are spiritual without being labeled “new age nut-jobs.” While Christianity in its many forms is still practiced by far by the largest percentage of Americans, other religious affiliations are able to be more comfortable expressing themselves, including Atheists and Agnostics without scorn. Gay and lesbian couples no longer have to hide in the closet. They legally marry, have children and live far more comfortably in comparison to even a decade ago. We recycle things, eat a lot better, have amazing technological breakthroughs that make a lot of aspects of our lives far easier. Advances in western medicine and health care have moved forward. Prosthetics have given people mobility. Alternative medicine and healing have become actual options for people. Inequity still clearly exists. We are far from where we ideally should be, but we have taken great strides forward. To not acknowledge this notable progress is blindness.

With all of these amazing changes and forward movement over the years one has to wonder why are we currently experiencing such an obvious darker backlash in human rights? While all kinds of people have been able to come out of the closet and be themselves we also see a lot more negative people and troll-like commentaries as well. A rise in the Alt-Right movement (a modern name for white supremacist groups) and some extremist groups on the very far left as well, are sadly on the rise. The challenging of woman's rights again, arguments over the use of the “right bathroom” and name calling of epic proportions are hard to comprehend. I have seen people I call friends on Face Book post some surprisingly ugly things. One side calling liberals things like “Libtards.” The other side calling anyone who disagrees “racists” and “hillbillies.” Comments on articles and posts are some of the meanest, ugliest things I have ever seen. Hate crimes toward Jewish people, Muslims, immigrants, and transgendered people are on the rise. We seem to be moving backwards and almost getting uglier in some respects. The beautiful  progressive hope of people coming together and moving closer to the heart truly seems to be a pipe dream.

I was very, very young in the early to mid seventies, but just old enough to remember the sharp divisions between Republicans and Democrats. The country was very divided. The contrast of the hippie, peace, and love movement against an extremely conservative movement were often in an angry battle with who was “right.” It feels like a somewhat similar pattern to that time again. I suspect we will see very similar themes played out again. One of the most common of the seven fears, or Chief negative Features in human beings is stubbornness or a fear of change. Its positive expression is determination. Its negative expression is obstinacy. A lot of people with stubbornness are yelling loudly at this time. Many people are getting meaner. Fear is increasing on both sides, the left and the right. It can be extremely difficult to maneuver comfortably during cycles like this. It has felt very uncomfortable energetically for most of 2016. It may not be easy to do, but seeing the larger picture can be of value. This discomfort may actually be part of the healing process. Sometimes forward movement in society may include a temporary dark move backwards before we take great strides forward again. The current volatile energy is actually a response to how far we have moved forward. The confusion and fear of a changing evolving society has scared many people and triggered some “fighting back.”

The movement away from a focus on the heart is noticeable in other ways. I see so many people in unhappy marriages, clinging to jobs that they don’t find rewarding, but “pay the bills.” Large numbers of people struggle with commitments to family that they don’t find fulfilling or truly rewarding. Many people use alcohol and antidepressants to help block the pain of a lack of joy in their lives. It is no surprise that we have an epidemic of drug addiction in many states. Potentially life destroying abuses of pharmaceutical drugs, heroin, and meth are ways of coping with lives that are unfulfilling and not heart centered. Self-destruction is a fear of a lack of control.

A few weeks ago a Middle Eastern deli/bakery was the target of vandalism here in Phoenix. Rocks were thrown though the store front windows and graffiti saying hateful things desecrated the building. This is a family run business that has been in the valley for over forty years. A beautiful coming together of people created a go-fund me page on Face Book to help with the repairs. Quite a bit of money was raised. Now even more people are patronizing the deli than ever. People came together to do the right thing. People figuratively raised their “lighters” high in the air. They acted from a place that was closer to the heart. This is one of many current examples of good that can arise from ugliness. We will thankfully see even more of this in the coming years. Good things are peeking through, but it is likely to be a rocky road ahead. Maybe if more people stop identifying with only being a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, etc... and see themselves as all part of the human race we could change the focus. The truth is clinging to only a left or right position is myopic. The majority of us have areas where we are somewhat liberal and somewhat conservative. It also suggests a lack of self awareness to not recognize and honor that there are other people who may feel or believe differently than us. Moving forward to a heart centered place needs to be more than just a political issue. Yes, sometimes we need to stand up against oppression and to challenge what is ugly in this world. This is one significant way we contribute to changing the world for the better. Still, it is important to be decent and kind in our day to day lives’ to become more heart centered, and release more of our bias. The small every day deeds of ordinary people will contribute to building a new reality that is closer to the heart.

Jim Ventura 12-2016

“Let our New Year’s resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” Goran Persson

Notes:

I make a point to not get very political in my writing. I have very strong views that tend to lean more “left” but also hold a number of perspectives that would be considered more conservative. I consider myself a fairly well informed individual on the subject of politics and an I would classify myself as an Independent. I also have friends, family members, clients, and readers that tilt more right in political perspectives as well as people who are far more left. The larger percentages of my connections are Democrats and more liberal in focus, but I also have a number of clients are who are Republican and more conservative. I have readers who are Catholic, Mormon, Jewish, agnostics, and many other religious influences or not religious at all. There is an incredibly diverse range of nationalities among the many different people I have worked with in sessions. Like I said in this month’s column, few of us are just one thing. The majority of us are far more mutable than that! I respect and like the diversity. It makes life more interesting.

My thoughts on this recent election: 

Our choices in candidates to choose from were not great. Even before Trump was running for president, I was not a fan. I honestly never watched his Apprentice show, or had much interest in his life at any level. What I knew of him was from information from tabloids or briefly catching him being interviewed. He has always struck me clearly as someone who is fairly successful as a businessman, has a strong connection to his family, but also extremely egotistical, narcissistic, and a bit of a BS artist. The obsessive tanning and orange skin is bizarre in its own right... From the Michael teachings he is a young soul (becoming successful at all costs: he who dies with most toys wins stage in our evolution) He is a King essence (positive pole mastery, negative tyranny) which accounts for only about one percent of the population. His life goal is Dominance (positive pole leadership, negative pole dictatorship). His modus operandi is power mode (positive pole authority, negative pole oppression). I am not sure of his attitude, but it is likely a Pragmatist (positive pole practical, negative dogmatic). He is reactive (Mars on the ascendant), and has very noticeable greed (positive pole appetite, negative voracity) and arrogance (positive pole pride, negative pole vanity) for chief negative features. So, during the political campaign when his goal was to win the Presidency these observations never changed my view of him. In fact, so much of the things he said and did actually clarified my viewpoint. The fact is he DID win this election, so I hope he is able to channel his energy in positive ways and help lead the country. I understand his appeal though to many people and why he won (and there are many different reasons why people voted for him, one being that King essences can be very magnetic). I don’t have to agree with friends who are Trump supporters, but I respect their viewpoints. Everything does happen for a reason, so we will have to see what those reasons are in the coming years. Good seeds, good soil, and positive intention are key ingredients for success in anything. There have been a number of questionable things so far, but I am hopeful that it might turn around...

I am not raising my rates in 2017. Clients who receive my monthly newsletter (this one!) receive $5 off my listed rates. Local in office clients who pay by check or cash can also take an additional $5 off listed rates for 45-90 minute sessions. Clients currently enrolled in my Regular Client program receive much larger discounted rates. If you are a Regular client who has not stayed current in keeping up with your regular appointments whether planned for monthly, every two months, or quarterly, and more than five months have now passed since your last session I had to assume you have decided to discontinue your participation in the Program and all of the associated benefits. You consciously or unconsciously opted out of the program. You will need to contact me to get back in the program, or just come in for sessions at whatever frequency is right for you (Regular discount rates won’t apply though). This was a bit more of a frustrating year than usual with people booking appointments. I noticed a trend of a number of clients requesting sessions and never getting back to me after I send out my calendar options. Often a month or two later they request again and also never get back to me about booking, and the cycle repeats and repeats. I have also had far too many cancellation's at the last minute this year, and twice the amount as usual of no-show/no-calls. Some very questionable behavior has been on the rise in 2016. I am hopeful that 2017 will be better.  While I take none of these no shows and the like personally, (because there are many reasons why this might happen, that have nothing to do with me) for practical reasons I will discontinue taking bookings from people who do any of these kinds of things over and over again. I value myself and the people in my life and happily make a point to treat others in a dignified, thoughtful manner. Being courteous, respectful, and valuing my time, is important and particularly important to me. 

Mercury went been retrograde in Capricorn on December 19th, and continues through the 8th of January 2017. No doubt it was an “interesting” holiday season with the added trigger... The Universal year for 2017 is a “1.” Our individual Numerology based on our birth date has a stronger imprint each year though. One years are all about independence, new beginnings, fresh starts, and the willingness to get in touch with our individuality. The one cycle is about starting a completely new 9 year cycle. Be especially aware if the importance of the “seeds” you plant! I am running a new year special for this month. See what the focus of your year is all about! More information later in the newsletter. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year. Cheers, Jim V

Channeled corner. I read many, many books from different trance channelers in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. Unfortunately many of them are now out of print, but I still have a huge collection and will share some of the best material I have collected over the years.

“...The law in your country says that you are innocent until proven guilty. In the eyes of the law, then, you are each innocent until a crime is proven against you. There usually must also be witnesses. There are other considerations. Often a spouse cannot testify against the other. Opportunity and motive must also be established.

In the world of religion, however, you are already tainted by original sin. ‘The mark of Cain’ is symbolically upon your foreheads. You come from a species that sinned against God. Automatically condemned, you must do good works, or be baptized, or believe in Christ, or perform other acts in order to be saved or redeemed.

According to other religions, you may be ‘earthbound’ by the ‘gross desires’ of your nature, ‘bound to the wheel of life.’ condemned to endless reincarnations until you are ‘purified.’ As I have said before, accordingly to psychology and science, you are a conglomeration of elements and chemicals spawned by a universe without purpose, itself accidentally formed, and you are given a life in which all the ‘primitive and animalistic’ drives of your evolutionary past ever lurk within you, awaiting expression and undermining your control.

So, dear reader, look at the law as it stands in this country with somewhat more kindly eyes than you have before-for it at least establishes a belief in your innocence, and for all of its failings, it protects you from the far more fanatical aspects, say, of any religion’s laws.

Religious laws deal with sin, whether or not a crime is committed, and religious concepts usually take it for granted that the individual is guilty until proven innocent. And if you have not committed a crime in fact, then you at least sinned in your heart-for which, of course, you must be punished. A sin can be anything from playing cards to having a sexual fantasy. You are sinful creatures. How many of you believe that?

You were born with an in-built recognition of your own goodness. You were born with an inner recognition of your rightness in the universe. You were born with a desire to fulfill your abilities, to move and act in the world. Those assumptions are the basis of what I call natural law.

You are born loving. You are born compassionate. You are born curious about yourself and your world. Those attributes also belong to nature. You are born knowing that you possess a unique, intimate sense of being that is itself, and that seeks its own fulfillment, AND the fulfillment of others. You are born seeking the actualization of the ideal. You are born seeking to add value to the quality of life, to add characteristics, energies, abilities to life that only you can individually contribute to the world, and to attain a state of being that is uniquely yours, while adding to the value fulfillment of the world.

All of these qualities and attributes are given you by natural law. You are a cooperative species, and you are a loving one. Your misunderstandings, your crimes, and your atrocities, real as they are, are seldom committed out of any intent to be evil, but because of severe misinterpretations about the nature of good, and the means that can be taken toward its actualization. Most individual people know that in some inner portion of themselves. Your societies, governments, educational systems, are all built around a firm belief in the unreliability of human nature...”

Jane Roberts. The individual and the nature of mass events. A Seth book.

January’s New Year Newsletter Special!

January is a natural month to have a New Year overview session to look at primary themes, challenges, and opportunities for the coming year. One symbol from each of the many different oracles I work with will be pulled to highlight 2017 for you.  A New Year reading is a great way to start off your New year! Your New Year reading will include:

Angel cards

Viking Rune stones

Druid animal totems

Lakota Indian cards

Numerology personal year

Tarot Archetypes

This session can be a 45 minute (may have to choose only 3-4 of the oracles listed), 70 or 90 minute reading. Mention the January New Year Reading Special and you get $10 off of my listed prices (normally Snake Oil subscribers get $5 off) for booking this session in January of 2017 only. You can purchase one extra session at this rate for yourself to use later in the year or to give to a friend. Local in-office clients who pay for their session in cash or by check get another $5 discount! Email or call to set up your appointment, Venturasag@yahoo.com 

“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” Helen Keller

Snake Oil Radio

Thursdays at 3:30 pm (there will be two live broadcasts this month)

My next live broadcast of Snake Oil Radio will be Thursday, January 5th. at 3:30 p.m. mountain time. Most Thursdays 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. 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).

To hear a live show, 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 the site and 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.

“If we really love ourselves, everything in our life works.”
Louise Hay

New Client Special 2017:

January 1st 2017 thru March 31st 2017 Special: New Client introductory offer
$10-15 off listed rates  for your first 45 minute session, 70, or 90 minute session! Ask for the special when you email Venturasag@yahoo.com to book. Debit and credit card payments get $10 off for 45-90 minute sessions. Local in-office clients can get an extra $5 off for cash or check payments for sessions. If you want to buy a new client a thoughtful gift of a session you can also take advantage of these rates!

My current rates (new clients can subtract the above discounts from these rates): 45 minute sessions $80. 70 minute sessions $110. 90 minute sessions $130.

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 (best method for contact).

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. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Ventura/110567902293371?ref=hl

You also may want to check out my posts on Tumblr.com: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/snake-oil-blog

All sessions/readings for 2016 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. 

All Current Snake Oil subscribers get $5.00 off all listed prices for any 45-90 minute sessions (except when using a special discount promotion). Local in office visits receive  another $5 off listed prices for cash or check payments. 

December 2016 Snake Oil/Tinfoil Covering The Baby Jesus

Snake Oil/  Tinfoil Covering The Baby Jesus

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.

Very 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. 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 we never will.

Jim Ventura 10-2003

Notes:

My mention that I am “approaching” my forties should tell you how old this Snake Oil is. I passed my 40s and I’m in the hanging out in the fifty zone now. I am going to stop at age fifty for a few years though. It seems like a cliche to say this, but the holiday season really came fast! It is hard to believe it is December already. I do like the holiday season though, so no complaints coming from my end. I really enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas! This is the gift giving and receiving season so I am offering my biggest gift certificate offer to end 2016 with a bang! All in-office or phone consult sessions (or gift certificates purchased) are $10 off my listed rates from December 1st through December 31st of 2016. Local in office clients can also take an additional $5 off my listed rates for cash or check payments as well. If you purchase a second gift certificate to use for yourself later in the year or for a gift to a friend, the second session is $20 off. If you purchase a third gift certificate that one is $30 off! All 45, 70, and 90 minute sessions purchased can take advantage of the discount. The special ends on December 31st 2016. More information later in the newsletter about this and another special.  

I have mentioned this before, but worth another mention. If your email address is cox.net, I get a bounce back from some or all of these addresses about every 4-5 months. The translation is, you will miss about 2 monthly columns each year. I would suggest a gmail, or yahoo email (no cost) to switch over to. Not sure what the cox issue is but it is frustrating. If an email bounces back two months in a row (for any email address) I have to remove you from my mailing list. 

Like most people, I am glad this mud-slinging election is finally over. Whether you’re happy with the outcome or disturbed by the results, it is time to move forward. Below is the Angel message card I drew on the afternoon of Election day. I felt a heaviness in the air that felt similar to the energy I felt around 9-11. I wasn’t sure completely whether Clinton would win and there would be some real ugliness stemming from people on the far right, or if Trump would win and anger would surface from people on the far left. Whatever side you are on with this issue, this election was very close. This shows how divided the country still is. Rather than berate people who were on the “losing side” or the “winning side”of this election, understanding and kindness are a good way to go. You can still disagree with something, and point out ways, and even act to make healthy changes (often this is realistically necessary) without the need for excessive anger and attacking others. I would really, really recommend this perspective. Not always easy to do (been working on this myself), whether around the matter of the results of this election OR in your own personal life, this perspective is a far better way to focus. Jim V

“See Only Love

Look past the seeming errors, mistakes, and misunderstandings, and see only the love within each person (including yourself). Your resolute focus upon the love that underlies every situation brings about healing in un-dreamed of ways.”

The angels gave you this card as a reminder to see yourself, others, and every situation through their eyes. When you focus on love, anything that’s unloving falls away. It’s like turning on a light to diminish the previous darkness. Call upon the angels whenever you need to elevate your vision to a more loving vantage point.
Look past the personalities and egos of others, and see the angel within them (the angels can help you with this if it seems difficult). Forgive. Release anger, hurt, or judgment to the angels. Affirm what you desire, instead of what you fear.”
Doreen Virtue

Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday season and a Happy New Year! Cheers, Jim V 

“I don’t regret the things I’ve done, I regret the things I didn’t do when I had the chance.” Unknown

“Each solstice is a domain of experience unto itself. At the Summer Solstice, all is green and growing, potential coming into being, the miracle of manifestation painted large on the canvas of awareness. At Winter Solstice, the wind is cold, trees are bare and all lies in stillness beneath blankets of snow.” Gary Zukav

Channeled corner. I read many, many books from different trance channelers in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. Unfortunately many of them are now out of print, but I still have a huge collection and will share some of the best material I have collected over the years.

“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.

December 1st through 31st 2016 Special:

All new clients and returning clients can take $10 off my listed rates for all 45, 70, and 90 minute sessions. Local in-office clients can also take advantage $5 off if you would like to pay for your session by cash or check. I do, of course happily accept debit and credit card payments although the additional $5 discount will not apply.  Email me at Venturasag@yahoo.com to book your session this month. 

December Gift certificates Special: $10-$30 off all sessions!

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 the clients who are currently on my mailing list (receiving Snake Oil or following me on FaceBook). 

Special rate:

$10.00 off my current listed prices for both 45, 70, and 90 minute sessions. If you purchase 2 gift certificates the second gift certificate is $20 off my listed prices. If you purchase a third it will be $30 off that one! 

Price list for services are at the end of this newsletter and on my website. The gift certificates are good for one full year and can be used any time in December 2016 and all of 2017. 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 friends, family or for yourself to be used anytime in 2017.  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, including tax. ($3.00 shipping charge is waived for the month of December!) If you want to sweeten the package. Order both books and shipping is also free! ($24.00 total for a copy of each) Email or call to purchase your Gift Certificates. This discount offer is good until December 31st of 2016. 

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." --Eleanor Roosevelt

Snake Oil Radio

Thursdays at 3:30 pm (there will be two live broadcasts this month)

My next live broadcast of Snake Oil Radio will be Thursday, December 8th. at 3:30 p.m. mountain time. Most Thursdays 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. 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).

To hear a live show, 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 the site and 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.

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, or won. It is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” Denis Waitley

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 (best method for contact).

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. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Ventura/110567902293371?ref=hl

You also may want to check out my posts on Tumblr.com: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/snake-oil-blog

All sessions/readings for 2016 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. 

All Current Snake Oil subscribers get $5.00 off all listed prices for any 45-90 minute sessions (except when using a special discount promotion). Local in office visits receive  another $5 off listed prices for cash or check payments. 

November 2016 Snake Oil/Owning Our Dark Parts

Snake Oil/Owning Our Dark Parts

The amount of angry and darker energy in society seems to be far more notable than usual. The strong opinions, frustration, and discomfort about who will be our next president, racial issues, financial disparities, and a long list of other issues seems more toxic, and polarizing than usual. While social media contributes to an increased beneficial awareness about many, many issues, it can also highlight some of the less attractive aspects of our friends and family members. One of my Facebook friends that I more often than not politically disagree with posted some pictures and a story that clearly, angered him. A Brazilian man holding his small dog had posted a video of him repeatedly smacking the animal. The dog whimpered in terror, not sure whether to fight back or be submissive in hopes that his owner would stop the abuse. Like any “child” would respond to a guardian beating them senselessly, the dog feared losing the love of his master while at the same time struggling with the need for survival. The Brazilian man posted his video a few weeks before. The post my friend actually placed was from two weeks after this. It was images of  the dog abuser’s severely beaten face after two men found him and beat the shit of of him for what he did to this poor, defenseless dog. I felt conflicted emotions from seeing this. I almost never condone the use of violence. I believe the idea of abuse toward animals and children is particularly reprehensible. I am also not a fan of abuse toward adults either, even when they seemingly “deserve it.” Yet a part of me was really happy to see this man get the beating he received. I found myself on the same page as my angry friends position. I honestly might have done the same thing to him if I found him. This realization disturbed me as much as the video. 

I have never been one to abuse others physically. It has been rare for me to abuse someone verbally either especially because I have grown mellower with age. On the contrary, I have more often taken the role of big brother and protector when I encountered someone abusing anyone I care about. Notably when I was younger I saved many “wounded birds.” While I am built for potential physical warfare my strongest weapon has always been my words. I can cut through an abuser like a verbal blade that has been sharpened to a razor. Like most people I did a few questionable things in my younger days that I am not particularly proud of, yet I learned early on about the repercussions of using my power this way. Having power and using it are very different considerations. I am very aware of what happens when we act inappropriately. Whether one believes in karma or not, it is still a reality. Abuse or treat others cruelly and it will come back to you. What disturbed me so much after seeing the video was feeling those ugly, vengeful, retaliating thoughts surfacing in me again. I felt I had long ago conquered this darker part of me. 

When we understand the chakra or energy centers of the body we get a clearer picture of how humans operate. There are seven chakras, or energy centers. There are many theories that there are more like 12, but for our purposes we will focus on the seven. The root chakra is at the base of our spine and stores our most primal parts and keeps us grounded to the Earth. It is responsible for our fight or flight response and essentially holds our survival urges and much of the darker and “animal” parts as well. The second chakra is our sexual center located in around the groin area. It is the part of us that works to balance personal relationships. The third chakra is just above our belly button and is our power center. It is the part of us that digests our ability to use and direct power. The fourth chakra is our heart chakra. The fifth chakra around the throat is our communication center. The sixth chakra is our third eye. The seventh chakra connects us to God, Goddess, Tao, All That Is, and our spiritual center. Thorough a process of spiritual evolution, and as our soul gets older, wiser, and evolves through our reincarnation cycles we find ourselves having more access to all seven centers.

The root chakra is where our survival instincts are centered. The willingness and need to survive at all costs is part of our grounding and also houses much of our fears. As each chakra opens we become more balanced and have more access to things like empathy and understanding while still retaining our ability to survive. Unfortunately when the Higher centers are not in play this may lead to sometimes succumbing to our darker impulses. Anger, urges to retaliate, hurt other living things, jealousy, greed, and even unspeakable cruelty can sometimes run the show when we only respond from a guttural level. The heart chakra needs to be activated and open for us to feel empathy and love. Our throat chakra when opened, helps us to communicate more effectively with others. It can also help us to develop humor and disrupt our darker urges this way. Our third eye, or sixth Chakra when opened allows us to see the bigger picture and not get too caught up in the “small stuff.” Our seventh Chakra connects us to spirit and the God force itself. When we develop our spiritual sides our chakras open and we are able to stay more centered, temperate, and balanced. It also becomes easier to recognize when people have some of their higher charkas closed off, or have not yet opened them at all.  

We are understandably horrified at times by the things we see on the television news and many of the multitudes of other news outlets available. Murder, rape, thievery, slander, and other horrible elements can seem to be far too rampant. Yet, we all have experienced times where some of these types of darker impulses may have been considered in the heat of anger. Hopefully we may be wise enough to not act on these impulses, but when someone cuts us off on the highway we might imagine the potential satisfaction of ramming their car off the bridge, or a cop pulling them over so they get “what they deserve.” Few of us haven’t considered the impulse to get back at someone who humiliates us or treats us in any type of cruel way. No matter how much we may love our mate, if someone extremely attractive flirts with us, we may truly consider what it would be like to be with them. We would be liars if we claimed we have never had these, similar, and possibly even darker thoughts. In astrology Scorpio’s (and the 8th house) placement in our natal chart shows where we can use power effectively or with negative intent. It shows where we have been tested and also where we can potentially evolve to the highest level. I have often joked with my friends and clients who are in really bad relationships to simply put a little bit of arsenic or other less traceable poison on a sugar cookie each day until they slowly take their obnoxious mate out. I have used dark humor at times this way. In no way would I EVER suggest someone actually do this. A much better solution is to face your fear, develop self-esteem and leave an abusive relationship. Still, humor is a powerful tool in discharging anger, hurt, and frustration. 

I remember when I was a young man in Catholic school and was told that even if you think a dark thought you have committed a “sin.” This, of course made me think I was a really terrible person because I had quite a few dark thoughts. When I began to study metaphysics I started to understand how truly ridiculous this perspective was. It was also a tactic to keep people in a perpetual state of artificial guilt. Going to church or confession was the only “appropriate” way to balance and clear our darker parts. Sometimes people who are extremely religious are drawn to fundamentalism precisely because in their past they have acted on some of their darker thoughts. The projection of judging other people’s sins becomes the obsessive focus. On the other hand there are also religious people who have opened their sixth and seventh chakras and are drawn to express their connection to God in this way. Everyone expresses their spirituality in their own way. And some people are not focused on their spiritual sides at all!

Owning our dark places is actually healthy. Learning how to NOT act on those aspects is an element of spiritual evolution and the result of opening all of the chakras. We become aware logically, emotionally, and spiritually that when we hurt others and act on our darker thoughts we create karma. We begin to feel uncomfortable when we retaliate as opposed to feeling triumphant. We stay bound to this world with repeated themes of karmic creation and resolution until we learn and grow. Rather than becoming depressed when we see others doing horrific things, we can learn to see the larger picture. Everyone around us is at a different levels of spiritual and soul evolution. Some baby, and younger souls are focused on creating karma for experience and to eventually resolve these karmic debts, while others are paying off karma (burning ribbons). Everything is eventually balanced karmically: no one “gets away” with anything. Societies laws of punishment for crimes do not alter the inevitable arranging of karmic balance. Every soul will eventually evolve, some just do it very, very, slowly. 

When our chakras are open we will find ourselves moving away from those who are more closed down. We may even find that people we were once really connected to no longer feel comfortable to us. It is right and natural to move away from people we don’t “vibe’ with. The man who abused the dog will eventually have to resolve his crime at a soul level. It is likely that he was betrayed by someone close to him for his loyalty. The twisted urge to beat and abuse a dog (an animal that embodies the very archetype of loyalty) was his distorted attempt to fight back. This doesn’t excuse his atrocious behavior, it simply explains it (sixth chakra stuff here). Of course, no matter what “crime” this dog committed was ultimately an act of innocence. Like everyone, our darker thoughts sometimes surface. We can still enjoy a movie or television show about fighting back against an oppressor. We can understand that our darker parts are part of us. We don’t have to get caught up in some holier than though new age nonsense about seeing the Higher centers as “better.” Opening our Higher centers is not about overcoming our lower energy centers. It’s about integrating all aspects of ourselves and simply making better choices about what right action truly is. 

Jim Ventura 10-2016

Notes:

This column marks my 100th Snake Oil! Well, there are actually a few more but a few never made it to print because I am fussy and have three planets in Virgo; very much a perfectionist. Some stuff just didn’t make the cut. I have been doing this column now since 2003, so I started writing it in my 20s. If you buy that math you are missing the Sagittarius tendency to exaggerate things sometimes!

It actually took me some time to write this month’s column. It is a complicated subject to talk about to say the least. I was initially hesitant to focus on a month or so of looking at our dark places. After finishing, I was glad to have accomplished tackling the subject though. I pretty much proved part of my point that owning our dark parts is a healthy thing to do. 

Holiday season is approaching. I plan to navigate this one without having to go an extra loop or two on my belt! Well I usually plan that every year, just often it doesn’t pan out. My Taurus moon loves the decadence. Mmmm cookies, cake, turkey, lasagna ahead...Workouts will have to get longer and more frequent, just too much good stuff not have a little or a lot of! 

Wishing Everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! And may you have a year ahead of lots to be thankful for! Cheers, Jim V

“In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others.” Brennan Manning

Channeled corner. I read many, many books from different trance channelers in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. Unfortunately many of them are now out of print, but I still have a huge collection and will share some of the best material I have collected over the years.

Michael on Choice:

“...If there is a ‘purpose to life’ it is choice. You are here to choose. All of life is a series of choices, and even when choice is abdicated, it is choice. Where life choice is denied, there is karma, and karma will be balanced. The ribbon*1 will be burned, for that is the nature of evolution. Choice will lead to karma and choice will lead to its burning. This is not a contradiction. Personality may choose to abdicate the burning of karma in a given incarnation, but essence will eventually choose the Over-leaves*2 and circumstances that will permit the release that comes from burning karma, for that is part of evolution, and essence, by its very nature, seeks evolution. Choice is the manifestation of evolution for fragments on the physical plane.

There is no part of life that is not, in fact, a choice. It is choice to get out of bed in the morning. To have coffee or any other beverage at breakfast-if you choose to eat breakfast. It is a choice to conduct your day in whatever means you choose, and what degree of importance the day has in your sense of your life. What entertainment, if any, you choose for evening; what meals, if any, are consumed; when and if you sleep, with what or whom-all these are choices, and all choices are valid. That you may or may not be pleased with the choices is another matter, and one that is linked with your recognition and validation of the nature of your true personality after the completion of the internal fourth monad.*3 While we agree that the choices of life impose certain constraints on the personality and the life, we would also wish to point out that acceptance of those constraints is, for the most part, also the result of choice. 

That enculturated behavior limits the experience of the personality, both true and false, is to some extent valid. That convenience is as much an aspect as any in most daily choices is also valid. All experiences are part of evolution, even the experience of burning the toast or spilling the wine. Each of you becomes the sum total of all experiences, no matter how apparently minor or trivial, in this and all other lives. We do not say this to be daunting but to assure you that there are no ‘unimportant’ choices; we have said before and we will certainly reiterate many times again: Nothing is wasted. Nothing can be wasted. All of life is valid. No matter how it is spent. All experience contributes to the evolution of essence...”Form Michael’s People Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

*1 Ribbon: Michael's term for binding agreements created through karma (karma is created when we remove another individuals right to choose)

*2 Overleaves: Life goal, mode, attitude, centering, and chief feature we choose each lifetime.

* Monad: Achievement of a unit of life experience. Generally corresponding to around ages 35-40.

New Client Special:

January 1st 2016 thru November 30th 2016 Special: New Client introductory offer
$10-15 off listed rates  for your first 45 minute session, 70, or 90 minute session! Ask for the special when you email Venturasag@yahoo.com to book. Debit and credit card payments get $10 off for 45-90 minute sessions. Local in-office clients can get an extra $5 off for cash or check payments for sessions. If you want to buy a new client a thoughtful gift of a session you can also take advantage of these rates!

My current rates (new clients can subtract the above discounts from these rates): 45 minute sessions $80. 70 minute sessions $110. 90 minute sessions $130.

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie

Snake Oil Radio

Thursdays at 3:30 pm (there will be two live broadcasts this month)

My next live broadcast of Snake Oil Radio will be Thursday, October 6th. at 3:30 p.m. (AZ doesn’t use daylight savings time, so it’s the same as pacific time). Most Thursdays 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. 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).

To hear a live show, 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 the site and 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.

“Many of the most deeply spiritual moments of my life haven’t happened just in my mind or in my soul. They happened while holding my son in the middle of the night, or watching the water break along the shore, or around my table, watching the people I love feel nourished in all sorts of ways.” Shauna Niequist

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 (best method for contact).

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. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Ventura/110567902293371?ref=hl

You also may want to check out my posts on Tumblr.com: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/snake-oil-blog

All sessions/readings for 2016 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. 

All Current Snake Oil subscribers get $5.00 off all listed prices for any 45-90 minute sessions (except when using a special discount promotion). Local in office visits receive  another $5 off listed prices for cash or check payments.