Thursday, March 28, 2019

April 2019 Snake Oil/Hathor's Mirror


April 2019 Snake Oil
Hathor’s Mirror



In sharp contrast to my teenage self when I hated the thought of speaking in front of groups or reading a report in front of the my class, I actually like public speaking now. I have worked at polishing my confidence and skills over the years as a public speaker. I even enjoy doing karaoke from time to time and over the years I have developed a fairly good singing voice. I meet friends out about once a month to sing. They are notably talented and enjoy being a “ham” too. Inevitably in almost every bar I go to whether straight, gay or in-between some woman happily sings the Carrie Underwood song about a scorned woman who takes a bat and keys her boyfriend’s car. The majority of the crowd excitedly sings along and enthusiastically encourages her. I guess this is because few of us haven’t had the experience of someone cheating on us and we can empathize with her pain. I am not a fan of the song. To me, it extols justification for vengeance and destructive behavior. The idea of bullying anyone who disagrees with us and the “right” to retaliation are human aspects but not evolved ones. While I can understand the need or thought of retaliating or even destroying (most of us would be lying if we said we never thought about it) “the bad guys” property, it isn’t an action to be proud of or act on. 

All men and women seek ways to express personal power. We can get caught in the lower vibration of the destructive use of power or choose the highest aspects of influence by being inspirational to others. Female power and energy is expressed in different ways in many cultures. Usually two versions of this power are expressed. One being the intuitive, receptive and often nurturing side of the female. In Christian teachings this is represented by Mother Mary while in the Tarot archetypes with the High Priestess. The other aspect is more about female abundance, dignity and confidence. The Egyptians expressed the energy of this in the form of the Goddess Hathor.

Hathor was considered to be the Egyptian goddess of beauty and love. She was known as the patroness of cows and their role as bringers of nourishment to humankind. She was the daughter of Ra and carrier of his divine eye. There are conflicting stories about Hathor’s origins. Most of the tales tell of Hathor’s position as wife of Horus. In all cases, she was seen as the Egyptian version of Aphrodite. Hathor governed all aspects of feminine beauty. This included both innate beauty as well as things that contributed to one becoming more beautiful, like jewelry, make-up, clothing and adornments that could add to one’s expression of internal and external attractiveness. She was also the patroness of the arts and a protector of women. She was connected to the knowledge of the study of Astrology and was also noted for ruling over many aspects of creature comforts like food, wine, and other pleasures and human “necessities” for enjoyment of life.

The Goddess was often depicted holding a hand mirror. The symbol of Hathor’s Mirror is a representation of our own life force. One side of her mirror reflects our own personal power and beauty while the other side is a reflection of those around us. Hathor’s Mirror reminds us that if we send out thoughts of love, beauty, and generosity, we will see that reflected back to us in the world around us. Hathor’s Mirror was also known to keep potential enemies and negativity away from us by reflecting those energies and intentions right back to the originators. The symbol was often used as a Talisman. This talisman can act as a powerful protector. Angry, malicious intent towards us will be magnified tenfold to a would be perpetrator. Needless to say this can be a very strong deterrent and we need to use this energy with care.

Archetypal energies from past cultural beliefs still exist in the Akashic Records (plane of existence that houses all knowledge) and can be brought into the present if we choose to use them. Whether you are a man or a woman the focus on Hathor and her mirror can be valuable. It’s use in meditation or as a talisman can bring us the energy of female abundance, enjoyment of life, and even make us more attractive! Rather than dipping into the lowest form of retaliation for a perceived wrong we can show grace, dignity, beauty and confidence as a response. This refocus not only strengthens our potential success in life but it will ward off any potential future violators who cannot handle the power confidence and grace of Hathor and her mirror. I don’t want to take away from the notable talent of Carrie Underwood and it can be good fun to sing a song about getting back at a two-timing cheater and even thinking about destroying someone or their property for a few minutes. Thinking about or imagining doing this briefly is not only human, but may even be part of purging the pain. If someone cheats on us, rejects us, or mistreats we have another option- rather than retaliating we can choose to rise above this type of thing. Maybe they were never worthy of us in the first place? Maybe their mistake is our “get out of jail free card.” Sinking into the ugliness and worst aspects of being human does not elevate us. It brings us down to the level of the very people we are angry with. We can show that the energy represented by Hathor and other similar archetypes about enjoying life, being beautiful, confident, and the epitome of grace is a far more powerful response. Never let them see you sweat!
3-2019 Jim Ventura




Notes:

I used to actually do some session work with Egyptian Cartouche symbols (Hathor would be an example of one) about two decades ago. I did not get a lot of requests for them and they weren’t quite as strong a pull for me to work with either. That said, I still find the energy behind them to be quite valuable. I even made some clay stones with some of the symbols painted on and marketed them briefly about seven years ago. It was a lot of work for not much profit so I discontinued doing this, but I still have recommended these symbols to many clients over the years. Hathor is especially powerful to use as a Talisman. Here is a bit more information about what a Talisman is from my original notes:

 What is a Talisman?
“A Talisman is a cultural symbol that offers protection and is meant to bring specific types of attributes to its user. The sheer amount of different types of Talisman that exist are too vast to list. Almost all cultures both past and present have different types of symbols that were used as Talismans. One of the most commonly seen Talisman symbols is Christianity's use of the cross. All kinds of different religions and cultural philosophies use symbols as forms of protective Talismans. Buddha statues are another common protective symbol. Feng Shui practitioners and many people in Asian cultures are familiar with a host of different types of Talisman symbols. Dragons, frogs, coins, and many other images are used to bring specific types of energy into a home. Many people are aware of the more whimsical types of Talismans like rabbit’s feet, and “my lucky sweater.” A Talisman is any symbol that is believed to bring protection, good luck, or a specific influence that can assist the one who wears it or places it in their home or office. 

How does a Talisman work?
There are multiple reasons why using a Talisman can be beneficial. If we believe something can influence us if we carry, wear, or keep it in our home, it often will! The belief becomes a magnet to tangible experiences that reinforce the belief. In some respects a Talisman can be like a hypnotic device. It will both consciously and unconsciously remind us of its purpose and influence while it is around us. This increased focus can really have tangible results! Once we carry or place a symbol, our unconscious and subconscious minds are reminded of its influence even when we are not meditating or consciously thinking of what the symbol is meant to do.

Another powerful influence that a Talisman is capable of is enabling us to connect with mass beliefs that exist in connection to the symbol. In the past thousands and sometimes millions of people believed (many still do) that the energy of a specific Talisman really did specific things. These grids of energy patterns and mass beliefs are still available to us whether it is from the present or the past. The tremendous power of mass belief can still be tapped into at any time. These different archetypal symbols often had considerable power and energy behind them, and still do! When your own focused energy combines with larger collective beliefs, then this can intensify and shift our ability to create reality and allow a new influence in our lives. 

Some examples of Talisman energy are easily seen in Druid traditions. The Druids believed that the Cow was a gift and representative of the Goddess. If you rested in the spot where a cow had been you would be protected from all harmful energies. Even drinking a cow’s milk was believed to create peaceful sleep and protection. There were so many cultures that believed in the value and power of Cow energy. Carrying any type of symbol related to Cow can act like a Talisman. In a similar way, Bull testes were seen as a form of virility. In some cultures they were eaten or ground into powder and ingested to increase the individual’s fertility. Carved symbols of bull testes were also believed to create virility if one wore them. Was it the ingestion of some of the bull testes or wearing its symbol responsible for creating increased potency in men, or something else's? It was more likely the belief that became a part of the person using it that created the shift. Our logical minds want to laugh at such silly, superstitious beliefs, but often in the past these practises actually worked. Beliefs form reality. Any symbol that helps shift our beliefs in a positive way can actually shift an individual’s reality. 

The combined energy behind these mass beliefs about Talismans are powerful indeed. Even if it was thousands of years ago when people believed these things, the collective energy behind these ideas is still just as powerful today. The grids of intent are still alive and well. We can tap into these influences if we choose...”

Years ago, we had a difficult individual that was causing all kinds of troubles in our condo complex. I actually placed an image of Hathor on a tree near the pool that faced his home. He had a lot of angry thoughts and I thought if this was reflected back to him he might make a shift in his behavior, possibly working to make the place I lived far more peaceful. After I did this we had years where he became kind of silent and caused no more trouble. Repeated rain washed away the image of the Talisman and a few years later he stirred some things up but actually fairly minimally and has been pretty tame ever since. I am not sure exactly if or how the Talisman did this but there was noticeable improvement. I did suggest being careful with the use of any Talisman. The energies can be quite strong and it is important to have positive, evolved expectation both for oneself and anyone who might be influenced by them. My goal with my neighbor was to decrease his troublesome behavior so everyone who lives here can get along. It also provided an opportunity to reflect on his negative behavior and maybe also have more peace, so I think it was a relatively harmonious use of the energy of Hathor’s Mirror.

It is officially spring. Most of March was a bit choppy for myself and many of my clients. The Mercury retrograde covered most of the month and it was a bit of a challenging one, especially for air signs and fire signs. Like all retrogrades they do give us an opportunity for a do-over, or to re-look at how we expend our energy. Even if they are difficult they always make us stronger and wiser in the long run if used correctly. If anyone is still trying to piece together some of the events in their own life brought up by this retrograde and other influences, feel free to contact me for an in-office or phone session in April.
Wishing everyone a Happy Spring! Cheers, Jim V

“The most valuable lesson man has learned from his dog is to kick a few blades of grass over it and move on.” Robert Brault

New Client Special 2019:

January 1st 2019 thru October 31st, 2019 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 at
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 $85. 70 minute sessions $110. 90 minute sessions $130. Sessions can be in-office or by phone.

“I realized I was officially a professional writer when all my plans began with ‘drink coffee’ and ended with ‘take a nap.” Cassandra Duffy

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” Herm Albright

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.
Learn to enjoy Change

“In your society, you are born in an atmosphere of fear surrounding the experience of birth. Many, if not all of you, unconsciously use fear as a motivator in your life. You wait until situations become fearful-indeed, even make them fearful-in order to motivate yourselves to change. Now, it is a kind of addiction, and I would recommend that you become conscious of it. Then, as you experience the drama and struggle you create for yourselves, be conscious that you are choosing your reality and that you can choose to change and move without creating suffering and consequent fear to get you to do it. 

We urge you then to be innocent about your desires for change and to remember that change on the planet, which is in constant motion, creating night and day, creating the seasons, is natural, so you need not wait until you have a great deal of fear motivating you to make change. You can consciously and innocently seek change, knowing that it does not need to create separation, hurt, and pain for others or for yourself when you do it consciously and innocently. Then you can let go of using fear as the motivator and instead use joy and aliveness as the motivator. Once you use joy to motivate you to action, feeling the joy in your body actually creates your feeling more alive, vitalized, and motivated to act. 

So, because these are so wired from your early experiences when your parents told you, ‘you must do this or else,’ and you experienced fear and anger and then acted upon it, you think you have to have those emotions to get into motion. No! It is just your thought, based upon your past experience, that creates those connections. And you can easily begin to choose to act from joy and know it is innocent for you to be joyful without having to be angry or fearful.

Both men and women have come to believe that the physical has cycles of pleasure and pain. Often you use pain to get pleasure and then begin to fear pleasure because you think you will then have pain. How to get over that? Stop creating pain to get pleasure, and you will release the belief that once you have pleasure you must have pain. You will learn to surrender into greater and greater experiences of pleasure and life and joy on a regular basis. You cannot shift into a millennium of peace while holding the thought of the pleasure/pain  cycle...”
Seth Channeled by Jane Roberts

“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” George Carlin

“You are never alone or helpless. The force that guides the stars guides you too.” Prabhat Ranjan

Snake Oil Radio

Thursdays at 3:30 pm (there will be two live broadcast this month)
My next live broadcast of Snake Oil Radio will be Thursday,  April 11th at 3:30 p.m. mountain time. Usually one or two Thursdays each month 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.

“It isn’t by getting out of the world that we become enlightened, but by getting into the world...by getting so tuned in that we can ride the waves of our existence and never get tossed because we become the waves.” Ken Kesey

Here’s my contact information to make an appointment for a session, or information on current classes: Email: Venturasag@yahoo.com (best method for contact).
Phone calls: (602) 957-3035 text only: (602) 349-0746 

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. 

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

All sessions/readings for 2019 are: Full (70 minutes) $110.00; Shorter session (45 minutes) $85.00;  Extended session (90 minutes) $130.00 (two people can split an extended session back to back for $65.00 each, although no other discounts will apply).  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. 


My nephew found this in my parents attic and saved it for me after all these years. It was the "ominous" cover page to a year of journal entries I made in my journal at age 13-14. He sent it to me right on the day Mercury went retrograde, and I got some good laughs at reading the thoughts of my teenage self! Not sure why I saw it as so secretive (It was all really tame) but the Venus in Scorpio part of me saw it that way. The Sagittarius part of me showed early signs of dramatic flair lol