Snake Oil BE AFRAID BE VERY, VERY, VERY AFRAID
As I began to pull out of the parking space I normally park in at my condominium home, a young man in a van next to me motioned me to roll down my window. “I noticed that you sometimes leave your car windows partially open. You may want to be more cautious about doing this. My car was broken into last week, and they took my stereo.” I nodded a thanks for the warning gesture as I drove away. I remembered that the guy who parked on the other side of me had his car broken into weeks before. I felt a wave of panic run through me as I imagined my car being stolen and broken into. What if my car were to experience the same fate? Finances were already tight. What would I do if my insurance rates increased? I remembered the time ten years ago when my car was stolen, and I suddenly felt as if it were happening all over again. I began to feel afraid.
That day, my fear tape only lasted about fifteen minutes as I realized I had nothing to fear. The car that was stolen from me ten years ago was a Chevy Blazer and there are practical reasons why it is more common for car thieves to steal trucks. My car is a Chevy Cavalier with a factory model stereo. I bought this economical car because I wanted a comfortable, inexpensive car that would be less likely to attract the attention of a thief. Even if my car were to be stolen, I would deal with that when it actually occurred. I decided that I would not waste valuable time and energy worrying about something that might or might not ever happen.
Two days before this incident, I received an email from a client who was in a state of panic. Someone had broken into her daughters apartment and rifled through her things. Although nothing seemed to be taken, she and her daughter were terrified that it could occur again. A psychic in the area told her that the perpetrator was the man across the street who had been watching her daughter. I felt this was an accurate assessment. They both felt powerless and could not stop worrying about the situation. What if the unthinkable occurred and he tried again and the daughter happened to be there?
I often remind my clients that what we fear might happen is almost always far worse than any difficult experience we ever actually endure. We waste valuable life force, time, and energy stressing and worrying about possible future disasters. “How will I survive financially if I leave this loveless marriage?” “What if my family disowns me when they find out I am gay?” “What if I never find the right mate and end up alone?” “People are getting laid-off all around me; how will I survive if I lose my job?” “What will happen If I get sick?” The list of things to dread is endless. We all encounter difficulty from time to time. Occasional challenges are part of life in a physical body. Thankfully, most of our imagined worse-case-scenarios rarely come to pass. Real problems and difficulties are never really the issue. Being caught in the grip of fear is the real battle to resolve.
Fear takes many forms and guises. I remember years ago spotting a bumper sticker on a car that said: “FEAR GOD.” I was horrified by this suggestion. This old school mentality of a vengeful, wrathful God is alien to me. I see no connection between fear and God. Currently, we all are bombarded by fear at a national level. Politically, Right Wing conservative religious groups and the media have reminded us that:
“Our country is going to hell in a hand-basket because we have become morally bankrupt.”
“Gay marriages threaten to destroy the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman.”
“We need to stop the bloodthirsty heathens in the Middle East at all costs. We need to retaliate for what was done on 9-11.”
“We need to act as police of the world.”
“Spreading democracy at any cost will save the world and keep us safe.”
Individuals and groups of people who see things in very black and white terms often feel they have a right to take actions at any cost and the results are often disastrous.The idealist who sees things as “they should be’ can at times be pushed to extreme actions and feel they have aright to do it for the greater good.”
Globally and personally we are constantly sold fear. We pay for insurance for our homes, cars, medical needs, loss of jobs, etc... Fear is so built into our culture that we don’t see how we deal with this by spending tremendous sums of money to protect ourselves from theoretical disasters. Fear is such a hot item that people are buying it in bulk. Will your next letter have anthrax in it? Put tape over your windows to survive a nuclear assault from terrorists. Cold and flu commercials remind us constantly that we will get ill. You must get a flu shot if you don’t want to get sick this year. Allergy season is here again, make sure you have your medicines well stocked. There are endless sources of fear programming all around us.
In Lakota tradition, fear of the unseen is represented by a supernatural sprit called Iktomi (spider). He is the deceiver that weaves the threads of our fears and builds webs that snare the unsuspecting. There are several stories about how Iktomi changes into a human and tricks people, but the spider inevitably makes foolish mistakes and reveals his true character. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why many people are terrified of spiders. Watching a full grown man or woman run screaming because they found a spider in the bathroom is comical, yet at times we do exactly the same thing. When we allow fear to control our actions, we are trapped in an illusionary web of our own making.
In the process of creating our lives, we re-energize what we fear most. Individually and en masse, we literally bring what we fear to ourselves. Until we can become neutral about what we are afraid of, fear will continue to control us. Each time even one person conquers fear and sees it for the lie it is, the world lights up a little bit more. There is nothing to be afraid of except for generating fear-based thoughts and actions. I reminded my client and her daughter to focus on not being afraid of what could happen. If she sees this man who may have broken into her apartment, she should look him squarely in the eye. She will see him crumble when she shows him that she is not afraid, and see him for the spider that he really is. She is a powerful young woman and she is safe. We all have the power to not be afraid. No one, or thing can take away our personal power unless we give them permission.
Jim Ventura 11-2004
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” Mark Twain
Notes:
I wrote this piece way back in late 2004 and it was first published in early 2005. Geez that’s now 17 years ago! I had a far more liberal perspective and philosophy back then, but have moved more toward the center. Not uncommon for people to see things with a bit more of a conservative perspective when they get older and I am no exception. I simply no longer align myself completely with either side. In some areas I lean more liberal and some more conservative. More importantly I honor everyone their right to their own perspectives, although extremist on either side do seem a bit nuts to me. And that is still okay too!
We were only a few years after 9-11 when I wrote this. The collective and individual fears were still quite strong in the U.S after such a horrible event. Yet, there were numerous times people, media, and government used this fear to motivate us by what we should believe or care about. Almost two decades later the circumstances may be somewhat different with perspectives about Covid and other current events, but the extreme fear is equal. I still, from time to time, uncomfortably observe the many times I witnessed extreme actions by friends on social media, news commentators, celebrities etc...of those demanding we “follow the science,“ get vaccinated and boosted or “You are a bad person spreading disease.” “You are morally bankrupt because your refusal to inject yourself repeatedly with pharmaceuticals.” You are not following the unquestionable science and don’t care about others.” Many “blue states” took this into territory that was quite fear based and extremely arrogant with looks of disdain for those not wearing a mask or obsessively wiping down everything they touched. At times it seemed a bit like a modern equivalent of scared villagers with pitch forks, and torches chasing the “bad ones,” and nonbelievers not being or doing things the “right way.” General scientific consensus (and there were all kinds of disagreements, many at time actually legitimate, that were ignored by media) became as “sacred” as and unquestionable as religious, and political beliefs often are. Many “red states” and people with extreme conservative perspectives went a bit nutty as well in another direction. “Chipping devices are being transmitted through the vaccine.” “They are secretly trying to kill us all and make us subservient.” Even cruel downright denial that Covid even existed at all with ugly attacks on nurses, doctors, hospital staff, and families that lost people. Attacking Flight Attendants, security guards, etc.. for making one wear a mask... Ugh, a sad time in our world history indeed, but this is what historically fear will do.
Both sides played on misinformation and obsessive beliefs about right and wrong and demonized the other side. I personally took part in none of it. I even lost friends who found my neutrality somehow being a lack of caring in their eyes. I would remind my readers that both sides and everyone is doing the best they can and just wanted to end the pandemic according to their BELIEFS about how this must be carried out. While people sometimes took very questionable actions, the intent was still to accomplish good on both sides. Thankfully most of this nonsense is over and we can choose to look back in our rear view mirrors about how this was handled.
If you live in AZ or a number of other states this spring was a windy one and abundant in pollen counts. I had a three week sinus infection and saw many people around me struggling too. I am writing a column (or it may be a YouTube video- a good reason to subscribe to both!) about how to heal sinus issues, and what they mean both physically, spiritually, and energetically; the multilayers of course to all illness.
Even though I am dealing with inflation uncomfortably like most everyone else (Gas prices, food prices, car prices, etc...) I have decided not to raise my rates at this time. I know people need the help and insight I can offer so I choose to remain affordable. To balance this out though I will no longer give discounted regular client rates to previous regular clients that have stopped coming in or calling in for sessions on a regular basis. If you have been a regular client for years and you haven’t had a session in over five months than you would fall into this category. Regular clients who I have worked with for over two years who dropped out will get a $10 discount off listed rates still though. But if it has been over a year since your last session then that option will also be dropped. You will need to pay current rates. Snake Oil subscribers do still get a $5 discount off rates and in- office clients can choose the cash or check payment option for an additional $5 discount.
My Regular client discounted rates are notable and the benefits of regular check in’s tend to be extremely propitious to have access too. Quarterly, every other month, and monthly options are available to Regular clients. Contact me to sign up for this program or for more information.
Summer is almost here. it was a long winter and turbulent spring, so hot as hell at times, welcome summer! Cheers, Jim V
“Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you.” Langston Hughes
New Client Special 2022
January 1st thru July 31st 2022 Special:
$10-15 off listed rates for your first 45 minute session, 70, or 90 minute session! Debit and credit card payments get $10 off for 45, 70, and 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 for a friend or family member you can also take advantage of these rates!
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela
Channeled Corner. I have read many, many books from some of the best trance chaneler's in the 70s-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:
Fear: How can you recognize fear in your society? First, remember that you assumed human form in order to learn to manipulate physical reality through your conscious, reasoning mind. This reasoning mind is your unique gift among all the creatures of creation. When finely tuned and clear of distraction, it allows you to chart an undistorted course toward your best fulfillment. It can be blunted, however, when crippled by fears that saps it of its logic and reason. Fear being irrational, is the enemy of your conscious, rational, reasoning mind. It can only serve to thwart your attempts at living a life of Divine Grace.
Fear is no open enemy, swaggering about the streets loudly proclaiming its presence. For it knows all too well that one piercing glance from a reasoning mind can reduce it to ruble.
One key characteristic of fear is its ingenious ability to seek legitimacy by latching onto what appears to be rational ideas, thus cloaking its true, bare essence. By hiding itself behind a seemingly rational idea, fear is able to play itself out without ever being submitted to logical analysis.
As we shall see, fear is a chameleon, ever changing its colors to disguise itself like the demons in fairy tales, assuming human or animal form as the situation requires, the better to work their evil. Know, then, that you will rarely meet fear face to face. It is too clever to be caught in the open, where one rational mind could render it impotent.
How then, can you distinguish between a legitimate idea or philosophy and one based on fear? Fear provides two giveaway clues for the discerning mind to detect.
First, it will cause its host to latch onto what appears to be contradictory beliefs. A logical considered philosophy is one that can be reasonably applied to every situation and found to be constant. A philosophy based on fear; however, latches onto a host of different ideas, some of them opposing, in its desperate to camouflage its true reality. When you speak with someone whose beliefs seem to cancel each other out in a contradictory shambles, know that you are speaking not to reason but to fear.
The second clue fear provides is that if a philosophy based upon it is allowed full expression and played out, it will invariably bring about precisely the opposite result of that which it claims to promote. Why? Because, as we have seen, an impulse that is denied out of fear is energized by the denial, the grid of intent behind it empowered to a much greater degree than the superficially desired goal. Thus, with all the probable yous swirling about, when it comes time for an ‘event’ to slip into your time continuum, the probable you who experiences the ‘negative’ version of that event will find a stronger grid of intent awaiting it at the membrane than that which lives the ‘positive’ version of an event. Thus, inevitably, a policy based on fear will result in the precise opposite of what it claims to desire. Fear is a crafty adversary indeed, as you can see, but one that is unable to cloak itself forever behind a veil of seemingly rational ideas. Played out, it will always reveal itself...”
From Whatever Happened to Divine Grace by Ramon Stevens
“You always act emotionally. You do what you do because it’s what you want to do, and your rationales are nothing but excuses to justify your actions. Make it all right with yourself to act without the internal run-around.” Dick Sutphen
NEW YOUTUBE PREMIERE VIDEO:
Getting Hold of Our Fire
As we see another rough series of wild fires causing havoc this season.
We can acknowledge its impact on the physical landscape, but also choose to see other elements of where this seemingly out of control energy stems from.
We all have all four elements that make up who we are; Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. What does it mean when our “Fire is out of balance.” Metaphysical teacher Jim Ventura discusses how to get back into a place of balance again.
New YouTube video at J Ventura Snake Oil: cut and paste in your browser or find it on YouTube search engine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL1WeyG2_68
Snake Oil Radio
Thursdays at 3:30 pm (there will be two live broadcast this period)
My next live broadcast of Snake Oil Radio will be Thursday, May 26th at 3:30 p.m. mountain (Phoenix) time. Usually one 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 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.
“I was set free because my greatest fear had been realized, and I still had a daughter who I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became a solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” J.K.Rowling
“Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds.” Regina Brett
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.
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
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel (approximately once a month 6-11 minute videos) at
YouTube.com J Ventura Snake Oil.
You can also find me on Instagram (mostly astrology updates) and Tik Tok (animalspeaks) where I do short videos about animal totems!
All sessions/readings for 2020-2022 are: Full (70 minutes) $115.00; Shorter session (45 minutes) $90.00; Extended session (90 minutes) $135.00 (two people can split an extended session back to back with an added fee of $5 for $70.00 each, although no other discounts will apply). Mini phone session 20 minutes $40. 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. Purchasing 3 pre-paid sessions also brings sizable discounts. Some examples; 3 pre-paid 45 minute monthly sessions is $150 total or $50 a session. 3 pre-paid quarterly 70 minute session $240 or $80 a session.
