Snake Oil/Revenge of the Birds
I remember seeing the Alfred Hitchcock classic the Birds when I was about twelve. The scene where an unnerving amount of birds are flocking around one of the main characters in the background was truly ominous. In this scene Tippi Hedren is actually attacked by birds and it’s terrifying. A master of suspense the director brings up the scary possibility of nature actually turning against us while it was a brilliant idea and in all practically highly unlikely it still made us think about what could happen if we abuse nature and take it for granted. What if animals/nature turned against us?
We had a cat when I was around that age in addition to our usual full house of three dogs. He was an inside cat, but he spent a lot of time outside by choice. Our cat and dogs absolutely never fought each other like cats and dogs were supposed to do. Rainbow was definitely a hunter. He would bring us dead birds or what remained of them, mice, and even a rabbit once. Each time we of course cringed. I always knew that it was part of the cat’s nature and he was proud of his skills as a hunter, but it was not pleasant. His major catch was birds though. It seemed in the nicer NY weather months he typically got one to three of them every few weeks or so. I used to joke that the birds in our area must have hated him. How many bird family members did he take out?
I once saw him at the side of our house when he wasn’t feeling well and trying to sleep as a bunch of birds screeched at him, Some actually flew close by seeming to taunt him. I didn’t feel bad for him though, he was often brutal to many of them. But the strangest thing I ever saw was watching Rainbow drinking out of our above-ground pool while balancing himself on its edge. I was up early Sunday morning trying to enjoy the day before my large family all woke up and my mother would inevitably heavily suggest we go with her to church or quiz us about what specific Catholic Mass we going to attend? Not going unfortunately wasn’t an option. Savoring some brief moments of peace and quiet that morning I looked out the backyard sliding glass doors and saw something wild. The birds in clear formation were taking turns flying close to Rainbow’s butt and even trying to seemingly push him into the pool. He was obstinate and kept his balance. One bird hit so close that Rainbow scrambled not to fall in. I imagined the birds high five-ing each other if they were able to do such thing. They were relentless in their formation strikes and even when he tried to jump down they made that difficult too. The coordination, strategy even the intention to harm him was unquestionable. This was the first time I began to see that sometimes nature does try to strike back and there were interesting aspects to animals not everyone noticed.
Rainbow’s life ended a few years later when he found his way into a part of one of the cars in our driveway on a cold NY winter day. He was apparently trying to get warm and feel asleep. My brother started his car not knowing the cat was in there and I will spare the uncomfortable graphics... Maybe it was his cat karma catching up with him? More likely it had nothing to do with that and it was just his time. Either way, he was a character from my childhood. He tuned me into seeing something I wouldn’t logically think would ever happen. And the amazing recognition that it seems sometimes animals do actually hold grudges!
Part Two
I have always enjoyed watching the behavior of animals. I know how much they can teach us. I was programmed by school science classes to see nature as mostly a survival of the fittest structure. I never doubted that this was true in some respects, but I often saw signs of real cooperative behavior between animals as well. Animals at times clearly also took care of each other, worked together in formation for a greater good, and were even at times kind. So powerful is the strength of the mothering instinct in the animal kingdom that at times they even take over parenting responsibilities for children that are not their own. And there are countless examples of when the children were of a different species and they take care of them too! If this is not a powerful example of cooperation and caring among animal species then clearly some of my school science teachers had blatantly missed something.
Even we look at the most uncomfortable aspects of when animals kill and even eat each other, there are other layers to this reality than just seeming cruelty. Obviously the need for protein and other survival elements taken from one animal to another are one aspect of this as a physical necessity. Watching a cat for instance, slowly (often) killing a bird, rabbit, bug, lizard, or mouse is not something that I enjoy by any means. Yet, this is quite natural too. From a metaphysical perspective, the animals do know their roles. I think while the physical body of a poor nearly defeated bird may still fight somewhat until the end, their consciousness exits part of the way through the ordeal. The bodies natural automatic response will still attempt an escape (it was designed to), but it also does know and accept the inevitable. Like some cultures viewpoint (Many American Indian’s for example) they believe that the consciousness of the bird joins in the cat’s body in some respects and then sees the world through the cat’s eyes and even it’s body, like a joining of souls. To an observer it can seem inhuman and it is! But it’s our perception of what is good and bad, and our fear of death being the ultimate end that distorts the understanding of this natural process.
Nature has it’s own reasons, balances, and rhythms. Animals in nature don’t have the choice to go to a supermarket for food. Suggesting that they are bad for hunting is sheer nonsense. I am not a fan of hunting personally, yet I respect most hunters, especially when the acts fall within the path of not just killing for sport. Catching and killing an animal to feed one’s family or to thin a herd that is overpopulated and causing damage is at times a part of life, and at times quite necessary whether we approve of it or not. I am no fan of cruel animal farming or any other form of animal cruelty by any means. And the quest for profit above all often triggered by greed and overpopulation needs cries out for healthy reform. We can and should do better. Recognizing the life cycle of each being, its time to receive and its time to give, and its time to sacrifice need not mean turning a blind eye to unnecessary inhumanity. I personally choose to keep my meat eating footprint fairly small, but have not fully committed to a vegetarian or vegan diet. I have great respect for those who have though.
There are so many things animals give us and learning to read the “book of nature” by watching animals can give us insight into ourselves and the world around us. Watching the movement of flocks of birds, how cats can fight and then cuddle up later to stay warm, ants working together on a mission, a mother dog protecting her young, bees doing their job, etc... can help us see how organized, cooperative, and yes, even loving nature can be. And you don’t have to kill an animal to benefit from its energy and wisdom. This is what it means to take on an animal as totem. To use the skills and wisdom of different animals to navigate more effectively in our own lives. We can learn to recognize our place in the circle of life. Not above or below the animals, but as brothers and sisters to them and part of an equal family of living beings on this Earth.
Jim Ventura 6-2-2022
Notes
If you are wondering why this is in two parts, I am working on a new book, but it isn’t a metaphysical book so the first part of this may actually appear in that book. My interest, connection with animals is something I have always loved. And one part of this is understanding the many benefits of animals as totem. Totem is the characteristics, powers, insight, and wisdom of what each animals represents, may show us, or even share with us. I have been doing a Tik Tok channel with short 3 minute videos about animal totems at: @animalspeaks. I started with cats, dogs and now I am talking about bears! You can request as part of your next session or even a full session on looking at animal totems in your life-very, very beneficial!
The last Mercury retrograde, which took place most of May and early June pushed a lot of buttons of discomfort about how we communicate and express ourselves. The discomfort and even adversity had some notable benefits as well! What else could we expect from its Gemini placement? I really found myself getting irritated by an uptick of, and even a few close friends suggesting that “I shouldn’t be so crude, or curse, or to even GASP say anything negative at all ever. As if thinking or occasionally expressing a negative thought, or stepping into a little bit of “dark” briefly can have catastrophic consequences. Insert intense ominous music here... This often metaphysical belief is of course similar to some of the more extreme religious perspectives and is basically nonsense. It takes a lot of repeated words, actions, and beliefs to become an actual manifested thing in life. The universe is actually more geared to create the positive, but yes intense negative repeated statements often, and consistently over time may cause difficulties to manifest. Fearing this possibility is in many ways a bigger problem.
In actuality a little dark humor from time to time can be healthy and even healing!
“...The best thing you’ve ever done for me is to help me take life less seriously, it’s only life after all-Yeah...” from the song Closer I am to fine. The Indigo Girls
Similar to many of the clients I worked with during this period the negative led me somewhere. It inspired me to starting a fun new project. I have always noticed that while my metaphysically themed posts on social media get a fair amount of thumbs ups and positive responses, my dark humor posts generally get two to three times as many! I used to find it frustrating that people preferred this sadly but I am now seeing this in a new light. When I was a kid, I originally wanted to be a caricature artist. I would draw my friends, family members, and even some celebrities as cartoon character and I was really good at it. I also have collected hundreds of funny stories about friends, coworkers, my family members, and a host of other characters I have had the privilege, and sometimes torture of meeting in my over 50 years. I have entertained a lot of people by sharing some of these stories and of course made a few upset when they started uncomfortably “Clutching Their Pearls” (yes, u probably guessed it, this is one of the title essay stories for the new book).
I am currently putting together a written collection version of some of these stories in a new book. Humor is a sale-able category to market. And God knows it is needed now more than ever in our current easily offended “You triggered me.” “Let’s erase history if it makes anybody uncomfortable,” culture. The recent focus of cleaning up some of our past histories cruel perspectives arrogantly thrown around definitely has value (some of it needs to go), but things like erasing 80s movies and shows, cartoons, and syrup bottle images is bizarre. Rather than erase all the things that appeared to be homophobic, racist, misogynistic, sexist, etc... there can be a value to seeing stupid things in our past as kitsch.
Kitsch: art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.
We can learn to laugh at some of the things of the past that now look kind of stupid. They serve as a reminder of our evolution! This new book has been really fun to work on so I have to thank my obnoxious hypersensitive critics for actually pushing me here! I will update the progress from time to time and may even print a few stories on occasion to change things up.
Seeing many of my Regular clients lighting up with their own versions of new projects, finding what they were meant to do, and moving into prosperous territory in their own unique ways has been icing on an already delicious cake. I won’t stop my metaphysical work by any means. This is one of the gifts of being someone who had a lot of natal chart mutability (Virgo, Gemini, and Sagittarius). But my dual nature will allow me to capitalize on Jim the comedian. Oh, and some of the stories are also just quite sweet too!
If you are a local in Arizona, I will be teaching a Tarot card class on July 17th at Sozo Healing House in Tempe. Space is limited (maximum of 11 students for this workshop) and it’s only $25 total for the two and a half hour class. Contact me ASAP if interested since it is already just over half full as this goes to publication. If you miss out for any reason or are not a local I teach this class and 14 others here in my home office or by phone, face-time, or Zoom. You can do any of the solo classes or set one up with a friend. Info on my website or email me directly at to set up a class(es) Venturasag@yahoo.com.
A friend pointed out that on my web pages at JimVentura.com there is an obnoxious message saying “site is not secured.” For the record this means nothing at all, This is a reminder that if you type in personal information here it isn’t protected, but there isn’t any way to do that, its just info on a page, I don’t collect anything there. In other words it is my web host trying to get me to pay even more money, geez it never end lol
Wishing everyone a great mid point to the summer of 2022. Jim V
“The enlightened fool is the one who sees the ego trips of society and can still find joy and laughter in its midst. The fool is often the enlightened one, the one with crazy wisdom, with laughter and jokes as their weapons, they cut through the mundane conformity and bring to light the latent child like bliss bubbling just beneath the surface of all seriousness. The fool possesses a wisdom that is out of the reach of the conformist. A playful attitude in touch with enormous amounts of creativity.” George Carlin
New Client Special 2022
January 1st thru October 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!
“Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. as the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.” John Lubbock
TAROT CARD READING CLASS
Whether you have some experience with Tarot or have never explored this oracle before, This Tarot class will assist you in understanding the wisdom, insight and potential guidance contained in Tarot cards. This class will focus on teaching you how to read the Tarot for yourself and eventually for others. The Tarot can be used for prediction, to accelerate spiritual growth, and increase your awareness or “navigational life skills.” If you don’t have a deck, assistance will also be provided on choosing the right deck for you. Whether you plan on using oracles for self guidance, or wish to expand into doing readings professionally, this class will assist you on your road to mastering the Tarot.
Instructor: Jim Ventura Navigational consultant, astrologer, oracle reader, author, radio and television host, and columnist. Jim has twenty-seven years experience as a spiritual counselor and works with many different types of oracles. You can see his monthly videos on YouTube (J Ventura Snake Oil) and his many appearances on the ABC syndicated show The List TV. More information about services at JimVentura.com
Email Venturasag@yahoo.com to reserve a space in this (limited to 11 students) workshop. Sunday July 17th. 11:15 - 2:45 pm. $25.00. Another advanced class will be following at the end of the summer.
Location: Sozo Healing House in Tempe Arizona.
If you are not a local or can’t make this class. I teach private classes on Tarot and many other Oracle workshops in my home office or by phone, Zoom or Face-time for out of area students. Contact me for more info and a list of available classes.
“We think a wise person is someone who solves problems. Truth is, a wise person is someone who avoids problems.” Prem Rawat
“You can only attract what you subconsciously feel worthy of attaining. If you’re not getting what you want, it’s time to work on your self-esteem.” Dick Sutphen
Channeled Corner. I have read many, many books from some of the best trance channelers 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:
You Must make Choices from Kunda
Like it or not, agreement shapes your reality. For all things happen by choice. You are not here by accident, nor are you the victim of fate. You are here, quite simply and empathically, because you want to be here. Because you are an integral extension of the cosmic soul, know that on some level you consciously chose to evolve spiritually within the physical environment as a part of your diving constitution. And before you reentered this realm, you made certain agreements which supported not only the continuance of your spiritual lessons here, but the advancement of other entities who are also evolving in clusters with you.
You helped to create the working blueprint which outlines your entire life program and also parallels your chosen destiny.
Now, every life, every personality, every situation and ever experience is carefully chosen-right down to the details of your so-called death experience. This is true for all on the physical plane. With the exception of karmic intervention (the Divine hand which evens the scale of cosmic justice and also assures your spiritual best-good), the life that you live is the very life that you chose. There are simply no exceptions. And the living of it all brings the necessary experiences and lessons to bear, all of which contribute to the ultimate growth and understanding of every soul-fragment.
The agreements which you made with your soul are the operating plans for the unfoldment of that blueprint. They shape the reality of your life environment. And a life in which every agreement is refused, avoided, or even broken will only serve to teach you what such avoidance brings. Regardless of whether the physical life was completed or not, that life will still remain valid to some degree, and whatever was learned will contribute to the evolution of the soul as it moves into the greater essence of its soul community.” Spirt Speaks Magazine
“According to Vedanta, there are only two symptoms of enlightenment, just two indications that a transformation is taking place within you toward a higher consciousness. The first symptom is that you stop worrying. Things don’t bother you anymore. You become lighthearted and full of joy. The second symptom is that you encounter more and more syncronicities. And this accelerates to the point where you actually experience the miraculous.” Deepak Chopra
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, July 21st at 3:30 p.m. mountain (Phoenix) time. Usually one Thursday 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.
“Happiness is having a large, caring, close-knit family in another city.” George Burns
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
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 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.
