SNAKE OIL/ JIM VENTURA

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

August 2019 Snake Oil/first Column from 2003

Snake Oil

When I was in my mid twenties I had a roommate named Brett. Even though our philosophies differed we were close friends. He was skeptical of the work I did, yet he was a pragmatist and was impressed that I made a living from doing readings. He doubted whether my oracles (Tarot, Numerology, Astrology, Runes) really worked at all. Even though I offered to read for him, he never allowed me to read his cards. I suspected that, like many people, he was more afraid that some of his dirty little secrets might leak out. He wore a shield of indifference and practicality, his mask of protection. It might rock his world if all that “metaphysical mumbo jumbo” really worked.

One night we went to a party and someone asked me what I did for a living. At that time I was in my twenties, insecure and feared that people would think I was a fraud when I told them I was what many people called a “psychic,” and didn’t actually have a ‘real job.” Brett jumped into the conversation and said that “Jim is a snake oil salesman,” which preyed on my insecurities. At first I was annoyed at his rude comment, but after a short time I realized it was funny. Snake oil salesmen have been the traveling hucksters, the “shysters” who sold potions and magical cures for various ailments. They were often seen as miraculous healers, and charlatans at the same time. They were praised and rewarded for their “gifts,” and alternately tarred and feathered. Usually the snake oil was actually part alcohol which simply allowed people living in puritanical times to feel good and help them to rest. This is not too far from how in “modern times” we use things like Nyquil. Many “snake oil salesmen” simply are changers of beliefs. They convince us out of our illness, and allow our bodies to heal naturally. The magic potions they sold offered the possibility of love, prosperity, or the healing of physical and emotional ailments. In many cases the elixirs actually did work.

Throughout all of our recorded history and even in what we would call “primitive societies,” healers, witch doctors, and other therapists used suggestion and hypnosis to shift their patient’s energy toward concentrating on changing illness to health. The theatrics that were part of their therapies, like dances, chants, burning of herbs, and even loud commands were meant to startle the patients. Their purpose was to shock them out of their previous beliefs and perspectives and bring them back to a belief that they were healthy. Now, in our current western medical model we consider ourselves to be more evolved and our methods far more scientific and sophisticated, yet we still use forms of hypnosis in similar ways. Highly skilled, educated doctors will scoff, or even react with disgust at the idea of a bird or chicken being ceremonially sacrificed by primitive, untrained witch doctors. At the same time, they use the “reality of science” to explain why a man may need to lose part of his throat or a woman may have to lose a breast to cancer. Our modern day physicians will hold firmly to the statistics they believe to be true and will often see no other viable solutions and neither will their patients.

It is easy to laugh at all the “silly cultures” that believe in curses, voodoo practitioners, and influences of evil spirits. At the same time we are bombarded by endless advertisements and commercials that tell us we will get the flu if we don’t get a flu shot. You will get cancer if you don’t eat the right food. You need to be medicated if you feel depressed. Have we really advanced, or have we just exchanged our old demons for more modern devils? Have we really progressed in our world physically, psychologically and emotionally or have we arrogantly convinced ourselves that every other culture’s healing arts have been wrong?

I have studied and used many different types of healing therapies from herbs to acupuncture to hands on Reiki healing, and found that quite practically, many of these things do really work. I understand the usefulness of modern medicine, psychology, psychiatry, and other forms of healing, yet also know that there are alternative ways to approach healing. My work with oracles and metaphysical concepts have been repeatedly tested. Doing readings with oracles like selling snake oil, is unconventional, raises suspicion, yet without question works. Rune stones, Astrology, Tarot, and Numerology have been around far longer than modern psychology and western medicine. Proudly, they are this snake oil salesman's tools.

Jim Ventura 8-2003

Notes:

July, so far has been my busiest month all year. This was not expected because a summer slow down is a more common pattern here, but glad it went that way. I still enjoy working (well 25-30 hours a week for a max) but there has been a lot going on in other ways (all very positive) that absorbed up my time. It is likely that in 2020 I will do the column every other month. I will get the “promised” column about Saturn retrograde, and fear traps out next month though.

We have just finished a Mercury retrograde in Leo. This would be all about looking at your self-esteem, creatively, and hopefully triggering your recognition of valuing the part of you that needs to shine even if you aren’t specifically a Leo! August first also marks the Lughnasadh according to the Druid calendar. This is the beginning of the harvest season. This is a reminder to look at your harvest and potentially reap the rewards of the inner or outer growth you have been working on. Here is a little more information about this time:

“Also known as Lammas, or First Harvest, the name of this festival as Lughnasadh is Irish Gaelic for "Commemoration of Lugh". Some authors give the meaning as marriage, gathering or feast (in the name of) of Lugh. The meaning remains basically the same: Lugh is the Deity of Lughnasadh, and there is a feast.

Although Lugh gives his name to this festival, it is also associated with Lugh's foster mother Tailtiu, who is said to have cleared the way for the introduction of agriculture in Ireland, thus linking Lughnasadh to the land and the harvest.

Lughnasadh marks the beginning of the noticeable descent of the Sun into the darkness of winter. From the connection between the Earth (female principle) and the Sun (male principle), the marriage of the Sky Father (Sun God) with the Earth Mother we celebrated at Bealtaine, emerge the fruits of the first harvest of the year. Lughnasadh is a time of joy about the first fruits. It is also a time of tension, because the dark days of winter are coming nearer, and most of the harvest is not brought in and stored away yet.”

Now that August is here we are truly in the heart of the summer, great for some places and a bit of a test here in Phoenix. That said, I see benefits too; a lot less people on the roads because many of the snowbirds have flown back home! I think our monsoon storm season will be coming a bit later than usual because the searing temps were delayed. Monsoon will probably come a little later and maybe even end a bit later than usual. Bring on the rains!

Wishing everyone a Happy August. Cheers, Jim V

In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself.” Jiddu Krishnamurti

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.

Part of my areas of metaphysical study and the work I do both within myself and with empowering my clients was many years of studying the works of Author Dick Sutphen. He was noted for his unique, empowered, and self-actualized perspectives that often made some people in the New Age field of the 80s and 90s walk out on his seminars! Here is a short piece about guilt to consider:

Guilt

Guilt is the primary manipulation people use to entrap one another, especially within families and other close relationships. There are only two reasons for someone to want you to feel guilty: either to control you or to hurt you. Neither is worthy of your consideration. Think about some of the common lines used to trigger guilt: ‘How can you treat me like this?’; It was your fault that I was upset and didn’t get enough sleep!’; I’ve been waiting by the phone all week for you to call.’ But if you feel guilty, don’t blame them-blame yourself for allowing someone to manipulate you.

There are three kinds of guilt: 1. Current Guilt, such as not spending enough time with the kids or not calling your parents as often as you think you should; 2. Long-standing Guilt, such as guilt over leaving your ex-mate, or guilt over refusing to allow your ailing father to move in; 3. Philosophical Guilt, such as not tithing to a church or giving to a worthwhile charity when you feel it is your responsibility.

After you’ve felt guilty long enough to balance the emotion with your actions, you can feel okay with yourself. But the common pattern is to repeat the guilt-inducing actions all over again, in a never-ending spiral. If you’re going to do something about this most useless emotion, do it. If not, file it away, labeling it ‘experience,’ and get on with your life.”

Dick Sutphen The Oracle Within

Intuitive and Oracle reading classes 2019

While I no longer host group classes in my home, some of my most popular classes are still available! I will be adding a possible Skype option in late November of 2019 as well. Now classes can be in-office, by phone, or through FaceTime.

You can take one introductory class or continue with a monthly class for up to six months for any of the classes offered. Each instructional class is 90 minutes. You may schedule a one on one class in office or by phone for yourself, or have a friend or family member join you and split the costs.

Single one person class: $55.00 or 3 classes pre-paid $150.

2 people $70 for each class ($35.00 each) 3 classes pre-paid $180 ($90.00 each).

Email me for more information and my availability calendar to book your personal intuitive and oracle development classes. Venturasag@yahoo.com

Current options:

1. TAROT CARD READING

Whether you have some experience with Tarot or have never used this oracle before, Tarot classes will assist you in understanding the wisdom and insight contained in Tarot cards. The classes 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, the classes will assist you on your road to mastering the Tarot.

2. ASTROLOGY-101

Astrology classes will teach you all of the basics to read any Astrology chart. You will learn to interpret your own chart, as well as those of others. You will gain insight into house placements, signs, symbols, angles, retrograde planets, cusps, transits, etc... We will explore how powerful the influence of astrology is in our lives. Working with your unique astrology chart (western astrology, Placidus house system) will help you with understanding yourself, your unique skills, challenges, and how to use this knowledge to navigate through this life with more empowerment.

3. MICHAEL MATERIAL

* What is your soul age? The soul age of friends, family, and people all around you ?

* How do past lifetimes influence us in the present ?

* What does karma feel like, and how does it work ?

* How does your chief negative feature impact your life, and can it be changed?

* What happens when your partner is an idealist and you are a realist ?

* What is your life goal? Is it dominance, acceptance, flow, discrimination, growth, reevaluation, or submission ?

*What is your essence, your soul mate’s essence ? Artisan, priest, king, server, sage, warrior or scholar ?

* What is a soul mate, task companion, heart link ?

* What is your centering and what do the higher centers feel like?

After this workshop you will understand all of these questions and many more, and more importantly have the answers.

What is the Michael teaching?

The main goal of the Michael teaching is agape or unconditional love. The teaching views life as a learning game in which fragments of the Tao - that essential part of each human being - set up lessons which continue over lifetimes. These lessons are learned via the personality which Essence chooses each lifetime. Michael teaches us what the components of the personality are so that we can learn to use and see these components in ourselves and in others. In that way we can learn to understand why human beings behave as they do. Michael is composed of 1,050 individual Essences who have lived on the physical plane and now teach from another plane. One of the most basic and important principles of the teaching is that it is not a religion or a belief system. Michael encourages their students to self validate all of the information they receive. The system was originally in print in over 12 volumes of information. “My studies of this material have been extensive and now I offer what I have learned to my students” Jim Ventura (Old Scholar). The classes will help you to use and understand the material without the need to read all the out of print books. This series is highly recommended!

4. PAST LIFE JOURNEYS

All aspects of past life exploration, from hypnosis, dreaming techniques, past life regressions will be discussed. By understanding the influence of karma and the past lives we have already lived, we will show how our past experiences affect us in our present life. The class focuses on setting up a past life journal, and explores the progression of our soul’s journeys. Astrology, Numerology, and many other tools will be utilized to aid you in becoming aware of your past lifetimes. The classes will increase understanding of relationship patterns, release fear and phobia’s, letting go of allergies, and other blockades are some of the many possibilities connected with this type of study. “Desire to live again, because that will be your lot in any case.” Nietzsche

5. INTUITIVE DEVELOPMENT

I have been studying many different aspects of metaphysics for 35 years now. This has made me well versed on many different subjects in the field. You can tap into this data base of knowledge! I am like a living breathing huge set of encyclopedia’s! You can use a class or a series of classes to discuss developing your intuitive abilities in a number of different areas. Some examples: Lucid dreaming, out of body experiences, crystals, how often should you do readings, developing empathic abilities and boundary setting with others, talking to angels and spirit guides, meditation, What do repeating number messages say to us, adjusting vibrations as you grow, channeling, chakra clearing, etc...When we commit to listening more to our inner self it is natural to change many different aspects of the way we live life in the process.

“Relationships based upon need, are based upon how to avoid losing. When you resist loss, you draw it to you.” Dick Sutphen

“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

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, August 8 Th. at 3:30 p.m. mountain time. Usually one or two Thursdays each month you can catch a new show, and once a month on Sunday at 2 pm. 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.

“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: 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

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). mini phone session 15-20 minutes $35. 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.

Friday, June 28, 2019

July 2019 Snake Oil/Getting Punched in a Box

July 2019 Snake Oil

Getting punched in a box

I have always had a very strong ability to remember a good amount of my past history in great detail. This includes childhood memories, some that even go back to when I was three or four. I have times when I remember things “out of the blue.” Often this can be a trigger from a song or smell that sets the memory off. It’s almost like I access a memory file that was buried for some time. When I was between the ages of nine and eleven my friends and I would often play dodge ball, volley ball, badminton, and other active games in my friends Pam and Ricky’s backyard. They had the biggest yard for this so it helped increase their popularity in the neighborhood. We would often play her forty five records on her record player when she brought it outside. So many of those seventies songs when I hear them, trigger these and other memories. Songs like It’s a Miracle, or Mandy by Barry Manilow, The last Song by Edward Bear, or Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves by Cher still bring back happy nostalgia. We especially loved Dizzy by Tommy Roe and would sometimes play it and just spin around wildly until we were literally dizzy. In exhaustion, we would fall to the soothing grass and laugh. It was fun to push our bodies to their limits and the limberness and quick recovery of youth made this a far easier proposition than my middle aged body of today.

The childhood tests of building strength and feats of pushing our limits grew in size and complexity along with our bodies. We set up obstacle courses, jumped from rooftops, and did stunts on bicycles and skateboards, never questioning societies’ standards of what a boy or girl should or shouldn’t be doing. There was a comfortable and unquestioned mix of girls and boys that I hung out with before the teen years and puberty began to shift some of this dynamic. We slid at times on asphalt off skateboards and roller skates, scraping out skin, nearly getting knocked out and somehow we survived all of it. During my childhood wearing helmets and protective gear were rarely a priority in the late seventies and early eighties. The things we did would likely seem insane to parents and children alike today. We live in a much more protective society when it comes to children. I am not completely sure whether this shift in society has made us weaker and less resilient or somewhat wiser.

I recently remembered a game my friends started playing when I was about twelve. We always got excited when someone in the neighborhood got a new dishwasher or refrigerator. We couldn’t give a damn about any of those appliances but we creatively saw the potential of that huge cardboard box! Often it would become a clubhouse or simply a box to play in when we came up with any number of ingenious games connected to the big box. One day we had the brilliant idea of putting one kid in the box. It was open at the top but you would be enclosed by four walls and the base. Once inside we would take turns punching the crap out of the box as hard as we could. The kid inside would have to dodge the blows and see how long they could endure the assault. We made rules about how to play the game, but there was, of course always one kid who would start violently kicking the box or he would throw rocks over the top for another level of assault. He would eventually get even nuttier by suggesting we maybe grab a baseball bat or something worse. Fortunately we never crossed that line though we had standards of course lol!

The funny part was the pain of getting beaten up and even badly bruised by staying as long as you could inside and handling the blows in the box. It was an honored win somehow. We would even argue and fight about “whose turn it was to be in the box!” It was almost equally exhausting punching the box too. Looking back on this twisted memory had me laughing but I also realized that we did this game a number of times and it was one of our “cool things” for a while.

While boys and girls may have different ideas of what risk is, they often actually overlap. We all have times when we push the envelope and enjoy the adrenaline of risk. Our individual ways of dealing with risk and competitiveness can actually be seen clearly in our natal astrology charts. The sign on the cusp of the fifth house or especially planets in this house of life show our style and whether we do this aggressively or cautiously. The fifth house shows us our potential for risk, romance, gambling, play, competitiveness, creativity, children and our capacity for showmanship. All these things may seem different but each potentially increase our adrenaline and our ability to stretch our limits. We feel alive when we risk. We risk approval when we perform, create something, flirt, or even have children. We have to inevitably put those children out into the world for societal review. We hope to get good reviews. In a deeper sense a life with no risk is no life. There is a similar feel the the fifth house of life with strong Leo placements in a chart.

Television and movies are ripe with examples of a fascination with risk and potential reward. Shows like Discovery channels Naked and Afraid, or game shows where contestants eat gross things or compete in challenges for money, fame and hopefully both are abundant. Sports in the myriad of different forms are appealing to watch and we understandably marvel at how athletes push their bodies to the limit and show off their skills. Karaoke, or being in a play, as well as public speaking all gives us an opportunity to perform. People workout to show off a strong hot body and beauty typically brings better treatment from the world around us. Skiing, race car driving and even enjoying horror movies all push the envelope of risk in various degrees. Some obsessively improve the inside and outside of their homes to be the “best on the block.” Perfect lawns and beautiful flowers and trees can be part of our “show.” The line between showmanship and risk is blurry. Far, far more connects the two than separates them.

In my natal chart I have three planets (Mars, Uranus, and Pluto) in my fifth house all in a Virgo conjunction. My playfulness, competitiveness and creative skills have always been a big priority for me. I, of course, do it practically, methodically and often after lots of practice inevitably very well in true Virgo style. I gamble once a week but use a lot of math calculations to do so which helps minimize the house advantages notably. The work of math feels like play to me. We all need to risk sometimes. Life can be dry and sterile without a bit of this. Hopefully as we get older we do this with a bit more wisdom than the crazy reckless explorations from our childhood days. But whatever your style of risk and how you get adrenaline is likely perfect for you. Humans and animals are meant to play and feel the flow of risk. It keeps us happier, and we are better at enjoying the healing power of laughing more when we can look back at our “dumber” times of risk. Whether our past risks worked out or not the benefits are numerous; our performances get better each time, we get stronger, more confident, and braver each time we take a risk. So, whose ready for a fun game of getting punched in a box?

Jim Ventura 6-2019

Notes:

I was halfway through writing about Saturn’s current retrograde movement in Capricorn this summer when I decided to put it on hold to write this column. There were a lot of triggers that pushed me to write this, maybe PTSD from being punched in a box during childhood? The energy in society in general seems heavy now and I felt a break with something lighter fit right at this time. My childhood stories seem to generally be audience favorites and I am often told this. If you haven’t read my first book (info later in the newsletter on ordering a copy or a live read computer CD to play on your computer) Dirty Little Secrets, there is a number of childhood stories in this book. I wrote most of it in my mid thirties when I was much younger and some of the essays were even written in my twenties. The Saturn retrograde column will likely be next months piece, including a link to the spot I did for ABC’s The LISTTV.

Bizarre and sometimes destructive weather patterns in the country (hell all over the world) continue, but we have lucked out so far this early part of summer in Phoenix compared to most years. We hardly even made it to 100 most of our June days and it stayed in the 70s for most nights. I have mentioned before that weather is a real physical thing obviously but also a reflection of group consciousness and energy expressed in different ways and different regions. All of these things are interconnected.

I have been doing a lot of marketing and studying on reaching more clients for my personal sessions by phone or in-office, radio shows, and column posts. I am getting results and learning a lot along the way in the process but spending more money on advertising than I usually do. This will likely mean a slight increase in my rates in 2020. Clients currently in my Regular Client Program (monthly, or quarterly consistent sessions) will not see any increase in their already discounted rates. More information later in the newsletter about this program if you would like to join.

Wishing everyone a happy July Cheers, Jim V

“Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to.” Bill Vaughan

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.

“Again, the body always reflects the state of the psyche and the filter of a given age. Those in middle age may observe with concern and dismay their bodies of youth losing their fine, sharp edges, as the bathroom scale seems determined to torment you at every opportunity, the flexibility of youth giving way to awakening new and unwelcome aches and pains.

Remember the filters of life.Youth is the age of exploration, the span of inquisitive and searching experience in every facet of life. Flowing from this, early adulthood is a time of choice, when much exploration may still be required to choose effectively.

By middle age, most choices are made. What need had the middle-aged adult for the strength and agility of youth? There is no reason, given the filter of consolidation, why that body need be maintained.

The psyche supplies a constant flow of energy into your life. In youth, that energy is almost all directed into the body, its construction, growth and explorations. In middle age, with exploration behind, that energy is better spent intellectually, in meeting with the demands of one’s career, marriage and parenthood. It is not that the body is in decline but that the focus of one’s energy shifts from pure physical activity to physical activity driven by intellect. The psyche is thus reconfigured to devote more energy to the mind, to focused concentration on the choices made, rather than frenetic activity.

Now, as you are seeing in your day, there is a rise in the number of men and women who can continue to perform athletically almost as well as they did in youth. Once again, your beliefs built upon the medical model of a body decaying from birth are being laughed off the planet. There is no reason whatsoever why the body cannot remain fit, vigorous, vital and active for the entire duration of life: indeed, this is the plan. It is only when you saddle the body’s innate resilience with beliefs about aging, about death, that you find the literal results in the breakdown of so many elderly bodies. As one more slap in the face of science and medicine, then, as the New Dawn approaches you find middle-aged and elderly persons demonstrating athletic prowess to put to shame many in the stage of youth.

We say this to emphasize that, while the psyche does refocus its energy into the intellect, rather than youth’s exclusive concentration on activity, there is no suggestion that the body must decline in resilience or strength. It may require more work to maintain that tone, however...”

Whatever happened to Divine Grace. by Ramon Stevens

“There is a fountain of youth; it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” Sophia Loren

“Happiness is a risk. If you’re not a little scared, then you’re not doing it right.” Sarah Addison Allen

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.

“Age considers; youth ventures.” Rabindranth Tagore

“If you don’t do anything stupid when you’re young, you won’t remember something funny when your old.” Unknown

Snake Oil Radio

Thursdays at 3:30 pm (there will be three live broadcast this period)

My next live broadcast of Snake Oil Radio will be Thursday, July 11th at 3:30 p.m. mountain time. Usually one or two Thursdays each month you can catch a new show, and once a month on Sunday at 2 pm. 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).

“Opportunity and risk come in pairs.” Bangambiki Habyarimana

Regular Client Program

One of the best programs I have been doing for 18 years now is my Regular client program. The program is designed to benefit my clients at multiple levels. Clients who enroll in the program come in every three months for personal sessions (monthly or every other month sessions are also an option). This can also be done for out-of-area clients by phone. The focus of the program is on consistent work in developing your intuitive abilities, learning how to use the signs and signals that are all around us, and conquering fear-based programming permanently. We also get to do work with all the many different oracles I currently work with! My Regular client program has resulted in some tremendous spiritual evolution for hundreds of people over the years. Some of my Regulars have gone on to do spiritual counseling, or similar types of work and some are healing and guiding others personally and professionally. The progress I have seen over the years among the majority of my Regular clients has been phenomenal. It is wonderful to see the spiritual, physical, and emotional progress I have assisted in motivating. So many of my Regular clients have dramatically changed the way they now view life and are enjoying a more enlightened point of view. You can join this program as well, just ask.

More about the Regular Client Program... This program was designed to create an easy, cost effective way for my clients to progress in their spiritual development.

When we are consistent at attending to our body/mind/spirit, we naturally move through life with more harmony and greater joy. When our spiritual awareness is heightened and fine tuned we are often happier which helps us to enjoy all aspects of our lives, including occasional personal challenges because we see them as inevitably beneficial. We can truly assist the people around us. Human beings learn by example. Your intimate partnerships, friendships, family, and children benefit when you are in a good space.

The Regular Client Program makes it easier to prioritize keeping your spiritual, emotional and even physical “garden” free of weeds. In China, the professional soothsayer is a reverent and dignified calling. It does not attract the sort of suspicion it does in the western world. In fact, in most eastern cultures, seeing an oracle reader is a sign of wisdom, success, and prestige. If you have an interest in increasing these attributes and working with a highly skilled navigational consultant then the Regular Client Program may be right for you.

Regular client discounted rates for 2014-2019:

Quarterly (every three months) Regulars:

Full 70 minute sessions $90.00 shorter sessions $65.00 Extended sessions $105.00

Monthly Regulars:

Full 70 sessions $80.00 shorter sessions $55.00 Extended sessions $95.00

IF YOU CHOOSE TO PREPAY 3 OR MORE SESSIONS YOU RECEIVE AN EVEN BIGGER DISCOUNT.

(prepaid three quarterly sessions: (3) - 45 minute sessions $175. (3) - 70 minute sessions $240. (3) - 90 minute sessions $285.

(prepaid three monthly sessions: (3) - 45 minute sessions $150. (3) - 70 minute sessions $210. (3) - 90 minute sessions $250.

* Regular clients get to choose whether they will come in for a full, 45, or extended session. You may vary the length of each session each time you come in for your appointments, and still keep your discounted rates.

* I will contact you a few weeks before your next appointment by email or phone for scheduling. If there is a need for a few weeks delay or to come in sooner or for an extra appointment this is also an option.

* Sessions can be used for all of the different readings I offer, transformation sessions, reality change sessions, or personalized instruction on how to read oracles yourself.

* Regular Clients can purchase gift certificates for sessions to give to friends and family at their discounted rates. Regulars also receive discounts on classes, CDS, and books.

* If at any point you decide to come in more often or less often, or even exit the program, simply let me know. I have worked with clients who have come monthly for two years, then switched to quarterly, etc... Clients who exit the program can still come in randomly for sessions, although they will be required to pay current non-regular rates.

When we are out of balance, and not attending to our spiritual sides we are more likely to: hold onto the past, feel anxious about the present, and fearful about the future. Oracle readings and navigational consultations help us keep clear of lower energies and bring us to a higher awareness in all areas of our lives. Developing our intuitive abilities increases our potential for happy relationships, excellent health, and keep us excited about wherever our lives are headed. The majority of my clients come in for a session once or twice a year or when a crisis triggers them. My Regular clients use the sessions as PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.

If you are interested in signing up for this program call or e mail me VenturaSag@yahoo.com

Three Books Available from Jim Ventura

Metaphysical Books:

Dirty Little Secrets

Storyteller and professional oracle reader Jim Ventura takes his readers on a wild literary ride. Dirty Little Secrets is a collection of short essays. The book explores some of society’s perceptions about what people often consider to be dirty little secrets best kept to oneself. The book tackles subjects with unflinching honesty: drug use, sexual addiction, unrequited love, revenge, childhood weirdness, homosexuality, and the old souls quest to experience magic and miracles in everyday life. The author holds little back in expressing his quest for enlightenment. Dirty Little Secrets illustrates how meaning, spirituality and humor can be found to be embedded in every experience. Also available on audio Cd - can be played on any computer!

Snake Oil Volume One

Jim Ventura has been writing his monthly Snake Oil column for 15 years. Volume One is a collection of his first five years of Snake Oil. This volume also includes nine Snake Charms. Practical explanations and instruction for meditation, ear conning, lucid dreaming, etc... Jim’s Snake Oil philosophy is all about changing the perceptions of how we view life to include metaphysical perspectives into all of our experiences. We benefit by expanding our consciousness, while we keep our feet planted firmly on the ground in this world at the same time. Snake Oil reminds us that we can also grow to become more enlightened while finding the wisdom of humor in ourselves and the world around us.

Practical guide to Gambling (not a Metaphysical book)

Wise Guys Volume One

Is it possible to gamble for free? Can you gamble and actually win money every time? Are there tricks and systems that can help you beat the games? The answer to these questions for most of you is going to be no. It is nearly impossible to be able to gamble without spending money or to consistently win. The majority of people who gamble will lose and rarely have any big wins. Casino slot machines and table games have built-in formulas to make the casinos a consistent long term profit. Most “systems” to beat the house don’t work.

Now with that painful bit of reality out of the way we can get to the good stuff, You can still come out even or ahead fairly often if you learn how to play smarter. You can learn to be a savvy gambler who takes advantage of comps, gets free invitations to slot tournaments with huge prizes, spends very little money out-of-pocket, gets free rooms in Vegas and casinos all over the country, and receives brand new appliances, free money to gamble with, and a ton of other freebies. This is what Wise guys is all about. A wise and knowledgeable gambler can frequently take free rides! This book is currently only available in digital format-$7.

Each book is $12 including tax

($3 for shipping for each book in US). $15 total.

To request any or both Books email Venturasag@yahoo.com or ask for a copy next time you are here in office.

You can send check or money order to Jim Ventura 2515 N 52nd St. #206 Phoenix Az 85008. You can also pay by charge or Debit thru Paypal. Feel free to request to have any of your copies signed!

Limited time offer: Wise Guys guide to gambling is only available on PDF to read on your computer: $7

You can also order Dirty Little Secrets or Snake Oil Volume One directly on Amazon.com

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

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 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.

Me at age 10 playing the game Connect Four. 35 years later still really good at playing and winning at games!

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

May and June 2019 Snake Oil/ When in Deep Water

May and June 2019 Snake Oil

When in Deep Water

I was just finishing up a phone session in early January when I began to feel really hot and physically uncomfortably. I took a nap and felt a little bit better but when I woke there was definitely something off with my digestion. The next morning after a big breakfast I began to feel a really sharp pain just below my stomach on my left side. I thought it would subside but as the afternoon progressed the pain got worse. I had no desire to eat and the only thing that seemed to somewhat minimize the discomfort was hot baths. I had past success with acupuncture for kidney stones so I called to get an acupuncture appointment for first thing in the morning. It was an uncomfortable night with very little sleep. I did feel a little better after my acupuncture treatment thankfully but there was still something unquestionably wrong. Two nights later I had another round of pain on my left side that lasted about eleven hours. It was painful and scary. Should I bite the bullet and go to emergency care? Do I push through this and continue with my plan to use acupuncture treatments and herbal cures? More hot baths and a heating pad made it somewhat bearable but not by much.

The entire week was really difficult. I wasn’t extremely busy with appointments so I did keep working, although that was also difficult the first two weeks when I was ill. Still, when I don’t work I don’t have an income, so taking a lot of time off was not an option. Acupuncture treatments were very reasonable priced but still cost money. My daily meals consisted of soup broth, half an apple and grapefruit. I was feverish and knew my body was trying to heal what was wrong, so I had very little appetite. The entire time I researched what trigger points would help with digestion and the organs in the area I was feeling pain. After six days of being sick, with three fairly excruciating painful nights, I went to urgent care to get checked out and also got a blood test. I have purposely avoided western medicine for the most part in my life successfully for almost thirty years now, so it is definitely not my first choice, but I will use it if necessary. I currently have an Obama care plan and grateful that I have it. The monthly fees are very reasonable, but the deductible for a hospital visit if I were to commit to that road is $7,900. I only got completely out of credit card debt nine years ago and was not eager to put myself back in that spot. I pondered whether whether I should continue my current path of herbal and acupuncture treatments or seek answers from western medicine and the probability of it putting me back into heavy debt again.

The blood test came back normal and the doctor recommended a CT scan. I choose not to do that and continued to research what might be wrong with me online. Was it gall stones or kidney stones? Was it something else entirely? Most of the more vital organs are on the right side. I went through a painful appendix removal when I was 17 (and had surgery), and had kidney stones 16 years ago (resolved by an acupuncture treatment). The acupuncture treatments and herbal remedies seemed to be working now albeit slowly. I was getting better and also getting my appetite back after two weeks. I lost sixteen pounds in the process. In early February after lots of research I pieced together that it was diverticulitis. This was something my father had. I never knew what it was but had heard it often as a kid, “Dad has to be careful, his diverticulitis is acting up.”

My research confirmed that I needed to make major changes to my diet, I needed to eliminate or at least minimize the heavy amount of white flower I was eating every day and generally eat healthier. I added a lot more fiber to my diet and took daily shots of apple cider vinegar, aloe vera juice, and ginger. All of this was working. I knew that the physical issues were just a reflection of unresolved emotional stuff and areas of blocked beliefs. The physical body is the place we see our blockades when we have never resolved our emotional wounds. I had unresolved anger toward my mother. She provided well in her duties as a mother but was mostly emotionally absent. My siblings and I were shown very little emotional and verbal affection or really even touched very much as kids. I had always been able to see the wounds in all of my siblings from this, but didn’t realize how much it negatively influenced me. I thought I was lucky because I got more affection from my mother than my siblings did but it was still very little. While I was sick for those two to three weeks I took anywhere from 3-5 hot baths a day. I needed to immerse myself in hot water to physically feel better. The call to water was my emotional bodies’ way of returning to the womb. The place of safety before I came out to face a childhood of questioning whether I was lovable. Whatever this was, I knew I was in deep water and needed to dive completely into this process to heal.

The last year or so had another challenge in play that likely contributed to my illness. An old credit card debt I defaulted on from nine years ago that had been sold about 6 times back and forth, for probably pennies on the dollar was another area of frustration. The original debt had been bought and refiled in court by a collection lawyer in Scottsdale. After months of aggressive phone calls to me and some of my family members as a coercion tactic they put a lean on my checking account with the threat of a possible one time pull. While I knew they would never really get anything from me, the thought of going down to his office and beating the crap out of this antagonist honestly crossed my mind quite a few times. Threatening letters and just the feeling of being hounded this way was annoying. I was smart enough to use the strategy of purposely keeping very little in my checking account and mostly using cash but it was tiring. The debt default was from back in 2009 when the economy was in the tank. I had to default on some of the cards to survive. It was an agonizing decision that I put off for years because I ethically felt that a debt must be paid back no matter what. I was working three jobs and my condo was under water financially at the time when I made the necessary decision to default on most of it. I simply could not keep paying credit cards at a 24 percent interest rate and ever realistically get out of debt. I could have freed myself from years of getting hounded by debt collectors if I had $3000 to cover a good bankruptcy lawyer at that time. My mother was quite comfortably sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars and could have helped knowing I would have paid her back, yet when I asked her she choose not to help and pretended that money was “tight.” My father if he was still alive wouldn’t have hesitated to help, but my mother is nothing like my father. I could see years of buried anger connected with this lack of willingness to nurture in this way too was also a trigger for the painful physical issues erupting in my body.

Something amazing happened between my body cleanse, working with herbal cures, trigger point work, a series of colonics, and my acupuncture treatments. I became really aware of my blocked chakras, lack of flow and my emotional wounds. I forgave my mother, and the obnoxious collection agency and stopped being angry. Maybe it wasn’t so much that I even forgave her. I realized she was just missing a healthy developed ability to show empathy. She was born during the depression, and was a text book “Baby soul.” The collection lawyer was just doing the job he chose to support his own family. All of the stuff that irritated me wasn’t about specifically attacking me, even though it felt that way. Most of all, I got tired of being angry and hurt. My life was too good in so many ways for me to waste the present and future time I had in this life brewing about old perceptions of wounds. There were good things that came directly and indirectly from my mother. She taught us to be strong and all my siblings are truly survivors. Difficulties never take us out for long. Indirectly she created a strong large family. I am particularly good at blending in with any family, group, social circles, and work environments because of this “training.” I met with my siblings for a family reunion weeks ago in Las Vegas and we had a great time and for the most part all got along. How many people can truly say they are friends with all of their siblings? There were other things my mother did that were valuable. I also had to own that from a metaphysical perspective I choose for her to be my mother. The debt collector would for the most part get nothing from me and if he chooses to keep spending money filing in the courts in the future it is his choice. This obnoxious process taught me to be shrewd when dealing with this nonsense and I lived for years without any credit cards at all. I didn’t really need them. Now it seems that he is actually finally given up or has sold the debt off to another less aggressive collection agency. I haven't heard anything in months and my desire to strangle this vulture has long subsided.

In truth I had struggled with these somewhat buried issues for a long time. I honestly think that my cat absorbed a lot of this hurt for me. When I painfully put her down last year at age sixteen she had all kinds of digestion and elimination issues and was beginning to have organ failure. She would have done anything to protect and heal me and it is likely she did. I don’t blame myself for her death or feel I caused it. She had a good long life with me and I celebrate the time with her as part of my family. The entire time I was sick would often look at the clock precisely when it was 2:22, 3:33, 4:44, or 5:55. I knew they were higher self and angelic messages that I would not only be okay but come out stronger and wiser. I had times when I doubted and felt fear but mostly I knew I would heal. While I recommend my clients and readers explore more alternative medicine solutions, I don’t suggest most of you abandon western medicine entirely. It has notable use and has benefits too and is so much a part of our cultural belief systems and societal structures. I choose alternative and eastern medicine because it is less damaging to the body and often cures the illness and wounds permanently without sacrificing organs, extensive surgery and reliance on pharmaceuticals for life. While surgery is quite harsh to the body, it can also shock us out of old beliefs and blocked emotional patterns in the process so it also has value. I adjusted my diet and minimized white flour, and spent the last few months eating more healthy. I still use herbal remedies a few times a week and have maintained my fiber intake. The diverticulitis though seems to be completely gone now. It is realistically possible there may be future flare ups but I am feeling that this is unlikely. I wonder how many people can say they got rid of this illness? The emotional issue resolved and of course so did my body. I had been drowning with unresolved emotional pain for some time so when I realized I was in deep water I dived down to the bottom and came back with some notable buried treasures. The challenges that do not destroy us can actually rebuild us and ultimately have the potential to actually permanently transforms us.

Jim Ventura 4-2019

Notes

I purposely waited a few months after healing from my illness before I wrote this column. I wanted to be sure the thorough process I used to heal had really done its intended job. I was able to find a great acupuncture place in Phoenix called Modern Acupuncture. The first visit is an incredibly reasonable $29! I have met people who have said acupuncture didn’t really work for them. This always surprises me. It has always worked for me. I think I resonate with a lot of Chinese medicine (probably past life stuff here) and acupuncture. To me when we are ill, energy is blocked up in connection with chakras in the body and these restrictions end up clogging and damaging organs. Acupuncture seems like it is designed to get the energy to flow again in the body. This translates to healing and going back to a state of harmony, the bodies’ natural state. I think in the process we become aware of limiting beliefs and emotions and often purge and reframe them in the process and begin to look at things from a more enlightened perspective. I also had some added help with three colonic treatments at a spa in Tempe to “move” things along: I highly recommend Dee Munsterman deemunsterman@gmail.com.

After a brief six month hiatus from doing shows on the List TV I am back to filming a few more this year, thankfully at a less frantic pace (13 shows in late 2017-late 2018). I recently had a production company reach out to me from California about possibly doing a pilot for a show. The potential pilot show is a big idea and I actually felt a little nervous getting interviewed. I rarely get “butterflies” in the stomach in my fifties so it was cool to feel that again. I am not sure if it will turn into anything yet, but it is exciting and doors are opening in this area. I will keep my readers informed about where this leads. The good thing is while I am open to doing more television, and in many respects “made for it,” I have no attachment to whether I do or not. I like the life I have and the things I already do and will continue to do them either way.

https://www.thelisttv.com/the-list/summer-vacation-based-on-your-zodiac-sign/

The spring and start of summer (at least in Arizona) is on the horizon. The weather continues to be weird and choppy, but it has been a great spring. It seems the uncomfortable energy earlier this year is more even. This month’s column was a long one and took a bit of extra work to finish, so I won’t have another column out until early July. I have been busy with a nice flow of appointments and added family stuff connected with my mother’s rapidly failing health to juggle as well. Still doing the casino once a week and Vegas every two months. I have been very lucky so far this year. I am balancing the enjoyment of working on a lot of different things with the fun of a bit of playing more than many people do. Less responsibilities of family and I am a bit of a proud hedonist. My Virgo side with my Sagittarius side. They are square each other in my natal astrology chart but at age 54 I have finally found a way to make them work well together!

Wishing everyone a happy start to the summer. Cheers, Jimmy V

“What is your perception of disease?

If you consider your accidental body to be floating through its meaningless days on a planet swarming with germs, viruses, bacteria, and other pestilence whose sole purpose and intention is to strike you dead, to eliminate you from the gene pool, then the course of one’s life thus becomes a constant microorganisms target-shooting game with you the frantic target, dodging projectiles of death by donning the armor of pills, vitamins, diet, and so on.

Remember, above all, your beliefs create your reality. If you believe you are ever at the mercy of microscopic organisms that intend you harm, you shall indeed find yourself falling ill on a regular basis, pumping yourself full of antibiotics to kill the little buggers, and then enjoying a brief respite before the next onslaught. You live, therefore, in a perpetual fear of disease.

Remember our old friend, fear? Does it ever lead to understanding? Does it ever lead to purposeful action? No, it always leads to paralysis and irrational action.

Thus your entire medical system is structured upon beliefs that guarantee that you will become ill on a regular basis; that you, an individual, can have no comprehension of how your body works and must not attempt to heal yourself in any situation, always depending on the advice of your schooled betters; and reducing your life to a game of chance, a roll of the dice, forever the prey of pernicious creatures you cannot even see.

Now let us state the reality.

THE UNIVERSE IS SAFE. It is not out to destroy you, to deprive you, to batter you about. The state of health, of your body working in smooth unison with your mind, is the most natural course of events. When you do become ill, it is a sign that you have not faced certain issues; you are therefore urged to stop and consider that state of your life and what might have brought on the illness. And the illness itself, its expression in your body, will always carry a host of clues as to the genuine source. The world is not out to trick you! Any disease or illness will always represent, in plainest terms, the issues you have not faced that brought it on...”

From Whatever Happened to Divine Grace by Ramon Stevens

New Client Special 2019:

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.

“You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past.” Richard Bach

Snake Oil Radio

Thursdays at 3:30 pm (there will be three live broadcast this period)

My next live broadcast of Snake Oil Radio will be Thursday, May 23rd at 3:30 p.m. mountain time. Usually one or two Thursdays each month you can catch a new show, and once a month on Sunday at 2 pm. 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).

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” Oscar Wilde

Session Highlight

REALITY CHANGE SESSIONS

These session(s) are all about understanding how our personal realities are formed, and developing the skill to change yours! Almost every area of your life can be changed for the better. This session will show you how to uncover the limiting beliefs that have blocked your progress. The beliefs that block us from experiencing happiness, and success in any area of life are not hidden. Their are many methods for uncovering what is limiting us. Instructions will also be given for new methods and tools to create the present and future you truly want. I often quote famous authors who talk about this subject. Learn in a one on one session with me about how to begin to master some of these techniques.

You can literally recreate yourself

Change your beliefs - Change your reality

Suggested session length 70-90 minutes.

Email me at VenturaSag@yahoo.com to request my availability calendar.

“Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: if you’re alive it isn’t.” Richard Bach

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

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 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.

March Las Vegas family trip