Upcoming Classes & Events

Registration is now open for the following workshops in January-March 2012:

Tea & Tarot - January
The Unexplained (KWCE)
The Unexplained (RCE)
Perceptions on Grief & Loss (KWCE)
Perceptions on Grief & Loss (RCE)
Voice: An Intuition Workshop (KWCE)*
Voice:  An Intuition Workshop (RCE)*

**People from ALL communities are invited to participate in the community education courses.  Please join us!**

*VOICE is the introductory class to the Presence of Light Psychic Development Workshop Series.  This class is pre-requisite to attending the Core, Intermediate and Advanced classes.  If you're interested in your psychic and spiritual development this is where the journey begins!  Complete details about the workshop series is found on the main Heather Allen website. 

Event details and registration information can be found on the above website OR go to Heather's event listings.

Secret Signs

This is one of those stories that begins with an ending. "Rita" was nearing the end of her tumultuous battle with cancer. Leah was a good friend; they’d met through work. When Rita was transferred from her home to a facility that could provide attentive medical care for her, Leah made every effort to visit on a regular basis. She had plans to go visit on a Wednesday and had told me that the last time she’d seen Rita, she just knew Rita didn’t have very much longer. If you have ever lost someone to this merciless disease, you know how difficult it is, how helpless you can feel. It is never a good feeling to sense you are running out of time to spend with someone you care about, to anticipate loss. Grieving sets in. There is nothing to do sometimes but to try to survive and to endure it.

She’d been held back at work and so Leah was unable to make it to visiting hours on that Wednesday. Rita had told her family she was ready to die. Over the next three days the family said Rita wasn’t up for visitors. I’d suggested for their visit that week that they might be able to talk and plan a secret sign, just between the two of them, so that after Rita passed, she could let Leah know she had crossed over safely, or for any time in the future that Rita wanted to let her know she was around watching over her. By the end of the weekend it was too late to have this conversation.

In an email on Tuesday morning after Rita’s passing I wrote to Leah, “I hope she comes around and lets you know she's made it there okay soon.” Whether we plan for it or not, they always do try to let us know in some way that they are alright.

Tuesday afternoon I received a reply email: “Today I canoed with Tom and he pointed out a bluebird sitting on a tall piece of grass/plant by our cars. Maybe that is it. Bluebirds are pretty rare to see I think.”

Bluebird. In Minnesota. On a chilly day in April. A rarity times three.

This gets even better. I’m an absolute believer in totem animals and the messages they carry for us. We can receive these every day if we are open to them. There are a lot of animals though and they all have multiple “wisdoms” to share with us, so when I got the email I felt I had to look up bluebirds. There's the traditional "bluebird of happiness" saying... which is true - they do represent that. But when I read through the “bluebird wisdoms”, one line just flew off the page at me. Bluebirds represent "Movement to a new level of being."

How beautiful of a message is that? I’m still in awe.

For me it went even one step beyond. The universe is brilliant at giving us signs and validations. For at the exact moment the email came through, I was just letting a client out the door. We’d had a lovely visit of our own with her father who had passed away. One of his last messages was “Blue”-something. (He kept saying BLUE very loudly and then would whisper the ending of the word.)

Bluebird.

A new level of being.
There this story ends.
With a beginning.

One of the most amazing things about my job is getting to relay details or validate signs that passed loved ones are sending to their families here to let them know they are okay, to let them know they made it to the other side, to let them know they are still with them. The lengths our loved ones will go to, the creativity they put into it, the unconditional love they are able to express, and the effort by which they reinforce these messages…it has no limit. It is profoundly magical.

In my grief class and when I speak with others who are anticipating a death I try to encourage people that if they have a chance, and if they are able to have a conversation on the topic, that it can be reassuring, positive, and even hopeful for both people involved to plan “secret signs”. What this really just entails is to make an agreement that when the person passes they will send you a “secret sign” at some point after they have passed to let you know they are okay. They do send us signs whether we arrange for this or not, but more often than not people write off the signs they receive to wishful thinking, or perhaps they miss the signs altogether in their grief state.

If you want to try this for yourself with someone that you love (and you can do this at any time during a person’s life – just be sure to record it somewhere) first, try to think of a sign somewhat more common but maybe unique - something you wouldn’t just happen to see everyday. Second, agree on a sign that's symbolic for you both (from a favorite time spent together or regarding something you both have in common). Your third sign can be something categorically uncommon, unexpected, challenging to manifest, and positively obscure. Animals, books, poetry, places, names, historical elements, meaningful objects, music, lyrics, graphical symbols, works of art, messages in foreign languages…the ideas you can tap into for your secret signs are absolutely endless.

The story above wasn’t really my story to tell, but it is one of absolute grace, promise, and undying friendship, so I asked permission if I could share it with you all, because we all could use a little more of those aspects in our lives.

It's Midsommer's Eve

If a girl puts flowers under her pillow tonight, she will dream of her future husband.

Celebrate Midsommer surrounded by daisies.  Eat strawberries.  Pick herbs. Connect to those in spirit.  Create a lucky amulet or charm.  Dance around a bonfire.  Light, food, music, flowers, dancing, love.  All the elements of a traditional festival.  It is the season to find and express joy for life, passion, and love.  Open yourself to the magnificence of creation.  Higher awareness.  Endless possibilities.  Great hopefulness.  Wondrous romance.  However you choose to celebrate, close your eyes for just a moment and allow yourself to be immersed in this amazing energy.  May true love and all good things come to you now!

Mystery of the Moving Mug

So last week we were at a restaurant out of town.  Just a minute after the waitress set down our drinks, my coffee cup (which was served to me filled and with a spoon in it) slid straight sideways about five inches across the table.  My son and I both saw it and looked at each other without saying anything like "did that really just happen?"  I'm not stupid enough to jump to metaphysical conclusions though, so I picked up the cup and wiped off the bottom with a napkin, and wiped off the whole section of the table around the cup.  Hydroplaning would be the most logical explanation since the table wasn't on any apparent slope (nothing lighter than the cup was sliding/rolling on or off the table).

We went back to our conversation and were served our meals a short while later.  Somewhere mid-sentence, my cup moved again; this time with a slide and a partial clockwise twist at a slightly different angle.  Now it was funny, but I once more dried off the cup base and the table (though there wasn't any moisture on either surface); and now just to cover all the bases, I asked "Is someone doing this?"  It was a little "too" quiet.  No one (guides or otherwise) had been trying to get my attention or trying to speak to me and there wasn't an "invisible person" in sight.  Three minutes later - there it goes again, this time directly toward me with another short slide in a ) motion with a clockwise turn of the handle.  Still no one wanted to "show themselves" which got a full out "Okay, this is creepy now, let's go, Mom." 

Later that night on our way home we were talking about how odd it was that neither of us were "seeing or hearing" anything, though I know firsthand that if someone in spirit doesn't want to be noticed they can surely avoid it.  My son says, "Yeah, that was really strange.  I didn't see anyone walking around this time...only last time there was one person."  The last time we were there we were seated in a different room in a corner and my back was to the whole of the room.  He sees activity all the time, so rarely brings it up anymore.  As soon as he mentioned it though I could see this woman he was talking about:  quite thin, taller in appearance, but I think mostly because of her thin stature making her look taller than she actually was.  Older than me - late 50's or early 60's, short brown-graying hair that was curled, and a weathered/wrinkly face.  When I asked if that's who he saw, he confirmed the description.  I found myself thinking about it again the next morning while I was brushing snow off the car, and I heard someone say "Sandra."

Now this isn't how I operate at all, but I am really wanting to go back there to ask a waitress about this Sandra, or to at least see what other interesting happenings may go on.  I guess even for someone like me who is connected to those in spirit and all things weird most of the time, it's still kind of fun to have an unexpected mystery once in awhile!

2011 or Four

If you haven’t already figured this one out for yourselves over the past 18 days, then you might just want to buckle up – 2011 is going to be one wild ride!

Numerologically speaking, it’s a “Four Year” (2+0+1+1). What that means for all of us? It’s time to get to work! Think back through the past year.  Did you have a few creative sparks? Fresh ideas? Crazy dreams of new things you might want to do with your life? It happened for many people. For a few these thoughts came willingly, for others they came out of neccessity after being tossed out of their comfort zones on their keisters, desperately searching to find “what do I do now?” It was a year for the creative ideas and new awareness to come to light. So now this “Four Year” gives us the chance to put some of the ideas into action. It’s time to be practical, serious, and determined. Begin to build your new foundation. Take constructive steps toward following your passion. Consider and start documenting steps to goals and ideas that you have put off. It’s not going to be a smooth ride. It’s not about taking the easy way out. It is about a new chance to follow through with your life purpose and to start this year by laying the groundwork necessary to get there.

A few points of advice in proceeding with your big plans….

Be cautious not to plan or choose or jump to conclusions out of fear. This will only lead you on a never-ending coaster-ride. Instead think things through, so you can prepare and decide wisely. Follow your heart and inner voice with openness and patience to avoid blocking out your best possible paths and prospects from becoming clear.

Don’t be afraid to balance hard work and accomplishments with down-time, play and peaceful quiet. Pay attention to your body and mind as to its urging for activity or urging for respite. Doing this will keep you healthy and keep your energy flowing positively to get you through the hard-work you’ll be doing all year.  Try meditation, or yoga, or surrounding yourself in nature; even if it hasn't been your thing in the past it might be just what you need to get you relaxed and refreshed for your next round of tasks.

Be sure you’re planning with purest intention in working toward this strong foundation. Building yourself, your career, your relationships, or your family up will be surely connected to chances for more security, but some, if not cautious and aware of the choices they make along the way may cross the line toward greed and materialism, or even more inadvertently, simply may overdo it and have their work backfire, only to have to start the cycle over again.

If you’ve already been following your passion and are secure with your life purpose, use the next few weeks to re-assess a little. See if there are areas or aspects to which you can reinforce, expand or grow this foundation you’ve established or to branch out further. For some managing multiple tasks or aspects, there may be a shift of focus for the year. For some who have had a singular focus, there may be opportunities to explore and develop associated facets.

With regard to people coming into your life this year, by chance meetings, reunions, or by whatever divine timing they arrive, don’t let them get away without having at least one conversation about putting your dreams into action because chances are they’ve shown up to give help, advice, insight, support and encouragement, or some other gift toward whatever work you’re doing on your foundation. This could apply to any part of your life you’re working on too, outwardly or personally. So take advantage and have some fun with discovering how synchronicity brings about just the right person, mentor, advisor or means to greater understanding just when we truly need it.

Since our connection with people is an area of our greatest quandaries, just a few more thoughts for the year on that. Friendships and romances are likely to bloom from common goals and interests. If you find yourself working in a group situation, whether it’s a volunteer organization, a committee, a class, a team, community theatre, or even a party where you’ve come together to celebrate a certain person or event, keep your eyes open. Chances are that someone you’re meant to make a real connection with is in the room with you. What an easy way to launch into something meaningful…you already will have a built-in starter conversation over coffee just to learn how each of you were drawn to take part in that group. Likewise, marriages, families, and already established friendships can benefit from partner-projects. Build, create, restore, or make something new- together! It’s sure to bring your interconnectedness and understanding for each other to a whole new level. Additionally, business partnerships are likely to take off for those recognizing the strength in merging their parallel ideas for the future.

If things seem overwhelming at times through the year, never fear. Take a little down-time then continue looking forward as you get back to work. All the effort you put in will pay off as it leads us in 2012 and the rewarding adventures that year will bring along with it.

So, be open. Let the universe bring its gifts to you. Then take advantage of the opportunities that arrive. Don’t limit yourself because the world may have many more blessings and surprises to send your way…beyond your greatest dream or wildest imagination.

Run with it!