December 2007 1 www.ReadKite.com Issue # 8 K ite
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6 That Last Inch Chesa Keane
12 Meditation Morsel: Gratitude Breathing 13 13 Quotes: Giving
14 For Those Who Take Life Too Seriously Lynette Landing 17 Can Spring Cleaning Really Affect My Business?
Kathryn Watson
18 Tarot of the Magical Forest: A Synchronous Event
Tarot Dame 23 Be Your Own Herbal Expert (Series: Part 7 of 8) Susun S. Weed 27 Bookshelf: The 15 Minute Miracle (and) My Miracle Manifestation Manual 29 Celebrate Every Day!
“The Eskimo has 52 names for snow because it is important to them.
There ought to be as many for love.”
Margaret Atwood
In this issue...
Issue # 8
December 2007 K ite
December 2007 � 5 � www.ReadKite.com
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he fall leaves from the oak trees were neatly corralled and her cheeks
rosy from the effort. Eighty-one and active, my mother kept busy every
day and her help was invaluable.
She had been living with me for
the past year and a half and her
energy still amazed me. That night
after rearranging the meditation
room with me, we decided to stop
to go out for dinner. She turned,
headed toward the dining room
and falling, broke her hip.
After the surgery, she never returned home; her feet never touched the earth
again. Just linoleum floors, flat carpeting, nothing more. And so the journey
began: two years of not letting go, two years of decline, two years where I
had the honor of advocating for her and easing her pain and sadness the best
I could.
Mayleen’s life wasn’t always smooth. She had a deep sadness, feeling con-
flicted with her desire for freedom from her oppressive marriage and her de-
sire, her need, to protect and keep her children safe and close. She, of course,
chose her children fearing that our Dad would win us away in a battle of
power in a divorce. But it never broke her spirit. That spirit of caring earned
her the undisputed title of Mama Wolverine. No one dared stand between her
and her kids.
Her three surgeries left her with creeping dementia and an inability to under-
take the necessary physical therapy that would have let her come home with
me. But Mayleen was always Mayleen; a personality that shone through no
matter the circumstances. She was a favorite with the nurses and staff be-
cause she seldom showed her disappointment but rather had a quick smile
That Last Inch
By Chesa Keane
T
December 2007 � 7 � www.ReadKite.com
and a cute comment that kept them all seeing her core happiness.
What most people didn’t see were her terrors. Somehow, deep inside she was
afraid of being harmed or attacked or imprisoned. The battle to balance her
meds to keep her from falling into this morass of fear was a constant chal-
lenge. Such a positive nature to hold such fearfulness. I spent almost every
night convincing her that she really hadn’t been hit or put in jail or raped; she
had simply had bad dreams from all the medication she was taking and
thought that the dreams were real when she awoke. It usually worked; or at
least she let me think the explanation worked.
Mayleen has always had two stated fears: Alzheimer’s and death. The de-
mentia was more than likely a result of a reaction to the anesthesia from her
surgeries. She knew she was losing her mental capabilities and it added to
her fears. But one night as I was sitting with her, she turned to me and said,
“What will you do if I die?” To which I immediately replied, “I’ll miss you
like crazy.” And we never talked about it again.
As the months dragged on, I began to wonder why she wouldn’t let go. She
had been under hospice care for longer than a year and while she was stead-
ily declining, she wasn’t rushing out the door of life. Finally it dawned me
that she was concerned for me. What would I do without her? And what
would my brother, Terry, do without her?
Terry and I were not close and it always bothered her that her kids didn’t
have a relationship. My uncle was also going to be alone after she left. I truly
believe that this Mama Wolverine was not going to make her exit until she
knew her son and daughter had a close relationship and her brother had a
connection with her kids. It took almost two years, but she surely achieved
her goals.
Mayleen began visiting with her mother and father, her older brother, several
aunts and uncles, all dead. She told me one time that she and her Mum and
Dad had just returned from the store where they picked up a pot roast for din-
ner next Sunday. She only talked to the dead now and for the most part, only
recognized me – probably because I saw her every day. When her brother,
Don, came to visit from Canada, she rejected him outright and I had to bring
December 2007 � 8 � www.ReadKite.com
him back to re-introduce him. But those visits when he came down turned
out to be valuable for he and I, not just her. We did reconnect and now we
have each other as family, something that distance prevented before.
Her cycles of laughter and terror, of sleep and sleeplessness, of clarity and
confusion lasted almost two years. All I could do was help her find her center
in warmth and security each day at the end of the day. Taking each day one
at a time, I became attuned to her rhythm and realized that now the Mama
Wolverine was me. Now, she looked to me for protection and support. Such
strength she showed; I often felt humbled in her presence. Not that she was
aware of her strength; she simply was strength.
I learned from my Mom to cry at the drop of a good-bye. I used to come
home frequently from Seattle to Wenatchee (a short 1-1/2 hour drive) for the
weekend and on Sunday afternoon, fresh laundry packed in my car, I’d get
ready to leave. And there she would be, fighting back her tears – unsuccess-
fully – showing me that departing hurt her. It was the same with her parents
when we would visit and then head for home. I don’t know why, but as a
non-crybaby in almost any other matter, good-byes always get to me. I guess
I can credit Mayleen with that habit.
From time to time, rarely, when I arrived Mom would look up at me and
smile, happy to see me. Such a joyful and peaceful face of beauty. I would
help her with her evening snack, cover her to make sure she was warm, and
talk and laugh with her as she told me about her latest visit from the other
side. She looked me in the eye and said simply, “I wish I could come home
with you.” No recriminations, no bitterness, just a clear wish. Those good
nights were rare, but the smile on my Mommy’s face was a blessing that kept
the tears at bay.
Then she began to lose body heat. Her temperature was 93.5° at its lowest
measure. When her temperature rose to 99.5° no one really seemed con-
cerned until I pointed out that the swing was 6 degrees and they should be
concerned. She began to dehydrate and didn’t get out of bed, and she had
that far off gaze. Soon, she was placed on Code Pink – not much hope of re-
covery. For three days I visited her several times a day, helping her drink wa-
ter, bringing her temperature down and just letting her know she was loved.
December 2007 � 9 � www.ReadKite.com
Finally, I thought, this is it. She’s letting go. On Monday morning, after four
days of no food, little medication and small amounts of water, I expected she
wouldn’t last much longer. As I rounded the corner to her room, I found her
awake, alert, happy and hungry. No one could believe it when I told them I
needed some food for her. Miracle Mom. She simply was not ready to leave.
Mayleen had beat Code Pink.
There were times of joy for me in this process. One night she looked me in
the eye and told me that I was a good girl and had always been a good girl.
And she told me I was beautiful; that I was really beautiful. These two mes-
sages of love from my Mom were like water to someone abandoned in the
desert. Like a child starved for affection, these tidbits of awareness and atten-
tion were pure gold to me.
Just short of two years, Mayleen went Code Pink again. This time she
wouldn’t recover. For the past week, when I told her, “I love you,” there was
no response. And now she was on oxygen, fighting for her breath. I had be-
gun taking her through a visualization:
Mommy, let’s imagine you’re standing in your bare feet in a
field of long grass. The sun warms your face; the breeze
touches your skin; the earth is cool to your feet. Look over
there! There’s Grandpa and Grandma. They are smiling and
coming over to you. Oh, and there’s Tom! I think they have
a picnic basket and a blanket. See how happy they are to see
you. I can see you all sitting on the blanket and you and
Tom are teasing each other and laughing right out loud.
She lay quietly listening to my story with a smile on her lips and it seemed to
relax her. It was just a day or so later that she hit Code Pink. I think that this
imaging helped her relax; helped her release her fears; encouraged her to let
go.
December 2007 � 10 � www.ReadKite.com
In the end, I had only two wishes: 1) that she would not suffer and 2) that I
would be with her when she passed. She was not suffering greatly for those
last two days. And I was with her, praying for her transition to be as joyful
and peaceful as it could be when I handed her over to her friends and family
waiting for her on the other side. My last thoughts to them were, receive her
with laughter and joy and let her know that she has nothing to fear.
I realized on Sunday afternoon that I would be chanting my last prayers with
her and I also somehow realized that as I finished, she would choose that
time to leave. So I chanted a nice, strong, slow Gongyo, making it last as
long as I could. When I got to the fourth prayer and asked that her family be
there to greet her with laughter and joy as I gave her over to them, she took
her last breath and I chanted the final prayer knowing she had made the tran-
sition.
This is a story like any other daughter who has lost her mother, I am sure.
But it is my story and I can only share my thoughts of our journey. What did
I learn? What am I left with? So much:
• I have been saying good-bye for two years; still, I miss her now more
than I imagined.
December 2007 � 11 � www.ReadKite.com
About Chesa
Chesa Keane has taught meditation, self-awareness and self-help for more
than 30 years. To receive your free starter Basic Meditation and Basic Re-
laxation Techniques and an introduction to a unique meditation tool, the
TAO Totem, visit: http://www.taototem.com. For beginning meditation
techniques visit: http://www.meditation-works.com and for advanced medi-
tation concepts and some guided meditations to help you learn to meditate
successfully, visit: http://www.meditationwarrior.com.
• I believe she determined that her family would be re-connected be-
fore she left, no matter how much she suffered.
• I am honored to have known her love, her protection, her need for me
at the end of her life.
• I look forward to our next adventure, somewhere in the unknown fu-
ture.
• Her timing was perfect and it makes me realize that we were in
rhythm with the Universe, together.
• Now I am an orphan and I realize that I am not #1 in anyone’s life
any longer.
• If only she had lifted her foot just one inch higher, her life would
have been very different.
As I passed her from here to there, from me to them, I told her that they
would all be laughing and that she needed to laugh again. It was as I repeated
the word laugh, that she released, let go, just as I finished the last prayer. It
was perfect. I will miss her endlessly.
December 2007 � 12 � www.ReadKite.com
Meditation morsel
#4: Gratitude Breathing
Kay Earnshaw
When trying to manifest something in your life, gratitude plays a key role in achieving speedier results. However, sometimes daily life can be overwhelming and distracting, making it a chal-lenge to remember to incorporate gratitude into your routine. Luckily, you can easily integrate it into your meditation. Begin your meditation as you normally do. Make sure that distractions are kept at bay, secure a comfortable position, and relax. Breathe in deeply. As you exhale, think/hear/feel the words “Thank you”. Inhale again, then silently repeat “Thank you” with each exhale.
Your mind may automatically begin searching for things to be grateful for. This is natural. When you smile for no reason, your brain be-gins searching for something to justify the smile. It’s the same when you repeat the phrase “Thank you”. You want to keep your mind still and empty as you meditate, so simply acknowledge the im-ages your mind brings to you of gratitude, and let them go. Continue this process for the duration of your meditation. Incorporate this into your meditation routine as often as you like. You’ll be pleased with the results!
December 2007 � 13 � www.ReadKite.com
13 quotes Giving
1. It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it. Albert Einstein
2. No one has ever become poor by giving. Anne Frank 3. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Winston Churchill 4. There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most
in life - happiness, freedom, and peace of mind - are always attained by giving them to someone else. Peyton Conway March
5. I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the
giver. Maya Angelou
6. Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
7. You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. Kahlil Gibran 8. Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present. Albert Camus 9. For it is in giving that we receive.
St. Francis of Assisi
10. Don’t say that you want to give, but go ahead and give! You’ll never catch up with a mere hope. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
11. If you have much, give of your wealth; If you have little, give of your heart. Arab proverb 12. They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing.
Hindu Proverb
13. It is better to give than receive - especially advice. Mark Twain
December 2007 � 14 � www.ReadKite.com
he fact is life is supposed to fun! Do you see fun on the faces of most of
the people you come into contact with during a day? And what do they
see when they look at your face?
As a speaker specializing in personal empowerment, I find most audiences
lately exhibit an unhealthy level of fear, stress, self esteem and a lack of en-
ergy. Coincidentally many of them also have this deep wrinkle centered on
their forehead right over their nose. I called it the “Yikes-wrinkle” for obvi-
ous reasons.
But at the risk of seeming condescending, I need to say that I too, use to wear
the Yikes-wrinkle. It kept me company and started and ended many of my
days, months and years, until one day I finally retired it when my brain gave
birth to an interesting concept that appealed to me and stuck with me for
good.
Years later, I share the concept with my audiences and find that it not only
helps them lighten up, but they begin to breathe deeper, ease back in their
seats a little and then finally abandon their own Yikes-wrinkle right there in
front of me. This concept is simply called “The Game of Life”.
The Game of Life: You are a spirit and you are part of a bigger team. Prior
to your birth, you were in a big room with all your spirit teammates deciding
which one of you will get to play a game called "LIFE". The game is a jour-
ney that you (with the help of your team) create and the object is to have as
much fun as you can. Each team member gets a chance to play the game at
some point. This is your turn.
You are so excited because…well, its fun! Your entire time will accompany
you and make the game easier and more fun if you simply remember to ac-
cess them. They cannot reveal themselves to you unless you call on them be-
cause…well, that’s part of the game!
For Those Who Take Life Too Seriously
By Lynette Landing
T
December 2007 � 15 � www.ReadKite.com
Just like any game, there are instructions that you go over in preparation. The
instructions read:
1. Congratulations! You are the lucky player chosen to play the game of
“LIFE” during earth years 19__ - 20__. Have a ball!
2. The object of the Game is to create, have fun, experience, and love.
3. There is no competition, no rush to the finish line. There are no losers,
everyone is a winner.
4. The rest of your team is connected to you even though you won’t be able
to see them.
5. Your teammates hold the key to knowledge, abundance, connections and
whatever else you need and they can only supply these things to you if
you ask.
6. You will choose a “purpose” for the Game and your goal is to always re
member (because living on purpose will bring you complete fulfillment).
7. You will choose a vehicle (mind and body) that will stay with you
throughout the Game. Treat your vehicle kindly and it will be your best
friend.
8. Once you begin the Game, an Ego will find you and accompany you on
your journey.
9. Ego’s goal is to stop you from remembering that you are a Spirit and to
stop you from remembering your purpose.
10. Ego has a bag of tricks that include fear, limiting beliefs, obstacles, lack
of self-worth, separation for your team…and other silly illusions.
11. Ego’s illusions have no power over you unless you allow them to. Re
member, you are a Spirit and much more resilient than Ego!
12. If Ego starts to undermine your fun or your purpose, consult your team
who will diminish Ego’s power.
13. The game will end when the timer goes off. You will set the timer before
you begin the game.
14. Have as much fun as possible!
15. The key to getting the most enjoyment out of the game of “LIFE” is to:
a. Keep Ego in check
b. Access your team regularly
c. Love and take care of your vehicle.
Enjoy!
December 2007 � 16 � www.ReadKite.com
The concept of life being a game has enabled
many to lighten up and eliminate the Yikes-
wrinkle. If you begin to think of life as a game,
and that you came here to have fun, create and dis-
cover (remember) your purpose, you will truly en-
joy the experience.
This light and easy mindset is a must as you make
changes and try new things. Every time you start
to expand your comfort zone, Ego (that judgmental
voice inside of you) may try to interfere and say
things like "You can't be famous, the odds are
stacked against you” or “You don’t have what it
takes to start that business” or “You shouldn’t try
that, it’s scary and you'll never succeed" or “You
can't do that, they won't like you” or “You don’t
have the money for that” or “You’re not smart
enough!" and these type of false illusions continue
throughout your life. But the good news is, you
truly are a Spirit and you really do have a
“Team” (Higher Power) that is right there with you
for your entire life.
So, when the Ego starts that irritating chatter, sim-
ply access your Team and ask for support to
squelch the Ego’s voice and strength to help you
proceed forward with enthusiasm.
I encourage you to stop taking life so seriously and
start to enjoy this amazing Game that you were so
excited to participate in!
About Lynette
Lynette Landing is an enthusiastic
speaker, author, personal development
coach, business owner and a professional
member of the National Speakers Asso-
ciation. Lynette is an authority on per-
sonal empowerment; specifically build-
ing self esteem, overcoming strife, cop-
ing with change, goal setting and expand-
ing one’s comfort zone. Once a penniless,
single mom forced from her home with
her 6 year old son, Lynette abandoned
her lack of self-worth and became en-
grossed with studying the habits of lead-
ers, self-made successes and entrepre-
neurs. She developed her own life-
changing tricks to creating a successful
life and manifesting her heart's desires.
Today she helps others to set and surpass
their own goals by bringing her motiva-
tional message to individuals and groups.
Visit www.LookfortheSun.com for more
information, and to get your FREE "Life
is Easy" pass!
December 2007 � 17 � www.ReadKite.com
Can Spring Cleaning Really Affect My Business?
By Kathryn Watson
y friend Marla told me the other day that her business has been phe-
nomenal lately. ''A funny thing'' she said '' It seems as if as soon as I
replaced some floors in my house, business suddenly got better.'' I asked
Marla if the condition of the floors had touched a sore spot in her. ''Oh yes'',
she replied '' I couldn't stand to look at them anymore.''
I explained that what happened was actually very simple yet very amazing
also. The floors were draining Marla's energy. Every time she looked at them
she felt frustrated and disempowered. This affected her business greatly since
she works at home and had to confront this drain all day. Replacing the
floors gave her a sense of renewal and probably a feeling of power.
Now what's more attractive than a powerful woman with a mission?
Does this mean I have to get new floors? Of course not. But look around in
your life to see what's draining your energy. It could be something you have
been procrastinating doing (like writing this article), cleaning up your desk,
starting an exercise program, etc. Sometimes working or living with some-
one who is very negative can drain you. Does that mean you have to end the
relationship? Not necessarily, but you will have to get clear about what you
will and will not accept in the relationship and set boundaries accordingly.
How are your finances? If you cringed at this question that is a sure sign that
you have a big energy drain going on in this area of your life.
Getting help from a professional, a coach or counselor or maybe a financial
planner will help you get your life back on track. Once you take care of what
has been draining you, you will instantly feel a wonderful surge of energy
both personally and professionally!
M
About Kathryn
Kathryn is a Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Stress Management Trainer and
Speaker. She helps her clients achieve and maintain the focus that is needed
to reach their goals. Her philosophy is that we all have incredible power to
achieve happiness in all areas of our life. ...
Email: [email protected] Website: www.relaxforsuccess.com
December 2007 � 18 � www.ReadKite.com
Tarot of the Magical Forest: A Synchronous Event
By Tarot Dame
y story begins the first week of October. I had or-
dered a tarot deck that had long been on my wish
list, from a large Asian online retailer. According to the
website, it would take up to three weeks until the deck
would be shipped. I waited, anxiously. About three and
a half weeks later, I get an email from the company,
canceling my order. They couldn’t find any suppliers
who currently carried the deck.
I searched online and found another website which sold
the deck. I attempted to order several times from them,
but each time I received an error message, and was unable to complete my
order. I sent the company a couple of emails, asking how I could place an
order, but never received a response. Determined to get this deck in my
hands, I searched again, and found that this company had many different
websites all selling the same things. I finally found one where I could suc-
cessfully complete my order. (Why was I was hell bent on ordering from a
company with non-existent customer service? … I *really* wanted this
deck.)
A couple days later, I posted on an online tarot forum, asking if anyone had
done business with this company. I hadn’t received receipt or confirmation
of my order, and was worried that I might have just thrown my money away.
I was assured by several people that they had done business with this com-
pany successfully. So I felt better. Until a couple days later, when I received
an email from the company, canceling my order, as the deck was out of
stock.
Now that’s when a red flag should have gone off in my head, but for some
reason I was receiving a different message from the Universe. I was trying to
decide whether it was a sign that I wasn’t meant to have this deck right now,
M
December 2007 � 19 � www.ReadKite.com
or if it was a test of my perseverance! What it turned out to be was the reality
of this deck suddenly selling out and now being out of print!
Being naïve, I posted my new woes to the forum. I let
everyone know that I had indeed heard from the com-
pany, but only to have had my order canceled. I shared
my ponderings of whether I was meant to have this deck
or not. Someone suggested eBay, where two copies of
the decks were currently available. Apparently, the more
savvy among us ran and snatched up the two remaining
decks before I was able to click on the link, as they real-
ized from everything I had said, that the deck was now
likely out of print (a fact later confirmed by the distribu-
tor).
So there I was, with no deck, literally leading others to the last two copies of
this deck available anywhere! I definitely learned my lesson there, and now
know when searching for an elusive deck, to keep my mouth shut! But I sin-
cerely approached the issue from a completely different mindset. I wasn’t
thinking competitively. I just really wanted this deck and wanted to share my
feelings with people who I knew would understand.
So that was it, there were no more copies of this deck being sold anywhere
online. I posted a “Deck Wanted” notice on one of the forums, in the chance
that anyone would want to sell their unwanted copy. Highly unlikely now
though, as I had just created such a hoopla over the deck!
I received a couple of very nice emails from forum members with friends in
Taiwan, where the deck was published. They said they would send out some
emails and see if they could scout out a deck for me. Their kindness and gen-
erosity really made me feel great, and although I was *really* bummed about
what had happened, I was very comforted by the kindheartedness of the few
who reached out to help me.
I had this deck featured on several of my “Coming in the Mail” lists, on my
blog, on my forum profile, and in a forum thread as well. I thought about re-
moving it from my lists, and sticking it back on my “Decks Wanted”
list...but something made me leave it where it was. I didn’t see any hope of
December 2007 � 20 � www.ReadKite.com
getting this deck, but I wasn’t ready to make it that final!
That very day, the day that I realized all the copies of
this deck had been snatched up...I was emailing with my
mom in California. She was talking about her plans for
the week, and mentioned that my dad was in Shanghai
on a business trip, and on his way to Taiwan for one
day, before traveling on to Dubai. Taiwan??? My whole
body perked up at that word. I don’t know if my dad has
ever been to Taiwan, but he was headed there on the
very day that the deck I wanted from Taiwan was now
unavailable! The coincidence was nothing short of
amazing!
I frantically emailed the story to my mom, asking her to call my dad and see
if he could search out the deck for me. I knew the chances were slim to none,
because for one, my dad knows nothing about tarot. Secondly, he would only
be in Taiwan for one day, and was there on business, so had work to do. He
just wouldn’t have much time to look, and even if he did, it was doubtful he
would know where to begin! Thirdly, the people I had talked to with friends
in Taiwan said that they couldn’t find the deck anywhere, and they *knew*
tarot and knew where to look. Yes, the odds were against me, but I couldn’t
help but feel that the synchronicity of his being in Taiwan on that very day
was a sign.
I emailed my mom pictures of the deck, as well as a picture of the cover of
the box. She forwarded them to my dad, and said she’d ask him to look, but
couldn’t promise anything. So I let it go. I was really excited about the possi-
bility, but I detached from the outcome.
The next day I get an email from my mom. My dad had searched high and
low that day and was unable to find the deck…in fact, most of the book
stores he went to didn’t even know what tarot cards were. That evening, he
went to dinner with a business associate and she made some calls. As they
were finishing dinner, they received a call from her assistant, who was able
to locate one deck available in a book store on top of a high rise building!
They had to take a cab there from the restaurant, but when they got there
they couldn't find it. They had other tarot decks, but they couldn’t find the
December 2007 � 21 � www.ReadKite.com
specific one I wanted. After a more thorough search of the store, one of my
dad’s colleagues finally found it!
I literally started jumping up and down with excitement, so amazed at how
the Universe miraculously conspired to bring this deck to me!
I had to laugh at the thought of my conservative, 62 year old father, President
of a large company, along with his colleagues, spending the day and evening
flitting around Taiwan, searching for an elusive tarot deck for his hippie
daughter! It’s such a delightfully wonderful story. I am so incredibly grateful
for the dedication and teamwork that went into this effort for me.
I will treasure this deck forever, as the story behind its
acquisition will never be beat! The name of the deck?
Tarot of the Magical Forest. Magical indeed!
Apparently the reason it was so difficult for me to get
the deck in the beginning is because I was destined to
have a greater story attached with it, and a testimony of
the incredible magic in this world!
From the very first reading I did with this deck, it has
been my favorite. It speaks to me like no other, and I
consider it my “best friend” of decks!
About Kiki
Kiki is an intuitive tarot reader. She strives to make tarot reading comfort-
able and accessible to everyone. She’s a modern, friendly and down to
earth reader who loves what she does. A firm believer in creating your own
reality and the law of attraction, her readings provide insight and guidance
for all areas of life. To book a Tarot Dame reading, visit Kiki online at:
www.TarotDame.com . You may also visit her daily blog featuring illus-
trated card draws, using a different tarot deck each week:
www.tarotdame.blogspot.com . Email: [email protected]
December 2007 � 22 � www.ReadKite.com
Original Photography
Laminated Prints
Mounted Prints
Framed Prints
Canvas Prints
Note Cards
http: //www.redbubble.com/people/rootswithwings/portfolio
December 2007 � 23 � www.ReadKite.com
The Three Traditions of Healing
There are many ways to use herbs to im-
prove and maintain health. Modern medicine
uses highly refined herbal products known
as drugs. Many alternative or holistic practi-
tioners recommend herbs, usually in less-
refined (and less dangerous) forms such as
tinctures or homeopathic remedies. And then
there are the yarb women, the wise women,
such as myself, who integrate herbs into
their daily diet and claim far-reaching results
for simple remedies.
I call these three different approaches the Scientific, Heroic, and Wise
Woman traditions.
These three traditions are ways of thinking, not ways of acting. And they are
not limited to herbs. Any technique, any substance can be used by a healer in
the Scientific, Heroic, and Wise Woman traditions. There are, for instance,
naturopaths, midwives, and MDs in each tradition, as well as herbalists, edu-
cators, therapists, even politicians.
Each of these traditions lives within you, too.
As I define the characteristics of each tradition, identify the part of yourself
that thinks that way.
Scientific Tradition
Modern, western medicine is an excellent example of the Scientific tradition,
where healing is fixing. The line is its symbol: linear thought, linear time.
Be Your Own Herbal Expert
By Susun S. Weed
Part 7 of 8
December 2007 � 24 � www.ReadKite.com
Truth is fixed and measurable. Truth is that which repeats. Good and bad,
health and sickness are put at opposite ends of the line, where they do battle
with each other. Food and medicine are quite different.
Newton's universal laws and the mechanization of nature are the foundation
of the Scientific tradition. Bodies are understood to be like machines. When
machines run well (stay healthy) they don't deviate. Anything that deviates
from normal needs to be fixed or repaired. The Scientific tradition is excel-
lent for fixing broken things. Measurements must be taken to determine de-
viation and insure normalcy. Regular diagnostic tests are critical to maintain-
ing proper functioning and ensuring utmost longevity in the body/machine.
In the Scientific tradition, plants are valued as repositories of poisons/
alkaloids. They are seen as potential drugs, and capable of killing you in their
unpredictable crude states. They are helpful and safe only when refined into
drugs and used by highly-trained experts.
In the Scientific tradition the whole is the same as its most active part, and
machines are more trustworthy than people.
Heroic Tradition
There is not one unified Heroic tradition, but many similar traditions collec-
tively called the Heroic tradition. Alternative health care practitioners gener-
ally represent the Heroic thought pattern, symbolized by a circle.
This circle defines the rules, which, we are told, must be followed in order to
save ourselves from disease and death. Healing in the Heroic tradition fo-
cuses on cleansing. According to this tradition, disease arises when toxins
(dirt, filth, anger, negativity) accumulate. When we are bad, when we eat the
wrong food, think the wrong thought, commit a sin, we sicken and the healer
is the savior, offering purification, punishment, and redemption.
In the Heroic traditions, the whole is the sum of its parts. We are body, mind,
and spirit. The spirit is high and worthy; the body is low and gross; the mind
December 2007 � 25 � www.ReadKite.com
is in between. In the Heroic traditions, we are personally responsible for eve-
rything that happens to us.
Religious beliefs frequently accompany herb use in the Heroic tradition. The
Heroic healer uses rare substances, exotic herbs, and complicated formulae.
Drug-like herbs in capsules are the favored in this tradition. Most books on
herbal medicine are written by men whose thought patterns are those of the
Heroic tradition.
Wise Woman Tradition
The Wise Woman tradition is the world's oldest healing tradition. It envi-
sions good health as openness to change, flexibility, availability to transfor-
mation, and groundedness. Its symbol is the spiral. In the Wise Woman tradi-
tion we do not seek to cure, but focus instead on integrating and nourishing
the unique individual's wholeness/holiness. The Wise Woman tradition relies
on compassion, simple ritual, and common dooryard herbs and garden weeds
as primary nourishers, but appreciates (and uses) any treatment appropriate
to the specific self-healing in process.
The Wise Woman tradition sees each life as a spiraling, ever-changing com-
pleteness. Disease and injury are seen as doorways of transformation, and
each person is recognized as a self healer, earth healer: inherently whole,
resonant to the whole, and vital to the whole. Substance, thought, feeling,
and spirit are inseparable in the Wise Woman tradition. The whole is more
than the sum of its parts.
Spiralic and amazing, the Wise Woman tradition offers self-healing options
as diverse as the human imagination and as complex as the human psyche.
The Wise Woman tradition has no rules, no texts, no rites; it is constantly
changing, constantly being re-invented. It is mostly invisible, hard to see, but
easier and easier to find. It is a give-away dance of nourishment, change, and
self love. An invitation to honor yourself and the earth. An admonishment to
trust yourself.
December 2007 � 26 � www.ReadKite.com
Coming up: Part 8, the final chapter in the “Be Your Own Herbal Ex-
pert” Series. In the next issue of Kite magazine (January 2008):
In our next session we will learn how to make herbal honeys and syrups, and
how to take charge of our own health care with the six steps of healing.
ADVERTISE HERE!
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Kite Magazine
About Susun
Susun Weed is an extraordinary teacher with a joyous spirit, a powerful
presence and an encyclopedic knowledge of herbs and health. She is the
voice of the Wise Woman Way, where common weeds, simple ceremony
and compassionate listening support and nourish health/wholeness/holiness.
Susun has opened hearts to the magic and medicine of the green nations for
three decades. Ms. Weed's four herbal medicine books focus on women's
health topics including menopause, childbearing and breast health.
Visit her site www.susunweed.com for information on her workshops,
apprenticeships, correspondence courses and more! Browse the publishing
site, Ash Tree Publishing: www.ashtreepublishing.com to learn more about
her alternative health books. Venture into the Menopause site at:
www.menopause-metamorphosis.com to learn all about the Menopausal
Years the Wise Woman Way.
December 2007 � 27 � www.ReadKite.com
Tarot Dame
Not your grandmother’s tarot. Tarot Dame is a friendly, modern and
approachable tarot reader offering intuitive hand-drawn readings:
Personal Business
Relationship Family/Friends
New Home/Moving Decision Making
Financial/Career Spiritual Holiday
Tarot Dame readings... for guidance and insight. Book a reading today!
Readings by Email
www .TarotDame.com
Bookshelf The 15 Minute Miracle (and)
My Miracle Manifestation Manual Jacquelyn Aldana
The 15 Minute Miracle is an amazing book sharing the principles necessary to become an irresistible magnet for love, money and miracles! While the book is wonderful and uplifting, I found the workbook even more invaluable, which is saying a lot, because I generally avoid workbooks of any type. Titled “My Miracle Manifestation Manual”, this is a 3-month journal that truly gets your day started off in the right direction. Each page is titled, “My 15-Minute Miracle” and guides you to fill out several questions that are de-signed to get you in the right frame of mind for mani-festing your desires. There are literally hundreds of examples in the back of the book to get your creative juices flowing. In my manual, I have many manifestations docu-mented as a result of this program. As I mentioned earlier, I am not a fan of workbooks, but I didn't miss a single day of working in this manual, and when the three months were over, I wanted more! The only criticism I have of the manual is in its bind-ing. It’s a large book, and difficult to hold open when writing on both sides of the pages. It would have been nice to have it spiral bound, so the book would lend itself easier to hold open. The 15 Minute Miracle and My Miracle Manifestation Manual can be purchased separately. However, they are also available as a set, which includes a bunch of other goodies as well, so I definitely rec-ommend getting the Deluxe Miracle Starter Kit. Learn more about the Deluxe Miracle Starter Kit: Online: www.15MinuteMiracle.com . Phone: 1-888-468-4335 Email: [email protected]
Kay Earnshaw
December 2007 � 28 � www.ReadKite.com
Business Opportunities
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In a world that is now turning to natural solutions for better health, Xocai the Healthy Chocolate is the Solution. For details about this amazing business opportunity, contact me at: 308-583-9900 or Email: [email protected].
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Learn all about essential oils and earn the income you want -- and have the time to enjoy it.
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Kite Magazine Marketing Director
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Ameriplan® Regional Sales Director
We are a home based business offering everyday people the chance to save money on health care costs with our
discount program and helping many more reach their dreams
by working from home.
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Pam Hubbard
The Traveling Vineyard Director
Live the Wine Life!
Premier in-home wine tasting company needs consultants! Free training. Tuscany trip in 2008. No wine expertise required.
Contact me for information [email protected]
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December 2007 � 29 � www.ReadKite.com
December 2007
Spiritual Literacy Month
1. Eat a Red Apple Day 2. Play Basketball Day 3. Let’s Hug Day 4. Wear Brown Shoes Day 5. International Volunteer Day 6. Make and Bake Day 7. National Cotton Candy Day 8. Winter Flowers Day 9. National Pastry Day 10. Nobel Peace Prize Day 11. International Mountain Day 12. Gingerbread House Day 13. National Cocoa Day 14. Miniature Golf Day 15. National Lemon Cupcake Day 16. Clean Air Day 17. National Maple Syrup Day 18. Play Bingo Day 19. Oatmeal Muffin Day 20. Games Day 21. Look at the Bright Side Day 22. National Haiku Poetry Day 23. Economists Day 24. National Egg Nog Day 25. National Pumpkin Pie Day 26. National Candy Cane Day 27. National Fruitcake Day 28. Card Playing Day 29. Opposite Day 30. Let’s Make a Deal Day 31. Make Up Your Mind Day
celebrate every day!
December 2007 � 30 � www.ReadKite.com