Author: martin

Not everyone has the same ideas when it comes to Christmas, there are many different beliefs and superstitions!

Welcoming Christmas 

Some believe that opening the doors of the house at midnight, Christmas Eve is supposed to be good as it lets out the evil spirits. ‘First Foots’ are those that enter the house first, a darker haired man entering the house first on Christmas Day is a good sign, and if the first guest is a woman it is said to bring in bad fortune!

A first foot bringing in an evergreen or wreath is considered a blessing. The first person to open the door on the morning of Christmas should shout and welcome ‘Father Christmas’. Some people also believe that sweeping your threshold on Christmas sweeps away all the troubles.

Christmas Carols and Songs

It is considered unlucky to sing Christmas carols at any occasion other than Christmas even though we often do this. It is also considered unlucky to send carollers away empty-handed, lucky them! Drinking along with the songs and lighting fires were also believed to be lucky and bring in prosperity but many believed this was just to create the idea of having a good time!

Christmas Food

Some people think that if you make a wish while stirring a Christmas pudding, it will come true. If everyone in the family takes turns while stirring, it will bring good fortune to the family. In older times it was thought that young girls, who are hoping to get married soon should also give a stir when the Christmas pudding is being cooked.

It is also considered unlucky to cut into a Christmas cake before Christmas Eve and some portion of the cake should be kept till Christmas Day. Mince pies are said to bring in good luck and the number of pies eaten at different households during Christmas equals the number of lucky months in the coming year.

Yule Log, Christmas Candle – Light and Fire

Ever wondered what a Yule Log is? Well, according to some, the Yule Log must be kept burning all night, and it should be lit by the log used the previous year to keep evil spirits at bay. The log should not be bought but sought naturally. Even the remains of the log are considered lucky and are a protection against fire and lightning. Christmas candles are to be left undisturbed and burning till Christmas morning. And, if there is difficulty in lighting the fire on Christmas Day, it is an indication of a bad year ahead.

 

Shoes, Presents and Work

Gifting new shoes and wearing new shoes on Christmas brings good fortune, though the English believe in gifting new shoes on Christmas. In Greece it is believed that burning old shoes prevents misfortune the next year.

Hanging stockings near the chimney is said to be good as it brings in luck and children believe that Santa Claus will fill them with loads of goodies. Work should be avoided on this day, only the unavoidable tasks should be completed on Christmas day.

Personal Beliefs

It doesn’t matter really if Christmas means something different to you than it does to your friends, family, co-workers and neighbours. It’s how you want to celebrate it in your heart that matters. If it’s a religious belief, that it’s just for the kids or solely about token gift giving then that’s all fine.

As long as people remember to be good and kind then surely that’s all that matters, it’s a time for people to connect and I think also a great time for people to let go of grudges and past problems, to come together and look over the past year. Maybe someone will come back into your life, maybe someone will forgive you or you forgive them. If you’re going to do it then this is an excellent time of year to let bygones be bygones.

To gain some insight into what lies ahead for you this Christmas please do contact one of our readers as their guides are very active at this time of year and will be able to help you greatly.

Merry Christmas from all at Sundial Psychics!

Respect is an important thing to give and to receive. Respect shows that you think that the other person has value and that you want to show them that. It allows people to communicate and live in relative harmony. If I respect you, even when I don’t agree with what you do or say, I won’t make nasty comments or try to make your life more difficult.

I may voice my opinion about things, but I won’t insist that you agree or follow my line of thinking. Similarly, if you respect me, you’ll listen to my opinion, weigh it honestly and then make your own decision. Again, you may voice your disagreement, but it won’t become a full-blown argument because we can respect each other’s differing opinions.

Mindfulness in Relationships

Respect is a key aspect in any relationship; this may be between lovers, parent and child, teacher and pupil, brother and sister and so on. Respect brings with it a mindfulness that helps both sides to create an even and equal bond. This bond can bring about some excellent situations and exchanges in ideas and also better environments to work, learn and live in.

Having Respect for Others

Respecting someone else doesn’t mean sucking up to them or trying to be the best or favourite. It simply means that you have strength and maturity that shows you can be level headed. Some examples of having respect for others include:

• Sticking to arrangements – being on time, reaching deadlines etc
• Being polite, professional and courteous
• Being fair and listening to others
• Be clear and honest, don’t confuse people with your words or hide malice behind them
• Be able to accept criticism and advice
• Demonstrate self-control

Of course it’s not always easy to do these things especially if you feel frustrated but try not to let that cloud your judgement of the situation. Be calm and fair and let people see that you are a strong and level headed person even in the height of any problems. It will gain you a LOT of respect back into your life.

Having Respect for Yourself

Self-respect is something that is referred to and quoted often but many people seem to misunderstand what it actually involves. Self-respect is about liking oneself and giving yourself dignity, just like you would give it to any other person. Self-respect is such an important thing because without it self-love is impossible and loving others in a healthy way is impossible. If you lack self-respect, you will allow others to trample on your dignity which will perpetuate the cycle, making you hate yourself and hate the person doing the trampling even more.

On the other hand, when you have self-respect, you really, truly like yourself and have dignity. You set boundaries in your lifestyle and relationships and others respect you for it. You allow no one to treat you in a bad way and treat others in a good way. If people do treat you badly, try not to take it personally, don’t allow it to continue and move on with your life. When someone gives you a compliment and you have self-respect you can truly enjoy and accept the compliment knowing it is deserved.

Treat Others as they Wish to Be Treated

This is a golden rule when it comes to respect and it’s very simple indeed that even children are taught this from an early age. They are told to be kind and fair to others, to make sure they don’t hurt people’s feelings but it’s something that adults often forget. As adults it’s easy for us to become blinded by emotions such as anger, jealousy, bigotry and so on and they in turn stop us from respecting others and in turn ourselves.

Along with this it’s always good to praise people for their efforts, ideas and thoughts, even for their time and loyalty. Only speaking to people to complain or tell them what they have done wrong is demoralising and you will know yourself that you wouldn’t like that to happen to you. Before you speak to someone consider how you would feel if someone spoke to you that way, how would it make you feel? How would it change your opinion of the messenger?

Overall respect is always a good thing, it can make people feel good, make them more productive, make them respect you and also bring about positive changes that may need to be made!

Divorce can be a crushing blow or it can be very liberating depending on how the separation has come about and how it’s made you feel. Finishing a marriage causes many challenges but it can also bring with it lots of positive changes. One of the issues to deal with is your new status as someone who is single. How do you view yourself once the marriage is over?

Recent Separation

Whether ending the marriage was a mutual decision or it ended badly, you will have given a lot of time and effort into that relationship. After separating your life will obviously be different, there may be changes in the way that friends and family deal with you. Some people may even disapprove of your decision and if children are in the mix it can bring with it many extra emotions.

This will be a time where you’ll need to adjust slowly. It will feel strange to do things alone that you did as a couple. Going out with married friends or for a meal with another couple may feel odd. You might even find your friends start to set up dates for you, make sure to take it all in your stride!

Find Yourself

Being married to someone makes you a part of that person but not any more, now you’re just you! This can be both a good and bad thing but it’s a good time to grow into your new self. Take a good look at yourself, now is the time to figure out who you are. That can be scary, but remember that you are more than someone’s other half. You are a unique individual.

Ask yourself if you lost part of yourself in that old marriage, did you stop doing things you enjoyed? Did you tone down a strong willed attitude in order to keep the peace and seem more agreeable? Maybe it’s time to get those hobbies and qualities back into your life.

You might even want to start afresh, reinvent yourself maybe! Try new things, start classes in things you’ve been too shy to do before, this will not only help you to become a “new you” but you’ll also likely meet new people as well.

Going Alone

Being alone doesn’t mean you have to be lonely! Remember now you can put yourself first, you don’t have to plan around the other person in your life. It may be as simple as being able to eat when you want, go out when you want, see who you want, you’re the one in charge now!

By being alone you have the ability to empower yourself. Perhaps your spouse held you back from truly caring for yourself. He or she may have enabled you to become dependent rather than be an equal partner.

Many newly divorced people have trouble doing anything alone, even going to the cinema or for a meal alone. Try getting away from your comfort zone. It will show you how powerful you are! You are no longer defined or limited by a marriage that doesn’t work. While there are many changes along the way, you are on the road to understanding yourself. Embrace the journey ahead and make sure to contact one of our readers to see what your future can bring!

Nearly everyone has been hurt by the actions or words of another. Perhaps your mother criticized your parenting skills, your colleague took on your idea and made it theirs or your partner had an affair. These wounds can leave you with lasting feelings of anger, bitterness or even getting your own back. However, if you don’t practice forgiveness, you might be the one who pays for it the most. By embracing forgiveness, you can also embrace peace, hope, gratitude and joy. Consider how forgiveness can lead you down the path of physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

What is forgiveness?

Generally, forgiveness is a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge. The act that hurt or offended you might always remain a part of your life, but forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help you focus on other, positive parts of your life. Forgiveness can even lead to stronger feelings of understanding, empathy and compassion for the one who hurt you. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you deny the other person’s responsibility for hurting you, and it doesn’t minimize or justify the wrong and hurtful thing that they have done or said to you. You can forgive the person without excusing the act.

Forgiveness brings a kind of peace that helps you go on with life and be the better person. Letting go of grudges and bitterness can make way for compassion, kindness and peace. Forgiveness can lead to healthier relationships and not just with the person you have forgiven. It can have greater spiritual and psychological well-being as well as less anxiety, stress and hostility. So as you can see it will actually have a lot of personal benefits for you!

Why is it so easy to hold a grudge?

When you’re hurt by someone you love and trust, you might become angry, sad or confused. If you dwell on hurtful events or situations, grudges filled with resentment, vengeance and hostility can take start to become all you think about. If you allow negative feelings to crowd out positive feelings, you might find yourself swallowed up by your own bitterness or sense of injustice. In turn you can build up a lot of negative energy around you and this may well start to affect others in your life. You may see people who are normally around you start to back off and you can even draw the wrong people into your life so be careful!

What are the effects of holding a grudge?

If you’re unforgiving, you might pay the price by bringing anger and bitterness into many relationships and new experiences. Your life might become so wrapped up in the wrong that you can’t enjoy the present. You might become stressed or anxious, even shut yourself away from society. You might feel that your life lacks meaning or purpose, or that you’re at odds with your spiritual beliefs. You might lose valuable and enriching connectedness with others.

How do I reach a state of forgiveness?

Forgiveness is a commitment to a process of change. To begin, you can consider the value of forgiveness and how it can have a positive effect on your life. You may also want to reflect on the facts of the situation, how you’ve reacted, and how this combination has affected your life, health and well-being. When you’re ready, actively choose to forgive the person who’s offended you, again remember that you’re not saying what they did was OK but you are letting go of the negative energy connected to that event. As you let go of grudges, you’ll no longer define your life by how you’ve been hurt. You might even find compassion and understanding.

What we believe and what we think is what we become. By exposing ourselves to mass media and popular culture we shape our lives and emotions into ways that we start to lose control of. I have noticed that going on certain sites or forums where there is an air of negativity or group dislike then I tend to start to have negative thoughts.

The same goes for news and media, most of what is fed to us is usually lies or scaremongering, half-truths set up to sensationalise what would otherwise be a simple story. The same is true of toxic relationships. Whilst I don’t tend to often advise people who they should and shouldn’t see I do advise that they steer clear of those who consistently come across as negative, prejudicial, racist and so on. But people also need to be wary of those who act the opposite, the holier-than-thou friend who thinks they are above everyone else is also to be given a wide berth!

Drama Queens

We’ve all heard the phrase but who are we referring to when we use it? Very often people who over-exaggerate are called drama queens but the real ones can be much much worse. They act more like emotional vampires, bringing unnecessary drama into your life when there doesn’t need to be any there in the first place.

If you live with one you may find that just leaving a cup on the side or not wiping a mark from the cooker results in absolute chaos. You may be treated in a way that suggests what you have done is an abomination when in reality it’s something and nothing.

Make sure to protect yourself

Sometimes it’s all well and good for me to tell you to avoid these people but when they’re in your lives it’s not always that simple. Maybe you live with them or they work with you, avoiding them totally in that case wouldn’t even be an option. So what can you do to avoid these negative people?

• Keep your distance – if you don’t live or work with the person then keep interaction to a bare minimum or avoid it totally!
• Set Limits – Explain from an early stage what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour from them and stick to it!
• Point out the drama – Seeing as you’ve already set limits then let them know when they have gone past them.
• Don’t be afraid to say no – stand up to them, they can be bullies at times, you’re not a doormat so don’t let them treat you like one.

Knowing When Enough is Enough

Of course these steps are for those who are irritating at most, even rude. But if you find someone you live with is being overly dramatic and unreasonable then you may have to take a step back and ask yourself if this is what you want from life. See if a compromise can be reached but if it isn’t then it may be time to move on to people who aren’t going to bring you down.

Protecting yourself is very important especially if you are empathic and very caring as negative people can pick up on this and often take you for a ride. By avoiding people and situations that hold this kind of energy then you’ll bring peace into your life. And by bringing more peace you’ll eventually bring the right people into your life as well.

Over the past ten years or so I’ve had many people come to me for readings on love and often times they will ask if their partner is being faithful or that they are either seeking love outside of their marriage or are already having an affair.

As a psychic reader it’s not my place to judge people but it is very disheartening to know that over 70% of husbands and around 65% of wives say that they would cheat if they knew for a fact they wouldn’t be caught out.

Why do people cheat?

There can be several reasons for this, for women it is mainly because they are unhappy in their current situation and are looking for a means of escape. However with men it is more often the case that although they are not seeking to leave their current relationship they feel the need for some extra fun or excitement and look for it elsewhere.

The reasons in both cases are never clear cut and I never judge anyone on their reasons for this. Very often people worry that if they leave their current poor relationship then being alone could be even worse and try to find someone else.

I also get many people who are seeing those who are married, very often they are told by their lover that they are unhappy and looking to end their marriage. Sadly this rarely transpires for many reasons. I tend to see women in this situation more often than men and it saddens me for all parties involved, especially if the cheating spouse is found out.

Signs that your partner may be cheating

There are a few signs to look out for if you suspect cheating:

• A sudden change in intimacy – this can be either way!
• Change in their appearance and grooming – do they dress up more?
• A change in their bathing/showering – do they dash to the bathroom upon their return home?
• Changes in work hours, sudden overtime or longer hours
• Suspicious internet use, clearing history constantly, suddenly shutting it down if you enter the room
• Secretive phone habits, do they have a PIN lock on their phone, never leave it lying around?

So if you sense that your partner may be cheating then you are left with the problem of how to deal with it! Do you turn investigative? Confront them? Wait for evidence? It’s very hard especially if you’re not sure what may be happening and why but often the signs will be clear and some open and honest discussion can be the way forwards, even if it is a misunderstanding!

What should I do?

I get asked this a lot by people who are either cheating, seeing a married person or are being cheated on and the sad thing is I cannot tell you what to do, you have to decide. If you are ok being in an open relationship then continue on, if not then you need to see if your partner will change or move on to someone who can commit to you!

Remember though that when people cheat or are in a cheating relationship the only person you are always cheating is yourself. In the case of cheating on your partner you are missing out on the right person for you so it may be best to leave or work on who you are with. If you are seeing someone who is married then they are cheating you out of a proper relationship. If someone is cheating on you then you are cheating yourself out of a respectful and decent loving relationship. These are all things to bear in mind in order to find the right person in your love life.

Like our muscles or learning a new skill our ability to use intuition and connect with our guides requires effort and practice. It is not for the chosen few, most people can connect with their guides or at least one of them. This can open up many different pathways for people and help them to call on their guides when the need them the most.

Don’t find time, make time!

Many people say they do not have time to meditate or contact their guides, their lives are too busy, there’s too much to do. However most people will have at least 30 minutes in a week where they can devote their time to this very special connection. Or even if that’s not possible then try and meditate in the shower or bath, when brushing your teeth or waiting for a train!

The most important thing is to try, to intend to do this, once your guides know that you are making the effort they will be more likely to come to you. Small steps can lead you on to larger and more exciting times, you could even journey with your guides and angels and ask them questions.

How to connect

To start it’s best to close your eyes, breathe deeply right down to your belly, slowly in through the nose and out through the mouth. On the exhale imagine all your stresses, worries, fears and any other negative emotion leaving your body and floating away. Keep doing this until you feel fully relaxed.

Once you are feeling very peaceful ask your guide to come into your energy field, you can do this in your head or out loud. Tell them you wish to connect with them and enjoy their energy and presence. You may want to visualise a place that you find calming, a park, a beach, a green grassy field and ask your guide to come sit with you, imagine the sun gently warming you both.

At this point it’s good to focus on how you are feeling your guides presence, can you feel their energy, does your mind’s eye open and see an image of them, can you hear the words they are saying to you or can you just sense that they are there. These are the different ways in which you can connect with them and work on the one that is strongest for you.

Don’t give up!

Never worry if you do not get any reaction or connection at first, sometimes it can take a few tries in order to bring your guide to you. You may want to ask your guide if they can increase their energy for you so they enter your field more easily. You can also ask them to guide you towards any steps you can take in your life to increase your awareness, this could be by getting more exercise, connecting with nature, eating more fresh foods.

By practicing this connection you can get closer to your guides and they will be able to assist you in life with much more ease. It’s a case of repeating the steps above, working out which sense works the best for you and being able to trust your own intuition. Never brush anything off as a co-incidence or mishearing, this is your guide coming to you.

Guides are sometimes people we have known who have passed, or they can be someone from a past life or totally unconnected to you. They can also try to connect with you in your dreams so make sure to take note of them as well and any advice given to you can also be connected with. If you find it hard to connect you can always ask one of our gifted readers to see who your guides are.

Outdated or Useful?

Many people have reservations when it comes to Tarot cards, they imagine a wizened old lady wearing a headscarf in a small room waving her hands over a crystal ball imagining tall dark strangers coming into your life. The truth is that many readers today use the Tarot as a modern way to gain deeper insight into your life.

I have taught many how to read and interpret Tarot cards and my first piece of advice is not to see them as having strict meaning. They are to be used as a tool and a guide much like other forms of divination. There is no set meaning to each card, nor what they mean for the person having a reading.

People are individuals and as such their reading has to be individual as well. The beautiful images on many cards help tell the reader a story and give guidance to their client. They can help people who have questions or who may simply want general guidance in their lives. They cannot strictly tell the future but they can guide you to make the right choices to gain what you want from life.

History of Tarot

The history of the cards is often in dispute, some say the Egyptians invented them, others say they were used many years ago as playing cards in Europe. Either way, the way they are used today can be very beneficial alongside a reading. The client can also see their cards and even bring their own interpretation later on when looking back on them.

They were used as playing cards because the church saw interpretation of non religious images to be a sin. So they were disguised as something merely for fun but many started to use them for guidance and divination. As the church became more relaxed those readers started to share their gift.

Different Decks

As there are so many kinds of decks you may wonder why a reader uses a certain one. I can say for myself that from being a young teenager I was drawn to a particular deck and my mother kindly bought it for me. I used this deck for many years, studying the images and wondering what meanings they could have for me and others.

As I developed spiritually I realised that the deck I had was giving me limited information and so sought other decks. For love readings I like to use the Tarot of the Witches or the New Palladini deck. Both have very strong visual imagery which my clients often ask about, they also comment that they feel connected with some cards over others as well which is a great comfort to them when they find out the meaning.

This will vary from reader to reader, some will prefer plainer decks using the words and numbers the card may represent as a guide more than the visual. It all depends on what works best for your reader. If you are ever interested in getting some cards do research or ask to see what the deck looks like and make sure that you are happy with what it looks like.

How Tarot can Help You

If you have not had a reading that involved Tarot in the past then you may want to try it. Many of the people I have read for the first time are often stunned and surprised. A lot tend to ask me how I reach my conclusions via the cards and whilst it is hard to explain fully I know that my guidance can help others a lot.

We have many readers here who are highly skilled in Tarot and have had this skill tested. They are able to use it alongside readings to give you amazing insight and guidance along with their guides and the angels giving them advice as well. Give it a go, you may be very surprised!

A medium is someone who can connect to the thought vibrations of those who have passed over to the spirit world and are sending us messages here on the Earth plain. Mediumship is a very precious gift and one that many of our readers possess and can help you with.

Mediums provide us with evidence of survival. They teach us to understand and prove that there is a higher phase of life after someone has passed over from this life. They show us that our loved ones are never really fully gone and are peaceful and settled and can tell us how they are feeling.

What can a medium do for me?

Many people go to mediums only wanting to hear from a specific person, I have experienced this myself but have been given messages from other people in the persons past. This can seem a disappointment at first but usually these other people in spirit are passing on messages for the loved one my client is asking about.

A medium can also rescue those that may not realise what has happened to them. In cases where a passing was sudden and unexpected the person in spirit may not realise where they are. The medium can guide them to the spirit world and usually reconnects them with other loved ones that are waiting for them.

Does a mediumship reading help?

A lot of people who I have given mediumship to express a sense of gratitude and sometimes relief that their loved one is safe in spirit and in some cases reconnects them with those who passed before them.

For many people who have lost people recently or suddenly it can also help with the grieving process. To be able to know that their loved one isn’t scared or lost, that they remember them and are watching over them is a wonderful thing and can really empower those who seek this kind of reading.

How do I know they’re speaking to the right person?

As part of your mediumship reading your medium will be able to give you evidence of the person they have connected with. This may be by way of what they have to say, a certain phrase, the way they look, sound, an item they may be holding. It is usually something personal and specific to them.

Sometimes the connection can be weak or strained and exact information cannot be reached from the start. In these cases your medium will try and gain information from your loved one and see if they can make the connection stronger in order to get a message to you.

What should I do after my reading?

Although a reading can really help you in knowing that your loved one is well and on the spirit plain you may wonder how to keep that connection going. When our readers do a mediumship reading for you they will be able to let you know how to see the signs your loved one may be trying to give you.

For some people these signs may have been already being given, it was simply a case that they hadn’t noticed. I remember reading for one lady whose husband had passed after 40 years of marriage. She was happy to hear he was well and reunited with a child they had lost in infancy as well, however she was worried that he couldn’t speak to her. I explained that he was passing messages to her in the form of a blackbird, her face lit up as she explained a small blackbird has started to visit the garden around the same time each day around a month after he passed.

So if you have been wondering how to spot the signs then give one of our mediums a call, they will be delighted to pass on messages and give you evidence of survival.

The little Prince of Cambridge is here!! 

After much waiting and speculation Kate Middleton has finally had her baby. The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to little a little baby boy on 22/07/13 at 16.24.  It was believed that all went well and she and baby are resting nicely.

It is said that the Full Moon is a time of nurture, new life and energy given by the Goddess moon and this has certainly been the case for Kate and William being given their new life in the form of their baby who is now third in line for the throne.

Special Star Sign for the Prince

Being born on this day the baby is a Cancerian which is really special considering the Water Trine planet alignment we have experienced recently. This means a wonderful future for baby as the planets really were in their favour when he was born! Star signs and astrology is something that can tell you a lot about what lies ahead for you in your life, chat to one of our accurate Astrologers to find out more.

Cancerians are emotionally intelligent, they are creative and thoughtful and also a helper of others. This means that the little Prince may well grow to be like Princess Diana and do as much as possible to help those in poorer situations than ourselves.

Birth, new starts and new beginnings

Just as this is a new beginning for the Duchess and the Prince why not make a new start for yourself? If you’re not sure what’s around the corner then remember there is always someone who can guide you and help you to focus and realise what life goals are right for you.

Take out the old and bring in the new and you’ll see a lot more positivity come into your life. Celebrations can happen not just for the royals but for you as well, aim high, reach strongly and you can gain what you desire in your life with ease.