On the Road Again!

In two weeks, I’ll be back on the road for the book tour. Its exciting, fun, and I get the chance to visit really cool places. Some of the upcoming stops include New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. I’ll also get to visit mysterious places like Nawlins (New Orleans) Voudou Shops, Marfa, Texas (home of the Marfa lights), and Roswell, NM (hanging out with my peeps The GreyBoys).

The coolest part of the tour is always talking with readers. And at every stop, I have at least 3-4 people come up to me and say, “Yes, I’ve seen ghosts too!” or “Once I had a precognitive dream” and “Yes, I get messages from Dreams!”

So, it seems that the phenomena is more common than uncommon. ESP, Psi-abilities, precognition happen all the time. But for whatever reason, we choose to ignore it, or not tell anyone about it, or what-not. We’re afraid about what others may say or we fear society’s response.

However, I would say that psychic abilities are an evolutionary trait, that helped the species to survive and thrive. Moreover, as we expand our consciousness, our bodies evolve as well. The mind creates brain chemistry and neural pathways, not the other way around. Psychic abilities, dream interpretation, clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience – all these traits, all these characteristics are what it means to be human.


So, welcome to the human engine. The future is now!





To purchase Elemental Shaman, click here: http://www.tinyurl.com/shaman2012


S/F,
Omar W. Rosales

Earth Day

Hello Everyone and Welcome once Again! Today is Earth Day, a time to take action and improve the quality of life on the Planet. Elemental Shaman has also been out for two weeks! I would like to thank everyone for supporting the Novel. Its been an amazing journey. Here are some Earth Day thoughts:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6651937.html?industryid=47152

What an interesting article. I think that this century, we'll see a definite shift in our perception of the Earth, and how our day-to-day decisions directly impact the Earth and our environment. Recent news stories detail how thousands of tons of pharmaceuticals are dumped into water treatment systems, but also how definite improvements are being made in water quality, air quality, etc. Imagine how many jobs would be created if we implemented nationwide recycling programs to harvest used aluminum, plastic, glass, etc. Ultimately, the decisions rest with us.

When I was in Bhutan, the Manchen Lopon (High Buddhist Master) put it this way. When the Universe was created, the gods used the Four Elements of Fire, Earth, Water, and Air. But the gods utilized wisdom and power. Human beings are now creating life, using the four elements. But humans want the Power, not the wisdom. So, we must be vigilant, lest we be destroyed by our own creations.

So Earth day, and everyday, is an opportune time to reflect that our decisions can make a difference. And that the Earth can be saved.

S/F,
- Omar W. Rosales

Terrific Tarot

One of the most important Shamanic abilities is divination. Divination is the ability to foretell the future. Shamans from around the world use various tools and techniques for divination. Some methods to foretell the future include runes, bones, scrying, meditation, and reading animals’ innards. Perhaps the most-widely used method for divination, today, is Tarot.

Pronounced (Tare-oh), a Tarot deck consists of 78 cards including the major arcana, the minor arcana, and four suits of cards numbered 2 to Ace (2-10, plus Jack, Knight, Queen, King, and Ace). Most will immediately recognize the similarity between a deck of Poker playing cards and a Tarot deck. This is because the Poker deck and most playing card games are derived from Tarot. So, when you are playing Poker, you’re actually reading your fortune!

The origins of Tarot are somewhat murky. Some authors claim that Tarot first began with the Egyptians or Ancient Sumerians. However, there’s no archaeological evidence to support this, nor have any Ancient Sumerians made themselves available for interview. Tarot first appeared in Europe in the mid-1300s. Known as Carte da Trionfi or Triumphs, the game of Tarot spread throughout Italy during the Renaissance. Eventually, the card game was adapted for divination purposes. So, apologies to those who would prefer a more sinister or mystical beginning to the Tarot deck, but it actually started off as a card game for European nobility.

We’ve noted the components of the Tarot deck – Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, and 4 suits of Deuce through Ace. Typically the suits are Wands, Coins, Cups, and Swords. But of particular interest is the Major Arcana. The progression of the Major Arcana is also known as the Journey of the Fool. It is quite interesting because the Major Arcana corresponds nicely with the archetypal Hero’s Journey as defined by Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell.

The Journey of the Fool begins at CARD 0, which of course is, the Fool. The next card is the Magician, symbolic of possibilities. Along the way, the subject encounters obstacles, does away with old ways of thinking, harnesses new abilities, and completes the journey to the cosmos with CARD XXI – The World. So, the Journey of the Fool (also known as the Major Arcana) is the symbolic and allegorical representation of a Spiritual Journey or a Voyage to Enlightenment.

As far as individual Tarot readings, no one method of having cards read is better than the other. The difference will always be with the experience and competence of the reader. It’s the interpretation that’s important, not the actual symbols. Some Tarot readers and psychics don’t even utilize the images on the cards to convey meaning, but rather use the rhythm of the Tarot to tune-in to the querant’s energy and auric field. (As an aside, the person who lays/reads the Tarot deck is the Reader and the person who asks questions or who is obtaining a reading is the querant.)

Some questions about Tarot that often come up are 1) What does the Tarot mean?, 2) What is the significance of the Devil Card? (cue the spooky music), 3) What does the Death card mean? First, Tarot is like a series of signposts. You should never allow a signpost to rule your life. But if it’s a persistent message, you should probably heed it. So, Tarot can mean everything, but Tarot can also mean nothing. Simply, its what you make of it.

Second, what is the significance of the Devil card? The Devil card symbolizes Materialism or being a slave to base or materialistic desires. Its not an actual Devil. If the Tarot reader starts to say that they see tremendous darkness around you and they can remove it for $$$$, leave immediately! The reader is a fraud.

So, if you’re having a Tarot reading and see the Devil card, don’t panic. Its just a reminder not to become a slave to materialism. The other mysterious card is the Death card. Automatically, when a person sees this card, the next question is, “Who is dying? Is it me?”. And the answer is, of course not! You’re not dying.

The Death Card symbolizes a possible end or change of state. Most life comes from the death of something. New flowers and pine trees, grow only after a fire has scorched a forest. A new life, such as a baby or marriage, comes only after old ways have been eliminated. So, an unexpected ending often welcomes a new beginning. In short, there is nothing to fear.

That’s a fairly decent review of the Tarot. If you have any questions, just email me at omar@elementalshaman.com.

S/F,
- Omar W. Rosales

Poverty for Sale - We are not Dogs!!!

Recently, protests erupted in India over the screenings of the hit movie “Slumdog Millionaire”. Slumdog is the Academy-Award Nominated film by Director Danny Boyle and showcases a cast of relative newcomers against the backdrop of modern-day India.

Gritty, realistic, and visceral, Slumdog traces the adventures of Jamal Malik as he attempts to find the love of his life and solve the final question to India’s version of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’. A Dickensian tale, Slumdog is a rags-to-riches story that includes historical accounts and dramatized scenes of life in India’s slums.

I very much liked Slumdog Millionaire. I thought the Cinematography was excellent, along with the performances of the actors. Danny Boyle did an outstanding job of bringing to the screen the difficult life in India’s slums. Boyle is also well-known for other hits including Trainspotting and Millions.

With regard to the protests, I think we should be sensitive to other cultures, particularly the suffering of other individuals. However, I also think that art should be provocative. By definition, art should stir and motivate the soul. If a piece of art cannot elicit a response from a viewer, then it fails. The art is now nothing more than a convocation of materials.
I don’t think the Producers or the Director of Slumdog meant any harm to anyone by its depiction of life in India. I think the scenes help to establish the milieu and are device for the storyteller (the Director) to get the point across.

That being said, we acknowledge the protestors’ viewpoints, but we posit that Slumdog is not meant to disrespect India, but is a celebration of life and potentialities.

S/F,
- Omar W. Rosales