When the Ancients Make Your Trip Memorable

 

Visiting the Vestal Atrium in Rome

My husband and I were quite fortunate to have an archeology major who was our tour guide in Rome. She was a wealth of information and was eager to answer any questions we had, especially from me as I've always been so interested in ancient Roman history and legends, especially the ones that included the Vestal Virgins. I had read about this highly-revered cult of women before our trip and was eager to see anything related to them.  But I was not prepared to experience a most Supernatural event while our trip to Pompeii the following day.

I pay tribute to the Sisters in the final piece here.

The Vestals

The Vestals were the most influential women in Rome at the time of King Pompilius back in the 7th century.  They were the priestesses of the goddess Vesta. Their main purpose was to keep the eternal flame lit in her sacred temple. It ensured the safety of the city, as well as security and prosperity in the hearth and homes of families. 

Vestals were chosen at the young age of six and seven and would take a vow of celibacy for thirty years to serve. After that time they would be free to leave and marry. They received money from the public treasury and even had a high priest, the Pontifex Maximus who was appointed to watch over them. They were highly-revered by the Roman people. They did have exclusive privileges, however. Those being able to own property, attend public games, and even had special seating at important events. I guess it was like having a Loge seat at a Dodgers game today.

Dedication to the order did have its drawbacks. Should a Vestal break her vow of chastity or relent on her duties she would be whipped by a high priest, stoned, or buried alive. A few did however end up with the latter.

The cult ended in 391 A.D. when Emperor Theodosius came to power and claimed them to be a pagan cult. 

A Tribute

She was tempted to touch the ancient sacred pedestal in the house of the Vestals in Pompeii. 

It seemed as though it called to her.

Other tourists milled about taking a quick glance and then moving on to the next ruin.

The moment she placed her hand on the top of the weather-beaten pedestal the electric shock came and it ran from her fingertips all the way up through her arm.

She knew exactly what it was and reveled in the fact that she had made contact.

It would stay with her for the rest of her life while in this realm.

And with that said, she had to write the story her Sisters wanted her to tell.

The Last Vestal Virgin

I ended up writing this novel the same year I returned from my trip. It is indeed a fictional tale but the account mentioned about is true.

Click on the link to read this thrilling YA novel.

The Last Vestal Virgin

The Tulpa- A New Imaginary Friend?

 What is a Tulpa?

A Tulpa is a type of entity that one creates in their mind. It runs parallel to you independently and even your own consciousness. It is capable of having its own free will, emotions, and memories, being a most mindful creation.

One wishing to create a Tulpa will envision this entity in their mind by using one's own creativity to fashion it as a person, character, animal, or such. You can even envision a particular setting or environment in which it lives in.  You can visit your Tulpa in its own setting or call upon it to visit you. The possibilities are endless.

The process to create a Tulpa can be time-consuming but worth the wait. One must decide the purpose of the Tulpa. Factors to be considered are its purpose, location, form, and ethics.

Why Create a Tulpa?

Most people create Tulpas for companionship or other reasons for creating such an amazing entity. Those may include: inspiration, problem-solving, emotional support, and a vessel to tap into one's own higher self.

One may decide to give complete control of their body to the Tulpa. In this case, you must have complete faith in what you've created to allow it to function in such a way.

You may sense your Tulpa even before you begin communication with it. You can sense their feelings and emotions, just as an empath has the ability to sense and feel the emotions of others.

Tulpas are not malevolent in any way as some people believe them to be. Some view them as demons or beings with magical powers that can influence your mind and body. It's all safe and fun when you stay in the realm of respect for your Tulpa.

My Very Own Tulpa 

I began research on Tulpas as I was writing a paranormal trilogy and wanted to seek higher knowledge of goddess magic for my book. I found out that a lot of writers do create Tulpas for this very reason.

I delve into it after giving it much thought.

So with that came the creation of Nina Santos, a high Curendera who was an integral part in helping my main character gain control of transcending into another dimension. This was heavy stuff- even for me.  I had envisioned my Tulpa as an older Hispanic woman, well-versed in the art of high healing and ancient magic that was used for centuries. She was one of my guides throughout the entire writing process. Once the writing began it was as if Nina took over my writing, almost like what we know as 'automatic writing'. There was nothing destructive about it but was most enlightening. I felt as though she was there to help me as well as I have struggled with out-of-body experiences most of my life. I was able to carry her throughout my trilogy and felt she was in fact the only way I was able to complete this task. 

Have I had any more contact with Nina?

No, I have not, but I do think of her and have thanked her for the assistance she provided me to complete the Willow Wood Women trilogy.

In conclusion,  as a writer I feel that a Tulpa can be created to fit into the world in which your story takes place, being fiction or non-fiction. It can be any shape or form in which to aid you in your journey.

So if you have created a Tulpa, or are thinking of creating one, I'd love to hear from you.

You can read more about the wisdom of Nina Santos in my 

Women of the Willow Wood trilogy. Click on the link below.

The Women of the Willow Wood

NOTHING LASTS FOREVER

 I had written this piece a few years back in hopes it would inspire me to finish  Last Rites, book 3 in my Women of the Willow Wood Trilogy, which is a Supernatural Tale of powerful women who form a secret cult.

I knew I had to knock off one of the characters and wanted her to go out in style, as it was indeed her time to go.

Enjoy the poem and hopefully, you will check out the link to book 3 if you've read books 1 and 2. It can also be read as a Stand Alone as well.

Her Time

Last Rites

Light em' Up!

Symbolism for Fire 

Fire is one of the major four elements of western culture but has various meanings to different cultures, religions, and spiritual groups.  It depends on how one uses it in context to depict the intended meaning.

Some say fire is meant to symbolize love and passion, yet others use it in regard to death and destruction. 

Fire is commonly seen in reference to passion, desire, eternity, Hell, destruction, hope, rebirth, and resurrection as well as purification.

Passionate for the Flame

The most recognized symbol for fire is connected to desire or passion. The flicker of the flame can ignite into a full-blown passion.

Shakespeare's plays contain many themes that relate to fire, passion and desire. In Romeo and Juliet, he symbolized passion using fire by referring to the "fire sparkling" in the two lovers' eyes.

It is common for romantic events to include candles or a fireplace setting that adds to the ambiance of a special evening in hopes of evoking passion between couples.

A simple friendly campfire can surely set the tone for spooky tales, create a relaxing mood as well as the ability to take the chill out of one's bones. Many will agree that gazing into the fire is also mesmerizing. 

I myself never turn down an invite to sit around a campfire on a chilly night and let my mind wander.

The Promise of Eternity

Fire can also symbolize eternity. The eternal flame is said to protect life as long as it is kept lit.

The flame is often used in religious memorial services of those who have passed, promising us their own soul flame will live on forever—at least in our hearts.

We often see eternal flames at war memorials for those who are remembered letting their lights shine forever for the service they provided.

The ancient Roman cult of the Vestal Virgins were guardians of Rome's sacred fire that was not allowed to go out for fear the safety and security of Rome would be jeopardized. Should a Vestal Virgin be negligent with this duty, she was buried alive. Guess Rome wasn't messing around.

After researching the Vestal Virgins and having an enlightening trip to visit their ruins in Rome and Pompeii I was inspired to write, The Last Vestal Virgin, a Young Adult paranormal thriller.

Some Like it Hot

Many writers have used fire to symbolize death and destruction in their novels. Fire has the ability to destroy anything that may come in its path.

Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 was an example of destruction by means of fire when the main character burned books so all knowledge was gone with it. 

Then we have the pyromaniac, which is an impulse control disorder that makes one unable to resist starting a fire; it's actually a release of anxiety or tension. And then there are those who feel an arousal after setting someone or something ablaze—yes, talk about the dark side of fire here.

Jim Morrison's famed song, Light My Fire contained the words, 'funeral pyre', which is a platform used in many ceremonial cremations. It evokes spirituality, ancient mythology, and death, one of Morrison's favorite topics.  

Literature and film have used this concept for decades; two of my favorite films being, Carrie and Firestarter.

In my paranormal trilogy, The Women of the Willow Wood, I have used fire in the last two books, where fire is used for the purpose of destroying an evil cult. 

Fire as Rebirth and Resurrection

In literature and certain religions, fire can be symbolic of life and death. In Greek mythology, we have the Phoenix Bird who dies due to fire after it is engulfed in flames and then turns to ashes. It's from these very ashes that a new reborn Phoenix rises again as a new Phoenix. 

The use of the symbolic Phoenix is commonly used throughout literature and in countless films for all ages, including: Harry Potter, The Spiderwick Chronicles and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

In  Out of the Ashes,  a Native American paranormal novel, I use fire in this sense, having a few of my characters walk through a sacred fire for renewal.

The Ultimate Cleansing

Fire can also be a symbol of purity and cleansing. This idea stems from the Bible and Christian religion, being that fire has the ability to remove sin. When fire burns it leaves nothing behind. If something that has been deemed evil is burned down, it is thought to destroy all traces of the evil that once existed. 

We see people still burn houses and items that they believe are evil, thinking this will eliminate the problem.

In practitioners of  Wicca, Witchcraft,  Voodoo, and other spellwork we find fire used in this very method, along with other rituals.

So, if you're now getting warmed up, why not check out some of my novels where fire makes a debut. 

Links to Novels

Did You Hear That?

What is a Cledon?

A Cledon is regarded as a Spiritual Message that is directed to a  person that comes from a source one may never expect. It is delivered through different modalities and is said to come from the Universe and delivered according to Divine Synchronicity.

Ancient Greek civilization was quite privy to this practice as they prayed to the god, Apollo for guidance to be blessed with an answer they needed to hear in response to a personal issue. They'd listen for clues heard among strangers at the market, or friends talking in the streets or at certain functions. They were well-trained to tune into conversations of all types never knowing when an answer would come through.

This practice is still used today. Many people receive Cledons even though they did not appeal to spirit for an answer. It just seems to come unexpectedly through means of television, radio, conversations from strangers, and songs, just to mention a few.

Your answer to a life-changing decision may come to you when you least expect it, and when it does, it makes a grand appearance. Should you hear your message via a conversation, song, or TV, the tone will seem to be louder than normal or even be in a different pitch to gain your attention.

My Experience:

I was battling an ant invasion in my home last year and had tried everything to get rid of these pesky tiny invaders.  The following week I was at the store in the craft aisle when I saw a woman with her daughter reaching for a pack of chalk. The young girl boldly told her mother she wanted the colored chalk when her mother told her this pack of white chalk was to ward off the ants.  I had to investigate this further as I asked the woman how this worked. She'd told me to draw lines of chalk along the baseboards as the chalk chokes the ants and stops them in their tracks.  After grabbing a few packs I thanked her and gave it a try. It worked like a charm. Who knew I'd find the solution to my problem at the drug store? I might not have heard this had the child not raised her voice in frustration when her mother was buying the white chalk.  So this is where the Cledon went into action—the conversation turned louder causing me to perk up my ears.

Ask and You Shall Receive ~

We receive Cledons all the time, it's only when we tune into signs that we will find, hear or see a message that we were looking for. Spirit is always communicating with you and all you have to do is ask for an answer and wait for the sign to appear where you least expect it. Take some time to ask for guidance on something and wait for Spirit to deliver—it may come right away or at a later time.  The more you tune into these messages the more you will receive them. Start practicing today and see what comes your way and how your answer was delivered. Be open to a few surprises. 

Reference ~

Cledons

When Your Book Comes to Life—Literally!

Stranger Things Can Happen When You Write the Paranormal!

 I've had this idea for a middle-grade book for some time now. I knew what I wanted and humor was part of it, as well as magic.  I knew just who to contact to co-author it with me—my longtime friend and previous co-author, Becky Robbins. We'd worked on two humorous erotica books a few years back. She's the one that exudes awesome Southern humor, just what I needed for this book.

Being an elementary reading teacher for years I know what kids like to read and they love to listen to a great 'Read To' from their teacher. They could never get enough of stories involving bad kids, magic, adventure, and of course humor.

So this is where the creation of Toads by Midnight began, along with all the odd occurrences that we both encountered while writing this book.

And So it Begins~

The premise of the story is "Don't mess with your substitute teacher and be careful when you play with dark magic."

The story revolves around three feisty boys who attempt to make one substitute teacher miserable, and they try their best only to be thwarted by the teacher's knowledge of magic. She's out to teach the boys a lesson but do no harm. 

Antics ensue along the way with some Voodoo and Toad Magic and hilarious events that have the boys wondering what is real and what's not.

Shortly after Becky and I discussed the book she had a most vivid dream that night—one that gave her some pretty alarming visions, including teachers in her yard and a boy holding a toad. She'd never had this type of dream before. She rang me in the morning telling me in detail what had occurred.

We spoke daily on the phone as we worked together, and at times our phones would both end up whacky and we were unable to hang up.

One day we both were hoarse and spoke as if we were croaking our words out, something that happens in the story.

One of the characters in the story is addicted to sweets, and I for one try to steer clear of this but suddenly began to crave sweets, eating cookies, ice cream, and whatever I could get my hands on.

Just the other day Becky was out driving and saw an old green Buick, similar to the one the teacher drives in the story.

Let me also mention that we often come up with the same ideas for how the story pans out—and this happens a lot!

While sunbathing today I heard a whoosh go over my chaise lounge. I turned around to see it was a toad—yes, a pretty good size one at that. I ran into the house to get my phone to snap a picture but he was gone by the time I returned. I called Becky and we both agreed we were getting some strange signs and they were indeed connected to the book.

A few hours later Becky called me to tell me she was watching a show where a man said he didn't like dark magic but it would help him to get out of a pickle. Well, that's the name of the teacher in the book, Ms. Pickle.

Becky was beginning to get a bit freaked out, but I told her in the very beginning when we started this project to expect the unexpected, and any time you write about magic you need to ground and protect yourself. I've had some very scary things happen to me in past years while writing several books on magical spells and such.

So now as I write this post, Becky is lighting a few white candles and we are waiting to see what else pops up as we work toward the end of our story.

Final Thoughts~

I'm sure a lot of writers out there have had similar experiences as we have. It makes one wonder if our minds are playing tricks on us, or is it that we get ourselves so deep into our writing that we can actually manifest these things?

So with that being said, go out there and write that story but remember what you create in that fictional tale may provide signs that it does indeed want that story to be told. Your thoughts are powerful and so is your writing. 

Until then,  write safe, but most of all, keep writing.

I've Got a Feeling and I Can't Let Go!

                A Feeling Like No Other

 Since my husband and I left Grand Cayman in 2018 not a day's gone by that I don't think about that place—that magical place. We knew once my husband's work visa ended after nine years we would move to Florida to retire. I've heard the locals say that you never realize how special the island really is until you no longer live there. And yes, it's a lingering feeling of the sun on your face, the salty air filling up your nostrils, and the sea breeze that sends a warm shiver down your spine.

My days were spent mostly writing, lying on the beach then hopping from one Tiki Bar to the next most evenings when my husband got off work. No, I'm not an alcoholic—I don't even drink. It was sitting out by the beach and watching those beautiful sunsets every night that was the draw.

But why should I complain- I have those wonderful memories of being on a tropical island for nine years and it felt like one big holiday.    

One way to keep the memory alive was to write a fiction novel that takes place in Grand Cayman. I didn't have to search too far for content due to the many superstitions I had learned from the locals and tales from fishermen that I'd overheard. My husband is also a fisherman and is well aware of some of those legends, with most of them stemming from creatures that live in the depths of the sea.

So expanding on one of the legends was my segway into my latest novel, Night Mistress of Paradise Palms. I had to let readers feel the island vibe without having to travel there. I'm still feeling it, enough that I had to put a few pieces of myself into one of the protagonists in the story. No, I'm not Della Marquez, but she does have a few of my better qualities, or maybe I should say, she shares some of my vices. 

I'll share a most recent review for Night Mistress of Paradise Palms here with you. I hope it will entice you enough to read the book or take a trip to the island.

Review from Readers Favorite ~

Available @ Amazon in ebook and print 

Night Mistress of Paradise Palms

Sacred Sex~

Daniella and Brandt have Sacred Sex~

And there it stood—one of the largest oaks in the park. Its trunk was massive. This was it—electrifying sparks ran through my hands as I touched the trunk. "We have arrived!" I dropped my bag of goodies and twirled around gazing up at the full moon.

"Right here? No blanket?" Brandt asked while still holding my black pumps.

"Nope, this isn't a picnic. Gotta get grounded."

I took him by hand, looking straight into his eyes. "You gotta trust me, here. If you don't, this won't work. I've told you how intense this will be. Do I have you on board?"

"You have all of me," he replied, pulling me into his arms.

"Now we take off our clothes. We can set them behind the tree," Dani instructed.

"Mmm, I love that part," Brandt approved.

I took his hand leading him over to the inside of the circle. I sprinkled the birdseed on the ground, an offering to the goddess. All was ready for me to set the circle.

I stood to the east, did some deep breathing, feeling the wind, getting in touch with the element of air. "Spirits of Air, I call upon you."

Turning to the south I watched the small flame burning on my white candle. "Spirits of Fire, I call on you."

I turned to the west, listening to the water from the nearby river. "Spirits of Water, I call on you."

Turning to the north, I called upon the spirits of the earth. I felt my feet connect with roots deep inside the earth. I felt a white light traveling from the earth into my core and throughout my body. I motioned for Brandt to join me. We stood, our palms touching. I closed my eyes ready to invoke the goddess. "Bring golden-white light down from the Cosmos and into our bodies, Father Sky. Allow the Goddess, Aphrodite to travel safely to this realm to aid us in a perfect union of divine love."

I opened my eyes to see Brandt had closed his. His breathing had become labored. His chest rose and fell with each breath. I spoke softly to him. "Just relax, my love, let it come."

We interlocked hands, raising them up to the night sky. "Let our souls awaken and allow us to enter this sacred gateway to expand our experience for orgasmic ecstasy. Allow our chemistry to change as our souls connect and engage in an enigmatic explosion of lust and desire. We are pure love."

Brandt began to run his hands along my breasts, trailing down to my core and reaching my thighs. I could feel the goddess's energy pulsing through my sacral chamber. His hands were hot and set my skin on fire at every place he touched. I let this feeling run through me and out through my crown chakra.

He had me flat against the trunk of the tree. I could feel the heat course through me and into the tree. We had made contact. Brandt spread my thighs apart and ran his tongue toward my private entrance, exploring my wet folds. He was thick and hard. He dove into me. As soon as he made contact with my core I became engulfed as a fledgling of flames ran through my veins. "Yes, yes!" I yelled, not caring who or what was around.

"I'm going to explode!" Brandt wailed.

"Not yet, my love—hold on until you can no longer. Let this feeling  run through you for as long as you can."

"I can't much longer. I feel as though I'm being electrically charged! I love you, Dani, and want to fill you up with my love."

I exploded with him. It was as though hot liquid was filling my insides. It was an orgasmic moment—one I'd never felt before. It was as though I was floating above the ground. I no longer felt the shocks coming through the tree but felt them through Brandt. It was us, together. We were unified in orgasmic bliss!

We lay on the ground, still inside the circle, gazing up at the moon. My body felt like a shell. Whatever or whoever occupied it was now gone. I turned to Brandt. He was as breathless as I was. We both had to admit we never had sex like that before.

The circle needed to be closed, I had to thank the goddess. I turned to each direction, thanking the spirits, ending with the north. I thanked Mother Earth and Father Sky. I thanked Goddess Aphrodite as well; it was her pure love that would be instrumental in healing Brandt.

I stood, arms up reaching the sky. "The circle is open but never broken. The love of the goddess is forever in my heart. May we meet and may we never part again."

Our bodies melded together once again. I rand my hands along his muscular arms. With the moonlight shining on his face, I could see most of his wrinkles had disappeared along with the streaks of grey in his hair. I could hardly wait for him to see himself when he looked in a mirror. I prayed the spell from the enchantress was finally gone. Only time would tell.

Last Rights ~ Available in ebook, print and audio

Last Rites

available in ebook, print, and audio

Where Did My Body Go? Accounts of Out-of-Body Experiences

 

Science Says~

Reports of out-of-body experiences (OBEs) can vary. Some consist of little more than a fleeting feeling that the body and mind have come loose, while others recount tales of floating far from the person's physical body and traveling to otherworldly realms. Either way, OBEs have fascinated humans for centuries, entering folklore, spiritual beliefs, and mythology.

Science defines this as a dissociative episode, which is a sensation of your consciousness leaving your body. Even though these episodes can be very frightening they usually don't last very long.

According to surveys, around 10% of the population has experienced an OBE at least once in their lifetime.

People typically experience their sense of self inside their physical body and view the world around them from this vantage point. During an OBE people report a feeling of being outside their bodies or looking at their own body from another perspective.

Common feelings that were reported during an episode may include:

• The feeling of floating outside the body
• An altered perception of the world
• A feeling as though one is looking down from themselves from above
• A sense that what is happening is very real

A Variety of factors may that may possibly trigger an OBE:

• Sleep disturbances, including Sleep Paralysis
• Physical effort following extreme exertion
• Near-death experiences
• Drugs
• Sensory deprivation or overload
• Strong G-forces (experienced by pilots and astronauts)

Recollections of two of my own OBE experiences:

Considering science has speculated the cause of these terrifying occurrences, I wanted to share two of my own episodes here that have remained cemented in my brain to this very day.
I can still see and feel my first episode that began in my early teens. Of all places, it had to happen at school in the classroom! I was a freshman and in an English class. I remember a feeling of floating and felt my body moving to the very back of the classroom where I reached the wall. And that was where I caught sight of myself sitting at my desk! I felt weak—nauseous as I scanned around the class watching the teacher and students carry on with the lesson but in slow motion. I tried to shake myself out of this but to no avail. And then as if a cord was pulling me, I shot back into my body—yes, the girl who was sitting at her desk. 

I guess the pallor of my skin was noticeable as my teacher walked over to my desk to see if I was okay. Of course, I wasn't! She'd given me a pass to see the school nurse. I remember walking into her office and the first statement that came out of her mouth was, 
"You look like you've seen a ghost!"

Well, perhaps I did—my spiritual self or whatever. At my age, I didn't really know what the hell had happened. I had no fever or physical signs of any malady. She'd instructed me to lie down on a cot and she called my mother who happened to work at the school as a secretary.

Long story short, my mother took me to our family doctor who had arranged an appointment with a specialist. This was just the beginning of a long journey of seeing other specialists who diagnosed me with a nervous condition and anxiety. I was put on Xanax as well. We need to remember this was back in the late sixties and most doctors, if not all had never even acknowledged an OBE or knew what it was.

The following months had me still dealing with episodes while the Xanax did nothing but make me sleepy. There was no internet and nowhere to search for information on what was happening. Most of my encounters happened at home or close to it. Too bad my spiritual body couldn't have gone further—perhaps to some nice tropical island. 

Another episode I'd encountered was while I was at home cleaning with my mother. I felt it coming on with that usual tugging sensation and then everything just seemed to freeze. I couldn't feel my spirit leave my body or see it but things once again moved in slow motion—it was as if time stood still. I tried to shake it off by going about my activities. I was not paralyzed this time. All appeared normal except I felt as though I was not in the real world. It wore off shortly and I was able to talk to my mother about it. I was blessed to have an open-minded mother who did believe this was real and told me I had a 'gift'. That was surely one gift I had not wished for and wondered just what purpose it would serve?

I am now sixty-eight years old and can still recall almost all of those episodes to this day. I haven't had one since my early twenties. After speaking to others about it and doing research I now understand this condition. If only there were the resources back then we have now. With several psychologists, support groups, scientists, and paranormal experts, those who do have OBEs, can get help. I also now know that this condition is also linked to other paranormal experiences I've had during my lifetime.

Being an Empath and Sensitive does explain why I was susceptible to these encounters. I am now able to write characters who are high Empaths and able to relate in real-time what it feels like.
If there's anyone out there who is reading this and has experienced OBEs and would like to talk about it, I'm here to listen. Unless one has dealt with this, it's hard to imagine what it feels like. You are not alone.

Sourced Information:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318464

https://www.healthline.com/health/out-of-body-experience

When the Spirits are Your Travel Guides

Madonna Shrine in Pacentro, Italy

Most of the time we purposely plan our trips, vacations, or holidays, but once we reach our destination we may find there are unexpected locations that pique our interest either by means of a travel website, recommendations from the locals, or searching for places of interest via the internet. Whatever means you choose, there are certain places that seem to call out to us for various reasons; some of those may be linked to places our ancestors had lived, a connection with a past life, a passion for a certain locale, or environmental energies that trigger the frequencies that pull us to that site. 

Having dealt with many paranormal occurrences my entire life I would have to say that the latter had to be responsible for two locations that had definitely tugged at my own frequencies.  Let’s just say I believe the Spirits were acting as my travel guides at that time.  While visiting the medieval village of Pacentro, Italy where my mother’s family hails from, I happen to come across an out-of-the-way shrine to the Madonna while hiking up a hill with my husband one early morning. I noticed the shrine and immediately knew I had to check this out. There was a statue of our Lady mounted into the hill with a small waterfall that spilled out into a small ravine below. There were scores of wildflowers that dotted the area. My husband had instructed me to take off my shoes and socks and walk on the grounds and into the ravine. “Get some good grounding,” he’d said. His advice had led me to experience a most enchanting and unusual one at that. I felt tingles all the way up to my knees as my feet hit the water. Down below, the water sparkled like a thousand tiny diamonds had been spewn about. Stepping out of the water and onto the grounds that surrounded the shrine I now experienced tingles traveling throughout my entire body. I got down on my hands and knees and prayed to our Lady. I knew I was on Sacred Ground for sure. The odd tingling sensations abated after leaving the site, but this experience was one that would not be forgotten. I do believe my family had frequented this shrine so many years ago. 

Make it Unforgettable!

 I wanted to make this unforgettable so I added this location in one of my fiction books, Beloved Sacrifice. As a writer, I know this is one way to make it unforgettable while paying homage to such a spiritual place.  

Banks Bridge in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

On one of my more recent travels to Ohio to visit my husband's family, I noticed a covered bridge as we were passing through Lawrence County in Pennsylvania. Having a passion for covered bridges I immediately took note of this place and knew I had to pay a visit in the near future before leaving Ohio. The Neshannock Creek runs under the historic Banks Bridge. Legend has it that several homes are haunted in the surrounding area and the bridge itself is a real portal. Well, I was not aware of any of these details at the time of my visit. It was just the looks of the bridge that called out to me.

A few days later my husband was able to take me back to the bridge where I felt another deep connection here as well. It wasn’t so much the bridge that pulled me in, but the creek itself that seemed to tug at my gut. I felt a presence here or should I say several. Walking down by the water I listened as the current seemed to pick up and the colors of the water seemed a bit brighter. Taking off my shoes I was most anxious to feel the earth under my feet as well as get a bit wet in the creek. It was chilly but I didn’t seem to mind due to the vibrations I was getting from the water. It was a sense of calm that washed over me. Once again I knew I had to mention this place in another one of my upcoming novels, Last Rites. 

So, I guess I had to thank the Spirits for not only allowing me to visit these intriguing locations but offer inspiration for a great locale in my books.  

Happy Travels to everyone. May your heart lead you to great destinations and may the Spirits be willing to leave you with a little inspiration.

Lorraine Carey

Beloved Sacrifice

Last Rites

Sneak Peek

Sneak peek from book 1 of the

Women of the Willow Wood Trilogy

Available in eBook, Print, and audiobook

ON AMAZON 

Out of the Past 

Three weeks ago I would have said, "See ya later, bitches! I’m outta this zombie ranch," but now I’m a different person, both physically and mentally. Once a prisoner to my past, I feel totally free now and view myself as an empowered woman. I look forward to and accept my new mission as a guardian, but it didn’t come without a fight. 

The last four weeks have been a real eye-opener with respect to my newfound abilities and powers. During the past two months, I’ve managed to save my father’s soul, lost my first teaching job, saved two children from a life of child abuse, ended a great relationship with Luke, and was indirectly involved in the murder of one of my students’ fathers. Am I willing to pay the price? Damn straight, I am. It’s the only path to achieving total redemption—or so I’ve been told. So I had to change my identity, relocate, and maintain only limited ties to my family. Hell, it's the least I can do for the few women who risked it all to save my life. And so, I welcome my final days at Nina Santos’s ranch in preparation for my new role with the Women of the Willow Wood. I was never was one to join a sorority in college, so I reasoned this was my chance. Besides, this society trumped all the others. According to Nina, my latest transformation would prove to be epic: bring it on, I say. 

I’ve learned so much during my sessions with the most powerful curandera, and I’ve left my angst behind me...well, most of it. I still had no real answers as to what had become of Latrice Burke, the evil white witch who'd botched my protection spell. I'd hoped she would meet whatever Fate had in store for her. I knew Karma would come knocking on her door, one day soon. I believe it would come as more of a bang than a whisper. I was about to become part of an elite circle of some of the most powerful women on the planet. 

The Women of the Willow Wood date as far back as the fourteenth century. Their magic was a mix of ancient Celtic origins with ties to a direct lineage as far back as 1400 BC in ancient Greece. They consisted of high priestesses and goddesses, with some of them claiming direct ancestry to Priestess Tyrenea from the Oracles of Delphi. My new sisters were a group comprised of empaths, sensitives, healers, psychic mediums, hybrids, and guardians. The Higher Council, which was mostly the high priestesses and guardians, met twice a year in New Mexico in a secret cave. I was to be one of those fortunate enough to attend the council meeting next year, once my transition was complete. Nina had informed me of some of the details. I guess that’s why I tossed and turned all night—it was a lot to take in. 

I hadn’t been to the sacred cave yet. I’d never even heard of it before. Just the thought of inhaling intoxicating vapors had me worried. The closest I'd come to inhaling anything similar were the few weeks I'd spent as a streetwalker when I was taken in by pimp Adrian Moreno. A few joints before a job was just enough to top me off. That was a time so long ago, but it had not been forgotten. Even so, I'd come this far and there was no turning back. A few weeks ago, I'd been tested with something far worse than vapors, and it had almost cost me my life. 

I got dressed and walked into the kitchen to find that Nina Santos's sister, Marta, had prepared her special veggie omelets. The coffee smelled good and my stomach was rumbling. I sat at the breakfast bar and she handed me a fresh cup. "Where’s Nina?" I asked. 

"She’s in the study going over some last-minute orders from Sister Francesca about your final ritual," Marta said with a gleam in her eye. 

There was always an element of surprise lurking over these last few months, and these sisters had had their share. I guessed that the present and the future would be no different. I set my cup down and said, "So, I assume Sister Francesca holds rank on Nina?" 

"Not at all. It’s just that she has a different gift and Nina needed to receive confirmation from her." 

I sat there thinking about what she'd said for a moment. I thought about Marta’s ability to shapeshift and shuddered at the thought of the exact extent of some of the other women's abilities. I guess I’d find out soon enough. 

Nina entered as I finished the last bite of my omelet. She always managed to look like she'd just stepped out of a spa, with her glowing skin and neatly brushed hair. For a woman in her sixties, she looked damn good. I assumed she was using some sort of glamour spell. Either that or all of the magical vapors she'd inhaled over the years had somehow enhanced her beauty and preserved her youth. 

"Morning, Rachel," she said, striding over to give me a hug. 

"Do we have to use that name now?" I queried. Rachel wasn't my given name. The name I was born with was Daniella Reyes. I adopted the name Rachel when I accepted my position as guardian. "Can’t we wait until I leave the ranch?" 

"It’s better to get used to it now, while you’re still here and conversing with us. It'll get you in the habit of using it." 

"I’m still going to feel weird. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it." I carried my cup over to the sink. 

"I guess I can make this one exception. You do have a way of breaking me down, lady. You’ll have to get used to it the minute you leave the ranch, though. 

"So, are you ready for your final ritual today?" Nina asked. 

"Ready as I can be, I guess. Is there anything I should be wearing to this special occasion?" 

"It doesn’t matter. You’ll be wrapped in a loose linen sheath to allow room for body swelling," Nina said casually as she poured herself a cup of coffee. 

"Swelling? What the hell?" I yelled from behind her.

"Now, calm down, Daniella. It’s only temporary."

"Oh, well, that’s reassuring."

As Marta cleaned up, Nina grabbed a piece of toast to chew on 

while packing some things into a large duffle bag. I didn’t even want to know what was in there. Shades of my recent road trip with Carmen flashed through my mind. I remembered all of the magic oils and powders with which she'd sealed our car. 

I headed to my room to get dressed but turned on my heel when I heard Nina calling my name. "Make sure you put on some good walking shoes," she said. "We’ll drive up to the Pecos Wilderness and walk to the Cave Creek Trail." 

"So we’ll be heading into the secret caves?" I asked. 

"Yes. We’ll be going back into a small, secret cave, deeper into the mountain to perform the last ritual."

"Don't caves have bats? I have to tell you, I don’t like small spaces." I reasoned that some of this phobia was due to the many nights I hid in a dark closet to escape my father’s wrath during my childhood. 

"You’ll be fine. We won’t leave until early evening when most of the hikers are already gone. Besides, most people are oblivious to the location of the secret cave. It’s forbidden for anyone other than a priestess or guardian to enter. 

"I’ve packed some flashlights for us. I want you to read the packet about cave vapors I left for you in the study so you’ll know what to expect. You have all afternoon." 

This was a first: I was actually going to get the lowdown on what to expect, rather than be surprised with some paranormal freak show in which I was the main attraction. 

"It’s all very exciting, Daniella. It’s your final transformation. We'll celebrate upon your return." Nina pulled a bottle of pink Champaign out of the fridge for me to see. 

I held my breath and asked, "Will Mother and Auntie be here?" 

"Afraid not, but you can Skype them today after you've read through the ritual procedure." 

Well, that was kind of her. I shrugged it off as I headed to change. After that, it was off to the study to find out what was in store for me. What could be worse than what I'd already been through? 

***

I have to admit, I was deep into the document about my final 

ritual. I'd studied about the Oracles of Delphi in high school, but was amazed to find out there was so much more. History books leave out a lot, some of it intentional, as normal folks weren't supposed to have access to such powerful magic. 

The Oracles of Delphi were high priestesses, regarded as such by Apollo. The "Pythia," as they were called, would deliver the oracle—the response or message—while in a frenzied state due to having inhaled vapors from a chasm in the rock. She'd interpret the prophecies in ancient Greek. In other words, these ladies had to be stoned in order to tap into this higher knowledge. This Pagan practice dated back to the eighth century BC. 

Goddesses Themis and Phoebe are believed to have possessed the original oracle. The site upon which they practiced was sacred to Gaia—Mother Earth—and to Poseidon. The Pythias were always virgins, as the Oracle represented chastity and purity. This was similar in nature to the cult of Rome’s Vestal Virgins. 

The Pythias had traits similar to shamans. While sitting on a tripod or cauldron, they'd make prophecies in an induced state of euphoria after inhaling vapors from the chasm in the rock. As they inhaled the vapors, their physical bodies would change, their breasts would become engorged, their complexion would also change, and their voice would take on a non-human cadence. 

Everything I'd learned was coming back to me and it suddenly all made an odd sort of sense. I remembered how Nina’s body had changed—as did her voice—when she'd performed my healing ritual and I had chills. Was that what was in store for me? To think some Hollywood stars pay big money for a major makeover and here I was, getting it for free! 

This was no simple magic, either. Nina was to perform a "soul merge" where she'd tap into my "higher-self" in order to "upgrade" my DNA. This was some bizarre alchemy here! From what I understood, she'd call upon those higher priestesses who were able to actually reconfigure the sacred geometry of my blood— every organ and tissue—right down to my sub-atomic particles. She'd be able to access my Akashic Records and read my contract for a "Vow of Service" with the Willow Wood Women. After all of this deeper magic, I'd be able to help with the soul rescue process in order to protect others. I'd already been called upon to assist with my father's soul rescue, and those of a few of my students. I wondered how many souls I was about to rescue now. 

According to the document, I had to remain in service to the Women of the Willow Wood until I'd rescued three souls. I wondered if my father’s rescue counted as one? If so, then I only had two left. Hopefully, I'd return home soon and resume my normal life. 

Who was I kidding? I guess I was trying to talk myself into thinking of this as being some sort of a perk. Hell, I was bat-shit crazy scared! 

I decided to Skype Mother and Aunt Miranda. If anyone could calm me down it would be Auntie. After all, if it weren't for her, I wouldn’t be alive today. She was the one who'd found me, rescued me, and brought me back to the land of the living when I was hooking for my pimp and living in a dump. 

It was good to hear Mom’s voice and know she was doing well. Aunt Miranda assured me I was right where I needed to be. She gave me a blessing and told me to be strong. I'd always known she had a sixth sense herself and was privy to so much more than she led on. There was, however, one question I had to ask. I hoped to hear the answer I wanted to hear. "So," I began, "have they found Latrice Burke yet?" 

"No, Daniella," Auntie replied after a brief pause. "They have not, but this is something you need to let go of in order to move on. Trust that she will answer for the injustice she's done to you and others. Remember that forgiveness is a powerful path to redemption—you found that out when you forgave your father. It's when you forgive that you'll be able to move on and perform with your new mission." 

After I ended my call, I thought a lot about redemption. I'd already paid for my past sins and forgiven my father’s, but I still had to face the fact I'd let my guard down on that dreadful day when I'd trusted Latrice Burke and had a taste of the dark side. I was damn sure I’d never let that happen again. 

Author Lorraine Carey

Lorraine Carey

Lorraine Carey is not only a paranormal enthusiast but has had many unexplained events in her lifetime and has used these as a focal point in her fiction novels. Most of Carey’s books were written during the course of nine years while living in the Cayman Islands with her husband. The island was the perfect inspiration for her. Lorraine currently resides in St. Petersburg, Florida where she is a private tutor for young children. She continues to write and is planning on joining up with a paranormal investigative team. Her empathic abilities seem to attract the spirits giving her even more motivation to continue writing.

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