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      Atham Z - Psychic News - December 2004

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          Hello and welcome to the Psychic News.

           In this edition we discuss the following:

         1. How Saintly is a Clairvoyant?
         2. The FAQ
         3. Fast Easy Stocking Stuffer
         4. The Giggle
                5. Cat Superstitions
                6. Who is HoHoHo?

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                  Vision Versus Hallucination
by Dennis Gersten, MD.  Excerpted from ARE YOU GETTING
ENLIGHTENED OR LOOSING YOUR MIND? (1997)

A spiritual vision is usually a very pleasant, uplifting experience. People may
"see" God, angels, saints, or indescribable light. Such a vision
usually brings a new direction to life and leaves the individual with a
"lighter" countenance, a greater joy in life and more love to share
with others. Visions may occur spontaneously, in a normal state of
consciousness, or they may occur as part of an altered state, a mystical state
of union, or during a kundalini experience.
Visions of deceased loved ones, mother, father, husband, or wife, happen all
the time and it is the "normal" experience in some cultures. Whether
or not it is "objectively" true that people are visited by the
departed on a regular basis, the experience is common, especially in
non-Western societies, where the visitations are considered normal. In Western
society, grief counselors regularly reassure bereaved people that seeing and
talking with departed loved ones is part of the grieving process.
People who are approaching death often experience visions of deceased relatives
who have appeared to them to help them in their transition. Karlis Osis and
Erlunder Haraldsson studied this phenomenon in a variety of cultures and found
that "death-bed visions" are nearly identical from one culture to another.

Schizophrenics tend to hear voices much more frequently than they have visions,
which are almost never pleasant when they do have them. Their visions are part
of a psychotic thought process. They feel controlled by the vision. This may
sound odd, but they have a psychotic relationship with their hallucination.
Most psychiatrists would say, "A hallucination is psychotic itself,"
and, of course, I disagree. The "normal" person doesn't have a
psychotic reaction to a vision. He may be frightened by a ghost - or even by
the sight of the Virgin Mary - but he is not likely to feel as if his mind is
being controlled by the vision. In all my years in clinical practice, I have
heard a schizophrenic describe a vision as spiritual on only one occasion. She
hears voices as other schizophrenics do, but also has glorious visions of
saints and holy men - visions that bring her great peace. Yet, she is quite the
exception to the rule.
People with borderline personality disorder can have any experience and
"rotate" through all states of consciousness. They can have wonderful
spiritual experiences and they can be floridly "crazy," which, of
course, makes a psychiatrist's job very difficult. I have found that
borderlines can have "split graphics." They may see an angel and the
devil at the same time. It's a function of the split - the inability to
integrate "good" and "bad" - inside their personality. The
image is as split as their heart and soul is split. Borderlines, who may have
purely spiritual visions or purely psychotic visions, experience visual
hallucinations much more frequently than do schizophrenics.
A psychotic hallucination is a projection from one's unconscious mind into the
outside world. For example, a borderline may be filled with conscious and
unconscious murderous impulses. Those impulses can be projected outside himself
or herself. One borderline patient of mine hallucinated Godzilla. Godzilla
joined her in the shower, ran around her house, and even ran across the highway
while she was driving. Not a very safe situation for anyone concerned. Godzilla
was a projection of her own murderous and angry impulses.
On rare occasions, borderlines will also see "creepy crawly"
things... bugs, ants, snakes, small birds. But it's very rare. The more
fragmented the vision, the more likely it's part of a psychotic process for
someone who feels very fragmented inside. Someone who sees a single benevolent
angel is better integrated mentally than someone who sees and feels hundreds of
bugs crawling all over him.
Someone having a hallucination of bugs crawling all over his skin may be in a
state of delirium - a disorder of brain chemistry. People in DT's (delirium
tremens) withdrawing from alcohol often have this kind of hallucination, which
should be checked out right away by a doctor. Delirium is fatal ten percent of
the time. In delirium, not only does one have visual hallucinations but the
entire visual field is distorted - the foreground and the background. In
contrast, a schizophrenic hallucination is not accompanied by a distorted
background.
In order to know for certain if we are experiencing a vision or a
hallucination, we first must be sure we're not having an illusion or a fantasy.
Illusions are not hallucinations. An illusion is a distortion (almost always
visual) of something that is already there. For example, at dusk, we may see a
rope lying on the road and think that it's a snake. We're not hallucinating.
It's an illusion. A mirage of a lake in the desert is an illusion. Our brain
and mind are misinterpreting sensory information, because we're not being
provided all the information we need to make an accurate assessment.
In a sense, magic is a form of illusion. By sleight of hand, the magician pulls
a rabbit out of his hat. There's nothing metaphysical going on here. It's just
that the magician's hands are so much faster than our eyes, and he fools us by
directing our attention away from the "real action," the place where
the deception is going on. We're not hallucinating. Again, we're just misinterpreting
the sensory input.
Visions are common in the stories of the lives of many saints and great mystics
and for others who are spiritually advanced. Artist and poet, William Blake,
wrote of his visions, "A vision is not a cloudy vapor or a nothing. It is
organized and minutely articulated beyond all that the mortal and perishing
nature can produce. I assert that all my visions appear to me infinitely more
perfect and more organized than anything seen by the mortal eye."
One of the only things that a saint has in common with a schizophrenic is the
fear of being ridiculed and called "crazy" for their voices and
visions. St. Hildegard of Bingen experienced so many visions, she felt
overwhelmed at the task of trying to remain silent about them. A vision of
divine light instructed her to speak about her visions, however, saying to her,
"You shall proclaim it as you have heard and seen it in the miracles of
God." St. Theresa of Avila, also was troubled by her voices and visions.
She saw angels, cherubim, bright lights, Jesus, and many other visions, but had
few people in whom to confide at first, afraid she would be called
"crazy." Later on, after she became regarded as a saint, she came to
dislike the special attention showered on her, and especially disliked people
looking upon her and talking about her, as a saint. Theresa's visions were
between her and God, yet, because she was unable to conceal her
"raptures," it was impossible for her to conceal her spiritual
experiences from the world. Although people came to know about her visions,
Theresa had no interest in sharing them with the world. She felt no pride, no
greatness because of them. To her, her visions were not the point of her
spirituality. Her contact with the spiritual world made her better prepared to
work in the "real" material world. In contrast, the schizophrenic
becomes isolated from society, and often very attached to his hallucinations
and ruled by them. The saints, however, have all learned how to live with one
foot in each world.
       


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                               MY  FAQ

Hello,
My name is Paul and my question is by your psychic powers do
you think that I am under a curse? Most times I feel like I am because of
my history and what I am going through now. I was born on 0/0/0
in Kingston, Jamaica going on very close to midnight. I am male, I have black
hair and brown eyes and I live in Germany now. Thank you.

Hello,
I am not exactly a believer in curses, in the process of allowing someone or
something else so much negative power or effect on our lives.  It is quite
true of course that others can attempt to send a curse our way, but it is
merely a negative energy rant or burst on their part unless when we notice this
animosity we allow our fears to empower that other person or whatever object
they have assigned to represent their feelings.  Once we become afraid our
coping mechanisms and decision making abilities deteriorate.  Cursing
relieves the stress of the angry person more than it ever actually hurts those
it is aimed at.
I notice that you, like many of us, are astrologically karmically challenged
about relationships in this lifetime. That astrological fact alone, could be
causing you more than what you feel are your share of difficulties in life to
date.
It is important to remember that what we are all going through in the
present is the end result of many choices we have made for ourselves over
the proceeding years. Obviously as we get older, the decisions we make
for ourselves become wiser and more careful. Simply put, we learn about
life.  It is part of life to simply be unable to accomplish having
everyone like and approve of us and thus it's impossible to avoid confrontation
and hostility.
When I read whether you are "cursed" using my Tarot, I see that you
have
endured too many separations from those who were important to you and
supportive of you, and that situation has made it much more difficult for
you in coping with life.
If you sense bad energy around you, use your faith to pray, or light a white
candle for protection or even vocalize the words "Evil Begone". 
Usually one of these actions clears the air and helps you feel empowered about
whatever you are dealing with.
I hope this answer has helped you in some way.
Bests - Atham Z


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    Home Made Presents are the BEST!

                           BUBBLE BATH

 Ingredients

1/2 cup baby shampoo
1/2 cup water
6 tsp baby oil
Optional - 3 drops food colouring
        - 3 drops aromatic oil

Directions:

1. Combine the 6 teaspoons of oil, 1/2 cup shampoo, and 1/2 cup
    water in a container and then the colouring and scented oil
if you choose.
2. Put a lid on the container and shake it.
3. Write directions on a note to go with the bubble bath.
    It should read:  "Add a few tablespoons of bubble
bath to warm running
    bath water."
4. Put the bubble bath together with some soap balls in a
    decorated gift basket or tuck the container into a stocking.



¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶º¶

        Humour Offering

NOTE:  I believe the half truth found in every joke is
                    why it provides amusement

          The History of Medicine

2000 BC
Here, eat this root.
1000 BC
That root is heathen, say this prayer.
1805 AD
That prayer is superstition, drink this potion.
1940 AD
That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill.
1985 AD
That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic.
2000 AD
Antibiotics don't work anymore, eat this root.

            
·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸:.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·...¸><((((º>·´¯`·


        Cat Superstitions

*When you see a one-eyed cat, spit on your thumb, stamp it in the middle of
your palm, and make a wish. The wish will come true.
*If you kick a cat, you probably will develop rheumatism in that leg.
*Some people believe that if a cat washes its face and paws in the parlor,
company's coming.
*In Britain and Australia black cats are considered lucky, and in some places
white cats are correspondingly unlucky. In many parts of Europe and in the
United States, however, it is the black cat that is an ill omen.
*A stray tortoiseshell cat coming into your home brings misfortune but in
Britain tortoiseshell cats will bring their owners luck, and blue cats bring
luck in Russia.
*To meet a black cat is usually fortunate, especially if it crosses one's
path.  In some districts the luck is only considered released if the cat
is politely greeted, or stroked three times. Sometimes it is considered unlucky
if the cat runs away from the person, or turns back on its own tracks.
*An old saying about black cats is:  "Whenever the cat of the house
is black, the lasses of lovers shall have no lack".
*If a black cat comes into a house or onto a ship, it is considered a very
lucky sign, and the cat should never be chased away in case it takes the luck
of the house with it.
*It was said that if the household cat sneezed near a bride on her wedding day,
she would have a happy married life.
*Seamen avoid saying the word 'cat' while at sea, but to have a cat on board is
lucky, especially if it is a completely black cat with no white hairs. To throw
the cat overboard raises an immediate violent storm; no sailor would do such a
thing to the ship's cat, and in fact cats are rarely left on an abandoned ship
but are generally rescued with the sailors.
*If a cat is meowing on a ship there will be trouble on the voyage.
*If a cat is crying before you leave for a journey, return and find out what it

wants, otherwise bad luck will plague you.
*In Yorkshire, if a sailor's wife kept a black cat, her husband would always
return safely from the sea; this sometimes led to black cats being stolen.
*It was said that every cat should be given two names; a country rhyme states
-  "One for a secret, one for a riddle, name puss twice and befuddle
the devil".  This saying was based on the belief that one person
could gain power and ascendancy over another simply by knowing his or her real
name; by giving the household cat two names, one for common use and one secret
and never to be revealed to outsiders, the pet which had the run of the
household would be protected from becoming a tool of evil or of outside
infiltration.
*If a cat sneezes three times in a row it portends a cold for the cat's owner
but if it sneezes only once it is a lucky sign for the household.
*Some people believe that cats engage in astral travel even in life. They also
believe that if a cat adopts you, it will stay with you forever, even after death.
*A cat washing itself in a doorway means a clergyman is due to visit.
*Any cat that is purchased will never be any good for catching mice.


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        Just WHO is Saint Nick??

St. Nicholas - Patron of bakers and pawnbrokers, saver of storm-tossed sailors,
defender of young children, and giver of generous gifts to the poor. 
Along with the preceding, he is the patron saint of the countries of Greece and
Russia.

This thoughtful philanthropist, depicted as an old man in a white beard with a
long caped coat or sometimes even in episcopal robes, remained, nonetheless, a
moralistic figure. He rewarded deserving children and punished the difficult
and unruly ones. Although many of the stories about Saint Nicholas are of
doubtful authenticity , his legend spread throughout Europe, emphasizing his
role as a traditional bringer of gifts.

The Christian figure of Saint Nicholas replaced or incorporated various pagan
gift-giving figures such as the Roman Befana and the Germanic Berchta and
Knecht Ruprecht. The saint was called Sankt Nikolaus in Germany and Sanct Herr
Nicholaas or Sinter Klaas in Holland.  The Dutch custom of commemorating
the feast of Saint Nicholas spread to the United States where Sinter Klaas
quickly became Santa Claus for Americans.  In the European countries
Nicholas was sometimes said to ride through the sky on a horse. He was depicted
wearing a bishop's robes and was said to be accompanied at times by Black Peter,
an elf whose job was to whip the naughty children.

The feast day of Nicholas, when presents were received, was traditionally
observed on December 6th. After the Reformation, German Protestants encouraged
veneration of the Christkindl (Christ child) as a gift giver on his own feast
day, December 25. When the Nicholas tradition prevailed, it became attached to
Christmas itself.

Because the saint's life is so unreliably documented, the Pope ordered the
feast of Saint Nicholas dropped from the official Roman Catholic calendar. The
term Christkindl evolved to Kriss Kringle, another nickname for Santa Claus.
Various other European Christmas gift givers were more or less similar to Saint
Nicholas: Père Noël in France, Julenisse in Scandinavia, and Father Christmas
in England.

My mom taught me that Santa Claus or St. Nick is the spirit of Christmas, and
that has certainly been enough of an explanation for me throughout my lifetime.


       May you enjoy a very happy holiday season!



   °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°

"SEASONAL GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE"
Experiencing losses, fears, problems or relationship
                            difficulties?
          Consult ATHAM Z for psychic answers.
                  http://www.AthamZ.com
 Atham can also be reached directly via telephone
for readings at the following toll free number during
 business hours daily, or by appointment - ESTime.
                    1 - 877 - 258 - 7498

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In the next issue of "Atham Z - Psychic News"
you can expect the  usual array of features.
Looking forward to seeing you in the new year,

Best Regards -

Atham
Z
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