Recently I was asked to speak at a colleague's spiritual monthly meeting. I thought Tarot was too elaborate a topic to delve into in 45 minutes so I decided to get real gimmicky and do a Top 10 list like David Letterman. I thought a Top 10 list of things you could do to protect your energy. The list came easily and naturally, but stopped at 9. Then after trying for a 10th idea, I decided to keep the list at 9, being we are in a 9 year, a Year of Endings. I think this is a good list for those that are just beginning their Journey into the Spiritual Arts. So drum roll please ...

   1. You need to know some Astrology. Whether you find this stuff Woo-Woo, I feel it is as important as a kid knowing their address and phone number. Wouldn't that be nice, if teachers taught kids some astrology at the same time? Anyway, you need to know your Sun, Moon & Rising signs or some call the Rising sign, the Ascendant. The Sun being your Soul, the Moon, your feelings and the Rising, is the face you show the world. Suggestion: I keep my astrology chart on my fridge so I can refer to it while listening to podcasts. You should also know a little about Mercury Retrograde which effects us all every 3 months or so. Mercury the planet of Communications, slows down every 3 months and communications and technology are effected for about 3 weeks. To weather the bumpy ride, you should know when Mercury Retrograde will start and end and what to be cautious about, travel, backup your computer files, leave major purchases and contracts for a later date if possible. Last, you should know a little about Saturn Return. I have been meaning to write a blog about this for over 2 years, but I just can't bring myself to sit down and write it. It's not an easy time. Your first Saturn Return starts around age 29, in Astrology, this is when you become an adult. Questions like, Where am I going? What am I going to do with my Life? are major themes. The old saying is, Someone dies, someone is born, someone moves in, someone moves out. What I learned a few years ago as I struggled with my second Saturn Return 29 years later is, whatever themes you struggled with during your first return, will come back around 29 years later if you haven't figured things out. Saturn Return is about growing pains.

   2. Positive Affirmations to Start & End Your Day With - This is something new, I have been working with. I have a Vision Board in my bathroom, so I see many positive affirmations listed there that I read while brushing my teeth. But, my favorite is, opening the front door first thing in the morning and saying, "Universe, show me how good my Life is." I don't ask for anything, I just ask to be shown. Then I go to the backdoor and I do the same thing. At night, before falling asleep I go through three things. First, Gratitude for the day that is ending. I try to thank the Universe for this day. Second, I ask to release or let go any situation that happened that day that I may have not handled well. You don't want to carry that into the new day. Last, my favorite, I set an intention for the next day. I really like this one. You're basically setting the tone for tomorrow. I do believe this positive practice at night, especially setting an intention for the next day seeps into your DNA at night, so when you wake up, your body is ready to help fulfill that intention.

   3. Protect Your Energy - For those Non-Believers in Woo-Woo, did you ever walk into a house or store and just go, Whoa, this place is creepy. Or maybe being introduced to someone new at work and you don't even want to shake their hand. Well, whether you believe or not, you are picking up on their energy and you don't like it. Something is repelling you to stay away. This is bad energy. You need to protect yourself when you are out in the world. Whether you wear a crystal in your bra, as a necklace or bracelet or carry a protective stone of your choice in your pocket, it is a good idea to carry something. It could be a cross or saint, but I guarantee it will make you feel comfortable. You can also say a prayer to Archangel Michael or a saint of your choice. Others visualize themselves in a protective Reiki bubble or shaman's closure, whatever works for you, but protect your energy when you are out in the world.  

   One of my favorite techniques that I share with many clients at my Tarot table is, before entering your home at the end of the day, kick your shoes off, and wipe your feet in the grass, like your wiping your feet on a welcome mat. I usually ask the Universe to please remove all negativity that I have absorbed today, before I enter my home. You don't want to bring that negative energy into your space. You can sage spray, say a releasing prayer, wash your hands, but try to keep whatever you absorbed away from your home at the end of the day.

   4. Spiritual Baths - Whether you scrub yourself down with sugar or salt, or add some essentail oils to a bath, it is a good idea to clear off your skin every once in awhile. I bring salt water back from the beach in containers, just to help clear my crystals or soak my feet in it. You could hang a mesh bag of Himalaya Salt from your shower head and when you are feeling grimy, flip the bag so the shower runs through it. It's like your own little beach time at home. Salt water is very clearing. If you are a gardener you can pick herbs or flowers from your garden, seep them like a tea bag and then place that water in your bath. Make sure you go completely into the water asking for release. You can also find spiritual baths already made for you online or at a local botanica. Burning Palo Santo or Sage and letting it smoke around your body is also very clearing. There are also many sprays, tht you can spray your body with. Find a way that works for you and be consistent, especially if you are feeling down.

   5. Throw Your Troubles Away - This is one of my favorites that I do regularly. I actually learned it from a fireman who lived on the same island as me. He told me, after a bad day at the firehouse on his way home when he was on the bridge, he would throw his troubles off the bridge before he got home. Now that I live in Florida, I am surrounded by bridges. Everytime I drive across one, whether returning home or going out, I actually put my hand to my forehead like I'm checking for a fever, then I say something like, "Please remove all fear of finances." Then I take my hand and invisibly throw that thought out the window and off the bridge. I throw a lot of things away on bridges, low self esteem, worries about my kids, worries about getting older, releasing the past, anger at certain people. It's a simple technique, but I love doing this.

   6. Clear Your Space - Whether it is your home or office, I am a firm believer in house clearing. After bad days at work, illness, arguments, negative people visiting or hormonal teenagers living at home, clear your space often and regularly. I don't care what you use, there are many ways to do this. From just opening windows to sage bundles to ringing bells or burning incense, there are different ways to clear a space and it needs to be done regularly. Even at work, clear your office or cubicle using sage sprays, crystals, oil diffusers or reiki symbols, keeping your space protected and clear will make you feel better in the long run. Not sure where to start with this, I do have a video on my YouTube page, titled, House Clearing. I show you many ways to clear your space. Find one that you like and try it out.

   7. Fresh Flowers - Fresh Flowers get their own category. I usually talk about them when I discuss House Clearing because fresh flowers absorb negative energy. Once they start to wilt, you can pick the wilted ones out and still use the rest. I buy fresh flowers weekly. Nothing fancy, I buy mine at Trader Joe's or the local supermarket. There is something to be said about making the effort to buy them, cut and arrange them and display them. While arranging, set an intention for yourself or family. Not only do flowers absorb negative energy, but they are a positive, living focal point for your home. I try to place mine towards the center of my home. Flowers are a simple way to improve the energy in your home or office.  

   8. Love/Prosperity Corners - The main questions most clients ask at my Tarot table are always about Love and Money. So I include a little Feng Shui to enhance these aspects of your Life. If you stand at your front door looking in, your Prosperity corner will be the far left corner of your home. The Love corner will the far right corner of your house. You can also go room by room if you like. But, I often ask clients if money is not good, what do you have in the far left corner of your home? If it's a bedroom or office, is it decluttered and clean? You want rich colors if possible green, gold, or purple. You can place a lucky bamboo there or a money bowl. But, mainly keep it clean, and prosperous looking. Add plants or pictures of abundance like a field of flowers, waterfall or beach scenes with water flowing into the room. The Love area on the far right should also be cleared and clean. Pictures of you and your romantic partner can be placed here. Decorative items in pairs, like two red candles, two wine glasses, two comfortable chairs or pictures depicting love can also go here. If either of these areas are bathrooms or closets, make sure everything in the bathroom is running smoothly, no leaks or clogged drains. If a closet or storage area, it is time to declutter, organize and make sure there is plenty of light. Some simple clearing and adjusting of color or wall hangings will help if these areas in your life are problematic.

   9. Further Your Growth Through Education - Learning more on topics that call to you keeps your brain active. Whether you are just starting your journey into the Spiritual Arts or Metaphysical World improving your own intuition will help in all aspects of your life. For those interested in some of the things I've covered here, I created a seperate blog titled, Metaphysical Social Media. It's a long list of people I follow that help me understand Astrology, Tarot and Energy overall. That is Number 9, keep learning, keep discovering. In this Number 9 Year, a Year of Endings, start planting seeds of interest that will grow as we go into 2026, a Number One Year, a Year of New Beginnings. In closing, I wish you well on your path.