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• Tune into the afterlife using letters and photos
• Nurture your spiritual side with kindness
• Psychic art: sketch with Spirit
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ContentsApril
Upfront
6 Spiritual Buzz
Six pages of the latest news, views
and ideas from the alternative realm
12 Spiritual You
The stories you’ve shared with us
by letter, email and social media
p38
p18
on the cover
p6
p22
p34
28
Features
22 Manifest with tarot
Learn to master the art of
using these cards to turn
your dreams into a reality
30 Charge up your chakras
Kate Delamere discovers how to
rebalance her energy fields and
clear her chakras so that she can
put a spring back in her step
34 Embrace the winds of change
Connecting with the power of air,
from calm summer breeze to
stormy weather, can open up
new opportunities in your life
38 Oracle
Learn to speak the secret
language of flowers and understand
their hidden messages so that you
can let your life blossom
46 Serving the higher good
A simple act of kindness can be of
benefit to the whole world, but did
you know it can help further your
spiritual development, too?
78 The cat with killer charisma
Spiritual fiction: a feline arrival is
welcomed at a retirement home...
but is this furry guest friend or foe?
Real life
18 ‘Spirit had plans for me’
When her dreams started to come
true Shirley Downes was shocked to
find she had a psychic gift that came
to the fore at an unexpected time
52 ‘I can uncover your destiny’
Meet Shelley von Strunckel, the
world-renowned astrologer who
sees ghosts around every corner
when she visits London
68 ‘Higher beings help me draw’
Artist Barbara Hudson channels
the spirit world in her work to give
people a glimpse of who they
once were in a past life
98 My spiritual inspiration
Author Finlay Wilson on how
yoga and the great outdoors
saved his life and set
subscribe!
Save 25% on
your copy of
Spirit & Destiny
– see page 50
for more
92
him on a new path
health
60 Health & Wellbeing
Our round-up of the latest tips
and trends to help you feel
amazing inside and out!
64 Timing is everything
Find out the optimum time each
day to perform activities
to enhance wellbeing
and inner harmony, from
journaling to meditating
4
april 2018 spiritanddestiny.co.uk

Contents
34
46
experts
72
Regulars
28 new A ritual for...
Use herbs to contact loved
ones in the spirit world
50 Subscribe to S&D
Save 25% off the full price when you
sign up by annual recurring payment
66 Affirmations for seizing the day
Make each moment count
with these uplifting mantras
80 win A hotel spa break for two
Make the most of all the pampering
on offer at the luxurious Whittlebury Hall
81 new Horoscopes
Check out your in-depth forecast for the
month with new astrologer Emily Sitwell
15 Andrea's world of crystals
New columnist crystal healer
Andrea Webb explains how to
fine-tune your precious stones
and find a perfect home for them
17 My life with angels
S&D’s angel expert Chrissie Astell
on how to receive signs and
guidance from the angelic realm
56 Sally’s Psychic School:
Connecting with Spirit
Sally Morgan shares how you
can connect with loved ones
through photographs and letters
59 Diary of a Psychic
Take a peek at what a week in the
life of a psychic medium looks like in
Nicky Alan’s monthly column
71 Ask the experts
Our panel of renowned experts are
here to answer your questions and
help you on your spiritual journey
90 Essential April
spiritual events guide
Our fabulous events guide has
something for everyone – from
vegan festivals and fusion
mindfulness to Akashic
connections and
goddess
workshops
95 Preview
What’s in
store in our
May issue
60
Cover photo istock Welcome illustration shutterstock

Health & Wellbeing
5 ways to…
Dance yourself happy
There is a saying in Islamic
mysticism which reads: ‘God
respects us when we work, but
loves us when we dance.’
Dance is one of the oldest
methods of healing used by
priests and shamans to tap into
the Divine, and with people
celebrating World Dance Day on
April 29th, why not harness its
powerful energy to lift your spirits,
banish stagnant emotions and
boost your self-esteem?
Dance to
raise A smile
Spring is about lighter
days, new beginnings and
moving forward. Linked to this
month is the tradition of April
Fool’s Day, thought to originate in
the 16th century, when it was the
custom to play good-natured
pranks on a ‘fool’. Traditionally, the
Fool embodies innate wisdom and
encourages us to not take life too
seriously. Dancing is fun, allows us
to be silly, let off steam and links
us to a creative, wise part of
ourselves. So, be an April Fool in
a playful, spiritual sense and take
spring as an opportunity to dance.
2
Dance for
insight
Humans have danced
since the dawn of time to
express emotion, entertain, tell
stories, honour the gods and
perform rituals. It can also be
meditative, helping us tap into the
subconscious mind. If you’re tired
or feeling out of sorts, dance can
help you discover what’s behind it.
Let your intuition guide you to the
type of music that suits you in the
moment. Put it on and dance,
letting your body and mind move
to the rhythm. Close your eyes as
you shift and sway – what words
and images come to mind? Note
down your findings and see what
resonates with you.
3
Dance for your
future self
Feeling stuck? Let music
take you into the past to
see if there are emotional blocks
you need to release, or parts of
yourself from a previous life that
can be brought into your current
one. Find songs that transport you
back to a period in your life,
positive or negative, for example
your teenage years, starting work,
or meeting a partner. Move to the
music and allow the associated
emotions to float into your mind.
Did you make any decisions that
were right for you then, but that
are immobilising you now? Does it
bring up good feelings, memories
of things you used to enjoy, that
you’d like to do again? How could
you make these changes?
4
Dance for
health
and joy
As a form of aerobic
exercise, dancing is a fun way to
keep fit and produces a delicious
endorphin rush. It has other perks
too, including improving balance
and boosting mood, memory and
self-esteem. Research by the
University of New England found
that when a group of people
suffering from depression and
anxiety were assigned to six
weeks of either tango classes or
meditation, while both groups
became less depressed, only the
tango dancers reduced their
stress. And a 2014 study found
that just five minutes of freestyle
dancing increased creativity.
5
Dance to
connect with
the divine
A dance ritual helps
strengthen your mind-body
connection, putting you in touch
with your divine intelligence.
Perform your dance regularly and
you’ll find your intuition bubbling
up to guide you. You can dance
before any activity to tap into this
part of yourself – a creative
project, for example, such as
writing, or perhaps a social event.
Before you dance, set your
intention and put on music
– soothing nature sounds, such as
rain, work very well. Focusing on
your breath, move your limbs
loosely, releasing any tightness.
Find a word that embodies what
you hope to achieve and repeat
it to yourself.
60 april 2018 spiritanddestiny.co.uk

mind, body & spirit
Walk off cravings
While it’s true that a little
of what you fancy does you
good, if the voice inside your
head won’t let you ignore your
cravings then science may
have found a simple solution.
It’s estimated that 97% of
women and 68% of men get
food cravings – and they tend
to be for sugary foods, rather
than the likes of kale.
However, a study published
in the Public Library of Science
journal has found that a
15-minute walk reduced
participants’ cravings for
high-calorie, sugary snacks.
Of the 47 participants, all
sugary snack lovers, half spent
15 minutes walking briskly on
a treadmill, while the others
rested. Then they were all given
sweet treats to unwrap and the
walkers showed a muchreduced
appetite for the treats.
So, when your healthy eating
self-sabotage gremlin rises,
outwit it with an energetic walk!
Breathe right for energy
Feeling sluggish? Try right
nostril breathing to boost your
energy. Sit up in a straight but
relaxed position, hold your left
nostril closed with your left
thumb and breathe slowly
and rhythmically through
the right nostril for
a few minutes.
De-stress with super
synchronicity
Those funny coincidences in your life
might be trying to tell you something
RESEARCHER Robert
Perry has come up with a
‘super-synchronicity’ theory of
how two strikingly similar
events (synchronicities)
occurring close together can
carry the solution to a problem
and help you beat stress.
All of us have had events in
our lives that seem like
coincidences, but Robert
believes they might answer a
question we’ve been struggling
with, or bring new ideas, that
can stop your mind racing and
bring life back into balance.
You can follow Robert’s
guidelines to make the most
out of synchronicity:
IDENTIFY two or more
distinct but related events.
One will be something that’s
happening in your life, or that
you’re puzzling over. The other
will mirror or symbolise this
event. For example, you read in
the paper that journaling is
good for stopping mind chatter,
something that bothers you.
That night, you might dream
about journaling or the
following day overhear
someone talking about it.
THINK about the two events
that are related, make a list of
what they have in common and
ask yourself if these similarities
yield new information, or
answer a question.
TIMING is important. Your
two events must be no more
than 12 hours apart. According
to Robert’s research if there’s
more than 12 hours between
events they’re more likely to be
coincidences. Sometimes, they
can happen simultaneously
– you could be reading about
journaling while something
related to it comes on the radio.
The events must also
combine to form an outcome
– either solve a problem or
answer a question. The
information must add up to
a lesson, warning or guidance,
and be addressing an issue.
So, next time you’re trying to
solve a problem, keep an eye
out for super-synchronicities.
spiritanddestiny.co.uk april 2018
61

Timing is
everything
There are optimum moments in the day when you should
perform activities to enhance your wellbeing and inner harmony
Now the clocks have finally gone
forward and the evenings begin
to stretch ahead of us, you may
well feel you have more time
in the day. It’s the perfect opportunity to
shake off any winter lethargy and reawaken
your body, which may be feeling stagnant
and emotionally blocked as it emerges from
hibernation mode.
From the moment your alarm goes off in the
morning up until bedtime, your body follows
a unique pattern of energies, which can be
64 april 2018 spiritanddestiny.co.uk
enhanced by performing specific self-care
tasks at certain times of the day.
Throughout the ages, many different
cultures have performed rituals at specific
times of the day to help nurture spiritual
health and wellbeing.
In fact, in Ayurveda, adhering to a daily
routine is thought to bring balance to your
mind and body while also helping to foster
inner tranquillity and greater self-esteem.
Here we suggest the best way to break up
your day, and reap the benefits.
Sunrise
Perform yoga
While fast-paced cardio gets your heart
pumping to invigorate your body and provide
a rush of feel-good endorphins, slower forms
of exercise, such as yoga, provide the same
energising effects while also helping to create
a sense of inner peace.
The restorative poses that centre around
this ancient practice ignite your body’s
parasympathetic system, which makes you

Alternative therapies
feel more relaxed. Research also shows that
yoga increases GABA, a brain chemical that
regulates mood and lowers anxiety.
Separate studies reveal that regular yoga
changes your response to stress, making
you more able to cope when the going gets
tough. One study found that daily yoga and
meditation over an eight-week period helped
shrink parts of the amygdala, the part of the
brain linked to processing stress.
Traditionally, the practice of Surya
Namaskar (known as sun salutation, a yoga
flow sequence that stretches and flexes the
limbs) was performed as a ritual at daybreak
to honour the sun and arrival of a new day.
‘Yogic texts suggest waking up one-and-ahalf
hours before sunrise to do yoga. This is
to synchronise your day with the rhythm
of the sun and is the time a shift of energy
fills the air,’ explains Emma Burns,
founder and yoga teacher at Me Love Yoga
(meloveyoga.com).
Dedicate 20 minutes to a stretching
session as the sun rises to gently wake
up your body. Flexing your limbs will get
your blood circulating to your organs, help
improve concentration, as well as ease
any muscular tension. Focusing on your
breath while stretching also rebalances
your body and mind. Some static poses
can also be beneficial.
‘Cat pose, where you come onto all fours
and engage the core and parivrtta sukhasana
– where you sit cross legged and slowly
twist side to side – are both good poses to
do in the morning as they lift your spine
in different directions helping to release
tension,’ adds Emma.
Mid morning
Set goals
There’s no better time to reassess your goals
then mid-morning while you still feel ready
for the day ahead. Giving yourself specific
goals offers you direction and making the
effort to write down your intentions will
make them more concrete.
‘In order to assess your life goals with
some simple self-reflection, you need to
have a good mindset and a positive
outlook. This means the morning, when
you’ve had ample sleep or have already
completed your morning to-do list, will be
a good time to find some thinking space,’
says life coach Nimisha Brahmbhatt
(nimishabrahmbhatt.com).
Dedicate 10 minutes every morning to
organising your thoughts and follow the
SMART system.
‛S stands for specific, M means
measurable, A alludes to setting achievable
goals, R is about being realistic and T stands
for time-bound. Have a definitive end point,’
continues Nimisha.
When goal setting, zone in on different areas
of your life, from personal to professional, and
try using the power of gemstones to give the
focus and energy you need. Garnet helps harness
creative powers, while citrine can eradicate
negative energy and bring about prosperity.
Wear bracelets made from these stones and you
will have a constant reminder of your goals.
‘Take time to reassess your goals on a daily
basis to help you stay focused,’ adds Nimisha.
lunchtime
Give thanks
Lunchtime in Mediterranean cultures is followed
by an afternoon siesta. The idea is to allow
ample time to savour a home cooked meal
with loved ones, followed by a rest to take in
nourishment and improve digestion.
‘On a wellbeing level, resting after meals slows
us down and helps us to be more in the present
moment,’ says transformational life coach,
macrobiotic counsellor and chef Nicky Clinch
(nickyclinch.com).
While a lengthy break at lunchtime isn’t
realistic for many of us, we can spend time
counting our blessings at mealtimes.
The Japanese are often heard uttering
‘itadakimasu’ before meals which translates as
‘I humbly receive,’ and in the UK many people
say grace before their meals. While throughout
many cultures, from the ancient Greeks to
Indian Hindus, food was considered a sacred
offering to the gods.
Pause to give thanks before you sit down and
tuck into your midday meal.
You could express your gratitude with zen
master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Serving Food prayer;
‘In this food, I see clearly the presence of the
entire universe supporting my existence.’
Evening
Journal
Putting pen to paper is a powerful way to
process feelings and create self-awareness.
Jotting down your thoughts and emotions
allows you to connect with your stream of
consciousness. One study showed that keeping
track of feelings in a diary helped to reduce
activity in the brain's amygdala, which plays
a role in stress and negative emotions.
‘Journaling enforces mindfulness and allows
you to take the time to acknowledge your
feelings, and accept them for what they are
without judgement,’ says Nimisha.
‘Most people also find that by journaling they
‘Take time
to reassess
your goals
on a daily
basis’
are able to focus on gratitude for the simple
things in life, which in turn helps boost their
mood as they are connecting with the positive
rather than worrying about the negative.’
Set aside time after dinner when you can
process thoughts and feelings from the day
without any distractions.
‘Some people find the GREAT method a good
one to follow,’ advises Nimisha. ‘G stands for
gratitude, writing what you are grateful for,
R for repetition of positive affirmations and EAT
stands for emotion, action and thought.’
For each entry write down what went well,
what didn’t go well and what you will do
differently tomorrow.
‘The useful part is to come back to what
you’ve written and take action, that is what
makes it most productive,’ explains Nimisha.
Before bed
Meditate
Sleep offers your body the chance to rejuvenate,
but if you often go to bed with your mind racing
and struggle to nod off, then adding a meditation
session to your evening routine could help.
‘Meditating at the end of the day will help
bring the mind back into relative stillness. This
can help you fall asleep quicker and get a good
night’s sleep,’ says Emma.
‘Scientific studies have shown that meditation
can structurally change your brain for the better
helping to develop more compassion, love,
patience, generosity and forgiveness.’
There are many forms of meditation but there
is specific evidence showing the sleep-enhancing
benefits of mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness meditation focuses on your
breathing to let go of the busyness in your mind.
‘Try counting your breaths,’ suggests Emma.
‘Set a timer, sit comfortably and close your eyes.
Allow your body to settle, then become aware of
your breathing. Inhale then exhale. At the very
end of your out breath mentally count “one”.
Continue in this way, counting as you end each
exhale until you reach 10.’
feature louise pyne photos istock, shutterstock
spiritanddestiny.co.uk april 2018
65

Let your life
blossom
Harness the wisdom of flowers to focus
on what you need most to bring you joy
We have long enjoyed flowers
for their natural beauty and
heady fragrances that lift our
spirits, yet these are not the
only reasons they should be celebrated – these
glorious blooms hold special messages for us.
The language of flowers, or floriography, has
been used to communicate thoughts and
feelings for thousands of years. From hidden
messages conveyed through the use of their
images in books to how flowers are arranged
in a vase, different blooms even send out
certain messages when presented to people.
Giving someone the gift of a red rose is used
to symbolise romantic love, or a white rose to
honour their virtue.
Now, as we emerge from the winter months,
colourful flowers are bursting into bloom all
around us with wisdom to draw on, says
shaman Davina Mackail.
‘Flowers have spiritual significance because
they grow from the darkness of the earth,
which represents our unconscious
depths,’ adds Davina. ‘Their
messages bring our inner truth to
light and spiritually illuminate us. Act on their
insights to manifest the “fruits” of your life.’
Read on to channel the language of flowers
in Davina’s bespoke oracle and discover what
action you should be taking to allow happiness
to thrive in your life.
Using this oracle
Close your eyes and ask, ‘What do
I need to know right now?’ Run your
non-dominant hand over the page,
with your index finger pointing
towards the flowers. Stop where you
feel an energetic tugging and place
your finger on the page. Open your
eyes and read the message of the
flower you’ve picked, before doing
the ritual at a time of your choosing.
38 april 2018 spiritanddestiny.co.uk

ORACLE
➳
Turn the
page for
messages
spiritanddestiny.co.uk april 2018
39

A ritual for…
contacting
loved ones
Let the power of herbs help you connect with the spirit realm
Most of us
who’ve lost
someone dear
have thought
how lovely it would be to hear
from them in the afterlife, and
know they’re okay. The full
moon is associated with the
supernatural and spiritual
realm. Try this simple ritual
on the full moon on April 30th
to reach out to a loved one on
the other side.
Step one
♦
Before bed, light a black
candle and slow your
breathing until you feel ready
to connect to the spirit world.
Place a photo of a loved one
who has passed over, or an
item that belonged to them, in
front of the candle’s flame and
look ‘through’ it, focusing
your gaze on the flame itself.
Step two
♦
After a minute of focusing
on the flame, state your
intention, by saying:
‘Through the veil you fell
But through this spell
I ask to contact thee
If for the good of all it be.’
♦
Step three
Blow out the candle and, as
you watch the smoke waft
away, imagine it carrying your
request to your loved ones.
When the candle has cooled,
place it in a purple pouch (the
colour associated with psychic
matters), along with the photo
or item, and a sprig of parsley
– a herb used in rituals to
contact those in Spirit. Place
the pouch under your pillow.
Step four
♦
You will most likely
dream of your departed
loved one. They may
give you a message or
guidance. If this doesn’t
happen, repeat the
next evening. And
the next, if need be.
Your patience will
be rewarded.
28
April 2018 spiritanddestiny.co.uk

Time for you
Expert tip
If you can’t remember
your dream clearly
when you wake up,
go for a walk, taking
your purple pouch. Let
nature help you connect
to the afterlife.
Compiled by Tracie couper photos istock
spiritanddestiny.co.uk April 2018 29

46 april 2018 spiritanddestiny.co.uk

The inner you
Serving the
Higher good
A simple act of kindness not only has a positive impact on
the world but can further your spiritual development too
Spare a moment to reflect on your day.
Did you go out of your way to help
someone? Did you offer a kind word to
a friend, colleague or even a stranger?
Or perhaps you smiled and said hello to your
neighbour? When you look back, do you feel
positive about the impact you made on the world
around you today?
Did you answer ‘no’ to any of these questions,
but wish you were doing more to spread
positivity? Our lives are so demanding it’s
easy to become so wrapped up in them that
sparing a moment for anyone else falls to
the bottom of your list of priorities.
However, there is a spiritual revolution
happening right now, a ‘kindness
movement’, where people are focusing
their energy on reaching out to others
to make the world a better place. In
spiritual circles this is known as serving
the higher good and is believed to not only
benefit others but feed your soul too – and
it’s easy for you to become a part of it.
You don’t have to make big changes to
your life – like moving to another country
to do voluntary work – to make a difference.
Instead, simple, small, daily gestures are all
it can take to light up someone’s life, make
a significant impact on them and the world,
and further your spiritual development.
Spreading the joy
One of the people involved in the kindness
movement is Bernadette Russell.
After the 2011 London riots, she vowed to do
small acts of kindness every day to help others,
which inspired her book, The Little Book of
Kindness (Orion Spring, £7.99).
Expert tip
Need inspiration when
it comes to acts of
kindness? Download
the Be Happy (Kindness
and Karma) app,
available for free
from Google Play
or iTunes.
‘After the riots, I began to question the point
of everything,’ says Bernadette, who has also
written two books on kindness for children.
‘There were so many problems in the world, but
what could be done about them?
‘One day I was in the post office and bought a
stamp for a boy who had run out of cash. He was
really grateful and I was so happy to have helped
him in a small way. I thought to myself, perhaps
if I could do one little thing for a stranger every
day I’d make a difference to the world.
‘I helped strangers in the street, made
presents for my neighbours and gave spare
change to anyone who asked. I also made
100 Valentine’s cards and sent them
to strangers and fed runners at the
London Marathon.
‘My life completely changed as
a result. I started seeing the world
through the window of kindness and it
confirmed to me that human beings are
capable of amazing things. I also realised
that by promoting kindness you are also
promoting hope.’
Progressing spiritually
But being kind doesn’t just help others feel good,
it can also aid your spiritual development. In
fact, the idea of being of service to others by
offering help, kindness and compassion is a
theme that runs through many religions and
spiritual practices.
‘There has always been a drive for
spiritual development through
kindness and compassion,’ says
angel expert and author of Seven
Steps into Angel Light (Watkins,
£7.99), Chrissie Astell.
➳
Turn the
page for
more
spiritanddestiny.co.uk april 2018
47

Embrace the winds
of change
From calming breeze to blustery storm,
connect with the power of the air to
bring new opportunities your way
34 april 2018 spiritanddestiny.co.uk

Transform your life
April may be one of the windiest
months, but instead of battening
down the hatches, why not tune
into the might of this commanding
element to change your life for the better?
The wind has long been revered for its power,
with many religions and cultures worshipping
deities associated with it.
In ancient Greek mythology, Aeolus was the
god king of winds, keeping violent, blustery
storms locked away. In Rome, goddess Cardea
looked after the winds of the compass and
the Aztec wind god, Ehécatl, was the bringer
of love and passion, while in North America,
wind deities were believed to give life and
offer protection.
But it’s not just gods and goddesses who
have control over the air. In the 15th century,
Northern European seamen consulted ‘wind
witches’ who would string together knots on
a piece of rope to conjure up a sailable breeze.
Harmonise with nature
Now shamanic healer Renee Danielle Baribeau
has gone one step further and is showing people
how they can harness the wind to help navigate
their own lives and better themselves.
She has written The Winds of Spirit: Ancient
Wisdom Tools for Navigating Relationships,
Health and the Divine (Hay House, £13.99)
after turning to the wind to heal herself following
a battle with drugs and alcohol in the wake of
her father’s early death.
‘Harmonising with nature helped me cope
with loss. The wind not only sweeps clouds
away, but can remove obstacles in our lives and
create abundance,’ says Renee.
‘Our ancestors understood how to draw on
the strength and attributes of the wind to >
Expert tip
Wind goddess Cardea
can open and close doors
in your life. In your head
or out loud, say ‘I am
ready to let go’ and know
she’s shut the door on
a problem and opened up
new possibilities.
spiritanddestiny.co.uk april 2018
35

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