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to where I've come together with "HouseofRaquel".

I will no longer be posting blogs to this page. I am now located at:
http://raquelamaral.wordpress.com

See you there.

Astrology Reading

On Friday I met a friend and a NEW friend at the Mystic Dream store in Walnut Creek. It is located across the street from Carlos Santana's restaurant Maria Maria. We met there to get an astrology reading.
My two friends went first and then it was my turn. I wish I had recorded it because I forgot everything up until the part about an male ancestor was guiding me with my jewelry business. He wanted me to know to that it was okay to call upon him for help. Also that he was helping me with showing my designs in public. There was also a woman along side of him.

This is my grandfather who I think I look like.


This is my grandmother who I was named after, Raquel Amaral. I never knew either one of them in my lifetime. However I always knew instinctively that my grandfather was around me when I was growing up. I was thrilled and excited to hear that his energy was assisting me in my business decisions.

I really wish I could remember what the rest of my astrology reading was about. The only other thing was that my moon was a Gemini Rising.

My Baby

Here she is my first bracelet made with a crystal quartz point. I love this bracelet and it is not for sale. It feels comfortable on my wrist. I have 5mm jet ab swarovski crystals dangling from the chain.


I just know all the other points will look great in this bracelet style.

Third Eye Pendant

A pendant I made last evening after I ate dinner. I was full of energy when I woke up yesterday morning. But came crashing down around 11am. By 3:00pm I really could have fell asleep at my desk. I started drinking lots of water. I was exhausted. I picked up a yummie salad at Trader Joe's because I wanted to design a new jewelry piece. I hadn't made anything in a few days.



Smoky quartz with swarovski amethyst crystals. 16" Length small vintaj chain. I share my designs with love. I get to come home tonight to create another piece. I want to make a bracelet to share. We'll see.

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Spirit Development class

Since October 2006 I've wanted to belong to a spirit development class. All the folks that I met at the Omega Institute in New York for an advanced mediumship class were meeting on a weekly basis. http://eomega.org/ I would hear about it and always felt left out. Could someone do one online was always in the back of my mind. Finallllllly my thoughts had been answered.


Photo taken at Rhinebeck campus on the way to the cafeteria one morning.

I left work last evening and stopped to pick up dinner for my son and me. I was excited about my spiritual development class at 7:00pm. I didn't tell either son about it, although my husband knew. When I arrived home no one was there awwh I was secretly relieved and thanked my spirit guide Jade.

I ate my dinner while watching the Young and the Restless. I'm hooked!


I lit candles and pulled the cushion over to my jewelry corner so I could put my feet up while I was in class. I made sure I could log into the class online. At 6:56pm, I dialed in. I had my iphone earplugs with speaker in my ears and Blythe greeted me.

Did I say this was an online spiritual development class being held on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 10pm for 10 weeks for only $300.00?
There was one other student in the class so boy are we getting our monies worth!

We introduced ourselves and then the 1st exercise was sending and receiving a shape. (circle, square, star or triangle)
2nd exercise was sending and receiving an object attached to an emotion with no preset objects or emotions.

We then did a meditation where Blythe cleared our chakras and grounded us. During this I felt my body needing to wiggle as the crown chakra showered my entire body.
She then preceded to guide us into a meditation where me met our "self doubt", "inner child" and our "higher self". I had never did a meditation before where what you see and receive during a meditation will have meaning to your spiritual and human "needs". I met my higher self and I looked like a light being with slanted eyes and two little nose holes and no mouth! I gave myself a clear quartz crystal too!

As always with guided meditations I never want to come out of it. I slept lightly last night because I wanted to remember my dreams so I could write them down and bring them to class next Tuesday. I forgot them but I remembered a few words so I wrote them down.

I want to share my class in this blog. Not only for those of you that read it, but so I have a journal. I am always evolving as a spirit and a human being. In love and light!

More crystal shopping

I was fortunate enough to go into a stone and mineral shop in Vacaville, CA. I purchased a few aqua aura crystal clusters, smoky quartz points, a red sellenite for myself, a abalone shell for photos, quartz crystal points and manifestation crystals.
I didn't know what a manifestation crystal was so I googled it.

"Manifestation crystals are amongst the most beautiful, powerful and sought after of all quartz formations. Perfectly formed double terminated crystals float magically within the geometric world of their mother.

"The Manifestation crystal is recognized by a small crystal totally enclosed within a larger crystal, and they are very rare. The use of the manifestation crystal requires the inner knowledge that one is a clear and perfect channel, that a pure white light provides the guiding way, and that the purity of the Divine is within the inner self. They can also be used to facilitate artistic creativity, creative thinking, agricultural pursuits, and to increase or decrease any aspect of ones life."

"Manifestation crystals are quite rare. If there is something one wishes to manifest, the relevant questions are: "Do I really want this?" - "Are there reasons that I may not want this?" Quotes from "Love is in the Earth", used with kind permission."

I'm anxious to make jewelry with these crystals and to take photos of them.

Spirit Development Class

Are you interested in taking a spiritual development class, I have just the one for you and all you need is a computer connected to the internet. Yes!!!! it is online. How cool is that?

This 10 WEEK class is designed to provide a basic but hearty introduction to the world of metaphysical spirituality and how it can greatly influence your personal growth. You will be offered the opportunity to begin the healing work of deep wounds, both known and unknown, and through this work experiencing the gift of opening your own intuition and higher consciousness more fully and deeply. My goal as your teacher is to empower YOU to more fully realize the truth of who you are and help you to actualize that truth.

Some Topics We Will Cover
-Meditation
-Channeling, Mediumship, Psychic Ability, & Intuition.
-Chakra’s and their extensive role in our lives
-Crystals and why they are a part of our spiritual journey
-Empowerment, Truth, & Heart Centered Living
-Breath
-The Power of Sound
-The Higher Self

What We Will Do:
-Guided Meditations for Growth and Healing Channeled by Blythe
-Automatic Writing
-Getting to Know Your Higher Self
-Breathwork
-Gong & Crystal Bowl Healing
-Exercises for Intuition
-Dream Analysis

All members of the class will be given the opportunity to share, create, work together, and receive valuable insights into their own path through the eyes of the teacher as well as their fellow students.

This is a 10 week class meeting each Tuesday at 7:00pm
Cost is 350.00 which includes a book and a crystal. A 75.00 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space.

Class is limited to 10 students and PREREGISTRATION is required.
Please e-mail me at blythe@blytherowan.com to register.

At the conclusion of the 10 weeks you will be given the option to continue on in this spiritual development class or to pursue channeling class. All students wishing to move on to channeling class will be chosen at my discretion.


I know that I've been wanting to be in a spirit development circle since I went to New York to take the advance mediumship class with James Van Praagh (that was a few years back). All the "cool" circles were back East.

Finally the universe has granted my desire, I'm really excited about taking this class. If you've been interested in developing your spiritual gifts, you should check it out.

It is going to be great!

Ruby Aura Crystal

Yesterday my sister and I went to Berkeley, CA USA in search of crystal points. We went to Stone Crazy on Shattuck and I bought a beautiful Labradorite pendant. A few stores down is the awesome Baubles and Bead store where I purchased 4mm swarovksi crystals to accent my new metaphysical line. My sister asked them if they knew of a place to buy crystal points and they said Rocks and Beads on Telegraph.
So off to Telegraph we went and had to find a parking space. The street was busy with people as always, street vendors, lots of dogs. I took video which I post later to my youtube. One lady did not appreciate it and told me that I was rude. The guy in Rocks and Beads didn't mind at all. (kinda cute too :) I purchased some lemon quartz, opal and smokey.
I took my sister home and we told my brother the story about the "rude comment" and he said, " she was Wrong! on the street it is public." I had thought the same thing but I was taking video of the jewelry she was selling. I hope I got her on video!
When I returned home I had two packages in the mailbox.


Ruby Aura, Tangerine Aura, Titanium, Diamantina, Aqua Aura.


Clear quartz, Champagne aura, Smokey Champagne Aura, Aqua Aura

I was anxious to get started and picked up the Ruby Aura crystal and made this necklace.




Metaphysical properties of the Ruby Aura

Cleanses the base chakra of old survival issues and abuse, bringing in passion and vitality, and activates the wisdom of the heart. This is a protective crystal against aggression and violence. In healing, Ruby Aura benefits the endocrine system and is a natural antibiotic for fungal infections and parasites.

- The Crystal Bible

Metaphysical Jewelry

Good morning. I wanted to write about what's going on with House of Raquel jewelry hmmm maybe I'm on the wrong blog page. I've incorporated my jewelry designs to the other side of me. I am thinking about canceling my House of Raquel blog and just have this one.
The metaphysical jewelry is attracting people's eye. I didn't know that the night I was meeting a new friend (Jac) at Mystic store in Walnut Creek that my jewelry designs were going to change. While we were checking out all the cool stuff they offered I purchased one of their 3 aqua aura crystals that caught my eye. I also purchased some "abundance" candles. I liked the way they smelled. :)
After creating that piece


and posting it to my fan page on facebook it attracted people's eye. When I posted it I wrote that this one was mine but I would be making more. My friend Jac bought the second piece. When I went back to the Mystic store to buy the last one it was gone. So I've located a few on the internet. I'm waiting impatiently for those to arrive.

The next morning while eating my oatmeal and checking into facebook. I saw Denise mention she was on twitter and to follow her. I was already a fan. But I hadn't follow her on twitter. I prefer FB to twitter. I don't use twitter much, do you? While driving to work Jade (my spirit guide) told me to connect to Denise on twitter. So I did. I saw she was selling her book and purchased it. She was sending me messages that she loved my pieces and asked me if I would be interesting in her carrying my line on her website. I was overwhelmed and high as the sky.

We talked that evening on my way home from work. I pulled my car over. I explained to her that my line was new and I didn't have many pieces - NONE was more like it. That was okay with her cause the page for it wasn't ready yet and that it would be about 2 weeks.
www.deniselescano.com
Ok so look forward to that happening in a few weeks. She also has a new book coming out about the same time.


The Messenger by Denise Lescano - Excellent! A page turner as Denise Lescano takes us through her life—love, heartache, doubt, hope and everything in between. Only to realize later that her many antagonists and challenges were also her greatest teachers. She is a gifted psychic medium with a story that will warm your soul.

Josie Varga
Author, Visits From Heaven

I've purchased mine and I can't wait to receive a signed copy .http://fairpoint.net/~icpchad/booksmessenger.htm Coincidentally (I don't believe in coincidences) she is a friend of my friend Rachel. I am blessed. Rachel had suggested to become a fan of Denise's a while ago.

As I design these pieces my abundance candles are burning. hmmmm I am also infusing them with healing reiki energy. Denise's assistant was going to do it but when I told her I was a Reiki II practictioner, she told me I could do it. She had attuned my friend Rachel and guess what Rachel attuned me to Reiki II a few years back. hmmmm

My intention was to get them on my website and eventually I will, but in the meantime I am taking orders for all my fans if you would like to order a piece. Just know that I have to fill my order to Denise first. I would gladly add you to my waiting list.

I am open to what the universe wants to give me. I am filled with gratitude and love.
Peace

Amazonite

It's been a good while since I've posted to The Other Side of Me. Many of you know that I have a side handcrafted jewelry business. Where I mainly USED sterling silver, chain and wire with swarovski crystals.

I'm excited to leave the sterling silver behind. Now I'm using vintaj antique brass findings and wire. I've always been in love with crystals and stones, so I'm taking my jewelry designs to the metaphysical. The other side of me. :)

When I go shopping for stones, I'm always curious what are their Healing and Attributes definitions. It amazes me how they resonate with my energy. The photos I'm going to post is a necklace where I used the stone - Amazonite.

The Crystal Bible written by Judy Hall defines this stone as:
"Heals and opens the heart and throat chakras to enhance loving communication. It also opens the third eye and intuition. The stone dissipates negative energy and blockages within the nervous system.
Attributes - Extremely soothing stone. It calms the brain and nervous system and aligns the physical body with the etheric, maintaining optimum health.
Spiritually, an elixir of Amazonite is extremely beneficial to all levels of consciousness. The stone itself assists in manifesting universal love.



I wire wrapped the stone and added a chain drop with rose quartz, amethyst chip, along with a few swarovski crystals dangling from the chain. This piece is $40.00. All the photos are of the same piece.



The length of this necklace is 16" and extends to 18 1/2".



The length of the stone is 1 1/4" and the width is about 5/8".





You could also wear it from the backside. I love this finding. I also used the finding to make the earrings that match. They cost $15.00



I will be posting more of my jewelry designs on this blog and defining the meaning of the stones that I used. I hope you enjoy. I would appreciate your feedback.

How do I do a reading?

Have you ever given or received a reading?

I've received two readings one in person and one over the phone. The first one was a card reading. At the end of that reading she told me I had been burned by the stake in a previous life. I had already knew it intuitively. She said if I wanted to do a past life regression she could do it. I chose not to at that time.

My second reading was over the phone with Sylvia Browne. I waited 3 years for that reading. Have any of you had a reading by her? I would love to hear about it. I got a phone call from her assistant in December to let me know that my name had finally come up to the top. Her rate had increased from $600 for a half hour to $800 for a half hour and was I still interested? I took a deep breath it was December I thought I don't want to spend $800 for a reading right now. You must pay before they will book the appointment. I must be loca, crazy. I booked it.

Her assistant called again before the reading to let me know that there were a few questions I couldn't ask her. One I couldn't ask her to find anything lost. Second, I couldn't ask her to find anyone missing. Ok that wasn't one of my questions, good. But he told me to write down as many questions as you could think of. So I carried around a tablet and was always thinking about questions to ask? In February I spoke to Sylvia Browne. As far as I'm concerned she is the best in the Psychic Business, Amazing!

I've been asked a few times recently how do I do a reading so I wanted to address it on my blog.

I also accept payment when scheduling an appointment. My sister arranges all of my appointments. I also do not answer two questions, I will not tell you whether you or anyone you know has a terminal illness and whether someone is dying. I don't do this because I don't want to cause people G*d awful pain. I don't charge enough to do that, plus I am not a doctor.

I do my reading with the use of the computer. Using Instant Messenger, email and sometimes I will do a reading over the phone. My Spirit Guide directs me as to which way will work best for my client.

On the day of the reading I may get visits from loved ones who have crossed over anxious to communicate with my client. I will get names and pictures in my mind's eye while communicating with loved ones who have passed. I write it down so as not to forget. (They will not go away until after the reading and seriously won't let me forget. Sometimes while I am out and about and not doing a reading I will get visits from spirits that want to communicate. They can be annoying and loud.)

I will start the reading with the messages from a loved one or two. I will ask you if this is familiar to you. I will ask questions about what I'm getting in order for me to make sure that I have connected to your energy. I will be directed by my spirit guide to your spirit guide. In doing this I can "see" what is going on in your world. After I am done telling you what I "see", I will ask you if you have any questions. I will answer them as I'm being guided by spirit.

During the reading Spirit might bring up friends and family in your life who have issues. I may ask to communicate to your friends or family for spirit. If this is the case I do not charge for that. It will be up to you to communicate with your friend or family member that I would like to give them a reading.

I enjoy receiving feedback from my clients. They will email me to say I met that guy, I got pregnant, now what am I having etc... I have to say I don't retain the reading on the computer or in my head. So when I said oh Did I tell you that you were going to meet someone I apologize to you that I don't remember it. But I am always appreciative for your feedback.

I love doing readings. I always thank my spirit guides and the spirits who have crossed over. I hope this helps you to understand How I do a reading.

P.S. The more open you can be during a reading from any "psychic, medium, seer" the easier it is for the energy to flow.

Predicting Babies

Now what the heck am I going to write about on predicting babies. (I had to go through my older posts to see if I had written about this before, ok I hadn't.)

I haven't always been able to "see" babies coming. I think it started with the first and second predictions in 2006.

I've been 98% accurate on the babies coming (Angie is still waiting and Heather's step son had a baby, I thought it was Heather, I'm chalking it up as I was wrong). 80% accurate on the sex of the baby.

Melissa, I was correct on sex of two babies
Wendy, I was correct on sex of one baby. I don't remember if I predicted Brandon?
Valerie, I was correct on sex of one baby
Michael, I was not correct on sex of baby
John, I was correct on sex of two babies
Dave, I was not correct on sex of baby
Sonia, I was correct on sex of one baby
Wes' daughter, I was correct on sex of one baby

The list above are a few people whom I predicted would have a baby and the sex of the baby before the woman was pregnant.

How do I do that? I get a "look, thought, picture, feeling, vibration, or as I really like to call them a "swish", all predictions are within a year.

I thought I had a Baby Prediction chart on the side bar of this blog. I think I lost it when I got a new background. So I've posted it again. Yes I have two predictions posted on it.

Now if you're one of the people I've mentioned in this post. I would seriously love for you to leave a comment. Please don't be shy. :)

Another story...

As I sit here enjoying my second cup of coffee on a Saturday morning my spirit guide wants me to tell another story. I feel that I just want to be quiet and not write about the other side of me. My spirit guide won't go away so I'm writing...

Once in my working lifetime history I was not working. I think that it lasted maybe a month. I quit a job because I couldn't stand to work for the woman boss any longer. I didn't interview for this position. Three coworkers and I were taken from a job where the company went under to this new company. My husband and I worked for the same company that closed after 100+ years in business. He was unemployed and I should have been grateful I had a job. We had two boys in a private christian school, a mortgage, new motor home and new car. It was 1988.

I was alone in my house getting ready to go to a job interview. I was sitting at my makeup table curling my eyelashes. My eyes went blurry and I blinked and blinked but couldn't focus. Out of the corner of my bedroom appeared a ball of light. As it came towards me it got bigger and bigger. I sat there blinking and blinking so I could focus. The light came closer. I rubbed my eyes and still the light was there. I was frozen in my chair. What is this light? I wanted to know. I sat there.

Then the phone rang I got up and left the room. The phone was in the kitchen I answered it, it was my Mom. I told her the story about the light in my room, she answered me with if it was a Good spirit it won't touch you. If it's a bad spirit it will try to touch you.

I hung up the phone and grabbed my purse. My mom scared the hell out of me. I left my house. I didn't know whether or not the light was a good spirit or bad spirit.

February of this year I had a reading by Sylvia Browne. I asked her about "the Light".
It was my Spirit Guide.

Are you curious?

Are you curious about when did I know that I had grown up and could communicate with spirit? It has been a life long journey and the first time that I really started was in 2000=2001. I began a new job, 8 to 5 and less stress. I started making my own jewelry so my creative side of my brain was once again flowing.

John Edward had TV show called Crossing Over (I think) and that show fascinated me. Watching him connect to the other side and making people cry, especially me just felt right to me. I knew I could do this and I wanted too.


John Edward's website click here

I purchased his set of CDs http://www.johnedward.net/DP_Developing_Psychic_Powers.htm If you are seriously interested in developing your psychic ability I recommend them.

I would meditate in the morning before getting up to go to work. My body would become so numb during the meditation, but I found that I could connect to spirit this way. I would also listened to John Edward's CDs every day driving to and from work. A friend at work, Wendy was open and supportive of my ability. She also enjoyed watching John Edward's Crossing Over TV show.

Shortly after purchasing the CDs, I connected to a friend of Wendy's who had crossed over during child birth. Her name is Stacy and she told me that her husband had remarried and was expecting a child, a boy. The boy was the spirit that she had lost. Wendy was fascinated with this and reconnected to Jami, Stacy's sister. They did not believe that Stacy's husband would remarry. It took a day or two but Jami was able to contact Stacy's husband. He had remarried! Yes! his wife was pregnant. Later to find out it was a boy.

I had little to no support from anyone else, a lonely journey that I didn't want to many people to know about because I didn't want people to think I was crazy. Until I went to my first James Van Praagh basic mediumship class in Laguna Beach, CA.


www.vanpraagh.com His class had a limit of 100 people. We learned to meditate and protect ourselves. I learned that I wasn't alone and I was ok, I wasn't crazy. I left that weekend feeling that I no longer cared what people thought of me and it was ok to be wrong.

The following day I went with Wendy to see John Edward's show in Sacramento. There were thousands of people and only a few got a reading. We weren't one of them either. But it was very enjoyable to see him in person.

Stay tuned for more stories about my journey...

Where is my crystal?

Where is my crystal? I found it. I keep this one separate from the rest. After touching these crystals and now touching my laptop. Well my laptop is freaking out.

This is my meditating crystal. Well it used to be. I no longer use any crystals or cards. But I keep them around me. This one has 3 rainbows in it.

While my children were enrolled at a christian school learning that I was "evil". Knowing that I was a loving mother. I was passionate about crystals, runes, sage, incense. I collected crystals and crystal jewelry. My youngest son eventually threw away many of my Life after Death and meditating books, incense, runes. My crystals weren't in his way. Even to this day he doesn't see a need for what I do and doesn't want to hear about it. I respect that.

Rose Quartz, the heart crystal. You hold this crystal with two hands and pour your heart into it. Then you hand it to someone with your right hand (I believe). When they hold it they will fill up with the love you have. Crystals have the power to pulsate your hands and even the room you're standing in.
Once over a friend's house she had a rose quartz sitting on her mantel. I held in my hands and handed it to her. She could feel the energy from the beautiful rose quartz. She had many more crystals and we enjoyed the energy from each one. The room we were in began to pulsate and we became scared so we stopped. I wasn't sure how or why that happened, I just figured it was from the crystals.

I recognize one to be an amethyst quartz crystal. Can anyone tell me what the others are? I can't locate my crystal bible.
I traded all my crystal jewelry for a large brandy glass where I hold the majority of my collection. I keep it by a large window in my living room. Many of my larger crystals sit on the windowsill.

The large brandy glass of crystals attracts little children. They love to touch the stones. It's interesting to see the ones they choose to hold. Each stone has a meaning for your body, mind and spirit. It's very interesting.


I purchased this deck and have enjoyed giving many people readings. But I always felt with this deck that a person didn't need me. This deck comes with a book. Whatever cards match, you just read the card's meaning from the book. With that said, it was amazing how accurate the matches were. Very entertaining at parties.

Like I said I don't use the crystals, cards, runes any more. I now just "see", "listen" to my guides. I still on occasion will burn incense and sage. Why? To remove the energy of people who have been in my house.

Yet another story about my life's journey to who I am today.

I am a 'Seer'

I created a necklace that I inspired because I am a Seer. I call myself a Seer, a Listener because I see pictures and hear thoughts in my mind that come from spirit.

I am a Seer - N100209 Available today on my website, www.houseofraquel.com






Look for many more jewelry items inspired by the "Seer" in me. ;)

Indians are circling

Indians are circling the bed and I can't sleep.

One weekend we spent the night at my Husband's cousin house. We slept in her spare bedroom. I was totally unaware of any spirit activity in her house. She never mentioned it. I can't recall if we had ever talked about paranormal activity.

This particular night after enjoying a wonderful day in the sun, bbq and hot tub. We went to bed. My husband falls fast asleep. I'm anxious to sleep but I keep having to get up and go to the bathroom. Finally I doze off and am awaken by a tribe of Indians circling the bed. I know you're thinking I'm a nut job! I'm awake and I have to go pee once again. So I ask them (mentally) if it is ok to walk through their circle to go to the bathroom. For some unexplained reason I'm not afraid. In the distance I can hear their drums beating. Certainly is strange! (This February I was told by psychic Sylvia Browne that I was a Shaman in a previous life. A whole other story to post at a later time.)

The next morning I couldn't wait to chat with her. She did in fact know that there were spirits in her spare bedroom. Her daughter in law had sensed them. She didn't know if I would, YES!! and I didn't like it. She also recalled once she slept in their and felt a heavy presence on her chest and it made it hard for her to get up out of the bed. Now I've heard that happening alot.

Needless to say we never slept overnight in her house again. Last time we went for a visit that room was more of a storage room. Great idea!

Now this may sound like I've lost all my marbles and then some. But I just want to share stories of my experiences before it dawned on me that I grew up to be one of those people and you can too!

I'm sure that you have stories and you thought it was your imagination, well guess what it might NOT have been. We're all born with this gift. Many of us lose it as a child. Some of us have stronger degrees of it then others. Yes you can get it back.

Stay tuned.

I did not think

I would grow up and communicate with spirit.

As a child I thought my brother was always hiding in the closet. He would come out of it when I was lying in bed about to fall asleep and I would get scared. He was a practical joker that way and still is. It was not him.

I always knew that when we went to sleep our spirit would and did leave our bodies and back to the spirit world it would go. But as far as being psychic or communicating with spirit I wasn't aware that I could or even wanted too. I just knew I had a wild imagination and would tell stories to my nieces at bed time that would put them to sleep.

As a teenager, I remember going to my sister in law's house and meeting a girl friend of hers who was psychic telling me that I was. I never really thought about it much afterwards either. I didn't want to be psychic. I thought that was for the summer fairs. Those people were wierd. I just knew that I was very sensitive. I cried very easily and didn't care who teased me about it.

As an adult I loved crystals. I would meditate with them. One time my husband read how to meditate with crystals to me. Walking me through it. I went inside the crystal (yea I know that sounds crazy) as the meditation progressed I was suppose to open my eyes, which I did and there stood Moses. (Now you really think I've lost it?) I still have that crystal and Moses is there like an engraving.

The first night back at home from having my second child. I was lying in a twin bed in my baby's room asleep. My husband's mother showed up in the early dawn. I felt her presence in the room and it woke me up. I never physically met her. She had died from breast cancer before I knew my husband. She had come to visit her only grand child. I wasn't scared but after she was longer in the room I screamed for my husband. He came and thought I had just been dreaming.

A year later on my son's one year old birthday we took him to Chuck e Cheese. I remember we had a few balloons lingering in his room days after the celebration. My husband and I had been up talking in the living room reminiscing about the past. When I said remember last year when your mother stopped in for a visit. When suddenly one of the balloons in my son's room POPPED for no reason. Oh yes my husband had all kinds of scientific reasons (he is not a scientist) for it all of a sudden at that moment popping. I know it was his mother.

My search for spirituality continued with reading many books. I loved going to stores that sold crystals and candles and tarot cards etc.


to be continued....

I am looking to interview psychics, mediums, seers etc. Please let me know if you are interested.

Was it a lucky guess....

Let me back up before going forward. On September 11, 2009 I wrote about an orb. A picture that I took in a house we were staying in while at a golf tournament. I had reason to believe that there was a spirit in this house. The picture of the orb confirmed it for me. I blogged about it on that day.

Today I received a comment from JAM with a link to a picture that she had with an orb. Here is the conversation between JAM and me.

Jam said" I take lots of digital pictures and that has happened to me on a few occasions. I've always been annoyed that they usually have wrecked a good picture. I never knew what caused it.

Check out a post that I had with a picture of an orb. (2nd picture down) Do you think it was dust on my camera... or a spirit? We were talking about people who had died. Okay, now I'm a little freaked out! "



(Jam gave me the link to her blog where the picture was posted and has allowed me to tell this interesting little story.)

Here is my reply to her after looking at the picture. "Jam, Has your mother passed? I'm feeling it is a maternal female, like your mother." I've looked at orbs in pictures before. Recently a co-worker shared photos that had a rain shower full of orbs which I will share on another day. This was the first time I was getting any "feelings" about an Orb.

She replied with, "Raquel, thanks for answering so quickly. My mom is still around and no one close to me has passed recently. The couple (pictured) were old friends of my husband's who were over for dinner that night. The gentleman to the left of the orb had recently lost his daughter AND his ex-wife. We were talking about both of them that evening.

Are orbs good energy or bad?"

Well I thought to myself I do not know. What a very good question. Does anyone have any comment about that question?

Then I heard in my 3rd eye hole (that is what I call the place where I receive messages from Spirit) the name Carly, Karen, Carol was being told to me to relay to JAM about who was the Orb.

Ok so that everyone understands where I'm at and what's going on.

There was a time when I was "afraid" to share my messages because I didn't want to be wrong. I also didn't want people to think I was nuts. I'm over it, thanks to James Van Praagh mediumship classes and so many spirits who I have communicated with and relayed messages to their loved ones.

Everyday I protect and ground myself. At the moment this was happening I was in my office working on reconciling bank accounts. I work in an accounting department to make a living. However I am passionate about designing and selling jewelry, House of Raquel and this blog is the other side of me. The "seer". I was not prepared to communicate with spirit while I was at my office. It's easier to "see, hear, feel" when I prepare myself with breathing exercises to open myself up to it. Having said that, let me continue.

Here is my next email, "Does the name Carly Karen Carol ring a bell to you?"

Here is Jam's reply, "Carly Karen Carol does not ring a bell. But "Karen" does.

Karen holds a very dear, dear place in my heart. She is my husband's cousin who passed away in 2005 from breast cancer at the age of 51. An amazing and caring woman who is missed by so many...

I found another picture with an orb. Not as large and not as visible. It's a picture of my sister (on the left) and me (on the right). The small orb is to the left of me.

To all of you reading this, Have you looked at your photos lately. Do you notice an Orb and wondered what the heck is that? Your loved ones who have crossed over are still around you. Do you feel them?

Dia de los Muertos - The Day of the Dead

I've only celebrated one of these days several years ago, I'm thinking in 2003 over at my cousin Ana's house in El Sobrante. Ana told me that there would be an altar and to bring photos of those who had passed away.

Today I do it again with this blog. I wasn't sure what the really meaning of the day is, just my interpretation.

To me, it's a day to remember family members who have crossed over and to celebrate their lives while on earth with us. So in 2003 I made a treasure chest because I will treasure them for the rest of my life. As I'm writing this tears are streaming day my face.

I went outside this morning and took my treasure chest out there with me, drinking my 2nd cup of coffee I opened it up, one by one I took out each photo and thought about that person and what they meant to me in my life. I guess one day I will end up as a photo, I guess we all will.

Here are my photos:

A treasure chest of my family who have crossed over.

Mary Hawks Bernard (sister in law)
B-November 21, 1941
D-January 10, 1962
Gilbert Hernandez - cousin
B- August 18, 1957
D-March 16, 1974
Refugio Hernandez - Maternal Grandfather
B- January 1, 1899
D-August 22, 1932
Lorenzo Amaral - My Father
B- November 12, 1926
D -March 8, 1962
Antonio Mojico Amaral - My Paternal Grandfather
B - October 11, 1868
D - October 4, 1939

Raquel Saldivar Amaral - My Paternal Grandmother and whom I was named after.
B- November 21, 1888
D-November 1, 1960
Jess Bowman Roysdon - Father in Law Agatha Susan Meo Roysdon - Mother in Law
B - March 26, 1912 B-July 28, 1914
D- December 29, 1993 D-February ?, 1977
Josefa Orozco - My Maternal Grandmother
B - September 22, 1897
D- August 24, 1958
Tony Orozco - My Uncle
B-May 4, 1923
D-Sept 8, 2000
The orange tags (photos I need to put in here)
Mario Camargo - D-August 13, 2002 (cousin)
Helen Barone Amato B- Sept 16, xxxx D-March 28, 2000 (Nana)
Diane Keiser B-September 14, 1934 D - December 21, 1999 (Grandmother to Jennie's kids)
Jose Manual Amaral B-February 28, 1924 D-May 14, 1988 (Uncle)
Laura Hernandez Villa B-April 24, 1929 D-September 30, 2003 (Aunt)


Mary Hernandez Orozco B-November 8, 1922 D-October 11, 2004 (Aunt)
Jess Orozco B-May 10, 1931 - August 31, 2009 (Uncle)



Hay - Our cat who passed away this year.


To all my loved ones who have passed I celebrate YOU today.