I have had the most wonderful day today. Two of my favourite cousins (and spirit sisters) and I spent the afternoon in the sun talking about all things spiritual. It was fantastic to share our views, agreeing on many and having our own opinion on others. It was perfect! I came home feeling so contented - even though my vocal chords were a bit sore for some strange reason.
It was fantastic to 'be'. We could talk about anything and everything, there were no limits. What answers we weren't sure about we explored options until we found one that 'felt right'.
There was a time when I could never have had such open and frank discussion with anyone about this. I hid that part of me away for many years, only showing people what I thought was 'safe' for them to see. I'd learnt my lesson, after being treated like 'the devil's spawn' for believing in what I did and therefore, according to them, turning my back on religion per se.
It was funny, the more I hid my true self, the more people turned up in my life who thought spirituality was voodoo or witchcraft, and always evil. I discovered there was more prejudice from those with religious beliefs rather than vice versa. I admit I found this a surprising revelation. It didn't seem to matter which way I turned, these personality types kept coming out of the woodwork, pushing my buttons. It was with relief I finally 'came out of the closet' and admitted my beliefs.
When I finally began living my truth totally, I attracted all these wonderful souls into my life. I found out that many of the friends I encountered afterwards as well as some of my existing ones (and that includes my amazing cousins) also had similar beliefs. It was liberating to be 'me' and actually talk about all aspects of the
Universe, swapping stories and experiences as well as opinions.
Here's the thing; If we aren't being true to ourselves, if we aren't being who we truly are and live within the integrity of our soul, the Universe sends us all sorts of random people who will push our buttons, to nudge us and remind us who we are. As long as we are living in dysfunction or at odds with our 'self', we will attract others who are doing the same - it's that same old energy story. 
When we have stepped into who we truly are, we then attract others who have done the same. I look back now and can see how often and how hard the Universe 'nudged' me....and I'm truly grateful. Living my truth is a hell of a lot better than living someone else's lie.
So if there is someone around you pushing your buttons, ask yourself, is there something I need to address? What is it that feels so raw when I'm around this person? Do I need to show who I am? Do I need to admit to myself what is my truth? Because sometimes, just sometimes, the Universe is trying to get you to rise to the occasion and show your true colours and stop standing in the shadow of perception!
Thanks to Joy & Shell for such an awe-inspiring and amazing day full of insight, love, laughter and sharing! Love you xx
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

Tonight I'd like to 'chat' to you about the energy around you and how it affects  your life.
As some of you know my husband Butch passed away in 2008. I miss his physical presence and the love we shared on this earthly plane.
I was talking to a psychic friend in early 2010, who told me I was about to meet the love of my life, my soulmate and within the year I would be married.
This sent me into a state of panic. I still love Butch, who, I know with every cell
of my being, was my true soul mate. I wasn't in the market for a new man and the
fear that the Universe was going to push me into something I wasn't ready for
created all sorts of emotional turmoil for me. Even though I know this isn't how the Universe works, fear overrode any intelligent thought.
As soon as the words were uttered, I began to 'close down'. I stopped being friendly with any males, just in case I encouraged a situation to develop. I stopped going out socially and retreated back into my cave. ( I had only just started to explore my extremely 'different' life at that stage)
This morning I was thinking about what was said, my reaction and how my life unfolded at that time.
It never happened, because I didn't allow it to.
Although we are given the heads up about  opportunities and challenges in a reading, the Universe doesn't force us to comply. We always have freedom of choice and really speaking we do need to meet the Universe at least partway for a reading to become a reality.
We can't expect a new job to turn up if we aren't even considering a change of employment. We can't meet the love of our life if we never go out of the house. We won't win money if we never buy a lotto ticket. We'll never see the world if we aren't interested in finding out what's out there.
Alternatively, if you are told in a reading that something bad is about to happen, you also have freedom of choice there too. If you know about it, you can take the steps to change it.
Nothing is cast in stone. Life is ever-changing, as are we. It makes sense that the energy around us will either attract or repel.
The Universe will always extend a helping hand, but it is through personal choice and our actions that we decide whether we take it.
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

For the last couple of months, I've been freelancing as a psychic reader for a couple of other companies. It wasn't about the money (because the payment was
extremely low) it was more about stretching myself, seeing what I was capable of doing. I was reading for people all over the world and it was kinda cool being
able to get visuals of people and places I had never visited..
 It was incredibly interesting to see that it doesn't matter where in the world a reading is purchased, most of the questions are similar - love, career, money, family. 
The difference was that I noticed that some people would pay for a reading every
week - it was as if they couldn't make a single decision without consulting a psychic. I found this incredibly sad that so many people give away their power to someone they think has all the answers.
As you can imagine I struggled with the flowery talk that some psychics use, but in
the end they decided I could just 'be me'! Hah! As if I would even attempt to be
anyone else!
Each of my readings had a message in it, empower yourself, believe in you, don't take any crap, you are cleverer than you think and you are worth more. I like to
think I made a difference. I did receive some feedback, so I know I changed a few people's perceptions of themselves.
It was kinda sad to stop doing it, but it was taking up way too much of my time for  no real financial gain. That makes it sound like I'm all about the money, but even psychics have to pay bills!
My message tonight is to remember you are a powerful being, you are intuitive, you
have access to inner wisdom, don't give away your power, ever!
A reading should be a tool, it should inspire you, empower you, encourage you and tell you things about yourself that you maybe hid away and needed a nudge from Spirit.
It can have guides, guidance and visits or messages from the other side, past life information and information that you have requested the reading to be about. It should never make you feel 'less than' or encourage you to become dependent on anyone. Think of it as turning on the GPS as you travel on your life journey.
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

I was talking to someone about honesty, being honest to and with ourselves. This person was caught up in the idea that being honest with yourself and others was more about confronting someone about their behaviour or pulling them up when they went out of their way to hurt you.
This isn't what being about honest or true to yourself is all about. When we confront someone in anger, nothing we do or say will change who that person is or how they behave. It just creates more conflict and ammunition for the situation to snowball.
If someone tried to change our behaviour, would we? Could we? We are who we are, it isn't as if we can flip a switch and suddenly we are a different person or act differently.
The secret to living on this earthly plane is to accept everyone for who they are. We don't have to love them, or even like them, but we can recognise and acknowledge the divine spark that lies within.
There are people in my life I don't particularly like, but there is a part of them I love, so when we are together, that's what I focus on.
Don't be drawn into other people's dramas, because that means you own what they are talking about or angry about.
Every time you answer them or refute something, they gain power and you lose it.
Loving yourself for being honest isn't about confronting people, it's knowing that you are being truthful to yourself. You have the ability to tell yourself the truth, that you don't like how you are being treated, that you wouldn't do it to anyone else and its okay to be pissed off and hurt...but its also okay not to confront or take it any further. Acknowledging our emotions and feelings is extremely important when being honest with ourselves and true to who we are 
Everyone has their own 'map' of how an event took place, no two maps are the same, so you will never achieve anything by trying to get someone else to read 'your' map and admit its better. All you can do is acknowledge the maps are different and carry on with your life.
I'm not saying there is no reason to ever confront someone, but sometimes, it really
isn't worth wasting your energy when the other person is so headset in their own
'stuff' and won't listen anyway!
There are times when speaking your truth is vital, when you are being accused wrongfully of something, when you feel intimidated, undermined and many other occasions. However it's important to choose what it is you want to clash with people over, whether it's worth the aggravation, or whether you will just create more tension and achieve nothing.
It is also imprtant to remember that some people take their frustrations out on us when their life isn't going well or they are struggling for any number of reasons. I'm not saying this is right, but we have all lashed out at some stage when someone has crossed our paths at a time when we are irritated, angry or upset. And all too often, if two people are having issues, the effect can end up being a to and fro of words and accusations as both parties seek to find a way to release their pent up emotions and prove that they are in the right. Given that we have different maps and
Lets try to approach all situations with a clear head and a clear heart. Ask ourselves, is it worth creating friction for? Will it change the person? Will it change the situation? Can I handle this differently? Shall I speak my truth? Shall I walk away?
When we know the answer, we can then act accordingly...in honesty and within our self truth. 
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx



 

In this blog I want to talk about truth in relationships. Sometimes a relationship breaks down. There doesn't have to be a reason, it is what it is. Sometimes one falls out of love with the other, the magic disappears, or there may even be a third party in the mix. There's a part of us that doesn't want to hurt the other person. We try to pretend everything's okay, but we know it isn't and the
pretence is only skin deep. We can feel the truth within and it messes with our
energy vibration.
If we are the other person, we know something is wrong, but we can't put our finger on the cause...or maybe deep down we know what the truth of the matter is - we just don't want to face it.
Somewhere along the way lying becomes sanitised as protecting the other person. We justify to ourselves, 'What they don't know can't hurt them'. As we disconnect energetically from the person who loves us, they certainly know what is happening, but they are confused or try to block out the signals our energy is transmitting.
Did you know only 3% of our communication is through speech? The rest of it is based on our tone of voice, our body language, our actions, etc. So, if you believe you are protecting someone by not telling them you don't want to be with them to their faces, you would be better off telling the truth.
I come across the 'dance of deception' a lot both as a psychic and a healer. As I have said many times, I don't give readings based on whether you are being cheated on or die-by-dates, but it breaks my heart when I see how others treat those who love them. I encourage clients to open up to the energetic messages they are receiving, to acknowledge what they know deep within, but I would never ever tell them how their relationship is or should be. That is not my job. I'm in the business of reminding everyone about their personal and spiritual empowerment, I believe in building others up, not tearing them down.
There are some who would say that's pretty darned selfish of me - well, hey, I'm not the one who created the problem, or the one who is allowing it to linger instead of speaking my truth. I believe that the lesson for both parties is to be truthful, to utilise the kindness of telling it like it is, to let the other person know their true feelings and allow you both to move on.
Spirit doesn't want to become embroiled in our break-ups or philandering. These are lessons we must pass through, and the lesson is for both parties. By speaking truth and hearing truth, although there will be some hurt, it's far better than living in fear or confusion, isn't it?
And holding back the truth isn't restricted to marriages or partnerships. What about the friends we freeze out because they don't fit in our lives anymore, or they did something we can't forget or forgive? We're busy when they call, we don't answer the phone or we treat them coolly when we run into them. Don't they deserve the truth? Isn't if fair to assume they could seek out other friendships that would be more beneficial to their self esteem and sense of personal power?
Just to make my point clear, I am not passing judgement on anyone. I know that life is full of curve balls and hair-pin bends. What is our truth this month may be something totally different to next month. Someone we desperately love this year may be a distant memory by this time next year. That's how life is. That's how we, as humans, are.
However, I do believe our integrity is as vital as breathing. If we tell the truth, we never have to remember what our last lie was or get tangled in a web of deceit. Be true to you, be truthful and even though you may hurt someone, it's better than torturing them slowly until everything becomes sour and leaves a nasty taste in everyone's mouth.
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

In 1999 I suffered from a back injury. I was told I would only ever live a sedentary life, that I could look forward to doing not much more than reclining on a couch for the rest of my life. In those days I wore a back brace and couldn't wear shoes with backs on them due to incessant pain. Walking or standing was difficult. For six months I passed most of my days, half sitting/lying on a couch. I kept myself busy learning how to write better, how to play the harmonica and reading.
For those six months I grieved for the body I had taken for granted. I'd been extremely active, exercised daily and felt that not being able to dance, do my household chores and even go shopping signified my life was over. I mourned not being able to play or lift my grandchildren if and when they eventually appeared in my life. 'Depressed' was too light a word to use to explain my state of mind.
Then one day, I decided no one was going to tell me my life story, that I was the mistress of my destiny and I had a choice. Gradually I worked on my muscles, I started walking a little each day, then joined a gym when I needed to step up my exercise program. We moved to Australia in 2003. At that time I would take a lift because walking up stairs was just too difficult and painful. We walked almost every day as well as attending a local gym. After six months, I was racing my husband, Butch up four flights of stairs.
Yesterday I went to the Botanical Gardens with my daughter and my wonderful grandchildren. As I was looking at the photos, I was reminded of how dark and dismal my life once felt. I was also reminded of my stubbornness and determination and willingness to adapt.
In the above photo, I am showing Ella, one of my granddaughters how to jump on leaves to create a satisfying crunching sound. Where once jumping was something I could never have contemplated, where walking for a long period of time was out of the question, where carrying either of my grandchildren wold have been considered an impossible dream, I now know that when we set our minds to it, anything is possible. We can overcome great odds, if only we believe in ourselves and trust that we know ourselves better than anyone else ever will.
Today I celebrate my stubbornness, my willingness to adapt and the resilience of my spirit. My back injury is by no means fixed or cured, but I have found ways to ensure I have a quality of life that far exceeds the dire predictions of doctors and specialists.
In my list of accomplishments I list being a massage therapist, a belly dancer, a fun grandma and an active participant in my life.
I thank those people who said I couldn't, wouldn't and shouldn't. They were the same people who inspired me to believe I can, shall and will. I am grateful for the encouragement they gave by being so negative, because it was within their negativity, I found the positivity I needed.
Are there people in your life or your past who you need to be grateful for? For without their input, you may not have strived to follow your dreams and to be all you can be?  Remember to thank them.
Sometimes events, situations and people present in our lives to prove how strong and amazing we can be...if only we try!
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie  xx

The other day I was doing a Reiki session with a client and as part of it I re-energised and cleared her chakras. Later I explained which chakras had been  out of balance and why. She asked me what she needed to do to be able to 'fix' it, did she need to work on herself, attend a class or have many reiki  sessions to rectify the problem.
I assured her they were working fine now, she didn't need to work on them, she merely needed to acknowledge what the issue was. I said it was up to her whether her chakras went back to the way they were before the session or not.
We have different reasons why our chakras get unbalanced and stay that way.
For example, someone who has emotional and personal power issues with their throat chakra, may find that emotions prevent them from speaking their truth and stepping into their own power. This could be due to a on old pattern or an outdated belief system. Imagine it as an old movie reel that kicks in anytime we want to respond to someone or state our opinion. It automatically begins running when we are faced with stating our truth or opinion.
Now my client knows there is an issue there, she can choose to pause before she reacts or speaks and ask herself, 'Do I want to run the old tape, I have been running
forever, or do I want to start using a new blu ray disc to change and move forward.
The choice is always ours, we decide how we act or react and whether we want to change the ways in which we do. We have the power to change, no one can do it for us. Self love and awareness are the first step!
with love, respect and integrity,
Cherie xx

Worthiness is on my mind again today, so I'm going to tell you a little story...
I had a friend who complained to me many years ago that every man she met treated her the same - They started off as Prince Charming and over time she always became the punching bag. I said to her 'You will always meet these men as long as you have such a low opinion of yourself. How can things change if you believe thats all you're worth, that you should settle for whatever or whoever comes along?' 
  When we believe we aren't worth any better, that we can't expect to meet a 'prince' who stays a 'prince', that we can only expect the dregs of life, that we don't deserve to have a soulmate experience, or worse, we aren't prepared to wait for it, things generally start to go wrong.
As we grow up, we're led to believe that we aren't 'part of a couple' we are a failure or an oddity. When we become a couple, we introduce the other as our 'other half', implying that we weren't whole until we met. So from an early age we believe we aren't whole, that we need to seek a mate and we don't need to be choosy, as long as we're a part of society's expectations.
When things go wrong, we split up, divorce or become widowed, we can feel like a failure thanks to society's standards.
Some quickly search for a replacement, and I'm not saying that's wrong, it is their life and they are free to live it their way, just as we all are free to live our way...that's the beauty of our earthly journey.
However, if we believe we 'need' to be a part of a couple and we have a low self esteem or feel we are an unworthy individual, we can attract the wrong relationships, with people who are looking for someone they can manipulate or bully. (They have
internal radar systems!)
If we don't believe in our magnificence, if we feel 'less than' or undeserving, then we tend to attract relationships and people into our lives that will play on those feelings.
How do I know this? Well, I had several disastrous relationships, followed by an unhappy marriage, which all followed a predictable theme. Then one day I woke up and my first thought was 'I'm worth so much more than this!' and changed.
I believe this was the first step toward my spiritual and personal empowerment. I met my soulmate who I spent 25 wonderful years with. He encouraged me to grow, to be my own person and to believe in myself. Thanks to him I know what I'm worth, I'm not prepared to settle for anything less, no matter what it is I'm searching for. 
I encourage you to realise your worth, to know that you deserve the best life can
offer, to believe in your capacity to give and receive love.
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie  xx

The other day I decided to change my timeline in Facebook. I was under the impression that people weren't aware of all the 'things' I was able to do to help them connect with their inner wisdom. I listed all my 'labels' across the header. It looked pretty impressive, but it felt 'off'. I couldn't explain why it didn't feel as good as I thought it would. I removed it.
During the night I received a message or three. All of them said the same thing. 'We are more than what we do'. I was asked to think about this and consider how I would portray this to everyone. Argghh!
I started the picture with my labels and photo. Well, that was the easy part over and done with. Now I had to work out what it was I knew about myself, my truths. This was the most difficult part of the process! I couldn't understand why it was so hard to think about me in this way. We are all taught not to 'blow our own horn' as children, and this felt a lot like showing off. I began to think of all the parts of me I liked, and the ones that I didn't like to think about. It took me a long time to get past the first few easy words, like stubborn and compassionate. I asked friends and family for other words to describe the divine being that lived within me. Some of the words they chose surprised me, others were connected to my fear of believing I could actually be that! It has taken me about a week to finish this project, to know deep within my soul that each and every word applies to me. When I look at it now I notice there are many more words that describe me than there are 'labels'. The funny thing is that now I've finished it, I can think of other words I forgot. Seeing them in print has made me acknowledge all of who I am - the good, the bad and the amazing!
Creating this picture has helped me realise how much more there is to any of us. Some people only see one side of us, or several 'parts' of us that, all too often, we only allow them to see.
Today, I'd like you to look past your labels and think of all the words that apply to you as well. Ask for help from friends, family and workmates if you want. When you are done, look at yourself through new eyes, see you as everyone else sees you and know you are magnificent in every sense of the word. You are so much more than who you appear in the mirror or what you do. We all are!
This is such an empowering thing to do. Let's get to know ourselves better....and once we do, lets celebrate that awe-inspiring being within us!
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx

Is there anyone else out there who plans to go to the beach to retreat, reconnect, to find solace within the ebb and flow of the waves, only to discover the bluddy tide is out?!
Even if I was so inclined, which I'm not, I couldn't even throw myself off the longest pier because I'd only end up on my arse - which is pretty much the norm for me at the moment!  I suppose I could have jumped into the mud and prayed for quicksand....
As I sat there, looking at the landscape, I couldn't help but feeling the mud and rocks symbolised my life right at that moment. Everything felt murky and full of obstacles..  I tossed up whether to go back to the comfort of home where I could hide from the biting cold, or remain seated on a stone cold (ha ha) rock, which was probably giving me 'monkey piles' like my Mum warned me about whenever I sat on cold concrete.....A part of me felt I needed to sit there until I could see past the dark and dismal to the tranquil beauty in the distance.
As I sat there on the pile of rocks lying haphazardly around me, I noticed they were kinda smooth after years of being pummelled by the sea.
If I was to equate that to me, I would say, yes, life has shaped me, taken my rough edges off - not without sacrifice or pain, I'm sure! So, within that context, if I was to consider this pile of different shaped rocks around me, I could think of them as my talents, skills and abilities. There are small ones, strange looking ones, big 'in your face' ones, just like my talents or skills. The fact they are all heaped in a big messy pile is relevant too (and yes, I do realise this is a man-made pile...so is mine - well, woman-made! LOL)
Like the rocks stacked here, I am struggling to work out which dream I should be following, which ones inspire and lift me.
All too often as we accumulate skills and talents, but we don't see them as amazing abilities. We take them for granted, or lack the confidence to feel proud of our achievements. It's only when someone points out how awesome it is that we take a step back and notice how incredible we are.
This happened to me this morning when I spoke to a good friend and set me to thinking about what I want to do in my life. I know I love my writing, I love helping others with psychic readings and healing through Reiki and massage, but is this where my passion is, my fire? I already know the answer, these are my passion, they light the fire in my soul, so why am I doing all the other 'stuff'? Its time to cull the ones that don't serve my purpose or help me to be all that I can be.
Back to my seaside musing...
In front of me the rocks thin out and scatter, reducing in size. To me, these represent the obstacles we encounter on our way to personal greatness. By the way, personal greatness isn't measured by wealth, possessions or a great relationship, unless of course its loving ourselves wholly and unconditionally. It's about being all you are meant to be. These rocks are the big incidents in our life, the ones that create change whether we want it or not.
The small rocks gradually give away to rubble and eventually muddy looking sand. These are the day to day tribulations or 'hiccups', like missing a bus or a green light, spilling sugar as we put it in our coffee mug or running out of our favourite biscuits. Apart from those that disrupt our life and change our day or life irrevocably we barely register the impact they have.
Just past that murky patch, the sand is is gleaming in the sun (I have to use a little imagination here, as the sun is behind a cloud and I can't quite see the colour of the sand from here, but I 'know' it to be true).
The sea laps at the sand invitingly, encouraging me to look past all the boulders, rocks, stones, rubble and dirty sand to begin a journey of discovery, full of light and opportunity, to me, to my personal greatness....if only I take that first step.
I can't take all these rocks with me, or I'll need scuba gear. However, if I take those ones that matter most to me, the ones that light a fire in my belly. I can probably take some and still keep my head above water. Who knows? Once I have put faith in my 'rocks', they just might float to the surface or even better yet, they may float higher and carry me to where I truly want to be.
It's all about faith, faith in our choices, our abilities, what and who we love and most importantly faith in OURSELVES!
Love and Respect
Cherie x

PS. In the distance I can see someone sitting at the end of another pier. I wonder if they are seeing the beauty around them, or like me, do they have to 'look past' the rocks to get there?
Life is beautiful if we just take the time to sit still and 'be' to notice.

We all know someone who we feel has 'done us wrong' in our lives,  At a function the other day I met up with someone I had not spoken to for a long time.  At first it was awkward, I am ashamed to say I tried desperately to avoid this person because I felt hurt by her actions many years ago.  I decided this was a silly way to act.  I didn't want to spend my life hiding from anyone, all I had to do was speak my truth, resolve the issue and move on. 
There had been many times I had thought of this person and mourned the loss of our friendship, but I was stuck in my own 's***' and wouldn't do anything about it.  I know I'm not alone here, many of us do this.  Rather than sort it out, we swallow those horrible emotions and pretend we don't feel any pain or sadness.  We build a wall around our heart, brick by brick.  Back to my story...
We ended up talking for a while and although we reconnected, I still felt a block around my heart, so obviously just talking about 'stuff' wasn't going to make this go away. 
Wandering away from the crowd we were able to discuss the events that had resulted in me 'cutting' this person out of my life.  I was surprised to discover she too had missed our friendship and her stomach churned whenever she thought about what might have happened.  Although I had walked away from our friendship, I had never explained why, so she hadn't had the luxury of closure.  I, of course, believed she wouldn't notice I was no longer around...
As we amicably ironed out all the miscommunications, misconceptions and hurts, we realised we were both keen to renew our friendship despite what had happened, that we valued our friendship enough to start again.  Together we laughed, we cried, we hugged...
I learnt a lot from this experience. 
 - We never really know the repercussions a choice or action we make impacts on others
 - Releasing a hurt can be incredibly liberating
 - Sometimes our perception of others neglect or rejection may just be that - our perception!
 - It isn't until we have forgiven an event, action, situation or a person, we realise how it was stored within our body - all of a sudden there is space in our heart for love instead of fear or hate
As I drove home the sky seemed bluer, my heart was lighter and my soul was singing.  The feeling was so amazing I wanted to contact everyone I felt had ever wronged me so I could feel this way forever.
Do you have some unfinished business that could be transformed into a sense of awesomeness?  Try it, I definitely recommend it!
with love, respect and integrity
Cherie xx