catholicpagan

Tough Chicks LOL

May 29th

Today would have been my friend, Rusty Dennis’ 75th birthday. I first met Rusty in 1984 while she was living in San Francisco.  A mutual friend invited me to Rusty’s flat to be part of a study group of Louise Hay’s book, “You Can Heal Your Life” – and indeed Ms. Hay’s book was an inspiration and a connection to a most vivacious unique woman who would become a good friend – Florence "Rusty Dennis" Steinberg Tullis

 You might remember her from the movie “Mask”, which was based on her and Rocky, her son. Cher played Rusty in the movie and did quite a good job, but wasn’t quite tough enough, I learned after meeting Rusty.

Rusty was a complex personality with many roles to play. One of which was a mother whose two children were to die before her.  I never met Rocky in person although I did meet Joshua, her eldest son, before he died. When Joshua’s illness progressed and he was hospitalized, Rusty asked if I’d spend time with him at the hospital to help him transition, which I did. She bravely accepted his death with her, I must go on, attitude.  

 When people would offer Rusty  condolences for the loss of her sons, she’d reply, they’re not lost. I know exactly where they are. They’re dead. 

She knew her boys’ spirits stayed around her. One time she showed me a small studio portrait of her and Joshua. Behind them appeared a whitish "ghostly" image of Rocky who had been dead for some time. Was it the photographer's addition -that she denied - or was it truly the spirit of Rocky? 

 

In addition to being a bodacious chick, Rusty was very funny – quick to laugh out loud!  She was an original LOL gal. She would puff up and challenge people and when doing so with me – testing my toughness - I met her squarely.  She laughed heartily declaring, you’re okay. And darn if she didn’t test my toughness more than once. With her, you had to be on your toes, and shake off her puffing with a  laugh. 

Besides a desire to heal our spirits, we quickly learned that we had more in common  like motorcycles (in 1975 bought a motorcycle, Honda 550 – big enough for me) - both  of us were Gemini’s, and had a great thirst for adventure. And then the glue of the friendship - our keen interest in the psyche.

After Joshua’s death Rusty’s interest in spiritual and psychic realm deepened. When she learned that I was a psychic reader and ESP and tarot card teacher, she was eager to learn about her abilities. It wasn’t long before she became one of my star students.

When I was scheduled to read at SF The Whole Life Expo I encouraged her to give reading too. There she sat in her “colors” reading the cards and loving it!  

When she moved back to Los Angeles, I visited her a few times. One time we stopped by her father’s house and she asked me to show him and her sister an ESP game – open two coat hangers, hold in both hands held together and then point at a person to measure energy.  I don’t think he or her sister was all that impressed with us, but we had fun.  We tripped around LA in her old beat-up VW bug going to metaphysical bookstores, and meeting up with other psychics. We were wild psychic girls!

I think if I had been out of broom closet with my witchcraft back then, she would have declared she was one too just to enjoy spicing up conversation and challenging the image of “society’s norm” once again.

In time, distance and my growing family eventually caused us to we lose touch. 

I know I inspired Rusty to trust her ESP and psychic abilities but in return, she also inspired me to “show” myself more to the world because she had faith in me. 

Rusty Dennis will always remain a powerful influence on my life’s work. Thank you, girlfriend.

“I have been inspired by June’s ability to awaken the awareness of many people and to train them to use their metaphysical gifts productively. Her readings and classes allowed me to recognize my own gifts and taught me how to utilize them effectively. Now I successfully do reading and healing for others. June is a loving and knowledgeable person. We could all benefit through the information she shares with us. – Rusty Dennis

Rusty’s review of my book, The Timeless Counselor: The Best Guide to a Successful Psychic Reading.  ebook, kindle and other ereaders

 

Fall or Step Away From Family Religion?

On numerous occasions I’ve been condemned for being a pagan and witch by those professing to be God loving religious folks.  

After years of avoiding inquiries about my spiritual path I became forthcoming to disapproving faces of those chastising my spiritual practice.

I’ve been asked how could a nice Catholic woman forsake God for a heathen practice?   

What demon seduced you to prance around under the moon naked to the world?

What evil spirit took control of your soul calling you to cast spells?

“Honestly,” say I, “it was a progression rather than a possession.”

It wasn't the spirituality of Catholicism that started my soul’s exodus and detachment from it, but rather the "old boy" attitude.

I began to view my religion as stuck in outdated dogmas. I questioned such things as, why women weren’t involved with electing a new pope? 

For centuries Catholic women have accepted backseat roles to male members, proving to me that they, my sisters, bought into men as superior to lead. As I looked around the church at a majority of women, girls and boys with a sprinkling of, mostly, senior men, I wondered why I supported a religion that didn’t allow for powerful decision-making roles for females.

But it was these incidents at Mass that finalized my decision to leave the Church. During a sermon a priest addressed the role of women as mothers and daughters. He said they were to serve their husbands and fathers’ needs (cook, clean) and not question his decisions for he was the head of the family just as the priest is the head of his flock. We are not to question him either?

Later at another sermon on Mother’s Day the congregation was told to condemn abortionist. Done deal for me, said I, a pro-choicer.

At the age of 44 I left my family’s religion forever. It was a most difficult and sad choice because religion was a large connection to, and part of, my family. But my spirit sought, amongst other needs, a spiritual group that contained equality of sexes in power roles.  

Some former Catholics hold a grudge against the religion. I do not. There is no reason to be stuck in what didn’t fulfill me. I am thankful for my religious upbringing and continue to appreciate some reasonable philosophical and spiritual concepts from it. Through the faith I learned to have a deep caring for, and practice in, spirituality and ritual.

Attending parochial school my memories are mainly cherished ones of my teachers, the nuns.  Most were good women and very interesting teachers who taught me to enjoy literature, geography, history and theology.

I’ve created a satisfying spiritual practice through mixing and matching philosophical and spiritual teachings from Buddhism, Rosy Croix, Native American spirituality, paganism, Wicca and witchcraft. I am open to learning about religions that support women in strong decision-making roles in regards to making laws and dogmas for I am a devoted student of theology.

Author of “The Timeless Counselor: The Best Guide to a Successful Psychic Reading” and “The Skye in June” 

www.juneahern.com