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

 

Talking to the Dead-Gift or Curse?

I just watched the movie Hereafter with Matt Damon as George, a retired psychic medium, who is called back into service against his will. I know how he felt.  

I’m one of those people who easily sees and talks to the dead––those who have passed over. In the movie George tells another how he became psychic: As a child he had become very ill and needed surgery on the back of his head. Because of it something happened in his brain resulting in him “knowing and seeing” things about people he had no prior access to and this information was told to him by dead people. 

I appreciated how the scriptwriter presented a correlation between head/brain surgery and changes in one’s psychic abilities. I also had a similar experience where a head injury had awoken my psychic abilities.

When I was nineteen I was in a very serious car accident and received grave injuries to my face and head and for a moment in the ambulance I “died”.  That brief moment profoundly changed the course of my life forever, although it took me years to, not only understand what happened, but talk about it openly.  Like one character in Hereafter I went to the“otherside”. My experience was like what some others had as described in the book Life after Life by Dr. Raymond Moody.

The attending physician told my parents that it was nothing short of a miracle that I came through as well as I did. I had blasted through the windshield, bounced back inside the car with glass embedded in my face and eyes. A leg hit the gearbox with such force that it broke it out. No  broken bones, no blindness (the biggest concern). The face scars were deep and ugly, but I lived through the initial freaking out. The physical part in time healed but the true miracle was what happened afterward. 

Within a couple of months I began to have strong premonitions, about people’s past (recognition) visions of future events (precognition) and dead people spoke to me. It was not pleasant. Heck it scared the bejeevus out of me! Not that I was new to accepting psychic occurrences. My mother had a curiosity in it, even having a few prophetic a few dreams and for fun read tealeaves, but my experiences surpassed this greatly.

Quite a few years later I read in the Time-Warner popular book series “Mysterious of the Unknown” how a head injury often happened before one experienced psychic abilities. The knock opened a part of the brain resulting in this phenomenon. 
One of my strong abilities is mediumship and I rather enjoy it. I’ve mostly given up giving spirit communication (aka séances) because of the physically living beings as George experienced.

Of course the dead can be an annoyance as Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg) in the movie “Ghosts” learned where she was deluged by spirits all coming through (talking) at one time––it can happen like that when they find a person who can see and hear them. 

Do they haunt you like Oda Mae was by the dead character Sam, Patrick Swayze? You bethca!  This happened to me once. The spirit didn’t lighten up until the police contacted me for all her information (her killer was successfully prosecuted.)

There are many rewards having these abilities’ and talents. I’ve met people from all over the world and been invited to travel to share my abilities. People have told me the information I shared changed their lives. Then again there’s a downside. In the movie George says that some people say he has a gift, but he thought  of it more as a curse. I can relate.  The curse is seeing and knowing too much as George says.  

Psychics do become tired. Its takes a lot of energy, much focus and a certain detachment as information surges through. I’ve worked with law enforcement and even the believers have a particular way that can make one feel a bit blocked. There’s the need and expectations of clients to fulfill (or not) and neediness of the people seeking help and connections to dead loved ones. Let’s not forget the testing doubters, the ridiculing critics and the condemning haters (oh yes!) of psychics. 

After having used my abilities for 40 years I believe that psychic energy must retire and the person must live for her or himself. But then, like George, there’s always that one more person who truly needs that information.

My book, The Timeless Counselor, tells it all - how psychics receive information, psychic readings, how to have a positive experience with and take my ESP test in it.

Available as an ebook at www.smashwords.com & Amazon Kindle. More at www.juneahern.com

 

Mad March Luck

Luck of the Irish or for me, the Scot, was found in March. It was a busy time for book parties.  

                                                                                      Brian Boru Pipe Band 
 

The first three of the five book parties took place in Milton, a charming town six miles from Boston, Massachusetts. I find people there, on the whole, much like the San Franciscans of days gone past. Perhaps it’s the Irish and Italian mix, with their  straight talk and humor.

  I stayed with my friends, David and Suzette Standring in their big comfy New England home.

Suzette, (The Art of Column Writing), a San Franciscan Boston transplant, has been an enormous influence to my writings.  And there she was again, opening up doors for my book. 

I packed preparing for cold weather and snow. My snow bunny outfits weren’t needed. The sun shone brightly in a blue sky with that perfect chill in the air making my daily walks – some to the local graveyard only a block away – an energetic delight.

Book Parties: Great fun and all books sold.  

The Irish Brigade: Suzette hosted the first party. She laid a table that Weight Watchers would have not condoned. The guests were most timely. - Pretty white haired sisters, Pat Riordon and Mary Sullivan along with Colleen Cooney were the first to arrive . The Irish Brigade continued: Reagan, King, O'Brien to name a few. The yummy desserts soon were on plates and laughter rolled on.

Women, dessert and a good book read. 

What could be better?  

Wickedly Wild Women: a fellow horsewoman, Ruth, alerted me that her guests could be a bit unruly. They were. We had a ball! Wine and hors d'oeuvres were served. The majority of guests had already read “Skye” as their book club choice. Between laughs and lively comments there were questions about the book’s theme: religion and paganism.  As part of the book party agenda, I moved amongst the guests giving psychic readings and those without a book, left with a copy. 

 Spirits, Psychic Phenomena and More Desserts: Clarissa, a script writer,was a guest at the Irish Brigade party and decided to host her own party.   I couldn't resist the table full of delicious desserts. This party included three very curious pre-teens who had a ton of questions about the psychic realm. It was a most enlightening evening with sharing of personal spirit/psychic experiences.

The Skye in June was a sellout. The snow and cold returned the day I left and I was accused of taking the sun back to San Francisco.   

Many Eyes on my Wish

Witch conjures  ~ Wishing upon a Star - Eyeballing my Wish ! My  wish is to see my story The Skye in June on the screen as a film. Since the story first began to take shape in 1997, that's how it came to me - with face & voices & action. I thought, saw, heard, walked and felt it in every sense.  Recently I held a contest to "pick the star" (actors) for the film and asked many to vision with me to see "Skye" on the BIG SCREEN!  I wish for this vision to continue to grow to fulfillment. Seeing is believing. When we imagine, image, vision our wish, the whole self becomes acutely engaged. The mind adds even the smallest details, - my mind exploding with ideas - those ideas created a surge of emotions  - oh, that's good -  hmm, not sure about that - those feelings run energy through body resulting in a flood of happiness or a tightens up. We then decide to forge beyond the uncertainties or correct the details. Picture perfect we settle into the dream wish state.

I wish for many eyes on my wish. Come conjure with me.

http://blog.thoughtpick.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/too-many-eyes-16205.jpg

Enthusiasm is the fuel that sparks the fires of the dream rocket. Beam me up Scotty! 

http://spaceports.blogspot.com/2007/04/scotty-to-beam-up-april-28.html

Take a gander at my actor list. Do you agree?

Wee MacDonald Lassies

One of the winners of the 'Pick a Star' The Skye in June book contest chose all the children actors. Along with the 3 judges I really like the contestant's choices because I could see each of the four MacDonald sisters personalities clearly. See the choices of stars to play the teen MacDonald girls on an earlier blog or at books website.

The main character June MacDonald a feisty curious little red-head who rebels against Jimmy her controlling father as wells as the nuns while causing great anxiety with Cathy, her mother - actors choices were 

Morgan Lily - I love her sweet face that also has that ageless wisdom.

The next choice was Abigail Falle who also is sweetly intense as my June character can be with her psychic abilities challenged by so many adults.  Can't you just see her reading aura silently?

Zoe Raye was the choice for the eldest MacDonald girl, Annie. Serious, responsible and fiercely loyal to her sisters and Catholic religion.

n

                          Kali Majors, the picture might seem a bit young for the age of the Maggie MacDonald character but what the judges loved about this child is the confident beauty just like Maggie has in the story. While the other sister, Maggie's Irish twin, Mary suffers under the popularity, not realizing her own beautiful qualities.   This star role went to Lily Jackson   a fresh face delightful little girl.   Lily Jackson                                                                                   Kali Majors

MacDonald Sisters - One Witch

In my story, The Skye in June, the family's children are all girls of which one is a witch to the chargin of her parents, the nuns, her teachers and at times, even her sisters cringe at the witchy behavior!

Readers give a thumbs up for the real-to-life sisters conversations, tit-for-tat, often hilarious while at times, painfully caring and loving just as sisters can be.  I know I have five. Readers giving the book five star reviews (see comments on my web page www.juneahern.com and reviews on Amazon.   

My recent contest winners for "Pick a Star" truly captured the  sisters' personalities and physical looks. Below are top picks of actors to play the teen MacDonald sisters in a movie adapted from the book - manifesting the movie. Join me in that vision.  Let me know if the actor would be your choice. 

The eldest MacDonald sister - Annie - winning choice Andrea Bowan. Older sister, responsible and devoted to her Catholic religion. Andrea captures the essence of Annie's strength as well as her sensuality, Annie hides so well from most accept.... you'll learn who later in the book.

     

"Since when did you ever thank me for anything I've done for this family?"

And then there's Maggie  - winning choice is the beautiful Brie Larson   you'll love Maggie in spite of - never mind, read the book -   everyone loves popular Maggie especially the boys 

and even the nuns! 

"Just smile at him like this. That's all you have to do." 

Maggie's Irish Twin - Mary, so complicated, so real in her pain. The judges fell in love with this actress to play this sister, Australian actress Indiana Evans shows the vulnerable beauty and complexity of nature of Mary. 

"We could kill him. Then Mommy'll let us go to public school."

The star of the movie sisters is June MacDonald a feisty redheaded visionary who tears the family apart but is the one who ultimately frees her mother and pulls the family together. The winner is Scottish actress Karen Gillan -  and why must we chose a Scottish actress for her? Read the book. Oh! that's right, that's book two or the movie. Karen has definitely got the looks and the spunk to go with the role.

"You made Daddy not like me. You made me a pagan!"

There are more actors to share with you like Mrs. G, June's teacher into magic and Sister Noel, her savior at school and from Sister St. Pius and then there's Brian Callaghan. 

Below meet the parents, Jimmy & Cathy MacDonald.

Envision - Cast A Spell - Manifest

I vision 'The Skye in June' as a movie - the perfect medium for this delightful five star review story. Readers of my book also see it as a film. Join our vision to manifest The Skye in June onto the Big Screen!  

      Helping my creation along I recently cast a spell to open to new opportunities and attract people to achieve this goal. Afterward an idea came to me (as spells will often promote) to hold a contest where the public cast the actors for the movie. What response! What fun!  Posted it on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter etc with submissions from throughout the states as well as Scotland. The winners' picks of actors are b now announced at my author site, juneahern.com. See if you agree and if another actor comes to mind, let me know. You could win a copy of my book.

Actors submissions for Jimmy and Cathy MacDonald are:

"Doomed to hell every last one of you," bellows Jimmy MacDonald, husband & father.   A hardworking, hard drinking Glaswegian played by Scottish actor & director (Trainspotting)

Peter Mullan. What spell will I cast to net him?

Cathy MacDonald, Jimmy's wife, mother to the MacDonald girls, is controlled by her husband, depressed from losses and very quiet about her past secrets. "We won't tell Daddy about this, okay?"  

Choosing one actress from the talent submitted was too difficult for the judges to agree upon so here's the top three choices: 

Scottish actress Kelly MacDonald

Judges agreed that this actress had the look -  Gillian Anderson                                                                                  

Elle Newlands, the Scottish actress who played Cathy MacDonald on stage at "Skye Goes to Hollywood" event, March, '09 truly knew and felt the pain of my character is "author's pick." 

The MacDonald girls & more characters will be added soon....stay tuned.   Elle Newlands