Time Travelers Giveaway!

Enter to win the 
Time Travelers Giveaway! 

As a novelist, I adore road trips to do research for my latest books, especially when I can visit historical sites & heritage museums to see how my characters (who experience time travel in the Enchanted Outlaws Series) might actually live. For me, it's a chance to investigate the secrets that time keeps close to its chest, only revealing to those who are tenacious enough to walk off-the-beaten paths created long ago with a heart ready to listen to the echoes of ancient memory.  Recently, I went to New Mexico with my family to do further in-depth study on the colonial era in the northernmost region of the Spanish empire for my upcoming time travel sequel to Twixt, the novel Mission Archangel. As part of this journey, I visited 3 pueblos, 3 national monuments/parks & 3 museums in 6 days. Rather than be exhausted, I was utterly exhilarated! To talk with Native Amercian descendents of those who'd endured Spanish colonization and yet triumphed by holding on to their ancestral lands and cultures was a true honor I'll never forget. Along the way, I purchased turquoise and pottery directly from Native American artisans (a passion of mine), and this month I'll be sharing the bounty by giving away the following:

(1) a pair of green turquoise earrings 
(pictured below)

(2) a $25 Amazon gift card 
(3) a past-life reading (a $50 value)

All you have to do to enter is sign up 
for my newsletter mailing list by June 25th! 

If you've already signed up for my newsletter mailing list, you'll automatically be entered to win these prizes. And if you haven't signed up yet (which you can do on the left hand column of this website as well as on my facebook author page at
https://www.facebook.com/diane.j.reed/?ref=bookmarks), 
do so right away and you'll be entered! 

PLUS all those who've signed up for my newsletter
AND "liked" my author facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/diane.j.reed/?ref=bookmarks
will receive 2 ENTRIES in the Time Travelers Giveaway!

It's that easy!

Have a beautiful summer!
And stay tuned for my newest novella release in the 
Robbin' Hearts Series:  Secret Heart of Lacie Blade.
I'll be offering a special opportunity for the first 30 newsletter readers 
who respond to receive an advanced review copy in return for an honest review. 
More details to come in my next newsletter! :D 

Summer's Spell

I don't know about you, but Summer overwhelms me with possibilities. All of a sudden, I want to spend every minute barefoot outside, feeling like a kid & going on free-spirited adventures. Here in the mountains of Colorado, many wildflowers don't even come out until mid-Summer, each one a burst of vibrant color that seems to shout, "Look at me! Life is grand!" It always astonishes me how in the harsh, arid conditions at 9,000 feet, these wildflowers blossom with a striking beauty, as though somehow their struggle against high altitude, fierce temperatures & thin mountain air has deepened their color & verve. But when they appear, like a child, I have to dash to each one & whisper "Welcome! So glad you made it!" Yes, I'm foo-foo like that, but I also know that these alpine blossoms are an incredible reminder of the splendor that can follow sheer tenacity—and many of them carry magical messages. So I invite you today to join me on my wildflower walk & to share in the lovely moment of serendipity that occurred to me recently which resulted in my special Summer Spell. I hope it will touch your heart the way it did mine : )

Geranium
First off is the wild Geranium—with its delicate pink flower that's plentiful in high altitudes (I've seen them blossom at 11,000 feet!). Did you know that planting Geraniums around your home will protect you from negative energy & unwanted visitors? The Geraniums in the Rocky Mountains vary in color according to the soil they're in, but each color has special properties. Red Geraniums invite love & abundance, while this pretty pink one attracts friendship & love. White Geraniums raise your sensitivity to the influence of your Angels & Spirit Guides. And folklore tells us that to relieve stress, scatter Geranium petals in your bath water to help you relax (and maybe adding few bubbles & a glass of wine on the side wouldn't hurt ; ). 

Rose
Perhaps wild roses might not seem unusual to you in spring & summer, but I've seen them growing in the most rocky & windblown environments at altitudes that will make you struggle for breath! What a testimony to their endurance & strength. Rose is well known to signify & attract love, but did you know that it can also enhance the love you receive from your Angels & Spirit Guides? We all know that you must truly love yourself before you can accept love from another, so to boost your own self love, inhale deeply from this delicate flower & let its scent fill you with the divine love that your Angels long to give you. And like the Geranium, scatter Rose petals or pour Rose water into your bath as a reminder to love & nurture yourself so you can spread your love & passions into the world. Roses are also known to bring good luck, so plant them in your yard to insure abundance & to ward off negative energy.

Thistle
Now wait a minute, a weed like Thistle can't be magical, can it? But folklore assures us that this bright plant deepens your connection to the divine & invites spiritual helpers into your life, as well as guards against thieving in every way—including mental, physical & spiritually draining situations. So place the downy fluff from the Thistle under your welcome mat to keep robbers & emotional leeches away from your home, and include Thistles in your flower arrangements to invite loving Spirit Guides into your sphere. In addition, meditating on the rich, purple color of the Thistle cleanses your spirit & many people feel it offers healing for the mind as well.

Indian Paintbrush
The spectacular Indian Paintbrush is the wildflower of passion. When you stumble across it, don't pick it! Let it dwell in the earth the way it's supposed to, brightening the world with its vibrant cheer. But do know that it's no accident you came across this fiery blossom—it's a message to you from your Spirit Guides to keep following your passions. Never waste a single day on regret or what could have been—today is a pure gift to you, and you are called to celebrate it with a newness & faith that will lead you to miracles. And when those opportunities do arrive, go after them with your whole heart! Indian Paintbrush never hesitates to spread is flame-colored petals to the sun, and neither should you.

Daisy
Who doesn't love a charming daisy? We've all played that childhood game of plucking the petals while saying "He loves me, he loves me not" to foretell our future in romance. But did you know that Daisies bring joy & renewed passion for life? Place them around the house to lift your spirits, boost your mood & remind you of possibilities once again. And if you DO want to attract a joyful suitor, place some Daisy petals under your pillow & allow your dreams to guide you to the right person (with a little help from the Angels, of course!). The bright Daisy (even this delicate, high altitude one above) is also known to protect children & to encourage you to let your inner child come out to play. So take off those socks & shoes & walk in the sunshine among the Daisies whenever you can.

Sunflower
Yes, this wild, Rocky Mountain sunflower may seem small to you, but it still carries the magic of bringing good luck & making your wishes come true! They are actually native to Peru & do well in high altitudes. Eating sunflower seeds is said in folklore to bring good luck, & sleeping with the seeds under your pillow will help you germinate your deepest dreams & bring them into your life. Sunflowers are also a symbol of faithfulness (for the consistent way these blossoms follow the sun), so if you'd like to attract a faithful suitor, plant them in your garden to encourage people of truth, integrity & fidelity into your sphere. And finally, few flowers can cheer one up as much as sunflowers, so make bouquets of these sunny plant for your home to send the blues packing. 

Mariposa Lily
This spectacular wildflower is one of the jewels of the Rocky Mountains, so delicate & fragile, yet it thrives brilliantly in alpine altitudes. In folklore, Lilies signify resurrection & renewal, which is why we so often see them at funerals to represent our hopes to reunite with our loved ones in the afterlife. But magical tradition also tells us that if you come across a Lily in your everyday life, something you thought was dead to you is about to rebloom. It could be a cherished dream, your hope to find true love, or simply to get your passion back for life. The tender Lily is here to tell you that you are much tougher than you thought you were, and your courage & endurance are about to be rewarded with wonderful openings for new possibilities. So if you feel you've lost your mojo a bit, surround yourself with the fragrance of Lily in your bath or in your home & arrange Lilies bouquets to inspire your hope. These lovely flowers will send a message to your Spirit Guides that "I'm ready now to start anew—please bring the best people & situations for my happiest future." Then take a deep breath & let the past go, knowing that your Angels will carry you to exactly where you need to be.

SUMMER'S SPELL

(Items required: an old, trusted tree)

While I was out on my wildflower walk this year with a friend, the most incredible (& magical) thing happened—I'd dashed over to take a picture of a flower, only to look up & realize I was beside a rare Ute Prayer Tree. Believe me, I got the chills at this moment of serendipity. The Ute Tribe, which are native to the Rocky Mountains, have a custom of tying select Ponderosa Pines to the earth so that they'd be "grounded" & continue to grow with a unique curve as their branches reach to the sky. You can tell when such a tree has been deliberately altered by man (& not by heavy snowfall) when you see distinct vertical marks on the tree where the Utes used rawhide to fasten the trunk.

If you look carefully at the photo above, you can see the vertical marks that probably occurred about 250 years ago (as indicated by the redness of the tree's bark, which signifies its age). My friend & I were both stunned. Neither one of us had ever encountered a Ute Prayer Tree before, and we had a hunch it was no accident. Why? Because the purpose of the Ute Prayer Tree is for you to lay your hands upon it, like a trusted old friend, and release every care, sadness, bitterness or regret you've ever experienced in life into the tree.  This stalwart companion has existed in silent strength for centuries, has seen many people (if not civilizations) come & go, and is hardy enough to absorb any negative or limiting emotion that may try to thwart your spirit. So spontaneously, my friend & I halted our wilderness trek & took a moment to let go—release any hurt or sadness we've known—so we could be cleansed & ready for a new possibilities.

And it worked! Both of us felt as though something magical & cathartic had taken place. Afterwards, we were filled with a tingling excitement, because we know that you're never asked to release the old unless something new is coming—and we felt that our Angels had guided us to this moment because there are special things in store. After all, in order for anyone to blossom in life—find love, fulfill dreams, or take a new path leading to fulfillment—you must first get rid of old growth that's already served its purpose & be open to the new. So I'd like to invite you to do a similar Summer Spell to eliminate negativity & accept fresh opportunities into your own sphere for enhanced joy & vitality.

Directions for the Summer Spell: First off, find an old tree—preferably a tree you've known since childhood or one that you discover in a grove with a wide trunk & large canopy that's particularly aged. Then approach the tree with a kind & gentle greeting. Explain that you're going to lay your hands on it for the purpose of healing by releasing any sadness, hurt, anger or bitterness from the past that might limit you. Don't worry, trees cleanse our atmosphere all the time & generously release oxygen so we can breathe, and your tree is strong enough to take any negativity & pool it at its roots to release into the soil where it will be dissipated. Then pray or meditate (whatever you like to call it) & visualize yourself letting go of specific emotions, memories, people, or situations that no longer bring you joy or help you on your path. That doesn't mean you don't love certain individuals anymore—it simply means that you recognize you need to grow in new ways & you desire now to change course. When you're ready, feel those old memories, images & painful moments leaving your heart & your body & entering the tree in a swirl of light. There, they will sink through the bark, into the sap & down into the earth, where they will never be able to thwart the new growth of you or the tree again. Now, feel yourself completely cleansed & ready to put joyful energy back into your life. This is extremely important—it does you no good to cleanse yourself if you don't make a concerted effort to refill your heart & mind with hope, sunshine, love, & new purpose. Visualize yourself bathed in sparkling sunshine that permeates your very soul, and ask your Angels or Spirit Guides to take you by the hand & help you go forward on your journey. Imagine your greatest desires—see them clearly—and know that your guides will help you every step of the way towards fulfillment. Most importantly, thank the tree for its generosity & ask that the tree be blessed with health & new growth as well. As you walk back to your starting place, notice any blossoms nearby, or go to a flower shop & purchase flowers to place in your home to remind you of the magic of flowers & the blossoming that is about to take place in your life. Finally, be grateful. Give thanks to your Angels or Spirit Guides for this cleansing & for Summer's gift of sunshine that highlights your new journey & brings cheer to you as you go forward.

And if you have a minute, please let me know in the comments below if this spell worked for you! Have a joyful Summer :D

If you love the gentle enchantment of
nature & spells, check out my
magical novels on Amazon & Kindle!

The Robbin' Hearts Series

Twixt

(Photo credit note: All images on my blog are either my own or were gleaned from pictures in the public domains of popular social networks like facebook or pinterest. If you own the copyright to any of these images & do NOT want them used publicly, please contact me & I will take them down immediately! : )

Soul Gems

The other day I had a profound dream—the kind that makes you feel as if your soul is trying to talk to you, but can't get your attention any other way. Okay, I'll admit I'm the type of person whose dreams are so vivid, I still remember one I had when I was five years old. And there were several that came to me when I was eleven that I felt were prophetic for the course of my life. Yeah, I'm woo-woo that way. I'm that spooky friend who calls you up & says, "You know, I had a really powerful dream about you last night & I think it's meant to tell you something about your future." Recently, I even dreamed a friend of mine was in a bookstore signing her debut novel with posters hanging everywhere of the beautiful cover. I hadn't chatted with her for about a year, but the dream was so vivid I simply had to email her to tell her success was around the corner. Her response? She had decided to quit writing that day!  The angels must have been tapping me on the shoulder with this message, because after I gave her that boost, she finished her debut novel in only a few weeks & sold it to a major publisher for six figures!

So yeah, I guess you could say I believe in listening to your dreams.

But sometimes my dreams bring messages for me. In my latest one, I had walked into a turquoise shop in the Southwest that sells heirloom pieces of jewelry & Native American artwork. A small group of Navajo artists & silversmiths were there having lunch. They greeted me kindly & offered me a meal, happy to chat about their wares and their day. The problem? I couldn't hear them.  

(Navajo silversmiths circa 1900 & the present)

In my dream, the shop was very humble, yet the walls were surrounded by high tech gadgets—computers, ipads, stereos & plasma TVs—blaring music, news & videos so loudly I couldn't catch a word the Navajo were trying to say, much less enjoy listening to them describe how they create their artistic works. Frustrated, I began running around the shop trying to find the off switches & wires to unplug all these confounded devices.  Finally, one of the men turned to me and said with a gentle voice, "Come back another day when your heart can hear."

I woke up slayed. To me, it was pretty obvious what my dream was trying to say. With all of the high tech devices & social media we have competing for our constant attention, it's so easy to get caught up in the electronic whirl & lose touch with the people we love & the whispers of our souls. And as I got out of bed that morning, I realized I was still wearing one of my very favorite turquoise bracelets.

Yes, I know it looks rather ordinary with its humble design & modest-sized stone, but it's by far one of the most valuable pieces I own. It was the first piece of jewelry given to me by my mother, who bought it directly from the Navajo on a reservation in the 1970s in Arizona. The stone at the center came from the renowned Kingman mine, which produces "Kingman blue"—an intensely blue strain of nuggets with a black matrix that often flashes silver, which comes from a rare vein in Ithaca Peak that has been exhausted since 1972. These stones are so vibrant & distinctive that I've had turquoise collectors stop me on the street & ask to buy it.

But no dice.

Kingman blue turquoise

Why? Because I consider this bracelet a "Soul Gem." A rare article in my possession that connects me not only to my mother but also to the spirits of those who created such artistry in the Navajo tradition. And yeah, call me woo-woo, but I believe these special items carry with them the positive energy from those who came before us, acting as conduits of their love, trust, guidance, and comfort. It doesn't matter if these items are made of stone, metal, paper or wood, or are considered worthless to other people. What makes a Soul Gem special is the place it occupies in our hearts—and its unique ability to quiet our spirits & help us listen to our souls once again. 

I have many other pieces of turquoise jewelry (I'm a bit of a hoarder, as you can see from this small sample above from my collection), but price never dictates value to me. True Soul Gems carry an energy of love & wisdom that far exceed their humble appearances. So for me, an army medal of my father's, an old perfume bottle that reminds me of my mother's scent, a poem written on a napkin by my twin sister when she was 14—these are the Soul Gems that I will treasure forever. One of my favorites is a threadbare copy of The Celtic Twilight by William Butler Yeats that's yellowed & torn, with dozens of underlines & dog-eared pages. It's the small book I've often taken backpacking with me to read at night by flash light. Why is this volume so dear? Because the famous poet took it upon himself to canvas the Irish countryside in the 1920s to record the rural people's stories of their experiences with fairy lore & magic before their stories died out, and then translated them from Gaelic to English to preserve for posterity. The stories are so beautiful & raw that they always touch my heart. And for me, even the act of holding this book in my hands is something sacred that invites centuries of enchantment & wisdom to penetrate my soul. I feel such a book helps me step away from the distractions of daily life & encourages my heart to "hear" better, just like the Navajo man mentioned in my dream.

Do you have a Soul Gem in your possession? A photograph, a lock of hair, a cherished piece of jewelry or heirloom tool that means the world to you? I'd love to hear your story, if you have the time! Whether a book appeals to you, or you're more the type to refresh your spirit by gardening, visiting old friends, enoying heirloom jewelry, or taking a country stroll, I encourage you to spend time with your Soul Gems & engage in activities that help you get in touch with you again. And maybe, you'll hear those quiet whispers of the heart that can lead you to your dreams <3 

(Photo credit note: All images on my website are either my own or were gleaned from pictures in the public domains of facebook, pinterest, or other popular social networks. If you own the copyright to any of these images & do NOT want them used publicly, please contact me & I will take them down immediately! : )

Full Wolf Moon

(photo credit link)

Last night was the first full moon of the new year, what some Native American tribes call the "Wolf Moon"—a time when wolves become restless during the heart of winter & hunger demands they be the most active. This moon's rising presence was no secret to me, because the light that streamed through my window was so bright I could actually capture it on film! 

The silvery moonlight that caressed my shoulder felt like a gift from the heavens—a bright symbol of hope in cold winter time, which is why ancient Celts called it the "Birch Moon," heralding rebirth & regeneration. The stark white bark of the birch tree becomes radiant under moonlight, and birch trees are known to be the first to rebound & thrive after forest fires. How does this compare to the luminous moon? During the Birch Moon the winter solstice has already passed, so even though nights are cold, the days are getting longer, reminding us that spring will indeed come. 

But even if I didn't know the lore behind the first moon of the year, I would still find its glow inspiring. Because what we see at night by the light of the moon is different than what we perceive during the day. Shapes take on new textures, landscapes show different facets, and even what we know to be certain colors can demonstrate entirely new hues. Below is a photo I took of a wintry twilight a few days ago. Normally my yard is brown in January from the dead grass & fallen leaves, but as you can see from this unretouched photo at the brink of nightfall, the whole world has become washed in cobalt blue:

And what about ourselves? Is it possible that we can discover new facets of our personalities at night, especially under a full moon? In my novel TWIXT, Rose has been so wearied by her difficult life journey that she's forgotten how to dream. But all that changes when a mysterious soul guardian named Chance Murphy takes her by the hand for a midnight waltz under a full moon, encouraging her to get in touch with her heart once again. This lovely art print created by Liza Lambertini at www.faeriewood.com captures the very moment when Rose finally allows herself to dream:

Yet sometimes moonlight forces us to face harsh realities, too. In my novel ROBIN IN THE HOOD, after the two main teen characters succeed in their first robbery (& steal money to provide for their families), Creek turns to Robin and says, "We're like vampires now—nocturnal creatures who only strike at night." As fugitives, they can't ever be seen in daylight again or else they'll be caught. So the two of them sleep while the sun is up & only pull off their heists under the cloak of night. Part of Robin is seduced by the danger of her new occupation, and another part of her has to work to overcome her fears. But one thing Robin understands, as all lovers do who've ever kissed under a bewitching full moon—the night holds a unique appeal, especially the chance to try on new identities. And it's that very opportunity for a former boarding-school girl who was imprisoned by her lonely & stale life that makes the moonlight so alluring . . .

(Photo credit link)

Who do you become under a full moon? Have you ever taken a chance on love or in life that you normally wouldn't in daytime? I'd love to hear your thoughts, so when you have a moment drop me a line. And until then—allow the spell of this full Wolf Moon to lead you to new realms, both inside and out : )

P.S. Yes, I still do intuitive readings (especially under the light of a full moon!). If you would like an intuitive reading, please follow the directions below.

Directions to receive a free intuitive reading:

1. Put your name (or a pseudonym) in the "comments" section of my blog below this entry and write, "I would like a free reading." IMPORTANT: DO NOT TELL ME YOUR PROBLEM OR CHALLENGE. That causes me to want to "fix" the issue or "make things better," which skews the reading. It's best if my ego gets out of the way & I just allow the angels to speak through me so that the information remains pure.
2. I'm not a substitute for medical/psychiatric/legal help. I can only offer spiritual solace, so if you are in need of such assistance, please see a professional. Also, I don't offer financial advice—only spiritual upliftment. Any words that come through me should resonate with what you know to be true for you. If it doesn't, then I am not the right conduit for you! You should ask your angels to guide you to someone who is more attune with your needs.
3. My readings for this month are free. If you want to return the "karmic favor", please consider joining my blog & buying my books—that's the best way to support what I do.