Innholdsfortegnelse for May-2018 i Chat It's Fate

I’ve got to admit, I am not a big fan of winter. Give me sunshine over snow and ice any time! Maybe that’s why I love Beltane so much, the May pagan festival that signifies that summer is – finally – on its way. The other thing I love about any (OK, every) festival is that it’s an opportunity to feast. We’ve got some delicious honey-based recipes on p54. Honey and apple cake, anyone? Mmmm! The other big news this month is, of course, the royal wedding! It’s the perfect fairy-tale romance; feisty, funny girl-about-town finds her perfect prince. We wish Prince Harry and Meghan Markle all the best for the future – and in the meantime, discover how to channel some of her princess power for yourself on p20.…

We have our ups and downs like any other couple Jack and I both wanted a proper wedding. I found a pagan priest in Northern Ireland who was happy to perform the ceremony – and rather than get married on dry land where my marriage would never be legally recognised, I decided to get married in international waters. I booked a registrar and chartered a boat. Once that was done, I got busy planning our special day. Jack was involved in every decision I made, including the bridesmaids’ dresses! He wanted red but in the end, we compromised on teal blue! Best man Jack’s best friend Matthew Jackson – a blonde haired, blue-eyed Englishman, also in spirit, of course – agreed to be his best man. I got in touch…

Celebrity Past Life inger Taylor S Swift was once the French feminist Simone de Beauvoir. She wants to be loved and respected equally. Men in her life so far have not tended to give her both! Meditation mandalas Need to relax? Just stare into the image and take flight into a spiritual connection with your guides. If you’d like Jenny to create a mandala just for you, visit jennysmedley.co.uk for more info. Why were they all famous? Why is it that so many people who have past-life regression seem to discover that they were famous people like Anne Boleyn? One answer is that famous stories are the ones most often written about! The other reason is that famous people from the past are much easier to recognise – and remember…

Many mediums work with spirit guides who act as gatekeepers between this world and the other side, protecting them from harm. What you may not realise is that everyone has a spirit guide – yes, even you! We all have at least one higher being whose job it is to guide us through our lives. Some guides may be ascended beings – saints, angels and the like – and others may be spirits of people known or unknown to you during their lifetime. Some of them may even be animal spirits! Although your spirit guides will always be lurking in the background, if you’re able to open yourself up to them, you’ll make their job of helping you so much easier. You’ll see the results in improved happiness, confidence and…

Dear Cara I suffer from cold sores. I can guarantee that if I’ve got an important occasion like a wedding or a job interview coming up, I’ll wake up with a sore, crusty lip. Topical treatments don’t seem to do an awful lot. Is there anything you can suggest? Lucy, 33, Rotherham Dear Lucy Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are not just unsightly but can be extremely painful. They’re contagious until the blister has burst and formed a scab or a crust. Just what you don’t need when you’ve got an important event lined up and want to look your best - Mount Vesuvius erupting to crush your confidence! It is really important that when you first experience the tell-tale tingles announcing the onset that…

Channel your inner princess, and meet your own prince! ll eyes will be on actress Meghan Markle on 19 May when A she ties the knot with Prince Harry! And although officially she won't have the title, Meghan is a girl we can all relate to - feisty, funny, clever and stylish. A thoroughly modern princess. With royal wedding fever sweeping the country, here’s how to take a leaf from her fairy tale book and harness your own princess power! Sparkle like Belle From her stunning 1000-watt smile to the warm way she communicates, Meghan is one princess in waiting who knows how to turn on the charm. Belle in Disney’s Beauty & The Beast projects this sort of charisma, too. You, too, can weave a magic spell and enchant…

Sitting in my neighbours’ living room, my eye kept being drawn to the little oak chair next to the television. I'm a psychic medium. Rachel* and Sam* had asked me round to talk to me about a ghost Rachel had seen in her daughter’s bedroom. ‘She’s a little girl with long, curly hair,’ Rachel said. ‘She looks so sad. Who do you think she is, Mark?’ ‘Before I answer that, I need to ask you something,’ I replied. ‘That old oak chair over there – did you get it recently?’ ‘Yes, at an auction,’ Sam said. ‘Why do you ask?’ ‘There’s something odd about it,’ I said slowly. ‘And I've got a strong hunch it could be connected to the little girl ghost…’ I took the little oak chair home…

FIRE (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius). Your card is Strength.The meaning is in the name. You are stronger than you know. Call on your strength if challenges arise this month. EARTH (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn). You got the Six of Coins This suggests either someone is going to come to your aid (but you’ll owe them) OR it’s you giving handouts. AIR (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius). The Knight of Swords reminds us that only fools rush in! This card suggests you’re in a hurry – go for it, but be nice/ smart! WATER (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). Lucky you – the Four of Wands is a lovely card for sensitive water signs, speaking of romantic happiness, success and a positive outcome. Win Every month, we give away a deck of oracle cards – this month…

GLOBAL CHANGE This is a massive month for Taureans! On their birthday New Moon on 15th May, electric and unpredictable Uranus moves into Taurus, where it will stay – on and off – until 26th May. This often heralds life-changing events – and it won’t just have a profound effect on Taureans, it will affect us all! On a global scale, it may mean money will undergo something of a revolution – think digital currencies taking over, or similar. The other big event is a lovely aspect of Neptune in Pisces meeting with Jupiter in Scorpio. Perfect for idealistic dreamers who want to see their visions become a reality. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 5th The Sun in Taurus meets with Neptune in Pisces, providing both stability and vision. 12th Mercury…

Have you noticed how relaxed and revitalised you feel after a long, leisurely stroll deep in the countryside? Perhaps when you feel stressed, you take yourself off for a walk outside to clear your head? If so, you’ve already experienced some of the benefits of forest bathing. Shrinrin-Yoku, which translates as ‘forest bathing’ in English, originated in Japan in the 1980s. It is, literally, the practice of taking in the forest atmosphere for health and wellbeing benefits. In 1982, the Japanese government incorporated it into its public health programme and promoted topiary as therapy. Nature appreciation, such as picnicking en masse under the cherry blossoms, is a national pastime in Japan, so forest bathing was quick to take off. It sounds so simple but it’s widely used as a form…

There’s scandal as a celebrity affair produces a child Is it time for Piers Morgan to back away from the limelight? Prince Charles looks to Camilla as he’s asked to step forward Barry Manilow receives bad news Will Smith gets into trouble doing a stunt on a roof Is Sally’stime on Corrie about to come to an end? Joanna Lumley makes an unforgettable announcement Sadly, a string of young pop and film stars will make their way to the spirit kingdom For Lotto luck, try 16, 32, 41, 50, 49, 14 and 22 For Euromillions, go for 14, 20, 2, 33, 16 and 50 GOT A QUESTION FORJENNA? EMAIL ITSFATE@SWNS.COM…

YOUR TOP PIC Angelic intervention Whilst taking photos of clothes I was selling online, I managed to snap a beautiful blue orb on the left shoulder side of this jacket. This was after asking the angels for comfort after feeling upset. Your angels are always there for you - you only need to ask for their help if you need it and they’ll answer with a sign! Linda McClean, 43, Glasgow Seeds of happiness This month, practice mindfulness. Occupy your mind with happy thoughts and don’t let the negative ones creep in! If you start to doubt yourself, try humming a cheery tune. Live in the moment instead of worrying about tomorrow. Remember – worry doesn’t actually achieve anything! It’s always uplifting to look back at happy memories. Record those…

About 20 years ago, I was driving from Croydon to Bridgend, Wales with my then-partner. We left at 7pm. It was the Easter weekend so we knew the roads would be busy - but suddenly the M4 became empty of cars. We were the only vehicle for what seemed like an eternity. All sorts of things were going through my mind – we’d been abducted by aliens, we were both deceased and didn’t realise! We got to the Severn bridge and things went back to normal. My aunt was shocked when we arrived. It was 8.30pm! It’s impossible to travel 180 miles in one and a half hours. I still can’t explain it! Amanda Castela, Croydon Lost souls On holiday in Fuerteventura, I climbed down into this dark, dank sea…

Is your ideal man out of this world? If you think the idea of a relationship between the living and the dead is weird and more than a bit creepy, you might be surprised to hear that spectrophilia – sex between humans and ghosts – is not as uncommon as you might think. People have been reporting sexual encounters with ghosts since at least the 13th century. Succubi and incubi In Mediaeval times, succubi and incubi were thought to be demons that forced themselves sexually on humans while they slept. Similar creatures exist in other cultures, too. In Assam, North India, a beautiful female called a Pori comes to a man in his dreams and seduces him. The result is that his health deteriorates, often leading to death. In Turkey,…

GOING UNDER Dear Jenny Every Sunday night, I have the same vision that I’m drowning in a pond in a park. Why does this keep recurring? Sherri-Lucy, 23, London Hard winter London, 1885, in the middle of a freezing cold winter. You are Thomas, a simple soul who scrapes a living doing odd jobs. It’s Sunday evening. You’re out for a stroll across Highgate Park, smiling at the skaters on the frozen ponds - there must be close to 200 people on the ice! Disaster strikes Suddenly there’s a crack and a portion of ice seems to just vanish. The skaters are swallowed up, and the pond looks empty, apart from those struggling on the very edges. Then you see other figures thrashing in the water, drowning, unable to pull…

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way of fighting off those pesky wrinkles that didn’t involve spending a fortune on creams and potions? Well, according to the world’s leading face yoga expert Danielle Collins, there is! Her technique combines face exercises with massage, acupressure and relaxation. Just a few minutes each day will help to strengthen and relax the muscles, and boost the collagen and elastin in the skin. You need to keep this up - no slacking - but it's worth it for naturally lifted skin! The giraffe Place your fingertips on the top of your neck. Stroke the skin gently down as you tilt your head back. Lower your head and repeat twice more. Jut your lower lip out, place your fingers on your collarbone and…

Picking up my basket of washing, I headed outside to peg it up on the washing line. But as I got to the back door, I froze to the spot. It was as if there was an invisible wall in the doorway. I couldn’t bring myself to step out into the garden. As I stood there, sobbing helplessly, my dad,Tom, gently took the basket from me. ‘It’s OK, I’ll do it,’ he soothed. Anxiety issues I suffered from agoraphobia – a fear of open spaces. It had started after my beloved mum, Marjorie, died suddenly of peritonitis in July 1993 at the age of 58. I was just 20 at the time. It hit me really hard. I struggled on for a few years. But at the age of 27,…

Stars IN THE SKY Carrie Fisher Immortalised by her iconic performance as Princess Leia in Star Wars, Carrie’s aura was filled with colours as she was forever learning and challenging others on their ideas and thoughts. She was brought down to Earth to make a statement and that’s what she did, with her acting, politics and her support of friends and colleagues. Although small in stature, she commanded presence with her large energy field. She knew just what to say at the right time. Her mother was her greatest influence - they couldn’t be parted, even in death. SOUL MESSAGE Dear Barrie I miss my mum so much after her death in 2016. What can you tell me about her? Victoria White, Princes Risborough Dear Victoria You know what’s right…

My secret room Dear Roi, I often dream of exploring a big house, and finding a hidden room. Why? Hilary Harcourt, 23, London Dear Hilary Houses symbolise how we see ourselves. You dream of a big house, which tells me that you have many different aspects to you. The hidden rooms represent a new talent, or perhaps a new side to your personality. Exciting! Scared of a car crash Dear Roi I keep dreaming about being in my sister’s car with her. In the dream, she loses control and we crash. Is it a premonition of an accident? Nicola Green, 27, Ipswich Dear Nicola I don’t think these are precognitive dreams. You’re worried about something that you think is getting out of control, and this fear is, quite understandably, showing…

Spirit SOS Standing in what had once been the kitchens of the ancient monastery, I could imagine the servants bustling about, preparing meals for the monks. But that had been centuries before. Now, the monastery was just a shell of crumbling stone . Ruined building It was September 2017, and I was at the ruins of 12th century Bolton Abbey, near Skipton, North Yorkshire, with my team mates from Anubis Paranormal Investigations. For months, I'd felt drawn to go there. I sensed a spirit connected with the monastery needed my help. Suddenly, a ghost materialised in front of me. A young woman in her early twenties, she was tall with light brown hair. My psychic sense told me she'd been a serving girl who’d worked in the abbey kitchens making…

Room 217 inspired The Shining Climbing out of the car, I looked up at the huge white hotel in front of me. Although it looked impressive, set against the spectacular backdrop of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, USA, I couldn’t help but shudder. My friend Jane and I had booked a stay at the Stanley Hotel – the inspiration for Stephen King’s 1977 novel The Shining. The book is about a little boy with psychic gifts who stays over winter in a remote hotel while his dad writes a novel, only for his dad to go slowly insane and try to kill his own family with an axe. Was he acting of his own free will - or did the hotel’s many evil spirits drive him to murderous madness? And…

Pet TIP BITS Did you know that lilies can be lethal to cats? Make sure you keep vases of these flowers well out of feline reach as your cat may be curious and have a lick or chew of the flower or leaves. Take them to the vet at once if so. If they ingest any, sadly it could poison them. Paws for thought When teaching your dog obedience, make it fun and rewarding. Do it in a safe place such as inside your house. Teach them commands like ‘sit,’ ‘stay,’ recall, etc. Start by using just one room then expand from one room to another, before moving outside to the garden. That way, once they’re out in an open environment, they will know your commands and react accordingly. HOP…

A strange energy wanted to connect with me I'd been in love with Jack in a past life Most little girls my age spent all their time playing with dolls and teddies, but that didn’t interest me in the slightest. 'Ahoy there me hearties,’ I yelled, brandishing my toy sword. I was totally fascinated with ships and everything to do with the sea – but what I loved most of all was pirates. I grew up, got married, had five children, got divorced – but my love of the sea never changed. I became a pirate impersonator, raised money for charity dressing up as Captain Jack Sparrow from my favourite Disney film Pirates Of The Caribbean. As I got older, I was increasingly drawn to the spirit world. I began…

I've been an Inca and an Egyptian priest Looking down, I was surprised to see that I was wearing a long silk skirt and fine, embroidered slippers. It quickly dawned on me - I was an aristocrat in Paris in the 17th century. The scene flickered and changed. I could hear music, feel a heart beating against mine. I smiled up into the handsome, adoring face of my lover. We were dancing together at a ball. Heartbroken Then the scene fast-forwarded again. This time, I was standing on a high bridge. I’d turned my back on my lover because of my parents’ disapproval. He’d moved away, left me heartbroken. The last memory I had of this life was throwing myself from the bridge to my death. ‘Are you OK, Lorraine?’…

Shroom power Look out for mushroom lattes at your favourite café! According to American health store Whole Foods, a hot wellness trend is for mushroom varieties like reisha and chaga to be infused in broths, teas and even coffee – and where the USA goes, the UK follows. The hallucinogenic variety aren’t included so you won’t be tripping off your cappuccino any day soon! Treatment of the month: Cryotherapy Cryotherapy involves exposing yourself to temperatures lower than -200 degrees Fahrenheit with the help of liquid nitrogen or cold-air therapy. It sounds absolutely nuts, but it’s used by elite athletes to reduce inflammation and swelling – and apparently Jennifer Anniston and Demi Moore swear by it to keep their skin looking young and fresh. Don’t try this at home, folks! GOT…

Canny Crystal Dear Katie, Life’s pretty good right now, but I still jump from one job to the next. At the age of 46, shouldn’t I know what I want from my career? Sarah, 46, Launceston, Cornwall Dear Sarah Astrophyllite will illuminate your true self to help you recognise your purpose. Green chrysoprase will help to bring in new opportunities to move you out of your impasse and open the doors to abundance. HAVE YOUR COLOURS INTERPRETED Dear Katie Will my love life improve? My fave colours are aqua blue, deep yellow and fuchsia pink. Sharon, 43, Ayr, Scotland Dear Sharon The pink shows desire to be loved but the yellow indicates a need for freedom and the blue shows that you can be overly cautious. Allow love but be…

It’s natural to want to reach out to an angel when things are going wrong, but they’re there when things go right, too. Recently, I went for lunch and spot of shopping in Chichester with my best friend Tracey. Miraculously, the A27 had no traffic jams, and we got a parking space in town centre. Tracey fell in love with a pair of sale boots for £26 - and they actually had them in her size! I found a book I’d been searching for and we got a table in our favourite restaurant without booking first. Over dessert, we simultaneously confessed that we’d asked the angels to make it a really happy day out. Well, it worked! Michelle For richer or poorer er Dear Michelle, I was overjoyed when my…

This month Think of a question and choose one card out of the two for your answer. As always, don’t cheat and look at the answers first! Card 1: Your card is the Ten of Swords. Things won’t go exactly as planned, but don’t over-react. The only way is up. Perhaps things are really nowhere near as troubling as you fear? Card 2: You picked The Lovers. If yours was a love question, the odds are good that you’ll get your desire. However, you may also need to make a choice. Be true to your own values. This month’s moons May 15 – New Moon in Taurus. Make a wish. May 29 – Full Moon in Sagittarius. Let go of negativity. Ch-ch-changes! This month sees the move of the change-maker…

Taurus SIGN OF THE MONTH The Taurean nature Nurturing, ambitious and sensuous, you have an eye for beauty and enjoy the finer things in life - but you’re anything but shallow. Your reliability and love of routine makes you one to depend on - you’re capable of making great things happen. You’re a true brick to friends, but people should take care not to take advantage. You’ll put up with a lot, but then you’ll blow up – and when that happens, watch out world! Love life As a partner, you’re loyal and loving. Your super-sensuous nature means you’re a wonder in the bedroom. To you, it’s vital things feel as good as they look - it’s all about quality rather than quantity. You’re also proudly passionate, a combination that…

FEELING FRUITY Bring the fresh smell of a spring morning into your home with the fig tree candle by iconic designer Orla Kierly. Blending essential oils of lime, cardamom and bitter orange, it captures all elements of a fig tree - green leaves, earthy bark and sweet fruit. Needless to say, it smells divine. £32, John Lewis or orlakierly.com THE EYES HAVE IT Benecos matte eyeshadow in Green Lagoon is a soft green that’ll flatter and enhance most eye colours. The natural and organic ingredients include macadamia and sunflower oil to restore hydration and strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. It’s vegan, too. £3.95, benecos.co.uk SHOOTS AND LEAVES Cuddle up to this beautiful willow patterned cushion, which adds a touch of sweet serenity to any living room.…

Laying his hands on my head, the pastor of my local Pentecostal church drew a deep breath. ‘I cast you out, you unclean spirits!’ he roared. ‘In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, I command you: be gone!’ I waited anxiously for something to happen – maybe the sense of something leaving my body. Nope. Nothing. I felt exactly the same as before. ‘I call on the power of the Almighty God and order you to leave,’ the pastor went on. ‘Demons, evil spirits, and any of those who would trick, deceive and prey on the frailty of human existence, go back to hell! In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, leave this girl alone!’ As the pastor prayed for God to take me,…

ARIES That impatient little nod convinces no-one that you’ve listened to them, let alone thought things through. What it says is: ‘Enough talk, let’s have some action!’ Why not reflect and discuss before charging off headfirst into what might be a whole lot of trouble? SEND A NEW MESSAGE... by holding your head relaxed and steady and only nod when you really agree. You’ll feel more focused and in control, and the results will be appreciated by everyone! TAURUS Your set jaw and clenched teeth speak volumes about your determination - but they can also be a tad forbidding. If you give the impression that you’re stubborn and unwilling to concede on, well, anything, people will withdraw and work round you. Not great for team spirit, let's face it! SEND…