A Spiritually Enlightening Online Magazine. Sept. Theme: "Sexuality" Volume 1 Issue 6 ISSN# 1708-3265

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Illuminations Aleesha Stephenson About the Cover Debra Brancato Gay Penguins Cristina Cardoze Love IS: Ordinary as Rain Jennifer Monaghan Surrender to Light Tira Brandon-Evans The Ritual of Sexuality David Reber A Blessingway Grace Tran A Leap of Faith Chelsa Roy The Envelope, Please... A Profile Featuring: Aleesha Stephenson Tales of a Country Vet Dr. Bruce Burton DVM Lifetalks Dawn Baumann Brunke Technically Tarot Jeannette Roth Walk Your Talk Aleesha Stephenson Magik'ly Speaking… Elizabeth Abernathy Aunty Nasty Nasturtium Blackwitt Poetic License Featured Poets Meditate a Moment Featuring: Aleesha Stephenson The Art of Belly Dance IAMED Tantric Orgasm for Women Diana Richardson Magical Tattwa Cards John Mumford Cosmic Tribe Tarot Stevee Postman Ogam: The Celtic Oracle of the Trees Paul Rhys Mountfort Astrological Datebook 2004 Llewellyn's Sisters of the Dark Moon - 13 Rituals of the Dark Goddess Gail Wood

Since I put this magazine together, taking it from a mere thought, a whisper from my guides and bringing it into form… I thought it would be nice, this issue, for you all to get to know me better.

I was interviewed a couple of years ago and so I've used excerpts from then; as well as some more information to bring the profile up-to-date.

What made you decide to start this magazine?

I started off helping on another magazine for one issue and then I asked if I could start working on it full time. I loved creating the issues - finding writers and following the theme the publisher set for me. It was very fulfilling and challenging. My guides starting nudging me to create my own magazine after I finished the second issue of Body, Mind, Spirit… but how could I do that? I didn't know anything about coding, graphics etc. So I told them "no" and went on happily working on BMS. After a year, Jeni Mayer (the publisher of BMS) was ready to begin working on the issues again so, knowing I didn't want to stop doing what I love, I decided to take my guides nudging seriously and start my own magazine. In my opinion, the sign of a good teacher is to have your student exceed you and/or continue on after your teaching is done… I think it's a wonderful sign of how well Jeni taught me to create a magazine, for me to go on and create my own!

So did you find it easy to start your own magazine?

Creating "Timeless Spirit" was a huge learning experience for me. I no longer had the guidance and support of Jeni, and Jay (our web-God) was no longer there to put together the web copy of the magazine… I had to learn to do it on my own. And I did! I learned how to html code, taught myself how to create graphics and after a few months of the hugest learning curve of my life… I had the premiere issue ready for publication!

Don't think for a moment though that there was any shortage of "fear" to work through! Many times I wanted to just forget it, it was too hard to figure out all the details. I had no idea how to even get the articles onto the web… I KNEW NOTHING! So the pride I felt and still feel at mastering this project is enormous. As a homeschooling mom, knowing I taught myself how to do all of this with a little help and support from others! (my Hubby and kids, my Mother, my sister Seva, Tira, Toria, Kaz, Joe, Druh and Jay). It was a process of taking their pointers and teaching myself to bring it into form… and it feels really good to know I was able do it. So often we get stuck in our 'box'… afraid to make a change because we might not be good enough or do it well enough - but I'm here to let you all know you can step out and you can succeed!

Now, here we are, on this 6th issue, completing our first year of publication and I'm proud and thrilled to find the magazine is getting better with every issue. The writers are amazing, talented people who are willing to shine their light so others may see it, (and perhaps follow if they feel so inclined!) We are here, after all, to enlighten and I believe we are doing a great job of it!

I know you are a Reiki Master/Teacher and it's a very important part of your life. How did you first discover Reiki?

My daughter was 2 and she had just recovered from meningococcal meningitis and I was a wreck. I ran into a man I knew who ran the local metaphysical shop and asked him if he knew of any books which could assist me with great emotional, mental, physical and spiritual distress. He told me to sit down and he put his hands on my head. 5 minutes of Reiki is all it took… I wanted more! He arranged for me to get signed up in a 1st degree Reiki class 2 months later and my life has never been the same since. I spent 10 years living my Reiki before I knew I was ready to become a Master/Teacher. I've been a M/T for 6 years now.

It has been said Reiki isn't just a form of healing; it's a lifestyle, a way of living. Do you agree with this statement?

Absolutely. Reiki isn't just about healing your body; it's about healing your life. The Reiki principles are a wonderfully healthy way to live your life and if you choose to allow them to guide you, your life becomes more manageable and your stress level becomes lower. Learning to live in the now, rather than worrying about tomorrow or angering over yesterday is difficult to achieve at first, but it's a wonderful way of life.

As a Reiki Master/Teacher what are your beliefs regarding the length of service you give to your students? Do you attune them and then send them on their way or do you continue working with them?

It really depends on the student. I attempt to allow my students to decide that for themselves. If they want to continue learning and sharing with me after their attunement and cleansing, I welcome the relationship. I try to create a situation to suit each student. For example, if they want a private attunement rather than a group attunement, I am happy to do that for them. If they prefer to be attuned by distance, or they live far away, I provide that also. Each student is unique and I believe the attunement process needs to be created to suit his or her needs.

You send a lot of your attunements by distance. What exactly does that mean and how do you do it?

I believe there is no time and space. So, I send the student's attunement from my home, usually from outside beside my pond and they accept and receive their attunement where ever and when ever they choose to. Sometimes they sit outside, or get comfortable on their couch etc. They ask for the attunement to begin and it does! I perform the attunement as though they are here with me physically. I can feel their chakras and aura during the attunement process and we often share visualizations, which we talk about afterwards. I have found I can send their attunement and they can receive it at the same time I send it or hours later, around the corner or many kilometres away and it is just as powerful as if they are sitting with me.

I have even sent an attunement to a student after she took it (she got the times mixed up) and it was just as powerful as others I've sent or given in person. I held the intention for her attunement as did she. So when she asked for her attunement, it came to her. Reiki is not something you can contain or control. It just is.

Many people have posted the Reiki symbols on web sites, how do you feel about this practice?

I strongly believe a huge part of Reiki is trust. Dr. Usui has asked us to keep our symbols and the actual attunement process secret. In my opinion, it is not living up to our Reiki principles or our teachings to post these secret symbols.

Integrity is a huge part of being a Reiki Master/Teacher and personally I would never share these symbols with anyone who isn't attuned to the level required for each particular symbol. This is something I am very passionate about although at the same time, each M/T and each student of Reiki needs to do what feels right for them. My way is not the only way; it is simply the way, which, at this time, works best for me.

What other services do you provide to your students and clients?

I scry using different types of spheres. My personal favourite is a fossilized marble sphere about 4" in diameter. I use tarot and other forms of divination as well. Soul cards and the Voyager tarot deck are two of my favourites.

I communicate with people's guides, read their auras, and assist with past life regressions as a Faery Shaman. I also teach and provide ear coning. At this time a small group of us gather regularly here at my home in Agassiz B.C. for guided meditation. This is a wonderful teaching experience for me. I love learning and teaching and I don't believe you ever just do one of those. We are constantly learning from our students and they are constantly teaching us… the flow of energy is, after all, endless.


Aleesha Stephenson is the Publisher, Editor, Graphic and Web Designer as well as a Regular Columnist for Timeless Spirit Magazine.

She is also the Executive Director and Publicist for "Magi's Magick Spells".

An Eclectic Wiccan Practitioner, Reiki Master/Teacher and Faery Shaman, she home-schools two of her three spiritually enlightened children as her eldest has graduated and moved onto the school of life. Friend (and mother) to them all, she is also a life-partner to her husband David. Her life truly is filled with light.

You can contact Aleesha via email.

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