It has been a tough summer and fall. I know I am not alone in saying this and thank goodness I am seeing changes in our Coventry economy, but it was getting a bit touch and go there for a while. I am not afraid to talk about this and I am not afraid to look for new answers because the old ones just don’t’ work anymore.

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I have been focusing a lot recently on psychological complexes (perhaps because I am healing some of my own).   Many people still believe that the word ‘complex’ is an off-handed insult used to define a particular behavior.   We hear it from our clients and customers when they say, “My boyfriend doesn’t want to commit because he has a mother complex,” or more mundanely, “my boss is on a power trip.  He must have an inferiority complex!”  However, what many people do not realize is that we all have complexes.

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By Patty Shaw, VP Coventry Creations, Author Healers Almanac, Wisdom of the 21st Century Goddess

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a traditional Mexican celebration of their ancestors and has its roots deep in the Aztecs and other Meso-American civilization. This custom is spreading like wild fire across the continent and for good reason. We all get a lot out of honoring our ancestors and making it into a party takes the taboo and fear out of reconnecting with our loved ones who are on the other side. The celebration is loud, colorful and can last for a few days or as long a month. It’s a time when dead relatives, both young and old, are allowed to return to the mortal world for a visit to comfort us and let us know that death is not the end but part of the journey. This is based on the Aztec belief that life is the dream and only in death do we become truly awake. So you can see why our ancestors come back to us during this time with partying on their minds.

Instead of hearing blood curdling shrieks, rattling chains and low moaning families welcome the spirits of their ancestors with their favorite foods and libations and let the laughter begin. Tasty candies decorated like skulls and toys are brought for spirit children, altars are built, candles are lit to guide the loved ones home again and gravs eites are cleaned and decorated.

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Full Moon on September 12 is in the sign of Pisces.  “You’re going Twilight Zone on me again” is something you’d read in a MR Sellars book, but it’s also something you’ll experience with this full moon.  The pull from Neptune will make you crave being elsewhere and not just on vacation.  You’ll want to be in an altered state so you can escape and pretend everything is as you’d like it to be.  We don’t mind if you go, but remember that when you leave your body, mind and spirit, you are more vulnerable and your boundaries are at their weakest.  Lock up before zoning out so when you come back, everything is as you left it.  Oh, and take a Blessed Herbal Astral Travel Candle with you.

New Moon on September 27 is in Virgo.  When you need to “get ‘er done” you’ll find that the new moon in Virgo is your best ally.  Dedicate some time and energy to creating a new system for things that aren’t working for you and you’ll be very glad you did.  This moon is sending you the vibrations of clear thinking and perseverance. So, tap that golden vein of creativity and see that you CAN re-create the wheel.  Light a Vision Quest Blessed Herbal Candle too and you will be unstoppable.

Read more: http://www.keepitmagic.com/index.php/en/media/articles/astrology/62-living-with-moon-energy-/113-living-with-moon-energy-sep-2011.html

Storm Cestavani

Have you ever felt so confused by what is going on in your business that it feels like all out chaos? Well many feel this way, and we do have an astrological cure for this and it is called Virgo. Although many view the sign of Virgo through its rather difficult attributes – nick picky behavior, obsessive compulsiveness, and judgmental attitudes – the sign actually has to do with making order out of chaos.

The easiest way that I have found to make order out of chaos in my personal life is to work with a journal. I have now incorporated this into my business, and at the end of each business day I write down notes about what occurred. Now, I know a lot of people do not like journaling, but it is a valuable resource for your business as well. In fact, you will notice no greater tool for trends than a business journal.

In your business journal, I suggest that you write down everything. This will include financial activity, advertising ideas, issues with personnel, and future business projections. In addition, write down your emotions, your fears, your worries, and your concerns. This helps you get in touch with you, and allows you to analyze (Virgo) your emotions in order to make sense of what is going on in your business life.

Once you have several days written down you will begin to notice trends in your business, and your feelings associated with them. You will make decisions that are better for the future of your business, and be able to make a plan of action. Further, it lets you get control of your emotions and you will notice your business world will become less chaotic and you will have more of a sense of purpose, enthusiasm, and motivation to approach each and every business day. The biggest advantage is that it allows us to turn challenges into opportunities!

Now, on with the forecast…

Business Weather Forecast:

The month of September is going to be a very busy energy month, because we have three dynamic energies occurring – Jupiter will go retrograde, Mercury will move out of shadow and into the sign of Virgo, and Pluto will go direct. Now, I know that this sounds like an alien planetary sandwich with no side order of fries, but it is really telling us something profound about how to use these energies in a beneficial way.

First, Jupiter will go retrograde around the 1^st of September (actually August 30^th, but I decided to include it in this forecast) and will remain retrograde until December 25^th. Whereas Saturn retrograde restricts and prevents us from making forward movement, Jupiter retrograde provides us an ability to look at the bigger picture. We can use this energy to look at our business and where we envision it in the future. Since Jupiter is the ruler of marketing, look at your advertising campaigns and think of new and creative ways to draw in business. The planet Jupiter is like our own personal Santa Clause, so use this energy to bring opportunities into your business in a proactive way.

Second, Mercury will go out of shadow on September 8^th and once again be in the sign of Virgo. While Mercury is in shadow it is time for us to begin to think about the retrograde period and all the things that we held off doing and begin to reanalyze them. Were they good decisions? Can we put them into practice? Are there any tweaks that need to be made? After September 8^th, we can begin to proceed forward again! Nevertheless, since Mercury is moving into its own sign of Virgo, it ushers in a time where we need to get everybody else’s voice out of our head and really ask ourselves what we truly think! Many times we get caught up in ‘whatever everyone else thinks syndrome’ that we forget that we are the boss and the business owner, which often muddles and confuses us. Take the bull by the horns and analyze all the data, suggestions, and ideas you have been given and make the best choices for your business.

Finally, Pluto will go direct on September 16^th. I usually do not discuss the retrograde periods of the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Eris) because they are usually energies that we cannot control. We see them active in the stock market and political choices that shape our collective lives and ultimately affect us, but rarely can we do anything with these energies. In some cases, we have to ‘trust’ that what is going to occur is going to occur, and deal with these issues as they come up. However, Pluto going direct is something that I think is vitally important. In business astrology, the direct motion of Pluto allows us to release any negative energy that may have coagulated since it went retrograde (April 9^th). Over the past several months something may have accumulated in your business that you have not been able to let go of, and as a result it may constantly be a ‘hot button” for us. You will begin to see this energy release after Pluto goes direct and finally be able to move beyond it.

The New Moon at the end of September occurs at 4 Libra and is involved with a very difficult astrological configuration. There will be enormous activity and difficulties that will begin to percolate on the world stage that may make us feel very frustrated and bewildered. Since the primary energy is in the sign of Libra, keep focused on your objectives and your goals and although we need to be aware of our surroundings and economic circumstances, we need not be controlled by them. If we can keep ourselves in check, we may discover new doors that open for us and will allow us to proceed forward with our goals and objectives.

Now, please excuse me while I obsessively edit this article.

See you guys next month!

I am sure you have heard the rumors. I am sure you have recoiled in horror. To be honest, I really hate writing about Mercury Retrograde 3-4 times a year, but Mercury will go retrograde on August 2^nd and remain retrograde until August 26^th.

I like to keep things fresh, so I sat long and hard to come up with a creative way to work with Mercury. Of course, we can all expect the problems that Mercury Retrograde brings – communication issues, travel problems, inability to sign contracts or negotiate deals, losing important documents, and problems with technology. Nevertheless, we can use the power of Mercury Retrograde to make significant lasting changes in our business.

Ok, breathe a sigh of relief! I will let you know the 13 Ways Mercury Retrograde is your friend but first the astrology…

The Astrology:

The key message for the month of August is to expect the unexpected. An enormous amount of energy will percolate leaving us feeling unsure about our business future, and a bit anxious for a bit of certainty to occur. As we move through the month the best advice is for us to keep our eyes wide open and try not to blink.

Besides Mercury Retrograde, there is much astrology in August to consider. Mars will move into Cancer on August 3^rd. This is a tricky placement for Mars because it is considered in its fall in emotional Cancer. Mars would rather sit at home and play defense rather than be aggressive. If Mars is poked he will react, yet in a rather emotional way which leads to bad business decisions. However, while Mars is in Cancer products focused on females, motherhood, and mothering should be our focus, as these are‘boon’ products at this time.

On a more positive note, Venus will be in Leo through most of the month. Venus is very happy in Leo; she is considered in her joy can be very glamorous. This is a good month to focus on revenue making activities that you have already planned (prior to Mercury Rx). Most of the aspects that Venus makes are positive throughout the month, so take advantage of this opportunity while you can. Further, with Venus being in the natural sign of marketing you can make adjustments to the way you appear to your customers with an image makeover.

This month’s Full Moon on August 17^th will be in Aquarius. This is a great time to review our social marketing strategy and our group and business alliances. The New Moon, at the end of the month, will be in Virgo. Virgo is the sign of employee – reward those that are productive and cut the excess fat off the meat.

Your Cosmic Business Forecast:

Now back to the good stuff! As I stated earlier, Mercury will go retrograde on August 2^nd and will remain retrograde until August 26. Although Mercury Retrograde can be quite frustrating and annoying, it does have a legitimate purpose. Whenever a planet goes retrograde, it turns its energies inward. Since Mercury rules communication, observation, and our ability to analyze data, when his energy goes retrograde he provides us with an opportunity to reflect. In essence, Mercury provides us with a 3-4 times a year‘time out’.

For business Mercury (since he rules commerce) is our most valuable tool. Not only does Mercury give us the ability to reflect, but he gives us the ability to redo – he gives us second chances. Let me make this even better! Additionally, retrogrades rule every single word that begins with the prefix ‘RE’. That’s a lot of options!

So, how do we use this to help our businesses? Let me give you 13 that you can take action on after Mercury goes direct on August 26th

1. Review: Take a look at your current business and analyze its activity over the last few months. Is the business where you want it to be? What changes can you make in the future?

2. Revise: Sometimes we only need to make small changes. What in your business needs to be revised? This could be your advertising, your marketing, or your displays. Sometimes, just making a small adjustment can bring in heaps of business.

3. Rediscover: I love this one! Often we get so caught up in the day to day monotony of business that we forget why we went into business in the first place. Try to reconnect to that first inspiration and vision, and bring it from the past into the present. Get fired up again!

4. Restrict: Take a look at your budget. Is there anything that can be cut? Are you spending too much money on grand lattes? If you are going through financial struggles, cut back down to what you need. Don’t fret; in a short time you will be getting those grand lattes again.

5. Receptive: Do the people around you have ideas that you could use in your business? Do not let your ego prevent positive changes from occurring because the ideas came from someone else. The people around you are part of your tool kit.

6. Recommit: Choose something in your business you want to change, and commit to changing it in the next year. Put forth some effort. You will reap the benefits of your actions.

7. Remix: It’s time to shake it up. Take products you already have and modernize them. Sometimes just a change of packaging gets something selling like hot cakes once again. Everything in business is about presentation!

8. Reconcile: Since we have to personally live within our means this applies to our business as well. Are you over extended in credit? Is your budget not balancing? Get that budget back in line, and remove the stress from your business. Not only will this make you feel more confident, but will remove the anxiety from your life as well.

9. Reconsider: Have you put anything on the shelf and said I will do that in the future? Now is the time to dust off all those old projects, and see if you would like to do them now. Everything has its season, and make sure you do not miss one of yours because it’s collecting dust rather than working for you.

10. Reflect: Go inward and ask deeply review your business. Is your business dysfunctional? Do you need to make some changes? Are you avoiding those changes because of a fear based mentality? Often facing what we fear can be our biggest reward.

11. Repair: Going through employee problems? Are you experiencing any tension with those you work with? Open the lines of communication and get that tension out of the air. A little ‘swifting of energy’ can do us all a bit of good.

12. Reward: Sit down and look at the people who work for you. Are any going above and beyond the lines of duty? We have a tendency to believe that everyone wants to be rewarded with money. However, when that is not possible we can reward them with positive reinforcement, a little gift, or take them out to a nice lunch. When rewarded, employees will work even harder for you than before.

13. Resolve: If you are experiencing any conflict in your business, you have a chance to resolve it now. Conflict resolution infuses the business with positive energy, and often will open the doors for cash to come pouring in.

Let me know how these worked for you. See you guys next month!

NEW BUSINESS RULES – GO DEEPER NOT WIDER

The 2011 business climate is a place of New Rules, and the businesses to define them first are the ones who will stay in business.  The old rules, prior to January 2011 just don’t bring in the same amount of traffic and sales.  The old rules said “new products, new ideas, new, new, new”.  The New Rules say, “Back to basics, rework the standards, reuse and repurpose t

he old.”   The first new rule is ironic because it is repurposing the old - the standard.  Stores that are flexible enough to change with the climate understand these new rules and are adapting.  They are launching a used book section, lending memberships, hosting classes on the basics and simplifying their messages.

One example of this is Coventry Creations new “Coventry Magic Oracle”, a point of purchase display that takes the standard and gives you unlimited ways to incorporate it into your life.  Jacki Smith, Coventry’s Founder and product designer saw that customers were no longer comfortable with always having to learn what is new.  The end user is getting confusedwith the amount of changing information out there; one day the sky is colored blue and the next the sky is the absence of blue.  Customers want to dig deeper into the knowledge on the path they have begun rather than adding potentially conflicting paths; that customers are moving from being instant experts into valuing the experience and knowledge that will make them a true expert.  They also want to be guided on their journey which is why Jacki made the oracle just four quick steps;  1 – Define your Question, 2 – Pick your Spread, 3 – Shuffle and pull three cards, 4 – Choose your products.  
The Coventry Magic Oracle (CMO) is a deck of cards and reading mat that give 5 new uses for each of the Coventry Product titles and instructions on how to combine three products into a life changing experience.  The instructions take the process to the most basic level for the retail customer, but also lend themselves to a deeper interpretation by the store sales person, turning the buying process into a spiritual experience.   Whether you have a customer drawing a card for fun to see what magic they need in their life or you have a customer with an intense issue, the Coventry Magic Oracle will please both customers. 
Based on the New Rules of expanding your knowledge and not your product line Jacki created the oracle to work for any question, any situation and every Coventry product line.  Jacki states that according to her customers and her own experience, the retail customer comes in asking about money, love and protection; we advise with ways to heal and clear the issue.  Using these 5 subjects, each Coventry product has a card that addresses its use in each one.  The CMO cards have an image of the product, the blessing or instructions on it and five new messages to help you look at your issue from a new perspective.  “Nine times out of ten, a customer looking for a Prosperity candle will actually solve their issue quicker if they look at the potential underlying cause rather than just a magical bandage.”  Jacki advises.   “So often stores are out of their best sellers, awaiting a new order, and this deck can show the customer that there are other avenues to their spiritual evolution.”

Initially shown at the 2011 INATS (International New Age Trade Show) the reception to the oracle was astounding.  Store owners saw the potential to turn a one item sale into a three item sale; how to turn slow sellers into best sellers and how to service their customer’s needs better.  One store owner stated “I can see how I use this to help my customer choose books, stones, herbs and other items that will support the issue they are currently dealing with.   Jacki Smith and Patty Shaw, owners of Coventry used the oracle at the trade show in their psychic readings to uncover what the deeper issue is and give guidance on how to address and solve their problem. Their clients were amazed and a few a bit teary at the depth of healing that was brought forth through the oracle.    Everyone loves drawing a card to get guidance from the divine, why not turn that guidance into action and solutions with a Coventry product.

For more information, including a fill list of products visit www.coventrycreations.com.
To schedule an Interview with Jacki Smith you can contact her at 800-810-3837 or e-mail at jacki@coventrycreations.com. 
Coventry Magic Oracle

Point of Purchase system - Deck of your choice and a card stock mat (17’x7’) to instruct your customers and staff with

CMO Display - Lucite book display that is 18” x 8” x 5”deep.  Drop shipped from manufacturer.


Resale Deck - Deck of your choice, instruction booklet, and bag.  First 100 sold will include a handmade bag by Jacki Smith.

Deck styles :

CMO-ALL   - This deck, currently 81 cards and growing has a card per title for every Coventry Product.  Currently it Contains a card for all Blessed Herbal Candles, Motor City Hoo Doo, Wicked Witch Mojo and World Magic.  To be added soon; Affirmations, Witches Brew and Drawing Down the Moon
CMO-BHC       Three each of the Blessed Herbal line of products.  72 cards. 
CMO- WORLD      Three each of the World Magic line of products.  48 cards. 
CMO-WWM        Three each of the Dorothy Morrison Wicked Witch Mojo of products.  48 cards. 
CMO-HD    Three each of the Motor City Hoo Doo of products.  cards.  75 cards

Great Planning Days: Feb 2, 3, 5, 14
Challenging Planning Days: Feb 20-28
Great Money Days: Feb 1
Challenging Money Days: Feb 2, 6, 9, 18
Great Action Days: Feb 4, 5, 6
Non Action Days: Feb 18, 20, 22, 24