Last night, I was at a party for a woman celebrating her 50^th birthday.  She had psychics and card readers and even an Oracle. Wow!  My tribe!  I went to every one of them for a reading, and it was exhilarating!  I love people who do the work I do.  There's a magic when you recognize your tribe. 

This reminds me of a friend I had many years ago. He was taking a stab at being a screenwriter, so I suggested he connect with other people doing the same thing.  He refused to speak to other writers.  He felt that they would ruin his mojo and that his "jealousy" would get the better of him. He read books about writing, but never took a class and never formally studied. 

Well, these many years later, he is still writing screenplays. However, he has never sold anything.  I'm not saying that some people aren't self-taught. What I'm saying is that to become something, you have to love it. We can never become what we hate or fear.

My screenwriting pal, in a moment of trust, asked me to read his latest work.  I began reading, but within the first six pages, I was lost. I had no idea what the story was or who was who.  I asked him what he was trying to say.  He became defensive.  His response?  That a reader would understand. 

To date, a year later, he is still working on this piece.

My point?

You must embrace your people.  This is why I love other psychics.

What's the skinny on psychics? We're all really vulnerable and can't "read" ourselves.  At the party the other night, one of the readers recognized that I was psychic.  She grabbed my arm and asked, "Hey I have a problem. Can you give me a quick take on it?"

I smiled. "Sure, he's no good.  Kick him to the curb.  He's too verbally abusive."

She leaned in closer, "Why do I take him back?  I mean, I'm doing all these affirmations to boost my self-esteem."

"Because," I replied, "when any of us make a stand for ourselves, the part of us that is fearful tries to pull us back. It's familiar and safe.  Don't you think it's interesting that you allow a man in who's verbally abusive? Isn't that really about your own self-talk that you're trying to overcome?  Work on it from within.  Then he will go away."

Later on, as the evening drew to a close, she and the other readers came to sit in a circle.  We traded stories and bonded.  I loved it. 

In fact, I love all of it. 

This morning I had a reading with a gay client. She and I spoke about her girlfriend being a Libra. When she had phoned me a year ago seeking love, I had seen a Libra, so this was a key point.  At the end of the reading, my client mentioned how constricted her mother was in her Catholicism. 

In that moment I thought about how taking a stand for who you are is a brave thing to do.  Coming out of the closet with YOUR truth is key to everything in life.  It doesn't matter if you are gay, psychic, black, Latino, or any minority or group off the "norm." Most of the time, people who become angry or bitter have lost sight of who they are. 

Oh...my friend the screenwriter? He's still holding onto his ideas and his words.  But there's something that he's missing and I hope you can grasp: You must risk to gain.  And none of us can ever really be heard until we do. 

Today, right this minute, ask yourself this:  What am I prepared to stand for?

My father used to say that a person who stands for nothing is nothing.

Find your tribe. Join them. Express yourself from a world that supports you. This is what it means to have support.

Many blessings,

Tori

Color Expert, Tori Hartman, Reveals the Meaning Behind the Wardrobes

Chosen by Presidential Candidates on Debate Night

 If you’ve been watching the candidates, you’ve been watching two very different styles of dress, particularly in their choice of colors, or lack of them. 

 The articles of clothing in question on debate night?

 McCain: Grey suit. Light blue shirt. Red and white tie.

  Obama: Grey suit. White shirt. Red tie.

  Both candidates wore grey suits to “neutralize” themselves on television and Internet viewing. The color grey lets people know that both candidates stand in the middle of the road…that neither is an extremist.

  McCain wore a light blue shirt and a red and white tie, most obviously to represent patriotism. Looking deeper, however, blue communicates truth. McCain is driven to speak up what he feels is his truth. He will always articulate what he stands for. The red and white tie tells that he is deeply rooted in staying detached. Red signifies passion and self-motivating energy, yet in McCain’s choice of tie, it is tempered by white, a color that deflects. McCain is a man who understands the need to stay cool under fire. All soldiers are trained in this, and it was the message of his color combination. 

 I give McCain an “A” for his well-chosen colors. They show he is able to stand for his convictions.

 Now for Obama.

   In many pictures of Obama, we see his white shirt sleeves rolled up. This, of course, is an indication to us that he is literally ready to roll up his sleeves and get the job done. This message is congruent with his choice of wardrobe colors on debate night. White indicates an ability to receive but not necessarily absorb information.  He considers but does not take personally what is being conveyed.  The ability to stay detached and uninvolved in others opinions is evident in a white shirt. 

   The most interesting choice of color was Obama’s deep red tie. Red is the color of service, and since the tie was on the darker end of the red spectrum, it suggested the idea that Obama is in deep contemplation. His thoughts are profound and heartfelt. 

 I also give Obama an “A” for communicating his concern and caring through his colors on debate night.

 Let’s now look at the color choices of the potential First Ladies.

    Cindy McCain always chooses to wear something bold to convey the strength of her convictions. Her pure red suit during the debate reveals the message that she is in charge. She is the power behind the throne, and McCain relies upon her to be his supporter. Theirs is a traditional marriage.

    Michele Obama, on the other hand, has been working to convey the image of traditional wife and partner. Her energy is very strong and in an effort to support rather than outshine her husband, she tones down her style. For the debate, Mrs. Obama wore a multi-colored outfit in olive and red. As I mentioned, red indicates contemplation and caring, while shades of green are associated with the heart and healing. This combination was chosen to subdue the powerful aspect of her role in their modern marriage.

   As you can see, color is revealing. Now, if only the colors chosen by the candidates and their wives could tell us who, in fact, will win the election!

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Tori Hartman, color expert, author and intuitive of the Berkley style book, Fabulous You! Unlock your Perfect Personal Style, transitioned from fashion guru to Hollywood psychic and recently launched her new line of spiritual accessories, available at www.ToriHartman.com.                       www.Myspace.com/torihartman