Gary's Journey from There to Here...

Many people have asked me about how I got started reading angel cards and I must say my journey has been interesting to say the least.  First, like many that have entered the spiritual world through various healing and spiritual modalities, I did not consciously choose what I am doing now, but I certainly was guided by my angels and spiritual guides to do what I love doing now.

My latest journey, that led me to what I love doing now, began about five years ago at the age of 56 and it was driven by many personal life changes.  One of the major life changes was the end of the manufacturing career I had been part of for over 37 years.  I spent most of those 37 years in management, engineering and quality control doing the typical thing that most manufacturing people do, which was working long, stressful hours.  After 37 years, I burned-out and had a couple of minor strokes (TIAs) and I knew it was time to move on to something else in my life.  The problem was I had NO IDEA what I was going to do and where I was going.  The end of my career as well as other personal life changes caused me to question everything I had done during my life.  The first few months after leaving my career, I lived an unhealthy life style that was taking me nowhere but downwards.

I woke up one day extremely tired of living the life I had created because I did not like descending downwards into a world of emptiness and depression that was absolutely no fun anymore.  I had already experienced that part of life many, many years before and there was no way that I wanted to be stuck in that kind of lower energy again.  It was then that I turned to my Divine Creator, whom I had long ago abandoned.  By the way, he and his angels do not ever abandon us, but we do tend turn our back on them.  Please know that they are always there patiently waiting for us to return when the timing is right for us.  I returned to them by going back to my Protestant based religion.  Although it helped, it did not give me all of the answers and direction I was looking for at that time.

It was then that I reached out for more help and was led to the first of many Earth Angels I have been blessed to know during the last four years.  I reached out for help through an Astrologer and Tarot card reader, Lauri of Ninthhouse Books, who I found here in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I am still not sure what made me grab a phone book and call Ninthhouse Books out of all the places that were listed for readings, but once again, this was not my doing.  I truly was led to the perfect person to help me.  The insight Lauri gave me through her Tarot and Astrological readings opened a completely new world for me that I had no clue existed.  I then proceeded to research and study all kinds of different metaphysical modalities.  I actually study Tarot cards intensely for some time, but my studies left me still searching for that “missing” something.

Finally, during the next part of my journey I was led to that “missing something”, and it was definitely the most significant step I took to get from there to here.  I went on an out-of-town trip to visit some friends and I was led to their local bookstore.  Well, once again I was guided because in the back of the bookstore I touched my first Dr. Doreen Virtue angel deck--Healing with the Angels.  After I opened the deck, I could not even begin to contain my excitement because I realized instantly that I had found the missing spiritual link and guidance I was searching for the last few months.  I bought that deck and another one and brought them back to Salt Lake City, and then the fun began.  I could not stop using the cards.  Practicing reading and studying the meanings of the cards consumed me in a beautiful way day and night.  I even considered studying under Dr. Virtue, but being the Aries I am, I decided that I wanted to develop my own reading style and I wanted to allow my angels “to train” me personally.  It was also about this time that I decided to go back into the manufacturing industry because, honestly, I was missing the money I use to make.  For the next five months, I worked and spent every available off-hour studying and practicing card reading.  Then it happened—because of the stress I was under again at work, I was hit with a third TIA.  Yes, you are right, it took the third TIA for me to finally get the message that the money was not worth the total unhappiness I was creating for myself.  Some of us just do not get the message to change our life style until we are forced to do it.  Well—I got it the third time and abruptly gave my notice, which when the company I was working for realized I could stroke out on them at any moment, graciously let me go the same day.  I cannot even begin to explain the relief I felt as I walked out the door knowing that I was really done with my manufacturing career this time.  It did not matter that I had no clue what I was going to do in life because the instant release of years of stress that I felt made it all worth it.

I tried a couple of odd jobs here and there to create a little income, but nothing that really satisfied or supported me.  Surprise, surprise, once again I was led and guided to my next step because I woke up one morning and got a very clear message I should become an Angel Card Reader.  The conversation I had with myself was somewhat funny because I answered the calling with “You want me to do what?  Are you out of your mind?  You want me to be an angel card reader?”  No way with the life I had led did I even think I was capable or worthy of guiding people spiritually through angel card readings.  My second Earth Angel, Diana, helped me with that though because she encouraged me to move forward and embrace what I was learning so I could help others.  She even told me that one-day people would line up to receive a reading from me, and she was right because that has happened on several occasions.  So, now I had two Earth Angels that saw me in a way that I could not even envision at the time.

I followed the guidance I was getting and ordered my first business cards that said I was an angel card reader.  I had very little confidence at the time and I was even embarrassed to tell people what I did and even more embarrassed to give them a business card.  Embarrassed or not, my Aries fire and stubbornness and my persistent angels kept me moving forward.  I went all over the Salt Lake City valley searching for a book or metaphysical store that would allow me to get started as a card reader.  Was I ever tested!  I received more rejections than imaginable.  Everywhere I went, it was the same—no, we do not need readers and no, we do not want someone who is just starting out.

I figured that my persistence would pay off eventually, so I just kept throwing it out there to my angels that I wanted to try to be an angel card reader.  My persistence did finally paid off and it led to my next Earth Angel, Bill Juan of the Lotus store in Draper, Utah.  I met Bill a couple of years earlier at a psychic fair where he was an exhibitor and we briefly talked, but not about anything meaningful, but as it turned out—it was very meaningful!  Bill said yes, and as I prepared to become an angel card reader at his store, it finally hit me that my goal to become a reader was my new reality.  I spent a beautiful year at Lotus as Bill’s resident reader, but after a year and 600 plus spiritually filled readings; it was time for me to make a full-time commitment to my newfound love and career.

I ventured out on my own and began reading out of my residence while I developed and created my website.  And yes, this is when my next Earth Angel arrived, Dr. Loretta Standley of www.drstandley.com .  She is an extraordinary person and an astrologer who adopted me temporarily and tagged me as her pup.  Her wisdom and advice is what directly led to what so many of you come to visit everyday--Your Angels Guidance through the Signs.  She not only helped me with the technical aspects of becoming my own webmaster, but she was also the inspiration and key to inspiring me to do many of the things I now do on my website.  Whenever I was stuck or ventured from the path I was meant to follow, she was there keeping me on the straight and narrow.  I will be forever indebted to her because she helped me create what I love doing today, which is connecting with so many of you from around the world.

I am constantly in awe of how “we find each” other around this huge planet as we pursue a common goal to create peace, love and happiness in our lives.  And, I have been doing this long enough now to see so many of you accomplish dreams and goals that were only a flicker in both our minds and hearts two to three years ago.  It is you my friends and clients (one in the same with me as you well know) that have blessed my life beyond belief.

Along the way, two other Earth Angels entered my life that helped shape who I am today and who I am becoming.  Jeannette Maw of www.goodvibecoaching.com and Crystal Doty of www.clearhealth.biz.  Jeannette’s innovative law-of-attraction teaching methods, awesome teleseminar classes, e-books and her enthusiasm about how to create what we want in life are part of each angel card reading I conduct.  Now, when it comes to Crystal, she is the premier Angel Lady and I learned a lot from her about how to connect with our angels and how to use that gift and blessing in the card readings I do for you.  She is also one of the best when it comes to improving and managing your health naturally.  Hmmm…I probably should be listening to that part of who she is a little bit closer than I do.

Along the way, there were many personal and business challenges that made me question what I was doing, and honestly I questioned my sanity too, but through a belief in my Divine Creator and my angels as well as your belief in me, I was able to create this life that I love.  I know that there are many more challenges to overcome, but knowing that the real joy comes from creating positive outcomes for each challenge makes it beyond worth it.

There it is--the condensed version of my Journey from Here to There.  It has been, and will continue to be, one of my most important callings in life.  And, thanks to all of you, I get to do what I love doing each and everyday of my life.  I sincerely thank you for helping me create my new reality that truly is full of peace, happiness and love.

…may the best of life always be yours because you truly do deserve the best that life has to offer you…

Love and Blessings, Gary