Barbara Venn-Lever
As an enthusiastic and insightful speaker, published author and writer Barbara has led an enriched life.
Her exploration had inspired her to open her own Mind, Body & Spirit shop (Enchanted) in Reading which she ran for fourteen successful years. Here she sold, among other things, a wide range of aromatherapy oils and candles, divination cards, dowsing rods, crystals, incense, meditation tapes & c.d.'s, new age music, books and magazines in addition to having an event and practitioner display stand. Visitors saw the shop as a peaceful haven, where like-minded people could chat, learn and share. Barbara started running workshops and lectures, both in the shop and for other outside groups and organisations, liaising with other skilled and qualified professionals in complimentary and esoteric fields. An accredited spiritual healer ran a healing group in the shop from which students went on to qualify with a national spiritual healing organisation.
Prior to opening her shop Barbara had studied the tarot with the British Astrological & Psychic Society (BAPS) and was listed as a Tarot Consultant, later becoming a tarot tutor for BAPS. In addition to private readings she presented a talk in 2005 to the UK Tarot Conference in London.
Through her interest and involvement in dowsing she was a member of the British Society of Dowsers (BSD) where she had the privilege to meet some inspiring leaders in the field. In addition to be chosen to present a dowsing paper at one of their annual conferences she also ran a dowsing workshop for the BSD.
When the shop lease expired it was time to explore new horizons developing on from the shop without losing touch with its magic or the friends that came through the door.
Now drawing on her knowledge Foulsham Publishing employed her to review their entire Mind, Body & Spirit book range. After obtaining her teaching qualification she taught Adult Further Education courses at both Newbury and Reading Colleges in The Tarot (2 parts), Dowsing & Divining and on Positive Thinking. She was assessed by the colleges whilst teaching and given an excellent accreditation.
Her interest in philosophy led her to acquire her 'Certificate of the Spiritualist National Union speaker accreditation' by the Spiritualist National Union (SNU) which allowed her to share in their services with an accredited spiritualist medium, where she presents philosophy promoting spiritual growth and personal development in her unbiased way.
Her media involvement included her many appearances as a tarot consultant on YourDestiny TV and Psychic Interactive, both Sky channels. She had also provided tarot readings on The Circle, a telephone psychic line.
She also presented a regular programme on MySpirit Radio interviewing Mind, Body & Spirit authors from around the world. In addition she was interviewed for a BBC Radio Berkshire programme, given a slot on a BBC TV New Year programme on spirituality, appeared on a KISS radio show on a similar theme with Maggie Philbin. In the press a Berkshire newspaper published an article on her spiritual views and the role her shop played.
She wrote a six part tarot course as a successful supplement in Spirit and Destiny magazine going on to write and produce a Tarot course and a Psychic Development Foundation course for the International College of Esoteric Studies. As well as her course she also edited the other courses available through the college.
In 2007 she authored her book 'Tarot for the Curious Spirit' published by 'O' Books which was well reviewed and is now in John Hunt Publishing Dodona catalogue.
She has written a daily insight for over ten years on 'Life's Like That Sometimes', her Facebook group page which continues to receive positive feedback and interest from her readers around the world. Her explorations and passions in spirituality, philosophy and metaphysics continue on.
