Psychic Development An Interactive Course by Bonnie Adam, 2011
Psychic Development: An Interactive Course Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Grounding and Preparing Yourself……………………… Yours elf………………………..6 ..6 Chapter 2: Your Psychic P sychic Style……………………………………….12 Chapter 3: Getting Started……………………………………………15 Started……………………………………………15 Chapter 4: Psychometry……………………………… Psychometry………………………………………………17 ………………17 Chapter 5: Intuition Tools…………………………………………….21 Tools…………………………………………….21 Chapter 6: Practicing Telepathy………………………………………27 Chapter 7: Channeling, Mediumship and Spirit………………………29 Spirit………………………29 Communication Chapter 8: Trance-like States………………………………………….31 Chapter 9: Remote Viewing…………………………………………...33 Viewing…………………………………………...33 Chapter 10: Intuitive Decision Making………………………… Making………………………………..36 ……..36 Chapter 11: Interpretation……………… Interpretation…………………………………………… ……………………………..41 ..41 Chapter 12: How to Share Your Reading……………………………..48 Meditations and Exercises
Grounding Meditation Spiritual Simplicity Meditations Psychometry Exercise Meeting Your Spirit Guide Exercise Channeling a Spirit Guide Exercise Light Trance Exercise Remote Viewing a Location
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Psychic Development: An Interactive Course Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Grounding and Preparing Yourself……………………… Yours elf………………………..6 ..6 Chapter 2: Your Psychic P sychic Style……………………………………….12 Chapter 3: Getting Started……………………………………………15 Started……………………………………………15 Chapter 4: Psychometry……………………………… Psychometry………………………………………………17 ………………17 Chapter 5: Intuition Tools…………………………………………….21 Tools…………………………………………….21 Chapter 6: Practicing Telepathy………………………………………27 Chapter 7: Channeling, Mediumship and Spirit………………………29 Spirit………………………29 Communication Chapter 8: Trance-like States………………………………………….31 Chapter 9: Remote Viewing…………………………………………...33 Viewing…………………………………………...33 Chapter 10: Intuitive Decision Making………………………… Making………………………………..36 ……..36 Chapter 11: Interpretation……………… Interpretation…………………………………………… ……………………………..41 ..41 Chapter 12: How to Share Your Reading……………………………..48 Meditations and Exercises
Grounding Meditation Spiritual Simplicity Meditations Psychometry Exercise Meeting Your Spirit Guide Exercise Channeling a Spirit Guide Exercise Light Trance Exercise Remote Viewing a Location
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Introduction Introduction
Everyone has psychic abilities. There are those who are naturally psychic and can call upon their gift at will, and there are those who do not acknowledge any psychic abilities at all. Most people are somewhere in between: They have intuitive feelings or messages that come and go but have little or no control over them. The point is we all have psychic talents somewhere inside, whether or not we acknowledge them or know how to use them. No matter where you position your psychic self—natural, weekend warrior or beginner— it is important to keep your psychic connections open. Like anything else, if you do not practice, you will get rusty. This course is intended to help with your psychic development. It is designed so that you can work at your own pace. Each section has a brief explanation of how to practice a specific skill, along with exercises and meditations that you can try in order to see if a particular method works for you. Not every method will appeal to you. Some will be easier and some will be more difficult. There is no need to master every skill. You can choose the ones you enjoy and decide not to use the rest. All of the exercises have step-by-step instructions and many have corresponding guided audio recordings. The exercises are brief and the recordings are limited to 20 minutes or less in order to suit any lifestyle. You may see other programs that have longer training exercises of up to an hour or even 90 minutes. But it is often difficult for the average person to find time in their day to fit them in. If you cannot fit the exercises into your day, you are not likely to be very successful with any course. I have found that practicing brief, simple exercises more frequently enables you to participate more often and commit more fully to the training. It is recommended that you try to practice at least 3 times per week. If this does not no t fit your schedule, then simply do the course work as often as possible. Even once a week is enough to keep you progressing. Like most things in life, if you take one step at a time you will begin to make progress. It is good to have an end goal in mind, but try not to focus on it too much. Take the journey as it comes and one day you will look back and realize how much you have accomplished. Before you start… Ethics is an essential and sometimes forgotten part of intuitive work.
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As you become sensitive to the energy of others, you may find that you will start to know things about people. You might see something in their aura or you will simply have a sense of knowing. This does not mean that you automatically have a right to share this information with them or anyone else. Some people are uncomfortable with this kind of work. You need to use good judgment and respect people’s privacy. Use the following list when you are ready to start sharing your psychic impressions with others: • •
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Always ask permission before you share information you have picked up or read. Remain positive. Try to word things in a constructive way. Remember, this is a helping field. You are not doing this to impress people and certainly not to scare them! Allow others to make their own interpretations of what you have to offer. Do not tell people how to live their lives. Let them make their own choices about how they wish to use the information you provide. If they choose not to use it, that is also their choice and you should respect that. (See Chapter 11 for tips on how to share your interpretations.) Beware of people who are becoming dependant on you to solve their problems and back off. My rule of thumb is at least 3-6 months between readings. that they seek seek help from If you run into someone with serious problems serious problems , suggest that a qualified medical or psychiatric professional. You are not qualified to help them, or to diagnose, or prescribe for them. Also be aware that in most jurisdictions you can get into serious legal trouble if you even sound like you are diagnosing or prescribing or interfering with an y treatment prescribed by a medical or psychiatric professional.
Below is a brief list list of what we will be working on in your psychic development. Do not worry about the things you get wrong because you will improve with time, or you may simply be misinterpreting the information. Stay relaxed and celebrate your accomplishments. Remember to have fun! To stay connected, try any or all of these exercises a few times a week: MEDITATE
Note the capital letters! This is important! It does not mean you have to sit in complete silence staring at your navel for 3 hours per day. Even if you spend just 10 minutes each day focusing on slowing down your breathing, you will become more focused and calm. A calm mind is essential for psychic work (and you will experience many other health benefits too!). There are several guided exercises included in this course that will help you focus and meditate. Get Yourself a Practice Tool (more information on this topic in Chapter 5)
Psychic tools include tarot decks, runes, crystals, pendulums, divining rods etc. Most will come with a set of instructions. Start practicing with your tools on a daily basis.
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Experiment with different tools. Try a few different tarot decks or runes, etc. You may wish to borrow a set at first so you can try them out without paying up front. You will find that some are easier for you to work with. Take your tools with you everywhere you go. You never know when you will have an opportunity to practice. Put them on your bedside table at night to connect as strongly as you can with them. Note: stay away from Ouija boards. They are too powerful for beginners and can open doors you may not want opened! Practice Predicting
Try predicting every day events, like who will try to reach you today. What bills or cheques will arrive in your mailbox? Try to visualize the contents in the mail carrier’s bag. What colour are the envelopes? When you receive a phone mes sage, text or email, try first to tune in to who it is and what they want. Then test your accuracy. Try predicting the outcome of your favourite sporting events. Visualize the competitors and try to connect with their energy. Which athlete or team feels stronger? Try “people finding” by thinking of someone you know well and trying to locate their energy. Are they at work? At the grocery store? At home? Ask them later to find out where they were when you were “looking” for them. These simple practice exercises will give you the immediate feedback you need in order to develop trust in your abilities. Practice on Friends, Family and Co-workers
Find some open-minded people to work with. Tell them the first things that pop into your head no matter how silly they may seem. TRUST is one of the first and most important ingredients in developing your intuition. Once you get comfortable working with people you know, try working on new people. This is good practice because the images, messages or feelings you get are not from some pre-conceived ideas you have about the person. (You may want to practice on people who are friends of those you already know, rather than walking up to complete strangers on the street!) There are also some websites that will let you offer free readings to help develop your skills and increase your confidence. Try them out ☺ Keep a Journal
Write down what you feel even if you think it is silly and do not know what it means. Make a practice of referring back to your writing. Later on, look through throu gh your entries to see if anything makes sense that did not make sense earlier. The most important thing to remember about psychic development is that you already know how to do this! You are only awakening the psychic energy that has been lying dormant inside of you. The images, feelings and messages you receive are right for you even if you are not yet sure how to interpret them. The exercises throughout this course will help you learn more about your psychic style and how to work with the energies that come through you.
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Grounding and Preparing Yourself
Healers, intuitives, and psychics all work with energy and anyone doing energy work needs to learn how to “ground” themselves. The term is loosely used to imply being connected to the ground or anchored. When you are grounded you feel calm, secure, strong and focused. Another thing you need to know about energy work is that after doing it, you can feel dizzy and out of touch with reality. Therefore, learning how to ground yourself is essential so that you can “come back down to earth” after finishing. You need to clear yourself so you are relaxed and in control before you start doing psychic work, and you need to know how to regain your sense o f personal balance afterwards. Knowing how to ground yourself is like knowing the way home before you set out on a long journey. It is a way of turning off your psychic switch and letting go of the psychic world, so you can go about your regular life without being distracted and spaced out from the intense energy you sometimes feel while doing a reading. Being ungrounded can have negative effects on your daily life because you can end up being distracted, forgetful and out of touch. It is not a good idea to drive, operate machinery or participate in any activity that requires your full attention if you are ungrounded. So please be careful and spend some time learning about this subject! Part of grounding includes being calm and relaxed. When you are tranquil and at ease your body and your energy system naturally clears itself and opens up. When your energy system is uncluttered, you can receive psychic information. I often describe psychic ability as a pipe. When the pipe is clear, information flows easily. When it is clogged with worry, fear, doubt and personal baggage, energy and information cannot flow through. Therefore you need to relax and try to let go of your personal stuff (or at least put it aside for a moment), and be calm before you can develop your abilities. You also need to be able to ground and clear after a reading, so you can let go of the energy and the emotional baggage of whomever you were working with. This can take a little maintenance and you will find that when you commit to cleaning your pipes regularly, your abilities will be easier to call upon. I have heard this referred to as our “energetic hygiene.” 1.
Grounding and Clearing Techniques
Below are some common grounding and clearing techniques. Practice them first and then choose one to use both before and after doing any energy work. With a little practice you will be able to ground yourself with just a few seconds of concentration.
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Breathing
1. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. 2. Take slow, deep breaths, and imagine that with each breath you are breathing in light. When you exhale, imagine you are breathing out anything you want to release. 3. Visualize your body filling with light. 4. Continue until you are calm. Yogic Grounding Technique
1. Stand with your legs shoulder width or wider. 2. Put one hand on your lower back near your root chakra, located at the base of your spine. 3. Put your other hand over your head. 4. Take a deep breath. 5. As you exhale, bring your top hand down in front of you. As you bring it down visualize that you are pushing any negative energy down into the floor. 6. Switch hands and repeat as many times as you need to until you feel calm and grounded. Growing Your Energetic Roots
Listen to the Grounding Meditation recording included in this course, or follow the steps below if you prefer to do the exercise on your own: 1. Sit or stand comfortably with your hands on your thighs. 2. Take a few slow, deep breaths. 3. Imagine that you have roots growing down through your legs and out of the soles of your feet, deep into the earth, anchoring you. 4. Continue focusing on your roots digging into the earth until you are calm and relaxed.
Wearing or Carrying Grounding Stones
Hematite, carnelian, jasper, tourmaline, flint, tiger’s eye, jet, smoky quartz or any darkly coloured or reddish stones will help you to be grounded. Wear a grounding stone in a pendant or piece of jewelry or carry one in your pocket. When you feel the need to ground, rub the stone and focus on its solidness. Meditation
As mentioned earlier, meditation is one of the best ways to prepare for energy work, or for that matter, life in general. Meditating on a regular basis keeps you aligned and in touch with your inner self. It clears the debris out of your mind so that focusing on any
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task is much easier. Therefore, it naturally makes sense that it helps with the intuitive arts. Learning to meditate can be as simple as doing breathing exercises 5-10 minutes per day. It is often easier to have an audio recording playing to keep your mind on track or to have a friend read through a meditation for you. Try the brief, easy-to-follow Spiritual Simplicity recording included in this course. If you prefer to work on your own, you can try any of the following exercises: A Basic Breathing Meditation
Sit quietly and comfortably and focus on your breathing. Concentrate on keeping your breath deep and even. Be sure you are filling your whole chest and stomach with air. Try to keep your inhalations and exhalations equal in time length. You can do this by slowly counting to yourself as you breathe in and out. The average person can do this to a count of 5 or 6 fairly easily. With practice, this can be increased to 9 or 10, as you increase your lung capacity and learn to relax your muscles and control your breathing. A Basic Body Relaxation
The process of relaxing the mind and body is fairly easy and familiar to most people. Start with a few deep breaths and then begin to focus the mind on different body parts. Starting with the feet, slowly tense and relax each body part. Move up to the knees, the legs, the hips, the trunk and end at the head and face. Refresh yourself with a nice deep breath and a stretch. You can use some of these techniques whenever you find yourself with some extra time such as when you are waiting for an appointment or a bus. Please do not use them while driving though! If the concepts of grounding and meditation are totally new to you, it is advised that you spend a few days, or even up to a few weeks learning these simple meditations and practicing some of the grounding techniques described above. Learning the focus and control involved in meditation will make you more successful in your psychic development.
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Setting Intention
It is important to set an intention or say a prayer of protection before and after every attempt at psychic work. Aiming for success is also vital to the process. You can do this, because anyone can!
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The ritual or routines that you develop are tools to help focus your power and open you up. It is crucial that you firmly believe in yourself and in your success. Set a positive intention for the reading. This ensures that only helpful energies come through you during the process. A simple prayer or an affirmation that you strongly believe in can be enough. If you have a favourite prayer of protection, use it before you begin, or make up your own. Below are some examples of different methods you can use to prepare yourself for psychic work. You can use all of them or choose one that you feel is the most effective. You can also create your own rituals or routines to suit yourself.
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Prayers of Protection & Affirmation
I have a few prayers and affirmations that I use, but it is also good for you to put a prayer into your own words. If the words come from your heart they will be more powerful for you. Below are a few examples of my prayers: “Please protect us and all those who enter here We are here for good purposes only Nothing of darkness may enter May the angels above, the good faeries and the s pirits of those who love us, guide us and keep us safe. We are grateful for your love and protection.” “I am here to ask for guidance for ______. I ask that only positive energy and beings come through to assist with this reading. I am thankful for the assistance of any beings of light that wish to help us today.” “I fill this space with light and love. Only positive and loving energy may enter here. All information that comes to this place is to be used for the highest good.” You can also practice filling a space with healing light. Sit quietly for a few moments and compose yourself. Then imagine that in your building there is a gentle rain of white light coming down from above. The light comes through the roof top and filters down through the building, filling each room with bright white light. Smudging
Another way to clear a space and set up a positive work area is to smudge the room before your start working. Smudging is a technique that can be traced to ancient times and is still practiced today by many native cultures and energy healers as a way of clearing energy. Many churches also use incense in their ceremonies.
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Smudging materials can be purchased at new age stores or you can make your own. Any plant or herb that can be dried and burned to create smoke can be used, b ut traditionally plants and herbs such as sage, sweet grass and cedar are common. I often dry and use the sage from my own garden, but it does not smell as nice or burn as well as some of the commercially prepared smudges. If you are using loose leaf herbs, they may be placed loosely in a bowl or shell and set alight. Then gently blow out the flames so the herbs are still smoking. If you are using a smudge stick or braided sweet grass, light one end and blow out the flame to allow it to smoke. Incense sticks can also be used. Nag Champa is incense that is usually blessed by a holy person, so it is a great choice. My favourite is white buffalo sage. I recommend trying a few and seeing which ones appeal to you. Once the smudge is smoking, use your hands or a feather to waft the smoke around yourself. Brush the smoke around your head and body, front and back. As you waft the smoke, say a prayer such as, “With this smoke I clear myself, I am full of light and peace. I am protected.” It is recommended that you repeat this at least three times. Proceed to waft the smoke all around yourself. You can do your entire home. Pay special attention to corners, doors and windows. Keep repeating your prayers. For example, "With this smudge I clear this space, only love and light may enter here. Everything except peace and light must leave now!" Remember, it is your power and intention that makes this work. Smudging has power that is recognized by spirits and energies around you because it is something that has been used for generations. It adds to your power and your ability to use it successfully. Remember to be thankful for the protection you are receiving. Setting clear intentions is similar to practicing ene rgetic hygiene. If you forget or neglect to set a positive intention, or to clear your space, you may end up collecting energies that are unhelpful, dishonest and unhealthy for you and those you are working to help. Negative energies seem to gather like dust bunnies in the corners! Below is a prayer I often use when I feel a stuck, confused or unbalanced presence. It is based upon the entity finding its place in the universe, so it does no harm to the being. If the being needs to “go to the light” or wherever is right or appropriate, this will help it along. Therefore, you can use a prayer like this even if you are not sure if there is a confused spirit around or what the spirit needs or wants. If the word God is not comfortable, substitute it with whatever term fits your belief system—such as Creator, Universe, Source, Yahweh, Allah, etc.
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Prayer for Entity Release
Go back the source from whence you came Go back the source from whence you came Go back the source from whence you came You are healed and forgiven You are released Go the court of God To the peace of God To the love of God Ascend into God’s love and light And find your own right place Go in peace and love Go permanently (optional) If you are still nervous or afraid that you may have picked up negative energy from your psychic development attempts, there is a free e-book on my website you can read to help learn how to disperse this kind of energy. Go to www.pathwayshealing.com and click the “FREE e-book” button on the right side of the screen. With practice, your whole preparation routine should take just a few minutes. To recap, follow these steps: 1. Ground and clear 2. Set intention 3. Pray for protection You may then proceed with your exercise or reading. Rinse and repeat #1 (clear and ground again).
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Your Psychic Style
The next thing you need to be aware of while fine-tuning your psychic abilities is that each person has their own unique way of receiving information. Some sources refer to this as your “psychic type” or your “intuitive style.” When you begin to pick up information, you are going to receive it in a way that is familiar or that makes sense to you as an individual. For instance, some people are mainly visual learners, some are auditory and some are tactile, hands-on learners. If you prefer to read and look at images or diagrams then you are more likely to receive information in a visual manner. If you prefer to listen to lectures or verbal i nstructions, you are more of an auditory leaner. If you feel the need to touch and manipulate objects, you are more of a tactile learner. In the intuitive world, people who receive visions are clairvoyant. Those who hear messages are clairaudient and those that are tactile are using something called psychometry. Clairvoyants can receive visions with their eyes either open or closed. They may like to have something to look at while doing a reading. They usually like tarot cards or runes for the symbols and for the expressions on the faces in the cards. Clairaudients hear messages. They may be audible messages heard with the ear, or they may feel like a little voice inside, but somehow they can identify it as not their own inner voice. It seems to come from somewhere else. Psychometry involves getting information by holding a person’s hand or one of their personal objects. Some sources categorize psychic types into four main varieties: emotional, physical, mental and spiritual. For further reading, Sherrie Dillard has a book called Discover Your Psychic Type that delves into deeper explanations of these psychic types. For use in this course, you may refer to the following brief explanations: •
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The emotional psychic usually picks up information about the emotional states of those around them. This psychic type may have difficulty filtering other people’s emotions from their own and may have sudden mood swings they cannot explain. They are very empathic and sympathetic to others and their work will usually focus on helping others to find peace and happiness. They can get overly attached to the emotional health of others and must be cautious so they do not take on the problems of other people. The physical psychic picks up more information with their body. They may feel the physical pain of others and their main focus may be on finding health and
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wellness. They rely on “gut” feelings and they may be heard saying things like, “It just felt right.” They tend to carry a lot of physical burdens and must be careful about their own health. The mental psychic is very evidence centered. They must find ways of verifying their intuitions and they are often interested in the scientific theories behind what they do. They are analytical and can have a hard time trusting the information they receive. The spiritual psychic is in tune with the higher realms. They are often mediums who receive messages from spirits and guides. They can be idealistic and sometimes miss details pertaining to the physical, earthly life because they only see the beauty of each individual soul.
All of this can sound a little confusing at first, but it is meant to help you understand that there is more than one way to be psychic. When you allow yourself to open up to the many possible ways that you can use your intuition, you will have more methods that you can try and more ways to improve your chances of success. You may also find that you are a bit of a mixed bag as a psychic being. You may experience a combination of different sensations. At first, what often happens is that you get little flashes of information, like pieces of a puzzle. If you are lucky, you receive enough pieces to form a picture. I cannot emphasiz e enough that this part takes lots of practice. You may start to pick up on things relatively easily, but it could take months or even years for you to learn how to interpret the information accurately. It is very important to start this journey with a firm commitment and the intention to succeed. We can all do this. You will proceed at your own pace and in your own time. For example, you may see fuzziness or light around a person, or you may find that when you close your eyes, you see sparks of light or colour. At the same time, you may get a tingle somewhere in your hands, or up the back of your neck. All of this could correspond to a pressure or pain somewhere in your body, and you may have an emotional reaction too. All of it means something. The important part is to learn how to get in touch with your own psyche and body, so that you can pick up on the information that is coming through. After that, the challenge is to sort it all out. There is a chapter on interpretation, but when starting out, try to open up and allow information to flow through you naturally without the mental analysis. In the beginning, keep it simple. You will have to keep reminding yourself of this point. The natural human response is to want to know all the answers. We want clarity now. We want a step-by-step manual and a written guarantee, please! But you need to be patient. When you get to the point of trying to do a reading, you will need to work with people who are open to you asking questions about them. You require feedback to help you learn how to be a success. You can start relating the sensations that
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you are experiencing with what the person tells you. Certain visions or feelings will start to make sense to you. For example, when I have a vision of a person in a lab coat, it tells me that the person is in a profession where people wear lab coats. I will know they are in medicine, science or possibly aesthetics. The important point is that you will develop your own system of clues and hints that make sense to you. ☺
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Getting Started
Now for the fun part, and I hope it really is fun for you! Developing your intuition should be entertaining and exciting. Try to keep it light and work on smaller and less important tasks at first. You may not want to take on a missing person’s case as the first test of your psychic abilities, so try to choose simple tasks such as those described in the introduction section. You will need to find a quiet space to work in, preferably one that is clear of clutter and distractions. It should be warm and comfortable but not so cozy that you fall asleep! Experiment with doing the exercises at different times of the day. Some people work best first thing in the morning. Others find that the quiet of the night is a better time for them. See what works best for you and always be willing to tweak or play with your routine. The next few chapters include explanations and exercises covering several different ways to explore and develop your psychic skills. You are welcome to skip back and forth between chapters and do the exercises that you find most appealing. I encourage you to try them all, but if something simply does not work for you, do not torture yourself through the exercise over and over trying to get it right. Skip to something else and perhaps return later to the more challenging sections. If they still do not work for you, return to those exercises in which you are making progress and that you are enjoying. I must emphasize that you will be attracted to the exercises and topics that work the best for you. That is what this course is all about: your attraction to particular sections means that your intuition is guiding you so please pay attention to this! You need to learn to trust in what feels right without question and see where it takes you. If your intuition happens to guide you to an exercise in which you are unsuccessful, it could be trying to teach you a lesson about that part of yourself. Perhaps if you are lousy at a certain method of psychic perception, you can learn to let go of it and move on to something else. We must accept that each of us is born with certain gifts and skills and we must learn to work with them. Struggling against your natural inclinations will onl y block up your abilities. You will also find that you will advance at your own pace. Please be realistic about your pace and progress, as there is no race to the finish line. Some people will go through this whole course in a week or two, while others will take it more slowly, one chapter at a time. People progress through the exercises at different rates, so if you find the audio recordings are moving too quickly, feel free to hit the pause button, or if they seem to drag on slowly, fast forward to your favourite parts. I promise not to be insulted ;-) As you try the exercises, be sure to be aware of all of the following:
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What you can hear—outside sounds and sounds or thoughts inside yourself What you can see—images and visions with eyes open or closed. Imagine a TV screen inside of your forehead and see what happens there. Physical sensations such as tingles, prickles, shivers, heaviness, lightness, numbness, temperature changes and pressures or pains in different parts of your body. Emotional reactions and feelings that you experience
You may find that you will receive all or most of your information through one particular sense, or you may find that different information comes in different ways. It may depend on how you are feeling that day, or how the person, being, or object sends you the information. After any intuitive exercise, take a small break and remember to clear and ground yourself before moving on to the next exercise. Keep journals of all of your experiences and refer back to them frequently. You may be surprised to find that something you wrote a few weeks back, but dismissed, later becomes relevant. Sending a message of thanks to any beings or spirits that helped with your experience is also a nice touch. ☺
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Psychometry What is Psychometry?
Psychometry is taken from two words: psyche, meaning “the soul,” and metron, meaning “to measure.” Therefore, psychometry is the ability to measure the soul. There are many types of psychometry. The most commonly used techniques involve holding a person’s hand or one of their personal objects in order to measure their energy and pick up information. We use psychometry on a daily basis without even realizing it. Our personal energy fields and our intuitive senses are always measuring and sending us information about our environment and the people or objects around us. Have you ever felt an emotion but have not been able to explain why you are feeling that way? It is possible to pick up emotions from other people or from objects that others have handled. If you begin to experience emotions with no known explanation or cause, it may be that you are sensitive to the emotional vibrations that others have left in the environment. We often feel different sensations within our bodies depending on our environment. When we are in a place we perceive as safe or comfortable, we have one set of sensations. When we are somewhere we perceive as dangerous we have a completely different reaction. We do not often pay attention to or notice these sensations unless they are particularly strong. When practicing psychometry, it is important to pay attention to any and all hints and feelings that you become aware of—even if they are something that you cannot easily interpret. In Chapter 2, we covered the various psychic styles. Psychometry is a physical and tactile method of gaining information but remember that while using a physical modality you may also experience visual or auditory messages as well. It is important to try to use all of your senses as you experiment with the various psychic methods. As you try the exercises, remember to be aware of the following: •
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What you can hear, including outside sounds as well as sounds or thoughts inside yourself. What you can see, including images and visions with eyes open as well as eyes closed. Try imagining a TV screen inside your forehead and observe what shows up. Physical sensations such as tingles, prickles, shivers, heaviness, lightness, numbness, temperature shifts, pressure and pain in different parts of your body.
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Especially pay attention to changes in your “gut” as this is where many people experience physical intuition. Any emotional reactions and feelings
You may discover that you receive all or most of your information through one particular sense, or you may find that information comes in different ways. It may depend on how you are feeling that day or how the person, being or object is sending you the information. After any intuitive exercise, be sure to take a small break to clear and ground yourself and to send messages of thanks to any beings that may have helped you. Suggested Psychometry Exercise: Use the instructions below or the Audio MP3 provided with this course.
1. Have someone give you an object that you know nothing about. Natural materials are usually easier to work with—such as metals, stones, paper, wood, etc. A photograph may also be used. Do not look at it yet. Keep your eyes closed. You may wish to have them give you something that is not theirs. If you have no idea who the owner is, you will have no preconceived ideas about the object and the information you receive will be completely n ew. 2. Clear and Ground. Take a few slow, deep breaths and tell yourself that you can do this! Open yourself to trust! 3. Hold the object. 4. Take note of the physical characteristics you feel without looking at it, such as size, shape, texture, weight, etc. 5. Observe any feelings you have. Remember to pay attention to all your senses— visual, auditory and physical. When you are ready, look at the object. If it is a picture of a person, look at their face. It may be helpful to hold the object to your third eye. Record all feelings, visions and messages. Some people find that stopping to write things down disrupts their connection, so you may wish to make an audio recording. Experiment and see what works best for you. 6. Attempt to look into the past of the object. Try to imagine where it came from, how old it is and how many owners there may have been. Record your thoughts and feelings. (Hint: Most people find that when they move their eyes or head to the left, they can look into the past, and when they move their eyes or head to the right, they can peer into the future. You can do this with your eyes open or closed.) 7. Try to determine the present use of the object. Who is the current owner? Are they male or female? Try to find out what the person looks like. How old do you think
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they are? How do they use the object? Who gave it to them? Did they buy it themselves? What kind of emotions have they been having lately? Is this object important to them? 8. Ask the object or any beings that surround it if there are any messages to convey. Take your time and see what comes up. 9. Attempt to look into the future surrounding this object. Again, be sure to take note of any thoughts, feelings, visions or sounds that may arise, even if you have no idea what they mean. They often make sense to the owner or will become clearer later on. 10. Get feedback. Find out how well you did. Remember that everyone receives knowledge differently, and if something is inaccurate you may simply be misinterpreting the message. You may be getting information about a previous owner or someone that the owner knows. Repeating this exercise regularly will help you to recognize your abilities and increase your accuracy. Practice makes perfect!
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Look at a photo of someone you know but have not spoken to lately. Hold it and record everything you feel. Try to imagine what they have been up to and what they are feeling. Then contact them to find out how they have been doing lately. Hold a letter, card, or postcard that someone wrote. Do psychometry and then contact them as mentioned above. You can print out an email but it is better to have something the person actually touched. Get together with friends and have everyone write the same phrase on a piece of paper. Be sure to make it an emotionally neutral phrase such as “I saw a cloud” or “It is sunny outside” as opposed to “I hate cloudy days” or “I love the sunshine.” Gather the papers and then pass them out randomly. Have everyone do psychometry and write down their impressions. Then have each person try to determine who wrote on their piece of paper. Compare and see how everyone does. Gather three stones or crystals that are close in size and shape. Do psychometry on one of them. Record your impressions. This can be an interesting exercise when working with crystals because they can offer profound healing messages. Next, put the stone or crystal into a bag or under a cloth with the other ones and be sure to shuffle. Ask it to tell you which one it is and see if you can pick it out of the group without looking.
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Practice psychometry on your plants. They will tell you if they need more water, less water, more sunshine, more fertilizer etc. You can get scientific by purchasing two plants of the same size and type and placing them in the same location. Then practice psychometry on one plant for a few months by catering to its needs as it communicates to you. Meanwhile, care for the other plant with your standard routine. See which plant grows bigger. Do psychometry on animals. Write down any communication that you sense. It is a little harder to get feedback but you can watch for behavioural changes. Usually, if animals are “listened to” they respond by being calmer, more secure and more affectionate.
Have fun and be creative. Come up with your own extensions and alterations. The sky is the limit!
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Intuitive Tools
Intuitive tools have been used for centuries to aid psychic and perceptive abilities. Ancient tribes relied on them to help them decide when to sow and when to harvest their crops. Dowsers located water for wells and other useful minerals using divining rods. There are images depicting dowsing on the Egyptian pyramids. Scrying methods, runes and dowsing methods have likely been used for thousands of th years. Tarot decks have been dated as far back as the 12 century. As a brief introduction, we will be dividing these tools into four categories. My hope is that it will allow you to explore and learn about these tools so you can use them to your advantage. Additional study is necessary if you wish to specialize and proceed further on your own. Here are some brief descriptions of the modalities we will work with: Tarot Decks
Most people are familiar with tarot decks. There have been hundreds of different decks made with differing themes. Most of them contain 22 major arcana cards and 56 minor arcana or numbered cards (similar to regular playing cards). Rune casting
Runes are usually stones, bones, shells or sticks that contain carved or painted images from ancient alphabets. Rune casting involves asking a question and casting them onto a surface or choosing them from a bag or from under a cloth. Each of the runes has traditional interpretations. Check your local bookstore o r online resources to learn more about various rune casting techniques. Scrying
Scrying refers to any method that involves staring or gazing at a tool to attempt to receive images or messages. The theory is that when the mind is keenly focused on one activity, it becomes still enough to channel information. Nostradamus was a famous scryer who th wrote many predictions in the 16 century. Examples of scrying include looking into a single crystal, gazing into a crystal ball, staring at fire or candle flames, watching for images in smoke or mist and peering into a mirror or bowl of water. Dowsing/Divining
Dowsing or divining is done with any item that can point or pull. Dowsing rods, sticks or pendulums are the most commonly used tools. Dowsing rods and pendulu ms are made from a variety of materials but the natural ones usually transmit energy more easily. There are many dowsing societies around the world, who meet, train and work together.
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Choosing Tools
If you are looking for a pendulum or divining rod, you may wish to make your own. It is fairly simple and the process of making the tool will create a bond, improving your likelihood of success. When choosing a tool for yourself, ask the store clerk if it is possible to take the item out of its packaging to hold. Look at the item closely and take note of how it feels when you hold it. Do you get any tingles or vibrations? You may want to do some brief psychometry to find out if the tool has any information for you. If it is a tarot deck, ask if you can go through the cards and look at the images. Most of them come with a book. Peek through the book and see if the writing style appeals to you. Try to trust your inner wisdom and choose by intuition. If you are not sure, leave and return another day. You may find a perfect match the next time you look. There is no rush. Caring for Your Intuition Tools
Here are some of my personal recommendations for caring for your intuition tools: Crystals prefer open spaces where they can absorb sunlight and moonlight, but if you feel that you would like to keep a crystal in a special place until it is ready to be used, go with the feeling and try it out. Remember to take the crystal out occasionally if you have not used it for a long time. They tend to get rusty with non-use and from a lack of fresh, open air over extended periods. Crystals, pendulums and metal dowsing rods should be cleaned from time to time in a solution of mild salt water. Sea salt is better as it is the less corrosive. Be careful because some crystals are more porous than others and will start to break down if they are exposed to too much salt. Be sure to rinse them with clean water after each cleansing. I usually purify and recharge my tools by leaving them in a window for a full 24-hour cycle. A full moon is especially energizing for tools. Tarot cards should be shuffled before each reading to disperse the energy. If you really wish to bond with your tools, take them with you everywhere you go. Keep them in your bedroom at night (unless you find they are disrupting your sleep). For tarot cards, runes and mirrors it is usually recommended that you cover them with a natural cloth or bag so that only your energy is touching them, and they do not pick up surrounding energy.
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Some people prefer not to let anyone else handle their tools except during a reading. I find that I do not mind letting most people touch my tools, but I do tend to try to get a sense of the person beforehand. I will often cleanse my tools at the end of the day. There is a psychological link to your tools. You may find that as soon as you go through the ritual of handling them you start opening up to receive information. Exercises Before you begin Remember to do the grounding and clearing exercises as preparation.
Be sure to set a clear mental intention to work for the highest good . You want to attract only positive energies to the reading. If you have any questions that you want to address, it is a good idea to write them down and have a pen and paper or tape recorder ready to record what comes up. It is very common to forget your experiences from a reading within a few minutes of finishing. If you can, keep in contact with the people you are working with and ask them to give you feedback at a later date. There is nothing more confidence-boosting than finding out that something you saw in a reading has come to pass. When you finish, give thanks for any information you have received and release all energies. Ground yourself again.
Tarot Card Exercise
At first, do not try to memorize the definitions of the cards or their suits. Tarot reading is an in-depth subject that takes considerable study. The purpose of this exercise is to help you decide if you would like to work with tarot cards before you invest in a set. If possible, borrow a deck to work with in order to find out if you want to spend the money on your own deck. Tarot decks can get rather pricey. A great way to do this exercise is to get a group of friends together and ask them all to bring one or more decks with them. That way you can try several decks and als o work with several different people to test your skills. Before you get to the exercise, you may wish to think about the nature of tarot cards. In some circles, people who rely on cards or other tools are not considered to be “real psychics.” Cards are a great tool to help you make connections, b ut try not to take the definitions of the cards more seriously than your own impressions about them. At this point, you are developing your skills, not memorizing a bunch of descriptions.
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If you know something about tarot, then you know there are some cards that have disturbing images with ominous sounding names. There is a death card in every deck and usually a representation of the devil and some other nasty sounding characters. Do not worry if you pull these cards. Tarot cards are symbolic and are not usually literal representations of things to come. For example, death is an ending and does not necessarily signify the ending of life. It often symbolizes the death of a situation, a business, a job or an unpleasant confrontation. Often death is followed by rebirth and positive growth. The devil signifies temptations and challenges. Everyone has challenges in life and sometimes a reading can make people more aware of possible pitfalls and ways to avoid them. A reading can also help a person understand a troubling situation and how they can improve it by making positive changes. The Exercise
Work with a simple 3-card spread representing past, present and future and use the following format: 1. Choose a deck that appeals to you. 2. Shuffle the cards. Ask you the person to focus on a question or situation. 3. Allow them to do one of the following: a) Shuffle the cards b) Cut the cards c) Choose the 3 cards. It is good for the person to touch the cards so that their energy goes into the reading. 4. Examine each card carefully. Do not look at the tarot book yet! 5. Record all your thoughts, images, emotions, body reactions, etc. Let it be free flowing without worrying about being correct. 6. Look up the cards in the book and see what it has to say, but please do not feel that you are wrong if the book does not agree with what you felt from the cards. In fact, it is important not to let the book set limits on a specific card. Your impressions and feelings about how the card relates to the person is the most relevant part of the reading.
Working with Runes
At this point, do not try to memorize the definitions of the runes. Again, we are trying to decide if runes are the right tool for you. Like tarot cards, it is a great idea to ask several friends to get together to work with runes.
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The Exercise
Try working with 3 stones representing the question or situation, what is needed and the outcome. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Take the stones out of the bag and hold them. Look at the symbols on them. Ask the person to focus on a question or situation. Put the stones back into the bag. Have the person pick 3 stones out of the bag and drop them onto the table. The stone that lands furthest to the left is the question, the one closest to the middle indicates what is needed and the one furthest to the right signifies the future or the outcome. Do not look at the book yet! 6. Examine each stone and record your thoughts, feelings, images, emotions, body reactions, etc. 7. Look in the book and see what it has to say. Again, do not feel that you are wrong if the book does not agree with what you feel. You are learning how to take symbols and relate them to the individual situation as it presents itself.
Dowsing
Dowsing is a quick and easy way to get answers to questions that have a “yes” or “no” answer. To be skilled in dowsing involves learning to ask the right questions. It takes practice! Many people use dowsing to locate lost items. This can be almost as time consuming as simply looking yourself because the list of questions can be lengthy. Is the missing item in the closet, the desk, the bedroom, the car, at the office or did it fall out of your pocket? A more practical way to use dowsing is to ask whether or not a new job is right for you or similar yes/no questions. It can be preferable to have another person ask the questions silently so that foreknowledge of the question and your own thoughts about the answer has no influence on how you handle the tool. If you know what the person is asking, you may be subconsciously moving the tool. The Exercise
1. Choose a tool that you find appealing. 2. Hold it and try to keep your arms steady. Lean your elbows on the table or on your lap. 3. Have the questioner decide on 3 questions that have “yes” or “no” answers. You may let them hold the tool for a moment. 4. Ask the tool to show you a yes answer (allow up to 30 seconds to show a consistent pattern).
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5. Ask the tool to show you a no answer (again, allow up to 30 seconds to show a consistent pattern). 6. Have your questioner ask the first 2 questions one by one aloud, giving the tool enough time to show a consistent pattern. 7. Record your answers. 8. Have the questioner ask the last question silently. 9. If you have additional time, try some other questions. Scrying
Scrying is a method that will appeal to those who are visually motivated. It requires long periods of sitting quietly and staring at a tool. It is good to have some sort of method close by to record what you see. An audio recording is probably the easiest thing. Scrying can be used to gain personal insight into your own issues. The Exercise
1. Choose a scrying tool such as a crystal, a candle, a mirror or bowl of water. 2. Hold the tool, spend some time with it and examine it closely. 3. Have your questioner think of a question or situation in which they want guidance. Let them hold the tool for a moment. Or, if you are scrying for yourself spend some time contemplating your question. 4. Place the tool so that there are as few objects as possible around the room that may reflect on it. 5. Try to relax your gaze and stare at the surface of the tool. Sometimes looking just past the surface is helpful. You are looking for any changes in the surface such as ripples, cloudy spots, mist, etc. They may or may not turn into images that you recognize. 6. Be aware of any sensations —thoughts, feelings, images, emotions, body feelings, etc. 7. Relax. This can be a more difficult art for many people. 8. Record any findings. Conclusions
Working with intuitive tools can speed up your intuitive development, but if you become frustrated or find that there is too much information for you to absorb, take a break and try something else. Remember, there is no rush and you can always come back and try the exercises again at another time. Being frustrated in any way will clog up your psychic pipeline, so stay flexible and stick with what you enjoy ☺
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Practicing Telepathy
Wikipedia defines telepathy as the induction of mental states from one mind to another. It derives from the Greek words tele meaning "distant" and pathe meaning “affliction, experience.” The name was coined in 1882 by Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research. Telepathy is a fascinating subject and is one of the most popular super skills portrayed in many science fiction movies and television shows. We seem to be fascinated with learning how to communicate with each other without words. The scientific community does not respect telepathy as a real phenomenon it has never been demonstrated under controlled experimental conditions, but you have probably had your own telepathic experiences. How many times have you known who was calling you on the phone before you picked it up? (And I am not talking about after you looked at the call display!) How many times have you known when someone you love is in trouble? Accidental telepathy or telepathy under extreme circumstances seems to be the most common way that many people have experienced this phenomenon. But why not try working on opening up the mind to its telepathic possibilities? Practicing telepathic is a fun way to open up your intuition. Telepathic exercises, like the ones below, involve simple games that you can try with a friend. They provide almost immediate feedback so you can keep track of your progress. On the other hand, if telepathy is not your thing you may find these exercises frustrating. Try not to take them too seriously. They can be viewed as a way to open you up to other forms of psychic development. The more you try to connect with your psychic abilities, the more they will begin to open up on demand. Telepathic Exercises
Remember to relax, ground and clear before you start. At first, you will want to limit the number of variables in your tests. A simple 50/50 chance of the telepath being right or wrong is a good place to start. Here is a simple exercise to try: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Decide who is going to be the telepath and who is going to be the tester. The tester should have a simple item like a coin or a button. The tester holds their hands behind their back with the item in one hand. The tester tries to send a mental message of “right” or “left” to the telepath. The telepath tries to guess which hand the item is in.
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6. Repeat as often as you like. Here is another easy telepathy game you can try. You will need to gather a few materials and grab a friend to help. 1. Take some cue cards and draw several easily identifiable black and white shapes on them, such as a star, square, circle, triangle, wavy line, etc. 2. Decide who is going to be the telepath and who is going to be the tester. 3. Allow the telepath to look at the cards so they see the various symbols. 4. The tester shuffles the cards. 5. Sit facing each other. 6. The tester hold ups the cards one by one with the shape visible only to the tester. 7. The tester sends a silent message to the telepath such as “square” or “circle” and gives the telepath time to guess at each card. 8. Switch roles and repeat as often as you like. 9. Repeat using coloured cards or cards numbered from 1-10. A less tangible way to test telepathic skills is to have one person try to project a certain emotion while the other person tries to tune-in to the vibration. The tester imagines varying situations that elicit different emotions such as happiness, sadness, boredom, jealousy, pride, excitement, gratitude and reverence. For example, the tester thinks of something that makes them very happy and sees if the telepath can correctly identify the emotion. If you think you might be an emotional-intuitive type, try this exercise. Remember to clear and ground yourself after finishing these exercises.
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Channeling, Mediumship and Spirit Communication
There is some debate surrounding the differences amongst channeling, mediumship and other forms of spiritual communication. Some believe that channeling can only be achieved if the channeler is in a complete trance and unaware of their surroundings. Edgar Cayce went into complete trances and gave thousands of readings while in this sleep-like condition. He had a rare gift that most of us will probably never experience. I would not recommend trying to put yourself in a complete trance unless you are working with a skilled and trusted hypnotist. Trance-like states are covered in Chapter 8. There is also a belief that true mediumship can only be accomplished by allowing a spirit or entity to possess your body. I would never recommend inviting any entity to take over your body! However, we will explore some safe ways to invite them to communicate with us. There are ways to communicate effectively and securely with the spirit realm while keeping control of your own consciousness. In short, you can call upon spirits or guides and ask that they be beside you. You will find an infinite number of theories ab out how things work in the spirit world or the afterlife. Some people believe there is a hierarchy of spirits, guides and angelic beings. Some believe that spirit beings are in fact our ancestors; still others feel that such entities are guardian angels sent to guide and protect us. I am sure that many people believe in various combinations of the above. I do not believe anyone has all the answers, nor do I think anyone is supposed to have all the answers! I do know that these beings try to give us information in a way that we will understand. Interestingly, your life experiences, knowledge and personal beliefs all colour your understanding—and this is a good thing because it helps you recognize and interpret what it is you are meant to know.
Channeling and Mediumship Defined
Channeling is a means by which information is perceived from a source, usually believed to be outside of the personal, conscious self . Channeling can also involve communicating with one’s higher self. Mediumship is defined as “a form of communication with spirits.” The most common belief is that channeling and mediumship both involve some kind of communication with non-human, non-living entities. These beings can be spirits, ancestors, guides, angels, faeries, earth spirits, tree spirits, plant spirits, animal spirits, alien spirits, deities, etc.
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Most channels and mediums communicate through a mental/verbal process. Some of them channel through writing or drawing, and there are reported incidents of physical or telekinetic channeling whereby spirits appear and objects physically move. Much of what we have already learned has involved some sort of channeling. If you completed the psychometry section, then you basically channeled the information from the object you were holding. If you worked with any of the intuitive development tools like tarot cards, pendulums and runes, then you channeled from the tools and the images or pictures, and you may have received some of the information from helpful beings and spirits as you worked. As with most of the other methods, remember to use all of your senses to connect with the beings.
REMINDER: Ground, clear and center yourself before beginning and ground and release yourself when you finish. Pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, emotions, visions, sounds and all physical sensations or reactions. Remember to record your findings. You may receive information that you cannot interpret right now, but you may be able to understand it later on. Relax and be thankful for whatever you receive. It is important to set an intention to attract only positive energies before attempting to communicate with the spirit realm. Prayers said with firm commitment establish protection to those who use them. Refer back to Chapter 1, “Grounding and Preparing Yourself” for a refresher on prayers of protection and intention setting.
There are two different guided audio exercises included in this course for you to try. One is entitled Meeting Your Spirit Guide and the other is called Channeling a Spirit Guide. Remember to pause or fast forward as needed, and if they do not appeal to you, feel free to use other sources or devise your own meditations. It is my hope that you eventually learn to follow the flow of energy wherever it takes you.
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Trance-like States
Trace-like states were introduced in Chapter 7. As mentioned, there is a slight difference between a complete trance and a trance-like state. A complete trance is a state in which the person is unaware of the real world and their own surroundings. On the other hand, a trance-like state allows the person to be very relaxed and open but still aware of their environment and in control of what is happening. Achieving trance-like states has been a common occurrence in many cultures for centuries. Aboriginal people use drums, rattles, chanting, singing and dancing to put themselves into light trances or dream states in order to go on spiritual journeys and to communicate with their ancestors. Some yogis and spiritual teachers use breathing techniques, chanting, gongs and chimes to achieve trance-like states and to reach higher levels of awareness in their practices and meditations. Some people even use drugs and other substances to put themselves into trance-like states, although I personally recommend the simpler and safer methods such as meditation, prayer or the use of sounds and chanting. It is important to stay in control of the process and be able to stop it at any time.
Light Trance Exercise
You can try a light trance exercise with the audio track provided in the course, or work through the following exercise on your own: 1. Ground, clear and relax yourself. 2. Find a place where you can be comfortable and undisturbed. 3. For the first exercise we will use a common shaker. If you do not have one, some rice or beans in a plastic container or jar will work just as well. 4. Begin shaking the shaker in a very steady pattern. Stick to a simple two-step beat of up and down shakes. Try keeping a slow pace, almost at the speed of a human heart beat. 5. Listen to the sound of the shaker. 6. Allow it to relax you. 7. Focus only on the sound of the shaker and let all outside noises fade from your consciousness. 8. After completely focusing in on the sound of the shaker, say to yourself, “I am going on a journey now.” See what happens. 9. Keep doing this for at least 10 minutes. 10. Say to yourself, “I am returning from the journey now.” 11. Focus your attention again on the sound of the shaker. 12. Stop the shaker and take several deep breaths. 13. Become aware of the heaviness of your body. Do your grounding routine again.
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You can vary this exercise using a drum and a slow, steady beat or by gently striking a chime at regular beats. Repetitively chanting a simple sound such as “Ohm” is often helpful.
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Remote Viewing
Remote viewing is one of the areas of psychic phenomenon that has attracted mainstream attention. It was actually investigated for its possible military advantages, at various times and by various countries dating back to the 1930s. The hope was that intelligence agents could be trained to remotely view into the activities of enemy countries to gain strategic advantage. Experiments were conducted up until the 1990s with varied success rates, until programs were eventually cut. Several reasons are cited for ending research into remote viewing. Some of the researchers were simply too skeptical to invest any more time and money into the programs because the resulting evidence was inconsistent. I am not surprised that the results were inconsistent because laboratories are not exactly open and creative places. Psychic work can be very draining, and if the tests were carried out within a demanding schedule, then the subjects would not have been able to keep up the energy required to do the work. The nature of psychic guidance is such that specific details are not commonly revealed because a lot of psychic information is emotional or spiritual in nature. It can be metaphorical as well. In the interpretation part of this course, you will see many examples of the different kinds of metaphoric clues common to psychic visions, and you will understand why scientific types can be so dismissive of psychic phenomenon. Remote Viewing Exercises People Finding
1. Gather a group of people together in a room. 2. Choose two places in the room where a person could sit (e.g., by the window or by the TV). 3. Have one person stay in the one room while the rest of the group goes to another room. 4. After the group has left the room, the one person chooses one of the two places to sit (e.g., by the window or by the TV). 5. The group sits down in the other room, grounds, clears and tries to “see” where the person is sitting. Take about five minutes to allow everyone to tune into the situation. 6. Check in with the first person to see where they were actually sitting. 7. Take turns with the above steps. 8. Ground and clear. Object Viewing
1. You will need at least one other person, preferably a group of people. 2. Get a shoe box or some similar sized container.
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3. Gather a few common items together such as keys, remote controls, pieces of fruit, a book, a leaf, a stone, a candle, etc. Do not allow the other participant (s) to see the items. 4. Put one item into the box and place the box in the centre of the group. 5. Have the members of the group relax, ground, clear and try to “see” inside the box. 6. When trying to see inside the box, imagine that you are holding the item in your hand. What does it feel like? 7. Remember to take note of any sensations you are feeling. Keep note of all impressions you receive (eg., colour, texture, flavour, smell, temperature, weight, etc.). 8. Take at least five minutes to connect with the object. 9. Open the box and see how many details you got right. 10. Repeat with other items one at a time. 11. Have other group members gather their own items to hide in the box and reverse roles. 12. Ground and release. Remote Viewing a Location
You can do this this exercise alone from a distance or with a friend. There is an audio recording for this exercise included in the course or if you prefer, you can follow the written instructions below. 1. Choose an unfamiliar location that belongs to someone whom you can communicate with afterwards in order to check your accuracy level. Examples include a friend’s new home that you have not yet visited or someone’s office or workplace that you have never seen. You can also work with a place that you know has undergone major changes. For instance, a friend has renovated their home and you have not seen the renovations or heard about the colours used, etc. 2. Relax, ground and clear. 3. Meditate quietly for a few minutes. 4. When you feel ready to “visit” your friend, imagine yourself standing in front of their place. 5. Record everything you see, feel and experience. Remember to use all of your senses, including your emotions. Is this a nice place to be? Do you feel uncomfortable there? 6. Imagine yourself walking up to the door. 7. Reach out your hand. What type of door is it? What colour is it? 8. Go inside. 9. What is the first thing you notice? What do you see, feel, hear or smell? 10. What do you see in front of you? What is to your right and to your left? 11. Explore the space and record what you pick up. 12. Contact your friend, explain what you saw and see what information you received.
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13. This is a difficult exercise so be proud of anything you get even if it is only a couple of details. 14. Relax, ground and release. Doing this exercise with a friend: Sit facing your friend and have them choose a place that they are familiar with but you are not. Repeat steps 2 through 14 and have the friend record for you. The friend should not speak until you have finished your journey. Try not to ask them questions as you go along. Wait until the end, so you can stay focused on what you are doing, and learn to trust in your perceptions. Have fun with these exercises! Who knows, if you are really successful with this one, you could get a job in intelligence! ☺
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Intuitive Decision Making
Let’s face it. One of the reasons you want to learn how to develop your psychic skills is because you want to help navigate those difficult areas in your own life, right? I thought so. Choices are often hard and hindsight is 20/20. It is often difficult to see if we are on the right path. For this reason, it is hard to read for yourself because it is a challenge to step back from your own drama and look at your situation objectively. In fact, some psychics will tell you that you cannot read for yourself at all. Similarly, it is hard to read for people who are close to you. You are emotionally tied to their lives and it is difficult to filter your emotions out of the picture. You want those you love to be happy and well, but your strong desire for particular outcomes can get in the way of your perceptions. The guidance is still there, but it is difficult to shut your brain off lon g enough to receive it. On the other hand, I have found it possible to use my psychic skills for my own benefit. It is more difficult than reading for others, but not impossible. Below are some exercises that I have found helpful in my own decision- making processes. I use them for almost every choice I make. I can be seen in stores holding things and waiting for guidance on whether or not I should purchase the item. When I have important decisions to make I take a little more time and allow the guidance to come through. Sometimes I take it with a grain of salt, but I do live my life according to the guidance that comes through for better or worse.
You Can’t Always get What you Want
As a warning, I will tell you that it is often hard not to judge the guidance harshly. Sometimes you follow what you have been shown only to be disappointed with the outcome. However, you have to remember that every situation, whether you consider it positive or negative, is a learning experience. Theories abound about why we are here and why we face certain circumstances and difficulties in life. Sometimes we receive clarity about situations down the road and sometimes we do not. I cannot tell you how many times I have looked skyward and asked, “What the bleep was that all about?”
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But if You Try, Sometimes You Yet What You Need!
I always invite people to form their own belief systems. I do not try to push my beliefs onto others, so I will not claim that this is how things always work for everyone. Even though it can be difficult, we must accept that if we trusted in the guidance, and were unhappy with the end result, the guides might have some plan for our growth and development that we cannot yet grasp. For example, when you interact with difficult people, the idea is to eventually learn how to handle them. When you learn how to deal with challenging people with ease and grace, your life gets easier. If you had never been put into these uncomfortable situations in the first place, you would not have had the opportunity to learn the skills to see your way through. As the song says, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you get what you need!”
Making a Choice Between Two Objects or Two Outcomes:
This is one of the easiest ways I know of to tune-in to a situation and make a choice between two outcomes or two objects. If you are trying to choose between two objects that you can hold in your hands, this is an even easier exercise. For example, you wish to buy one of two decks of tarot cards but are not sure which deck is going to work best for you. You have looked through the decks you are still uncertain. Try the following s teps: 1. Ground and center yourself. 2. Hold one deck of cards in each hand. 3. Breathe deeply and evenly and tell yourself that you are clear and open for guidance. 4. Feel the weight of the cards in your hands. 5. Compare how each hand feels. 6. Ask which of the items will work best. 7. Does one hand feel warmer or colder? Is one hand buzzing or vibrating? 8. Pay attention to your senses. Do you feel anything in your stomach, your chest or your head? Do you see any colours when you close your eyes? Do you hear anything? 9. You may feel that one hand is more comfortable that the other or that one feels stronger. 10. If you are still unsure which object is speaking to you, try holding each object in the opposite hands or hold each one to your heart or to your third-eye. 11. Whichever item gives you the strongest or most pleasant feeling is the one you should choose. If you are seeing colours, choose the object that gives off the most appealing colours. 12. Trust your first impressions and go with them. Do not second guess.
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13. Clear and ground yourself. The above exercise is one I do for fun with sporting events. It is one of the ways I use to practice my predictions and keep my psychic muscles in shape. For team sports, I imagine that I am holding a whole team in each hand. I visualize team colours and logos, and all the players miniaturized. I then weigh the teams. The heavier team feels tired or weaker and the team that I can “lift” more easily is the stronger and more energetic of the two. The one that feels easier to lift up is usually the one I choose to win. I find that my accuracy rate is around 75 % using this method. For individual sports, I imagine a miniature of each player in each of my hands, and then I rate their energy. Suppose you have two job offers or two business opportunities and you do not know which one to accept. Imagine a tiny replica of each job or opportunity and hold it in each of your hands. Try to visualize a scene of each environment. Imagine the faces of the people you would be working for or the type of clients you would meet. What does each one feel like? Do you feel happy or stressed? Remember to pay attention to changes in your body. Do you get a nervous flutter in your stomach or a comforting sigh? When you have spent some time with each of them, decide which one feels better, make a decision and go with it. Worrying about decisions over and over will only make you crazy, so try to decide and move forward. If it ends up being something you are unhappy with, start the process over again and look for new choices in the future. Mistakes are only mistakes if you do not learn from them. Try to think of “blunders” as the means by which you acquire new information. Be willing to forgive yourself if you feel you have done something wrong, or made an error in judgment and keep moving forward. No one is perfect. If you strive for personal perfection, you will onl y be constantly disappointed by the unrealistic expectations that you have placed upon yourself. Sitting With a Decision
This technique is an interesting way to make a decision. It can also be used to “feel out” a situation or another person and is useful in helping you work out your personal relationships, so you can figure out how to deal with people more effectively. It requires a little imagination and patience, but it is worth the effort. Try using this exercise when you are having some sort of difficulty with a partner, employer, supervisor, teacher or friend. Sitting With a Person
1. Ground and center yourself.
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2. Find a quiet place where you can sit for several minutes, preferably a couch or sofa with a spot beside you for the other person to “sit.” 3. Sit down and close your eyes. 4. Begin to imagine that the person is sitting beside you. 5. Imagine that you can feel the weight of them beside you. Decide what they are wearing, how they are positioned, what their posture is like, etc. 6. Do not speak to them and do not pretend that they are speaking to you. You are just sitting there beside each other. 7. You may find that you feel uncomfortable with this person beside you, or you may find that you are happy to have them there. Whichever way this goes, just sit with it for a while and do nothing . 8. Continue to sit and observe your feelings, your reactions, your thoughts and your senses for at least 5 minutes. Do nothing but observe . You can sit there as long as you like or as long as you have the time. 9. The strangest part of this exercise is that if you were uncomfortable when you first felt the energy of the person beside you, this will usually pass, and you will be able to have a greater feeling of understanding towards the person. Sitting with their energy beside you can help you to figure out why they behave the way they do. A greater understanding of this can help you make peace with them. 10. If you have sat there for quite some time and are stuck in feeling uncomfortable, angry, resentful or sad, you may have to try again another day. Keep trying until you are able to sit beside the person and not feel uncomfortable. After each sitting, be sure to thank the person and then ask them to go home. 11. When the feelings of uncertainty have passed, ask the person the following question: “What do you want from me?” 12. Wait and see what comes to you. You may or may not be able to do what the person wants. Either way, thank the person and ask them to go home. 13. You may wish to comply with their wishes. Or, if you are not happy with their request, say, “No, I will not do that. I am sorry. Goodbye.” 14. It is your choice whether you want to tell the other person about the exercise or not. Some people may understand and appreciate your effort, while others may think you are quite strange and be scared off! 15. Ground and clear after each sitting.
Sitting With a Situation
This exercise is good for deciding on a new job offer, where to attend school, whether or not you want to move to a new home or how best to resolve a specific issue. The process is similar to the previous exercise, except instead of imagining a person sitting there, you begin by imagining that the situation is sitting beside you. For example, if the situation is a job opportunity, imagine the faces of your new coworkers. If it is the choice of a school, imagine yourself sitting in your classes.
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If the situation is about moving to a new home, try to imagine what the home looks like. Create details as they come into your mind and miniaturize them to fit on the couch beside you. Remember to do nothing but sit there until all of your emotions pass by and you are calm and comfortable sitting with this situation beside you. Ask what the situation wants from you. See what comes up. The process of creating the situation in your mind and sitting beside it will help you decide how you feel about the issue and how taking certain pathways may impact your life. Other Methods
You may also go back through the chapters and use your psychic tools or ask your spirit guides for help through channeling and mediumship. You may find that you prefer to use certain methods and exercises and that you like to stick to them.
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Interpretation
Interpreting the information you received while doing the reading is the hardest part. Remember to be patient with yourself. You will learn how to make the associations over time. You may find that you will receive all or most of your information through one particular sense, or you may find that different information comes in different ways. It may depend on how you are feeling that day or how the person, entity, or object sends the information to you. I always tell people that it took me over ten years to begin to accurately be use my abilities and interpret the information with any degree of success. You should be able to work a little more quickly because I am giving you those tools and techniques that I had to learn mostly on my own. You will want to work with people who are cooperative in order to get feedback. This will help you to develop confidence and figure out what it all means. There are probably hundreds of different systems out there offering numerous different ways to interpret what you are picking up. Remember the puzzle piece analogy? Most of us only get a few pieces of the puzzle and have to learn how to form a picture from there. The most important thing to remember is that you will receive the information in a manner that you will understand. Your psyche is trying to communicate information to you in a way that you will understand according to your life experiences. Try to tune-in to how you feel about what you see. What follows are guidelines only. They are common and generalized interpretations. They may make sense to you and they may not. If they do not seem to work for you, then please feel free ignore them. Please also read Chapter 12, “How to Share Your Reading,” before attempting to interpret your thoughts for people. You must also remember that people may take what you say very seriously, so present your information with clarity and in a positive light so people will not go away afraid or confused. Below are several reference guidelines: Colours
In general, colours that you see that are close to the person are more about the physical body, while colours you detect further from the body are more etheric or spiritual in nature. If you find a particular colour disturbing, you are likely picking up some disturbance surrounding the person. If you find a colour to be pleasant, the reverse is likely true.
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Brighter, vibrant colours are generally healthy and positive, while dark, dull or sludgy colours are unhealthy. Pale colours are basically healthy, but they may be weak or inactive. Once again, there are many opinions about the meanings of all the different colours, so I offer this basic guide only: Red Bright - healthy, active, grounded, balanced, secure Pale - low energy, ungrounded, insecure Dark - angry, emotional, negative Orange Bright - creative, passionate, sensual Pale - lonely, insecure, unable to apply creative talents Dark - overly emotional, controlling, poor self-image or poor body image, possibly abused or manipulated by others Yellow Bright - sunny personality, confident, happy, mentally alert Pale - insecure, unmotivated, low self-confidence or self-esteem Dark - negative emotionally especially relating to self-esteem or power and control *note- dark, sludgy yellow may indicate arthritis (Please be careful not to diagnose medical conditions. You may ask them if they have problems with their joints, but do not tell someone you think they have arthritis because of something you picked up.) Green Bright - healing, growth-oriented, harmonious, loving Pale - emotionally vulnerable, dependant, forgiving Dark - jealous, envious, possessive, overly sensitive *note- a sickly neon green colour may indicate cancer (Please do not ever tell someone you think they have cancer because you picked something up in a reading. Ask them to get a medical check-up because you are concerned about their health.) Pink Bright - honest, loving, kind, accepting of self and others, harmonious Pale - vulnerable, unsure of self, overly sensitive, loss of direction Dark - uncertain, prone to misplaced loyalties or unrequited love, intensely emotional Blue Bright - expressive, wise, communicative, devoted, honest, perceptive Pale - insecure regarding communication, naïve Dark - dishonest, self-interested, immature Turquoise Add the qualities of green and blue together, and:
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Bright - able to communicate in a loving or supportive way, empowering to others Pale - empathetic but unable to act on it Dark - helpful but in a smothering or controlling way, knows what is best for everyone Purples and Indigos Add the qualities of red and blue together as well as the following:
Bright - perceptive, intuitive, wise, imaginative, secure, spiritually aware Pale - easily led or manipulated, not yet awakened spiritually Dark - intuitive and perceptive but in a selfish way Brown Chocolate - grounded, practical, good provider, down to earth Dark - selfish, a user, depressed White Bright - pure, spiritual, connected to the divine Cloudy - trying too hard to be spiritual or good Silver or Pearlescent Pure, trustworthy, spiritually advanced, connected to the divine Gold Intellectual, wise, a good teacher, positive, spiritual, connected to the divine, good principles Gray Lighter - fatigued, ill, stressed, burned out Darker - seriously ill, prone to headaches, negative, bored, selfish Black Defensive, angry, cruel, depressed, unhealthy, seriously ill, secretive, experiencing unresolved karma Visual Images
If you find that you are clairvoyant, you may begin to see images, shadowy figures or have impressions of images when you close your eyes. You may also see images in your peripheral vision but when you try look closely they disappear. If this happens, do not try to look directly at the image. Try to keep it in your peripheral view and observe it. Again, remember that you will get information that is appropriate for you and in a way in that you can best understand. As for me, I am not always sure whether the information is coming from spirits, guides, the collective unconscious, or the subconscious mind of the person I am reading.
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To explain more clearly, I often use the image of a dog as an example. If you are trying to read someone and you think you see a dog, it may mean that the person has a dog, is thinking of getting a dog, or just likes dogs. But also pay attention to how you feel about dogs. If you love dogs and think of them as loyal companions, then that is most likely a sign that you are reading someone who would be a loyal companion and a good friend. If you are terrified of dogs and think of them only as a set of sharp teeth, this could mean that there is some type of fear or danger surrounding this person. The following is a brief guide on some of the common images and visuals you may experience: Symbols Each modality has its own set of symbols and each symbol has its own meaning. If you practice Reiki, you may see the Reiki symbols. If you are familiar with Runes or with Tarot, you may see images from those traditions. The client may have a personal totem or power symbol within their energy field. Sources are too numerous to mention here, but I recommend once again taking into account how you feel about what you are seeing and then looking up the symbol in books or on the web for more information. Numbers and Letters Letters can signify beginnings of names. Numbers can relate to dates, periods of time, or some numerological meaning. I recommend telling the person if you get a number or a letter. You may find that they immediately reve al a certain lucky number, or that someone they were hoping to talk about has a name starting with the letter you mention. Images of People or Beings If you feel the presence of another person or being, it does not always represent a spirit. People who have strong attachments will often carry an image of someone close to them. It is most likely that the person is thinking of a loved one at that time.
Spiritual beings can become attached to an aura. Once again, trust your gut as to whether this is a helpful being like a loved one who has passed away, or a spirit guide, or an uncomfortable or lost spirit. If it is a h elpful spirit, you will most likely feel calm and relaxed around during its presence. If it is an unhealthy entity, you may feel tight or restricted and may not want to get too close. Animal presences Similarly, animals in an aura are much the same as people in an aura. The person may be thinking of a pet, or they may have an animal guide within their aura. Two books by Ted Andrews, Animal-Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small and The Animal-Speak Pocket Guide have detailed meanings relating to animal guides. Shamanic Experience by Kenneth Meadows does as well. Once again, pay attention to how you feel about the type of animal or ask the person how they feel about that kind of animal.
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Plants and Trees Plants and trees can also have meaning. Flowers may mean that someone is blossoming into a new phase of life. There are entire tarot decks devoted to trees and flowers. Trees usually indicate strength and a connection to the earth. Plants may represent someone who likes to garden or who is concerned with the environment. Boxes Boxes can point to a person who is moving, has just moved or is thinking of moving. Lab Coats or Uniforms Lab coats often indicate a person who works or will work in the fields of medicine, science, or esthetics. Uniforms can indicate police, fire fighters, the military or they may reveal the need for protection. Brief Cases and Tools Tools and other equipment usually relate to a person’s job. If you see a stethoscope, it likely indicates the field of medicine. A briefcase usually signifies professionals or business people. Hammers may show up for carpenters, while wrenches or nu ts and bolts may appear for mechanics or similar occupations. Office Buildings These are likely related to someone’s workplace. Papers Stacks of papers can indicate that the person has some bookkeeping or accounting work that needs attention. It can also point to legal problems, especially if you see legal sized papers. This can also be a sign of a writer or someone who works with information. Cords of Energy Cords of energy reaching out from the body usually signify attachments to others. Cords that are silvery and light reveal healthy attachments and cords that are grey, shredded, broken or dark point to unhealthy attachments. In my free e-book, Psychic Protection and Energy Clearing , I explain how to release unhealthy energy cords. Physical Sensations
If you are more kinesthetic or physically oriented, below are several different ph ysical responses you may have and a guide on how to interpret them: Feeling a Hand on Your Shoulder
This can feel like an actual hand, or like warmth on your shoulder. This is usually a sign of a loving spirit presence. If the pressure is gentle and soothing, you will know that it is someone who is there to help you. A spirit presence may also be accompanied by a cold
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feeling or a tingling sensation that runs up your spine. You may try asking the presence who it is and why they are there. Feeling Pushed
A feeling of pressure or of being pushed may come with a reading. It is often a gentle nudge and there is no need to worry. It is usually a sign that a spirit presence is trying to communicate. A push from behind or a push forward normally indicates that the spirit is trying to tell the person to move forward with whatever you were talking about when the push came. For example, if you are reading for someone who is considering making a significant change in their life, and you get a push forward, it means that the presence wants them to go ahead with making the change. A feeling of being pushed back or held back means the opposite. The spirit does not think the change is a good idea. Attitude
You may find that your emotional attitude changes when you tune into a person. If you feel nervous around someone, the person is most likely nervous as well. If you are frustrated, they may be feeling the same. If you are calm and happy, you are probably dealing with someone who is calm and happy most of the time. These feelings can also be supplemented by spirit presences during a reading. You will need to practice a bit to figure out whether the feeling is coming from your client or from elsewhere. The good news is that the more you practice, the easier it gets! Uncomfortable Physical Sensations
You may find you have very physical reactions to people and their situations. You may experience nausea, pressure, pain, or tension. When this happens, try mentally telling the energy that you have received its message and that it can go now. Do not try to stick with it if it is becoming painful. It is possible to take on the energy of other people and have it negatively influence you after a reading. That is why it is so important to learn how to clear and ground yourself. If you are becoming really uncomfortable in the middle of the reading, it is okay to tell the person that you are getting too much energy at the moment and that you need a small break. Leave the room if you have to and do your clearing and grounding routine. Try getting back into the reading if you can, but if it is too intense you might want to ask them to come back another day. It is also a good policy NOT to read for people when they are in a crisis situation. A person in crisis has chaotic energy that will be hard for you to read because it is unstable, and you will be stepping right into the middle of their storm when you start to read them. It is very hard to clear this type of energy after a reading. If they are truly in crisis, they should be calling 911 or getting professional help. Try to keep a list of referrals on hand for medical, legal or psychological problems. When the crisis has passed, the energy will
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have settled, and if the person still wants a reading, you will be in a much better position to get a clear picture to help them pick up the pieces and figure out their next steps. There will be some people you simply cannot read or at least not on a particular day. People can block you, sometimes without even knowing it. If you find this is happening, it is best to end the reading and reschedule or refer the person to someone else. Feelings of Choking, Racing Heart & Sudden Impact
These kinds of feelings are usually coming from someone who is very ill, or from a spirit being who is trying to help you understand how they passed awa y. Choking could also be associated with heart and lung problems or with drowning or suffocating. A racing heart can indicate heart attack or a particular fear that a person experienced. A feeling of a sudden impact or a crash can tell you that a person had a sudden or violent death, such as a car crash, a bad fall or a death involving a gun. Again, please be careful how you share this information. You have to remember that if this kind of energy has shown up in the reading, the person has probably experienced a traumatic event or profound loss in their life. Be delicate and respectful of how you communicate this kind of information. In conclusion, interpretation of readings is the area of psychic development that requires the most practice. You will develop your own system as you proceed.
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How To Share Your Reading
When sharing your reading with your subject, please try to be sensitive. Remember the ethics in the introduction section of this course. You need to be careful about how you word your findings. Positive and encouraging comments are always the best policy. It is recommended that you start by simply reporting what you perceive in a neutral manner. Then move on to telling them what you think it might mean, but always let the person know it is up to them to decide for themselves what they want to do with the information. Be open about what you are picking up in the reading. If you see a visual image, try to describe it. If you receive a message, pass it on in the way it was given to you. Try not to edit or rephrase because sometimes the exact words are very important. If you experience physical sensations or strong emotions, let the person know. They may be feeling the same way or could have an idea as to why this is happenin g. Be honest if you are uncertain about something you have picked up. It is okay to tell someone that you are not sure what it means. I tell clients that if we do not figure it out today, it may make sense at later. In fact, I have had many people contact me to report that they figured out a message months after a reading. I have passed on messages and images that I thought were totally useless or bizarre, only to have the person later tell me that some associated event had occurred, and that they were able to take comfort from what was previously revealed in our reading. It does not always have to make sense to the reader if it makes sense to the client at some point in time. There will also be things you say that will never seem to make sense, or that you will never get clarity on. Your job is to learn how to trust what is coming through you. There are also energies that love to trick us and make us look silly. Be prepared to look foolish from time to time. Laughing at yourself can help others to feel more comfortable around you. Communication Strategies
Try to help the person feel good about themselves. For example, if you pick up on of pink light around a person’s heart, tell them that they must be a very loving and kind person, and that they should be proud of the way they make others feel. Most people do not give themselves enough credit for their positive attributes, and it is your job to help them tunein to these qualities so they can learn to apply them in a positive way.
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If you pick up anything that makes you feel the person could be in some sort of danger, be very sensitive about how you tell them this. You may be picking up on issues or events from the past, or you may be seeing future possibilities. In the latter case, it does not necessarily mean that certain possibilities are definitely going to occur. The person may change their habits and routines and avoid specific situations. Be aware that you can really frighten people and you can never be sure if you are picking up on something that is a real or just a psychological fear. You may be tuning into something that they are afraid may happen in the future or something that has happened to someone close to them. If you are not sure, try giving it more time, and later on it may become obvious. You do not have to tell them everything that you are experiencing if it seems like it might be too negative or unpleasant. If the feeling persists, you could try asking the person if they know why you may be having these sensations. You can ask them if they have any fears around the issue in question. If I am feeling really uncomfortable about someth ing that is coming through, I will ask inside my head if I am supposed to reveal certain information. If I get a feeling of a “yes,” or a push from behind, I gently tell the person that I have some information and do not want to frighten them and am not sure if it is a fear or a reality. I am always cautious to tell people that anything that comes through in a reading is about possibilities and probabilities. The outcome of a reading depends on people making choices. When we read for someone, we are reading the energy around the person at that particular moment in time, including the energies of the people close to him or her. We can only project from there. The future is not set in stone. If someone connected to the person we read makes a new choice, this can alter the entire outcome of the reading. For example, if the employer of the person you are reading suddenly decides to sell the company or institutes layoffs, this will definitely influence the outcome of any questions pertaining to the person’s job status. I also emphasize to people that if they do not like the outcome of their reading, they have the power to change it. They can create their own choices and make change happen for themselves. Remember, never diagnose anything that could be medical in nature. For example, in the section for colour interpretations, there are a few descriptions that could frighten a person. Under the colour green, it states that a neon colour of green may indicate cancer. Do not blurt out that you think they have cancer because you see neon green in their chest. Instead, explain that you see a colour that can sometimes indicate a
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health problem in the chest area and recommend they see their doctor as a precaution. Try not to elaborate. Reinforce that you are not medically trained, but it would be a good idea for the person to get things checked out to be on the safe side. If you pick up on a dangerous situation or person, caution the person to be careful, but do not tell them what to do or how to live their life. This is not your job, and if you start to make other people’s decisions for them and things do not work out, they may come back and blame you. You can always explain what you would do if you were in their situation but encourage them to decide for themselves and do what is right for them. For example, if you feel there is a threatening person around someone, express your concern that you sense a person who is angry and possibly aggressive. You can say that if it were you, you would stay away from the person. Be sure to put them in touch with a qualified counselor and ask that they please take care of themselves. This way, you are showing that you care about the person and you are offering an avenue of help, but that they clearly need to make their own decisions. It is up to them whether or not they choose to take your advice. A Note on Spirit Beings
Spirit beings know a lot more than we do but they do not know everything! Be sure you are setting an intention that only beings of light who wish to help are allowed into your readings. Ground and clear yourself and visualize your space filled with light before you begin. Be aware that a spirit presence may have its own agenda. They may try to push people into directions that they think are appropriate but the person may not be interested. I have run into spirits who had very traditional views and disapproved of how they saw a young person’s life unfolding. For example, I have had spirits who were angry that their children or grandchildren were “living in sin” or not following the traditional lifestyle. I usually try to humour them and let them know that times are different now, but we still love and respect them and value their advice. Spirit beings may also have a sense of humour and may even mislead us or play with us for their own amusement. Assert yourself with them if you feel this is happening. Let the spirits know that you appreciate their humour but that you are asking for serious guidance. They will usually get down to business. Always remember to thank them for their help! If you need help, please download my free e-book, Psychic Protection and Energy Clearing at www.pathwayshealing.com.
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If You Get Stuck
Here are a few tips you can use if you find yourself in a situation where you are unsure what to do, but you think that with a little more time to connect with your intuition you could get into the reading. I do not like “tricking” people, but it is also not great for your reputation if you get stuck too often. Hopefully with more time and practice you do not need these kinds of distraction techniques, but if you are still developing your skills and trying to look professional, you can try some of these strategies: •
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Ask the person if you can get back to them on that particular question. Perhaps say that something else is really drawing your attention right now. Excuse yourself. Get a drink or if you are really desperate ask to go to the washroom—not a great place to meditate, but better than making a decision under pressure and on the spot when you are unsure of how you feel. Distract the person or change the subject. You could try to ask them to explain something that you already know the answer to, so that you have time to connect and wait for an intuitive impulse or answer. Tell them that your cell phone is on vibrate and there is something important happening that needs your attention. Step away with your phone in hand, and then go get in contact with your intuition!
If you get really stuck, and you just cannot get a good read on someone, apologize and ask them if they would like to try again another day or refer them to someone else. This is normal and happens to everyone from time to time. This course is intended to get you started on your way to doing readings. If you have been successful so far, great! If you are still having difficulties, remember to try to get in touch with every aspect of your own body and psyche. Remember that if you are not a person who has a lot of visual abilities, you need to develop your other skills to compensate for that. You may need to really relax and listen to your body signals to figure out what you are picking up. Keep running through your favourite exercises. In particular, all forms of meditation will help you develop and hone your unique psychic abilities. Remember to practice, practice and then practice some more. May your pathway to psychic development be fun, fascinating and full of joy. Best of luck! ©Bonnie Adam, 2011
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