What Type Of Reading Is Right For Me?

(Written by A Happy Medium, Amanda)

Which type of reading is right for me?

When I'm having conversations with friends and clients, I'm often asked about the difference between card readings and mediumship readings and which is "better."



 
There are a lot of different forms of divination: tarot cards, oracle cards, mediumship, dowsing (pendulum), runes, sticks, you name it!

It's hard for me to tell you what type of reading is best for you right now. You really need to decide what it is you are looking for to make a better-informed decision. Have you lost a relative or friend that you are looking to connect with? In that case, I'd recommend a mediumship reading.

Once you have a purpose in mind for the reading or the information you are seeking, you can make a more informed choice on the type of reading you need at this time.

What is a Medium?

 A medium is someone who channels spirit. What does that mean? Mediums can work in lots of different ways. Some are clairvoyant (they "see" things in their mind's eye), some, like me, are clairaudient (they "hear" information), some are clairsentient (they "feel" information), some are claircognizant (they just "know" information), and some work with a combination of the "clairs". My clairvoyance is developing the more I use it.

I can only really speak for myself as a medium, but mediums work with the past and the present, not so much the future. At least for me, that is true. If you are looking for a reading that's going to give you messages about lost loved ones, you want to see a medium.

Generally a medium clears their working space, sets an intention for the reading, grounds and protects and asks for spirit to come in and speak through them with any messages that are needed at this time.

It's interesting because I will ask for this information before a client comes and for me, it's like switching on a light. I may sense a male energy, I can tell what age it is, and usually, they tell me how they died because that's how a lot of spirits identify themselves. So for example, I could have a client sit down, and I could say, "The first energy presenting for you is an older male energy. This feels to me like a father or grandfather. I'm having difficulty breathing, which is an indication that the cause of death had something to do with the lungs."

Many of the messages I receive in these readings are about gratitude and their safe passage to the other side. Sometimes they tell me who came to get them. As I start with the first energy, others will often step forward. This man I sensed in my example may have his wife standing slightly behind him. If you have a huge family, I could have a room full of people that I can see inside my head.

Mediumship can be useful for finding things which are lost as well, although I haven't had a ton of success with it, but I did find someone's passport once! That falls more into the realm of remote viewing, which is different and very cool. I don't know a ton about it, but am just learning about it now.  You might also want to see a medium if you have a lot of activity happening in your house and you are looking for insights into who it is and why they are there. Maybe you'd like someone to sage your house and bless it. Mediums can do this as well.

What is a Card Reader?

If you are looking for a reading based on the future, I would recommend a tarot or oracle card reader. These are people who have tarot or oracle decks which are shuffled, drawn and placed into spreads to answer specific questions.

I read oracle cards regularly and incorporate them as a value add to my mediumship. I use them at the end of my readings to confirm the things we have discussed in your reading. Tarot readings are more structured, and readers will use card spreads that can lay out an overview for the next year, or specific to a certain situation including the outcome.

There are very gifted tarot readers out there, and most of them use a mix of intuitive hits and the cards in concert with each other. If you like logic, tarot cards may be for you. The cards are right in front of you and can be read right side up or reversed. Usually, when tarot cards are reversed, they signify a blockage or the card is read for the opposite of the meaning. I guess what I'm trying to say is that tarot is versatile and can have a lot of variety in the types of readings.

Which Is Better?

Okay, okay. You've explained the two types of readings - which is better?

Only you can decide which type of reading you need. The rules are basically the same. Come in with an open mind and walk out the same way. Figure out what you are looking for in the reading. Don't know anyone who has passed away? Not looking for information from those on the other side? I'd suggest going to a card reader at that point. However, even if you don't have people on the other side you know, mediums can connect to your guides, guardians and angels and your higher self.

Divination has been around for as long as people have been around and it's very personal choosing the type of reading you resonate with. I've said it in prior posts, and I'll say it again: Take the time to look around at potential readers. Look at photographs, read their blogs, view their social media platform. See how you feel about them, and feel free to call them and ask questions, ask for references and testimonials if you like.

You can always tell the reader what you are looking for and they will tell you how they feel about the reading. A reader working in integrity will refer you to a different reader who will fit your needs if they are not able to do the reading for you.

Good readers want you to get what you need, and they will help you get it by referring you to others in the community. Also, they may have good insight about what type of reading you may be looking for, so it never hurts to reach out, and we are always willing to talk about this work!

You want to talk about my mediumship activities? Do you have all day? *wink*


Until the next time!

 - Amanda (A Happy Medium)

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• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
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What Should I Expect When I Book a Reading?

(Written by A Happy Medium, Amanda)


A lot of people ask me this question, or tell me at the end that they had no idea what to expect from their reading. Most often, they are pleasantly surprised when they come in with no expectations and really enjoy the experience.

Maybe you've been to a carnival and gone into a psychic tent and had a reading. Maybe you thought it was nothing to write home about. Maybe you've been watching the well-known mediums on TV like Tyler Henry, John Edwards or Theresa Caputo and you are intrigued about what Spirit may have to say to you, or maybe you think it's all a bunch of garbage and you want to go to someone just to test them out.

Choosing A Reader

Choose someone who resonates with you. Check out their website and social media platforms. Maybe they are doing readings online so you can get a feel for their style of readings. Trust your gut when you choose your reader. Don't be afraid to call them up and ask them how they work.

If I use myself as an example and you call me about a reading, I will tell you that I am a clairaudient medium (meaning I "hear" my information from Spirit). My specialty is mediumship readings, so I mostly work in the past and the present.

If you are looking for a concrete future reading (though readings are not concrete at all - free will!), I may not be the reader for you. I might refer you to someone else or advise you to seek out a reader who works with Tarot or other divination platforms.

If you are looking for future readings from me, I can tell you how I feel about situations or possibilities, but I always reinforce that you have so much free will and that you are in charge of your life. For example, I can tell you traits about your children and the directions I feel they may go in their lives, but I can't really "predict" what they're going to do with their lives. They have so many choices to make!

When booking a reader, don't tell them too much about yourself or motivation for booking unless they ask. I prefer to be kept in the dark so I can do the work myself!

Once you are happy with the reader, their rate and you've booked an appointment, now you should be setting the intentions around your reading.

Setting Intentions

I can only speak for myself as a reader here because I use my own style when I bring in the energy. When you're booking with a medium, you generally have a purpose in mind. Maybe you are looking to hear from someone close to you who has passed away. Perhaps you are looking for clarity in your next steps or whether the decisions you are making now are the correct ones for you at this time. Maybe you need to ask about the lessons you are meant to learn now.

Think about your reading carefully and what you want to draw in. Jot down a few questions you want to ask. If you want your grandmother to come through, ask her to come to your reader. In this action, the reader will actually have an easier time picking up the information.

I am usually able to get the "red herring" (the reason my client has come) and the energies they most want to hear from. The reading is YOUR experience, so I want to make sure you own it and get as much out of it as you can.

Arriving For Your Reading

There's a lot of pre-work on the reader's behalf that goes into a reading. Please arrive on time. Take a few deep breaths in the car to ground and center your energy before you come in. Open your mind and be prepared for anything.

I can only speak for myself in what you see when you come in the room for a reading with me, but I assure you my house is completely normal. I do work a professional job and live a very normal lifestyle. I like to create a safe and comfortable atmosphere for my readings.

When you come in, you will see two chairs and a table in between. On the table I have candles, a salt lamp, various stones and usually an oracle deck spread out and at the ready.

You will probably smell sage. I burn sage to clear my space prior to readings. Let your reader know if you are allergic to pets (I have two cats in my house that like to be present for readings) or are averse to the smell of burnt sage. We have workarounds for the smells and can probably put our pets away for the duration of the reading.

I offer my client a glass of water before we start and give them my intro about myself and the opportunity to ask any questions before we begin and then we are off to the races!

I generally channel for my clients before they come, so I always have a notebook with a few items jotted down as a place to start and we go from there.

Making The Most Of Your Reading

It's YOUR experience!

Please don't feel like you have to hold back information from your reader to "test" them. If you are coming in with the belief and intention that readers are a bunch of crap and that we won't get anything, guess what? That's what you'll manifest.

If you come in open and willing to hear the messages, it will be a positive experience all around. If you're going to block the reader just save your time and theirs and don't book until you are open and willing to receive information. I am not here to meet your expectations, but to deliver the information you need at this point in time.

I encourage my clients to stop me and ask questions whenever they like. If we are going somewhere in the reading you don't want to go, let me know and we will change course. This is your experience and I want you to get what you need from it.

Some information received may not make sense and you may need to refer back. Bring a pad to take notes. Alternatively, a lot of readers (myself included) will allow you to record the reading so you can refer back to it later. Things might make more sense once you've had time to reflect on them.

Keep an open mind and have fun!

The more open you are and the higher the vibration, the greater the experience will be. Keep it light.

Remember that readings are not intended to be something to base serious decisions on. They are for entertainment and may open the way to beautiful messages from your loved ones and a different perspective on your life.

My goal is to have you leave feeling empowered, inspired, refreshed and on course.

Take care until next time!

 - Amanda (A Happy Medium)

Read all of Amanda's Columnist Posts

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Amanda

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Spiritual Medium

Visit Amanda's Website

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Join Amanda for her Daily Readings and spiritual insights she shares on Facebook.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly and Amanda

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Things To Remember About Psychic Readings

(by A Happy Medium, Amanda)


I recently read a column by a famous medium where she stated that before she came out of the closet and started practicing, she had a reading which made her fearful to date again after her marriage ended. Out of fear, she stayed out of the dating scene. I’ve heard this story before where people have had readings where the reader has foretold or predicted a less than desirable outcome.

I think it is sad that this person decided to hold back from living based on messaging delivered from a psychic reader. I don’t want you to fall into this trap, so I’m including some tips below for those instances where you may feel like you haven’t gotten the most out of your reading or you’ve heard something you don’t want to hear.

Here’s what I want you to remember:

• Readings are for guidance only. While we do speak to the divine, especially when you see a medium, we are reading the energy around you at the time. Use this guidance as advice, but please do not let us make your decisions for you! We don’t want that burden, and it’s unethical for any reader to advise you to make any financial or medical decisions.  That being said, I don’t want to take away from the validity or comfort a good reading can provide, but walk in with an open mind and walk out the same way.

• We can be wrong! Any reader that tells you they are 100% correct all the time is full of it and you should run for the hills. I am up front with my clients that at this point, you are getting the information you need to hear. I could read you today and read you tomorrow and get different messaging depending on where you are and the choices you have made. Take your reading with a grain of salt and as what it is – guidance based on the reader’s perception of the energy at this point in time. Use it to guide you but remember, nothing in a reading is written in stone.

• Frequency - Readers who are willing to book sessions for you frequently are most likely reading for the wrong reasons. I advise my clients that I will not read them more frequently than every six months. I like enough time to pass to allow things to change and allow you to do the self work you need to do. I want you to maintain your independence and ability to make your own choices. I don’t want to disempower you from making your own choices and I certainly don’t have the energy to be your personal oracle.  That would be exhausting!

• Gifts - Any reader who asks you to bring them money or gifts on a weekly   basis does not have your best interests at heart. Sadly, there are “lightworkers” out in the world who will tell you that you have bad energy attached to you and to release it you will have to visit them weekly or bring them items to pray over such as gift cards. This is an actual thing, believe it or not! I have heard a couple of clients who have told me stories about people who will remove dark energy or  curses from them as long as they visit and pay $150 per visit.

Remember  that you always have free will. You could walk out of your reading and decide to change the course of your life radically. If you hear something you don’t like in a reading and it doesn’t ring true for you, you can always use intention and your choices to alter the path in front of you. Trust that the universe allows things to unfold for the best possible outcome and that you are the co-creator of your life. I don’t think I would ever tell a client that they would never be happy again. There are always ways to come back to a positive outlook and work that can be done to change things around.

When you leave a session with me, I want you to feel empowered and perhaps have a different perspective on your life. Maybe it is a fresh outlook that you need.  It could just be that you need a conversation with someone who is unbiased to the situations in your life who will listen and has your best interest at heart.

Please don’t ever let a reading disempower you. Know at all times that you are in the driver’s seat of your life and you have the free will and intention needed to change the course of your life and move it in a better direction. Sometimes readings can be useful to open our eyes to the right path.

I’ve said it here a couple of times and I will say it again. You should feel comfortable with the person you choose to do your reading. Check their website, look at pictures and testimonials and ask for references. You should be able to ask any questions you may have prior to the reading. Go with your instincts when choosing a reader. Pick someone that you resonate with and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!


Take care until next time!


-    Amanda (Metaphysical Musings.Wordpress.com)

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Amanda is a regular columnist on Mind Body Thoughts.  She writes A Happy Medium monthly column.  This article is written by Amanda.

To learn more about her and see all her other articles, go to Amanda's Page, A Happy Medium.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly and Amanda

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Psychic Development – Where do I start?

(by A Happy Medium, Amanda)


Rumi says it best – “Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love.”

For me that silent pull comes from mediumship and being a messenger for spirit. I’m truly amazed and honored to have the ability to provide so much help and closure to other people. Every reading is an adventure. You never know what is going to come in.

You may have had gifts for mediumship and psychic work all your life, or you may just be wondering how you can start to develop these gifts in yourself.

I tell people that not using your intuition is like deciding you don’t need one of your legs. You have one leg that you can hop around on, so who needs two? All of us have intuition and the choice of whether or not we use it.

I was doing a Facebook live broadcast the other day over at my Facebook Page  (shameless self-promotion), and I asked the audience what they wanted to hear from me in a blog post. Someone commented that I should talk about my journey specific to my own development. That would be a long story, and we’d be here for a long time, so I’ll keep it to the Cole’s notes version.

I have always had the knowledge of my own intuition. As a child, I would see entities and spirits. Of course, that was traumatic and I shut that down in myself at a fairly young age. Throughout my life, I felt drawn to mediums in particular, and there was a little voice inside my head that would say, “I can do that!” As life tends to speed along at breakneck pace, I didn’t pay a ton of attention to it, but I always knew I could ask for help and help would arrive. It was always very clear when I was going on the wrong path. I would hear the advice in my head and change course. I also can remember some definitive quantum moments (when spiritual time and linear time meet) through the course of my life.  Anyway, it was when I got pregnant with my son in 2012 that my journey really got serious.

If you had told me back then that I would be as successful a medium as I am now, I’d be incredulous. I don’t think I believed I had it in me back then to have the type of confidence to welcome people into my home and read them.

Here are a few steps to Psychic or Spiritual Development:

1. FIND A MENTOR
   This is important. Dr. Wayne Dyer used to say, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” This was very true in my case. I met my mentor in November of 2012. I had some unfinished stuff that I needed to resolve around the death of my grandma, and I finally took the initiative to find a medium in my area. I looked at a few sites, and the first one that popped up looked quite welcoming and I emailed and booked a reading. I went for the reading and low and behold, that person is now my mentor. She has been for the last 5 years. She is incredible. Honestly and truly, I thank the Universe every day for her, because without her, I wouldn’t be where I am in this journey.
   
   In choosing a mentor, it’s important to find someone who you really resonate well with. This person is the person that YOU choose to walk this path with you. This person will guide you in your spiritual pursuits. You want to make sure that they are genuine and have your best interest at heart. You also want to make sure that they are worth their salt as a medium/psychic/whatever. Get a reading, ask questions, check references if you choose. I didn’t have to check references with mine because she is just fantastic and I knew off the hop that she was the right teacher for me. When you are ready, ask the Universe for the right teacher and they will appear for you. Trust me on that!
2. SELF WORK
   Before you start wading into other people’s lives and trying to help, you need to make sure that your own life is in order. I spent 3 years on self work with my mentor before I proceeded on to reading others. It’s really important that you take the time to look through your own closet and put any skeletons to rest. Now in saying that, please know that I am not perfect and I still struggle with some things as they arise, but by doing all the self work I have done, I’m much better equipped to deal with challenges, setbacks etc, since I can see things in a different way and I really think I bring that to the table in my interactions with my clients.  Be prepared to go within. This will involve a lot of quiet introspection and meditation.  You need to learn how you communicate with Spirit, whether you hear, see, feel or whether it’s a combination of things. You need to get clear on how you receive guidance, how you ask for it, and the ability to distinguish positive energies from negative ones (a hint is that negative entities often use flattery to get your attention!) Anyway, self work really continues through your career as an intuitive, but it’s one of the primary steps before you start reading others.
3. LEARN, LEARN, LEARN
   Become a sponge for spirit. Listen to and use your mentor for advice. Read everything you can get your hands on. I started with some of these:
   
   
   • You Are Psychic by Debra Lynn Katz
   • Ask And It Is Given by Esther and Gerry Hicks
   • Be Your Own Shaman by Deborah King
   • Lightworker by Sahvanna Arienta
   • The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
   • You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
   • Ask Your Guides by Sonia Choquette
   • Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh
   • Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat Zinn
   
   These are just a few of the books I thought of off the top of my head that were important in my journey. Be sure that you get a good cross section of topics that interest you (clairvoyancy, clairaudience, self development, healing, etc.)
   
   
   
4. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
   This is important. Someone said something on the internet one day about how much you read and how much you practice. If you don’t practice the things you are reading, you can’t really expect a ton of development to take place. You need to commit yourself to practicing what you are learning, otherwise you can read all the spiritual books in the world and not develop at all.
5. INVITE MORE SPIRITUAL PEOPLE INTO YOUR LIFE
   Ask the Universe to bring more people into your life that believe in this stuff and will support you. You are not crazy! You’d be surprised how many people there are out there walking their own paths as healers, empaths, mediums and psychics. You are certainly not alone and there are a lot of people out there who are happy to help and support you. Heck, they’re glad to invite another spiritual person into their life to help and support them as well. I often picture the world as a black and white photograph where people are wandering around with their heads down. Every now and then a person walks by in full technicolor with their head up looking around and waving emphatically at other technicolor people. We love to meet and support each other.

That’s a good start for your own development. Try it out and let me know how it’s going. Don’t give up and don’t let anyone’s judgement dissuade you from your path. I want you to know that you are loved, you are divine and you are deserving of all the best life has to offer at this moment, as you are.

Take care until next time!


-    Amanda (Metaphysical Musings.Wordpress.com)

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Amanda is a regular columnist on Mind Body Thoughts.  She writes A Happy Medium monthly column.  This article is written by Amanda.

To learn more about her and see all her other articles, go to Amanda's Page, A Happy Medium.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly and Amanda

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Connecting With Angels And Things Unseen

One of the things I have come to realize is that somehow I just pick stuff up in life.  I either just seem to know it, sense it, feel it, or somehow just know it is what it is.  At one time some friends of mine called me the "space cowboy" and at the time, I was confused as to why they did this.  They would often tell me that you just know things.  I would respond with a deer-in-the-headlights look.

If you come up to me and want answers from me about some futuristic event, I will probably stare at you with absolutely nothing to say.  However, if there is something going on that I connect to, it seems like information readily shows up for me.  I cannot wish for it to happen or show up.  It just does or sometimes it doesn't.

There are many people who would try to paint me into a box and put all kinds of dimensions, colors and shapes to the box.  However, I don't really feel like I fit in a box and I'm not sure I want to be placed into a box that fits everyone's perception of what goes on in life.  So while I understand the need for people to fit things they do not understand into a defined space, it won't get you very far with me.  I tend to be the one outside the box.