Going From Mom To A Medium

This month, Amanda's latest column is now on a new site.  MindBodyThoughts.com is where you will find it.

In this October column, Amanda talks about how she switches gears in her life going from mom to a medium.  There are certain steps she takes to help herself shift and switch the medium channel.

Read her column, Switching the Medium Channel at the new website place, MindBodyThoughts.com

Column Link (click below)

• http://mindbodythoughts.com/switching-the-medium-channel/

Setting Effective Boundaries In Spirit Communication

(Written by A Happy Medium, Amanda)

Communication with Spirit is not something to take lightly. Unfortunately, the lure of Hollywood Spirit work through horror movies, which fans are devouring at break neck speed, has increased the popularity of certain “spiritual” tools. The main one I’m thinking of is the Ouija board. The thing that most bothers me about the Ouija board, besides it being marketed as a game, is that parents are purchasing this for their children.

Here is my issue with Ouija boards. Most people pull them out on Halloween or at parties. No prayers are said, no intention is set and the gateway is open for anything to come in. Maybe you grab the board to communicate with spirits you know, but if you don’t set that intention, you may get more than you bargained for. Kids are high vibrational beings. Given that they are so high vibrational, they are likely to draw in pretty much anything, and you may end up having to have someone clear your house of something that’s been inadvertently brought in.

Boundaries are important in life and in Spirit work. They define who and what you will accept. Consider your sacred spiritual space as your home. You wouldn’t let just anyone have access to your home, right? That’s why you have locks on the doors and only the people you allow have access. The same should apply to your spiritual practice.

As I’ve said before, spirit communication takes a lot of self-development. There’s constant learning and growth. As you are working on that and opening yourself up for communication it’s a good idea to get boundaries set on your home as to what you will and will not allow. My mentor suggested that I get the  Qabalah Solid Copper Jupiter House talisman. If you follow the link, you’ll get more information. This talisman is referred to as a great protector and bringer of abundance. It keeps your house protected and keeps anyone with negative or ill will away. If you purchase one, make sure that you replace the batteries in your smoke alarms. Mine hangs over my front door and I found within about a couple of weeks of hanging it, we had to replace our smoke detectors. I think this is because the energy in the house changed.  This happened to my mentor as well as a couple of other people she knows that have picked up the talisman.

In hanging this talisman, you are setting a boundary that only good intentioned people and energies approach and enter your home.  Look at that! Boundary set.

When creating my sacred space for readings, I burn white sage and walk around the perimeter of the room where I am doing my readings, including specific focus around the doors and windows.  I ask that only high vibrational energies for the highest good of my client (insert name here). Here’s another boundary I’m setting. I’m only looking for energies related to the particular client I’m reading at this time, not a free for all of any spirit that happens by to come in and chatter.

I invoke the Archangels that I feel are important to my readings (I prefer Azrael and Gabriel) and ask them to help me be an effective channel between this world and the next. I pray that my client get exactly what he or she needs from the reading, and that they leave feeling empowered, inspired and uplifted, perhaps with a different perspective than they came in with. Then I open up.

Opening up to Spirit

Lots of people ask me if I get information all the time, like when I am at the grocery store or walking down the street. I explain that I usually only get information when I’m open to receiving. Typically before I start a reading I will create my sacred space, call in the Archangels and then call in all the guides, Guardians, Ascended Masters, Master Teacher and deceased loved ones who wish to communicate for the highest good of my client (insert name here). I state my name and that I invite them to come in and speak to me and through me with any information required at this time. Then I state that I am opening the channel.

It’s kind of hard to explain, but my channel looks like a tube that comes out of the top of my head (crown chakra) and goes up into the universe. When it’s closed, it has a piece of wood through it, so nothing can come in or go out. Picture a piece of wood on the end of a hollow tube. Why wood? I don’t know. It’s just what I visualize.  Maybe the connection to earth and nature, keeping me on the physical plane. Anyway, I slide that piece of wood off the tube in my mind and I always slide it to the right. Then the channel is open and spirit is welcome to come in.

I do the reading, and then I close the channel.

Closing the Channel

Once the reading has ended and the client leaves, I thank all spirits that came through for their participation in the reading. I release the client and the spirits with love. I sage the room again around the perimeter, with a prayer of gratitude for the spirit participation as well as the gift of mediumship. Once the room is saged and the prayers said, I close the channel to spirit since I am finished receiving.  I picture that piece of wood sliding left, back over the top of the “tube” and state out loud that the channel is now closed. Bada bing! I clean up and my session with spirit is over. That’s why I don’t get information in the grocery store.

Although…. Sometimes I can get information when I’m not “tuned in”, but I mentally ask for it. I think as I have developed my communication, I am able to turn it on and off quickly without going through my whole ritual. For example, if I am looking for information about someone I see, or if someone asks me a question, I might quickly ask, but I try not to make a habit of it. I wouldn’t just go walking into your house, so I wouldn’t just intuitively barge into your life. Privacy is important.

Being Clear on What Comes In

A lot of people tell me they are afraid to channel because they are worried something scary or negative will come in. If you set specific intentions on only allowing high vibrational energies or the specific person you are looking for, that should help with what comes in. You could also state that any negative or low vibrational energies are not welcome and must leave now.

In closing, be careful before embarking on communication with spirit. Get the self work done and the boundaries set first.  Be choosy on what you allow.  Boundaries are a great thing to have in life and in your spirit work. You are the only one who can determine what you will and will not allow. Stick to your guns and choose wisely.


Until the next time!

 - Amanda (A Happy Medium)

Read all of Amanda's Columnist Posts

---

Amanda

Guest Blogger

Spiritual Medium

Visit Amanda's Website

Facebook
Blog

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

---

---

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.  

---

Medium Life - When Spirit Says Thank You

(Written by A Happy Medium, Amanda)

I had completely different plans for my column this month, but I was sidetracked by this fantastic thing that happened in my house. A light bulb came on over my head and I thought to myself, “Self, people are always asking you about spirit communication. Maybe you should talk about the ways in which spirits say thank you after readings.”

What a great idea!

So those of you that have known me for a while know that I provide readings to clients in my home. When giving a reading, I open myself up to the guides, angels, archangels, Ascended Masters and deceased loved ones associated with the client.

The messages come through and I pass those on to my clients, but what happens after the reading?

Sometimes, spirits are so glad to communicate, they thank me. People often ask me if I am afraid of the spirits. My answer to that is, usually no. I set strong boundaries and protection around my house that the only energies that can enter are positive and high vibrational, so I’m not really too concerned about finding anything scary (I have had one scary, dark entity in my house – but that’s a subject for another post!).

Hopefully my clients won’t mind that I share these stories. Of course, I won’t share any names or really specific details.

A while ago, I did a reading for a girl who came to see me and I picked up on a child energy that was around her. There was a child in the family who had passed away. I can’t remember the circumstances now, but I think she was stillborn (so sad!). The family still remembers the little girl, of course. I kept seeing a connection to toys and balloons. The client told me that she had often experienced this energy wanting to play with her when she was a child and that now all these years later (she has a child of her own), she’s noticed this energy again coming to play with her own child. I brought through the messages from the spirit and continued on with the reading and the client left.

I was sitting on my couch surfing Facebook and decompressing from the reading when a helium balloon floated past me. I was in the house, the windows were closed and the heat wasn’t on. The balloon came floating into the living room at a pretty good speed as if it was being pulled. I think it was a Santa Claus balloon that we had bought for my son.   I just looked up from my Facebook perusal and said, “That’s weird.” Then I remembered the little spirit from the reading. I just looked up at the balloon floating in the living room and said, “You’re welcome!”

You can hear me?

When I’m giving readings, I often hear spirits say, “You can hear me?” or “I’m trying really hard to communicate and this is how I do it.”


It’s interesting how they communicate. It could be something like smelling their scent, or lights going on and off, or finding coins or repetitive numbers. There are a lot of ways they use to let us know that they are still here.

I was doing a reading for a couple of clients back to back this week. I was talking about the way that this spirit communicates and asked them if they have noticed that lights are on when they come home, or that taps are running because I feel a real connection to water and electricity. It really felt to me like this spirit was manifesting using light switches.

I finished my reading on Wednesday evening, saged, closed the channel and went off to bed not really thinking any more about it.

I have to add a little bit of backstory here. So, we have a gas fireplace in my house and it’s never really worked properly. It’s controlled by a switch which is next to the fireplace, and try as I might in the winter, I’ve never really been able to get it to work. We had a repairman come in and service it once, but even since then, the fireplace really hasn’t worked that well.

You also need to know that where I live in B.C., Canada we have wildfires decimating a large portion of our province and this week we are in the middle of a heat wave.  It’s been 34 degrees Celsius where we live for a few days now.

On Thursday morning, I woke up to go to work and my husband came up from the basement (he works nights). He asked me who turned on the fireplace. Apparently he got home around 5AM and it was about 96 F in the living room.

I raised an eyebrow at him and commented that the fireplace has never really worked properly. Anyway, why would I turn on the fireplace when it’s so hot out? He said he didn’t know, but when he came home it was on, blazing away.

Suddenly it clicked.

I said that it must have been that spirit I brought in the night before who told me he was manifesting and using light switches.  I had a reading last night with the sister of the client I read on Wednesday and told her about the fireplace. She laughed and said that it was probably something he would do.

Last night after her reading, I saged really well and told him that he shouldn’t turn on the fireplace anymore because it is so hot! Sure enough this morning it was still off. I released him with love. I think it was his way of saying, “Thanks. You got it right. You brought a lot of comfort to my family.”

It’s another way this work is so rewarding. Not only do you bring comfort to the living, but you bring communication and comfort to the spirits that are trying to get through. So wonderful. So if you do something for a spirit and you notice something strange happening, maybe you have asked for help making a decision or you’ve asked them to manifest, trust that what has happened is down to them.

I always think it’s neat when I get a little nod from the spirit world!

Until the next time!

 - Amanda (A Happy Medium)

Read all of Amanda's Columnist Posts

---

Amanda

Guest Blogger

Spiritual Medium

Visit Amanda's Website

Facebook
Blog

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

---

---

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.  

---

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)

Read all of Amanda's Columnist Posts

---

Amanda

Guest Blogger

Spiritual Medium

Visit Amanda's Website

Facebook
Blog

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

---

---

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.  

---

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

---

Amanda

Guest Blogger

Spiritual Medium

Visit Amanda's Website

Facebook
Blog

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

---

---

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.  

---

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)

---

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.

---

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.  

---

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)

---

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.

---

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.  

---

Oracle Cards, Spiritual Readings and You

(by A Happy Medium, Amanda)

This month I thought I’d talk about oracle cards and spiritual readings. In my readings, I prefer to work with oracle decks since they feel like they are higher vibrational and a little more straightforward than the tarot decks that you usually see out at parties.

I’m talking about the Rider-Waite Decks, not that there’s anything wrong with those, but I just haven’t found one I’ve connected with yet. However, my friend has just moved and found a deck of the Rider-Waite cards in a wooden box which she is gifting to me. Maybe this is the deck that’s meant to come to me. I did purchase a Rider-Waite deck a while ago, but I just haven’t connected with it, so it sits with my other decks and I don’t use it.

My favorite oracle deck is the Ascended Masters deck by Doreen Virtue. I use it in all of my readings and for all of my free online readings that I do over on my Facebook page (shameless self-promotion alert!). I find that I resonate the most with this deck. It’s one of the first decks I purchased and I remember standing in the store where I purchased it and feeling the cards calling to me and practically buzzing in my hand. If you are going to purchase cards of any kind, I recommend “feeling out” each deck. Which one feels good to you?

What is the difference between Oracle and Tarot cards?

In the traditional Rider-Waite tarot decks there are 78 cards. The cards are divided into the major arcana and the minor arcana. The minor arcana are divided into suits: cups, wands, swords and pentacles. Tarot decks have more structure and I think a lot more room for interpretation. Oracle cards are usually in a 44 card deck and are usually themed (angels, spirit guides, spirit animals, lovers, etc.).

Oracle cards also usually (but not always) have messages written right on them, or key words that explain the essence of the cards.  It can jog your memory when you are reading them for a client, but you should make sure that you are primarily using your intuition to read the cards. How does the card make you feel? Do you feel compelled to say anything to yourself or the client?

It’s normal to look at the guide book for your oracle cards and to disagree with what’s written as the card interpretation. These are tools for you to use in your own intuitive practice and the cards may have a different meaning for you than they did to the creator of the deck. Go with your intuition and your readings will be authentic.

I also like oracle cards because I don’t have to remember any fancy spreads or the significance of each card in the spread. You can give effective readings with a three card spread or even a one card spread. When I do readings, I usually use my cards at the end just to confirm everything the client and I have discussed and it’s interesting that those cards often do reiterate the key points highlighted in the reading.

So why should I get a reading if I can do this myself?

You don’t have to get a reading. You could go out and purchase a deck of cards that feels good and start your intuitive journey tomorrow if you want.

Heck, if there’s a place open right now, get out there and open yourself up to the wonder of card reading.

Aren’t psychics just snake oil salesmen who want to take my money?

I don’t like the term “psychic”. It smacks of con artists and charlatans and things on fishing wire floating around the room. It makes me think of séances, which is totally not what I do by the way.  You should feel comfortable with the person that you’re asking to do your readings. If you find that person on the internet, look for a website with testimonials. Go ahead and call the person for a more in depth discussion of what they do.

The person should be open to answering your questions and if they determine they aren’t the correct person to do your reading, they can refer you to a practitioner more suited to your needs. A genuine spiritual medium (that’s what I call myself) wants the best for you and wants you to get as much as possible out of your reading. I would rather send you to someone who is a better fit and let them read you than do a poor job myself.

Remember that the medium’s job isn’t to convince you that mediumship is real and your own intention contributes more to the outcome of the reading than mine does. If you come in and you’re closed or skeptical that I am worth my salt, you’re going to be very effective at blocking the information coming in.

Getting The Most Out Of Your Reading

To get the most out of your reading, come in open and ask ahead of time for any spirits you are hoping will come through to come through. Write a list of questions for your practitioner so that you will get the most out of your session as possible. In most cases, readings last about an hour, which can really fly by once you get going!

Readings can help you by giving you a perspective from someone outside yourself. Practitioners have suggestions for taking care of your mental health and your spiritual health that can be helpful and can show you a perspective or solution you may not have considered before coming. Perhaps you have unresolved issues around a person you have lost or you are struggling to deal with grief over a loved one you’ve lost.

In my readings I have three goals:

1. To provide as much comfort as possible to my client;
2. To provide as much closure as possible to my client; and,
3. To provide as much clarity as possible to my client.

There’s a lot you can get out of a spiritual reading and tons of ways they can help you. Remember that your practitioner is glad to be of service to you and wants you to walk away with the best experience possible.

Go in with an open mind and an open heart, and I’m sure you’ll walk out optimistic and comforted, perhaps with a brighter outlook and different perspective.



-    Amanda (Metaphysical Musings.Wordpress.com)

---

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.

---

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.  

---

Manifesting – the Aladdin’s Lamp of our Earth Existence

(by A Happy Medium, Amanda)

We all remember the story of Aladdin, the poor boy who finds a lamp with a genie inside, ready and waiting to grant his every wish. I’m sure a lot of us have even lamented about not having our own genie. What would you pay for a force that would grant your every whim and wish?

What if I told you that you already have it?

You do. It’s the Universe.

“Wait a second, Amanda,” you might be saying, “if I had access to a genie that granted my every wish, I wouldn’t be living this life. Get off the crazy train.”

The Universe is a field of infinite possibilities, and you have the power to manifest anything you would like by your own intention and attention.

I offer you two lessons that are easy to remember:

1. Where your attention goes, energy flows; and,
2. What you resist persists.

Have you ever noticed that when someone buys a new car, or you decide that you want a certain make of car, you start to see them absolutely everywhere? That’s a great example of manifestation.  I still remember when my Aunt bought a new Jeep. I hadn’t seen it, I’d only heard about it and all of a sudden I was seeing Jeeps everywhere!

I read a really interesting book on manifestation by Pam Grout called E2 in it, she lays out a number of experiments for playing with this field of infinite possibilities and your own ability to manifest the things you want in your life.

You can test this theory in a lot of ways. You can decide today you are going to see green cars. Make the intention in your mind when you wake up tomorrow and see how many green cars manifest.  For me,  I find the most effective manifestation comes when I either journal or I talk to the Universe when I am driving.

When you are driving, your literal mind is busy driving and your creative mind is open to send and receive information between you and the Universe. January has been a really quiet month for readings. I think that this is because people are paying their Christmas bills and maybe don’t have the money right now for readings. Anyway, I was having this conversation with the Universe last week asking where my clients are. I literally said, “Okay Universe. I want to be doing more readings, more writing and more speaking. BUT HOW?!!?”

That afternoon I received an email about two psychic fairs, and the following day, my mentor referred me to another medium that is hosting a third psychic fair. I had five emails in my inbox from five new  potential clients as well. I actually thought to myself, “wow! The universe sure works fast when your intentions are clear.” I had another event like this this week, where I asked the Universe for exactly what I wanted and it put what I wanted directly in my path.

According to the Law of Attraction, when you put yourself in the vibration of having what you want, your desires cannot resist you.  Focus on the things you want as if you have them. A good tip for doing this is with journaling. You can journal about that awesome new job you have in the field of your choice. What does your office look like? Does it have windows? What’s hanging on the wall? What type of company is it? Be as specific and detailed as possible. As you write, you are going to find yourself feeling great!

BAM! You are in the vibration of having what you desire. Keep yourself here.

Remember – where your attention goes, energy flows.

The opposite is also true. You could say to me, “Amanda, I am always thinking about my desires. They are not getting any closer to me.” Here’s where the tricky part comes in. It’s important when working on manifesting your desires that you are focusing on having the thing you want, not focusing on the lack of it. When we focus on lack (not having something, being stuck etc) we become more stuck and attract more lack.

A major worry for a lot of people is finances. There may be more month than money and maybe instead of focusing on how abundant your life is and how you always manage to pay your bills and take care of business, you focus on the end of the month and the dilemma you are going to face when you don’t have enough money. You’re going to attract more money troubles in this vibration. Sometimes, you can be in the right place vibrationally, but your beliefs need to change. You may think that you are not worthy or deserving of that great job or that abundant flow of money.  Even when you are doing things absolutely right with manifesting, if your vibration and your beliefs are stuck in patterns that aren’t in alignment with abundance, you will end up with more of the same.

Let’s say you’re working a job you hate. Every day, you lament about how much your job doesn’t serve you, and how you think you should be doing something better, but nothing good is coming along. You’re convinced that you are doing everything right, but wait a minute… you are in a position of resistance and lack. When we resist, we block the flow of life so things are unable to come to us and inspire change.

Remember – what you resist persists.

Once you accept your situation for what it is now (maybe the job isn’t great, but it’s an income and it isn’t permanent. There’s hope for change), you’ll find that the right opportunity just falls right into your lap!

Try this principle out with something small, like seeing green cars today and check out how quickly it works!

The world really is your oyster. Once your attention and intention are in alignment, your desires won’t be able to resist you. Step into the flow of infinite possibility!


-    Amanda

---

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.

---

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.  

---

Who Am I and Why Am I Here? - A Happy Medium

(by A Happy Medium, Amanda)

My name is Amanda and I’m a psychic medium from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Since this is my first post here, I thought I’d start with what spurred me on this journey. Given that it’s a New Year, it’s a good time to reflect on 2016 and all of the growth I have experienced.

I’ve always had a connection with the spirit world. When I was a child, I often saw people who had passed on, and could clearly hear their voices. I remember hearing my name being called often and I would run up to my mother in the kitchen who would tell me she hadn’t called me. She told me I shouldn’t answer and that this was something to fear. As I grew, my abilities were conditioned out of me through no fault of my mother’s, she was just trying to protect me from being scared, as most parents do. Mediumship isn’t an easy thing to explain to a kid.

As I grew up, I had a lot of interesting experiences, and as I came into my later teenage years, after the death of my grandmother in 2001, I began meditating. At the time we lived in a house which was situated right next door to a cemetery. As you can imagine, that house was active. There were candlesticks thrown at me and mischievous spirits took great pleasure in playing with the electrical appliances and particularly enjoyed turning my radio up and down.  I never feared it. I guess I always considered it normal.

After the death of my grandmother, she came to me one night. I had a squeaky bedroom door at the time. I heard the door squeak open and she was standing in my doorway in a white robe. She told me that she had to go. I remember telling her that she should go and see my parents in the other room because I was sleeping. A while later, she came back. She told me she had to go now. I got out of bed and I held her.  I wept and asked how I was going to go on without her. She said she couldn’t tell me where she was going, only that she had to go.  My boyfriend at the time had taken off because he didn’t have a job and didn’t know how to handle me while I was so devastated. She told me he would get a job and that problem would be solved faster than we thought. I held her and I cried. I begged her not to go. Eventually, I did let her go.

The next day, my boyfriend called after school (he was older than me) and told me that day a place he’d interviewed a day or two prior had an unexpected shipment and needed him to start right away. I was convinced at that moment that my grandmother really was there. I was thinking for most of the day that it was just a really vivid dream.  That experience was one that spurred me into pursuing mediumship.

I didn’t know what to do with it or how to develop it, so it lay dormant for a while. Fast forward to 2012. I got pregnant with my son and I wondered how I could raise an authentic kid if I wasn’t being authentic myself. I sought out a medium, and had a reading. She was so amazing. I went back six months later for a second reading and she asked me if I wanted her to mentor me. I said yes and I haven’t looked back. I’ve been mentoring with her now for four years, and have just come out of the “Psychic Closet”  in March of this year. In just 9 months, I’m able to confidently tell people I’m a medium (which was terrifying before), I give readings out of my home and provide people with comfort, closure and clarity. I’ve read a ton of books and committed myself to constant growth and development of my gift.

I’m so excited to be a part of this blog, and I’m looking forward to sharing all kinds of metaphysical subjects with you. Thanks for being a part of my journey. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

-    Amanda

---

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.

---

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.  

---

A Happy Medium - Mind Body Connection

Today I get the wonderful opportunity to introduce a longtime friend, Amanda as a Happy Medium.  She is one of my new regular columnists on the Mind Body Thoughts Connections.

I believe Amanda and I first met online back in the thriving days of Xanga.  We each wrote our own little blog and connected.  We soon learned we shared things in common.  Amanda became a good friend of mine from a different country and at the opposite end of the continent from me.

I love how Amanda writes from her heart with love and compassion for all.  She shares her journey and her struggles along with her triumphs in life.  She is very authentic and real and that's why I invited her to be a part of this new endeavor as a regular columnist on Mind Body Thoughts.  I think she will bring a unique perspective on the world of healing and growth.

For more information on Amanda and the articles she writes, go to the page on this blog, A Happy Medium.  Look for her articles around the third Monday of each month.