To help provide a little more clarity on the process of
spirit communication and how it works, I feel it’s first
important to emphasize the difference between a medium and a
psychic. A psychic is an individual who can sense information
about a person, place, or thing. They connect with individuals
on a one-to-one level. A medium is an individual who is able to
sense communication from another individual in spirit and is
able to relay their message. Thus, when a medium is involved, a
triangular connection is formed: the medium, the spirit, and the
person receiving the message. All mediums are psychic, but
psychics aren’t necessarily mediumistic.
Spirit communication tends to come in one of three ways:
clairvoyance (clear seeing), clairsentience (clear sensing), and
clairaudience (clear hearing). There are also other, less common
“clairs,” such as claircognizance (clear knowing), clairalience
(clear smelling), and clairgustance (clear tasting). It’s also
important to remember that these senses are within the intuitive
realm and may not be something you actual see, hear, or feel in
the physical world. When it comes to “seeing” spirit, I like to
tell people it’s kind of like picturing someone standing next to
you. You can imagine the person standing there, but you don’t
necessarily see them as physically as you see the chair. Now,
there may be some people who are able to see spirit that
clearly, but in most instances it is a communication that comes
from within the mind’s eye. As you develop, it’s also important
to remember that you may not use all three main senses in your
work. You may see better than you hear, or you may sense more
than you see, or you may experience a combination of all three.
If you choose to develop or explore your own intuitive or
mediumistic abilities, it’s good to realize that you are not
alone in the process. There are spirits on the other side who
are actually assisting you in your development. These
individuals are known as spirit guides. A spirit guide is an
individual in spirit who works directly with you on your
development in this lifetime. They are with you from birth to
death, and whether you are aware of them or not, they are there
to assist you and inspire you upon your path. I like to think of
a guide like Jiminy Cricket on your shoulder or a guardian
angel. There are many perspectives and writings on spirit guides
and angels. Some people see them as two separate entities, but
in this instance, whether you call this support your spirit
guide or your angel, it’s more important to just know that there
is a special spirit there for you.
It’s also valuable to know that you never need a medium or a
psychic. Although it can be a powerful experience to receive
verifiable information from a complete stranger, it’s more
important to remember that you can receive communication from
your loved ones through your own abilities at any time.
Oftentimes it just takes a few moments of silence to help the
process. Remember that communication can come through dreams,
songs, signs, scents, feelings, and a number of other ways. It’s
helpful to first look for a logical explanation for what you
perceive—for example, if you feel a cool breeze on your neck,
check to see if the window is open. If the window is not open
and you feel at the pit of your soul that it was communication,
then trust your impressions and accept it as a message from
spirit. I often say that if you experience three or more
“coincidences,” then God is trying to tell you something. If you
receive more than three signs from a loved one, trust it!
Personal discernment is one of the most challenging aspects in
the development of your intuitive abilities. How do you know
what’s communication from spirit and what might be your own
hopes and desires? Ultimately, the way to distinguish between
these is to practice. The more you work with receiving spirit’s
message, the more you will understand what is what. Spirit
communication can occur in very subtle ways, and having patience
in developing the process and patience with those in spirit
around you will help tremendously. Also, be clear as to what
your intentions are with your development. Mediumship is not a
parlor game or a neat trick to try on friends. It’s a very
serious endeavor and should be presented and treated as such. If
you are able to realize that spirit is coming forward to you to
relay a message to someone, it may be the only opportunity this
spirit has to share what he or she needs to communicate.
Approach this work with integrity and love.
The quickest way to begin the process of connecting with spirit
is to sit for meditation. Now, stop, don’t run away ...
meditation isn’t something that has to be a difficult or
laborious process. Nor do you have to sit with your legs crossed
and say “om” to yourself for an hour. Meditation can be as
simple as taking a few moments to pause in your hectic day and
just quiet your mind. Being mindful of your breath and allowing
slow deep breaths in and out can help open your mind to new
insights and inspiration. Meditation can also be a wonderful way
for you to reach out and connect with your loved ones in spirit.
Below, you will find a sample meditation I offer to people to
help them connect with their loved ones in spirit.
Connecting with Your Loved
Ones in Spirit
Take a few moments now to relax. And with each breath in and out
I want you to imagine that you are expanding your light, you are
expanding your soul. As you take this moment to center yourself
and focus on your breath, you become like a beacon of light,
shining brightly so that those in spirit can draw closer to you.
Just take these next few moments here to find that place of
peace, to find that place of connection.
As you become relaxed, I want you to invite someone to come to
you. Someone you are hoping to hear from, someone you have
perhaps been missing—a loved one, a family member, a friend who
is now on the other side. Invite them to draw close to you;
imagine them standing in front of you. And as you do so, it’s
important to remember and to acknowledge the things that you are
seeing, hearing, and sensing.
You don’t need a medium or a psychic to connect to your loved
ones in spirit; it is an ability we all have and is a connection
that we can all make. So as you find yourself now in this moment
of silence, send out that invitation and invite that person you
are hoping to connect with close to you. And as you begin to
build this link, allow the emotion, allow the feelings, and
allow the connection. See that person, hear that person, feel
that person, for they are still here. They are still present.
They are still connected.
Take these next few moments now just to be in their space, in
connection with them. Feel free to ask them questions or share
your thoughts. And then sit quietly and trust the impressions
you have received. You have built this bridge between two
worlds. And you are connected to the loved one you wished to
reach. Be, together, in the space of communication ...
Meditation is a wonderful process. It can be quite powerful not
only in connecting you to your loved ones, but also helping you
manage the stress of everyday life. So whether you choose to sit
on the top of a mountain or in your own backyard, meditation
allows you to reconnect to your own spirit—so that you can
connect to the spirit that connects us all.
From
Bridge to the Afterlife, by Troy Parkinson
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