Catherine MacDonald Spiritualist Medium/Psychic Advisor

Competition or Co-operation: Which Energy Brings Business Success?

2012-01-16T13:26:00.009-05:00

Over the holidays, I was going through my groups on a site called meetup.com. This site has been great! I have met so many wonderful people I now consider friends and business associates that I would never have had the chance to meet otherwise. That said I had applied to join one business group. I should have looked at the page more carefully and realized that the page was private and locked up tight as a drum. If I had paid attention to these details, I would have realized that this site was not for me and I would not have bothered to apply.

Anyway, almost 3 weeks later I receive a rather terse reply from the organizer. I was told that they only accept one person from each business industry. Now I am sure they have good reason for this but it hardly seems sensible not to want to connect to other people in your field.

As I said, in my reply to the organizer, some of the best business contacts and opportunities I have made are with other psychics and intuitive workers. I did say that the approach the group had towards business networking was VERY limiting and that I am quite happy to move on to more progressive networking groups.

As I began working through my day (on my so-called day off) I got to thinking. What is it with people who are afraid to connect with and work with others in their own industries? Seems to me, in the psychic industry anyway, there is a real fear of competition and because of that fear many professionals in this field do not work well with others whom they see as a personal threat to their business.

Me on the other hand, I figure that each of us will draw to us the clients we are meant to serve. There is no way I can read everyone in my community who would like to have a reading. I figure there are enough clients to go around and if we are ethical and honest in our work we will do well in the psychic industry. I do not worry about what my "competition" is doing. I just focus on what I do well. This does not mean that I am not aware of the other mediums and psychics in my field. In fact, many of my clients will talk about their past experiences with other psychics and will ask me if I know them. Most of the time, I can say I do not know them and later I might Google them to see who they are and what they are about.

I like to know what others are doing. I know that I am good at what I do but I also know that there is always room to learn from others. With this in mind I try to stay centred in the energy of co-operation rather than the energy of competition.

The energy of co-operation is positive and love or respect based. It works from the assumption that we can co-create great business opportunities together and that this will lead to a win-win situation for all involved. It takes the pressure off as you focus on what you do well and what brings you satisfaction as an intuitive worker.

Completion energy on the other hand, is totally fear based and negative. It is rooted in a poverty consciousness and presupposes that there are not enough resources (in this case clients) to go around. Psychics who focus on this energy find they are stressed all the time and surely this stress must impact their readings. I do know people can sense stress and fear and clients with even a little bit of intuitive ability will pick up on it and will choose to take their business elsewhere.

The same can be said of any industry or in any social situation. The more we allow fear-based thinking to take hold the less we manifest what we really want. To that end be mindful that in whatever social or business situation you find yourself, cooperative energy will always bring better results that competitive energy. My only question is: How long will it take people to learn this?

2012 NOT The End of The World

2012-01-12T10:22:00.007-05:00

With the beginning of 2012 now here. Many of my clients are asking me what I think about 2012. Will it be the end of the world or what?

I used to be bothered by the question but over time I have come to realize that people are genuinely scared and confused about all the hype they are reading online and seeing in the news.

As I consider 2012 as a medium and psychic I have to say that I am quite sure that it is NOT the end of the world. Rather it is an end of an era of energy. It is a time when those that are intuitive will find that they are having more intense experiences and even those people who do not tend to feel they are sensitive are also having odd experiences. In this way 2012 is an awakening and it is up to us how we handle it.

Imagine what we can create around us if we focus on the positive and realize that 2012 is about an energy change and not the end of the world as we know it.

I have the sense that it is going to be a change year for myself and many other people but remember that change is a good thing. While we may not always want change we need it to grow and learn.

Some of us look forward to change and are trying to make changes in our lives. If you are one of these people, how do you plan to use 2012 energy to create the changes you want?

Fan Page for Psychic Street Smarts...

2009-10-05T01:24:00.004-04:00

Psychic Street Smarts is a TV/Radio show that I host. It airs Wednesdays from 7 to 8 pm Eastern time on www.thatchannel.com .

If that is out of your timezone you can catch the show in podcasts at Psychic Street Smarts at BlipTV

The show is an interview/ talk show where I enjoy the company of various creative, spiritual thinkers, practitioners, product producers, writers, artists and musicians.

Do you have a book or other product/service that people should know about? If so come join the Psychic Street Smarts Fan Page on Facebook and let me know why you should be on the show!

Do You like Spiritual Discussions?

2009-10-05T01:10:00.004-04:00

I have been playing on Facebook and in my travels I discovered how to build a fan site! If you like interesting discussions please come and join the group. It is small but growing.

Come share your favorite spiritual sites, books, music and whatever else you think might be useful to others who are on the spiritual path.

Catherine MacDonald Spiritualist Medium/Psychic Advisor (Fan Page)

Career Intuitive Sue Frederick on Her Book "I Can See Your Dream Job"

2009-09-23T05:20:00.000-04:00

Career Intuitive Sue Frederick talks with Catherine MacDonald about her book "I Can See Your Dream Job: A Career Intuitive Shows You How to Discover What You Were Put On Earth to Do" Discover a different way to think about career transitions and find out how Numerology and your Astrological Sun Sign can help you make the most of this life shift! To find out more about Sue Frederick and her book check out http://www.careerintuitive.org/

To view all available segments of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts".

Keep ANY Promise: A Blueprint for Designing Your Future

2009-09-16T05:10:00.001-04:00

Another great book to help you get on track with your life! Tune into this segment where Karim H. Ismail talks about his own experience and how that led him to write this practical and inspiring book about a step by step process to remake the life you have into the life you want!

To find out more about Karim. H. Ismail and his book Keep Any Promise go to http://www.karimismail.com/

To view all available segments of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts".

What Are Your Energy Habits?

2009-09-09T05:00:00.000-04:00

Julia Hidy gives Catherine MacDonald and the audience a better idea of the 7 energy habits that we all engage in. In her soon to be published book "Energy For Your Life: The Essential Guide". To find out more about Julia Hidy and her Book go to http://www.energyforyourlife.com/energy/index.html

To view all available segments of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts".

Soulshaping a Book that Will Make You Laugh, Cry and Feel as You Witness Jeff Btown's Intense Experience!

2009-09-02T04:44:00.002-04:00

Yes I do love this book! It describes the author's spiritual journey and struggle in such a detailed manner that the reader feels like they are right there with Jeff Brown as he lived his Soulshaping experience! To find out more about Soulshapping and Jeff Brown go to www.soulshaping.com.

To view all available segments of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts".

Carla Rieger and the Blessings of Being a Change Artist and Why We All Need to Be Chagne Artists in Our Own Lives!

2009-08-26T04:33:00.002-04:00

I am not much of a fiction reader but this is one heck of a good book! During this segment of Psychic Street Smarts Carla Rieger talks about her experiences in writing the book that came out of the discovery that her father was not exactly who she thought he was! To find out more about Carla Rieger and her book The Change Artist, go to http://www.thechangeartistbook.com/ and http://www.thechangeartistbook.com/

To view all available segments of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts".

Social Media and Web 2.0: All About Being Seen Heard and Responded To Online and in Real Time

2009-08-23T10:49:00.006-04:00

It seems to me that this is a brave new world we are living in. What I mean by that is that people are looking for new ways to connect and yet manage the way they use the internet. For some the internet does seem to offer the feeling of anonymity but this does seem to be a feeling of false security if not outright delusion. There is no real way to hide online and with the emergence of social media it is even easier to find people.

This feeling of anonymity be it real or imagined is not necessarily a bad thing mind you. For some it allows them to interact with others and yet feel safe in the confines of their own home in front of their trusty computer.

For others the sensation of anonymity of the internet is too isolating and so with the coming of Web 2.0 we have the development of a huge variety of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, My Space, You Tube and of course blogging on sites such as Blogger, Wordpress and Live Journal. These seem to be a direct reaction to the vastness of the web and human nature being what it is they are amazingly popular.

In a business meeting the other day we were discussing it, and the person I was meeting with said they could understand if from a business perspective how these social media platforms are useful and beneficial but this person could not understand why individuals would love to spend so much time blogging and Twittering.

While everyone's reason for participating is likely different, I do feel like sites like Twitter and Facebook (where you can constantly update your status) give people a chance to say: "Look at me!" It seems to come down to the need to be seen and heard and responded to.

Were it not for my business, as a Spiritualist Medium Psychic Advisor I would not be so active in blogging and the other social media. I might have a place where I can connect with friends but I would not be updating them as often. I am amazed at how time consuming blogging and social media can be. I guess I am old school I enjoy a bit of TV and a good book. I also enjoy outings with my partner and family and friends off line.

Having been on the internet since 2001 though I can say that there was a time that I was using it to reach out when I was feeling isolated in my life. At the time I had just completed university and was unemployed and looking for work. I had studied to become a teacher but my health forced me to leave the program early so I did not complete it. I was devastated. I had no idea what I was going to do next! I was depressed and ANGRY!

Living in a small town, I did not have good communications with my doctor at the time and I thought I have to get handle on this. So with that in mind, I stated to do social research and with my background in sociology it made total sense to take this approach.

At the time I was trying to find out if other people with disabilities were having the same problems I was having at the time with employment and connecting to others. The other question I had (that would come later) was how are they resolving it?

What I discovered frightened me in some ways. I did find that yes, people with disabilities were isolated and disenfranchised and for many of them they were trapped and it seemed they were killing time on the web instead of finding useful resolution to the issue. This was not what I wanted and so I needed to ask different questions. For me these questions could be summed up as: What is it that people need and how can I be a part of giving it to them?

By the time I got to asking these questions though, I had moved out of the small town and was back in Toronto and managing my anger and depression through medical treatment and counseling. I had gotten back into Spiritualism and doing mediumship. This was a real healing time for me and it was at this point that I realized that people need direction and upliftment. I had spent 4 years looking for help and had to find it on my own but what if I was meant to help others in the way I would have liked to have been helped?

While it would take me another few years to formulate the business , to do readings professionally and begin my work as a spiritual psychotherapist, I knew now that I did have something valuable to offer others. This discovery was made in no small part by the online research I did in the early part of 2000. At the time the social platforms available were groups and communities offered by MSN and Yahoo. The term "social media" was not coined yet and Facebook and Twitter were still to be born but the motivation for participation in the groups and communities was the same. Human nature being what it is means that people need to connect in some way and also need to be seen, heard and responded to. This was what I was searching for when I was struggling and no doubt it is what motivates many people who are active online.

For me the social aspect of the web helped me to do my own healing and to discover my life path. Now I have a successful business and a satisfying personal life with a loving partner and good even more friends. More than that, I am centered spiritually, mentally and physically and I am blessed to be able to help others find their direction in an uplifting way that allows me a great deal of satisfaction. This is why I continue to be very active online even now. Even when I do feel it is overwhelming and time consuming I do have the impression of someone looking for help and so I connect and communicate with the intent of being seen and heard just in case I might have something to say that would assist that person.

weightlossforyourlife.wordpress.com Julia Hidy's Latest Blog!

2009-08-19T22:27:00.003-04:00

Find out how to lose weight by cutting out the yeast in your diet. What is it that you need to do to trim down and prevent a host of weight issues and related diseases! Discover what yeast can do to your body and your energy! To find out more about Julia and this blog please go to weightlossforyourlife.wordpress.com

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To view all available segments of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts".

Reiki-Radha Rei Snippet on YouTube-Tim White www.thesereneway.com on Psychic Street Smarts

2009-08-13T09:52:00.002-04:00

This segment of Tim White aired on Psychic Street Smarts on May 22, 2008. It was a 1 hour audio segment where Tim of www.thesereneway.com talks about his Reiki-Radha Rei book and online course.

Thanks Tim for sharing this on YouTube.com and for making the wonderful video montage for it!

To view all the show segments available in video go to: Psychic Street Smarts -ThatChannel.com on Blip.TV

Mayan Shamaness-- Deep Soul and Powerful Energy!

2009-08-12T22:25:00.002-04:00

Amurak (Mayan Shamaness) and I talk about energy vibration, 2012, healing, spirituality and the power of ritual. Enjoy the wonderful insights and energy that Aumrak shares with me and the audience of Psychic Street Smarts. To find out more about Aurak go to http://aumrakshaman.blogspot.com/

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Receive, Retain and Recycle Higher Quality Energy and Improve Your Life!

2009-08-11T10:55:00.008-04:00

In this segment that aired on Psychic Street Smarts on www.thatchannel.com on October 15, 2008, Catherine MacDonald and Julia Hidy, (author of "Energy for Your Life: The Essential Guide"), talk about the flow of energy and how we can better manage it as well as the common things we do wrong! Julia's book about the seven pivotal personal energy use habits we can learn to apply in positive ways to keep our energy balanced and at a higher frequency. Learn how to receive, retain and recycle higher quality energy that will help you keep your health, life and relationships in better balance. To connect with Julia directly check out http://www.energyforyourlife.com or visit www.myspace.com/juliahidy.

To view all the show segments available in video go to: Psychic Street Smarts -ThatChannel.com on Blip.TV

Gloria Taylor-Boyce Author of "Why Are You Here?" on Prophecy

2009-08-05T22:01:00.002-04:00

A Christian perspective on Prophecy and tremendous positive energy. Gloria Taylor-Boyce and her Husband Ralph talk about spirituality, Prophecy and her book "Why Are You Here? From Chaos To Cohesion". Within find a thought provoking approach to the power of our minds to change our lives by focusing on total gratitude, self improvement, freedom and prosperity and enhanced well-being.

To find out more about Gloria Taylor-Boyce and her book check out www.gloriataylorboyce.com

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To see all available episodes of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts".

Emotional Intelligence.... What is it? Do you have it? Do you know how to make the most of it?

2009-07-29T09:02:00.004-04:00

A wonderful guest, Harvey Deutschendorf Author of "The Other Kind Of Smart" talked about his book and how to discover an utilize our emotional intelligence.

To find out more about Emotional Intelligence Harvey Deutschendorf or his book "The Other Kind of Smart"check out www.theotherkindofsmart.com

Fascinating and practical.... Thanks for being on the show!

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Nikole Belanger of www.nikobel.com and www.winandnim.ca Talks about How We Can Protect Our Environment

2009-07-22T09:20:00.002-04:00

Passionate about the Environment Nikole Belanger joined me on Psychic Street Smarts and shared her vast knowledge and passion.

Such a wonderful energy and warmth it is easy to see why she is such a great presenter for Al Gore and his work on the environment.

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On Social Media with Digital Strategist and Teacher Nettie Hartsock

2009-06-24T12:00:00.011-04:00

Overwhelmed with all the networking sites available? Find out why Conscious Social Media is integral to business on Web 2.0. Nettie Hartsock enlightened me on why sites such as Twitter, and Facebook are so popular and why businesses in the future will HAVE to get with the program!

For practical ideas about social media and how to best use it check out www.nettiehartsock.com

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Jewelry with GREAT Energy!

2009-06-17T09:35:00.002-04:00

Julie Downing is a delightful person with a love for stones and a talent for making wonderful jewelry! She was kind enough to come and show the Psychic Street Smarts audience the fabulous creations she designs!

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Modern Day Edgar Cayce.....

2009-06-10T23:48:00.001-04:00

What do the celebrities like Shirley MacLaine and Brendan Fraser already know about Trance Channeller Rik Thurston? Tune in and discover a unique experience where Rik channels the "Transcendors" and find out what they can tell us about the world economy, the current unrest in various areas of the world and what we can do on our spiritual paths to learn the lessons we are here to experience. To find out more about Rick Thurston please go to http://www.rikthurston.com. Discover why Shirley MacLaine and Brendan Fraser have chosen to work with Rik!

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Getting a Handle on Conscious Social Media

2009-06-03T23:29:00.002-04:00

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Ok so you are signed up for Facebook, Twitter, Blogger Word Press and a host of other social media in an effort to get your message out there.... or to connect to a community. Are you overwhelmed or confused as to how Web 2.0 is going to impact your business and your social life online....

Find out from Julia Hidy and me why conscious social media is the way of the future! Learning as we go is the name of the game.... So tune in and see what we are learning and how you can benefit. How can conscious social media change business, social relationships and the community we live in?

Julia Hidy of http://www.energyforyourlife.blogspot.com/ shares with me and the Psychic Street Smarts audience her thoughts about social media sites such as Blogging, Facebook, Twitter and My Space. Find out why these sites are so popular and how you can better use them to create the kind of community or tribe you want to be a part of. To find out more about Julia Hidy check out http://www.energyforyourlife.com/energy/index.html and http://www.energyforyourlife.com/foods/foods.html

Great Non-Invasive Facial Rejuvination Treatments!

2009-05-20T16:49:00.006-04:00

Maxine Warsh made me feel fabulous! I was breaking out all over and after this treatment my skin has been so much better! Have a listen to find out about these non-invasive facial rejuvenation services. A way to enjoy improved wellness and let your inner beauty shine though. To find out more about Maxine Warsh and the services she offers go to www.maxinewarsh.com

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Channeling Princess Diana.....

2009-05-13T09:54:00.003-04:00

Marcia McMahon talks about her book book With Love from Diana, Queen of Hearts: Messages from Heaven for a New Age of Peace a collection of channeled messages to inform and inspire us to to make our world a better place.

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Beautiful Energy Jewelry and Powerful Energy Meditation Systems!

2009-04-29T17:07:00.004-04:00

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Deborah Stuart is passionate about energy and beautiful jewelry! She has created a wonderful God and Goddess pieces that are sure to amaze you! Also worth checking out are her energy based meditation systems To find out more about Deborah Stuart and her jewelry check out www.highchi.com and her meditation systems check out www.oxybliss.com.

Isagenix Was a No Go: Great Product but Network Marketing Business Model is a Drag.

2009-04-27T19:20:00.014-04:00

This past summer I tried out Isagenix. After a month an a half on Isagenix I decided the product was not for me but not for the reasons the reader might assume. Honestly, think Isagenix has a great product line but I really did not like the business structure. Network marketing/ multi-level marketing may work for some people but it is not my style. If that was all there was to it then that would be the end of it but it is more than just a clash of business models in my opinion.

I have been working with energy and doing psychic work since 1994. I do know that energy is a very sensitive thing. As I consider these recessionary times I do know that people may become more desperate and may be trying to find innovative ways to make more money. Some may even venture into network marketing or multi-level marketing but hopefully though they are not involved in it for very long. Network marketing/multi-level marketing as a business structure is a low vibratory frequency that seems to be a combination of cult-like experiences with high pressure sales attached. For some people coping with tough financial times they may draw to this business structure because they are feeling frantic about their finances and their futures but most will not be able to keep their energy there for very long and that is a very good thing.

Why do I say that network marketing/ multi-level marketing is not the way to go at any time least of all in hard economic times? Well in my experience the network marketing/multi-level marketing business model has an empty, desperate and greed-based kind of energy at its core. It tends to feed off of the vulnerabilities and naivety of the individual who is interested in the product. Most people have had some experience with network marketing/ multi-level marketing style business and will avoid someone who is on fire with selling products that are presented in that fashion. It does not matter how great the product is most people do not want to feel pressured to joining a club and getting X number of people to join or being required to buy X amount of product every month (or whatever the set up happens to be) to get a deal.

The hierarchical structure results in those who are in it before the newcomer (and who happen to get them into it) having a vested interest in getting this person to perform by either getting their friends, family and business associates into it or having the newbie buy products on a regular basis. These network marketing/ multi-level marketing “managers” are counting on the newcomer to the product to be all gung ho about it. And when we start out it is only natural that we may really believe in the product and so we end up proselytizing about the product to whoever will listen. Anyone who has participated in this kind of negative, addictive energy building whether it be though network marketing/ multi-level marketing or connections to fanatical religious groups knows exactly how oppressive this kind of energy is. This is why many people refer to network marketing/ multi-level marketing type businesses as “cult-like” experiences.

After the initial high of finding the product and being included into the group what happens? The newbie finds out that other people that they know either are not interested or if they are they interested it is not for the long term. So then the new sales recruit then needs to find more people to bring into the network. To bring others in is essential because the only way that they and everyone above them keep making money is if everyone involved is adding associates or buying products on a regular basis. There is always pressure from the upper managers and so the enjoyment and benefit from the product gets watered down by the negative pressure that many new recruits face.

To me the network marking/ multi-level marketing business structure has a pushy, high-pressure sales element to it and this kind energy has a negative impact on the product and the people involved in promoting it. I really do think that the energy that is behind something be it a product or service does make a difference to how the product is received in the market place.

Wellness products such as Isagenix, if they are truly intended to promote improved heath and wellness would be better promoted with a nurturing energy rather than the desperate, pushy sales, cult-like and greed-based energy that seems to be at the root of the network marketing multi-level marketing business model. One has to wonder if the intentions of the company founders and all those who get into networking and multi-level marketing businesses will over time somehow have an unintended negative impact on the products they are selling and the people who buy them.

If we believe that thoughts are concrete things and that energy does build and have a life of its own then what kind of energy do we really want to be associated with the heath and wellness products that we consume? If it is true that desperate, pushy sales type and greed-based energy is at the root of the network marketing business model should those working in alternative energy and wellness businesses be careful of this business model? As an intuitive professional who does psychic readings and works with alternative energy modalities I really had to ask myself these questions and for me I do want to stay away from network marketing and similar type business models because of the way it pulls the energy of those involved with it down over time. I especially choose to be careful with products that I am ingesting that will somehow impact my health and wellness and that are sold via the multi level marketing approach. I make this choice because the energy behind that product is as powerful if not more powerful than the product itself when it comes to the long term effect it can have on people either positive or negative.

As each of us copes with the changing economic times it is my hope that people will not fall into the network marketing multi-level marketing trap even for a short period. What each of us does is a personal decision but remember that our energy is precious and you need to be mindful of what you spend it on.

As I said I have no issue with Isagenix products themselves, truth be known I think the products are very good but it is a shame they are not available in regular health food or department stores like other diet and wellness food products. It is unfortunate that Isagenix founders decided that network marketing was the way to go. I cannot agree with that as their decision seems to have put a money making mechanism before the health and wellness of people and really detracts from what would otherwise be a wonderful product that could be used to help more people.

Green and Clean: Talking about Things WE Can Do to Be More Environmentally Responsible

2009-04-22T13:25:00.007-04:00

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Rocky Montesano and Tom Church talk about Green Energy alternatives... Want to know what is new and happening with the latest Green Technology? Tune in and find out! To find out more you can also go to greenandcleandirect.com

Intuitive Artists Maryanne Atell & Catherine Thomas share their Art and Spirituality

2009-04-15T21:38:00.000-04:00

Brightly coloured paintings, soul portraits done and chalk and intricate bead work-- spirituality manifesting in the creative energies these ladies share with others. Maryanne Atell and Catherine Thomas are insightful and interesting too! To find out more about or to contact either Maryanne or Catherine please go to http://www.maryanneatell.com/

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3 Minute Mircles...Guided Meditations for Busy People!

2009-04-08T18:26:00.003-04:00

I love Tim White from www.thesereneway.com! this man has amazing energy and he is doing really wonderful things with Reiki and meditation that will definitely help people find balance in the midst of busy lives that can sometimes make us crazy. He is speaking from his own life experience having used these methods to recover his own health!

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Richard Bandler on Psychic Street Smarts

2009-04-01T02:22:00.011-04:00

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Richard Bandler is a facinating guest I had on my Show Psychic Street Smarts on ThatChannel.com. He is one of the co founders of NLP and really is very insightful to listen to. Click the video to discover more about Neuro-linguistic programming and his facinating book Get The Life You Want.

I found Richard to be very informative and practical and NLP is sure to help you if you are dealing with persistent bad memories, bad habits or traumatic fears.

Thank you Dr Bandler for taking the time to be on the show!

To find out more about Richard Bandler and purchase his books go to www.nlpstore.com

Writing a Book? You will want This Publicist!

2009-03-25T19:30:00.003-04:00

Joanne McCall creates publicity campaigns that enable authors to get their books out there! She trains her clients in PR and facilitates the generation of opportunities for these top notch writers to increase their public exposure though keynote speaking engagements, expanded business possibilities, new publishing deals, and ongoing relationships with reporters and producers.

Her clients are varied and she truly loves helping people get their message out to their audience! Find out more about Joanne’s special media training program for writers-- Book PR University and more about the other services Joanne provides please check out www.joannemccall.com/ or contact her directly at (503) 642-4191.

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Dial-Up Yoga and Other Simple Activites to Imrove Your Life!

2009-03-18T21:21:00.002-04:00

Dial-Up Yoga? What's that you ask? Tune in and enjoy hearing Michele Risa explain it and the other simple things you can do to enhance your life! Make your world positive and life more enjoyable! To find out more about Michele Risa, Dial-up Yoga, a variety of tele-classes and Michele's new book club plus program call her directly at 212 889-4986 or check out her website at www.BeyondBodyMindSpirit.com

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Belly Dancing for Healthy Way To Get In Touch With your Body, Mind and Spirit!

2009-03-11T20:53:00.002-04:00

This segment was a hoot! Belly Dancing for physical, emotional and spiritual wellness! Jennifer Drummond (The Belly Dancing Psychotherapist) is high energy and compassionate! If you are looking for therapy with a twist check out www.jenniferdrummond.com

Psychic Reader Kim White shares about Hex Removal and Spiritual Rituals

2009-02-25T22:43:00.004-05:00

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Kim White, a professional psychic in the Toronto Area, shares her experiences as a reader and talks about hex removal and other spiritual rituals. With 23 years of experince, Kim will give you insight and guidance on love, health, gifts that you hold, people, places, situations and past lives. Using a variety of divination styles Kim is particularly connected to and knowledgeable about tarot, crystal and herbal magic, tea leaves, psychometry and past life interpretation. To find out more about Kim White go to http://www.psychickimwhite.com/ or http://southernaccent.com/psychics.html

Catherine MacDonald Host of Psychic Street Smarts Interviewed

2009-02-18T16:43:00.002-05:00

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The tables are turned on me (Catherine MacDonald) host of "Psychic Street Smarts" on ThatChannel.com

Find out more about the psychic industry and my experiences as a Spiritualist Medium/ Psychic Advisor...

Valentine's Day Games!

2009-02-11T22:55:00.001-05:00

Join us again as we play more Eat My Trivia with the focus on Valentine's Day fun food facts! See who knows their Valentine's foodie stuff! Who knows their aphrodisiacs and who will be out in the cold on Valentine',s day? To find out more contact Gina De Caires at www.eatmytrivia.com.

To play the Audio of the show press the play button below:

Hand Writing Analysis with Mary Ann Matthews

2009-02-04T17:52:00.004-05:00

This segment was amazing! As an intuitive worker I know that there are many ways to read people but this demonstration of Hand Writing Analysis by Mary Ann Mathews of www.handwriting.ca was very interesting!

When the video is available I will post it! To play the Audio of the show press the play button below:

To find all the episodes of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts"

Spiritual Psychotherapy and Kinesiology Jacqueline Zavitz on Mind and Body Health

2009-01-28T18:07:00.002-05:00

Jacqueline Zavitz came on"Psychic Street Smarts" and we really hit it off! She really knows her stuff and has fabulous energy!

Thanks Jacqueline for making into the studio on one of the worst winter nights of the year!

To play the Audio of the show press the play button below:

To see all segments of the show available go to "Psychic Street Smarts".

Dial Love... Donna Lynn shares her Channeled Book!

2009-01-21T18:35:00.003-05:00

Fascinating concepts shared in this channeled book "Dial Love, God's Planetary Guide for Attaining Happiness through spiritual fulfillment." Donna Lynn embodies the energy and messages from Source!

To play the Audio of the show press the play button below:

To view and hear all available segments of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts".

Kundalini Yoga and Conscious Entrepreneurship Interview with Michele Risa

2009-01-14T19:04:00.001-05:00

Michele Risa is very passionate about Kundalini Yoga and Conscious Entrepreneurship. find out more about Dial-Up Yoga and other projects she is developing in this segment of Psychic Street Smarts.

To find out more about Michelle Risa go to www.BeyondBodyMindSpirit.com

To play the Audio of the show press the play button below:

To view and hear all segments of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts".

Frances Lacombe and Maria Losue on Sandplay Therapy

2009-01-07T19:23:00.000-05:00

In this segment of Psychic Street Smarts, I was guided in the modality of Sandplay by Frances Lacombe and Maria Losue. Intimidated at first I was surprised how easily I got into it and made some self-discoveries on the even though I was hosting the the show and on air live.

To find out more about Sandlplay you can contact Frances Lacombe call 416-427-7514 or go to www.sandplay.ca

To play the Audio of the show press the play button below:

To find all available episodes of the show go to "Psychic Street Smarts"

Halloween on Mad Dog and Billy Show!

2008-11-02T02:59:00.003-05:00

Halloween fun was had in the wee hours at a winner's house in Maple Ontario thanks to the The Breakfast Show with Mad Dog and Billie and Virgin Radio 99.9 ! What an experience for the neighborhood! I am sure that a couple of media vans and several cars invading their quiet neighborhood was really something for the folks in this part of Maple. And the fact that they brought a truck full of chocolate from Cadbury .

Bringing a mini studio to the this home is no small event I am sure! It was a neat process to participate in and I am quite sure I only saw a fraction of the work and planning that went into it! I can say that the winners were great hosts and I had a wonderful time meeting all the people associated with the show and this Halloween promotion!

Being on the air that early in the morning was really an eye opener! Although I drank half a can of Red Bull energy drink to do it and will never drink that stuff again I did really enjoy the experience! LOL Mad Dog and Billy really are full of zany energy and yep I needed to tap into it to get into the vibe of on the air between 6 and 9 am on Halloween day.

A morning person I am not, but once there in all the excitement and antics, I truly had a blast with the Mad Dog and Billy and the wonderful winners! It was a privilege to give a live on air reading to the winner of the radio contest. She was a wonderful person and really the whole family are great people!

Photos courtesy of Cathy and Fabio the prize winners

Thanks to The Breakfast Show with Mad Dog and Billie and Virgin Radio 99.9 for a fun filled Halloween!

Photo courtesy of The Breakfast Show with Mad Dog and Billie and Virgin Radio 99.9

Soul Mate… The MOST misunderstood idea in modern spiritual circles today…

2008-09-25T14:40:00.008-04:00

The idea of a Soul Mate is not a new concept, but it has to be one of the most misunderstood concepts within modern theories of new age and eastern spirituality. Again western thinkers (or non thinkers and those who wish to practice spiritual bypass as the case may be) have taken this term out of context and done much harm to the desperate seeker who is clinging to an old relationship because of some misguided concept of Soul Mate. People who are not thinking or who want pat answers to this life may be spiritual dilettantes who do not really want to work on themselves. Much of the time these folks are the neediest of people and will cling to the idea that there is one “Soul Mate” for them and will not in many cases move forward with their lives even when the other person does.

It does not help that some readers are unscrupulous and will take advantage of these vulnerable seekers by promising special spells and rituals to bring he lost lover back. When the seeker realizes this is a scam they are understandably angry but still many of these seekers are just not ready and willing to hear the blunt truth even if the reader does try to be honest with them in a kind way.

For a reader like me, it is absolutely painful at times to try to get through to such desperate folks that there is not just o

ne person for each of us but, rather that as we grow and change so to will our “ideal person” change also. This is the fact of the matter but it is not what some really distressed clients want to hear. I have found myself in the awful position of having to tell the seeker like it is that the ex (assumed by them to be their Soul Mate) is NOT coming back. It is a difficult thing to do but the reputable reader will not feed into hopeless delusions. Even with trying to do that though the reader is then blamed for the seekers problems and usually the seeker moves on to the next reader who might tell them what they want to hear.

So What IS a Soul Mate Anyway?

Soul Mate as I understand it is NOT a perfect match with whom you are meant to spend the rest of your life in a rosy, fantasy love relationship, rather this term refers a concept related to reincarnation where in the Soul Mate acts as a mirror for the individual to learn from.

Yes you will feel comfortable/familiar with this person should you meet them as they are similar to you and brought to you to show you something about yourself. Many people report feeling like they have known that person for their whole lives and yet the come to a psychic trying to figure out why the relationship went bad.

Well, being in a relationship with your spiritual mirror is not always easy and can in fact be unpleasant. The biggest problem in modern spiritual circles though is a serious misconception of what a Soul Mate really is.

There are 3 types of relationship mirrors/ Soul Mates. As Arianni Masters at (http://www.soulmaterelationships.com/soulmatearticles/soulmatedefinition.htm) so concisely expresses it:

One is the mirror of who you were. This mirror gives you the opportunity to see how far you have come, the chance to experience the karma that you have already cleared. So don’t get caught up in this relationship worried about why it is coming back at this time, thank it and let it go.

A second type of relationship is the one that is mirroring where you are now on your path. If an issue or person has an emotional "charge" to it, then you still have work to do. This mirror is the hardest to look at because it reflects the things you have not yet finished in your karma. These are the things that we are the most blind to.

The last type of relationship is the one that mirrors your potential. This allows you to have a glimpse at who you could be, if you wanted to. This person is usually someone that you idealize and put on a pedestal.

Now let’s look at this explanation more closely. Nowhere does Arianni Masters say that the Soul Mate is the person who you are supposed to be with for the rest of life. Nowhere does this author say that there is one person who is just for you and who will be there no matter how messed up you are to fix your life etc etc. In fact this author makes it quite clear that the reason for these relationship mirrors/Soul Mates is for you, me us as individuals to learn about ourselves so we can grow spiritually and clear karma. It is not about fixing or changing the other person but rather about looking deeper into ourselves and gaining insights that will help each of us to move forward in a positive way.

Quoting Arianni Masters again:

“… the more you clear up issues for yourself, the more you ARE the ‘right’ person, the more you will attract the person you are looking for.”

With that in mind, my comment to past, present and prospective clients who might be in a hopeless place in their romantic lives is simply that the reading is for you and is about where you are at and how you are going to work on yourself. Desperately seeking a so called Soul Mate (as per the common misuse of this term) when you are in a bad will only lead to a situation where you meet a similar negative match because like draws like.

If you are depressed and needy at the time you meet that person you think is the one likely if they are drawn to you they are also depressed and needy also. But be aware that there will come a point where one of you will raise your energetic vibrations and so the connection will become uncomfortable and one of the pair will feel they must move on even if the other does not want to let go of the relationship.

For the one feeling left behind this can be difficult to accept but travelling from medium to medium or psychic to psychic and expecting that they can cast a spell or do some magic or even predict when the ex partner is totally unrealistic. And yet too many people expect exactly that and then become bitter and spiteful and feel abused when they do not achieve the desired result or hear what they so badly want to hear.

The best a medium can do is connect with your deceased loved ones and bring the messages of encouragement forward that they have for you so that you can move forward with your life. The best a psychic can do is tell you the type of person that is a good match for you and give you glimpses into your life situation pointing out possibilities where a change in actions and behaviors on your part might led you to the result you want.

Don’t go to a reader and expect that by some miracle that this intuitive worker will change your life for you. This is not what psychic readings are about. Readings are only a guide for you to consider possibilities that you as the seeker might not have thought of. Readings for most people are a time when they connect with deceased loved ones and find comfort and perhaps some new directions to try. Readers can point you in useful directions but the path you take and the choices you make are yours alone. The only one who can change your life is you!

Simplifying Life... the Adventure Continues... Taking Care of My Body, Mind and Spirit

2008-06-23T12:06:00.013-04:00

As we enter summer I am aware that I have been making very good changes in my life. I cleared out a lot of material clutter and emotional nonsense and now want to get back to a healthier me! With that in mind I started a new nutritional cleansing and fat burning program. I had not done anything like that before so I had no idea what to expect but all the other changes seemed to work out well so this was again the next logical step.

I had heard that Isagenix has allowed others to have very noticeable, positive results so I decided to give it a try. I was introduced to Isagenix on Wednesday June 11 and started the regiment on June 19. In less than a week I have seen a drop in my weight and a change in my body shape. I have way more energy and I am able to do more psychical exercise and fun activities that I have not be able to do comfortably for years! I am most pleasantly surprised by the rapid changes that are happening because I feel GREAT and am even happier because those around me have noticed these positive changes already as well.

As a person with Cerebral Palsy I am not as able to get around physically. This means I am not as physically active as I would like to be. This coupled with unwanted weight gain since I turned thirty resulted in constant pain, fatigue and depression. I used to think that these things unwanted weight gain, constant pain, fatigue and depression were just things I was going to have to live with but now I have found and easy and healthy alternative that is having very positive results.

Since I started using the Isagenix products I have found that I am more focused and clients have commented that my readings have become even more accurate. All I know is that I am feeling a much different connection to the energy and that it is on a stronger flow. I am grateful for the different changes I have been able to make in my life and am so excited about what the future may hold.

Funny how changes happen all at once! I am so glad to have found different things that work for me at this stage in my life.

Are you ready for positive change?

Are you ready to discover a healthier you?

Are you ready for a system that enables you to reach your wellness goal?

Are you open to opportunities for success?

If so please go to my website catherinemacdonald.isagenix.com

Please also fee free to contact me directly at 416-253-6742 for more information and check in with my blog often as I will continue to share my success with Isagenix on a regular basis.. Feeling SO good I can't wait to see where this this lifestyle change leads!

Eliminate the Material Clutter and Emotional Nonsense and Simplify Life: A Path Peaceful, Focused and Grounded Living.

2008-06-05T07:12:00.007-04:00

For the last few years I had over extended myself and allowed life to get way too complicated. Being in the midst of a newly successful business and trying to balance that with a new relationship and then also dealing with people around me who whether they knew it or not were not respecting me as a person let alone as a friend, I had to make changes.

The funny thing about changes is that we do not always know why we are compelled to make them at the time. But there are just times in life when there is no other option but to change the direction where we are headed.

For me I became aware of my need for change in about February. I was anxious and unsettled and I could not figure out why. I mean business was good and I was enjoying a very loving relationship and I had lots of friends who were an important part of my life. Regardless, I needed change. And the message seemed to be “You need a simpler life. You must simplify things!” Now I do psychic readings for others and I do not pretend to get messages for myself in that way so I put message in the category of my body, mind and spirit telling me that it was time for change and making it impossible for me to ignore the message.

In March I took a good look around my place and decided I needed to get better organized. I thought once I am better organized I will feel like my old self again and life will be back to normal. With this in mind I did two things, I hired a professional organizer and a house keeper.

The professional organizer was wonderful! In just a few days she helped me to reorganize my space and I felt some of the stress lift. Then I got into a routine with the housekeeper coming in every other week and more stress lifted.

But then the pressure came back even heavier. I thought what the heck is wrong? After much thought I realized that there was still some things I needed to Simplify in my life. I was way too busy and I was not enjoying it anymore.

In the end of March I realized that I would need to make other changes. I was not sure where to start. I had just gone back to school, I was running a development circle, I was teaching a course at my church and I was doing a weekly radio show. So that meant I was out 4 nights a week and working on the other night as well as days and weekends. I had taken on too much but how do I make the changes I needed to?

April would go by and I would finish teaching the church course and so some of the stress lifted. But I was still out 4 nights a week and not enjoying what I was doing anymore. I knew I needed to make changes but where do I start?

Well in May the stuff hit the fan and I was shown where the changes needed to happen. It was not easy and in fact to tell the truth it was very painful. But I knew I had asked for help in making the changes that I needed to and when it was made clear to me the path to take I chose not to avoid it. I understand that it is an energetic shift that needed to happen.

So in that time I started to take a good look around and continued eliminating unnecessary material clutter and started working on the emotional nonsense. I cut the radio show spots in half and finally started being truthful about certain individuals and situations in my life that I felt were way out of control. For me this was very much a Spiritual house cleaning that needed to happen. Since I had done that work in the material level of my life this just seemed to be the next logical step. It is amazing how taking decisive actions and making clear statements about where one stands can be freeing. Now does not mean that this kind of change is easy. Far from it! It was probably the most difficult change of all that I had to make but it was necessary. In many ways I felt like I was walking off a cliff and did not know where I would land but no matter once the changes started to happen I just had to ride them out.

There are some folks involved who are quite put out by my recent actions but you know they will just have to get over themselves. My life does not revolve around them as much as they might assume otherwise. Once I realized that I could much better do without certain people in my life, I was also able to take a break from the meditation circle that I had been running for over two years with the possibility of starting it up at some other later date. I will miss some of those people I had connected with but there are others who I now know it was time to move on from.

With that in mind I am regaining my focus and my peacefulness and realize that any of the sort-term negative fallout from the changes I have made will be far outweighed by the positive long-term gains that will be there in the future.

I am often saying to clients, state your truth, act on it and stick by it. Some may not like it and may target you for it but you are on a more important path in life. There comes a time when one needs to eliminate the material clutter and emotional nonsense and simplify life. If you can do that you will find a personal balance of body, mind and spirit and with that will come peace. You will also rediscover your focus and enter into a more purposeful direction in your life where you know you are solidly grounded in what you are doing. That is what I have experienced in the last few months anyway. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store now!

“Stop Messing With My Life!” Famous Last Words of a Psychic Reading Junkie.

2008-05-31T07:37:00.007-04:00

“You are a Crap Reader!” “I wonder if she’s reading that right…” How often I hear these phrases when I am not going along with other people’s agendas, doing what they expect or telling them what they want to hear. Working as a Spiritualist Medium there is of course an expectation that I am a spiritual person and that my focus comes from that perspective. I would like to think that most of the time that I am spiritual and serve Spirit well or at least that I try to do that to the best of my ability. Unfortunately the spirit communications that I usually see as gifts can weigh heavily on the heart at times.

Of late, I have been feeling like some people expect that I am just there to suit their needs and for their benefit even when it might not be balanced or healthy for me and that if I were a truly spiritual person I would just accept that role without question. I am sorry to disappoint them but that is just not realistic.

Now with clients it is natural that they will make certain demands of the reader and that when they are in crisis may be even more demanding than normal. I can live with this and it is just one of the costs of being in this work. But where does the reader go when THEY are in crisis? The easy answer to that is they should rely on their angels or spirit guides. While I am able to do that most of the time, recently I have been dealing with a tremendous amount of stress because of the agendas of others and their demands on my time, energy and talents.

I accept that I have allowed the situations to develop and know that I need to change things but how do I do that when certain patterns are entrenched? How do I accommodate my need for changes and yet continue being a good friend to those I care about a good instrument for Spirit to teach through and maintain my integrity as a reader? How do I make the changes I feel I must make in my teaching and spiritual work without offending others who have become comfortable with the status quo and feel that this is exactly the way things should remain? How do I deal with the expectations of others when they themselves have no clue what it is like to be where I am at?

Sadly the burn out rate in the helping professions is very high as caregivers and health and social work practitioners of all kinds get caught up in always being “on” or "in service" to others. It is no different in the psychic industry. Those who truly care about people struggle very hard to balance the needs with others with their own needs. I have found that I allowed things to happen that I now wish I had not.

For example: while having the title of medium or psychic can be a great conversation piece at parties and social gatherings it can also be a drag…. I mean just because I can do readings does not mean I want to do readings all the time… Like the doctor who goes to social functions and is asked for free medical advice being asked “can you read for me?”, “what do you see around me?”, “what do you get from Spirit on this or that?” gets a little old after a while.

While I can and do deflect this natural curiosity with humour there are just some people who do not realize when they are over stepping the bounds and do not seem to take hints very well and I suppose this is where the reader needs to be blunt and matter of fact about feeling hounded and then disrespected when what is read is not what the person asking wants to hear.

Unfortunately being brutally honest with needy and sometimes disrespectful people who take advantage is not so easy to do because situations are usually complex and are complicated by these people needlessly involving others because they are so intent on deluding themselves. Usually these folks who stress the reader out are very good friends with good hearts who the reader is very close to who are for lack of a better word “reading junkies”. With clients when this happens the reader can refuse to read and eliminate the problem but what can you do when it is a good friend who is pushing the boundaries of comfort and not aware (one would hope) that they are doing it?

To deal with this I am the fan of the direct approach but people do not tend to take it well when the reader refuses to read for them especially if they are stressed or obsessed about one issue or another in their lives. People also seem to think that their problems or situations should be an exception and for that reason you should read for them because it is “spiritual to give” and you should read because you are their "friend". This might be true but at what point do you tell a junkie that they are a junkie? And how do you handle it when that junkie also happens to be a valued friend? Where do you find the balance and the courage? And what if they are telling half truths to others around you because they want what they want no matter what?

Most of the time I feel the blunt approach is best but there is always the one friend who you know is hoping for a reading and hinting around it and so the reader is in the nasty position were it might be tempting just to give in and so it goes. This same friend may also be someone (who because you care about them) you really don't want to expose for their "he said, she said" talking behind the backs of others behaviour because you do not want to hurt that friend or others involved. But in my opinion half truths and behind the scenes "he said, she said" stuff has to be stopped especially when the half truths are impacting the reputation and health of the reader being put in the middle of all of it.

Reading for friends who are also junkies is not so difficult if these junkies like what you have to say. BUT what about when you are forced to tell them what you see and it is not what they WANT to hear? For example, the good friend is in a bad relationship and wants to know if it is going to work out, should the reader tell the friend if I see problems or not? What about the friend who is infatuated with someone and it is not being reciprocated at the same level as their intentions? What should the reader say? Should one risk a friendship to state what they see as truth? In a perfect world, I would say yes that you as the reader owe it to your friend to be honest and when Spirit gives a message you should give it as gracefully as you can. But we are not in a perfect world, as the reader you take the risk of offending the friend and hurting feelings. So now what? Tell them what they NEED to hear or what the WANT to hear. My integrity forces me to fall into the first option. It is about what they NEED to hear.

Most of the time I can handle their disappointment and the friendship is not damaged in anyway. But when the friend then begins to question your motive and integrity and clarity because you are being truthful and blunt and they just don’t want to hear it then there is a problem. I mean how can a reader be valued as accurate in reading the other areas of the friend’s life and then be treated as unreliable just because what is being said is not what that person wants to hear? My thought is a reader is either accurate or not. The reading junkie cannot have it both ways.

I am not sure how many other readers have gone through this but I know that I am probably not alone. If I knew then what I know now I would do things much differently but even when more experienced readers tried to explain how and why we need to set boundaries I only got part of it.

I fully understood why a good reader never reads for their partner and I am blessed to be in a solid relationship where I am NEVER asked to read for my boyfriend. But when it came to friends I was soft and gave in far too often. Funny how I was seen as accurate until it was something these "friends" did not want to hear and suddenly my reading ability and intentions were then in question. I can handle that and perhaps this is the catalyst to make some healthy changes. Since some friends were put out by what I had to say maybe they will ask for readings less often from other readers in the future? Perhaps this is the start of them standing on their own and trusting their connection to Spirit and the Universe rather than constantly seeking readings? And what is the reader's responsibility in enabling a psychic reading addict to feed the habit? I know in one case I was weak and let it go on WAY WAY too long and now I am being made out to be the the one who is bad or who has a problem when all I did was choose to be honest with all involved and extradite myself from a VERY messy situation .

Being told by the reading junkie to “stop messing with my life" was interesting because until this point this person was so wrapped up in readings they had stopped thinking for themselves. Where is their own personal responsibility in living their lives and so who was it that messing up their life? Although it was not easy to be brutally honest, when there got to be too much “he said, she said” nonsense and a whole circle of friends became involved, it had to be dealt with and I still think laying out all the facts for folks who only had part of the story is the only way to go… For the junkie who goes from reader to reader time will tell which perception is right and all I can say is I stand by what I said. I continue to say to anyone who puts others in such a situation of being in the middle: where is the junkie's personal responsibility in all this? Energy follows intention and if the intention is dishonest and wrong nothing good can come of it and that applies to both the reader who is afraid to speak their truth and the junkie who is using readings to avoid experiencing life in a real way.

Follow the link to hear more about the problems of the psychic reading junkie phenomenon and why I work hard NOT to be part of it by working as a Spiritualist Medium... Because of my training as a medium I also chose to stand up to those who have abdicated their own personal responsibility in their lives even if they are valued friends. Psychic Junkie: A Memoir

Healing Messages Come From the Least Expected Places…. Thank you!

2008-05-27T03:11:00.003-04:00

I met a very in tune lady on Monday, I must say we made a real connection and for me it was the thing I needed. Sometimes people can say things without knowing what they are touching upon.

As the past few blogs show I have been dealing with some very negative circumstances in my life and was feeling frustrated and overwhelmed, and through the kind and sensible words of this woman I was given what I believe was a message from Spirit that helped me to better understand what it is I am to do and learn as a reader and a teacher and why I was being challenged at this time.

While some people might not like what I have said in past blogs, I say what I think at the time to get others thinking too. More people tend to appreciate it than not so I guess that is a good thing. And in the case of this in tune lady who answered some struggles I was having; she saw something valuable in what I am doing and decided to connect. So it goes to show that you have to put your thoughts out there. Some may not like them and so be it. On the other hand, by being real and true to myself and honest in the work I do I draw amazing people to me and so will always risk offending the naysayers, and the negative jealous sorts for the chance to meet genuine, connected people.

I just wanted to take time to thank Julia and Spirit for touching my life though her words when I really needed it.

Life Catalysts: Never What You Expect Them to Be…

2008-05-26T14:26:00.006-04:00

Many times in my life I have been told that through my spiritual work that I am meant to be a catalyst in the lives of others. While I accept this as part of the purpose behind being a Spiritualist Medium there are times when it is a very stressful to be handed this job. It has in the past hurt me deeply to see friendships end and to realize that I am really alone in the way I see my work but I have come to fully trust Spirit does things for reasons and that in the end it works out as it should.

While I fully expect Spirit to hand me the role of catalyst in the lives of the people around me, I do not pretend to know how this will play out. I don’t think I am supposed to have that insight and I am suspicious when people around me start trying to tell me just HOW I am meant to be the catalyst in another’s life because this usually proves to be little more than some folks using me, my energy, my talents and the things I am connected to as a way to fulfill their personal agendas. Most of the time they are unconscious that this is what they are doing and it comes to a shock to them when situations do not work out as they plan them to.

I am not shocked that their plans are kyboshed however, because it seems to me that SPIRIT decides in what way someone is to be a catalyst and Spirit does not usually explain exactly how the change is going to come. Usually even I do not know who I am a catalyst for until the event has come about and the changes are happening. All I know is that Spirit presents situations where I (as the catalyst) am forced to act and react in a way that is best for me and that is exactly what I have learned to do.

Self-preservation being an instinctual tool, I can sense when I must speak my truth in a blunt way and for some this is the catalyst in their lives that they least expect. Sadly but not surprisingly, I find that these folks with agendas are so focused on changing others to fit their notions of how life should unfold that they do not realize that Spirit is actually using me to be a catalyst in their lives rather than the lives of the people they hope and expect to change.

I used to think I was just imagining it but the more I go through experiences with people the more I am convinced that I am a life catalyst but that as a catalyst I am never quite what the people who’s lives I change expect me to be. While this used to bother me I now think it is how Spirit uses each of us to help those around us grow.

With that in mind I know I am blunt and say the things that some folks are not ready to hear but I am definite in saying what I am compelled say and adamant in knowing that I am guided by Spirit regardless. For this reason I stand by what I say and will face whatever consequences might come out of being truthful with those who ask for my advice and psychic impressions.

For those who might not really be able to handle the blunt truth then do not challenge me to be a life catalyst for others unless you are willing to risk change as well because you will find I am never what you expect and that the changes you plan for others might be brought to your life instead because that is how Spirit works.

Balance of Body, Mind and Spirit: a lifetime to Achieve or Not?! Is there such a thing as too much Therapy?

2008-05-09T13:33:00.010-04:00

Of late I have been presented with the idea of the spiritual journey as a means of healing. While I fully agree with this notion, my question is: At what point does the spiritual journeyer truly come to a state of healing? Is it supposed to take a lifetime or are we able to find the balance of body, mind and spirit at some mature point in our lives and assist others to do the same from a healthy perspective. Is there some point where the seeker can exit the “client” role where they need to fix themselves and enter the place of being a balanced seeker who can enjoy being in a state of healing and still continue their personal growth on their spiritual journey?

As you can imagine, working as a Spiritualist Medium/ Psychic Advisor I meet a lot of people who are in a constant state of feeling “damaged”. By this I mean they are constantly in therapy and seem to see themselves as addicted, broken or needing fixing in some way. They seem to flit from this modality and that modality, this practitioner or that practitioner but they never seem to find the answers they are hungering for and hunting after. Is there such a thing as therapy overload? And is the real issue that these folks are hiding behind the “I am damaged” thinking so they can avoid experiencing life in all its hues both positive and negative? Are these people in therapy as a way of doing emotional bypass?

Now as the reader, you might think I am talking about clients of mine but this is not the case. Most of my clients do seem to be able to find their balance while most of the people in a chronic state of feeling “damaged” tend to be other New Age parishioners that I have met as a professional in my field. While it might be quite natural that these people who are in self-discovery to want to help others in some way, I really wonder if it is healthy for such folks go into alternative counseling work when they are in the constant state of feeling damaged. At what point does the constant attitude of feeling being feeling “damaged” emotionally, spiritually and psychologically as a practitioner become unhealthy and just plain bad for potential clients?

I am not saying that seeking out various methods of therapy is bad thing and certainly other methods aside from psychic readings such as soul coaching, past life regression therapies or channeling sessions are very helpful to some folks. I am the first to say try something out and see if it resonates with your own spirit. I am also the first to look at the psychic industry and say there are lots of people feeding on the misfortune of wounded souls who are looking to them for help and that is totally wrong. I am simply asking at what point does therapy lose its value and become an addition?

Sadly, I do see a disturbing trend in the New Age/Alternative healing and counseling circles, which is where those in the position of counselor are wounded healers and projecting their own issues onto their clients without even realizing it. While it can be useful to encourage clients to explore different methods of self-discovery through various forms of counseling, at what point does the person learn what the life lessons are and get on with the business of living life?

For example, I go to my doctor when I am ill. I am presented with a diagnosis and options for dealing with the symptoms and the underlying conditions that are causing the symptoms. It is not up to the doctor to fix me although there may be some medical procedure that the doctor does that will help and that is required. My health is my business and it is up to me to take an active role in it. And having said that if I am constantly going to doctors then there is a continued problem that needs to be resolved and once I resolve it I get on with life and hopefully put preventative measures into place so that I do not constantly need a doctor’s care.

I suppose I see counseling spiritual or otherwise in the same light. In my opinion, the goal of counseling is a tool that helps the client to get on with his or her life. It should not become a lifestyle in itself ala counseling for counseling sake. At what point can the client make the choice as to how much is too much when the counselor they are using seems to be thoroughly out of balance? Seems to me that most clients look to their counselor as a guide as to how they might fix their lives. Most people who are in counseling are in the place of being lost souls. They tend to emulate the ideas, attitudes and behaviors of the counselor until they start to feel more centered in themselves.

But what if the counselor is all over the place spiritually, emotionally, energetically and psychologically? How can these practitioners successfully aid clients/seekers in finding a personal balance of body mind and spirit when it seems their own life is way out of whack? How can they provide a forum for clients to find balance when they themselves unable to find or maintain their own balance of body mind and spirit? I am not sure I have the answers but these are serious questions that need to be answered by us as professionals who present ourselves as therapists, channels, psychics, coaches and spiritual directors with the credentials to facilitate others in their spiritual growth and life choices. Sadly, I see to many practitioners who go into the field to fix themselves to the detriment of their future clients.

While no counselor is perfect there are some key red flags for the seeker when choosing a professional no matter what modality they specialize in.

Does the counselor know when they are out of their depth and know the process for referral to other necessary alternative and mainstream mental health and medical/counseling services? Or do they just continue the counseling relationship well after it has become dysfunctional?
Does the practitioner maintain strict confidentiality unless the client is seen to be a danger to himself/herself and others? Or does the practitioner divulge personal details from sessions without thinking or when it suits their agenda even if it is inappropriate? While the client my not know this for sure they can get a feeling for it based on what kind of information this practitioner shares with them about others in the session.
Does the counselor have proper boundaries when it comes to practitioner/client relationship? For example do they maintain professional relationships with their clients or do all their clients somehow become personal friends of the practititioner and the boundaries become muddied? If your counselor is too chatty with you and divulging personal details about other clients to you as a “friend” you can bet your personal stuff is not kept in strict confidence no matter what the practitioner might say to the contrary.
Does the practitioner have enough grounded experience in their chosen modality and can they provide real resources to show what their methods/ teachings and spiritual assumptions and judgments are grounded on or is it just imaginative psychobabble and New Age fluff that is considered to be by most people to be substandard pop psych?

How you as the reader answer the above questions for yourself as the client will tell you if your potential counselor is sound or not. It is up to the client to be proactive in the counseling process and in choosing your practitioner. Be observant and if something does not sit right with you then do not ignore it. Likely where there is smoke there is fire.

How can New Age/Alternative counseling practitioners expect modalities such as psychic readings, soul coaching, past life regression therapies or channeling sessions etc. to be part of the mainstream when too many of the current New Age therapies and the practitioners who provide them are seen as “flakey, ungrounded, or unstable” by the vast majority of the public? If nothing else, even if practitioners do not agree with the mainstream view of the work they do; they have to ask themselves the hard question as to why the New Age healing, counseling and therapies and the practitioners involved with them are viewed as suspect y other professionals and the public at this time. What is it we need to do to change this perception? While I do not profess to have the answers I do think these are just some of the questions we must ask ourselves if we make a living in the psychic industry and the New Age field because I am sure the clients will be asking even if we don’t.

Perhaps it is up to the professional organizations and the colleges that are certifying alternative therapy professionals to also ask these hard questions and more thoroughly screen those who apply to their programs and organizations. Whatever the future holds for these New Age counseling modalities that seem to be the latest craze, there will come a point where accountability measures and certain standards must be put in place and practitioners will have to meet and exceed these benchmarks of responsible care in order to be considered reputable by the public whether they like it or not.

Ed and Red's Night Party Spot

2008-01-17T23:12:00.000-05:00

Working as a psychic allows one to meet and greet folks from a variety of social circles and the media tends to love psychics for some reason. I would guess that Ed the Sock and Red his vivacious co-host are no exceptions...

In late November I was invited by the show's Communications Liaison to do a guest spot on Ed and Red's Night Party... I must say that when I first talked to Roxane I thought yeah sure... (I get lots of people who tell me that they are in the media so they can get a free reading. Not sure why they think it works... I mean as a psychic I might just catch on if someone is trying to scam me right??)

Anyway, Roxane and the gust spot with Ed the Sock and Red (Liana K) turned out to be very real! What a blast! Crazy set and a fun bunch of people who enjoy putting the show together. It is a lot of work but a lot of fun too from what I could tell amidst all the organized chaos!

For those who don't know Ed the Sock, he is this obnoxious grey sock with bright green hair that smokes a cigar. He prides himself on saying the unspeakable on TV and the show is campy and yet loads of fun. Lots of scantily clad young women and Red (Liana K) tend to appeal to the mostly male audience. Red (Liana K) for her part as co-host has her hands full trying to keep Ed the sock in line but usually she manages to pull it off.

Now I must say that at first I felt slightly overdressed for the occasion and for me that was a good thing LOL... Seeing all the hot tub girls in their various styles of bikinis and undies and bras was really something. Yep TV and photos do add 10 pounds and these young ladies made me very aware of just how much weight I have put on since my mid 20s. My mild insecurity aside, once I got over the shock of seeing the go go dancing and the hot tub girls at work, I got quite comfy and felt quite welcomed on the set...

When I told friends I was doing a spot on Ed and Red's Night Party they warned me that Ed was gonna make fun of me and as one friend put it "he's gonna eat you alive!" Much to my surprise and relief Ed was quite tame, but then there is nothing quite like being interviewed by Red (Liana K) with Ed the Sock over your shoulder making obnoxious, distracting comments... All and all it was quite an entertaining experience and believe it or not I would do it again in a heartbeat!

As to when the interview I did will be aired I am not sure... Perhaps some fans of the show will let me know if I don't catch it...

The show airs on City TV Toronto at 11:30 pm on Friday nights and is re- broadcast on the same station at 11:30 pm on Sunday nights. If you want more of Ed and Red you can always find them at http://www.edthesock.com.

Spiritualism and the New Age Radio Show

2007-12-31T08:03:00.000-05:00

As of October 2007 I started hosting a weekly radio show called Spiritualism and the New Age on www.radio.com that airs Thursday evenings at 8 pm! The experience has been very interesting and a heck of a lot of fun!

For me hosting the show has allowed me to meet a variety of spiritual seekers from a variety of spiritual paths. It has also given me the opportunity to talk in detail with trusted friends who I see as like minded seekers.

To check out the latest podcasts you can go to Spiritualism and the New Age Podcasts to listen to and download the podcasts You can also find the most recent podcasts on my website at my website www.spiritualcat.com

Paranormal in Brampton...

2007-12-16T15:43:00.000-05:00

It was the end of November when I was asked by a paranormal research group to work with them on a case they had coming up in Brampton. Now as a Spiritualist Medium/ Psychic I am used to working in my home, in the churches, doing parties but I have not really gotten into ghost hunting per say so when I was asked by the head of Jeff's Paranormal Investigations to work with them I figured why not?

As a psychic and medium who posts her contact information I get a lot of contact from folks who say they are into paranormal investigations and are in the media. Most of these people have been delusional and nothing came of the contact they made with me. Now with this as my background you will understand why I was skeptical when Jeff called me.

There was something in the conversation we had that told me that I wanted to work with these people. They turned out to be very knowledgeable and committed to serious research. It was a truly interesting experience for me.

We arrived at the home where the haunting was happening and the family there were very frightened. The were so frightened in fact that they had given their notice an were moving out that next week.

Now while I was in the home I did not feel anything evil or negative but these folks were already scared out of their minds. With that being the atmosphere I did a walk through of the house and was able to describe who was there and why they were there.

The family were very religious and somewhat superstitious and they were grateful for any help that myself or the paranormal researchers could offer.

As I walked through the home I did feel various locations that were warm or cold. The mother's bedroom and the basement were areas of strong activity. As the spirit entities made themselves known I was able to describe and older man who spent a lot of time in the home being cared for before he passed. I became aware of a choking sensation and described that only to find out later that it was that kind of choking sensation that made the mother afraid to go to bed at night.

It was my understanding at the time that someone else in the home prior to this family living there was the elderly man's care giver and that he was there looking for her. As it turns out the occupant in the house was his neighbour and she did look after him until he died.

Another active spot in the home was the basement. It was here that I was able to sense a man who lived on the land as a farmer before the subdivision was built. He was upset that people were on his land and was the spirit that was doing his best to frighten any people who came to live in the house. I had the sense that he liked to make the lights, t.v. and radio as well as computer do strange things. I later learned this kind of physical manipulation of electronic equipment was what had the family convinced that the house was haunted and that something evil was bothering them.

I was able to explain to the tenants of the home that he was a farmer and that he had apple orchards. He was upset because as he got older he was no longer able to work the land as a farmer and his sons made him sell off the land. It was his anger and unwillingness to leave that put him in contact with the present family and it was his desire to get them out of the house that made him effect different electronics in the home.

Now the best part of all this was helping the family come to terms with what had happened. There is a great deal of satisfaction in helping folks understand and lose their fear of the spirit world.

As it turns out the family did move but a least they now understand what happened to them and can rest assured that they are not cursed or possessed in any way.

As for the paranormal researchers they also experienced similar physical sensations and are in the processing the video and audio recordings to see what they were able to pick up...

I would love to work with Jeff's Paranormal Investigations on future investigations should there come another opportunity.

Psychic Reading with your Morning Java??

2007-08-17T07:06:00.000-04:00

The following article was published in The Toronto Star. Fun things to do in Toronto before 8am.

DAYBREAK DIARY

The city that's still asleep

In which our intrepid reporter ventures out at sunrise to prove that, yes, there is life after dawn

Aug 16, 2007 04:30 AM

Michele Henry
Staff Reporter

Words to live by at 6:20 in the morning: "Just don't go out wearing no underwear."

A man who calls himself Smiley, lithe with a natty braid stretching down his back, delivered this advice to no one in particular as he feigned a stumble through the front door of Vesta Lunch. It's a 24-hour truck stop at Bathurst and Dupont Sts., notorious for its surly wait staff, crusty clientele and vinyl bar stools.

"How are ya? I'm drunk," he says. "I'm kidding. Gimme a coffee." He plunks himself down at a stool near mine and snarls in my direction.

There it is: my initiation into the world of early-morning Toronto – a world shrouded in semi-darkness, with idling garbage trucks, the odd jogger darting between fluorescent street signs and people who lurk in laneways or pontificate like Smiley.

I blink in his direction, but glance past him through Vesta's floor-to-ceiling windows. The scene outside resembles a ghost town: Cars streak across the empty road. Traffic lights chirp for no one. It's quiet – even a bit eerie when the pulse of the city isn't thumping.

This is the first day of my hunt to find out what's on in this city between 6 and 9 a.m. as the subway squeals into motion and most locals hit the snooze button. The challenge is to pinpoint activities that don't include wandering aimlessly, praying or exercising.

Toronto's a bustling metropolis by day, but it was a chore to find quality leisure activities that fire up in the post-dawn hours. Cricket fanatics like to hit the pitch before 9 a.m., but most clubs are members only. Toronto spas open fashionably late, so manicures are out of the question. Forget about champagne and orange juice at 6 a.m. – the Four Seasons won't even serve fancy alcohol before noon. And gambling? Hustlers usually sleep in. But there are slots at Woodbine, which are open 24/7.

Many activities are unpredictable. After-hours clubs promise to be packed past dawn, but doors often shut early, with no warning. A handwritten note tacked to the entrance of a 24-hour bowling alley greeted me at 7 a.m. one morning, explaining the place was closed because of an "emergency."

On the upside, the sidewalks outside Toronto's many bakeries fill with the smell of fresh bread and coffee is plentiful.

My first stop, after wrenching myself from slumber at 5:45 a.m. this morning, was Caffé Brasiliano on Dundas St. W. It opens at 5:30. The espresso machine screeches to life, sending a jolt of noise through the café. Some patrons perk up and nod in mutual fatigue.

Plumber Jonathan Fernandez and other labourers, all calloused hands, work boots and lunch pails, sip from miniature espresso cups, outside. It's a daily ritual.

"It's always the same people in here," Fernandez, 21, says. "We're like robots."

So are early morning exercisers. An aerobics class at Extreme Fitness at Bay and Bloor Sts. is packed.

"Knees up," yells the instructor. "Keep moving."

Everyone's bouncing like a bunny on crack, but there's a camaraderie as they shed their fatigue. It's as if they share a secret, an ownership of this more efficient, quiet world.

The light strikes me when I leave the gym. And I'm shocked, almost angered, to join a sidewalk teeming with fast-walking pedestrians.

Late risers. Who do they think they are?

Where to live it up while everyone else is waking up

A handful of early-morning sites we visited on our week-long quest:

Comfort Zone, 480 Spadina Ave.

No klub kidz waving light sticks. No one barfing on the sidewalk. I'm disappointed. It's 6 a.m. and The Comfort Zone is closed. Manager Jose swore the after-hours club, open past 6 a.m. Friday to Monday, would be jumping, but I arrived to find the doors padlocked shut. Reliability before 9 a.m.? I think not.

Metro Golf Dome, 125 Milner Ave.

Feel like swinging a metal object before your morning coffee? It takes 15 minutes to get from downtown Toronto to Scarborough at 6 a.m., where I round into the only driving range that caters to golfers jonesing for an early-morning swing. The green's already carpeted with golf balls and the air's thick with Type-A tension. Golf's a serious, take-no-prisoners game, even at 7 a.m. "Sorry, can't talk, few more swings, then gotta go," one golfer says.

CAFfÉ BRASILIANO, 851 Dundas St. W.

A few patrons flop limply in booths at the back of the restaurant, and jolt upright when the espresso machine comes to life. The dimly lit space gets busier by the second. Owner Ken Connors is chipper, but not in an annoying way. "You're not gonna find anything around here that's open at 6 a.m.," he says of downtown Toronto. No one gets up that early – except him. "You become a morning person when you're in this business."

Bowlarama West, 5429 Dundas St. W.

Narrow windows surrounding the front door reveal a lights-off but lively bowling alley with all the charm the sport has to offer– moulded plastic benches, flashing lights, win-a-prize kiosks, shoe rental, snack bar. That's why it's extra disappointing to find the doors of this 24-hour joint, inside a strip mall, shut at 7 a.m. A handwritten note taped to the door explains the alley is closed due to "emergency."

Vesta Lunch, 474 Dupont St.

This 24-hour truck stop at Bathurst and Dupont Sts. never fails to amuse. One patron slumps over the counter. Another cracks wise about coffee with waiter Manuel Cornejo, 24, who says there's a steady stream of customers in the early morning even if it doesn't get too busy.

Jet Fuel, 519 Parliament St.

The stainless steel bar is swarmed with patrons, bleary-eyed and in desperate need of this high-octane coffee. The barista can hardly keep up with demand. I smack a handful of change down on the counter, plunge a few spoons of sugar into my tall to-go cup and exchange friendly words with a few random patrons. In and out in under seven minutes. A few sips of the appropriately named brew and I feel like I can fly.

Moksha Yoga, 1498 Yonge St., second floor

It's 6:30 a.m. and about 95C in this room. I'm not sure if it's possible to stay awake when it feels like I'm lying in a pool of heated molasses. There are about 10 people in this early morning hot, silent yoga class – and I'm in for 90 minutes of posing without any spoken instruction. The class is calming and surprisingly energizing. And at this time of day any worries about seeming uncoordinated melt away.

Commisso Brothers & Racco, 8 Kincort St.

I'd wager this is as close as Toronto comes to serving coffee Italian-style. If you're not in the mood for an early-morning veal sandwich – or ravioli, roast chicken, lasagne or a cannoli – sidle up next to the bar and shoot back an espresso. At this wee hour there's more Italian than English spoken in the convenience store/grocery. While the parking lot out front is deserted and dark, it smells of baking bread.

Psychic, 63 Superior Ave.

Spirits don't sleep in even if people do, says Catherine MacDonald, 37, who operates from a closet-sized room in her basement apartment. This psychic doesn't often do early-morning readings, but is available almost anytime by appointment. She's cheerful and ready by 8 a.m. when I arrive to have my fortune told, and says channelling the deceased comes naturally at any time of day. "To me, it's like second nature," she says.

Extreme Fitness, Bay and Bloor

Sweat is in the air at 7 a.m. The instructor's voice is booming and exercisers are too tired to resist her instruction. But as the music picks up so does our adrenaline. There's nothing like an early-morning fitness high to put life into perspective.

Ruby Chinese Restaurant, 1571 Sandhurst Circle

Managers open the doors at 7:45, even though food carts don't start rolling through the banquet-like restaurant until 8:45. Tables fill quickly with diners, newspapers in hand, waiting for freshly steamed dumplings, sticky rice, pork buns and congee. English is a language spoken sparely by staff, so dim sum serves me well. I just point.

Four Seasons Hotel, Avenue Rd. and Bloor St.

At 8 a.m. breakfast-seekers are dressed to the nines – full faces of makeup, not a coiffed hair out of place and Windsor-knotted ties. The well-to-do can dine on tofu-cheese, turkey sausage and egg-white omelettes, which is what I choose to eat, at tables spread with white linens. Morning paper's free and chatter is all business. Breakfast, with orange juice and tea, comes in at just under $30.

Michele Henry

Source: http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/246692

Spiritualism In Toronto Really Needs to Examine its Leaders!

2007-05-19T11:09:00.000-04:00

Yep I have been reading discussions at www.beliefnet.com lately... There is a thread in Intuitive Counseling called Job Possibility where a a poster is asking advice on if they should claim potential work income since they are on Social Assistance...

The poster's Plan A is to claim the income and the Plan B is to "get paid off the books". Now as someone who is on Ontario Disability Supports I can understand the draw to the Plan B. What I don't understand is the first reply to that poster that encourages her to go for Plan B! The reason I find this advise reprehensible is because it is given to the said poster on an Intuitive Counseling discussion board where the person is basically asking for a reading! The most unbelievable thing though is the fact that it is a Spiritualist Minister from Toronto who is dispensing that bad advice!

According to this minister:
"

	spiritalk 4/19/2007 10:31 AM	2 out of 9
	Go with plan B. Unfortunately government programs do not come with any wiggle room for aiding the recipient to get on their own feet. There design is to stifle any growth. God bless, J"

That tells me two things... 1. that this so called minster is not above scamming the government in her own financial practices and 2. that she has no clue how irresponsible her off handed advice to that poster really is...

And when called on it this so called spiritual leader tries to excuse the crappy advice by making the following statement which Beliefnet has since removed from the thread: To see the original thread in its entirety at the time this blog was written you can go here

"

	spiritalk 5/18/2007 10:24 AM	8 out of 9
	I councel no one to do anything that is against their very nature. It is funny that cat can talk when she takes from the public coffers and then pays her bills from other sources of income. Pot calling the kettle black? Well.... The fact is that government plans have no wriggle room for the sincere worker. When that worker has come to terms with their own direction and found their feet, they tend to make excellent contributors to all of society. It just seems that the red tape can get in the way of sincere effort. The reason for saying go with plan B was simply to get yourself settled, then pay into the future with your own prosperity. I have seen it work time and again. And it was even reported as a newspaper story in our local paper. Wake up and smell the coffee...to be spiritual does not mean being a doormat for those who are so judgemental as the posters here. God bless, J"

I say balderdash! You are making these posts on an intuitive counseling thread and so you ARE counseling the posters who have asked for advise there! Gotta really wonder what goes through the heads of some people that is for sure...

I mean I guess the message from this so called minister is it is ok to cheat now and pay it back later??? And what happens if this poster falls out of favor with the said minster? How fast would she be the first in line to tell the person how she is lacking integrity and be threatening to report her?

Knowing how some folks can be vipers both on posting boards and off it is not a chance I would be willing to take! I can only hope that the poster has the good sense to ignore this woman's advice!

And for others who may have dealings with her it does put into perspective just how screwed up some so called spiritual leaders are! No wonder people treat spiritualist churches and their ministers as suspect! One thing is for sure she is clueless re her comments about the financial situation I am in and my status with regard to claiming income with the provincial government. But then given her logic she should have no issue if I WERE defrauding the government because she is advising another in writing on a public discussion board to take that action.... Go figure!

Yep I believe the word you are looking for is WTF???

Being Part of Spiritualism... True Free Thinking

2007-05-13T22:24:00.000-04:00

Lately I have been reading a tirade about how people hide behind computers and are not involved in Spiritualism. The person behind the tirade assumes that because people no longer want what she is offering means that they are no longer involved in or interested in Spiritualism.

Funny how when you leave one Spiritualist Church its leaders assume you have left Spiritualism for good. Usually when one leaves a specific church they left because of leader ego issues and nasty politics.

As you search for a spiritual home have a good look at the congregation. Those with little no congregation usually have this problem because they are controlling and have tried to dominate others who used to willingly work for their churches and have now left.

The church I am now connected with has a growing congregation because the management really does work together. They don't have a Reverend and maybe this is a very good thing. Most of the Spiritualist churches that do have a Reverend are saddled with this individual's ego and need to control every aspect of the organization.

I am not saying that all Reverends are bad but way too many of the ones I have met have lost sight of working for Spirit because their warped egos have gotten in the way. This is a weakness of human nature that some folks think they are above. The sad fact is that those who think they are better than others they condemn are usually the worst offenders of the very personality faults they find in others in Spiritualism.

To them I would say just because I finally had to good sense to remove myself from your churches does not mean that I am no longer involved with Spiritualism. Now I am truly a free thinker and have never been more content.

Mediumship Demonstrations at Britten Memoiral Spiritualist Church

2007-04-30T21:46:00.000-04:00

Emma Hardinge Britten 1823-1899

As mentioned, I have been invited to work at Britten Memorial Spiritualist Church. On Sunday, May 6, 2007 and Sunday, May 20, 2007 I will be providing demonstrations of mediumship.

If you are interested in learning more about what a Spiritualist church service is like you are welcome to attend Britten Memorial Spiritualist Church located at:

657 Lansdowne Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M6H 3Y2
Canada
416 - 532 - 1197

Hope to see you there!

Back on the Rostrum

2007-04-24T06:53:00.000-04:00

I had a wonderful experience on Sunday night! I did some message work for Britten Memorial Spiritualist Church. Much to my enjoyment there was quite a large congregation of about 3o people!

Many of the folks entering Britten's doors are interested and interesting seekers of all ages and there is a true community spirit there.

Now as I understand it I was listed on the events calendar for April 15th and the date was later changed to the 22nd. Confusions aside, I am pleased to help were I can. What I like most about this church is the shared effort to get things done and the effort put forth into being a source of positive energy in the community.

I will be working again as a guest medium in May and will post the dates when I have them for those who might be interested in seeing me work and checking out other mediums as well.

Staff Appreciation Party for the Bayer Aspirin Company

2007-04-24T06:44:00.000-04:00

On the evening of April 16th 2007, I had the opportunity to be part of the entertainment for the staff appreciation event for Bayer Aspirin Company employees held at the Intercontinental Hotel on Bloor St. Near Avenue Rd.

The event was an evening of Magic and Mystical entertainment. As part of the theme of the evening I was hired to work as a psychic providing brief readings for the guests at the event. In the 3 1/2 hours I worked I managed to read for about 25 people out of the 100 guests that were supposed to attend the event. I did not stop all evening and had a wonderful time with the folks who chose to have a reading!

The setting was elegant and the energy was fun spirited From what I understand the Bayer employees enjoyed the evening. I particularly hope they enjoyed readings with billets and Angel Cards. It was truly a pleasure to work for such a nice group of people and I would love to do this again in the future. My thanks goes out to Robert Mckone of Luminux in Vancouver BC who hired me to work this event.

Womans Post Magazine "Pink Lunch Box" Fund Raiser for Breast Cancer

2007-04-24T06:02:00.000-04:00

On March 29, 2007 I was fortunate to participate in a fabulous fund-raising event hosted by Women's Post Magazine. This event celebrated influential women in business and raised money for breast cancer research through a silent auction. The “Pink Lunch Box” Event was a wonderful experience!

The evening was filled with fun events for the people who took the time to attend. Things like massage, a silent auction and psychic readings made for a very busy and enjoyable evening. For my part I really enjoyed meeting all the creative people who were at the event and found it so easy to do Billets, Psychometry and Angel Card readings for interested seekers and stayed longer just to do some extra readings.

It was so much fun to be a space with such great energy. Gooderham House is a wonderful venue that was very comfortable to work in. The staff there took very good care of both the guests and those of us working this event.

It is my understanding that the organizers were very pleased with the turnout and the amount raised for breast cancer research. For my part I have made connections with some really great ladies and am more than happy to participate in this event again next year should Women's Post Magazine invite me to work again next year.

My thanks go out to Lindsey Gardner who introduced me to Women's Post Magazine and this wonderful networking event.

Corporate event with Real Communications for Maple Leaf Foods Staff Appreciation Day

2007-04-10T10:56:00.000-04:00

On February 28, 2007, I was part of a corporate event with Real Communications for Maple Leaf Foods Staff Appreciation Day. I must say that I enjoyed working with Real Communications they are a top notch event planning company. My experience doing this event was hassle-free and from all accounts, I understood that the staff at Maple Leaf Foods had a great time at their Caribbean theme day.

I had a great time doing mini readings for about 40 folks using billets and Angel Cards. I would really love to work with Real Communications again. They made the day fun for both the corporate participants as well as those of us who were hired to work the event.

FunPass Frazzled to Dazzled Party Event...

2007-03-24T13:06:00.000-04:00

On February 22, 2007 I participated in a fun ladies event put together by FunPass Productions Inc. who are based out of Vancouver BC and can be found at www.funpass.ca.

The event was at Match Bar and Woodbridge ON and had a host of different venues for the ladies from massages to trendy shopping to psychic readings. For my part, I really enjoyed meeting new people and found the promoters very easy to work with. Kelly Petchiny-Marits (President & Founder of FunPass Productions Inc.) is a really nice woman with a tone of energy. It was fun doing billet and Angel card readings and being in that kind of party atmosphere turned out to be a fun way to pass the evening!

The best part was that the event raised almost $500 for the York Region Firefighter Calendar with the Silent Auction.

Unfortunately, it was the day of one of the last storms of this winter and that seemed to affect the number of attendees. If the weather had co-operated, I am sure it would have meant better results for the event. That said I would love to work with the FunPass Productions Inc. promoters again if they were to host another event in the Toronto area in the nicer weather.

My thanks goes out to Kelly Petchiny-Marits and the FunPass team for introducing me to their events!

Cosmic Triggers= Spiritualist/New Age Saviors? Avoiding Personal Responsibility?

2007-03-02T15:46:00.000-05:00

As I read different posts and blogs in different places there has been much mumbo jumbo about Cosmic Triggers and the unbalancing impact these supposed triggers will have on people. I am not sure I buy this idea. More likely the people who are feeling the negative impact of these so-called cosmic triggers are just reaping the negative that they have put out in the universe in the past and want to find some other event on which to blame their problems and the related dissatisfaction in life that they are experiencing.

One might see how Cosmic Triggers are a crutch for those who do not want to take responsibility for what negativity they have drawn to themselves. I guess some Spiritualists can pontificate about personal responsibility but when it comes to themselves, they look to Cosmic Triggers to explain why their lives are circling the rim of the crapper spiritually, financially and on all other levels. If life were good these folks would not keep posting about Cosmic Triggers as a way to avoid taking personal responsibility for the condition their lives are in.

When Dogmatists Run The Show….

2007-02-18T04:11:00.000-05:00

“Of all isms I think dogmatism the worst.”

-- English freethinker George Jacob Holyoake (1817-1906).

The most dogmatic individuals who are all about THEIR rules being the only GOOD Spiritualism constantly show their own inconstancy by trying to make all their students believe that their warped perceptions of Spiritualism are accurate and right while pontificating about the lack of dogma and creed in Spiritualism. While there may be no OFFICIAL dogma and creeds to follow, these leaders are so busy trying to fit everyone into their box that they cannot see how this action is a huge deterrent to building congregations and get mighty nasty when folks reject being boxed in. Hence why there are so many churches and so little true effort to work together and DEMONSTRATE The Brotherhood of Man by example from the leadership in Spiritualism.

While some churches and their leadership do see the badmouthing of other churches as a problem the norm is that “newbies” feed a bunch of negativity and nonsense (by those who profess positive attitudes) about how the other churches are “no good” and how "those people" are running other churches are degrading what they see as “true” Spiritualism. This rubbish comes from insecure folks who are so focused on trying (by any means) to keep people at their churches and lining their pockets.

Another inconsistency seems to be that certain people rail against “psychic parlor tricks” and “low level spiritual work”. They say that psychics are only reading from the physical energy/ aura around people. And yet these people are offering aura readings as a good example of mediumship? If the aura is only a reflection of the sitter’s mental, spiritual and physical state then offering aura reading is little more than a lazy way to read and is no better than the psychics that are supposedly lacking. It seems that the cheap psychic parlor tricks are ok if they draw in the cash though.

And more on burnout… some have the warped notion that to be truly spiritual you have to give till it hurts and that if you don’t then you are not truly a giver. Where is the balance of body, mind and spirit in that kind of thinking and expectation of others? Why then do such demanding leaders/ministers only have one or two workers that they drain to the point of burnout in the first place? Could it be that the more experienced workers see these leaders for the energy suckers they really are and have moved on long a go? Seems very likely and so if you enter a church and it is obviously a one woman/man show then you know that there is something wrong and to take a good look at what is really going on in the organization before you choose to get involved.

Good teachers learn and grow with the questions their students bring to them but too many are too wrapped up in their way being the right way to really consider the view of others who are just as qualified as they are! So the opinions of the “newbies” that have come to them as students will never be heard if truth be known. These so-called “teachers” pontificate about growth and evolution but when truly challenged to do so they balk at the idea and rant about why they must cling to the status quo. They even go so far as to become paranoid about others “taking over” the organization when all that is really offered are ideas to help move the organization in the direction the leader professes that he or she wants it to go. How is being so paranoid about one’s position and status a sign of positive connection to spirit?

Good teachers also are able to learn from other teachers and do not try to one up them in front of the students because they feel jealous and insecure. Good teachers make sure to check the content of guest teachers’ teaching materials BEFORE the class and make sure that everyone is on the same page! The sign of a truly inept teacher is one who does not do the prep work and then has so little respect for the other volunteers working for him or her that he or she insists on cornering them publicly in front of the class. Shoddy presentation if that is the way he or she runs the show! Yep natural law works well and negativity might be gauged by student responses to the course material’s lack of substance and negative attitude of the said teacher to the guest teachers who were working for free while the cash flowed into the said teacher’s pocket. Again I ask whose church is dying while other churches are building nicely and teachers have more students that space permits. Seems the said teacher who was belittled in front of a class of less then 5 has 17 of his own students and other home circles need more room to accommodate interested seekers! Where people are NOT going is a sure sign of where negativity exists in full force!

Yes the internet is full of information and yes discrimination and discernment is key but for those who do their church shopping online the ideas I have expressed in the last few blogs do not just apply to the online presence these organizations have but also should help interested seekers ask truly informed questions of those who set themselves up as “teachers” in Spiritualism. The savvy seeker will take what they read online from and about the said church and enter that organization with their eyes open. They will be asking questions about the leadership, the educators and the vitality of the organization which the dogmatists running the show may find difficult to answer! That open challenge by informed seekers is where the evolution lies. Questioning and taking their church membership to places that have reasonable answers to the questions forces dogmatic dinosaurs to be accountable to the public on the public’s terms.

How to find a TRULY HEATHY and THRIVING Spiritualist Church/Learning Centre! #2--Critical Media Literacy and Website Analysis--Spiritualism Content

2007-02-15T19:02:00.000-05:00

On reflecting on my last blog entry I realized that I forgot to add a few other details about how a truly healthy and thriving Spiritualist Church promotes itself if it wants continue to attract the increasingly spiritually and internet savvy public.

As well as posting who the regular church workers are on their web site it is customary that the church calendar (if posted online) show which workers are working on what dates few months a head of time so that seekers can check out different workers and plan their busy lives accordingly.

Again, I cannot stress how important the detailed biographies of the Spiritualist Educators selling courses are to prospective students. Given that the bios are often how discerning people judge when choosing their teachers, one cannot blame seekers for wanting to know WHO the instructors are and WHAT qualifies them to teach the courses they are expecting students to shell out serious cash for.

If an instructor is truly up to snuff and current they will have no problem indicating this in a detailed bio online. Of particular interest to experienced seekers is how current the instructor’s education in Spiritualism is and what current research and articles they have written for Spiritualist publications. It is also helpful to know what postsecondary diplomas and degrees these folks have outside of their Spiritualism training as this will give you a good idea just how broad these “teachers’” knowledge base is and if they are able to teach to people who may or may not have more education than they do.

While it is true that there is less dogma and creed in Spiritualism it is NOT dogma free as much as some would like to delude themselves it is. As soon as one sets themselves up as a teacher selling courses in Spiritualism they are saying that "THIS is what Spiritualism IS!" And yet they do not see how they are telling others what spirit is or is not? Where does the personal journey of learning or individual understanding of Spirit (that is to come from within) fit in this case?

It is definitely a matter of personal interpretation and if that is the case why do you need to spend cash and time meeting the standards of one particular Spiritualist Minister or another when all you need to do is move on when you have had your fill? But wait isn't this kind of free thinking and fluid movement that is touted as part of the no creed no dogma kind of Spiritualism actually the same kind of attitude that the New Age is often faulted for by Spiritualist Leaders? Hmmm now I am confused... No dogma so move on when you have had enough but we need standards in education??? Who sets those standards if Spiritualism is supposed to be for free thinkers?

So the rub is this Spiritualism is for free thinkers and is apparently without dogma and creed but if you want to participate in the churches you then are saddled with what their ministers’ vision of what Spiritualism is or should be.

The even sadder truth is that some Spiritualist ministers are so disparate for a congregation and church workers that they will put new students up on the platform well before they are truly ready. For may of these "newbies" the experience of working in the churches starts out as gratifying and after a time will come to be a whole lot of work as they are asked to do more and more without consideration for their need for family/life balance. New church worker burnout is all too common and usually happens in a very short time.

More experienced mediums know to pace themselves and they know how not to get in over their heads. They have learned how to say "No sorry cant do that...." and they also look for Spiritualist Churches and Learning Centres where there is a group of people dividing the church duties so they do not become over whelmed. If you are a new church worker do not let the minister suck you into being at the church more than you are comfortable attending. Go to additional events if you are interested but do not let anyone make you feel obligated.

Organizational problems and politics aside, the history and methods of Spiritualism do need to be taught if Spiritualism is going to truly thrive, but how do leaders accomplish this in a way that allows for reasonable continuity between the churches if none of them is willing to truly work together? It is obvious that the principle of The Brotherhood of Man is pontificated about more than it is exercised in some cases!

Add to the infighting in and among the different organizations the fact that there are different styles/kinds of Spiritualist Churches and you have a combination where there is little hope to reasonably standardize the education offered. This being the case then begs the question, how is the public supposed to judge what is good or bad mediumship let alone what is good education and what is rubbish? Further if this lack of consistency and varying standards of education are the norm how can Spiritualists actually claim that mediums are better than psychics? I don't know but the argument is often made regardless.

The only way to find out what is good and what is not in Spiritualism is to check out the various Spiritualist Churches and Learning Centres and make up your own mind. My intent here is not to tell folks what they should do or think but rather to give useful suggestions based on thorough critical media literacy and web site analysis experience that will help the seeker read and interpret more carefully what they are viewing online so that they can use better discernment. If my experiences help others rethink and question more thoroughly those who set themselves up as "experts" and "educators" in Spiritualism so they can avoid the nonsense and the politics and yet enjoy what the religion, philosophy and science of Spiritualism has to offer then I am pleased to help.

How to find a TRULY HEATHY and THRIVING Spiritualist Church/Learning Centre!

2007-02-13T00:20:00.001-05:00

Anyone who has been in Spiritualism any length of time knows that the sign of a healthy, truly thriving Spiritualist Church/Learning Centre is one that can list on an ongoing basis on their website/promotional materials etc. the variety active demonstrators that work for the church. These workers are the ones who make the Sunday services, Public Psychic/Message Nights and other community events happen. In fact these workers usually do most of the work for free as part of their so-called training and education that is supposed to qualify them for working within the said Spiritualist Church/ Learning Centre.

Now I fully understand the value of voluntarism but some so-called ministers choose to take complete advantage of others for years and then have the nerve to say that such folks are "deadwood" and "negative" when if it were not for the free labour of these people the so-called Spiritualist Church/Learning Centre would not have had the quality mediums, healers and lecturers it once did nor the advertising and web savvy that it currently does.

A truly blossoming Spiritualist Church will have a website or other promotional materials that will provide all the pertinent details for the interested seeker. This means that you can find out who is part of the board, the regular mediums on the roster and the instructors who teach the courses offered as a means to church worker credentials. If the information seems lacking or not freely available or the organization feels like a one woman/man show then the interested attendee should be aware that this is a very bad sign although unfortunately very common in Spiritualism.

If the Spiritualist Church/ Learning Centre is really doing as well as its promotional documents and websites profess then the courses offered should have a wide selection of teachers offering instruction and these folks should have the proper background of knowledge and actual ability to demonstrate (in a practical way) the material covered. Each teacher’s/instructor's bio/resume should be available to prospective students and online if the Spiritualist Church/ Learning Centre is promoting itself online. This information will be readily available to interested seekers if the organization is as up to scratch as it claims to be! If not then you might be better to keep looking elsewhere for real Spiritualism Education and Training.

More importantly though, good courses in Spiritualism should not be run by one person and should encompass more than just the lecture format. Lack of variety in presentation of the content indicates a lack of instructor's ability or lack of team support or both. It is amazing to me how many Spiritualist Ministers are truly not fit to teach and cannot perform to any real consistent standard when they should be able to. Given that much of what is learned in Spiritualism is learned by doing/practicing the methods not just lecturing about the concepts it is important that the instructor have the breadth of knowledge and practical ability and that their knowledge and ability is current! A proper Spiritualist curriculum will be interactive and use a full range of teaching methods and will be provided by an instructor whose knowledge is up-to-date! If the material and the instructor seems one dimensional or lacking in anyway take that as a sign that you should keep seeking to find better learning experiences elsewhere.

If you do not see a variety of workers listed on the events calendar or a clear list of who the teachers are (with detailed, current bios) that are supposed to teach the courses in Spiritualism then you have to ask yourself how viable the organization truly is. Glossy materials and bluster in blogs/websites/and documentation stating viability and a thriving status of the organization does not make it so. Bluster is just that and should be backed up by real substance but usually is not when it comes down to it.

When considering attending a Spiritualist Church/Learning Centre thoroughly check out the blogs of the minister and or the church website also ask for as much documentation on the organization, its leadership and instructors as you can get your hands on. If the documentation is not forthcoming or if you feel like it is a “one dog show” after reading the information they DO provide then likely your impression is right on the mark.

If you do decide to get involved with courses from a said Learning Centre teaching Spiritualism PLEASE take the time to attend other events they offer before you dig deep in your pockets! Take your time getting involved and be careful how much money you put into it. The longer you are around the more likely you will see the true level of viability (or lack there of) as the case may be of the specific organization. If it really is thriving you will know it very shortly.

If there is a lack of attendance or the minister makes negative comments about people who have left even if it is just a subtle derogatory reference to “deadwood” or supposed “negative people” either to you in person or in public writings you need to ask yourself what is really going on with that spiritual leader. Ask yourself why that person is still so focused on the negative people or situations they say are no longer a problem for the said organization? Keep reading what this person writes and keep listening to what he or she says over time. Eventually they will show you where the real problem rests.

Quite simply control freaks in the leadership of Spiritualist Churches and Learning Centres have the habit of driving good mediums/healers and teachers away BECAUSE are unwilling or unable to work with others as part of a team. If you are around these types long enough you will come to recognize them for who they really are as the pattern does repeat itself will become obvious over time!

Whatever Spiritualist Church/Learning Centre you decide to get involved with please take the time to fully examine what is offered and ask Spirit to help you focus your sense of discernment!

Feeling is Believing... Why We Know Spirit Contact is Real

2007-02-12T15:19:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder why Spiritualists and Psychics believe as strongly as they do in the connection to the afterlife and why they know that Spirit contact is real?

While many folks might want to challenge the understanding these folks have of the Spirit World there are just some experiences that cannot be explained away. In my work as a Spiritualist Medium/Psychic Advisor I hear all kinds of different personal stories where people have been touched in a very real way by their loved ones who are now in spirit.

A few weeks ago I received a wonderful email from one of the sitters in my development circle explaining how her grandmother came through with beautiful proof that she had come to visit this woman earlier in the evening during the development class. I am pleased to share here on this blog with the writer’s permission the section of email as it was written to me a few weeks ago. I hope in doing so I can help others understand how wonderful spirit contact can be.

According to Anne in an email dated January 31, 2007:

“On our way home from your house last night we [Anne and her husband Denis] were talking about our meditation and we both felt that we'd had a really wonderful experience. When we got home there was this wonderful smell in the house like someone had been baking. The house was warm and the aroma was all around the house even up the stairs and in the bedroom. At first I thought I had left something in the over and checked but nothing; we went all around the house sniffing trying to find out where the smell was coming from but we couldn't find anything. All I could think of was that Sarah mentioned that she saw someone around me that could have been my grandmother and she was an awesome cook and baked all time. I could feel her presence, as I do sometimes, and could see her smiling at us. I still find it amazing when these incidents happen, no wonder we love Tuesdays!”

When I consider such events I have to think they happen to remind us that our loved ones in spirit love us very much and do come to visit us and remind us of good times and joyful memories. In asking for proof that it was her grandmother that was near during the development circle Anne and her husband both experienced a welcoming home that only her grandmother would/could offer to them. It is these loving experiences shared with spirit that strengthens our belief that everything and everyone is connected and that there is much more to this life than the here and now.

With that understanding in mind Spiritualist Mediums and Psychics find peace and healing and personal balance in their lives and feel compelled to share these experiences with others so that they too might enjoy such occurrences in their lives. As a Spiritualist Medium/ Psychic Advisor my primary goal is to help others discover who is near them from the Spirit world and what blessings these folks in spirit wish to share with them.

It is with many thanks that I share Anne’s personal story and encourage others to share their positive personal experiences with their guides, teachers and loved ones who are in the spirit realm.

Please feel free to add your positive experience with spirit contact to the discussion area of this blog.

Spiritual Wisdom Does It Still Exist In REAL-TIME???

2007-01-22T02:50:00.000-05:00

Additional comments to my last blog I have been in Spiritualism a long time since I was 24 and I am 37 now but that does not mean I felt good about it for that entire time. While I never regretted opening to spirit and where my life has come to, I resent the fact that I was used and abused by some who call themselves ministers. I can say only that I am relieved that that part of my life is closed and I have moved beyond the control of these kinds of people.

That said it seems one person insists on copying my comments on discussion threads in TRYING to make some kind of point in the comment areas of my blogs. Damned if I know what it is but, I do not endorse plagiarism. Therefore, I have deleted the posts only to have her repost them and will say that folks who do such things are definitely mentally unbalanced or maybe just stupid, two dimensional and lazy. Who knows what her problem is? But there comes a time when one needs to respond and I have done that here and in the comment section of the blog where she posted my content. Annoying but at least I know she is reading them! I guess that is something eh? On that note though, it would be nice if that said minister could come up with an original way to interact with people on blogs and in discussion threads.

It is good to be away from her and at a church where real community and willingness to allow others to grow rather than power struggles and controlling behaviors are the norm. Wonder if her church is still running at this point? When I left there was little to nothing doing and although they have a web site the other churches have been under the impression that the church is closed for business. That sure explains why we never had a congregation to speak of when we moved the church to Etobicoke. And it was pretty much dead for several years prior to that when it was located in Scarborough IMHO! There is NO mystery as to why though!

Britten Memorial Spiritualist Church an Update...

2007-01-14T18:05:00.000-05:00

I had the most interesting conversation with the President of Britten Memorial Spiritualist Church today. It seems the church is in transition and it is not a Christian Spiritualist Church. While many of the members are Christian Spiritualists the church board is trying to broaden the perspective a bit and encourage a wider scope of information sharing and learning.

After a very thought provoking, several hour discussion with Martin, I must say that I think I have found a new Church home! I like the fact I could share in a vast variety of topics with this man who I spoke with for most of the afternoon. Happily, I found myself affirming many things I have felt for many years about Spirit, Mediumship, and Spiritualism through shared ideas with Martian that I had not heard anywhere else.

Spirit does direct and guide and I must say that I am truly enjoying this new part of my life adventure.

Rediscovering What Spiritualism and Church SHOULD be About!

2006-12-20T01:09:00.000-05:00

On Sunday evening I did something I had not done since the summer. I went to church! You know how sometimes you just feel the need to be somewhere and so you go not knowing why but knowing you had to go at that particular time.

Anyway I went to Britten Memorial Spiritualist Church . I had no idea why I needed to be there but I went with an open mind. So I find myself at this little store front church tucked between two older commercial units. I see there is a number key lock on the door and I am thinking what the heck? But something prods me to enter.

Inside I found a beautifully decorated church and people happily getting ready for the Christmas Service. It has been many years since I set foot in a Christian Spiritualist Church so I was surprised that spirit would think to push me to come out on this night of all nights! Again I am thinking to myself, what the heck? And yet I am comfortable and feeling quite at home. One of the regular members has introduced herself to me and started explaining to me who is who and how things work at this church. It was like being introduced to someone’s family for the first time! I was totally amazed and felt so welcomed and this woman made sure that the folks who run things at this church met me also. Now I had talked to the president of the church several months prior and was totally surprised that he remembered me.

As the service progressed I remembered why I used to enjoy going to church. I felt more community in this little church than I had in the last 3 years I had spent in Spiritualism. After the service I stuck around for the coffee and visit and got to talk to most of the members who were also there enjoying fellowship with each other. I must say that it had been many years since I actually felt the true spirit of Christmas in a church and I found myself thinking about how glad I was that I had made the effort to attend that night.

What I saw and felt during the service and at the coffee and visit after was a group of people truly working as a community. The minister of this church passed away several months prior and this little church really has pulled together to pick up the pieces. Everyone I met that evening seemed genuinely pleased to welcome me as a newcomer and the president of the church even introduced me as a professional reader which shocked the heck out of me. None of these folks were threatened by the fact that I am an established reader who was coming into their church. What a nice change compared to my last experience! I must say that because I felt so welcomed and accepted as I am I gladly gave messages to those who asked or who spirit told me needed a word or two.

Although I would not consider myself a Christian Spiritualist, I will gladly attend this church again and even offer to help where I can because just by being kind and open these folks gave me something I felt was lost in Spiritualism. They showed me that there is genuine caring community and fellowship in their Spiritualist Church and really made an effort to welcome me into their congregation. Now I know why Spirit drew me out on Sunday night. Spirit wanted me to see what Spiritualism is supposed to be about. Love, community service, fellowship and healing! I feel blessed to have shared in the Christmas Service at Britten Memorial Spiritualist Church. I am looking forward to attending again in the New Year!

Mediums are better than Psychics or are they??

2006-12-10T00:15:00.001-05:00

I often read and post on various Spiritualism discussion boards and while I expect folks to disagree I will never understand the bugaboo between the terms medium and psychic. For most people these words are interchangeable but for dogmatists in Spiritualism these words seem to mean to very different things. Psychics tend to be viewed by these judgmental Spiritualists as suspect or less capable spiritual readers.

The party line for most Spiritualists seems to be that mediums are superior to psychics because they approach reading and message work from a Spiritualist perspective while psychics are assumed to be New Age flakes and money hungry. Now political correctness dictates that ministers are careful who they say these kinds of comments to but, often behind closed doors (in the form of disparaging humour shared with other Spiritualists) bigoted comments about psychics and the greed of these “New Agers” as a means to demean folks who are spiritual seekers but not involved with the Spiritualist movement are the norm rather than the exception.

Out of the mouth of one minister I often heard the comment “Any jackass and his monkey can be a psychic but it takes work to be a medium.” Now as shocking as this might seem to the reader I have come to understand that people who make such comments are insecure, jealous bigots who will put down others that they feel are a threat to them and their financial and professional position. Once I made this realization I began to rethink what I was told about the differences between psychics and mediums.

Spiritualists will say things like:

Psychics are dealing with lower/earth bound spirits.

Psychics are reading the sitters mind or physical energy and not connecting properly to spirit.

And the best one is that psychics are more focused on money and material gain than Spiritualist mediums.

Not only are these statements bigoted they are outright lies in my opinion that are rooted in jealousy, bigotry, hypocrisy and the good old double standard that allows Spiritualists to condemn psychics for being materially focused when they are just as money hungry as the folks they accuse of this fault .

The only real difference between a psychic and a medium is that a medium has been trained to work in the Spiritualist churches and most psychics have gotten their training and reading experience in other venues like psychic fairs.

This is not to say that all psychics are good practitioners but Spiritualists cannot honestly claim that all mediums are working at the highest standard either. I have seen as many bad mediums on the church platforms in my 12 years as an active Spiritualist as I see in cheesy psychic listings and websites on the web. Even though most Spiritualists know there are good and bad mediums just like there are good and bad psychics there are some dogmatic people who disparage anything that is outside the confines of Spiritualism and thus their grasp. In an effort to justify their position as a minister and Spiritualism as a movement they will take great pains to define to death the differences between the terms medium vs. psychic as if this is in anyway helpful to interested seekers.

The reality is that there is no consistency in mediumship training within the churches. For example I went to one Spiritualist church looking for a development circle and was told they don’t do that but they have a Bible Study! They figured that they could leave mediumship and message work up to God’s inspiration!

Another church I went to was very focused on a development circle where the goal was physical manifestation of spirit through one medium. In that group there is one medium and the rest of the sitters are used as energy sources or "batteries" so to speak. This kind of circle is a throw back to the early days of Spiritualism and does not tend to allow for each member to enjoy full spiritual progress on a personal level.

The latest church development circle I was in was one where the minister’s biases, phobias and judgmental attitude prevented any real spiritual growth in the sitters. She was pushing them so hard to become mediums that many were uncomfortable in circle because they felt intimidated and afraid of what might happen if they could not bring a message.

Now this is just a sampling of the diverse and not always good training that is going on in the Spiritualist Churches in Ontario and yet all of them call their workers mediums. I ask you, how is the seeker supposed to know what quality of medium they will be exposed to in the churches with this kind of lack of constancy and continuity between these organizations? If the Spiritualist churches and their ministers are having this much trouble training their mediums what gives them the right to condemn psychics for supposedly lacking integrity as readers and suggesting that their work is suspect and lacking quality?

Again I say that the idea that mediums are more spiritual and not as focused on material gain is also bogus. This delusion notion that mediums are some how more spiritually evolved than psychics is just a complete farce! I have seen ministers (who are also mediums) that bleed their churches dry for rent when the church is barely surviving make these kinds of nefarious claims about other practitioners while they are as bad as the “New Age” psychics they are trying to demonize for what they claim is their money hungry behavour.

What is even sadder is that these ministers believe their own delusions and lies and pontificate about spiritual progression, working with elevated spirit guides and developing high standards for mediumship while this kind of negativity seeps out of their bodies, minds and spirits. And then they wonder why their church is suffering and they are losing their mediumship ability?

I do not wonder at all why they and their churches are in the bad state they are in. Bigotry, jealousy, hypocrisy and unjustifiable double standards are huge negatives that consume all the energy around them so that nothing positive can thrive! The Law of Attraction says that like draws to like and yet they do not see the damage their attitude is doing to their organizations!

Spell Caster Scams Online: Radio Interviews for 1290 CJBK and the CBC

2006-12-07T20:06:00.001-05:00

On Halloween day I had a very interesting experience. It was the day for radio interviews. In the morning I was interviewed on The Shauna Rae Show on News Talk 1290 CJBK (London, Ontario) at 11 am. (http://www.cjbk.com/). The topic was Spell Casters Online. Once I got past my nervousness, I enjoyed talking to the host I found her to be friendly, and interested in the topic. The whole interview maybe lasted about 5-7 minutes but it was a great experience!

It was excellent practice for later that afternoon when I was asked to talk to different hosts cross Canada for CBC Radio via Nationally Syndicated Interviews. (http://www.cbc.ca/) Over about 2 and half hours, I spoke to 10 different hosts from St. John’s to Winnipeg about the subject of “Spell Casting Scams”. This experience was fascinating because I was in a studio booth for the most part by myself waiting for each of the hosts to call in. Although I was unnerved the studio people were great! They made sure I knew what to do and prepared me for each host.

Each host approached the topic in a slightly different way and my feeling is that the women were more openly interested in the topic then the men. I wonder if this is because women are more likely to consider checking out Spell Casters on the internet when their relationships are in trouble. My sense from the men is that they could not believe that Spell Casters on line is a thriving business. In spite of the male hosts’ disbelief the figures quoted in the Globe and Mail article on the same topic that appeared in the Saturday paper under the title “Love Spell $99.99” says that “more than four million sites pop up”. Anyway, once getting past the shock it was easy to tell the hosts both male and female how the scams work and how the exchange of money for spells in illegal in Ontario.

Basically when the seeker goes to the spell caster they are told that the spell is going to cost X amount of dollars. Sounds straight forward right? Well no… then they are told that there is more to the spell casting procedure and that it is going to take several more sessions for the spell to be ready to use. Of course this means more visits to the spell caster and more money spent. So that love spell for $99.99 will actually cost the seeker will into several thousands of dollars by the time they realize that they have been taken to the cleaners.

Another common spell casting scam happens when the seeker goes to a psychic or palm reader and is told that they have an evil spell on them that only the said psychic/ palm reader can remove for a cost of course. Now for a reader to do this to the public is manipulation and extortion through the use of scare tactics. They make the seeker think that they are cursed and convince them to spend their hard earned cash to have the spell removed. This is illegal in Ontario. It is illegal because the reader uses fear and threats to get money out of the seeker who is coming to the reader for a promised service and is persuaded under false pretenses to spend more money than they were prepared to because they are now under pressure.

When a seeker comes for a reading they should know the total cost of the reading, the length of the reading and they should have the choice to stop the reading at any time before the end of the session and not have to pay for it if they are not comfortable. There should be no extra pressure to spend more money or to continue with a session with witch the seeker is not comfortable.

Reputable readers well:

1. Take the time to answer your questions before you book the appointment.

2. Advise you of the cost of their services and what these services include before you book or as you begin the session.

3. Allow you to ask questions as you go along.

4. Allow you to direct the reading with your questions or the area of focus you would like to have the reading take.

5. Record the sessions for you or allow you to take notes

6. Allow you to stop the session and cancel payment if you are not happy with the session as long as you let them know before the end of the session. Most honest readers know when a reading is not going well for some reason and will usually stop the reading themselves and advise the seeker to find another reader and offer to assist them in some other way if possible. If you stop the session the reader keeps their tape and you keep your money and that is that.

Whenever you are going for a psychic reading you have the right to be comfortable. You also owe it to yourself not to leave you common sense behind. Go with your gut! If something feels wrong it usually is!

Another 15 minutes of Fame it seems….

2006-10-30T23:48:00.000-05:00

To my surprise I actually was interviewed and quoted in this article below for the Globe and Mail! Quite frankly I thought that the interview was a ruse on the part of the reporter to get a free reading. I get many folks calling and saying that they work in the media and that if I do a reading for them that they will promote my site for me.

As the interview continued I realized that Rebecca Eckler was a serious reporter and enjoyed the interview with her. For your convenience I have included the complete text of the article below:

Love Potion $99.99

REBECCA ECKLER

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Are you unlucky at love? Desperate to get your man back? Or do you just want to see the jerk squirm? For some broken-hearted women, the dark arts promise more consolation than a trip to the spa. And there are plenty of practitioners out there offering vengeance — for a price.

Just Google “spell casters” and more than four million sites pop up. It seems the best revenge is not living well, but a well-cast spell.

Internet spell casters offer a range of services from “Return my Lover” and “Break Them Up” to “Stop a Divorce” and “Revenge Spells.”

I decided to go spell shopping on behalf of a friend, whose five-year, on-again, off-again romantic obsession had ended in disaster. But most of those I contacted seemed more interested in my credit-card number than my friend's love life. Sister Zhana at lovemiracles.net spent two seconds on the phone explaining she specializes in “love, career, family and enemies,” before cutting short the call.

One of the more intriguing services is offered by Spell Master Tony, at extremespells.com. During October, his “custom revenge spell” was on sale for only $99.99, down from $329. For that, Tony will not only see that your ex is fired from his job, he'll ensure that his dog runs away too. (If he could just make all his hair fall out, I might be sold.)

Catherine MacDonald, a psychic reader outside Toronto, says most Internet spell casters “are rip-off artists. There is no such thing as spells or quick fixes. The Internet has spawned a whole generation of people who believe in spells. I get about one call a week asking if I do spells. I don't. They all know about them from the Internet.”

According to MacDonald, the women seeking these services are not nut cases. Often they're professionals who should know better.

“They prey on people who they know are desperate. They are making a ton of money and it pisses me off. A fool and his money are easily parted, as the saying goes. I've seen sites that cost up to $1,200 to cast spells. It amazes me people just aren't good at using common sense.”

MacDonald says she counsels women to consider why they would want someone who came back just because of a spell. Sensible advice, yes, but for many women in a state of romantic desperation, it doesn't really matter why their lover comes back — as long as he does.

These are the women that Internet spell casters are after.

Angel Carra at supernaturalservices.com offers a “Stop a Divorce” spell for $59.90. However, as she writes on her site, her “top love spell” is the “Super Love Spell,” which costs $99.90.

“If your main goal is to get your lover to return fast, with new feelings for you and to keep you together in love for ever, this is for you,” she writes.

All her spells are guaranteed to work or your money back — “100-per-cent guaranteed.” If you read the fine print, however, you get your refund back only after nine months.

The appeal of surfing the Net fantasizing about revenge or getting him back is understandable. It can also be addictive, and most sites are skilled at convincing you they really work, with client testimonials like this one from spellsthatwork.com: “I wanted to let you know I am seeing great results as from your previous work. Frank is admitting and calling and coming around to see that he misses me tremendously and needs to be with me.”

At www.worldsmostpowerfulspells.com, High Priestess Katherine Uhls warns that she is so busy she may “stop taking clients at any time. . . . If you are serious about ordering, don't delay.”

Emagickspells.com offers a “bad luck spell,” which will “target one person's life and make it a living misery of the most terrible misfortune possible.”

MacDonald thinks this is bad karma. “If you put negativity out there, it will come back to you. That's the basic principle I follow. Basically, if you are seeking revenge or trying to mend a broken heart, you must trust that it will happen on its own.”

Which, of course, is not as much fun as searching for spell casters.

As for my friend, I'm taking her to the Stillwater Spa. At least I know their facials work.

Special to The Globe and Mail

Source: LINK

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

If you enjoy discussion you can go to the Globe and Mail website and join the discussion attached to the article.

From this article I was also asked to do several other interviews!

A Radio Interview on the subject of "Spell Casters Online" for The Shauna Rae Show on News Talk 1290 CJBK (London, Ontario) on October 31, 2006—11 am. http://www.cjbk.com/

I also have an interview with CBC for a number of shows from 3-6 pm on Tuesday, October 31, 2006.

And as I mentioned in an earlier blog, I did an interview about “Spiritualism" on the Rogers Cable cast show 3 D Dialogue. Show aired October 23, 26, and 28, 2006. LINK

I am so thankful for all these opportunities to share my experience of the psychic aspect and psychic industry with the public.

Spiritualist Churches Cults or not? How to find out...

2006-10-30T00:27:00.001-05:00

W5 http://www.ctv.ca/wfive did a frightening story this week about the power of a cult in Hamilton Ontario. This story called "Pied Piper of Hamilton" made me think. It is a story that was aired on W5 this weekend that discusses a Christian cult in Hamilton Ontario. To read the story go to this LINK

While cults are more common that we would like to think, and are usually associated with Christian and Muslim splinter groups, no spiritual/religious path is safe. The dynamics that turn a well meaning church group into a potential cult have to do with the human greed and desire for power over others. I found this W5 report fascinating and frightening.

Looking at the program and the sites listed on this blog what did I learn? Well quite simply that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" as the saying goes. With this in mind, I have begun to understand why some folks look at Spiritualism and define it as a cult. I beg to differ. It is not the philosophical, scientific and religious ideas that Spiritualism is grounded on that make it seem like a cult, rather it is the ministers in power who lose themselves to their desire for money, power and position who can turn what can a healthy meeting place and spiritual lifestyle into a cult.

What are the signs that you or someone you care about is in a cult?

According to Rick Ross, Expert Consultant and Intervention Specialist:

"TEN WARNING SIGNS OF A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE GROUP/LEADER.

Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
The group/leader is always right.
The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.

TEN WARNING SIGNS REGARDING PEOPLE INVOLVED IN/WITH A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE GROUP/LEADER.

Extreme obsessiveness [sic] regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration.
Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the follower's mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused--as that person's involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens.
Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as "persecution".
Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede [sic] any personal goals or individual interests.
A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor.
Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader.
Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.

TEN SIGNS OF A SAFE GROUP/LEADER.

A safe group/leader will answer your questions without becoming judgmental and punitive.
A safe group/leader will disclose information such as finances and often offer an independently audited financial statement regarding budget and expenses. Safe groups and leaders will tell you more than you want to know.
A safe group/leader is often democratic, sharing decision making and encouraging accountability and oversight.
A safe group/leader may have disgruntled former followers, but will not vilify, excommunicate and forbid others from associating with them.
A safe group/leader will not have a paper trail of overwhelmingly negative records, books, articles and statements about them.
A safe group/leader will encourage family communication, community interaction and existing friendships and not feel threatened.
A safe group/leader will recognize reasonable boundaries and limitations when dealing with others.
A safe group/leader will encourage critical thinking, individual autonomy and feelings of self-esteem.
A safe group/leader will admit failings and mistakes and accept constructive criticism and advice.
A safe group/leader will not be the only source of knowledge and learning excluding everyone else, but value dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.

Don't be naïve, develop a good BS Detector.

You can protect yourself from unsafe groups and leaders by developing a good BS detector. Check things out, know the facts and examine the evidence. A safe group will be patient with your decision making process. If a group or leader grows angry and anxious just because you want to make an informed and careful decision before joining; beware." http://www.rickross.com/warningsigns.html

Now while a few of the organizations I was involved with over the years do not fit all the above listed items on the list of unsafe leader/group there are some factors that are red flags to me now. The big one I would say is about the money! "SHOW ME THE MONEY!"

LEARNING FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND SHARING IT-SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER:

Where's it going and who is benefiting from the funds generated from the church? Ask questions and if you think the answers you are getting are fishy then find out why that is. If the church is paying money to members for work or for building rental find out if these folks are claiming the earnings as they should or if they are using the front of "church" status to launder funds. Sounds nuts but does happen so better to find out for sure what is what.

1. Are there proper checks and balances re the bank accounts and is the church having to answer to the proper professionals: Provincial Government, Revenue Canada, External Auditors and Accountants?

If not then the chance of the organization being a cult is very likely. If you are on the board and especially if you have signing authority make sure you know exactly what is getting paid and when with the cheques you sign! NEVER sign over blank cheque no matter how much you trust the leader of the group or the other signing authorities involved. Remember you are financially responsible if something goes wrong and ignorance of what is going on will not be good protection of you if you do end up sued and in court for misappropriation of the church funds! Find out what your responsibilities and rights are do not take the leader's word for it. Ask your lawyer and an accountant and check in with the government too if need be.

2. How is the church registered as a business with the Government? Is it truly a charity or a not for profit organization or is it a business that is making money and not paying its taxes to the appropriate government agencies.

You can call The Companies Branch of your Provincial or Federal Government and ask for details about the specific church you are thinking of attending. This is the branch of the government that is responsible for business registry in your particular province or territory or county depending on what level the business is at. They will be glad to tell you the business status and incorporation date of the organization and any other information they have concerning the said organization. I am sure this also includes any legal and financial problems connected to the organization that have been reported and investigated. By the same token you can call this branch of government and find out how to report any organization that seems suspect. I am sure they will be able to advise you as to what the procedures are for forwarding a formal complaint if you should need to.

3. Is the church attached to a proper Governing/Religious Umbrella Organization like the National Spiritualist Association of Spiritualist Churches in the US or the Spiritualist National Union in the UK?

If the church is "independent" and they have no one to answer to then it leaves the group vulnerable to an egocentric charismatic leader who may or may not have a legitimate agenda for the organization. NEVER get involved with any group that does not have a proper connection to the appropriate religious governing body! There is safety in numbers, solid organizational structure and regulated standards that have to be met.

Not all Spiritualist Churches are alike but the best adage is "buyer beware", and "don't leave your common sense at the door" if you do choose to become involved. Do you your own research. Ask questions and make sure the answers you are given make sense and indicate a solid integrity of the organization.

And if my experience is common within Spiritualist circles, then education (or the lack of it) makes little difference. Controlling, charismatic Ministers and the groups they try to build for their own egocentric purposes are successful because they play their psychological head games out over time! Being psychically sensitive can help you navigate these kinds of situations, but true mediums/psychics do not read for friends, family or themselves because they are often too close to the situation. Get an external perspective be you psychic or not! Ross is right you really do have to be a good BS detector and make sure you check things out for yourself as you go along! Find out the right questions to ask and make sure you get answers. If the answers you do get set off red flags and things seem fishy they likely are and the only way you can know for sure is to check things out for yourself or get the right people in to do so. Most of all follow your gut/intuition in these situations if something does not sit right with you it likely isn't right. I followed my feelings and got out in good time and now know that if I ever go back to a Spiritualist church I will be asking the right questions to the right people and if I don't like what I hear I will not ignore my feelings. I will just not get involved and will report suspect organizations if I have enough evidence to do so.

So You are in Canada and you Want Credentials in Spiritualism eh?

2006-10-27T21:59:00.000-04:00

Why is it the spiritual leaders that accuse others of going in ever decreasing circles up their own _ _ _ s are the worst offenders of the vary thing of which they accuse others? They gripe there is no progress but they are the first to put road blocks in the way of the so called desired progress they proclaim to be working towards. Seems to me that these folks are stuck in a rut! In fact they are so much going in circles that they keep pontificating about the same philosophy and yet cannot, do, not or choose not to practice it themselves. In fact some are in such a rut that if you read their blogs long enough you will find all they are doing is copying and posting snippets from the so-called “courses” for which they expect folks to shell out their hard earned money.

I don’t know about other Spiritualists, but why in hell would anyone pay $80 bucks for a course that has done nothing but degrade in 10 years as the so-called teacher has become more and more closed minded? More important if you look the content that the so-called “Reverend”/ “teacher” is trying to sell to the public can be easily found in the monotonous discussion posts on the said church web site and on the blogs of the supposed Reverend. This pathetic display from a spiritual leader who professes to be evolving and growing and yet has only used the internet to perpetuate the same old problems that have always been the curse of Spiritualism makes me wonder why folks should waste their time, money and effort.

If you are seriously thinking of paying for courses in Spiritualism and have found a church to do that first check on the web and see what the so-called “Reverend”/ “teacher” is regurgitating in discussion forums and in blogs online. Unless the individual is truly an innovative thinker, chances are you will read every thought he or she has ever had re the subject of Spiritualism and not have to shell out the cash in the long run. That is the situation where I am from anyway, and if you want real Spiritualist education do a background check on the one who is setting themselves up as teacher first! Google them by NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS, and CHRURCH ADDRESS (if you have that information) and take a thorough look! You will be amazed how much you can find for free! After doing that, if you still are seeking credentials then here are some hard learned lessons from my 12 years experience in several different churches in various communities.

As a Spiritualist I am often asked by people: “Where do I go for training in Spiritualism?” That is not an easy question to answer. The main problem in Canada is that there is no truly reputable official organization to offer courses. The Spiritualist Church of Canada is in transition with their course material and it is very expensive for what you get. All other training comes from the individual churches and therefore is only recognized within their particular church organization.

If you are looking for a stable organization to train you in Spiritualism and as a Minister the best thing you can do is contact the NSAC (National Spiritualist Association of Churches of America). Yes they are a US organization but their name is respected in Spiritualist circles and they with the Morris Pratt Institute have been providing reputable Spiritualist education from the early days. You could also contact the SNU (Spiritualist National Union) in the UK but the cost of doing their courses via correspondence and the cost of postage may be prohibitive for some folks.

If you are in the Toronto area there are several churches that have development circles and it is up to you to find the one that works for you. My personal picks would be Britten Memorial Church and Church of Universal Love The others are either mixed up with Christian Spiritualism and not training people in the psychic aspect or they are consumed with politics and have no real power to offer credentials no matter how much they would like to make you think they do.

The adage “buyer be ware” fits here… You really have to look at where the so-called “courses” and any promised “credentials” offered by the said church are going to take you into the future.

The ongoing problem here is that none of the churches work together and each is competing for a very small number of clientele. For example the total number of folks who identify as Spiritualists in Canada according to the 2001 Census is 3,295 of that 1,060 are male and 2,235 are female. In Ontario these numbers are 1,410 total Spiritualists and of those 490 are male and 915 are female. Now looking at the Toronto figures this number gets even smaller. The total Spiritualists for Toronto are 385 and of that number 115 are male and 270 are female. With this small number, why is it there are 5 different spiritualist churches in Toronto? Never mind those outside the city and within the GTA? The simple answer is personality clashes, politics and power struggles.

So what does this mean to you as a seeker? Well to put it quite simply most of these organizations do not have a stable congregation. Most Spiritualists who have been around for a long time make the circuit and attend more than one church. Now the argument may be made that there are many others who attend that do not call themselves Spiritualists but the problem with that argument is that those who do not buy into Spiritualism as dictated by the said Reverend of a given church may find that they may not be truly welcome to learn more about it or offer their experiences to it. It seems to be that folks are expected to buy the whole “Spiritualism” bag (as understood by the particular Reverend of course) first and ask questions later. This being the general atmosphere of many of the Spiritualist churches no wonder they have difficulty drawing new people in to form a congregation let alone a stable board of directors. But let’s look at the other folks who might wish to attend a Spiritualist church.

The next large group that tends to cross over into Spiritualism is the New Age lot. Now these folks tend to have a broad range of beliefs and not many would commit to Spiritualism in a concrete way because they usually find it confining. That said let’s look at the numbers for Canada, Ontario and Toronto as we did for the self-identified Spiritualists: Again according to the Census for 2001 it is obvious that these numbers are even smaller that the Spiritualists listed above. According to the figures, the number of New Age folks in Canada total 1,525 and of that 545 are male and 985 are female. This number gets even smaller when you look at the provincial and local level but let’s do it for argument sake anyway. So in Ontario the total number of self identified New Age believers is 380 and of that 105 are male and 170 are female. Now for Toronto that number decreases again to a total of New Age folks being 210 and of that very small number 55 are male and 150 are female.

Now I could continue this for those who practice Native and Shamanistic traditions but to be frankly honest in my experience most of these folks have strong connections to their own traditions and would not find themselves or their spiritual ideas truly welcome within most of the Spiritualist Churches. While some ministers pontificate about being in touch with Native Spirit Guides many of them are absolutely ignorant as to the true strength of these age old traditions and are usually too narrow minded to even really make the effort to try to learn what these spiritual paths have to offer and how they might complement Spiritualism. My 12 years of experience showed me that most Spiritualist leaders are too busy trying to tell others that their understanding of Spiritualism is the only way it can be and they go out of their way to shut out those with new, different or other spiritual concepts because they want to be “the teacher” and “control” how others walk their walk with Spirit. Now this is not to say this is the case in all the churches but it has been what I have seen in several of them so needless to say Spiritualism does not usually draw many people from the Native or Eastern traditions and if it does they usually get the impression that they are truly not welcome and move on anyway. So what you end up with is a bunch of old white folks in the leadership who have serious hang ups and fears pontificating about how to be spiritual when they prove to be the least able or willing to practice what they preach!

Post Script: The above comments in this blog are in no way a condemnation of all of Spiritualism or Spiritualist Educators across the board but does target those so called "teachers" in Spiritualism who do not know what they are doing because they lack the proper education/skills, and who run their churches like cults where they are the chief potentate. So as the old adage goes: When seeking Spiritualist Education in

Canada

"Buyer be ware" is the best way for newbie seekers to protect their interests.

Cosmic Triggers, Natural Law, Forgiveness and Personal Responsibility

2006-10-19T20:19:00.000-04:00

While it is possible to learn to change thought patterns and in that what we say and do, the struggle for most of us is that we do not really cope well with change. It is a daily struggle and it seems that it is even more challenging for folks who are wrapped up with title and self perceived power and right to control others to truly live by the spiritual principles they profess to live by. Again it seems they pontificate about Natural Law and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY and yet these notions seem to apply to everyone but themselves.

It seems that those that are insecure and need titles and to control others are the least likely to make the necessary changes. Now this is almost expected with politicians and other leaders in the secular world but it is also a problem in the spiritual community as well. It seems that the very Reverend who is supposed to be a guide to others and not caught up in title and material greed is the worst offender in spite of long winded pontifications as to how others should live their lives, develop their spirituality and mediumistic gifts and use these to help others in the world around them. Now it is fair to say that all people including those propping themselves up as spiritual leaders are flawed, but it can also be said that if you look closely as to what is going around these folks you can get a good idea as to their true intent and focus.

In Spiritualism the issue has always been poorly educated, insecure leaders trying to build themselves up through exerting as strangle hold on their congregation. They love the power that derive from their title and the attention they get from working as a medium. Then there is the issue of money. My experience in many different churches has shown me that most of these leaders are money hungry, jealous and conniving if the truth be known. So why do people bother with Spiritualism? Well like any other religion the principles are sound even if the leadership leaves much to be desired. If you are interested in Spiritualism the best thing you could do is to attend several churches and find a medium you like and trust to teach you what they know and see if you can find a well organized home circle to attend. Do not get totally involved with one church. Doing this will mean that you will soon find your life consumed by the agenda of the above described spiritual leaders who are all about taking care of their own needs first. Visit many churches and keep your options open. Do not let any one tell you how to walk your walk with spirit. Let spirit guide you. Read the books that draw you and go to the churches you feel most comfortable in. The idea is that Spirit will be with you wherever you find community and fellowship. Community and fellowship does not require that you become tied to any one church.

Spirit contact was discovered and experimented with in home circles. Then it split in two paths: Psychic Science Research groups and the Spiritualist Churches. Both are useful to the seeker in learning how to work with their own psychic abilities and developing as a medium and a healer. While I feel it is essential to have positive spiritual focus to be a strong medium how you develop that spiritual relationship with your guardian, guides and teachers is between you them and God. It cannot be dictated to you by anyone who proclaims that they are your teacher. While we do learn from those around us and the shared experience will help us form our relationship with our spirit helpers, it is not just ONE teacher that will have an impact on us. You will have many teachers in various areas in your life at the same time. This is especially true of spiritual development. Various guides and teachers will come in when needed to convey the right message or idea that will help you on your path. While working with a knowledgeable Spiritualist is helpful if you are exploring Spiritualism do not become indoctrinated in anyone’s way of thinking. They are only a person just like you and you do not want to give anyone that kind of power over your spiritual development. Ask questions, find good reading materials, discuss what you are reading and thinking with many different Spiritualists to get a range of views and connect with Spirit and know that you will be guided. Your connection to Spirit will be unique and individual just like you are and no one teacher has all the answers and more importantly NO ONE has the right to tell you that you must DO IT THEIR WAY. If you come across this kind of control freak who is professing to be a teacher remove yourself from that situation as soon as possible!

The best teacher is one that knows that he or she does not have all the answers and that there is still much to learn. They usually are secure in their position in life and respect the views of others who they help to guide. They should be well educated in many areas of life not just Spiritualism and they should be able to adapt to the needs of you and others they teach.

Wherever you go for spiritual development have a good look at how the leader conducts him or herself with others. If they gossip or bring up past problems in Spiritualism or their lives all the time then know that these folks have much work to do and that you will only be able to learn so much from them.

If the person you are learning from is truly secure and together they will not constantly drudge up hurts from the past and will be able and willing to forgive those who they feel have wronged them. Just releasing hurts is not enough. If you release the hurt without forgiveness of the one who hurt you, you are only putting out the negativity of the experience into the world around you and that hurt will not leave you but only repeat itself in your life. Forgiveness is the energy that neutralizes the negativity of the hurtful situation and allows you to truly get on with your life.

So whether you need Cosmic Triggers in your life or you know that the energy works by Natural Law and is a moment by moment ongoing process the focus is still the same. We are each PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for the energy that we create and as we create it will return to us in kind be it positive or negative. It does not need to be any more complicated than that.

Cosmic Trigger: Junk Chain Email or Not?

2006-10-18T14:37:00.000-04:00

If you have been reading emails and web site discussion threads lately you will be seeing a lot of posts and emails about a cosmic trigger that is to have taken place for a span of 17 hours on October 17, 2006. I received the email several times from different sources in the days preceding the crucial date. The gist of this email is that thought vibrations good or bad will be magnified as dictated by our own individual thinking and what we choose to focus on. The reason for the trigger is supposed to have something to do with UV rays from higher dimensions crossing paths with the physical dimension that we are living in as people on Earth. Now while it is an interesting idea to ponder, I have some quandaries as to which time zone it will start in. If this cosmic trigger is to happen over all time zones for the 17 hour period of time then it will take several days to happen from start to finish.

For your perusal I am including the body of the email received excluding email address information and name of the sender.

“Hope this gets to you all in time; it's worth a go I think! A cosmic trigger event is occurring on the 17th of October 2006. This is the beginning, one of many trigger events to come between now and 2013.

An ultraviolet (UV) pulse beam radiating from higher dimensions in universe-2 will cross paths with the Earth on this day. Earth will remain approximately within this UV beam for 17 hours of your time. This is a call for Mission 1017 members now....Mission 1017 is a beam that resonates with the heart chakra, it is radiant fluorescent in nature, blue/magenta in colour. Although it resonates this frequency band, it is above the colour frequency spectrum of your universe- 1 which you, Earth articulate in. However due to the nature of your soul and soul groups operating from Universe- 2 frequency bands it will have an effect. The effect is every thought and emotion will be amplified intensely one million-fold. Yes, we will repeat, all will be amplified one millions time and more.

Every thought, every emotion, every intent, every will, no matter if it is good, bad, ill, positive, negative, will be amplified one million times in strength. What does this mean? Since all matter manifests is due to your thoughts, i.e. what you focus on, this beam will accelerate these thoughts and solidify them at an accelerated rate making them manifest a million times faster than they normally would. For those that do not comprehend. Your thoughts, what you focus on create your reality.

This UV beam thus can be a dangerous tool. For if you are focused on thoughts which are negative to your liking they will manifest into your reality almost instantly. Then again this UV beam can be a gift if you choose it to be. Mission-1017 requires approximately one million people to focus on positive, benign, good willed thoughts for themselves and the Earth and Humanity on this day. Your thoughts can be of any nature of your choosing, but remember whatever you focus on will be made manifest in a relatively faster than anticipated time frame. To some the occurrences may almost be bordering on the miracle. All we ask is positive thoughts of love, prosperity, healing, wealth, kindness, gratitude are focused on.

This UV beam comes into full affect for 17hrs on the 17th of October 2006. No matter what time zone you are in the hours are approximately 10:17am on the 17th of October to 1:17am on the 18th October. The peak time will be 17:10 (5:10pm) on the 17th October. You do need to be in a meditative state through out this time, though would be beneficial. The main key time no matter what time zone you are in will be the peak time of 17:10 (5:10 pm). Perhaps at this time if you can find a peaceful spot or location to focus. The optimum is out in the vicinity of grounded nature, likened to that of a large tree or next to the ocean waves. Focus on whatever it is you desire. What that is required for the benefit of all Earth and Humanity is positive thoughts of loving nature. We call this UV beam trigger event, "818" gateway. Please forward this message to as many people as you know who will use this cosmic trigger event to focus positive, good willed thoughts. We require approximately 1-million people across globe to actively participate in this event. Please use whatever communication mediums you have at your disposal.

Reach out to as many people as possible. We require 1-million plus people at the least to trigger a shift for humanity from separation and fragmentation to one of unification and oneness. This is your opportunity to take back what is rightfully yours i.e. Peace and Prosperity for all Earth and Mankind. This is a gift, a life line from your universe so to speak, an answer to your prayers. What you do with it and whether or not you choose to participate is your choice. Details to the Mission-1017 site and forum and how to stay updated are below. Mission1017 Source Raphiem/Blue”

Now considering how we use our thought energy is always a good thing as it is how we connect to God, Spirit, each other and the world we live in. My issue is as follows: We should be mindful of how we think and conduct ourselves every day not only when there is some fear of some supposed cosmic trigger. Why is it folks must take a simple spiritual principle of the Law of Compensation and Retribution, The Golden Rule or What Goes Around Comes Around and make it into some New Age weird and wonderful concept? Do people really need flakey mysticism to motivate them to do what they should be doing on a daily basis anyway? Why is it that people have to complicate something so simple? Regardless if you believe in one lifetime or many the situation is the same.

A. Thoughts are concrete things and how we think does manifest in our surroundings be it positive or negative and;

B. It is our PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY to be accountable for the thought energy we put out there EVERY DAY as our words and actions will fall in line with our ideas and attitudes.

If the notion of some other worldly dimensional UV Ray blasting the physical realm and magnifying thought vibrations either positive or negative is what folks need to get them to take personal responsibility for their thoughts words and deeds than so be it! On the other hand, it just seems to complicate the obvious. As a friend once said KISS- KEEP IT SPIRITUALLY SIMPLE. You don’t have to make some fantastical reason to do the right thing you just have to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do! Holy NEW AGE NONSENSE! Good grief! It is time folks got a grip! There’s enough junk email without adding this to the mix!

My 15 Minutes of Fame??

2006-09-03T16:30:00.000-04:00

There are moments in life when everything just seems to be going on a flow. I must say that this time in my life seems to be one of those moments filled with synchronicity! I was blessed to find this great 2 bedroom apartment that allows me to work and teach from home and I am fortunate enough to be able to cover all my expenses and yet enjoy myself! I am so peaceful and thankful for the way things worked out!

Finally getting settled after the move, thank God! Feels so good to have this place feeling like home! So much has happened since I last wrote on my blog. At the end of July I was interviewed for a television program called 3D Dialogue. It was a very interesting experience! The show is a local cable cast multi-faith discussion show where folks from different spiritual beliefs are interviewed about their faiths. I found the host to be very insightful and respectful. Also found that the interview time few by. It was only a 7 minute interview where I was asked about Spiritualism. So much for my 15 minutes of fame eh? Actually, I really found it quite easy to talk to the host of the show and am very pleased to have had the opportunity to represent my religious community in the GTA. The show does not air until the week of the 23 of October 2006 but I am really curious how it turned out. For more information on the show as it is broadcast in the Toronto Ontario Canada area and the host (T. Sher Singh) click this link

Funny thing was it took longer for me to sign the release forms and to go through makeup than it did for me to do the entire interview! All about image you know! Knowing me, I will not like myself on TV I have never liked myself on video (but then who does?) and although I have done a few commercials for local charities at different times of my life, I always felt funny about how I come across on TV! Ego aside my hope is that the short, informal interview helps people to understand Spiritualism, and for those seeking maybe seeing the interview will be a positive influence that will encourage some people to take a deeper look at the religion, philosophy and science of Spiritualism as a possible path. Not that I wish to convert people rather simply that I found Spiritualism to be a way that works for me and if it helps others too then great.

On a different but related note, I have managed to get a group together and have started holding psychic development circles in my home. There are about 8 of us at the moment and it is wonderful to have a strong group of people that are interested in working on their own spiritual growth and psychic development. Given that there is a strong interest I am considering starting a second circle on a different night. I have a few people who might be interested and so if you read this blog entry, are in the local vicinity and figure you would like to find out more you can drop me a line using the contact link at this site or you can email me at cmac29@rogers.com.

On the Road to Positive Change an Update!

2006-07-24T21:03:00.000-04:00

Had an interesting conversation with the minister of Church of Universal Love last Wednesday night. Although their classes do not start until the fall I do think I will be interested in checking out their public meditation and message service on Tuesday nights. I also would not mind checking out their meditation and healing service on Friday evenings. It was very nice that someone took the time to call me back and share with me what the church is doing. It was also a relief that I could also be straight forward about who I am, where I am coming from, my experiences of late and what I hope to find in a church home in the near future.

I also spoke to the gentleman from Britten Memorial again and although I have had to put my involvement in their circle on hold until September because of the move, I am very interested their 6 week intro course to home circle development. I cannot wait to be moved and more settled so I can focus on new projects and activities.

As it stands now I know I will be opening my home to a home circle when I am finally moved and settled in. I expect that by late August early September that I will be inviting people to join the home circle. It will be good to have the freedom to work with people I respect and enjoy and a pleasure to see them develop their mediumship.

On another completely unrelated note, I read somewhere that blogs are like one’s résumé. I got the sense from the post that this is somehow a bad thing? I think employers are smart to do google searches and find out who their prospective employers are by what they post and involve themselves in on the world wide web. Yes it can mean risk of being eliminated from a potential job but it can also give your potential clients a sense that you are the real deal and do not put up with nonsense. This latter reason, in my opinion, is all the more reason for me to write about the topics that interest me and my experiences as a professional Spiritualist Medium/ Psychic. I stand by what I have posted in my blogs and on various discussion sites regarding the psychic aspect, mediumship, healing and Spiritualism and find that the honest and direct approach to hypocrisy, duplicity, scams and false accusations that are groundless is the best way to go.

At least when folks come to me for a reading or spiritual advice, they know they will get a no nonsense answer that is based on a combination of 12 years of practical experience, current involvement as a professional and up-to-date reading/research on the psychic aspect, mediumship, healing, Spiritualism and other related topics.

If folks are afraid that what they post will cost them employment opportunities and they cannot stand by what they post in blogs or on discussion sites then perhaps they should not post at all? As for me I have always called things as I see them. This is what makes me a strong medium and I am not about to fix something that isn’t broken as the saying goes.

On the road to positive change...

2006-07-16T23:52:00.000-04:00

I had a very nice call from the president of the board at Britten Memorial Church today. It was so nice that he took the time to call and address my questions. I was really surprised that he took about a half an hour with me. I certainly did not expect that but the conversation was helpful and I think I will check out the church and enjoy meeting him should I have the chance.

He struck me as a very knowledgeable person and as someone who cares about what his church is offering the community. It was nice to be treated as an informed, experienced Spiritualist with something to offer! I was able to be forthright about where I was coming from and what I was hoping to gain from church attendance.

I will be attending the Divine Service on Sunday and if I feel at home I will commit to their 6 week series of classes to help with the building of home circles. I also am looking forward to attending the Message Service on Wednesday evening once in a while and also being able to work too. I am most looking forward to meeting new people and apparently they have a regular congregation of 20 to 40 people on a Sunday! That will be a nice change from what I was dealing with for the past 3 years!

I am still waiting to hear from Universal Love but given that it is a distance away and the Sunday Service is a morning service I am not sure that the TTC would get me there in time on Sundays. I will have another look at their website again and see when I can attend during the week and see where that takes me!

So nice to be on the road to positive change!

New Horizons!

2006-07-14T14:09:00.000-04:00

Given the circumstances of late, I am now looking for a new church to call home. I have two locations in mind that are close to me in and readily available via the TTC. The first is Britten Memorial Church located at Lansdowne and Bloor and the other is The Church of Universal Love at Wilson and Duffern. Both have a lot of activities happening on their calendars which will be a nice change from the stagnation going on at the church I had attended for the last 3 years.

I will also be organizing a home circle once I move and am looking forward to seeing where that takes me. If you are interested in a home study circle for psychic mediumship development in the Etobicoke area you can contact me at through the email link attached to my profile here on Blogger.com to find out more. If there is enough interest I will look into renting a public location and working out a nominal fee per evening to offset the costs of the location rental.

Funny enough I thought that if I left the church I was attending that it would have an adverse impact on me and my plans for the future. In actual fact, the complete opposite it true. I am now looking to see what else is out there and going to continue my ministerial training with The Morris Pratt Institute and the Center of Spiritualist Studies through the National Spiritualist Association of Churches of America. I really hoped I would find good Canadian training but since there is nothing recognized in Canada and no real Spiritualist organization here fit to do the job so f

Personal Responsibility Requires More than Lip Service

2006-07-12T16:12:00.000-04:00

It is interesting to note how those who manipulate and take advantage of others cry foul and say it is “abusive” when called on their actions. They claim to be spiritual and focused but in actual fact they are aging, grasping at old dreams, unfocused and jealous of younger folks who have their whole lives ahead of them.

The computer can be a useful tool and were it not of the more talented who are assumed to have so much time on their hands the one crying foul would not be as computer savvy and able to post her gripe as she has done these past days. Why is it that some folks insist on dishing out negativity but cannot understand when it is returned to them?

Law of attraction dictates as we put out there so we get back. Should the manipulator be surprised when their behaviour comes back to roost? Not particularly. They keep whining about the anonymity of being behind the computer screen but did they deal with issues as they came up or did they let them build and explode unreasonably when they could not get their own way? I do not consider rude, unfounded accusations to be a spiritual way to deal with problems. Perhaps I am missing something here?

What can be learned is that those who need title and feel this gives them power over others are shocked and angered when they discover that the title and the organization they have fritted their life away on is really of very little value to anyone other than themselves and their fragile egos. They accuse those who want to address real problems of organized religion and the position of minister of putting in bad words about them. Perhaps more accurately they have been shown an accurate mirror and they do not like the image they see from the life they have created for themselves? If that is so then it behooves them to take personal responsibility make changes and stop trying to place the blame for their short comings and discontent about their situation onto others who have better things to do with their energy, education and time. They advise others to be responsible for actions and yet are unable or unwilling to do so themselves. What a sad statement for a person in a position where they looked upon for guidance and with respect.

Free Like a Hawk

2006-07-10T22:00:00.000-04:00

Those who take advantage of others time and effort and just assume that they can orchestrate how the people will give up time in their lives just because they are a member of a volunteer organization do not like it when the people whom they try to control and yet dump all the work on while they expect to take all the credit are usually dismayed when the underlings finally see the light and put a stop to the invasion into their lives. Standing up for me and talking about the things that have happened to me in the guise of church and spirituality and Spiritualism is the most healing.

To be obligated several nights a week and to be expected to give up weekends with friends and family for the sake of Church obligations planned without my input and with no respect for my personal life is such physical and emotional drain. Like a hooded hawk stuck waiting to be released.

To finally have the strength to break free of the constant demand and expectation of tasks to be done with little to no appreciation shown for work done is most healing. Now I can go anywhere I want and just be a member of a church. I do not have to put up with being told how I should think, what I should say, how I should act and how often I shall serve. So much to look forward to! As I rediscover again what it is like to live my own life on my terms unshackled!

The hawk has flown off the dark arm and is now truly free…

Is religious affiliation necessary to be a Spiritualist?

2006-07-08T04:58:00.000-04:00

Source: http://www.statistique-canada.org/english/freepub/11-008-XIE/2006001/charts/chart_3.gif

The longer I am exposed to the organizations that call themselves Spiritualist Churches the more I wonder if these will become a thing of the past for the most part. Seems to me that most folks want to do psychic development and learn about spiritual healing without the trappings and politics of religious affiliation.

Consider the fact that the world is running on the mentality of being open and available 24-7 and for many this change in the world of business that allows us to have service on demand means that many folks work at times where traditionally they would have gone to church. For those who do have Sundays off (the common day of worship in western culture) is it any wonder that the last thing these folks really want to do is to kill a Sunday morning, afternoon or evening at church? This time my be the only real time they have to spend as a family and when it comes to Spiritualist Churches there are not enough of them around so that you can find one in your community. Then when you do there is the issue that each is doing its own thing and then there is the internal personality clashes and politics that are bound to send even the most ardent Spiritualist running for cover.

Does Spiritualism need to organize itself in the traditional religious structure or is there some other way that the principles of Spiritualism can be brought to the masses? What do we need to do to reach genuine seekers and to eliminate the pitfalls of the traditional religious organizational structure? Do we need churches or is it time to move ahead and on to new ways of sharing spiritualism? What other kinds of organizations would better suit our faster paced, jaded and spiritually seeking society? Just some of the questions I wonder about more often these days.

Catherine

Life Choices

2006-06-19T23:52:00.000-04:00

Sometimes even when you know that spirit is using you to help teach another, there comes a point when you cannot teach what needs to be learned unless the seeker is willing to examine their thinking and make changes that will enable them to take in the lessons that are required.

It seems to me that there are many instances in life where one is presented with teachers who come with messages and lessons with which we are not yet ready to accept. This being the case, life is like a series of choices—like what is behind door number one, door number two, and door number three. It is not that the lessons will not eventually be learned, but rather that the road we take or the door we pick depends on how we see our life situation at the time.

One of the hardest things for newcomers to Spiritualism to realize is that thoughts are energy. They are concrete things and they affect others around us, so much, that we should be aware of how we think… Many folks are holding on to old, counter-productive thought patterns that result in them repeating the same experiences many times over in their lives. As frustrating as this might be for us, we must understand that themes repeat themselves in life when we have yet to learn the lesson behind the experience that is brought to the fore.

Even as we do understand that this is how the universe works, there are times when we just do not want to deal with certain aspects of life experience that builds character. Regardless we are usually required to deal with the life lesson sooner or later and so how we do so is up to us. Life is like a huge road map and the route we take is not predestined but rather is a changeable course as we go that depends on our life choices.

Remembering My First Spirit Contact/ Communication

2006-06-19T15:27:00.000-04:00

A dark cold night in mid October 1980 would change my life forever… It was Thanksgiving. Family were seated around the table eating the turkey dinner that mom had slaved over all day… Right in the middle of the meal, we got the call that I was dreading… It was the hospital calling to tell us that we needed to come see grandpa as soon as possible as they did not think he would last the night…

I remember just staring at my food… I was numb, in shock and emotions were surging that I could not express… Then I remember demanding to be allowed to go to the hospital to see grandpa… Mom was against it, dad said nothing, but I insisted… As I recall it was the longest cab ride in my life… Dad had been drinking wine with supper. He could not drive so we went in a cab to the hospital…

I remember being so quiet in the cab and still quiet as we rode the elevator to grandpa’s floor and walked into room. When we entered grandpa was quiet and had a glow about him, as I have never seen with anyone before or since that time. When he realized we were there, he began to talk about seeing all the relatives “in the big house”. Dad and I did not know what to make of it because grandpa was talking about people who had passed away 30 or 40 years earlier!

As I watched this strong man who was now so fragile laying on the bed, I began to see white smoke like substance surround his body starting at his head and moving down his body until it was a 3 inch layer just above him but still attached at the head. I had no idea what I was seeing then, but he was peaceful so I knew that it was not a bad thing that was happening. (Now I know this is the spirit body, but at the time I was only 11 and did not know anything about spirit.)

As I continued to watch, his glow intensified until I could no longer look directly at him on the bed… I just stood there dumbfounded and reached out to touch him… When I did that, I could feel the mist around him. It was warm and tingled at my touch…. Strange but even then, I was not afraid. The feeling was comforting and familiar… It felt like grandpa’s touch-- it kept me calm… the whole time we were in the room. As I watched, the spirit body float in and out of grandpa’s body I noticed that the only place where it did not fully leave the physical body was the head. This fluctuation lasted the whole time we were in the room.

I remember dad being very quiet and I could see tears building. It was the first time I recall seeing my father cry. I think it was this that was more upsetting than seeing grandpa in the state he was in. I did wonder for years after though if grandpa felt any pain once out of the body. He was dying of cancer of the bladder and was on morphine to numb the physical pain of the disease than had ravaged his now frail body.

When it was time to leave, I recall that I did not want to go. I just knew that this was the last time I would have with my grandfather. It took everything I had to walk out of that room and make my way to the elevator. As I stood in the door way, I looked back and saw that grandpa had fallen into a peaceful sleep and that he was smiling.

That night, around 3 am in the morning I woke from a sound sleep and saw grandpa at the foot of my bed… He now appeared to be strong and smiling, but he had come to say goodbye. It was time for him to go. And, he wanted me to know that he was ready to go to spirit. As much as I did not want him to leave, the message also gave me an incredible sense of calm that I carried with me for many months after his death.

Later that morning, I remember being outside walking and looking at the orange, yellow, and read leaves of the autumn trees…I was numb and I could not imagine my life with grandpa gone. He was my friend, my confidant, and my role model. Little did I know that his passing would be only the beginning of my spiritual adventure!

Thank you grandpa for helping me open the door to spirit communication that is so much a part of my life as a Spiritualist medium and healer!