Fan Page for Psychic Street Smarts...

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?

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)

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

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.

Catherine MacDonald Host of Psychic Street Smarts Interviewed

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



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...

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

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!

Ed and Red's Night Party Spot

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

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...

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??

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

DAYBREAK DIARY

TheStar.com - entertainment - The city that's still asleep

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

Mediumship Demonstrations at Britten Memoiral Spiritualist Church

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

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

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

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.

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

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….

“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

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!

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

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???

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...

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.