#natalieslessons

[voicesfromthelight]

This quote comes from Natalie, my second main spirit guide in addition to Salvador. (I identify her through how she addresses me as “daughter.”) The meaning of this quote is straightforward. Intuition and psychic development are our birthrights. Like any ability, they can be used in service of love or fear. Once you begin to explore the potential of your mind and energetic body, the newfound sense of control and empowerment can sometimes feel addictive. If you use that power without discernment, or without a willingness to evolve through it, you may end up feeding your weaknesses instead of growing beyond them. So ask yourself, how are you seeking to evolve through accessing your intuition? In my case, I tend to be a worrier, and I often access my intuitive guidance in an attempt to soothe my worrying. And it does! But sometimes, I go back and read transcripts of my old readings, and notice - I have asked the same questions over and over again, and received the same answers over and over. I may have soothed my worrying temporarily - but did I really listen? If I REALLY listened and internalized my guides’ answers, I would no longer worry. And then, I would grow past being a worrier. Sometimes, I catch glimpses of that trust and peace. It feels GOOD. I will meditate on this today.

[voicesfromthelight]

“Big Friend Energy”

A quick note: Another new expression showed up in spiritual shorthand today. “Big Friend Energy.” (Meaning: A great, enthusiastic embracing of friendship and companionship.) Seriously, Natalie? Sometimes my spirit guides use startlingly contemporary expressions, often in the form of wisecracks I myself would never come up with. Like that time Salvador called me “Boss Lady.” My guides have a sense of humor, and I love them to pieces.

[voicesfromthelight]

”Intuition and truth are found through the heart. This is why it is our mission as your spirit guides to teach you to seek out the energy of the heart. Doubt, on the other hand, manifests itself in the mind. If you find you are doubting yourself or your future prospects, and cannot hear the voice of your intuition, try to remember all the times you were able to achieve what you wanted, and through those thoughts, excite your heart to joy. Then, focus again on the questions at hand, and listen for the answers from a new sense of peace.”

Natalie

[voicesfromthelight]

“This is the truth: Special blessings are easy to manifest! Simply neutralize the momentum of your fear, and widen your perspective past the perceived limitations of the present moment, forgetting all doubts. This is wisdom. Be wise!”

Natalie

[voicesfromthelight]

Never worry against love.

Natalie

This quote has shown up twice, in slight variations, in the past few days of channelings. It’s a somewhat strangely worded expression that can be interpreted as a shorthand sentence that communicates the idea that worry is a form of opposition or resistance to a desired outcome. (As people often say: “Praying for what you don’t want.”) My guides love to reiterate over and over again the importance of attention in the process of manifestation. When you are in a situation that is not desirable, what do you turn your attention to, the aspect of fear within that situation, or the aspect of love? Whenever possible, choose love over fear.

[voicesfromthelight]

”To create optimal circumstances for professional success, foster a sense of readiness to pursue new paths as they are inspired. Remember that when you allow yourself to realize your talents through following a plan that is built on a foundation of wisdom and love, you will be living a life of service to humanity.”

Natalie

[voicesfromthelight]

”Make a conscious decision to direct your thoughts from a mindset of being blessed. Bless your worries. Bless everything you have created.”

Natalie

[voicesfromthelight]

”Don’t give energy to negative or misaligned feelings. You will benefit better from your intuitive guidance that way. When you feel the impulse to feed into those thoughts, soothe yourself, and return your attention to guiding your heart in a positive direction.”

Natalie

[voicesfromthelight]

This quote took me aback when it first came through in a reading, but it has turned out to be one of the most useful pieces of advice my guides have ever given. The essence of it lies in the idea of not taking on another person’s karma, and in practicing energetic discernment. Love itself is never “wrong” on an energetic level, and if we allow the dysfunction, neglect or trauma in a relationship to lead us to question the worthiness of our love, or to fear what pain we might perceive our love leading to, we allow ourselves to be sapped of our power and dignity. Love itself is not to be feared. It is to be celebrated. Every misaligned manifestation beyond it is incidental, and should be negotiated as its own entity.

[voicesfromthelight]

”The enjoyment you take in your psychic work is answered in Spirit with the continued, successful development of your gift, dear. What you desire, deserves to be blessed! Predicting the future and helping people is easy. When you serve people with integrity, the foundation of your work stays strong.”

– Natalie

[voicesfromthelight]

Here’s a lovely quote from Natalie that came through today. She was speaking to me about the kind of unspoken, energetic communication that happens between people through emotional presence as well as physical touch, but this also applies to intuition. Instinct is faster than the rational mind, and one of the most universal manifestations of intuition, even among the most skeptical of us, are the hits of guidance we get through the ways our bodies react to energy. The feelings in the pits of our stomachs. In our heart. In our gut. The goosebumps and frissons. What secrets are they revealing to you that the rational mind has not yet caught up to? How does your body intuitively communicate with you? Pay attention to what it is saying. The body is wise.

[voicesfromthelight]

On Spirit Guides, Clairaudient Dictation, and The Difference Between Psychic and Mediumistic Information

One of the most valuable tools I have in my arsenal as a medium is that of taking clairaudient dictation. (Some people call it "inspired writing," but this definition doesn't feel quite accurate to me.) In contrast to channeling verbally, claircognizantly or clairvoyantly, pairing spirit communication with a tangible act that grounds the information in the physical dimension and records it, is one of the best ways to strengthen the link we have with the spirit world. There are some misconceptions out there about “automatic” writing, including a few I harbored myself before figuring out how to develop this skill, that may keep many people hoping to learn how to channel from breaking through plateaus in their communication. So, today, I’d like to clear some of these up and teach my readers how to get started.

Before we go into the technique of writing by clairaudient dictation itself, we will need to backtrack a bit. As with any clair-sense, part of the challenge for the medium or psychic is to differentiate whether or not a given impression is coming from their own consciousness, or from spirit. And this is where the biggest difference between psychic information and mediumistic information - a crucial difference I wish I had been taught earlier in my practice - comes into play. Though these two modalities of information utilize the same clair-senses in order to be received, psychic information and the interpretation of mediumistic spirit communication run on two semi-separate, though interrelated, systems. The language and currency of both psychic reading and mediumistic communication is what we call “energy” (in the metaphysical sense, not necessarily as per the exact scientific definition.) However, the difference is that when we read a person, object or situation psychically, we are actively perceiving and interpreting the energetic imprints, streams of events, memories, emotions and physical elements within their fields, whereas the energetic impressions of mediumistic communication are received much more passively from a different source - intelligences or entities transmitting information directly from spirit. It’s kind of like the difference between watching a pre-recorded video of a person talking, and engaging in, say, a live video chat with them from another country. (How I know this to actually be true is the subject of a whole other post. Just bear with me for now.) So, while certain types of spiritual work, such as psychic reading or healing, may require us to “dig into” the personal energy field of the person we are working with and actively think about the various cues we are receiving, mediumistic work requires us to learn how to quiet ourselves completely, until we are as blank a slate as possible, ready to receive spirit communication. This passive reception is what differentiates clairaudient dictation from stream-of-consciousness.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I will share that the way I figured out how to bring my clairaudience to the fore and eventually, to channel verbally, after decades of previous psychic practice, involves a method that is deservedly somewhat controversial within the field of evidential mediumship: initial spirit board work, done exclusively with high-vibration spirit guides I was already aware of. Indeed, this technique should not be used by people inexperienced with meditation, visualization, energy work and psychic protection, nor is it necessary to do so. (I myself abandoned plans to teach this particular method precisely because it could too easily be misused.) It is definitely not the only way to learn how to channel. However, if you look at the history of some of the world’s most respected teachers of channeling (including the wonderful Sanaya Roman, whose book, “Opening to Channel,” I heartily recommend), there are in fact quite a few stories that follow a trajectory similar to mine. Contrary to popular misconception, it is possible to communicate with high-level spirit guides through spirit board work, as long as one approaches the work well-prepared, with absolute discipline, joy, gratitude and love. (I cannot stress enough the importance of energetic preparation.) You will know a tree by its fruits. However, because this method is not fool-proof even for the experienced, I will not go into further detail on it here. What I learned from it was how to be receptive to spirit, communicate verbally, and raise my vibration high enough to meet my guides half-way. One need only replicate these effects to be able to tap into clairaudient streams of information as effectively as I learned how to do. So, here is how you can do that with a method that is safer, and tool-free.

1. If you have not yet learned how to contact your spirit guides, begin to build your connection and strengthen your energy body through frequent meditation and meticulous self-care.  Chakra-clearing meditations are indispensable for this. Please review some of my lessons on chakra clearing and preparation, and begin to incorporate them into your practice, preferably on a daily basis. Raise your energy by eating healthily, listening to music that makes you happy, and through activities such as engaging in affectionate interactions with people, walking in nature, laughing, doing something creative, beautifying your environment, and making gratitude lists. Strive to become the happiest, most balanced version of yourself you can be! Also, begin to pay attention to how your thoughts manifest themselves verbally in your mind. What does your inner voice sound like?

2. When you are comfortable meditating and clearing your chakras, and feel ready to meet your spirit guides, go into a meditative state, close your eyes, and envision your heart chakra filled with golden light. Imagine this light expanding to fill your aura in a protective, golden bubble. Fill your heart with as much excitement, joy, anticipation, love and trust as you can. Suspend any disbelief. (Be playful about this, if that helps.)  Then, in your mind, invite your highest, most loving, wise and helpful spirit guide to appear before you. If no-one appears, say “thank you” anyway, come out of meditation, and try again another day. If a being of light does enter your field of vision, thank it for making itself known to you, and begin a conversation. See if you communicate with it most effectively through thought, word, vision, smell, sound, taste, feeling, or a combination of all of these. You may ask for a name, but this is not mandatory. If you do receive a name, accept the first one you hear. In the unlikely event that the being that appears in your vision makes you feel uncomfortable, do not fret. Just say thank you and goodbye, and send them off with blessings. Sometimes, more than one guide will present themselves to you. This is how I met Natalie, and my other main guide, Salvador.

3. Get to know your guide or guides by inviting them into your presence when you meditate or do energy work. You can also ask for assistance with various tasks or challenges throughout your day. In your mind, address your guide, explain your situation, and ask them to help you. (I prepare my guides for readings by letting them know days in advance who our next client will be. That way, when I go into the reading, they are raring to go and do not even need to be told what questions the client has.) You may notice new ideas and solutions popping into your head, little synchronicities helping you out, or, the next time you meditate and invite your guide, they may appear to offer advice.

4. Ask your guide or guides if they would like to communicate with you through clairaudient dictation. If they say yes, you can move on to the next step. If they say this is not part of their expertise, you can ask them to appoint another high-level guide who will be able to communicate with you in this way. (In my case, the guides who come through in writing often tend to be part of a collective consciousness that is broader than Natalie or Salvador individually.)

5. When you get the go-ahead, buy yourself a nice new notebook, and sharpen up a pencil. Go into a meditative state. Ask your spirit guides to come close, relax as deeply as possible, and begin to draw with a free hand, not thinking about what you are drawing, and inviting your spirit guides to guide your hand. Do this for a few pages, not thinking about the result. Do not worry about the drawing looking like anything in particular. Just feel the energy of the movement as an expression of feeling, and the freedom of your hand. Thank the guides for working with you. Then, begin to write, with the same freedom of expression. It is important here to not think too much about the meaning of the words, or even the grammatical correctness. Just express verbally a feeling you are getting. Write full sentences, without worrying about their coherence. You can start by writing free association, but the goal is to move beyond active association to a state where the mind is as passive and relaxed as possible. The first few attempts will probably be word salad. Don’t worry. This will change. The process of learning to channel is like tuning a radio to a precise frequency and learning to tune out the interference. This is what this step is about.

6. Now, the most important part: Let your mind go completely quiet and blank. Then, ask a question you would like your guides to answer. Write it down. Go completely quiet again, and listen. As soon as you hear a word, write it down. Do not think about the meaning, or the structure of the sentence. Do not continue writing until you hear the next word. Trust what you hear, and do not worry about what you think the next word should be. When you are truly channeling, you will be able to write paragraphs of information in coherent, eloquent text, one word at a time, with no idea of how a sentence you have begun to write, will end. Do not rush through this process. If you feel your conscious mind interfering with the message you are receiving, take a deep breath, quiet your mind again, and listen, almost as if you were in the process of falling asleep. When a word is coming from spirit, it will repeat itself and not change until you have written it down.

7. When you are done, do not only thank the guides mentally, but write down your thanks after your message. Say goodbye. Come out of meditation. You might not even remember fully what you have written. Now read your answer. Congratulations! You will know you are truly channeling spirit when the text is coherent, eloquent, insightful, compassionate, evidential (in the case of readings tied to events in the physical world), and carries wisdom greater than what you thought you were capable of.

If it takes a while to get the hang of this, do not get discouraged. Even when you succeed at this technique, it is normal for channeling abilities to fluctuate with our general energy levels, circumstances, etc.. Keep practicing, and you will be amazed at the ease with which you will be able to receive higher guidance.

How do you get guidance and information from your guides? Have you ever tried channeling through writing? How did it go? Let me know if you try this method, and how it works for you!

[voicesfromthelight]

Even great love can be diminished in its power to influence the world when you are mired in doubt. When you have sincere love in your heart, also allow yourself to trust. Claim your power!

Natalie

[voicesfromthelight]

You’ll do best in your psychic work when you do it with with great integrity. Don’t pander to people’s expectations, but be careful in driving home hard lessons. People will truly get their money’s worth when you follow this guideline. Don’t be intimidated by hopes and fears, but be sensitive in your suggestions. The best, most reliable psychics give generous and kind counsel, in words that move the soul deeply. Their exchanges with their clients are respectful, and they help them plan out their lives for the better. This mutual respect nourishes both parties. Be very mindful of  communicating in a way that truly opens the heart and mind of your client. Do not be afraid to speak the truth, but speak it lovingly.

Natalie, on communication and integrity in psychic work

[voicesfromthelight]

Channeled Lessons in Psychic Development 12: On The Differences Between Spirit Guide Readings and Akashic Record Work

The world of channeling and mediumship is a multicolored tapestry of different energies, approaches and levels of consciousness. As we’ve discussed before in my piece about different frequencies in the spirit world, there are multitudes of sources and spiritual allies to tap into when you open up to communicate with spirit, depending what you seek to resonate with. Since tuning into these various streams of information means that switching from one mode of communication, such as evidential mediumship, to another, such as spirit guide channeling, can be tricky, it can sometimes be helpful to reflect on what is actually happening when we do so, as well as how the different sources we tap into can serve not only us, but humanity, in different ways.

I’ve been reflecting on this more than usual, lately, since I added Akashic Record dream work into my spiritual “tool box,” alongside channeling my personal guides and developing my skills as an evidential medium. One of the most defining differences between different modes of mediumship is how strongly they relate to the reality of personified, individuated human experience, versus addressing reality at a more cosmic level. As we move further up in frequency when we tune in, our channeling will tend to take on a more abstract, collective tone. One of the reasons I have chosen, so far, to practice Akashic Record work specifically through dream work, is that when I channel using long-form clairaudient dictation, the source that comes through tends to already be at a similar level of abstraction as the one verbal Akashic Record channeling usually expresses itself in. Since my primary concern as a medium and spiritual consultant is centered around healing on a very practical, emotional level, anchoring the work into the dream state allows me to integrate the wisdom of the Akashic Records in a personal, experiential way. The “loftiness” of channeling sourced from more “diffuse” collective consciousnesses, while extraordinarily lucid and eloquent, contrasts itself with the work I do with Natalie and Salvador first and foremost through how personal, specific, nurturing and practical the readings my guides bring through always are.

With this in mind, I recently started to pepper my channeling sessions with Natalie and Salvador with questions about who they are, how our work differs from Akashic Record work, what the benefits of the different methods are, and how, exactly, we work together energetically. Some of the questions I had, were: Are the guides truly their own entities, or simply manifestations of my own subconscious? When we read people together, how do they get information? (I even wondered if they were somehow already accessing the Akashic Records without me.) How independently can they work without me? Some of their answers surprised me. One especially interesting concept that has repeated itself since is the idea of  “moving the energy of information.” (More on that in a minute.) There is much to follow up on, but we’re off to a good start!

For context, it might be helpful to know that my most common way of reading people is to take an “energetic photograph” of them with my mind when the agreement to go forward with the reading is made, and then make a mental note to Natalie and Salvador that this is who we will be working with. Later, when I go into the channeling session on my own time, they come through and tell me everything I need to know about the readee, in spiritual shorthand, which is then translated, analyzed and written up into the reading report. Akashic Record reading, by contrast, taps into a more collective source of information, mediated by slightly different guides, who in my case, remain mostly “behind the scenes.” The records are, essentially, a cosmic, energetic archive of humanity and history, as it unfolds. In my particular practice, the connection to them is built and activated using Linda Howe’s Pathway Prayer.

Here is what I have found out so far in interviewing my guides. (Some information has been reordered for clarity, with more personal communications edited out.)

An opening statement on Akashic Record work:

Natalie: Trust this wonderful new gift - working with the Akashic Records. It brings new spiritual collaborators and people into your life. Incorporate this auspicious medicine into your work. Focus your mind on receiving the gift. Say yes! Do grand work with it. Please love! Concentrate fully. Your words are certain to serve selflessly. This new technique will be of great help to you, daughter.

Emily: How similar is the work that we do together to reading the records, in the purest sense?

Natalie: You seek pure truth in the records. The guides, on the other hand, work to heal your heart and master its intelligence. Our job is to excite hope within you. To bring reverence to you. Spirit says: Come feel love! Be of  wonderful service. We bring peace, love, psychic and spiritual development.

Emily: When we do readings together, do you and Salvador read the Akashic Records for me?

Natalie: No. We move the energy of information together. We don’t have our own control over it without you. We access the information and read people through your intention - not through the records. Know that we can develop still further the blessings of your work with us.

Emily: So, it’s really not the same thing?

Salvador: Correct. It’s important for you, however, to work to “move information” with many different guides. With us, you receive the knowledge through your heart, through your emotional connection, concentrating first on information pertaining to the physical world. Hidden truths such as those in the records are then easy to read and receive! We teach you intelligent concentration.

Emily: Is it beneficial for me to work with the Akashic Records?

Salvador: Yes, dear. It’s good. It’s a joyful lesson for you. Consider how you feel about it. Honor your feelings, ha ha!  (Emily’s note: True. I feel very good about it.)

Emily: Does the Pathway Prayer actually work to open the records?

Salvador: Yes, dear. This information is sound.

Emily: Are there advantages to Akashic Record work?

Salvador: Yes. You can read accurate facts in the records. You develop your ability to find  answers that bring joy, and strengthen your attention. Your speaking talents will also benefit. Talk in inspiring ways. Guide people! There are no conflicts here, between this work, and the other.

Emily: Is there any conflict between being an evidential medium and the channeling work we do? Can I get better at it and still do this work?  

Salvador: Proficiency in both these modalities can happen easily enough. True mastery has control over what it attunes itself to, dear.

…And now for the personal stuff!

Emily: Salvador and Natalie, are you your own personalities apart from me?

Natalie: Yes, dear. We are our own personalities. We are your soul family. Your honest guides. You draw us to you when your energy is happy and excited - we seek you out. Our life together bonded us. (Emily’s note: This means that we have had past lives together on Earth, but they have progressed spiritually to the point of no longer needing to incarnate.) This is a joyful fact. There is little need to dwell on the past, however. Focus on creating a happy life here and now!

Emily: Can you explain to me what happens when I use the Pathway Prayer before sleep?

(Emily’s note: In addition to reliving and reworking painful memories in Akashic Record-attuned dreams, I’ve found myself both waking up much more peaceful and happy, as well as becoming subtly aware of a highly uplifting stream of guidance and energy flowing into my consciousness as I fall asleep after the prayer.)

Salvador: It very much facilitates the manifestation of a happy, fun and successful life. The Akashic Record guides greet you, and you instantly receive information on the future that counteracts your fears. When this happens, there is a strong feeling of certainty. The guides empower you, and align you with your creative energy, through helping to strengthen the confidence you have in your future satisfaction, therefore removing resistance and doubt. In that moment, all that fulfills you is predicted and promised. The guides bring blessings, and you hear those blessings more clearly. You, in turn, need to offer the energy of your own joy to this process. Choose real, heartfelt joy, and intentionally, mindfully dismantle fear and trouble.

And that’s it, for now.

Have you tried tapping into different sources of information in your spiritual work? How did they compare and contrast with one another? Which source did you find most helpful, and why? Think about the different ways in which you can fine-tune your practice to access the widest range of information and healing!

[voicesfromthelight]

Do not give power to wrong influences that excite fear and doubt - not even when they come from within your own family, or are deeply rooted in the culture in which you were raised. Cut ties with negative elements in your past that do not resonate with your higher self, and your personal power will flourish. You will experience wonderful growth, and connect with a community that truly nourishes you. You can easily attract the right people by putting forth your best self and shining forth the beauty of your soul with appreciation and respect. Seek out people who lift you up and warm your spirit!

Natalie