A New Focus: Explorations in Mediumship

A few months ago, after receiving impressive messages from medium, fellow Reiki Master and friend, dyAnne Irby, I decided that this was a path I, too, wanted to explore, and began studying mediumship with a wonderful mentor, Dr. Lauren. I am delighted that I can navigate my schedule each week to sit in the circles. Studying may be a misleading word choice, though; I am not exactly studying — at least, it doesn’t feel that way! Studying mediumship is not a formal application of mind and intellect. Instead it is an experiential release of the intellect and a connection with instinct and intuition, and of course, with energies of Spirit. Instead of studying books or specific, unyielding rules of procedure, I find myself experiencing and exploring not only other energies of the highest good “out there,” but also myself. I am strengthening not only the awareness of just what my energy feels like, but also strengthening and expanding the energy itself. I am awakening my powers of awareness and subtle, detail-oriented observation, am strengthening my meditation practice, and am deepening my awareness of myself and my connection with my guides and with Source / All That Is. I am truly re-awakening my Self.

I am a bit hesitant to speak or write of mediumship to the general public, as it seems the general (mis)conception is that it is a hoax (if dismissed or pooh-poohed) or a very dark — even “evil” — work (if taken seriously). On the contrary, though, I regard this work (in which we define what we will accept, which is always only the very highest and most loving connections), and even death itself, as very gentle, connecting, loving and expansive. If the unknown is what really frightens us about that which is “dark,” perhaps connecting with Spirit, our guides and those who have passed to their next arenas of consciousness will help us light our own way, and allow us greater trust, presence and peace in each moment.

The beings with whom I have connected have been regular people, with very distinct personalities, strengths, positive traits, and challenges. Usually, it is their challenges that they were in their human bodies to address, and to learn to turn into strengths. Some have expressed sadness about the way they lived, and about certain choices they made, yet they usually now look back upon their lives and choices with wisdom and perspective, great and necessary lessons learned for their next time around. Some are joyous, and retain the playful, even mischievous qualities in the otherworld that they displayed with zest while living on Earth, eager to make connections with those of us still here and to spread their inspirations even yet — to be bold with life and to go for what you want. (One such being with whom I connected was so vivacious of energy, even in the otherworld, that I radiated such beaming joy and could not have erased the wide smile plastered across my own face while delivering his message if I had wanted to!) My grandmother has come through more than a couple times to other mediums for me, and despite the negative feelings of hardened disappointment she held when she was alive, she always conveys the loving message to be true to yourself, to know who you really are underneath the outer shell and societal constructs, and most of all, she always conveys so much love for me. Actually, all of the beings seem to hold this love, for everyone.

Mediumship for me, while it allows for connection with beings who spent time as humans and have since passed, in the end is not really about the Spirit that has passed (although it is very interesting to learn of its Earthly experiences, lessons and messages, particularly if someone present knows the being — and then for that person, the experience probably does become about bringing light to their relationship, along with any needed completion or closure). Rather, as I described above, it is about how we can connect more deeply with who we are at Soul level, and with strengthening our connection with All That Is. Yet (and by definition) it does require that connection with the being as a way of fine-tuning our channel. Sitting in chairs, we start the circle by connecting our feet to the earth, and our third eyes to Source. The heart center becomes the pivot, and I send energy from my heart center into the earth, all the way down through the building floors, down through the subway tunnels and into the crust, intertwining my energy with that of Earth who sustains us. I imagine the energy to be an infinity symbol, with my heart at the center. The energy flows down into the earth in a circular motion, and returns back up toward my heart, bringing with it energy from Earth. I then send energy from my heart center and the Earth up in the infinite figure 8 to Source. The cycle continues and flows back to my heart center and scoops into the Earth. Blending with the Earth and Source is quite lovely — very serene and centering. We also make a heart connection with the other members of the circle to combine our unique energies for a warm and loving circle. We mentally state what we will accept and what we will not, and then request connection with a being who once lived as human on Earth to make herself known to us. At this point, it becomes about fine tuning our awareness to catch all of the identifying details: Is this person female or male? How old and from what era did she live? Where did she live — an urban area? Rural? What can we determine about her personality? How did she live her life? How did she pass? And ultimately, what is her message — why here, why now?

After receiving this information mentally, one by one we describe the being with whom we are sitting. The people sitting as mediums tend to bring their own life experiences and strengths to the circle, as well as their energies. For example, my background in fashion design brings me great attention to detail — particularly to being able to describe the clothing in which the Spirit presents herself — down to the print of her shirt to the cut of her jacket collar to the etchings on her gold-colored metal buttons. (Who knew my fashion background would come in so handy when approaching matters of Soul?!) Details such as these help locate the being in time and space, for more specific identification. Often the messages given have a direct correlation to situations we are experiencing in our own lives. (I find this similar to how I attract Reiki clients who are relating to specific situations that I once went through and for which I can offer more intimate understanding.) I usually find myself leaving circles feeling I have just received the missing piece of information that kept barely eluding me, or feeling uplifted and aligned with All That Is and synchronized with my path for this life.

Mediumship — Connecting this life with passed life for a better future, and facilitating greater mindfulness and awareness. This is unfolding to be a wonderful expansion of my personal growth.