By Russel Steward
DEVELOPING PSYCHIC SKILLS
When I was a child, I saw a poster on a classroom wall that showed a photograph of the Grand Canyon in America. It depicted its might and majesty, and underneath the picture it simply said “TO WONDER IS TO BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND.” Those words have stayed with me, and they are as true today as they were then.[/fusion_text][fusion_text]
These words form a good starting point for anyone wishing to explore psychic matters, as we shall discover a little later. Although a lot of books have been written on the subject of developing your psychic powers, many seem to become bogged down in an array of mental exercises and complicated diagrams for the student to study. While these may suit some people, I prefer a more natural method; after all, this is a natural human talent! Take your time reading through this page, or better still print it out so that you can refer to it at leisure. Keep an open mind, and above all, enjoy your exploration!
HOW DO YOU BECOME A PSYCHIC?
If you are reading this, then you have already begun! The first step to waking up your psychic faculty is to admit to yourself that you have one. It takes time for the subconscious to be able to communicate with the conscious mind, and the best way to do this is to simply start thinking about it.
For example, you could say to yourself, “I am psychic” on a daily basis. Try to discuss this with whoever is willing. All these thoughts have a positive effect on developing your gift. You should also try to read about the subject; again, this helps to wake things up. Knowledge will help, as you need some understanding of how things work. Adopt the policy you would take with a new hobby. Become involved in it, buy books and magazines, and look for more information on the Internet. Become familiar with various approaches and opinions, and start to develop your own ideas. Deal directly with what appeals to you, what your logic finds reasonable. Disregard what you find difficult to accept. You can always return to it at a later time.
PRACTICE
Set aside some time to practice. Calm the mind, play gentle, soothing music and try to relax. Allow your thoughts to wander. Sometimes it helps to picture a summer scene, a field or meadow with the sun shining. Remember, it is impossible to completely clear the mind, so picture this field and if a picture pops into your head, even briefly, try to work out what it was. Can you relate it to something or somebody? Do you get a feeling of a forthcoming event? Please remember you are NOT trying to contact anyone, that is mediumship.
Practice can be a dreaded word that brings back thoughts of piano lessons and times tables, but it is just as important in the world of the psychic. It’s all about getting used to information coming to you from a different source. The more you practice, the easier it becomes. So what can you do? Try pausing before you do something. For example, when the phone rings, pause a few seconds before answering. Can you tell who it is? Try it when someone knocks at your front door. Try it at work. Can you tell when someone is happy, sad or preoccupied?
Your mind will have become used to receiving information with your usual senses, and it will take time for it to accept this transition. You may be attracted to Tarot cards, and these will help develop your psychic awareness. Also consider psychometry, for it will give you something physical to concentrate on.
You could ask close friends or relatives to let you hold an object belonging to them, such as a lighter, ring or keys. Calm your mind and while exploring the object with your hands, try to let a picture come into your mind. It may be very brief at first, but mention it to the object’s owner anyway to see if he or she can relate to it. When you do this as a beginner, the pictures you see are often very trivial. For example, it could be something they were going to buy, a favorite color or that they missed a bus and were annoyed about it. Try to find someone who can be patient and understanding, and take your time. It’s no use trying to force the information to come through. Above all, accept the fact that you are going to be wrong from time to time. The human mind has a habit of filling in the blanks when psychic intuition is not forthcoming. Also, perhaps a little confusingly, some of the information that may come through can have no bearing at the time, but come to light a few days later.
One important thing: if you do see a picture or get a feeling about something, pursue it. It’s amazing how many people become satisfied with just a little bit of information when there is usually more to be had. It’s great when you get it right, but more difficult is working out why you got it right. Try to remember what it felt like as the vision came into your mind so you can recapture the feeling next time.
When I use Psychometry, I close my eyes for a while, relax as if I am taking a step back from the world, and create a space for the pictures to arrive. You must find a technique that works for you. You are looking for brief pictures that seem to arrive all by themselves. These are things that you were not thinking about. If you manage to get this far, you are making good progress. It is possible, however, to pursue these images further. Ask with your mind to know more about what you are seeing. If appropriate, you will get a negative or positive feeling about what you have seen or felt. This is how psychics work. These positive/negative feelings are used to tell a client about which way they should go in a situation. Alternatively, you may just get more information about an event. If you do, tell the person you are with, but please do not try to be a counselor until you are ready. Remember, you are dealing with people’s lives and emotions.
PREDICTIONS
Some of the people who have written to me have told me how they predicted a plane crash, a car accident or some other major event. This sometimes causes great concern, which is understandable because these are often things we are unable to change. You can’t just walk into the airport and say “One of your planes is going crash!” Chances are folks will think you are a little disturbed.
So why then do we have these big premonitions? Often our psychic sense has been giving us little reminders that it is there, small insignificant signs. We may brush these off as being merely coincidence, so in an effort to get our attention, we see something larger, something more dramatic. This is our psychic awareness waking up and shouting, “Look, I’m here! Take notice.” It often works too! When people do write to me about these premonitions, they are in fact starting to discover their own psychic gifts. When you finally acknowledge that the gift is there, you will find the big events start to disappear, allowing you to concentrate on developing your skill in a more humble fashion.
Psychic intuition is a thought-based talent, and it can feel like you are remembering an experience that was not yours. Often what comes into your mind is a picture, much like a photograph. These “photos” can be black and white, color, still or moving like a short movie. There are also feelings to be picked up. This may not happen as quickly as the “photos,” as this is a deeper form of psychic awareness, but they may be a lot more important. The role of a psychic or medium often goes beyond just giving messages or making predictions. They need compassion and good communication skills to act upon the information received.
Please remember you are dealing with people’s emotions; mediums need experience in presenting this information. For this reason, please do not expect to be able to give readings immediately. You may also fail more than you succeed, and end up spoiling your chances for respect and credibility.
Of note here is another aspect of both psychic and medium development. It’s all too easy to become a little proud of yourself and think you are “special.” Let me tell you now, this attitude is a road to disaster and failure! Remember there are many people the world over who do predictions and have psychic abilities; you are just someone who has awakened your own skills. This thought will serve you well: be humble and have respect for those you are able to read for and you will continue to develop.
Please also adopt a policy of respect. You hold within you a special gift and great responsibility goes with it. People you read for will have come to you from many different backgrounds and belief systems. They may come in fear, sorrow and with little understanding. Your job is to inspire them and make them feel worthwhile, while at the same time honestly conveying what you pick up. Take your time to explain things they may not understand, but don’t rattle on beyond what they are ready to hear. This discernment will come to you, but it is good to think on these matters from the outset.
DEVELOPING MEDIUMSHIP
I sometimes get asked how people can develop their own mediumship skills. While the process is not difficult, intention, sensitivity and respect for others are important.
Most would be mediums train in a development circle or with a teacher. A good place to start is your local Spiritualist church, as many groups start from there. However, you may have to be invited or wait for a suitable opening.
I advise all seeking to develop mediumship to first awaken their psychic skills, then read about other mediums and learn how they get their information. Give yourself an idea of what to expect, what is possible, what could be fantasy. Build a firm base on which to expand, and be patient but explorative. Pay attention to your dreams and what they tell you and allow them to guide you. Although you can develop the skills on your own, try to find someone who will study with you.
CONTACTING YOUR SPIRIT GUIDE
Our expectations of how spirits contact us are often too high. Spirit existence can best be described as thought energy, so it makes sense for them to contact us through our own thoughts. But how do you tell the difference between spirits and your own mind? The thoughts will sound like your own, but they may also be of better clarity, more structured and eloquent in delivery.
If you can still your mind, as with meditation for example, you may be able to detect these thoughts better. Ask questions, but don’t ask for predictions for your own life, and see what thoughts come to you.
“If you believe there are limits, you will work within them. If you believe there are no limits, then you may go beyond the generally accepted methods of communication.”
– Robin Stevens
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
How do prove to yourself that your psychic ability is real? By experience. You store the episodes in your memory. All those things you knew that came true, all the things you could tell other people about themselves, each and every episode fuels your proof. At some point, chance and coincidence are mathematically no longer a factor. You search your feelings, you begin to trust yourself and see the good you are doing and the comfort you are giving. The mysteries of the universe lay before you, no longer mysterious, but like a giant unread book.
Then you remember God gave you the capacity to read.
About author:
Reprinted with the kind permission of writer and natural medium Russel Steward. Visit his website to learn more about many Psychic Wonders, or send him an e-mail
