Articles on Training

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• Dedication, Discipline and a Sense of Humour
• Sitting in Circle

Dedication, Discipline and a Sense of Humour

These are three things I feel you need when you are developing and working for spirit. In today's world time is so precious, everything is in easy reach, fast trains, fasts cars and fast food. However the world of the development circle does not run on fast time and developing, whether as a psychic, medium or healer, takes time. I see many students who join a development circle and think in a few months they will be at an advanced level. Sadly that is not the case for the vast majority.

So the first thing you need is dedication. You need to be dedicated to come week after week to circle, allowing your development to take its time, which can be years. Should you have agreed to work for spirit, you will when the time is right, that is divine timing. The more you try to rush the more you will block your progress. Patience is indeed a virtue when working with spirit.

The next thing is discipline. Working with spirit requires that we raise our energy and vibration to meet spirit half way as it were. That however is not our normal state of being so we need to take responsibility for our own energies when working with spirit. Discipline ensures you follow the basic rules of ground, protect, open and close. And that does not only apply to when you are in circle but throughout your daily life as well. I was fortunate to be trained in the Ivy Northage way, which meant closing to spirit every morning on waking and every night before going to bed, that takes discipline. However it is also important and I encourage my students to do the same.

Finally, a sense of humour, I see so many students get too serious about their development that they forget to enjoy it. Working with spirit should not be a chore, but a pleasure. But mostly a sense of humour allows you to make mistakes, and trust me as students you will, that is part of learning. But laugh about them, do not get frustrated by them. Mistakes are some of the best lessons you will have so enjoy them.

Sitting in Circle

When we talk of developing as a psychic, medium or healer we usual use the term, development circle. The reason for the circle is many - if you sit in circle you can see each other easily, the circle is purest and strongest of all shapes, energy flows around a circle as it makes a circuit. So when you want to develop you need to find a circle, but where to begin.

Most spiritualist churches hold regular circles, as do many professional mediums. Places like The College of Psychic studies and The Spiritualist Association of Great Britain also run them. But, which is right one for you? Always ask your own intuition and your spirit guides for guidance and direction. Ask to be guided to the right circle for your development. Trust that you will be.

How Do They Work

But what happens once you are there? That depends on the circle and the teacher, some circles use mainly guided mediations to work; whilst others like the one I sat in use exercises working with the chakra system and spirit. Different things work for different people. You may find that you work with several circles during your development so you get a broader view on how to connect.

The wonderful thing about being in a circle is the group support and energy. Working with spirit takes energy and a group creates more than an individual making it easier to connect to spirit. When sitting in a circle, giving energy to the group is an important part and this is done through intention. As you sit, say to yourself that you are sending energy to whoever is working, or visualise the energy coming out from your heart to that person. Once they have finished working, withdraw that energy back into yourself. Thought has power so just thinking it does mean it will happen.

Practise, Practise, Practise

As you are all developing you can support each other in the process. Feedback is very important when you are developing as doubt is your biggest enemy. Keep a record of what happens. Often we do not see our own progress, but going back over your records will help to show you how far you are coming along. As well as keeping a note of the information and messages you have received from spirit. Most circle leaders will advise you not to work outside of the circle. However, once you are more advanced with your development you can start practising on your friends and family.

Remember, every time you meet in circle is an opportunity to practice so make the most of it. Embrace the communication, do not let fear stop you. Fear is often only a lack of knowledge so study. There are many good books around about becoming a medium or psychic and many more biographies of well known mediums. Read some of them. By reading another persons journey of development you will find that they have experienced many of the same things that you are experiencing. Understanding the basic mechanics of mediumship, for instance, also helps the process along.

"The Clairs"

When sittings for mediumship you need to get to know the “Clairs”. These are clairvoyance, clairaudience and clairsentience - or in English - clear seeing, clear hearing and clear feeling. I knew a lovely lady who sat for many years and said that nothing every happened, that was until someone explained that clairaudience was not only external sound but also thoughts that crossed your mind. She had spent years waiting for a voice outside her head when all the time they had been impressing her mind with words and thoughts.

Clairvoyance is clear seeing, this means seeing spirit. That can be anything from full 3D, techni colour, large as life in front of you; to a quick image in your mind; or a perceived image or impression. The first one can, to be honest ,be a bit frightening, as they tend to appear out of nowhere and all of a sudden. The later takes the most trust as you almost feel the image rather than see it. Because your third eye sees the image your mind can interrupt it.

Clairaudience is clear hearing, this means hearing spirit. The loud booming voice from nowhere would be wonderful but most often it is thoughts in your head that are not your own. I have noticed that when I do hear spirit audible they are usually very loud, I reckon that on those occasions they are shouting to get my attention. One strange thing about clairaudience, is even though it is a thought that comes into your mind it is by your ear, almost like whisper.

Clairsentience is clear feeling, this means feeling the spirit. Many of us have this with out even realising it. For instance, you felt a presence in a room, that is clairsentience in its simplest form. Clairsentience can be expressed in many ways depending on the medium and spirit, but mostly it is an expression of emotions or physical conditions.

Open Platform

As mentioned before practice is important and an open platform is a wonderful learning experience. Many spiritualist churches hold open platforms, these are events where people developing can come and demonstrate on a church platform to an audience of understanding people and working mediums. This gives the student a chance to work with people they do not know and to receive guidance and feedback from working mediums. Platform work is also a great way of learning the pitfalls and honing your gift. A church audience will test you more than your fellow students in circle or your family.

So do not rush it, study and practice, but above all enjoy it!