friendship
What Makes A Spiritual Group Truly Work
We are all different. Each person is a piece of the puzzle that creates a group. All people are raised different. People may have different spiritual beliefs, different educational backgrounds, jobs, nationalities.
Yet, if the common goal is the same, there is no reason why we cannot achieve much more in our world. Some of us simply need to find a way to respect diversity.
Spiritual groups tend to be the especially challenging when it comes to diversity. Too often spiritually-minded people are expected to always agree with everyone about everything, in order to promote goodwill among group members and keep the peace.
But in any group people have to learn how to agree to disagree. It’s always okay to have your own opinion and express how you feel. One must just remember that not all of the group may agree with your thoughts.
In groups people all choose different roles, and the roles may change over time. Most groups have that one person that assumes the role of leader. The leader of the group is often selected by the majority. The leadership role usually fits the personality and consciousness of that individual, as do the other roles in the group.
The leader is usually a person that is able to communicate well with team members and good at listening to people. The ‘worker bees’ are usually good at taking direction and accomplishing the task at hand. Somewhere in the middle are the people that come up with ideas and can present them to the group, and help the suggestions come to fruition.
Why Our Souls Cannot Afford A Lack Of Empathy
Life has a way of weaving unexpected lessons into even the most ordinary or practical situations. Sometimes what begins as a business transaction or a casual encounter becomes a doorway into something far more meaningful, a reminder of the deep human connection we are all longing for and the healing power of simple empathy.
I recently found myself in a situation that reminded me of this truth in the most unexpected way.
I am in the process of selling two homes in different states, which has been quite challenging. Anyone who has sold property knows how stressful and complicated it can be…much less two properties at the same time!
Over the past couple of months I had spoken to quite a few realtors and interested buyers. One agent initially showed strong interest in one of my homes. He seemed genuinely eager, but then he suddenly disappeared without explanation. My calls and messages went unanswered. While I did not sense that he had completely lost interest, I could not wait indefinitely and had to continue moving forward with my plans.
Still, I could not shake a quiet concern for him, as though something more was happening behind the scenes, and the feeling carried a weight of unease.
Several months later, he reached out unexpectedly, asking if I had sold my property yet. He apologized for vanishing and then explained the reason for his absence. He had been in a serious car accident and had spent time in the hospital. His injuries required surgery, and bolts had been placed in his foot. Now he was in physical therapy, learning to walk again.
The Empath’s Guide To Toxic Friendships
Our friends are a beautiful and enriching part of our lives. In some cases, they even become our chosen family through the bonds of mutual caring and shared life experiences.
Healthy friendships are built on a foundation of balance. They’re marked by mutual support, trust, loyalty, acceptance, and honesty, all with a touch of compassion. But for the empath or highly sensitive person, friendships can sometimes be a bit of a rollercoaster.
We might feel like we’re always giving and giving, and sometimes we might even feel drained. It can be hard to know when to draw the line with someone who might be taking advantage of our energy.
Friendships can be so many different things, and it’s important to remember that not all of them are the same. They range from casual acquaintances to deep, intimate bonds we form with those we call our “besties.”
It’s so important to have a close friend you can trust with your most private fears, dreams, and vulnerabilities. But, sadly, this isn’t always the reality. If you’re the kind of person who is sensitive to the feelings of others, you know how hard it can be when you’re betrayed or disappointed by someone close to you. It can feel like the saying “keep your enemies close” is true in these situations.
Some of us are more outgoing and have a large social circle, while others are more introverted and have a small social circle. Empaths can fall into either category. Regardless of which category an empath falls into, it is wise for us to exercise discernment.
Tell-Tale Signs You Are Being Gaslighted
You’re crazy, that never happened. Don’t be so sensitive. I’ve never had this problem with anyone else but you. It was never my idea, it was yours! Come on, you’re imagining things. Everyone else agrees, except you. You’re just making things up.
These are just some of the things you might hear when someone is gaslighting you. It usually happens whenever you confront them about their bad behavior, only to have your reality twisted in return…in ways that can really make your head spin!
Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse that most often shows up in toxic romantic relationships, but it can also manifest in dynamics with friends, coworkers, employers, family members, and even neighbors and landlords.
At its core, gaslighting is the manipulation of your sense of reality, leaving you confused, anxious, and doubting yourself and your own perceptions. Sometimes it’s very obvious and unmistakable. Other times, it happens so subtly you may not even realize you’re being manipulated.
The term “gaslighting” comes from the 1938 stage play Gas Light, which was later made into the 1944 film of the same name.
In the story, a husband tricks his wealthy wife into thinking she’s going crazy by making small changes to their surroundings, like dimming the gas lights, and then denying that anything has changed. His goal is to make her doubt her own sanity, so he could have her committed to a mental institution and gain control of her inheritance.
Are You Holding On To The Wrong Person?
Many of the questions that callers ask me during readings have one thing in common: how another person is affecting the their health, happiness, and peace of mind.
Despite the differences in the details, the underlying story is often the same: the person’s inner light is dimmed because they have been giving too much power to another person’s choices, moods, or shortcomings.
Many people seem to be in the wrong relationships. They hold on, waiting for things to change and hoping for the best. They postpone plans, silence their own needs and preferences, and test the limits of their patience, believing that a breakthrough will come tomorrow.
However, that is usually not what happens. People do not change for another person, and if they do, it never lasts or works out in the long run. A change driven by the need to please someone else rarely survives the stress of real life. As soon as complications arise, old habits resurface. People can only change for themselves.
Spirit’s guidance on this is always very clear: hanging onto the wrong person — whether a friend, family member, spouse, partner, lover, or boss — prevents us from experiencing the best life has to offer.
When we’re busy monitoring someone else’s actions, we have less capacity for our own personal and spiritual growth. This prevents the amazing blessings waiting for us from coming in, not because the universe is ‘stingy,’ but because our time and attention are fully booked.
Everything You Need To Know About Soulmate Connections
Who is my soulmate?” It’s a question I often hear during psychic readings. Clients want to know if their current partner is “the one,” or when their soulmate will arrive.
Some people start relationships convinced they’ve met their soulmate, only to watch their supposed “forever love” walk away with someone else. Puzzled, they contact me, asking, “How could this happen if two souls were meant to be together?”
Too many people are left heartbroken and confused when a well-meaning relative or friend, or a misguided psychic lacking spiritual integrity, encourages or assures them that this person is definitely “the one.”
Wrongly believing that a love connection is fated can make the subsequent loss even more painful. Just because a connection feels intense or special doesn’t mean it’s destined to last forever. True soul connections serve a purpose, but that purpose isn’t always love, romance, or lifelong companionship.
Unscrupulous readers and people with poor judgment often misread situations and create false hope, causing lovestruck individuals to cling to relationships that were never meant to last—or even exist, for that matter.
So, what exactly is a soulmate? Spiritually speaking, a soulmate is someone with whom you share a profound pre-birth or past-life connection, or both. These people show up in our lives to help us evolve spiritually, often reestablishing old relationships for the purpose of healing and transformation.
The Curious Case Of The Eavesdropping Medium
I had a good laugh with a friend the other day as we reminisced about an odd encounter the two of us had with a psychic medium many years ago (which she has teased me endlessly about ever since).
We had inadvertently arrived an hour early for a mediumship demonstration by an amazingly gifted medium (according to my friend). Not having much else to do, we decided to grab a bite to eat at the venue’s snack bar before the event began.
Soon we were deep in conversation, enthusiastically discussing spiritualism and mediumship. A few tables away sat a mysterious dark-haired lady who made me feel a little uneasy. I suspected that she might be listening to our conversation.
The hour passed quickly and then the event began. To my surprise and confusion, the dark-haired woman from earlier stood up, greeted everyone, and introduced herself to the gathering. The ‘eavesdropper’ was the medium!
Then she suddenly looked around and said, “Right, who is Lucinda?”
My friend was very pleased with this remarkable development. “See, I told you — she’s the real deal!” she whispered with great excitement.
“No, she’s not,” I hastily whispered back, “she heard my name earlier in the snack bar…when you asked me what I wanted to drink!”