spirit
The True Meaning Of Spiritual Surrender
When life becomes too challenging, and things begin to fall apart for us, we usually seek spiritual guidance and comfort.
In these circumstances we often tend to hear terms like surrender, release and acceptance. We are told to just let it go and simply be in the moment.
But what does it really mean to surrender? It’s a term often used in spiritual and metaphysical circles. Is there even such a thing? And if so, what does it entail?
According to the dictionary, surrender means to stop fighting and admit defeat. It also conjures up the vision of waving a white flag. But is spiritual surrender truly nothing more than throwing in the towel, and graciously accepting our defeat?
I prefer to explore the meaning of spiritual ‘surrender’ through the metaphor of a painting I made, which is my way of meditating and reflecting on life.
The painting is of an angel and I even named it Surrender. I chose this name, because it is the energy this angel emanates. His pose and posture also symbolizes the act of surrender.
At the time of working with the energy of this piece, I was in the process of leaving the security of a mainstream finance career, to establish myself as a full-time artist, energy healer and spiritual reader. Meanwhile, I was also very busy navigating a family separation and divorce. There were so many major changes in my life, and so much about my future and my life path that remained uncertain and unknown.
Remember To Treasure The Living Years
Many of us attach personal meaning to songs. Perhaps it is a song played at your wedding, or a family member’s favorite tune, or something meaningful from your childhood years.
Psychics often have songs come to mind during readings, or we find they are playing on the car radio after we were just thinking of that special family member or friend. We then take that as a sign that they are watching over us and that they had just stepped in from the Spirit side of life to make their presence know.
These songs can be the triggers for memories that we once treasured, or continue to treasure, or to remind you how precious and loved you are.
For me Ave Maria and Unchained Melody (from the Ghost movie during the pottery making scene) are songs that I have attached over the years to my mother’s presence. Ave Maria because that was one of her favorite songs. When she was younger she apparently sang it on stage a few times in Vienna.
I never did get to hear her sing it, but family said it was incredible. Later in life, when I found this out, she said her voice had broken and would not sing it for me. I often tried to imagine how great it must have been to hear her sing, as I looked at her picture.
The Who’s Who Of The Spirit Realm
Communicating and working with Spirit can become confusing when you need to discern who exactly it is that you are engaging with.
Terms like Spirit Guides, Ascended Masters, Angels, Ancestors, among other, are often used in this context, but the distinction between these entities is not always made clear. It can be very confusing.
For this reason, I have compiled a quick guide to the ‘who’s who’ of the spirit realm, and how to best work with each group of spirit energies.
Angels
Angelic beings are pure Love and Light. Angels have never experienced a human incarnation. They serve as our guides and protectors.
Angels are our constant guides, steering us on our journey through life and helping us to achieve our dreams and goals.
They gently nudge us forward along our life path and deliver to us unconditional love from the Divine, but only if we ask for their support.
They never overstep the Law of Free Will, unless it is a life-threatening situation that demands divine intervention.
You know you are in contact with an Angel if you feel warm ‘tingles,’ and a sense of unconditional love, inner peace and well-being.
A Cuddly Message From Grandma At Halloween
All of us have lost, or will in time lose someone very dear to us. Like it or not, all of us also have to ponder the concept of life after death at some point in our life. Some of us have very strong beliefs on the subject, one way or the other. We either believe in the afterlife, or we do not.
For me the answer is simple and easy. I strongly believe, because of both my personal and professional experiences. For example, I have been visited many times by my grandparents, and I have communicated with many loved ones in spirit in my daily work, when I do readings for my clients.
My grandma often communicates with me in the dream state. She tends to show up when I least expect it, usually to give me a guiding message or to warn me about something. She always has been a worrier, in this life and the next! Right up to the very day she departed this life, she was telling us what to do to keep safe, and she was always giving us good advice. She is very wise.
I was asking her just the other day to give me a sign that she was around, and sure enough, she did. But this time she did not show up in a dream. She spoke to me…through a teddy bear! Yes, indeed.
It is one of those plush toys that makes a cute kissing sound and says, “I love you very much,” when you squeeze it. I was in the tub and this little teddy bear was right next to me, on top of a shelf. After drawing the bath, I was leaning back in the soothing, warm water, letting out a sigh of relief that a long day was over. Next thing you know, this teddy bear goes off on its own, making the kissing sounds and saying I love you, over and over. I knew right away that it was grandma making contact.
The Blessing Of Mediumship
As a medium, there is nothing more rewarding than bringing through a loved one who has passed on to Spirit. It is tremendously fulfilling to be able to deliver messages from another plane and to put someone’s mind at ease here on Earth.
Often, departed loved ones will come through to give a progress report of sorts, so that family or friends will know that they are happy, pain-free and adjusting beautifully to their new surroundings.
In addition, they might weigh in on a family dilemma, reassure a friend that the right decision was made or confirm that everything is currently on track for success.
Readings of this nature are a win-win-win for everyone: for the person who has passed on to Spirit, for the person requesting the reading, and also for me.
Over the years, I have received countless confirmations from readings given privately and in the various spiritualist churches. Although I would never take Spirit’s work for granted, because all messages are important for different reasons, there are many that stand out because of the wonderful reactions they caused.
Once, I was attending a potluck supper at one of the churches and, as I was standing in line for the buffet, I felt a tap on my shoulder. As I turned around to see who was there, an older woman said, “Well, here he is!” She pointed to a man standing beside her.
A few years before, Spirit had advised that she would be getting remarried and, at her age, she didn’t believe it for a minute. Fast forward a few years and she brought him to the church supper in the hope that I would be there to meet him in person. She was thrilled beyond belief and beamed with pride as she told me the story of where they had met and how their relationship had progressed so beautifully. Continue reading
Just What Exactly Is Your Higher Self?
Do you keep hearing the term “Higher Self” and wonder what exactly it means? You’re not alone.
For a spiritual term that gets mentioned so often, the concept can feel surprisingly vague. Depending on who you ask, it might refer to your soul, your intuition, your divine essence…or even a more perfect, higher-dimensional ‘doppelgänger’ version of yourself.
Confusing? Absolutely. But also fascinating.
So, let’s explore and unpack what the Higher Self actually is.
From my own perspective, I like to think of the Higher Self as my soul’s GPS. For me it is an ever-present, intuitive inner voice gently guiding me toward choices and paths that align with my spiritual evolution.
Like an inner GPS, it may repeat itself when I’m off track, whispering that familiar message: “Recalculating route.” Sometimes, we don’t want to hear it, but when we listen, life flows more smoothly.
Our bodies also serve as translators for the Higher Self. That “gut feeling” when something is off? That’s your Higher Self warning you.
That heart-flutter of excitement when a choice feels right? That’s your inner GPS saying “yes.” When we treat the Higher Self like a best friend, who is loving, honest, and always rooting for us, we begin to live more authentically.
Over the years, I’ve come to recognize my Higher Self as a quiet, consistent presence that urges me to become more of who I truly am. It has helped me navigate challenges, offered insight during moments of uncertainty, and nudged me toward experiences that ultimately helped me grow.
Communicating With Your Spirit Guides
Each of us has spirit guides that are with us from the moment we are born, right up until we take our final breath. Just as they are named, your spirit guides are here to help guide you through life.
There are spirit guides who are with you for shorter periods of time to help assist you through certain situations, and of course, your closest spirit guides who will accompany you through your entire life.
What differentiates your guardian angels from spirit guides, is that your spirit guides, at some point in history, lived a physical incarnation on Earth and grew enough spiritually to earn the honor of title of being a spirit guide.
They went through very similar issues while here in this world, compared to what you will experience in your own life. This is why they become your spirit guide, devoted specifically to you, and this is what makes the two of you the best team!
Your spirit guides work with you in a variety of ways, therefore you have different spirit guides working in conjunction with certain areas in your life.
In addition to your guardian angels, you have protector guides who give you warning signs when things can be unstable or off in your environment. You also have a doctor teacher, a doctor chemist, joy guides, master guides, inner and outer band guides, as well as ascended masters guides… and that’s just to name a few of them!