spiritual lessons
‘Under-Doing’ For You And ‘Overdoing’ for Others?
Are you ‘under-doing’ for yourself, or perhaps ‘overdoing for others’ in order to gain approval and love? Many of us fall into this pattern without even realizing it.
When we are raised to be helpful, agreeable and accommodating, it can become second nature to say yes whenever someone asks something of us.
For some people it can take many years, sometimes even decades, to recognize that constantly putting others first may not always be the healthy or loving choice it appears to be.
Learning to set healthy boundaries is not something most of us are taught when we are young, especially if we have grown accustomed to keeping the peace by going along with what others want.
Many of us know what it feels like to be the person everyone relies on. When something needs to be done, we are the first person people think of. When someone needs help, they call us.
At first this can feel rewarding because we enjoy being supportive and dependable. Yet always being that ‘Yes’ person can quietly create an imbalance over time.
When we continually give our time, energy and attention to others without receiving the same in return, the natural flow of energy becomes disrupted. Healthy relationships usually involve a balanced exchange between people.
Maybe This Is How We Mend Our World
I have certainly been trespassed against over the years, as I suspect you may have too: maligned, misunderstood, abused, betrayed. Many of us have been hurt and wounded.
For many of us lifetimes of pain also seem to rise to the surface now, as if this era has come to collect on both the debts and the blessings.
Some of my wounds in this lifetime occurred at a young and tender age, when there seemed to be no healing granted; when the best I could do then was retreat and lick my wounds alone. There was no wise elder at my side, no sacred ceremony to mark the grief, no balm from the spirit realms. Just the aching silence of pain, and the quiet hope that one day, perhaps, I would understand why.
Since that time so long ago, I have also seen much vindication. This ability to witness what I have called “the coming around of the going around,” hasn’t been only in seeing karmic issues resolved for little slights, but for big wounds as well.
I’ve watched as Spirit, with its own perfect timing, allowed clarity and closure to emerge…sometimes years later, sometimes through unexpected channels. There is a strange and sacred justice to the Universe that rarely moves on our schedule, but always, always moves.
Justice. Yes, always in the end. But what of forgiveness?
It all shifted for me when I came to know the ‘big picture’ in the powerful prayer, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us.” These words are not just religious rote, but an energetic key to spiritual evolution. Continue reading
From Skeptic To Mystic — My First Encounter With Spirit
In the summer of 1987, nearly a year after losing both my parents (just 23 days apart), I found myself at a mediumship event held in a Spiritualist church in Toronto.
Looking back, I can see how profoundly synchronistic the experience was. It was clearly guided by spirit.
I had never set foot in a Spiritualist church before. That very afternoon, I had lunch with a friend who casually mentioned the evening service. She couldn’t attend — she was heading out of town — but something within me stirred. Despite my skepticism, I felt an unshakable desire to go on my own.
The modest church was tucked away on the second floor of a shopping plaza above a retail store. As I climbed the steep staircase, I felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
The room was already crowded by the time I arrived, so I chose a seat close to the door, just in case anything bizarre or uncomfortable happened. Since I had never had a mediumship experience before, I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted an easy exit should things get too weird!
After the guest mediums were introduced, the first one stepped forward and gestured toward a man seated near the back. “May I come to you?” she asked gently. When he nodded, she remained at the front of the room and began channeling messages for him from the spirit realm.
The Soul Wisdom Of The Major Arcana
If you’ve ever felt a magnetic pull toward the Tarot, you’re not alone. For centuries, these cards have been used to unlock the mysteries of our life journey and soul path. Among the 78 cards in a traditional Tarot deck, there are 22 that stand out in their spiritual depth and archetypal wisdom: the Major Arcana.
The word “arcana” comes from the Latin arcanum, meaning “secret” or “mystery.” These 22 cards, beginning with The Fool and culminating with The World, chart a symbolic journey of spiritual awakening and self-discovery.
In readings, Major Arcana cards often speak to life-changing lessons and soul-level growth. These archetypal cards form the backbone of the Tarot, guiding seekers on their journey of self-realization and spiritual refinement, known as The Fool’s Journey.
When several Major Arcana cards appear in a spread, I often sense that the querent (person receiving the reading) is going through a spiritually significant phase. These cards highlight soul contracts, karmic patterns, and transformative life events. They encourage us to pause, reflect, and connect with our higher self.
In contrast, the remaining 56 cards — known as the Minor Arcana — deal more with the day-to-day. They are divided into four suits representing the elements (Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands) and include numbered cards and Court Cards, often called the “people cards.” When many Minor Arcana cards show up, the reading tends to focus on practical matters, offering insight and advice for navigating everyday challenges and choices.
The Transformative Power Of Finding Your Faith
Faith is deeply personal and means different things to different people. It can take many forms, such as spiritual faith in a higher power, personal faith in one’s abilities, or faith in the people and principles that shape our lives.
For some, faith is a guiding force that offers comfort and meaning. For others, it’s a leap into the unknown, choosing hope over doubt. It can be rooted in a religious tradition, philosophical principle, esoteric teaching, or the simple belief that tomorrow holds possibilities unseen today.
Whatever our beliefs, faith is an intense and often unshakable certainty in those beliefs despite the absence of proof. To me, faith is a powerful, transformative force. When embraced, it offers immeasurable strength in the face of life’s challenges.
When I was young, I struggled to grasp the concept of faith. I never doubted the existence of a creator. I never doubted an afterlife or the presence of spirits in our lives. Perhaps this was due to my innate sensitivity to energies and spiritual disposition. I moved through life guided by intuition.
Yet despite my spiritual grounding, my faith was tested repeatedly, especially through experiences of trauma and loss.
I wrestled with questions of purpose and fairness. I couldn’t accept the idea of a cruel or indifferent creator who randomly punished or rewarded people.
When Walking Away Is A Sacred Act of Love
One of the most life-changing truths we come to face on the spiritual path is this: not everyone is meant to walk with us all the way.
As we awaken and align more closely with our authentic self, some relationships begin to fall away. While it’s natural to resist this because endings hurt and change can feel like loss, there is a quiet, sacred truth beneath it all: Letting go is often an act of love.
As your soul expands, you begin to see your relationships differently. They are no longer just emotional bonds or physical connections; they reveal themselves as soul contracts—agreements made on a spiritual level before you ever met people in the physical realm.
Some people come into your life to uplift you, to love you, and to walk beside you for the long haul. Others arrive to teach you about boundaries, self-worth, and discernment. Once their role is complete, the relationship may start to feel heavy, strained, or even harmful. This isn’t failure; it’s a sign that the contract has been fulfilled.
Yet, this part of the journey is rarely discussed. In spiritual circles, we often hear messages about unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance. These are indeed sacred spiritual principles. But we rarely hear the equally sacred teaching that sometimes the most loving thing you can do is walk away!
Letting go of a toxic or misaligned relationship is not abandonment or selfishness. It’s not also not a sign of weakness, cowardice, or a lack of spiritual depth. In fact, it often requires more courage and clarity than staying.
We Can’t Always Rescue The Ones We Love
A topic that often comes up in psychic readings is the client’s concern for someone they love – a child, significant other, sibling, close friend, or even a co-worker.
The problem? Usually the person has chosen a path that is confusing, destructive, or even life-threatening: substance abuse, toxic relationships, unwise career moves, or a lifestyle that just doesn’t make sense to the onlooker.
If you’re nodding your head right now about someone in your own family or circle of friends, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there – watching someone we love make free will choices that, from our perspective, can only lead to pain, loss, or utter disaster.
Maybe they have moved in with someone who is controlling and abusive, or they dropped out of college to move across the country and get married to someone they hardly know. Or maybe they are determined to put their life savings into a shady Ponzi scheme. Maybe they keep repeating choices and patterns that seem so clearly wrong for them.
Maybe you’ve seen the red flags from day one, and your heart is already aching with a kind of spiritual déjà vu…because you know what’s coming. And yet…you feel powerless to stop it.
This is where spiritual teachings can offer both comfort and perspective. According to many wisdom traditions, it’s often the most painful, confusing, or seemingly misguided paths that lead to the greatest soul growth. Sometimes a person must walk through fire or descend into darkness to find their light. And as difficult as that is to witness, it may very well be part of their soul plan.