Who are the Spirits that show up at readings?

Many people wonder who mediums actually connect with in a reading. When you enter into a reading, who can you expect will come through with information for you? Are they all dead people, or are their other Spirits as well? If so, who are they?

Well, each reading is different, but I can give you some basic guidelines for how the reading process works and the kinds of Spirits that may make an appearance at your reading.

When you book a session with a medium, you can expect to receive information, guidance and a connection with your Spiritual support team. The way this works is the medium connects to the client’s Spirits and acts as a receiving instrument, a clear channel, and brings through information and guidance specifically for that client from their specific group of Spiritual supporters. The medium is the link in the energetic chain created between the client and the client’s Spirits. The Spirits that can come through in a reading are a group of people and beings existing in the Spiritual realm. These Spirits can be classified as Spirit Guides, Angels and Deceased Loved Ones, and they all exist in the Divine Light which means they are completely safe, loving and high energy beings who serve to give guidance for your Highest and Greatest good.  

Here is a brief description of each group:

Spirit Guides

Spirit Guides were human at one point, but now exist in the Spiritual realm. They have been carefully chosen to assist you in your life path. There are many different kinds of Guides – many Guides have shared past lives with you. For example, one of my primary Spirit Guides is named Chloe and she is an awesome Egyptian woman with a long flowing dress and a metal arm bracelet high on her right arm. She and I share a past life and she assists me now in helping organize the Spirits who come for readings and helps to identify them for me in readings. You have at least 3-7 Spirit Guides with you right now. Different guides perform different functions. Have an interest in acting? Chances are, one of your guides has experience with acting and is helping you with that interest. There are an infinite number of guides and they all perform different tasks and functions. They have all been human at one time and now reside in Spirit with the goal of assisting and guiding you. They are excellent at giving specific information about your life path,  what your choices and challenges are, your best options for decisions and overall guidance for how to best move forward.

Angels 

Angels have never been human, and have always resided in the realm of Spirit. There is a vast array of Angels, ranging from your Guardian angel, through the ministry of Angels up to the Archangels who oversee specific areas like healing, communication, divine wisdom, spiritual growth, and protection (to name a few). Angels have been working with humans on Earth since the beginning of time. Angels are high, loving, patient and completely egoless.  Some are male, some are female and some are genderless. Some appear with wings and some appear without wings. Angels can always provide the high perspective and long-term view of a particular situation or challenge. They work in the trenches with you helping get things done, but they also are able to see the long-term value, growth and potential in every situation. You have at least one Angel working with you right now.

Deceased Loved Ones

Are exactly what they sound like.  They are your family and friends who are now in Spirit. They are close to you; they see what’s happening in your life right now and want you to know they are there and still love and care for you as they always did.  If you have Loved Ones on the Other Side, they are with you even now. Deceased Loved Ones come though to connect with you in real time when you are aware of it. Deceased Loved Ones come to readings to connect with you directly and emotionally, in real time.

Each Spirit group has it’s own particular function and energetic connection to the client, but they are all linked with one common purpose: to give guidance, love and support to serve your greatest and highest good. This means Spirit will communicate to you the information that will at this time and place in your life assist you in connecting to your true self, to help you see your strengths, to help you take action to release blocks that are holding you back and to be true to yourself in every capacity. You can be sure that what ever and whomever appears at your reading will be there to support, guide, love and comfort you. Spirit never disappoints! Every reading is beautiful, surprising, exciting and profound in it’s own unique way.

Curious? Try connecting with your Spirits in a live reading!

With love,

Ashley

Opening your intuition

Opening your intuition means learning to live from your Spirit first and your logical mind second. This can be a challenge, and it is something we all continually work on as the human ego is powerful and it loves to be in charge.

Living from your ego means living from a place of fear –a place where we never are or have enough, a place where we constantly look outside ourselves for answers, meaning and truth. Connecting with your Spirit means listening to your inner voice; it means reaching deeper into yourself and acting from your Higher self, your soul, the Divine and eternal you. The more we are connected to, listen to and live from our Spirits, the more we find true fulfillment and our way into our true paths and purpose.

When I first began opening to Spirit I realized that I already knew my own Spirit, it’s just that I wasn’t giving it first priority or often that small voice wasn’t my first go-to when I felt unsure or wanted to know the best thing to do. Many times when confronted with making decisions, big and small, I would automatically choose what I “thought” was the “best” thing. We all do that. That’s how we are raised – to assess and decide based on all the empirical information available. For instance, what about choosing a new job – there’s the small voice in your heart or in the middle of your head saying ‘I want to open a bookstore” or “I want to become a pastry chef” or a writer, or a medium. But the louder voice that shouts that small voice down inside your head says “NO! THAT”S CRAZY! YOU CAN NEVER MAKE A LIVING DOING THAT! (I am writing in all caps because this is how the ego talks to us – at full volume – shouting down everything else.) So, we very often listen to that loud voice because it’s loud and because so much of what we have been taught to do is to play it safe –we are told to measure success by what you see: the job, the car, the house, etc. and not on what you feel in your heart.

Spiritual growth and opening your abilities is learning to listen to that small voice within.  Here are some ways to open to your Spirit:

1. Embrace your feelings – they are giving you information. What exactly are you unhappy about? Write down everything in your life you feel a sense of dissatisfaction about, that is holding you back or that you would like to release. Be honest. Your feelings are a direct link to your intuition. After you have your list, burn it or submerge it in water. Burning or soaking it in water transforms and releases the energy. Make sure to clear the space of the energy you just released by opening a window, lighting a candle or burning some sage.
2. Ask yourself – “My brain says I should do _____” (beware the word should – that is always the ego and not your Spirit!). Now take a breath and say, “my Spirit says______ “ and fill in the blank.Make it a habit to say to yourself – "If I really was listening to my spirit, I would...." and list at least 3-4 things your Spirit wants you to do. Then do one.  You’ll feel better and you will be opening the pathway to living from your Spirit.
3. Look into the future with your Spirit a little bit: ask it to show you your heart’s true desires. What does your life look like – what is different than how things are now? How do you feel? Daydream about your ideal life. Get it in as much detail as possible. Say the qualities you want more of: Peaceful, passionate, purposeful, abundant, joyful. These are a few words that speak to me. The more you visualize the life you want to live, the more the universe will respond by aligning things for you.
4. Connecting to your passion is the most direct way to live from your Spirit. Be honest about what you love to do and find space to do it. Read, draw, dance, write, sing, cook, walk, run, play with your dog. The more you give space to your Spirit in your everyday life, the easier it will be to be guided by it in all things.
5. One thing I have learned from my sessions with clients is that the Spirits we connect to in a reading are there to help and to guide us into full alignment with our true selves. They make the effort to appear in order to help us to release anger, doubt and fear and to embrace the power that lies within each of us. Spirit helps us to see that every circumstance in our lives is talking back to us – showing us the truth about how we feel, the truth in the dynamics of the relationships we have with people we love and the amazing potential there lies within every relationship and situation to get closer to the power of who you truly are – to live from your Spirit.

There is no one like you – your job on this earth is to let that light within illuminate and guide your path.  Be brave and let your Spirit take the lead!

with love,

Ashley

The Other Side

The Other Side is where Spirits go when they leave their bodies in the transition called death, and they go to the Light. I want to talk about what I have learned in readings and from Spirit about what happens when and after souls release their physical lives and cross to the Other Side in the process known as death.

Death

We are talking here about the experience of death for those Spirits that choose to go to the Light. There are other experiences of death when for a variety of reasons a Spirit may choose to stay behind and not go to the Light. This post is about what happens for those Spirits who DO go to the Light. Death as we know it is the Spirit's exiting and release of the physical body and returning to its true form as pure energy. At the moment of death, the Spirit exits through the top of the head, through the crown chakra. The Spirit chooses its moment and the circumstances of it’s physical body’s death. The reasons for these choices are known by the soul - - what seems unfathomable to us here on Earth (why would someone choose a long-suffering death from cancer, for example?) each circumstance, no matter if it is an "accidental" death, a traumatic death, a long, painful death or an easy release during sleep are all deliberate choices the soul has made for its own purposes of growth. No matter the circumstances, the death transition to Spirit is overseen by the person’s Angels, the Archangel Azreal and supported by Loved Ones on the Other Side. All of these beings assist during a soul's releasement from the physical body and it’s crossing over into the Other Side.

In other words, no one crosses alone.

The physical circumstances of death vary from individual to individual, but the basic process is the same. No matter what the actual physical cause of death is, the true experience on a soul level is the same. When the soul leaves the body, and many times before the soul has left and as it is preparing to leave, Loved Ones and Angels appear to assist and guide the soul into the Light. Many times, it is the appearance of these individuals who are already in the Light that are the last things the dying person acknowledges while still in their bodies. It is not uncommon for those who are in the last moments of physical life to see the gateway to the Light – to see the Loved Ones and Angels who are there to accompany and escort them back home and to sayt he names of people who have long since passed away. This is because the souls already in the Light come to help bring their dying loved one over to the Other Side. When these Loved Ones and Angels appear to the dying person, the person is able to see and feel the infinite amount of love waiting for them on the Other Side. Their presence shows them the truth that we all live on past our deaths. This helps the dying to release their bodies and their physical life. Death is a doorway to the Light.

What happens then?

The Other Side is a vast, beautiful space filled with wonder. It exists outside of our physical world so the words we have to describe it are somewhat inadequate. I can tell you that from what I have seen, the Other Side is a place of Light. The Light quality is unlike what we have here. When I see Loved Ones on the Other Side they appear lit from within, as if their own souls and energy are the Light source. I have seen beautiful temples that look like huge classical relics, but are in pristine condition. I have seen vast meadows covered in flowers, beautiful forests, mountains, waterfalls. It truly is infinite, but our souls know it as home.

When a soul crosses over into the Light, they go to the Other Side. The Other Side is where we all exist in Spirit, as pure energy. We are free to take whatever form we like best from our physical lives, but our essential selves are intact. You still feel and know yourself as you, but now you are free of the ultimate fear and separation that is death. Now you see that life does indeed go on and yes, you do see all of those you loved again. In fact, you begin to see much, much more.

What happens after the crossing over depends on the Spirit, but there are two basic routes.

1. The convalescence

2. The life review

The convalescence

If a soul was very physically, emotionally, or mentally ill during their physical life when they cross over to the Other Side they often will enter a hospital like setting where they are cared for and gently assisted in healing, resting and recovering so they are able to go into the post life processing that is the life review. The time of convalesce depends on the Spirit. Angels and high healing Spirit guides oversee the convalescence period. There is no linear time on the Other Side, so sometimes a soul will convalesce for what results in many years here on Earth, or sometimes they will convalesce and recover quickly. When they the soul is ready, they move into the life review.

The life review

All souls go through some period of reflection and review of their physical life existences. This process is one undertaken with assistance from Angels and guides who help the soul to see the intentions, choices and how their actions and decisions affected others while on Earth. In the review each soul begins to see what lessons they were learning in their physical life and how they were able to learn them with love and compassion. Each soul is gently guided to see the opportunities given, the purpose and meaning behind the challenges faced and the significance of the relationships and people in their life.

For example, after my brother died he told me that he was being helped to see that he had blamed me for some of the hardships in his life and that was part the separation that occurred between us during his lifetime on Earth. He said that "they" (Angels and guides) helped him to see that if he had been able to let go of his resentment, he would have had a very different life path. This was a revelation for him and helped him to heal from resentment and fear that he had held onto during his physical lifetime.

The life review is as unique as each soul. It takes whatever time is necessary in order for the soul to accept its responsibility for its actions and intentions during its physical life. After the life review, the soul decides with its assigned Angels and guides how to continue it’s evolution and growth. Quite often, the continued growth plan involves work with others on the Other Side and it usually consists of working with their loved ones who are still here on earth. This means they draw close to learn from you as you go through your life lessons here. It means they see your challenges and opportunities and are there to assist you in releasing your fears. They also help to guide you in making the best choices for your life and growth.

Why do they do this?

Because once a soul is fee of fear and the ego, it is able to see how this experience on earth is a learning one - it is earth school. We are all here in physical bodies to learn and grow. We are here to experience first hand love, compassion, joy, judgment, temptation, karma  - the infinite number of things life has to offer. When a soul is released from it’s ego and the circumstances of it’s physical life, it is better able to see the unique circumstances of its physical life and what their main themes and lessons were in their lifetimes. They are able to see how their lives intersected with the lives of those they loved here on earth. They are able to see the big picture.

Yes. They learn from you. You help them as well. Not only are your Loved Ones working on the Other Side to guide, support and assist you, they are learning from you too. Often in readings Loved Ones will come through to talk about a quality they admire in my client and how they are drawing close, learning from them now. For example, one client’s mother appeared during a reading to talk about how she was learning courage from her daughter who is a respected avant-garde artist and is constantly engaging in art work that pushes boundaries and cultural standards. The mother was a reserved woman in life who is now learning on the Other Side how to find inner strength and courage from her daughter who is fearlessly exhibiting these qualities in her life and work. Everything you do now has repercussions - small acts of bravery and kindness are seen and felt on the Other Side. Right now, your own choices and courage inspire and heal those on the Other Side.

Our relationships with our Loved Ones continue on the Other Side. Those who you were close with and loved while on Earth are still with you. Your Loved Ones want you to know they are still with you. They come forward in readings to talk about all the different ways they are involved with you now, what they see happening in your life and how they love and support you even now. If you are reading this, there is a Loved One (probably more than one!) sending you the message that they are well and with you and want to connect further. Give yourself an opportunity to connect with them again.

With love,

Ashley

The ebb and flow of Spiritual growth

Q: I have made so much progress, why do I now feel it has stalled?

This is something I have heard from many others on a spiritual path and it is a question I have asked myself at times. Why can you feel so clear and open and connected to Spirit and then go through periods of doubt and fear, where the connection feels distant and it seems difficult to feel the same confidence and openness you felt even a day or so ago? You have experienced the clarity of connecting with Spirit, and all of a sudden it feels like your growth is stalled. I have gone through periods of time when I feel really clear: I ask for and receive signs, I feel very connected to Guides and Angels and when I connect with deceased Loved Ones it's almost like they are sitting next to me, having coffee. Then there are other times when I have felt trapped in myself, unsure, murky, like it’s difficult to connect. When I experience this feeling I always wonder why I am going through this again and what am I doing wrong? What can I do to release this isolated feeling and once again feel united, clear and centered?

What is going on?

Well, something is going on and I guarantee you it has nothing to do with your psychic abilities or your ability to connect with Spirit. I have discovered that spiritual growth and opening to Spirit is a process that ebbs and flows. Your pathway of opening to your abilities is always and continually unfolding. This means that it evolves in a circular and holistic way; it is not straight line but rather a winding beautiful road leading up a mountain. Sometimes you can’t see what lies ahead, and then sometimes you go through a tunnel. But there is one important thing to remember: you are still on the road.

Think of your growth like waves in the ocean, a big set rolls in and it’s beautiful wave after wave. You have the time of your life surfing those beautiful waves. Each one perfect and unique and helping you surf higher and longer. You get used to riding high and think that’s what the ocean is – perfect wave after perfect wave. Then, things quiet down. The big set is over and the sea gets kind of, well, flat. It’s quiet and still. You have wait for the next set to roll in.

This is how opening to your abilities can be at times and this is actually part of how nature works - it’s the rhythm of life. Things are always changing; ebbing and flowing. Right now as I write this we are at the every end of summer. The light is already different and the leaves are starting to hint at changing. Spiritual growth works this way too. If we were at full blast all the time, we wouldn’t have the time or space to integrate all of the amazing changes we have just discovered and made.

It's about Light

So, it is a big awakening, a big change when you start to recognize yourself as Spirit, when you begin to let in the Divine light. It’s a really powerful and fundamental change you make at the most basic level of your self – to realize you are a Spirit and have the ability to connect to other Spirits – Guides, Angels and Loved Ones. It’s a really big thing when you begin to open to Divine light. The light is a real thing. It is of the highest and purest vibrations of pure love. The more you release pain and fear, the more you work from the inside out healing yourself, the more you connect with Guides and Angels, the more you live by the truth of your heart and spirit; the more Divine light you bring into yourself. This causes change. Real change. Change you can feel, but not necessarily pinpoint. Change that sometimes makes you feel off kilter.  

I asked my Guides to explain to me why the process of opening to Spirit and opening to psychic abilities can be a roller coaster ride at times.

This is what they told me:

My guides showed me a series of interconnected rooms, like in a museum where you walk from gallery to gallery. When you open the doors of one of the rooms, light floods in. You open the next door and the light flows into that room, and on & on. The process of opening to Spirit is about opening all the doors that lie within you and letting the light flow in. Spiritual growth, connecting to Spirit and opening your abilities is all about bringing the Divine light into every room in your house. Some rooms have light in them already, some are dimly lit and some have been closed off, locked and ignored for years. These are the rooms where we have put things too painful to integrate or process. We all have them. The process of connecting to Spirit brings light into all of these spaces. It is not possible to just let light into some and not others. Opening your abilities and growing spiritually brings light into all of those dark places within. The light brings with it love and the opportunity to understand, heal and release pain and fear that is keeping you from embracing your true powerful self.

Here are some things you can do to help yourself through this:

Have compassion for yourself. Congratulate yourself on all of the changes and work you have done so far. Read this article, or something else that tells you it OK to feel this way. Check out another great article about this from medium Amanda Linette Meder:

Your growth has not stopped. As a matter of fact, reaching these tough moments is indication that you are beginning to do really deep work of integrating your newfound spirituality with your entire being.

• Look at your validation journals. These are moments when you can fall back on all of the times things were super clear and you were getting sign after sign and feeling really connected with Spirit. Read and reread about all of those little things you saw and felt and remind yourself that this is a process. If you don’t have a validation journal yet – start one!
• Share your feelings. Talk to someone else on a spiritual path. I guarantee you no matter who you talk to if they are being honest, they will share times they too have felt doubt and fear.
• Understand that this will pass. It is often darkest before dawn. Most times, actually every time I have gone through difficult phases of doubt and fear, I have emerged with powerful insight-and a deeper and better connection with Spirit.
• Keep asking for signs. Keep meditating. Keep connecting with your Guides and Angels. These are the times when you are really building that foundation of trust with them. Ask them to help you through this. See how they come through for you.

Above all, trust your self and your process. Learning to trust the strength and wisdom within is at the core of what Spiritual growth and connecting with Spirit is all about. The more you can learn to release doubt and fear in these tough moments and the more you learn to trust yourself, the more you are living your true path and purpose. Remember: you hold the key to the power within.

With love and light on your journey,

Ashley