Then do the deceased always speak English to me?  In a way, yes, and in a way, no.  Sometimes I do hear phrases word for word in my native language which is English.  I will hear a deceased person give me a certain phrase and I know I’m supposed to repeat it just that way because there is a significance to that phrase and to paraphrase would not be best.  So I repeat it the way I heard it.  Other times I just get thoughts and feelings and I have to translate their meaning.  For example, I might suddenly get a pain in my head while asking the deceased person how they died.  So then I’ll know there was either a stroke, head injury, Alzheimer’s or maybe a shot to the head.  Usually I can sense which one even if they don’t actually say, “Tell her I was shot in the head,” or “I died of a stroke.”  It sort of feels like I get a download of information and all I have to do is open the file and start reading.  Sometimes they put a song in my head and it turns out that the song has meaning.  Other times I just see an image, like of a birthday cake and a number, or a symbol like a fleur de lis or a question mark.  But a full thought usually comes with it.

The same non-verbal communication happens with animals.  On the occasions when I’ve connected with an animal who has crossed over, I get specific information from them, just like I do with deceased humans.  Obviously animals don’t speak English, so I must be getting the information through thoughts, images, and feelings.  Sometimes the animal shows me what they looked like.  That’s easy because then I just have to describe it.  One time I sat down in a woman’s chair and I immediately felt the presence of a very territorial cat sitting on top of the back of the chair where my head was.  When I tuned in I saw an orange cat with a smooshed in face (it seemed almost flat).  When I told her what I was getting she confirmed that her orange cat used to sit in that very spot (that was HIS spot!) and that his face was smooshed and they actually named him “Smoosh” because of it.  I almost had to move to a different location because this cat’s energy was so strong and territorial that I felt like I was intruding. :) 

Mainly animals convey love and connection and that they are still there and waiting for their loved ones to cross over.  They often also show me their replacements.  One time I was tuned in to a big calico cat who then showed me an image of a black kitten.  My sitter confirmed that his calico cat had died that year and that he had just gotten a new black kitten.  The calico wanted to convey that it was okay to replace him.  My sitter was very grateful to hear that because it was something that concerned him. 

Communication with the other side is energetic, not verbal.  Tune in to your own deceased relatives and see if you can sense their feelings or thoughts.  It might be too difficult for them to say, “Hey Julie, I’m here, I’m doing well, and will you please stop dating that jerk?”  Instead they may just be able to send a feeling, perhaps one of love, concern, or peace.  Dreams are the number one way in which spirits try to communicate with the living.  Be open to different modalities and it will increase your chance of making a connection with the other side.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

Expressing gratitude is one of the highest vibrational energies you can create.  When you tune in to your blessings you can almost feel a tingling energy inside your body.  Try it now and see.  Think of something you’re truly grateful for and express that gratitude in your mind or out loud.  I’m not talking about, “Well I really hate my neighbor but at least she’s out of town this week.”  No, no.  Think of something you are truly grateful for.  “I am so thankful that I have friends who care about me.”  Really plug in to the feeling.  Imagine seeing a ripple of energy spreading out in waves from your body and going out into the world.  Your thought of gratitude is like a pebble in a pond, sending ripples of positive, loving energy out into the world.  It has an effect even if you can’t see it right away.

When I do intuitive readings, I meditate and end up in my White Room, where Bob, my conduit guide, awaits me.  One of the first things I do before I tune in to my sitter’s guides is thank all of my guides and my higher self for being present with me and helping me connect to do readings.  I sometimes even imagine handing them all roses.  The first time I did this it was very spontaneous, but I was so surprised to discover how it made ME feel to simply give thanks and show my gratitude.  I am certainly not alone when I do readings so why not thank the guides for helping me, right?  When I saw how much it raised my energy I started expressing my gratitude towards them each and every time I get to my White Room.  This higher vibration helped me connect better to my sitter’s guides so it was a win for everyone!

When was the last time you told someone in your life how grateful you were to have their love and support?  Would it make you uncomfortable to express that?  If so, try doing it just in your own mind.  The ripple will still go out and impact them on an unconscious level.  Imagine what would happen if everyone expressed gratitude and love instead of annoyance and anger.  I think that sort of ripple effect could change the world.

This Thanksgiving I am eager to express my gratitude, love, and thanks for all that I have, for all that I am, for all that I can give, and for everything I receive from others.  What are you thankful for this season?  Take a minute and really think about it.  Share it in the forum if you’d like, write it down, give someone a call, or just send out a thought ripple. 

Thank you for reading.  I am grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

Answer:  When I’m doing an intuitive reading, the energy of my sitters definitely affects my ability to read for them.

The easiest readings for me are when my sitter is in a state of love, peace, excitement, and joy.  And people who have developed their psychic abilities and who know how to raise their vibration consciously are great too.  To use an analogy, it’s like the book is open and I am speed reading.  I could read dozens of pages about them and just keep right on going.  The reason is because they are boosting my signal.  It’s like making a cell phone call and someone is boosting my signal so everything comes in very clearly and easily.  I can clearly hear and see what their guides are telling me.

In the middle are people who have lower energy but who are wanting a good reading and are open to the information coming through.  So these would be people who are depressed, suicidal, fearful, anxious, sad, etc.  To go back to the analogy, the book is open, the light is good, and I can read a few pages.  It’s harder to turn the pages, but I can do it.  In this case, my cell phone is working normally with patches of static periodically.  They are not boosting my signal, but they are not blocking it either.

The category that’s toughest are people who are purposely holding back, who don’t want to be read, who are afraid I’ll discover a deep dark secret, or people who are skeptical or cynical.  In this case, I’ve been handed their book, but they turn the lights out, so it’s like trying to read in the dark.  I can still read, but reading in the dark is much harder than reading in the light.  And often, it’s like they are jamming my cell phone signal.  Again, my cell phone works fine, but the signal is jammed.  It can be frustrating for both of us.

You might wonder why people in the last category bother signing up for a reading.  Many of them want the answer to one single question, but they are not open to any other information coming through.  I have people who sign up for readings who simply want to invade the privacy of their partner and are trying to use the reading to get information about what their partner is doing and who he’s doing it with so they can confront him on it.  Some people just want to know when they are going to win the lottery.  This is absolutely not how readings with me work.  The very first thing I do is connect with your guides and ask them what they most want to tell you to help you on your life path.  We go over career, relationships, health, finances, spirituality, and whatever else you want to ask.  But the guides take the opportunity to share insights with you that are designed to help you get what you most wanted out of life, and to help you achieve true happiness.

Remember that all psychics work a little differently.  My specialty seems to be helping people with their life paths and life purpose.  Unless your guides think it’s in your highest interest to give you lottery numbers, you won’t get them from a reading with me.  If your guides want you to trust your own instincts, they probably won’t tell you if your spouse is cheating on you, but they might tell you that you have reason to be concerned, or they might help you with another aspect of your relationship that will serve you better.

My energy also affects a reading.  If I’m not feeling well it’s difficult for me to connect, so when I’m sick I usually reschedule my readings for the day, especially if I have a fever or a headache.  It’s analogous to having a low battery in my cell phone, it could die at any moment.  Likewise, I need to be fully present, ego out of the way, at my highest vibration in order to do readings properly, so if I’m distracted or emotionally upset then it’s difficult for me to connect with your guides.  This is why I do a meditation before each reading so that I can turn off my own thoughts and be open to the connection with Bob (my conduit guide), and your guides. 

So yes, energy states matter quite a bit.  Good question!

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

First of all, before I went to this conference my guides said this to me:  “This will be the last conference you attend as a student.  After this, you will teach.  You’re ready, and you’ll see it at this conference.”  I wasn’t so sure before I went, but by the end I understood that I am indeed ready to teach.  More on that later.

On the drive to Phoenix I listened to the CD’s from the Las Vegas I Can Do It conference, which are a great way to pass the time while also learning something of value.  I listened to Sonia Choquette on the way there, and Dr. Darren Weissman and Bruce Lipton, M.D. on the way back.  All good stuff!

On Friday I eagerly got my seat for the all-day James Van Praagh workshop.  James turned on some music and had us all dancing.  It was lively and energetic and fun.  In the morning, we learned about chakras and James also answered a lot of questions.  What occurred to me in that moment was that I would have answered the questions in much the same way he did.  This has been happening to me for the last 2 years or so.  I realize that I do indeed have a lot of knowledge and I felt myself very eager to answer questions for others.  While doing a chakra/body scan on the woman sitting next to me (who was to be my partner for the day), I started picking up on some of her “stuff.”  I can’t help it.  When I’m already in someone’s energy that closely, the clairvoyance just comes.  I told her she was going through a sad break up and not to blame herself.  She was shocked that I knew both of those facts, but it was very much on her mind, sort of at the forefront of her aura, and I was right up in there.  I didn’t probe more deeply though.

James took us through several meditations.  One was to meet our guides.  My conduit guide, Bob, sat next to me the entire time I was in the workshop.  I thought that was sort of odd, but he seemed to want to be present and attend.

James next took us through a psychometry exercise.  We were told to give our partner something that had a lot of our energy on it.  I gave my partner a ring and she accurately picked up that it belonged to my grandmother and that there was both love and sadness attached to the ring, which confused her.  She didn’t know it when she read for me, but I wear my grandmother’s ring because my wedding ring was stolen.  So every time I see my grandmother’s ring there’s a part of me that still feels sad that my actual wedding ring is lost forever.  The item my partner gave me to hold was a small zippered case, like a makeup case.  I wasn’t getting much on it though, and that really surprised me because I’m usually at least decent with psychometry.  All I got from it was that she was alone when she bought it and that she kept really important items in there.  She told me that this was the very first time she was using the purse (thus the lack of imprinted energy) but that indeed she was alone when she bought it and that day she had something extremely important inside it that she really didn’t want to lose.

Next James took us through a telepathy exercise.  Oooh, what fun!  I don’t have much experience with trying to be telepathic.  My telepathic moments are usually with Steve and they come unbidden, so to do this on command seemed really neat.  James thought of an object and cast the thought onto the ceiling.  In my mind’s eye I saw a white rocket, with the pointy end on top and a wider base, like the space shuttle or just a white rocket.  James was casting the Eiffel Tower at the group.  So I definitely got the shape and probably the color but not the exact object.  In the next round I saw a ball of light, and he was casting a baseball at us.  Shape correct, object not.  Next he cast us a red convertible car, and I didn’t actually pick up anything at all.  He did a fourth object which escapes me at the moment but I didn’t get that one either.  Still it was really neat.

We broke for lunch and when we returned he said we were going to work on mediumship.  This was what I came for!  He gave us a few techniques but I already knew the techniques from my own work as a medium, so all that was left was to try it out on my partner.  When I tuned in I saw two separate people but she didn’t recognize either of them.  Talk about a shock!  I was so sure they were there.  All I can think of is that everyone in the room was contacting dead relatives and I suppose it’s possible I was picking up on someone else’s deceased.  But to say I was disappointed is an understatement.  On the next round he told our partners to give us the first name only of a specific relative they wanted to hear from.  She gave me the name and the floodgate of info just opened.  I picked up on so much correct information.  Nothing I told her was incorrect.  I was flying!  I could have kept right on going too, this spirit was coming in very strongly.  I think having a name to tune in to was very helpful in pinpointing the specific energy in a room full of people contacting the deceased.

Then James did readings for several people in the room.  The most interesting thing that happened was that while he was reading for someone else I realized the messages coming through for that person were also for me.  Everything he said related to me and my family and my personal situation.  And the message that came through for that other woman … “It’s time for you to teach.  You’re not a student any longer.”  That was my first synchronistic moment.  He mentioned that, on the other side, teaching is considered one of the most honored things you can do with your life.  The message hit me square in the head.

The workshop was fabulous.  James has a very caring heart and spirit.  His compassion came through the entire day.

The next morning Wayne Dyer was giving a presentation I’d seen before so I decided to skip it.  But while I was sitting in my room I got a strong message from my guides to go get a toe reading.  A toe reading?  Yep, that’s what I thought.  Sounds pretty hokey.  But they had a group of people doing free toe readings for all conference participants and my guides were adamant that I go.  I figured that with everyone else watching Wayne there might be no line, so I got off my keister and went downstairs to the vendor area.

Sure enough, no one was in line, but the two women manning the toe reading booth told me they weren’t allowed to do readings during sessions.  But I just knew I had to have the toe reading so I pleaded, cajoled, and persuaded and one of the women said, “I’ll do your reading but if I get in trouble you have to bear the karma.”  She said this jokingly and I agreed.  I took my feet out of my shoes and placed them flat on the mat and she started the reading.  What I thought would be really hokey turned into my second synchronicity.  Some of what she told me was this:  “You have a straight connection with the other side, but you must share the knowledge of this gift with others.  You are not a student any longer, you must now teach.”  Sound familiar?  She told me I had tremendous presence and she could see me speaking on a stage, teaching about psychic abilities and other spiritual wisdoms.  She had no idea who she was talking to, but she accurately picked up on many things in my life.  She knew that I had a hard time grounding myself.  And she knew that money was not an issue for me.  She also told me I had a relationship with someone else who would draw me onto the stage with him.  (Hmm, anyone we know come to mind?).  She didn’t even know what I did for a living yet she accurately picked up on that as well.  She mentioned that besides being a toe reader she was also a psychic and she was picking up on a lot of information about me.  So, the toes have it.  I left feeling like I had been smacked on the head with yet another message.

I went to a couple of really great sessions after that.  First up was Gregg Braden.  Gregg is an incredible speaker.  He could have been talking about making a peanut butter sandwich and it would have been fun, captivating, and stimulating.  But he was talking about the shift that’s coming in 2012, how the earth is changing, and the spiritual awakening or transformation that’s coming.  If you ever get a chance to hear Gregg Braden speak, take it.  I wasn’t bored for a second and sincerely could have listened to him the entire day and then some.  I immediately decided I need to read all of his books.  I met Gregg at the author dinner in October at the Hay House conference, but at that point I hadn’t really heard him speak.  If I had known I was sitting near a god I would have spent more time picking his brain. :)  Sigh.

That day some other interesting things happened.  There was a guy in James’ workshop from the Omega Institute and my guides told me I had to talk to him about something, but I wasn’t sure what.  I kept walking past this guy but since I didn’t know what the guides wanted me to discuss with him I never stepped up to talk to him.  Finally on Saturday afternoon I was headed up an escalator to go back to my room in between sessions.  As soon as I got to the top of the escalator my intuition told me to turn my little self around and go back down.  Why?  As soon as I got to the bottom of the escalator I saw the Omega man again.  I walked right up to him and introduced myself and then I just let nature take its course.  At some point during our conversation I mentioned Steve, Hay House, Steve’s book, and speaking and he became very interested.  By the time we were done, he had asked for my card and told me he would be in touch.  I’m not sure, yet, what the Omega Institute is but perhaps I laid some foundation for something. 

When I left him I ran into John Holland, so I went up to say hello and give him a hug.  We chatted briefly but he was actually on his way to his own workshop and was lost so was in a bit of a hurry to find the room he was supposed to be speaking in.  He figured out his map and was on his way.  Just as I was getting ready to head into my own session, with James Twyman, I saw Cheryl Richardson and James Van Praagh head to the elevators.  I really wanted to go introduce myself to James, thus completing my dream of actually meeting all the famous psychic mediums practicing today (John Edward, John Holland, Lisa Williams, Sylvia Browne, and Colette Baron-Reid) but my ego said, “He’s standing by the elevator.  You’ve got, what, maybe 30 seconds to chat with him?  Not worth it and how awkward would it be if his elevator came while you were still introducing yourself.  Don’t do it.  You’ll just embarrass yourself.”  But my intuition said, “Go, go now.”  So I walked boldly up to the duo and said hello to Cheryl, who remembered me from the Hay House dinner as well.  Then I introduced myself to James who was very friendly, and we talked about whether he had any advanced medium courses I could take that would give me more of a one-on-one instruction.  Somehow, their elevator just didn’t seem to want to come (thank you guides!) so I ended up chatting with them for probably 5 minutes.  I finished saying what I had to say and walked off.  Just then I heard the “ding” of their elevator arriving.  So in the span of 15 minutes I had spoken to the Omega Institute man, John Holland, Cheryl Richardson, and James Van Praagh.  And silly me was on my way upstairs to rest in between sessions.  Pffft.  Always go with the gut ya’ll.  It was in that moment that I realized how far I’ve come, and that I am indeed ready to teach.  I feel totally comfortable around people I used to idolize a few years back.  And I know I’m a vibrational match for this next step.

The next day I saw John Holland, Gary Zukav, and Byron Katie.  All quite enjoyable experiences.  I noticed John Holland sitting in the same row as me for the panel discussion at the end of the conference, so I got a chance to say goodbye to him as well, which was a nice way to end the conference for me. 

This conference was the cap on the transformational experience I had at the last I Can Do It conference.  I realize that I’m ready for a one-to-many approach now.  Even though I still have some fear of public speaking, I am feeling a strong desire to teach this work, and that’s a far stronger feeling than my fear.  I’m going to be stepping up my speaking by doing longer speeches in my Toastmaster club and doing a workshop locally on psychic development.  Please continue to let me know if you’d like to me to come to your city and do a workshop.  And make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter to find out when I’m doing a workshop here in Las Vegas.

I’ll also be working on audio products over this next year as well. Stay tuned because it’s going to be a wonderful year!  And hey, I just realized I’m posting this on 11-11.  How appropos!

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

So I asked my daughter, who is 9, “Emily, who should be president?”  She said, without hesitation, “Barack Obama.”  I asked her why he should be president and she said, “Because he’s going to buy equipment for our playground.  He’s going to buy more swings.  And because a lot of other people chose him, so he must be good.  And also, I think he’s kinda cute.”  Intriguing.  So I said, “What about John McCain?”  She crinkled her nose at me and said, “He’s old.  He’s not as handsome as Barack Obama.” 

“So the cuter guy should be president, and the president should buy your school more playground equipment.  Do I have that right?”  To which she shrugged her shoulders and said, “Yeah, why not?”

This conversation immediately brought to my mind an experience I had when Jimmy Carter was running against Gerald Ford, who was the incumbent president at the time.  I was in grade school and my teacher wanted to give us a lesson in civics.  She went to great trouble to tell all of her students what each candidate stood for.  And she let us know that Gerald Ford was already the incumbent president.  Then she sent us all into the coat room to cast our vote, privately.

When the results were tallied it was 26 in favor of Ford, and only 3 in favor of Jimmy Carter.  I voted for Jimmy Carter.  She asked random people why they voted the way they did.  The Ford voters all said variations on the same thing, “Ford is already president.  He knows what he’s doing.  Why change at all?”  When she asked me, I was a little nervous since I’d gone against the tide, but I said, “I just think everyone should have a chance to be president.  Maybe this guy can do a better job.”  People turned on me and I never knew why.  I thought my reason was sound. 

So here we are today, a historical day, a day when America will change, one way or the other.  We’re either going to have a female vice president or an African American male as president.  Change is good.  I like giving new people a shot at making a difference in our country.  I think that no matter who is elected, the country is going to go through a shift.  Because we want one, because we need one, and so we will attract this shift. 

I asked my son, age 5, who should be president.  He said, “I vote for the Hulk.  He likes to smash things.”  Uh, so does our current president, apparently. ;)  Then he said, “I want the Hulk to be our president because he’s a hero.”  Intriguing.  So I asked him, “So you think a hero should be president of our country,” to which he replied, “Well you wouldn’t want a bad guy to be president would you?”

No.  No indeed.

We could use a hero.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

Who are these people and how do they know where to go, and when, and what to do when they get there?

First of all, these people are typically unaware that they are being sent to guide you.  So if you say to them, “Oh wow, are you one of my guides?” they’ll probably look at you like you escaped from the mental ward.  No, they’re just being themselves, but they are usually “coincidentally” in the right place at the right time to offer just the right piece of advice or information that allows you to take a big leap forward in your spiritual development, or maybe even to save your life. 

How do they get there?  They’re guided by their own guides to be in the right place.  Perhaps your guides put a notice up on the spiritual bulletin board in the ether, “Wanted, someone who can knock some sense into this bloke we’re trying to guide.  He’ll be at Starbucks on Saturday, the 12th, at 8am.  Can anyone help?”  And maybe another guide reads this notice and says, “Hey, my charge, Suzanne, is going to be in that vicinity.  I’ll see what I can do.”  The next morning Suzanne wakes up with the sudden urge to go grab a coffee at Starbucks, which is something she never does, and at the last minute decides to bring along her copy of oh, say, Personal Development for Smart People.  So she’s sitting there chugging away at her latte while reading up on love and oneness and suddenly she sees a sad sack of a bloke sitting at a table all alone.  Without hesitation or a second thought she leaps from her chair and goes right up to the guy.  Handing him her book she says, “You look like you could use some help.  This book helped me a lot, and I’ll bet it will help you too.”  The guy kindly accepts this out-of-nowhere gift and the girl walks away, unknowing of the fact that she was a catalyst and just changed this guy’s life forever.

That’s just one example of how something like this could go down.  There are many other ways.  Perhaps you’re suicidal and walking down the street when you realize you’re lost.  By the time you look up from your haze of emotional pain you realize you’re standing right in front of a church.  A kindly priest invites you in and by the end of your chat you don’t want to kill yourself anymore.

Earthly guides come in all shapes, sizes, and species.  Sometimes it’s an animal that comes along at just the right time to provide you some comfort.  Or maybe it’s a child that captures your attention, or who comes up to you and says, “Excuse me, sir, you look like you could use a hug.”  Out of nowhere.  It’s good stuff.

Earthly guides don’t have to be hit-and-runners though.  Sometimes a special person comes into your life and sticks around for a while.  You develop an instant and special bond, and before you know it, your vibration is increasing rapidly.  Maybe it’s someone who helps you work out that issue with your parents, or maybe it’s someone who gets you on the road to addiction recovery.  Maybe it’s a business contact who helps you take your business to a whole new level.

I had a special guy friend in high school who was an earthly guide for me.  He was very wise and really good at teaching, and he was only 17.  We would spend hours talking about life and I would ask him dozens of questions.  He had a special way of teaching me without giving me answers, but drawing me to my own conclusions.  Many years later when I told him what a profound impact he had on me during that time in my life and how he really steered the course of my life because of it, he said, “I was your teacher?  No, I think you have that wrong.  You asked me the most amazing questions and I learned more about life from your questions than you could possibly have learned from my answers.”  Huh, who knew?

Be on the lookout for these guides.  Accept their help, advice, wisdom, support, love, whatever they have to offer.  How can you tell who is a guide and who is a just a nosy, butter-inner?  By the way they make you feel.  Is what they’re offering helping you in some way?  Receive it lovingly and willingly.  Be on the lookout for the drive-by earth guides.  These moments of contact have a special quality about them, the kind you remember years later, the kind you look back upon and realize, “Interesting, that day at Starbucks this random woman handed me a book, and now that I look back I realize it was that moment that put me on the path I’m on right now, helping others.  Fascinating.”

Yes, fascinating indeed.  The world works in mysterious ways. Your guides are putting up your information on some cosmic “Help Wanted” bulletin board.  Maybe one day, you’ll be the guide for someone else.  Pay it forward.  When you feel a strong urge to help someone, don’t hold back.  You could be the one that makes a difference in his or her life.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

Travel Schedule
How would you like me to come to your city to do a workshop, seminar, or for private readings?  Request it!  I’ve put up a form you can use to indicate what city you’d like me to visit.  As I plan my travel schedule for 2009 I’ll take into consideration areas with the highest concentration of requests.  Perhaps Steve and I will do a workshop/seminar together as well.

Newsletter
I’m going to be sending out my newsletter more regularly now.  The newsletter is going to contain news, articles, exercises, inspiration, and information not already found on the blog or site, so if you’re not already signed up you can do so here.  Don’t miss a newsletter!  I’ll probably send them out once or twice a month.

Products
I know I’ve been talking about putting out an audio program or other product for more than a year now!  Wow, time flies.  But I’ve finally nailed down the product due to the high demand for this information.  I’ll be doing an audio program all about spirit guides: who are they, how to contact them, and it will include meditations for you to use on your own so you can talk to them yourselves.  It’s going to be thorough, wonderful and affordable! 

Thank You
I really enjoy the wonderful and positive feedback I get from my readers.  It really warms my heart to know I’ve connected with so many of you and that the articles on my site are inspiring and helpful.  It’s rare that someone will send me negative feedback, so I feel very blessed to receive such positive communication.  For those of you who have sent me loving emails that encourage me to continue this work, thank you!  To everyone who emails me with questions, sometimes I need to refer you to the forums and sometimes you catch me at just the right time to get a long in-depth answer.  I do read all of my email, but sometimes there is just too much, or the questions would require a book to answer properly.  Thank you for your understanding.

Transformation
I mentioned briefly in my blog entry, Transformational Weekend, that I’m going through, well, a transformation.  I’m becoming more clear about the message I’m here to express, and I’m discerning new paths and new ways to express that message.  As I process it all, I will share it, but I’m seeing some really interesting things coming up for myself in the future.  Stay tuned and join me on the journey.

Forums
I want to encourage you to visit the forums and to participate if you feel like it.  I have found the Personal Development for Smart People forums to be quite unlike most discussion boards.  You will find a mature group of intelligent people who are highly aware and eager to explore life.  Maybe you’ll get some help with a problem you have, or perhaps you can help another with a problem.  It’s a great community.  Don’t be shy, jump on into the conversation.

Have a blessed day.  Spread some joy!

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

Lisa Williams - Medium and Clairvoyant

Erin:  I’ve read many books written by psychic mediums and it seems as if all of us had psychic experiences or saw spirits as children, including yourself, which you discuss in your book, Life Among the Dead.  Do you think this is an innate ability that manifests at a young age, or do you believe people in their 20’s, 30’s and beyond can develop these abilities even if they had no such experiences as children?

 

 

Lisa:  Most of us have experienced this at some time in our life, and often we put these feelings down to intuition, fate, or coincidences. The thought that we know when the telephone is going to ring, and who it is, the feeling that we know someone needs our help, and also the feeling that we simply “know” someone is standing behind us. We get signs that they are around from many things, such as music, seeing pennies, angel feathers, etc.

I feel that as a child we are pure and that there is nothing stopping us from seeing these things. It’s normal in our child world, but society closes us, as we are taught different things. It’s when we are older that we are able to open ourselves up, because we are free to choose what we want.

Then after that we can develop this as much as we want.  We are all psychic, but not all of us are mediums, and it’s very different.

Erin:  Before you do a live show, or just when doing private readings, what do you do to prepare yourself to connect with spirit?  And when you’re done working or doing a show, do you have a procedure to help you shut down so you don’t continue to receive?

Lisa: Before the show, I tend to meditate for about 30 minutes and allow spirit to come in and connect with me, but actually on the day of the show I wake up feeling connected.  I take the messages down and then I read those out at the end of the show if those people haven’t come through on stage.

After the show I go in to the dressing room and imagine a lead door shutting over the top of my head, and then I jump up and down and stamp my feet and then stick my watch on… I don’t know why but putting my watch on grounds me. It brings me back to reality.

Erin:  Some of my readers report being woken up in the middle of the night by spirits trying to get their attention.  How can they stop this from happening if it’s not something they want to experience?

Lisa: It’s very common because you are closest to the spirit world at that time, and you are a free channel, so they will come and communicate with you. It’s like they say… “Look she has nothing going on… quick lets talk to her!” What I suggest to people is that they protect themselves by showering themselves in white light and perhaps sleep with an amethyst under your pillow, which is something I tend to do, and ask them to come to you at a decent hour. If you are going to do this, dedicate an hour to them a week or a day and do it, or they will start to bother you in your sleep again. They need to get a message to you for some reason, so allow them to do it.

Erin:  Many of my readers are working on increasing their psychic abilities.  Can you share an exercise or a tip with them to help them increase their connection with spirit?

Lisa:  It can be really frustrating sometimes, but sadly we all have different gifts, I always wanted to do healing, but I realized I had to develop my own psychic and mediumship gifts before I could go on and do healing. You have to work at your own pace.

Don’t expect too much on your first attempt, but get a pen and pad and close your eyes and meditate, ask spirit to come forward by showing you signs or by giving you words that they are there. Write everything you get down on that paper. Ask them questions and trust your first thought or feeling.  Start by asking simple questions like who they are and how long they have been in spirit. Then over the course of days or weeks, ask more in-depth questions. Over this time your abilities will get stronger and stronger.

Erin:  When you and I were talking about our children I asked you if your son, Charlie, was showing signs of psychic or medium abilities and you said he definitely was.  And we talked about how to raise children to understand their abilities and not be afraid of them.  What advice can you give to parents who think their kids might be seeing spirits or having psychic experiences?

Lisa:  Firstly it’s important for the parent to appreciate what the child is going through, in their world it’s normal, don’t brand them with an “overactive imagination.”  Talk to them and be genuinely interested, and listen to them.  Most of all tell them that it’s ok to see spirits, and allow them to talk about it when ever they wish.

I have a website that I designed with children in mind because some parents don’t know how to deal with it. It’s www.kidswithgifts.com and here the kids can also learn about different aspects of spirituality.

Erin:  Another question I get asked a lot is how to tell the difference between other-wordly communication and your imagination.  How can people tell the difference and know if what they’re hearing, seeing, and/or feeling is coming from inside them or from another source?

Lisa: Initially, it’s very hard, but you have to trust your instincts. I find that if it’s a thought, and I am not sure if I have generated that thought or it’s come from spirit, I ask. I ask, “Is that Spirit?” And generally if it is spirit, they answer me before I have even finished asking. That’s how I know! But it’s trust and knowing, and you start to understand the difference after a while.

Erin:  In your new show on the Lifetime Network, Voices From the Other Side, you’ll be doing one-on-one readings in the studio and also doing readings for random people on the street.  Have you ever walked up to someone to offer them a reading and they wanted no part of what you were offering?  What do you think they were concerned about or afraid of?

Lisa:  It’s happened many times. With the show, the thing that they don’t want is to be on TV, that’s a common problem, but they will be happy to hear what I say as long as they are not on camera. But I normally know who I need to speak to, and I would say 80% say yes and they are open to it.

As for the rest, they are probably scared or have had bad experiences, so they don’t want to be part of it. And of course then they could be very religious and believe that what I do is the work of devil, but that’s a whole different subject!

Erin:  If your new show is picked up by Lifetime you’ll obviously be quite busy!  What else are you working on these days?  Is there another book in the works?  Tours?  And how can people find out where you’ll be appearing?

Lisa:  I am currently on tour throughout the US, and I am working on another book about what happens when we die, and there are other projects in the works and these are to do with children… so watch this space!! To keep up to date with my life and what is happening, people can go to my website:  www.lisawilliamsmedium.com

Erin:  Thank you for the interview, Lisa.  Your generosity of spirit really came through when I met you at the I Can Do It conference in Tampa, and I’m glad to have the opportunity to share your insights with my readers. 

Lisa:  Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to share this with you.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

I’ve had some crazy dreams in the past.  For example, one time I dreamed I was Eddie Murphy’s penis.  Yep, you read that right, I hope you didn’t spit your coffee onto your monitor.  I seriously had a dream that I was Eddie Murphy’s penis (oh the search engine traffic I’m going to collect with that lovely phrase!).  I peaked my head out of his underwear and had a look around.  That was it, then I mercifully woke up.  Another crazy dream was when I dreamed I was a sentient hamburger (with all the fixings no less!).  Yep, I was sitting on a lazy Susan-type device while someone was setting up lighting for a photo shoot.  I just sat there, feeling every part of my layers (meat, lettuce, special sauce, etc.) and just waiting for someone to take photos of me.

Until recently the dream that took the cake for crazy was that one night I went to sleep and dreamed I had insomnia!  I literally dreamed I couldn’t fall asleep.  When I woke from that dream I was flummoxed, but when I went back to sleep the dream picked up where it left off!  In fact, I kept dreaming I couldn’t sleep and then I’d wake up and realize I must have been sleeping.  Finally at around 5am I realized I wasn’t going to get any real sleep, so the next time I fell asleep I dreamed that I took a walk around the neighborhood until sunrise.  When I finally got up for real that day I felt like I hadn’t slept all night.  Try analyzing that one!

But recently my dreams have gone to another level entirely.  It started when I dreamed an entire episode of the tv show Supernatural.  I watched a complete brand new episode of the show in my dream.  The plot was so interesting I thought it would be a great idea for an actual episode.  I wanted to submit it to Eric Kripke (show creator) but my cousin, who is in the industry, told me there was no way he’d be interested.  I’m a huge fan of the show, for obvious reasons, and I often program dreams that include the Winchester boys and I out solving a mystery or hunting down something scary.  But now… now… it’s all different!

A few months ago I had my Supernatural episode dream but this time it came with commercial breaks and scenes to next week’s episode!  What the hell?  Now I’ve got sponsors in my dream?  I don’t believe I’m getting paid to watch commercials in my dream!  And yet it continues.  Apparently I signed some astral contract and now I get fresh episodes of Supernatural in my dreams plus commercials.  So far the scenes to next week’s episode haven’t actually come to pass.  If they did I think I might commit myself or pitch a series idea to Eric Kripke or the CW.  Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy dreaming entire episodes, but maybe I need to install an astral Tivo so I can fast forward through the commercials. ;)  If anyone reading this knows Eric Kripke can you please tell him I’ve got a season’s worth of new episodes in my head?

Another weird thing going on in my dreams is that I’m doing intuitive reading sessions for strangers.  Full readings.  My guides give me a name and I tune in and do a reading.  Sometimes I see the sitter there and sometimes I don’t.  These aren’t quickie, one question readings either, they’re a full 30 minutes (or it feels that way in the dream).  A lot of information comes through.  And not just one client either, but sometimes as many as three clients in one dream session.  When I wake up I wonder, and hope, that somewhere there is a real person who received the info through their dream, considering the effort that was put into it. 

There are nights when I just want to sleep and not be so, oh what’s the word, involved in my dreaming.  I think I need to program a dream trip to Hawaii so I can lounge on the beach and sip a drink with one of those cute umbrellas (because it’s not tropical without an umbrella or some fruit hanging off the rim) just so I can relax a little.  You think you’re overworked?  Try doing hours of work in your dreams too!

Now lest you think I’m kavetching or whining about my lucid dreaming abilities, I do really love my nightlife and look forward to it every day.  I am just trying to fathom what’s going to happen next.  Should I be worried or excited?  Where will the next level take me?

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

People ask me if the world is going to end as punishment for how we behave.  Have you been to planet Earth?  This is punishment. ;)  The world ending would be a blessing.  That would mean we got it right.  I told someone recently that if you wake up one morning and there is no more war, famine, or poverty and the world is in a state of love, peace and harmony, then you should worry about the world ending.  Experiment done.  Mission accomplished.  Until then, uh no, we’re not getting off that easy.

Do I think the world is going to end in 2012?  No.  Could it end in 2012?  Sure.  Anything’s possible.  I wouldn’t worry about it though.  If it’s going to end in some cataclysm there isn’t much you can do about it now.  If some government decides to blow up the world, oh well, back to the ether we go, hand in hand, singing Kumbaya, in perfect harmony no less.

Put your focus on today.  Put your focus on what we can do right now about what’s happening with ourselves and the rest of planet Earth.  God doesn’t save you, you save yourself.  Be at peace.  Be kind to others.  Love.  Help.  Care.  Right now.

I’ve actually had people tell me they are so excited about the world ending in 2012 because then they’ll finally be able to “quit” their job.  Uh, if you’re waiting for the world to end so you can quit your miserable job, might I suggest you quit now?  And when has the world actually ended when it was supposed to?  Isn’t this the bazillionth prophecy about when the world is going to end?  Someone is making fools of us, methinks.  And methinks some people are getting rich off the whole thing too.

If I do get a memo, I’ll let you guys know.  My guides look at me with great amusement when I ask about 2012.  They think it’s a great way to whip people into shape.  Repent now sinners! ;)  And when 2012 comes around and nothing bad happens to us?  Someone will find the lost Incan calendar that ends in 2064 and we’ll have another 52 years to get it right.  But you may as well start working on it now.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

Answer:  When someone dies they leave their body behind and their spirit, soul, consciousness, or energy (however you want to refer to it) lives on.  They move to another plane of existence that is not visible to us here in this dimension.  It is highly unlikely you’ll be able to use your five physical senses to detect their continued existence, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still communicate with them. 

When spirits reach the “other side” they are aware of the emotional impact their passing causes their loved ones.  Many will try to send back a message that they are okay.  How do they do this?  In the beginning, when they first cross over, they probably don’t know how.  Kindly beings, other deceased relatives, angels, and spirit guides can probably help.  But just because they get some assistance in sending a message doesn’t mean the living will pick it up.  Imagine how frustrating that must be for a spirit to have to watch people crying for them and be unable to comfort them.

Over time, the deceased spirit will try to send signs that they are still there, that their energy continues to exist.  Signs can include so many things that it would be impossible to name them all, but common signs are flickering lights, pictures hanging on the wall that get skewed or fall altogether, disruptions with your electronic systems, animals going a little kittywampus because they can see the spirit, finding pennies, finding feathers, odd interactions with butterflies or birds, familiar smells associated with your deceased loved one, special songs coming on the radio, and many more! 

The most common way spirits try to communicate with their loved ones is through dreams.  If you have a dream that your loved one comes to you and gives you a message, it often feels very real, very clear, and like you really were talking to them.  I believe 100% that these are real communications.  Dreams are the one time and place where your ego and objective mind are relaxed and you believe anything is possible.  Your vibration is high and you’re open for anything.  Spirits can more easily reach your subconscious mind than the clutter of your conscious mind.  So be on the lookout for “those” dreams.  Not all dreams of deceased loved ones are communication, however.  Sometimes your own subconscious mind simply conjures their essence into a dream.  The difference is how it feels and what happens in the dream.  When there is real communication, usually the deceased spirit offers a message of love, reassurance, and connection.  Sometimes they tell you what’s coming up in your life, so pay attention.

Is there a way you can initiate contact or do you have to wait for them to make the first move?  You can absolutely communicate with your loved ones.  Just talk to them.  Talk out loud, speak in your mind, they can hear you.  I can’t guarantee they are always listening, but I think for the most part when you cast your intention for them to hear you, they get the message.  To amplify your message, if you feel like it, light some candles, play some relaxing music, and meditate first.  This will increase your vibration and frequency and make the connection a little closer.  But really, all you have to do is think about them, send them love, imagine handing them flowers or imagine hugging them, they’ll get the message.

Is there a way to have a real-time two way communication with a deceased loved one?  This is much harder.  This is what professional mediums are doing when they do readings.  It’s difficult, though, if you’re not naturally talented in this area.  Communicating with a dead person when you are not a medium is like asking a podiatrist to perform brain surgery.  Probably the best way to communicate with the dead on your own is through meditation.  Open and clear your chakras, imagine yourself in a beautiful garden, and ask your deceased relatives to join you there.  The only problem is that you may mistake an imagined visitation with a real one.  It will be difficult to discern if you are just making up their presence in your mind.  One of the reasons to go to a medium is because if they don’t know the deceased person and they don’t know you, and information comes through that is valid, you can be reasonably certain they are talking to your deceased loved one.  I, myself, would seek another medium if I wanted to communicate with one of my own deceased relatives.  That’s the only way I would know for sure.  Or I would try to invite them to a dream because I would know that was real.  But nothing takes the place of having a total stranger tell you about your deceased loved one and passing on messages from them.

Whether or not you are able to initiate direct communication with a deceased loved one, please know that they are with you, can hear you, and still love you.  And of course, they’re okay.  The only time I see an unsettled spirit is when there was murder, accident, or suicide, and even then not in every case are they unsettled.  The bright side to that is that these are the spirits that come through so easily for me, because they are right there and hovering, anxious to speak and tell their stories.

I know it’s hard to lose someone you love and feel like you’re never going to see or talk to them again.  But nothing could be further from the truth.  The dead don’t leave us, they just change form.  Do your best to receive their signs and open yourself up for their communication.  When you think of them, send some love through that conduit, and who knows, you may feel some love coming down to you too.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

Since Steve is a Hay House author now, our experience of this conference is different than when we were just attendees.  For one, Hay House pays Steve’s travel expenses and there was a Carey Limo driver waiting for us at the Tampa airport.  It was funny because while the three of us were waiting for our baggage to arrive, it suddenly dawned on our driver that he was a reader of Steve’s blog and he had listened to my podcasts, so he put two and two together and realized he knew the people he was picking up. 

At the hotel there was a vegan and raw goodie bag waiting for us, which turned out to be a blessing since finding vegan and raw snacks in the area proved challenging.  I thought it was especially thoughtful that whoever put that bag together made sure to put vegan and raw items in there for us.  I saw another author’s goodie bag and they had non-vegan items in theirs, so someone from Hay House is really on the ball!

Our days at the conference were filled with activity.  We attended breakout sessions and keynotes as often as we could.  Steve had a radio interview on Saturday with Eldon Taylor and Michael Neill, two fascinating individuals.  Steve’s presentation on Sunday went beautifully.  Even though I’ve read his book, Personal Development for Smart People, two times already and have heard this presentation before, I still found myself learning so much.  Honestly I think that’s where a big part of my transformation originated.

I also had a transformational moment while listening to Robert Holden, Ph.D. who gave a keynote on Saturday morning.  Not only is he a hilarious speaker, but quite insightful as well.  My mind was working overtime processing the information from his speech.

My third transformational component was spending time with the other psychic mediums from Hay House, specifically, John Holland, Colette Baron-Reid, and Lisa Williams.  John invited Steve and I to a private dinner with several of the other authors: Brian Weiss, Cheryl Richardson, Gary Renard, Darren Weissman, and Sandra Anne Taylor.  I was able to “talk shop” with people I respect and admire and they were all very generous with me in sharing their wisdom and experiences.  I can say that all of these authors are authentic and really walk their talk.  It was a pleasure to get to know them on a personal level.  A special thank you goes out to Sandra and her twin sister Shari for their kindness and connection with me.

We got another chance to spend time with the authors at the author dinner on Saturday night.  It was just so much fun to be ourselves, not our work, and just get to know each other and have a good time.  We met and had a lovely conversation with Dr. Wayne Dyer.  I find him so serene and pleasant.  We sat with Eldon Taylor, Peter Calhoun, and Diane Ray (one of Hay House Radio’s hosts).  Then we moved around the room until we’d met nearly everyone who attended.  My only regret is that I still haven’t met Doreen Virtue.  She is always doing a keynote during the speaker’s dinner so she doesn’t attend that.

On Thursday Steve and I were able to manifest a raw/vegan restaurant just two miles from our hotel!  How lucky is that?  We had to take a cab there and back which cost more than $20 just for that part, but it was well worth it.  The restaurant was Grass Root and they had one of the best veggie burgers I’ve ever had in my life.  It was so good I almost ordered a second one on the spot!  We didn’t get a chance to eat there twice though, more’s the pity.  I wanted to try their key lime vegan cheesecake, but they were out.  If you find yourself in Tampa, check them out.  Sunshine burger.  Good stuff!

It was wonderful meeting fans of our sites.  I introduced Steve on stage and did much better this time than I did last time.  Woo hoo!  One of the Hay House volunteers gave me some reiki to calm my nerves before I did the intro.  My sister, Nicole, also attended the conference, so it was great to hang with her too.  I know we talk about this conference a lot but it really is a great conference.  It takes some time afterward to process all the insightful information that comes through.  If you’re interested in personal growth and spirituality this is really the place for you. 

Below are some photos from the conference.

From left to right: Dr. Darren Weissman, Dr. Brian Weiss, Sandra Taylor, John Holland, Steve Pavlina, Erin Pavlina, Colette Baron-Reid, Lisa Williams, Marc Lindeman (Colette’s husband).

Steve and I before a keynote session

Steve doing his first official book signing after his presentation.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

Let people help you
Sometimes you really can’t help yourself.  That’s when it’s time to rely on the kindness of your fellow man.  Find a friend, relative, therapist, counselor, co-worker, or anyone you trust with your situation and ask them for help.  Chances are they won’t say no, and even if they did, you can just move on to someone else.  People who love you and care about you will help you if you tell them what’s wrong and ask for their help.  Even if they can’t offer much in the way of advice, sometimes just telling someone about your situation is enough to lift you back towards the light.  You may also be able to find a support group full of people who have conquered your problem and are there to support others seeking their way back from the brink.  Whatever you do, reach out.  Don’t sit in the darkness alone.

Help someone in need
When you realize that you are in a position to help someone else in trouble, often your own problem doesn’t seem so insurmountable.  Helping others is one of the kindest things you can do on this planet because it recognizes the connection we all share.  When you show compassion towards another you automatically move closer to the light.  Try it and see.  Give a homeless guy some money.  Volunteer at a shelter.  Donate clothing to a domestic violence shelter.  Send treats to an orphanage.  Or just listen to someone with a problem and offer a kind word of support.  When you see others drowning in the dark, you can help each other swim back to the light.  Gratitude is one of the highest vibrations you can give and receive.

Keep your perspective
Sometimes we’re slammed with something horrible.  The death of a loved one, a divorce, the loss of a job, a financial crisis, bad health news.  It can feel like someone tied concrete to your feet and threw you in the river.  But keep your perspective.  Are you really at the end of your rope or did you just slide down a few feet – okay maybe a few hundred feet?  Never let go of that rope, even if you slid all the way to the bottom.  Keep climbing.  While there is still life in you, there is strength to keep climbing.  One inch at a time if necessary.  Still have a roof over your head?  Still have friends who care about you?  Still have enough money in your wallet to buy your next meal?  Is there a cure for your illness?  You’re way ahead of some people, so keep your perspective and keep climbing.  There are thousands, possibly millions of people, in the world who would gladly take your problems over theirs, so keep your problem in the proper perspective if you can.

Find one positive thought
I can’t stress this one enough.  When all you can see is darkness, sometimes you have to create your own light.  Lost your job?  “Well at least I can sleep in tomorrow.”  Been told you have cancer?  “At least others who have had this can guide me back to health.”  Death of a loved one? “I was very lucky to have loved someone so deeply.”  I know that you can sometimes feel utterly buried by bad news or a bad situation.  I think we’ve all had that feeling of totally losing our life energy to devastating news or a devastating situation, but you can always, always choose how you will interpret it.  So you can allow those dark waters to drag you under or you can choose to keep your head above water and start swimming back to shore.  It’s a choice, even if it doesn’t always feel like one.  My friend, Aimmee Riley, who wrote the awesome book, Tears of Hope, always says to me, “At least I am still breathing, so I’m okay.”  She’s a woman who really knows how to persevere in the face of adversity.

Count your blessings
When you’re sitting in the dark and can’t find the light it’s always helpful to count your blessings.  My advice is to literally write them down and keep them somewhere that you can see often.  Turn your attention to the things in your life that are still positive and forget your problem, even if just for a moment.  You’ve got to break the cycle, cut the chain that ties you to that block of concrete, so you can begin to swim back to the surface.  You need to get your power back, so take a serious inventory of what you still have going for you and use those blessings like stairs – climb them.

Remember you are never truly alone
When I’m doing an intuitive reading for someone in crisis I always see angels around them.  In fact, when I see the angels that’s how I know my sitter is going through a really tough time either emotionally or physically.  You are never truly alone.  Behind and beside you walk beings of light whose job it is to help you when you cannot help yourself.  You may not see them or detect them, but they are there when you need them the most.  Just like that poem, “Footprints” about the guy who was walking with God and saw two sets of footprints in the sand, and when he was in trouble he only saw one set and thought God had abandoned him.  “No,” said God, “that was when I carried you.”  If you open yourself to their energy, you will feel their loving comfort.  Some people use prayer to connect with these unseen energies, some use meditation.  Find your angels and let their light infuse you.

Find the humor in your situation
Probably the last thing you want to do when you are devastated is laugh, but laughter truly is the best medicine.  Being in a state of joy or amusement is a really high vibration that can cut through the darkness like a knife through butter.  Find something to laugh at.  Find something amusing in your situation.  If you can’t find amusement in your situation, then find amusement in something else.  Catch a comedy show, watch a funny movie, go to YouTube.com and type in the name of your favorite comedian.  It’s okay to laugh even when you feel like you have nothing to be happy about.  Laughter cuts away the darkness and allows you to think more clearly and find good solutions to your problem.

Don’t make decisions in the dark
When life throws you a curve you automatically go into problem-solving mode.  How will I deal with this?  What will I do now?  How will I survive?  How will I get through this?  When you’re in panic-mode, however, you don’t always come up with the best solutions.  In fact, sometimes you can’t see a way out of your plight.  I have learned that if I am in crisis mode that my ability to make good decisions goes out the door.  So I’ve learned not to make decisions while in crisis mode.  I raise my vibration first.  I count my blessings.  I put my problem in perspective.  I find the humor in the situation.  I ask for help.  Then solutions begin to appear when my mind is ready for them.  If you need time to wallow in your misery, take it, but don’t tarry there too long or you will drown in that darkness.  When you’re ready, begin making a plan that will free you from those dark waters.

Just breathe
When all else fails, breathe.  What’s the first thing we do when we arrive in this world?  We take a breath.  When you literally feel like your world is falling apart then it’s time to go back to the beginning.  Just breathe.  Find a comfortable spot and concentrate on your breath.  Don’t let other thoughts enter your mind.  If they do, gently escort them out the back door.  And then concentrate on your breathing, be in the present, get centered.  Keep breathing until you find peace.  Use that time to connect yourself with the universal energy that fills us all.  Be supported by that energy.  Let it carry you for a while.  Submit yourself to its embrace.  Then, when you’re ready, open your eyes and see the light ahead of you.  Move towards it, one step at a time.  Don’t take your eyes off that light.  Don’t look behind you, always look forward.  As long as you’re breathing, you’re okay.

If someone you know is in crisis right now, help them.  Care for them.  Guide them back to the light.  If you’re the one in crisis, I highly recommend a visit to the forums.  There you will find compassionate, caring individuals who will help you sort through your situation and offer advice for dealing with it.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.

If you haven’t heard about the I Can Do It conference, you may be quite interested in attending.  Dozens of great speakers and workshops too.  Steve will be doing a presentation on Sunday, October 5 at 11am that you don’t want to miss.

In November, I will be in Phoenix, Arizona attending the Celebrate Your Life conference.  There are a lot of Hay House speakers doing presentations.  Mainly I’m going for the James Van Praagh workshop on Friday, November 7th.  Plus I’ll get to see many of my favorite authors including John Holland and Gary Renard.

If you’d like to book an in-person reading during either of these conferences, please use my contact form to let me know you’re interested and to make sure I can fit you into the schedule.  And if you’re planning to attend but don’t want a reading, you can still say hi when/if you see me.  Steve and I love meeting our readers.

© 2008 by Erin Pavlina.