What Kind of Psychic are You?

With spiritual awareness and acceptance on the rise, it seems that more and more gifted individuals are emerging offering various services. It would be naive to think that there are not some charlatans in the mix, or those that exaggerate their abilities. But I feel it's important to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and those with less than moral intentions will eventually be exposed. The big difference in current times are the various titles sensitives are using to describe what they can do. In the past, simple terms like psychic or fortuneteller were the staple titles; but now the terms have become much broader and can become confusing.

It's human nature to have the need to give names and definitions to everything. This fact also holds true when it comes to defining the various types of psychic abilities. I'd like to give a brief description of common terms you may see individuals use to describe what they can do. I believe intentions are pure, trying to describe in detail how they can help others; but not everyone fully understands this terminology.

Psychic: This is an umbrella term used to describe anyone with extra sensory abilities. All of the other terms described in this article fall under the umbrella of psychic abilities, with the exception of medium (which I will touch on the reasons for this separation). The term psychic often conjures up images of the stereotypical palm readers, fortune tellers, and seems to have some negative connotations attached to it. I believe it's because of experiences and the exposure of charlatans that caused damaged to this name, which may be part of why we have so many different terms now. But regardless, this defines all abilities from aura reading to scrying.

Sensitive: This term is synonymous with Psychic. This is also an umbrella, and it seems more and more gifted individuals prefer this term, possibly because of the negative stigma surrounding the word "psychic". As the word implies, it describes those who can perceive things others cannot through heightened sensitivities. Though the two terms mean virtually the same thing, psychic is often seen as "other worldly", and sensitive simply seen as enhanced natural abilities. Though there is still some taboo surrounding psychic abilities, "sensitive" seems to be considered a more socially excepted alternative to "psychic".

Medium: A medium is simply an instrument or tool for the spirit world to speak through. Mediums are able to sense and engage in back and forth communication with spirits, and pass on that information to the living. The spirits a medium can communicate with range from earthbound souls, to passed loved ones who have moved on to the other side. This ability is seen as being separate from the umbrella of common psychic abilities because of it's specialization working with the spirit world. There is a saying that "all mediums are psychic, but not all psychics are mediums". This basically means that all mediums possess an extra sensory ability, but the gifts of a psychic may be limited to the physical plane. There are also many subdivisions of mediums defining how they receive information. Just a couple examples:
Trance Medium: One who receives information from spirits via a meditative or "trance" state.
Physical Medium: Those who allow spirits to enter their bodies gaining temporary control of the medium. This is so the spirit can communicate in their own words and expressions.

Channeler: Can be synonymous with medium, and seems to be an older term used to describe those who communicate with spirits.One difference is channelers usually open up communication with spirit guides rather than directly with other spirits. Mediums receive information this way as well, but a channeler is more specialized in this method and are said to receive information from a more pure or divine source.

Empath: These are the individuals who can feel and experience the emotions of others. This can be one of the most draining and difficult abilities to manage. It's imperative that empaths focus on self awareness, and learn how to differentiate what is their emotions from the emotions of others. This gift is not only limited to feeling emotions of living persons, but also earthbound spirits. I've seen the term empathic medium used before, describing how they sense and feel the emotions of spirits.Through feeling emotions, sometimes an empath can also gain insights and impressions, giving them a view of details.

Discernment: This is the ability to sense the presence of spirits and often gain insight into it's nature. Regardless of it's simplicity, this gift is very useful in paranormal investigating. This term you will often seen coupled with another title. For example: Discernment Demonologist

Remote Viewer: This is a seemingly rare ability that many may not be familiar with. A remote viewer will go into a meditative state, and allow their consciousness to travel to another location. In doing so, they are able to see from a third persons perspective what is happening at this location in real time. I've heard of many instances where sensitives will receive a flash vision of something taking place. This experience falls into the category of remote viewing,. but gaining conscious control of this ability is extremely difficult. Documents have show the during the Cold War, both the United States and Soviet Union experimented with remote viewers to try and spy on one another. That might sound silly but it's true. Trying to use such a gift for selfish reasons they both had mixed results.

These definitions become even broader, as some use terms of how they receive information to describe their abilities. Examples: Clairvoyant Medium, Clairaudient Channeler, etc. Clairvoyant for example, simply means receiving information visually; Clairaudience through sound, and Clairsentience through sensation. Many gifted individuals use psychometry as well, which means they receive information and impressions through touching objects. It's important to remember that these are not abilities on their own, just descriptive terms used to further explain the nature of one's ability.

The list goes on to those who use specific tools to aid them: tarot cards, pendulums, various scrying devices, and so on. This is not a complete list of abilities as there are many more that are less easily defined. But I hope these brief descriptions help to give a better understanding of the gifts some posses. Personally, I do not care for titles as we are people first and no single term can define us as a whole. So regardless of any titles, when it comes to using our gifts to help others, it is accurately portraying what we can do that matters most of all.

Psychic Development Simplified

I would like to share my core theories on how to get started with developing psychic abilities. I have worked with many individuals who have transformed from being frightened and having no control over their gifts, to being grounded and strong psychics, able to perform readings with accuracy and confidence. It takes a lot time and work, but it is a balance that is attainable by all.

So many individuals have reached out to me for guidance and all of their stories have been very similar. They've expressed experiencing psychic phenomena ranging from intuitive messages to being visited by spirits. Most often they are afraid and unsure of what is happening to them and in many cases, they have had other experiences throughout their lives, but have now come to a point that their senses have intensified and have begun to interfere with their daily life. It has now turned into a very overwhelming experience which is now making them question their own sanity. Psychic abilities are often misunderstood and discounted by so many that these individuals often feel alone, with no one to talk to and help them rationalize what they are experiencing.

I believe that psychic/medium gifts are a natural part of the human consciousness. I also believe that everyone has the ability to develop these gifts. Some people are just born a little more "attune" then others. I also find that is seems to be a genetic trait that runs in families. I cannot say with certainty that I believe it is part of human evolution, but the growing numbers of individuals with psychic gifts makes it a definite possibility in my opinion. Much like the natural talents you see in athletes, musicians, artists, etc., everyone has the capability to heighten their natural abilities with time, practice, and faith in one's self.

Psychic Development - Meditation

First step and possibly the biggest key to psychic development, is meditation. This is how we "exercise" the intuitive mind and learn to keep a calm, focused, and relaxed body and mind. There are many different types of meditations, but it is important to practice clearing, focusing, and opening the mind. For those that have had difficulty with meditation in the past, I suggest using guided meditations to start practicing with. In book stores and online you can find many to choose from. Sometimes it takes some searching to find the right one for you. Meditation helps us in training the mind to receive and feel, rather than think when reading for others. I know it may sound like a huge task, but with regular meditation it becomes easier over time and you will be astonished by the level of focus you can achieve. Eventually, you will learn to bring that calmness and focus into an awaken state of being, allowing information to flow to your mind naturally. It is important to practice meditation as much, and as often as you possibly can. It can also be a useful tool for us in many avenues of life. It helps to promote a balanced mental and emotional state, which is essential for anyone hoping to read for others with a clear consciousness.

Psychic Development - Spirituality

Next step is that one must work on a deep spirituality no matter what it is you personally believe. This goes beyond religion, it's about how you see the Divine and what your personal relationship is with him/her/them. This is so important because this is where we draw our strength, energy and an unshakable faith that we are protected. It is through prayer that we cleanse ourselves before and after readings so we do not end up taking the energies of others into ourselves. Without doing so the energies can actually manifest in many ways including our physical health. True spiritual faith is such a powerful force, and it is an absolute necessity we keep a constant affirmation of our beliefs in our hearts and minds. Faith is our best weapon in battling fears, especially for those hoping to work with spirits and perform mediumship. Some may disagree with me on the need for spirituality to be psychic and to aid psychic development. But I do not see how one can effectively work with spirits and energy without holding some belief system close to their heart. In my opinion, you will not be able to find longevity as a psychic and the ability to perform readings without spiritual faith.

Psychic Development - Faith

Then the last and most important is absolute faith in yourself. You must believe without a doubt in your developing psychic abilities and beyond what rational thought tells you is possible. We have been trained our entire lives on what is possible, and what is not. So we must retrain our minds and come to a point of blind faith in our psychic abilities and a "knowing" that comes from within. This can take some time to work on, but with just a little faith in your developing psychic abilities, you can completely surprise yourself on what you can do. I have witnessed many, who have just begun working on psychic development, completely blow others away with their accuracy. This is simply because they completely believed in what they could do without a shadow of a doubt. How much you can evolve as a psychic/medium is only limited by your own faith.

So meditation, spirituality and faith in yourself are the key components to begin working and developing your natural psychic abilities. Add in time, practice, and patience and you have a great foundation to work from. Fear seems to be what most have the hardest time dealing with in the beginning. If you really think about it, it's the only obstacle and can easily be overcome. Once you really incorporate the 3 key components into your life, your fears will begin to melt away. Practice reading for others as much as you can and don't beat yourself up if sometimes you get some information wrong. It's a learning process just like any other and takes time to perfect. I will stop here at the basics. I've tried to just explain the main concepts briefly of psychic development and give an idea of where to begin. From here I usually go on to energy work with chakras and methods about coming into contact with your spirit guides. I have full confidence that anyone who actively follows this formula will see results in their psychic abilities. For some, I've seen very quick progression in their psychic development, but the time it takes to learn new things varies from person to person and patience is important. Like most things in life it takes some work and dedication, but the rewards in the end can be beyond anything you believe possible. Always remember, your psychic abilities are a “gift” not meant to be feared but to be shared.

Psychic Defense and Self Preservation

As psychics, sensitives, and mediums, we often have to deal with a never ending onslaught of energies wherever we go and at any time. In our daily lives we cannot avoid encountering people with their various emotions, locations with energy imprints, or wandering spirits looking to communicate. This can become extremely taxing on us, especially those who have only begun to open up and explore the depths of their abilities. These constant stressors can manifest within us, in the forms of anxiety and depression, even as physical ailments. So how do we adjust and manage our exposure to these energies without sacrificing our health? I'd like to outline ways in which to lessen these stresses, giving us the tools to manage these everyday life encounters with ease.

Meditation

Meditation is not only an essential step in strengthening and advancing our abilities; but can help immensely with psychic defense. Through regular practice we learn to remain calm in stressful situations and how to still the mind. We can bring this relaxation into our awakened state of being, making it easier for our minds to handle anything that comes our way. Through meditation, awareness on all levels will become heightened. Which means we will receive more impressions, feelings and information. But it is the self awareness we gain that is an invaluable tool in our self preservation. We must be able to discern our own emotions and feelings from what is being oppressed onto us. Being able to separate ourself from the energies we are receiving is absolutely paramount. Meditation is elusive for many, and some feel that they just are not able do it. This is not true.. It takes time and practice and the rewards can benefit you in all aspects of life, so keep trying and never give up.

Spirituality

Spirituality is so important because this is where we find our faith in a power beyond ourselves. This is completely separate from religion, and having to do with our own personal relationship with a higher power. The role of spirituality in psychic defense is very simple: protection. When we feel overwhelmed, we should pray and ask for divine intervention, whether it be from angels, white light energy, or even the Divine itself. A great exercise I was taught to ground myself is a simple visualization technique: Envision yourself surrounded by a sphere of the Divine's white light, which nothing can pierce. Plant your feet on the ground and envision roots coming from the bottoms of your feet connecting you with the earth. Take in deep breathes and allow yourself to be free, feeling nothing but peace. This is an easy exercise you can do anywhere and whenever you feel you need it. Another great asset in defense is the presences and guidance of our spirit guides. Even if you have yet to obtain an open communication with your guides they are always with you and watching over you. Ask for their help to guide and protect you. Our minds are sacred, so it's a good practice to give your spirit guides permission to open communication. Their sole purpose is to help us, so we should never be hesitate to call on them for help. Faith in the Divine's power and ability to keep us safe and protected is one of our greatest tools in defense. What could be more empowering than knowing you are never alone, and have heavenly support beyond what we can possibly fathom.

 Exposure and Inner Strength

Time really is the best teacher of all, and as you progress and gain experience, everything will become much easier to handle. This can be likened to the hardened police office, who can walk onto a crime scene undaunted. For those of us that have to endure visions of atrocities, or even deal with feeling them happen. It may never become something you are used to, but with time you will become more and more desensitized. Finding confidence in yourself and inner strength is really what holds everything together. Without it, all the techniques and faith in the world will do little to help you. It's not about being cocky and taking serious things lightly. It's about an inner knowing that you can handle anything and erasing all fears. For those of us who attract spirts, in which some try to force communication relentlessly. If we cannot help them, or their advances are unwanted, we must be able to stand firm without fear and tell them to leave. Just as we would the advances of any human being. Trust in yourself and project confidence, knowing that you have the control of any situation. Self empowerment is the best and most effective defense we have in our arsenal. Just with the sheer will power of our minds and spirits, we can deter the effects of any negative energies,

I hope that these tools and mindsets are found to be as useful and effective for others as they have been for me. The journey of how our gifts evolve is completely individualized, and much of the learning we must do ourselves along the way. For those that have read my article on psychic development, you'll notice that I focus on many of the same attributes like meditation and spirituality. This is because they are the absolute essentials and basics when it comes to managing your abilities, and the ways in which they can help you on your path is vast and not easily defined. My purpose in writing this article, is to give others, whether experienced or new to working with their psychic abilities, defensive tools that are simple in concept, easy to incorporate into daily life, and have shown to be effective. We must take care of ourselves first, so that we are able to use our gifts to help others.

Psychic Abilities: Natural or Supernatural

There are different schools of thought when it comes to the source of psychic abilities. Many argue their beliefs and theories, whether it's based on religion or personal beliefs. Is there a definitive answer to the question? Like many other things beyond our current human understanding, this is also shrouded in mystery. It really comes down to personal belief and faith to find the answer that speaks truth to you. I'd like to explore these two concepts, and maybe help those who are impartial to the subject gain some insight.

Supernatural

Those who believe the source of psychic abilities are supernatural, see these abilities as a "gift" from a higher power only given to a select few. The information they receive is seen to come directly from a Divine source, similar to the prophets or various religious texts. The degree in which someone is "gifted" varies, with some having stronger abilities then other and you can only work with what you are given. Why some people are gifted while others are not is not entirely clear, and perceived as simply being the will of the divine. With that being said, the use of one's gift is meant to be used in service to divine, when it comes to this school of thought.

Natural

In contrast, those that believe it is natural, see psychic abilities as something all human beings are capable of through development. Everyone has a "6th sense" to some degree, with some individuals having a stronger natural affinity to consciously gain control of it. This is compared to other natural talents, i.e. sports, singing, playing an instrument, etc. Anyone can learn to hone these skills with time and practice, but for some it just comes more "natural". The source of the information a psychic receives varies depending on beliefs, but some common theories are: being able to read energy, perceiving another plane of existence, or simply use of another part of the brain we are yet to understand.

Evolution

This falls into the natural explanation category, and I find this theory to be very intriguing. Some believe that mankind is continuing to evolve, expanding the use of our brains, increasing our senses, and possibly gaining new ones. Living in modern times, what better ability could mankind develop than being able to access information of the unknown. The evolution theory could also explain why more and more individuals with abilities are surfacing, and why it seems to run in families. I'm not too sure what I think about this theory, but it is interesting indeed.

My purpose in writing this is not to sway anyone's personal beliefs on this matter, as this is really a subject of faith. I simply hoped to enlighten on the two sides of the coin, and let anyone who reads this come to their own conclusion. I personally believe psychic abilities are a gift, in the sense that some are more attune to these abilities than others. I know there is some controversy with using the term "gift" as some see it as pretentious, denoting you possess something beyond what any others have. This simply is not true... For example, what do we call people who have natural talent in sports or music? We call them gifted athletes or gifted musicians. The principal is exactly the same when it comes to psychic ability. Speaking for myself, I see a balance between both natural and supernatural. I believe psychic abilities are something we all have access to and can harness through development, time and practice. As a spiritual person, I feel that it is part of the divine's will (no matter how you see or worship him/her/them) to use the abilities and talents you are given to the best of your ability, and for the greater good.