Dear Julia:

I am in college and living in a dorm. Our school is old (founded in 1830) and many people have died or killed themselves around here. Some weird things have happened to me here. For example, my friends and I decided to try using a Ouija board. A few spirits came through, but it wouldn't work unless I was playing. (I wasn't moving the planchette.) Also, my roommate and I looked into Satanism and Anton LaVey, and we both attempted spells. She has experience with this, as one of her ex-boyfriends was involved with the Church of Satan. It seems like my spells held more power than hers and worked better despite her supreme dedication. For the record, yes, I did some research prior to attempting any spells, and did read things like the Satanic Bible.

Lately I have had some unnerving experiences. In the middle of the night, I always feel like I'm being watched, and I've sensed and seen someone nearby. I don't feel like these beings are here to harm me; it's like they are just watching me. I want to know if maybe I have a gift. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you so much!
- Jessee

Dear Jessee:

You are definitely psychically sensitive; in fact, I'd say you're a natural medium. It sounds like you're at the stage where you have all the raw elements of mediumship, but lack the knowledge and skills to control your abilities well. This is a bit like being an athlete gifted with great strength and speed who has yet to begin to train for his or her sport of choice.

As a natural medium, you have a lot of energy available to spirits. Again, picture the athlete who is stronger and faster than most of the population; from the perspective of a coach trying to choose the best players to work with, you're an obvious pick. Since you're highly psychically sensitive, you're also easy to communicate with or coachable. Where most people are like boisterous kids oblivious to the subtle, soft-spoken forces trying to direct or influence them, you are quiet, alert and paying attention.

This is why the Ouiji only worked with you using it even though you weren't consciously aware of moving the planchette: spirits were able to use your intense etheric energy to manifest phenomena in this plane, and they were also able to influence you on a subconscious level to relay their messages. Being a natural medium could make you good at spell work or manifesting as well, because you're a powerful conduit for energy to flow from the metaphysical into the physical.

As a natural medium, it's especially important for you to make wise choices and cultivate your own higher nature for a number of reasons. First, it's clear that you're adept at manifesting, so if you aren't careful, you may quickly and powerfully manifest something of an unpleasant nature.

Further, mediums are magnets for spirits, so if you want to attract only spirits of a benevolent, higher nature, you must have that same nature yourself. This is where your dabbling in Satanic practices comes in.

I don't have space here for an in depth discussion of the true nature of Satanism, and I certainly don't want a bunch of righteous Satanists breathing down my neck, telling me that I've got them all wrong. With that in mind, I'm going to skip the issue of Satanism in general and cut to the chase.

Regardless of the name or label a particular spiritual path may hold, it's essential that you choose to live by the Golden Rule. If you treat others as you would want to be treated, you'll be fine. If you try to use, abuse, or take advantage of others in order to get what you want, you're setting yourself up for major karmic backlash. You'll also attract people and spirits of a similar nasty nature and lots of negative conditions and experiences.

It's also important to realize that dark forces are by nature dishonest and deceptive, for they lie and deceive us in order to lure us in. Many dark spirits and people under their influence can communicate very intelligently and convincingly. They will try to seduce you with the quick, easy fulfillment of your ego desires in order to get you hooked. This is much like a drug dealer getting someone hooked on drugs: they offer you a seductive high at first, but once you're addicted, you're far more miserable than you were before, and you end up owing more than you can afford to pay to some very unsavory characters.

Further, regardless of what they call themselves, if anyone advocates summoning demons or suggests that demons are just humankind's misunderstood, maligned friends, RUN. These people have either never met a demon or are under the influence of demons as they speak.

I've encountered a demon, and believe me - their true nature is unmistakable, for they radiate an indescribable evil. Many parapsychologists, priests and spiritual healers can also tell you endless tails of the torment, suffering and tragedy that demons wreak on humankind. So whatever you do, stay away from demons and anyone who seems to be drawn to the dark side of the occult.

Around every corner, you can find someone who believes they have all the answers, have found the one God or discovered the ultimate truth. In order to decide what you will believe, you must rely on your own powers of discernment to cultivate the quality of experiences you desire. Basically, you just have to listen to your heart.

To choose wisely, we must honor our own instincts and intuition. If something feels positive, uplifting, inspiring, etc., that's our inner being pushing us toward it. If something feels frightening, unnerving, horrifying, perverse, shameful, raunchy, or just not right, that's our inner being telling us that taking this path will prove regrettable.

I don't recommend casually dabbling with the Occult. Playing with Ouiji boards and spells is like playing with fire. If you don't know what you're doing, you won't know what to do if things get out of hand. Further, opening up to anything or anyone that wants to come through is like lighting a match, tossing it in the air and hoping it will land on a candle wick.

In summary, as a natural medium, it's especially important for you to practice the golden rule, rely on your inborn powers of discernment, and cultivate your own higher nature. Of course, whenever you get off track, the experiences you attract will teach you that you're in error, but I call that learning the hard way. What you're doing here is much wiser, for by studying those who have gone before you, you can consciously chart a smart course to where you want to go, and travel through safe, pleasant territory.

- Julia