Dear Julia:

First, thank you for all your wonderful articles and advice. I always find them incredibly inspiring. My question for you is what is my next step for becoming able to directly communicate with spirits? Over the past three years, I've patiently pursued just about everything spiritually related, from meditation and prayer to gemstones and tarot cards. I keep a dream journal; I visit psychics; I read ABUNDANTLY on every "psi" and metaphysical subject, including astrology, numerology, energy healing, astral travel, reincarnation, etc. So what can I finally do to break through the barrier that keeps my conscious awareness apart from the "other side?" I strongly believe that each one of us has inherent psychic abilities, but wonder why I haven't yet been able to open them up. I also believe that there are spirits around us, and can't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to communicate more directly with them. Are some people purposely kept on the other side of the "veil" for some reason? Is there something I should do next? My sincerest thanks!

Dear Laura:

Thanks for a great question. This is a very big topic, but I'll do my best to get you moving in the right direction. First, know that you are not alone. I know many very gifted psychics who are not mediums, and who are so intimidated by spirit communication, specifically of having to produce "evidence" from Spirit, that they don't ever really attempt it. I commend you on your courage and desire to explore this new spiritual frontier. I believe that there is no more noble aspiration than to try to help the grieving to find peace and healing.

Also, please don't get down on yourself. This is a relatively rare and very special ability. Most psychics are NOT mediums, but all the mediums I know are psychic. Also, most of the mediums I know did not develop their ability to communicate with spirits purposefully; it just sort of happened TO them, and they had to work out how to control it after it had begun. This does not mean, however, that you can't develop mediumship of your own accord.

For anyone desiring to develop their spirit communication abilities, I highly recommend affiliation with a Spiritualist church. Fortunately, there are many Spiritualist churches located throughout the world. For the most comprehensive worldwide directory, see the Lighthouse Spiritual Center list. If you're in Great Britain, you'll have many options to choose from. Try the Spiritualist Church Directory. If you're in the United States, another good resource is the National Spiritualist Association of Churches.

The main goal of Spiritualism is to bring through evidence of the afterlife and the continued existence of our souls after death, so Spiritualists are "experts" in this field. You're looking for something called a "development circle," the purpose of which is the development of mediumship. You should be able to find such a circle through any Spiritualist church.

There are many benefits of joining a circle. The most obvious is that you'll be led through the process of opening to spirit communication by someone who has already attained what you're seeking. Not only will this make the whole process easier for you, but it will also give you support and resources to turn to when you run into situations or experiences you don't know how to handle. Additionally, your teacher or leader should already be an established medium, which means that she or he can ask Spirit for guidance for you on how to deal with any difficulties you encounter.

Being around all those other folks who are trying to do what you want to do will also ignite the power of synergy. Together, you'll move with greater power and speed toward development than you would alone (and you'll probably also make some wonderful friends). You'll benefit from others' experiences, as they will benefit from yours. Involvement in a circle will also help you to establish discipline in your practice, for having to show up at a certain place and time for a certain number of hours will keep you focused and moving forward.

Circles are also magnets for spirits. Imagine a lone medium opening to Spirit as a single lit candle. From the "other world," spirits are drawn to that light like moths to a flame. Now imagine that a development circle is like a big bonfire, and you can see how sitting with others could really bring a lot of spirits to help you in your work. This is essential, for unlike psychic work, mediumship is a cooperative endeavor! Where psychics can tune in and retrieve information like looking something up in a book, mediumship is a two-way street that requires communication from both sides.

I hope all of this convinces you to at least give the idea a try. Expect to attend circle weekly, and to work on development via this avenue for at least a couple of years.

Fundamentally, it sounds like the one thing you most need to do is move beyond the tools. Tarot, astrology, numerology, and all the other spiritual subjects you mentioned are great, but they won't help you much with spirit communication. For that, you'll need to be able to receive visual and/or auditory impressions directly from Spirit. There are many resources out there to help you develop your clairvoyance and clairaudience; unfortunately, space limitations prevent me from going into that subject here.

Also, I recommend you establish a strong relationship with a guide before you begin opening to the loved ones of strangers. This will both protect you and guide you as you move forward, and help you to become a stronger medium, so that you can communicate with spirits who may not be as good as communicating as your guide is. (Guides are naturally more adept at communicating with the living than "ordinary" spirits). When I have a loved one in Spirit "on the line," and I'm finding it hard to understand what he or she is trying to say, I will often just pull back and ask my guide. This happens in MOST readings, for it's rare to encounter a spirit who can communicate as clearly and as effectively as a guide. Establishing a clear relationship with a guide will prove immeasurably helpful whenever you are engaged in spirit communication.

Your guide will also very much want to assist you in developing your spirit communication abilities. You should spend at least some time every day in communication with your guide/s, both about your own life and concerns, and about your development process. Again, there are many books and articles available to help you connect consciously with a guide.

There are also some good schools throughout the country. The school I attended and recommend is in Lily Dale, which is sort of a Spiritualist Mecca located in western New York State. It's called the "School of Spiritual Healing and Prophecy," and its curriculum is designed so that folks can attend from all over the country. Here's a link to that website, Fellowships of the Spirit.

I pray that this opens new doors for you, and launches you on a wonderful new journey rich with spirit and undeniable proof of the afterlife!

- Julia