What I learned from Gordon Smith (Blog)
 

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Erin Pavlina's blog:

What I learned from Gordon Smith

Wonderful Erin. This was very interesting. Thanks for sharing it.
“In one case he told a woman the name of her deceased mother, living sister and brother, and then mentioned a doctor appt she had coming up and he gave the day and time! And he was right about all of it. “
Who must be giving this info to Gordon, his spiritual guide or the woman’s mother?
If our relations on the earth are temporary, why the dead relatives still hanging around their loved ones?
How long they stay with them? Is that depends on how attached they with them when they were alive?

The deceased mother was talking to Gordon's guide who was then telling Gordon what she said. Or he was seeing/talking to her directly. It wasn't clear at that moment but I'm sure Gordon could answer that better.

Not all dead relatives hang around. The ones that come through a reading aren't just sitting around waiting for their shot, they are off doing what spirits do in the ether. But it's like receiving a phone call, "Mrs. Smith, your daughter is calling on line one. Would you like to speak with her?" to which Mrs. Smith may accept or decline.

However, some spirits do hover.

Read this blog entry for details on all this:
Erin Pavlina’s Blog » Blog Archive » Crossing Over

Am I Psychic, yet not a Medium?
 

Erin,

Thanks for sharing your experience with this workshop -- I'm living it through you vicariously.

: )

A few things that really stood out for me:

That all mediums are psychics, but not all psychics are mediums. (Did I get that right?)

As you know, I specifically identify as a clairaudient intuitive -- although I'm actually beginning to realize that I am more clairvoyant than I may be giving myself credit for... My experiences as a medical intutive come through to the point of overwhelming me -- and I back off from bringing that in (for now, anyway).

The impulse to compare oneself to others who are like/different from you is strong -- and I personally find myself reflected in much of what you write about.

But I don't see dead people! (In the classic sense.) I have a few experiences that qualify, but the type of mediumship you/Gordon seem to be describing is something specific I don't do.

So, help me out, if you can, with this distinction (not that it ultimately matters, but...) I call what I do "relay" -- meaning I receive information from spirit guides in response to asking questions on a sitter's behalf, and I transcribe the conversation.

I feel like a court reporter, sometimes, or an old-fashioned Telephone Operator... I also recognize that what I do is most similar to a deep trance channeler, without the deep trancey, possessy part...

Other psychics have told me that I am an "open channel" -- meaning, I suppose, that I can receive similar forms of information, to the same degree, from just about anyone I focus it toward...

We all enjoy the labels, even as we try to transcend them. My philosophy is collage all the best parts of what fits -- the reality of who you are is a bottomless potluck of labels, with infinite room to contain all that apply -- not the other way around.

But I AM very interested in what you may have learned about this...

HI Slade,

What you describe as your abilities definitely falls into the psychic realm. I'll bet though if you worked at it that you could also be a medium. I'm not sure, but I do suspect. Have you read any of the "how I became a medium" books by John Edward, Gordon Smith, or James Van Praagh or John Holland? I think I've read all four of their books that include their own personal story, not just the relating of readings. You might find it a helpful first step.

Also, see if you can find a spiritualist church near you because they have development circles for this sort of training.

When I am doing psychic work, I am relaying info from the guides. I can have a two way conversation. But when I'm in communion with a deceased loved one, all I seem to get are stories and validations, but it doesn't go two ways. Sure, they feel our love, but you can't have a two-way conversation with them. Not sure why. Maybe there are rules about revealing too much. Spirit guides are probably more trained in what they can and cannot reveal.

Interesting stuff though.

Thanks Erin

You know, I did realize something from this brief conversation -- I really dig the Two-Way conversation!

And as I'm sure we all arrive at the conclusion that Who we already are, the gifts we already have, are unique and wonderful. I'm full of gratitude for doing what I do, as I do it.

But you have helped me define a distinction that I wasn't sure about how to communicate to people who ask -- I'm not likely to contact decease relatives. It's a valuable boundary to identify.

Yeah I like the two way conversations too. It helps me help the person I'm reading for to pick their way through their maze more easily and get where they want to go much quicker.

But I do love it when a deceased person comes through. It's really fun for me to communicate with them; not an experience you have every day to be sure. ;)

I find it helps at times when I'm working with my guides if the client asks questions. That way I can stay mentally detached from the session and get a clearer relay than if I have to use my mind to ask the questions myself.
I have had several sessions with clients where I'm merely the voice piece for the deceased responding as in normal conversation. This seems to happen when the client is already aware the person is around them and has possibly had conversations with them themselves and are in need of confirmation rather than afterlife evidence.

One significant session like this was with a brother in spirit and his sister was my client. My office was occupied and I did the reading in the lounge. The brother made himself at home in the bean bag and they both chatted away as if I wasn't even there. His voice came straight through me like a radio transceiver. At one stage he started picking his toes and she told him off. They were both so relaxed and at ease in each others company.
Lallymac