What are the metaphors like during your readings? (Blog)

[Erin Pavlina]

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

What are the metaphors like during your readings?

[carenkh]

This is so cool! I wanted to say - if you have a reading with Erin, take thorough notes! I've referred back to mine several times, and I usually read something I didn't "see" before. I got a metaphor, and I also got a direct quote - "Trust and have faith in the universe's plan for you." Which I turned into an affirmation: "I trust and have faith...". And I'm working on that!

I've heard John Edward say the symbols he gets are meaningful to him, i.e. he might see a relative of his own or something like that, but he knows what he's supposed to convey.

Usually if I see something about someone, it's just knowledge about that person that I "know". One of the first times that happened, I was telling the woman I was giving reiki to, "Something happened when you were eight. Not directly to you, but to someone you knew about - not super close. This has caused you to reject being a woman, you don't want to accept that you're a woman." It was like the words were just flowing from me, and I didn't know how I knew this. Or even if it was right. After the session, she didn't tell me what she thought about I said. I was thinking, "OK - I'm really nuts for saying that. Why did I say that?" But LATER, she told a mutual friend that when she was eight, a girl she knew from her girl scout troop had been raped and dismembered. That friend told me. (Oh, I'm suddenly feeling SO sad and down-hearted. Such pain for a little girl to feel! OK - deep breath.)

I'm learning to trust those words that just flow, that knowledge I have that I don't know where it came from (until I started reading Erin's blog!).

Thanks so much for sharing your process, Erin.

[Erin Pavlina]

Yes I was going to mention that John Edward will see certain family members and know what the symbol means to his sitters.

So sad about that little girl. What a bummer.

Trust is a huge part of being able to do this work. PUshing your ego aside, your doubts, your fears... they all have to go bye bye in order to do this work. So many people out there have talent and skill at being psychic but inadvertently block themselves because of doubt or fear or ego.

[insatiabl3]

I really enjoyed reading that blog entry, because Erin gave me a metaphor in my reading that was very meaningful to me.

This was ages ago when she was still doing email readings..man I wish I had sprung for a phone reading at least! The email reading was great but I could have gotten so much more out of it by actually talking to her. I really feel like I'm on the right track and not so in need of a reading right now, but it's just so cool to hear from the guides.. I will definitely try and save up for one later!

(my question was something regarding my academics)

The metaphor that came up in my reading went like this..Erin said my guides were showing her an image of someone weaving a basket. It went something like "You need to finish weaving your basket. Unfinished, it will carry nothing, but finished it will carry a lot." (Looking for the original email so not sure of the exact words)..

When I told people about this, they scoffed and said that was pretty self explanatory, and not exactly a profound metaphor.

Haha..BUT to me it means a lot, and here's why. I have been struggling academically for the past 4 years when I entered college.. I just did NOT have the discipline or motivation to do well in classes. I got suspended from a prestigious university, and since then I had been failing classes LEFT AND RIGHT trying to get back in (you had to pass like 3 classes, only 3!), even if they were the easiest classes in the world. I just did not show up, did not do anything and generally felt overwhelmed with the world. It was like I would put things on my plate and they would fall right through the cracks.. or to use Erin's metaphor, through my basket with a giant hole in it!

The basket metaphor seemed perfectly tailored to me because although many people struggle with academics, I am the only person I know to not pass a single class in the span of 1 year..if that aint an unfinished basket, I don't know what is.

I got a reading from her last summer, and it took me a while to mull over it and wonder okay..well I know I have to finish this 'basket' but how the hell do i do that?

It took a lot of introspection and work but my metaphorical basket is finally in production, and holding a lot of weight so far. I'm taking four 6-week summer classes and acing all of them, and I'm on track to graduate next year despite a LONG hiatus in between.

This is only one aspect of my life, but the metaphor from Erin helped tremendously. Thanks again, Erin =)

[Steve Pavlina]

Visual metaphors can convey a lot of information in a short amount of time, much like a dream can. So it's actually an efficient method of communication because you can achieve a sense of knowing in a matter of seconds.

Another advantage of metaphors is that they can help bypass resistance. People listen to metaphors with curiosity, but the same advice delivered more directly might cause a defensive reaction, especially if the information isn't what the person wanted to hear.

I've gotten metaphors from Erin, and I've also heard many of the metaphors she gets for others. I'm always amazed at how personal the metaphors are. Someone else's metaphor may sound totally uninteresting to me, but to the person hearing it, it's the key that unlocks the door.

When I do a reading for Erin from time to time, I don't usually get metaphors at all. I basically "download" thoughts and ideas from her higher self that I understand immediately but have to take time to put into words.

For some reason Erin and I both agree that her higher self looks like Alanis Morissette (not sure why though).

[Erin Pavlina]

Thank you for sharing your experience, insatiabl3. It's always nice to hear the feedback after the reading.

Yeah, the email readings I did in the beginning only contained the metaphor. In time I was able to answer specific questions. And then the email readings developed other issues (which I blogged about) and I had to discontinue them for the good of everyone.

The metaphor I got with the ear of corn picking up a brief case and marching out of the corn field actually made me laugh because the image was so funny (and the ear of corn so determined and adorable!).

And yeah, my higher self looks a lot like Alanis Morrissette when she appeared in Dogma at the end.

[Dive Bomb]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

For some reason Erin and I both agree that her higher self looks like Alanis Morissette (not sure why though).

Well she did question "What if God was one of us" which might correlate with subjective reality?

Anyway..this is actually very timely. I've talked to my higher self a few days ago, and it took place in this basement dance club. He really didn't say much but fused into me and we all started rocking the house down. It was very intersting since I was swing dancing and I don't know how to dance (So I thought) maybe it was a metaphor that I should let loose more. Yeah, that actually makes sense!

Nice post, although your blog deals with an abstract subject its very logical at the same time.

[Hilary]

It's a very interesting post, and rang lots of bells with me as a diviner. Metaphors get the job done for me, too, it's just that they were generally written down about 3,000 years ago. I even found one of 'your' metaphors, the top-heavy corn-stalk, to be a perfect match for one of Yi's. (Yi = the I Ching)

All of which made me wonder whether maybe some of Yi's miniature stories - a buckling ridgepole, a struggling pig, a lost horse that returns by itself... - might not have arrived here originally in much the same way yours did.

Anyhoo... I blogged about this and sent you a trackback, but it didn't show up. Here's the article:
Where did the images come from? | 'Answers' I Ching blog

[Lallymac]

I don't always get metaphors when I begin a reading (they can jump in from time to time) but last week I had an interesting one with a client.

As soon as the man (in his late 40s) sat down in my office I saw two ships colliding head on. I focused on one and picked up, described, a lady who lives overseas. The second ship was a lady the man lives with here. I saw a relationship he'd had with the one overseas and he'd left her. She was older than him,had been very fit, then she got sick with a virus and he panicked, suddenly realising that he could end up having to take care of one day. He told her he needed 'time out' and flew to New Zealand. Not long after he arrived he met another lady and moved in with her but continued an email relationship with the one overseas. Neither knew about the other. The lady overseas had phoned to say she was arriving in two days for a surprise visit.

I summarised what I'd picked up and quietly said, 'So you're having affairs with two ladies.' The man got irrate. He jumped out of chair saying, 'What do mean? I've never had an affair in my life. I am monogomous. I have monogomous genes! Ask any of my friends. They always say that about me. I'm a loyal man.'

I took a deep breath and quietly said, 'But you are emotionally involved with both of these woman and you have led them both to believe that you are available to them. Not only are you cheating on them but more importantly you're cheating yourself.' He jumped up again and started pacing the room saying he didn't come here for this, he wanted me to tell him which one to choose. Then he sat down with tears streaming down his face. I asked him what he wanted and he talked about his hopes and dreams for the future which in all honesty didn't include either of the ladies.

I suggested he started being honest, really honest, with himself and then with the ladies. By the time he left he was relaxed and able to laugh. I said, 'I suggest you go home and dig the genes (jeans) out of the cupboard and see if they still fit.

When I first started doing readings, one of my guides said that many people would come and each would leave a gift on my doorstep (metaphor). Over time I noticed patterns emerge with the insights I was shown in readings and how frequently the questions asked or issues raised, give me insights into my own stuff.

This man had a strongly held belief that he was monogomous and was genuinley shocked to discover he wasn't. After he left, I did a mental stocktake of my own beliefs and values and checked to see if my thoughts and actions were congruent with them.

Lally

[carenkh]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

For some reason Erin and I both agree that her higher self looks like Alanis Morissette (not sure why though).

'Cause she's hot!

[carenkh]

Originally Posted by carenkh

'Cause she's hot!

OK - and strong, and honest, and funny...