Why Be Afraid of the Unknown?
Be an Explorer.
Years ago, sitting in the front row of an astronomy class, I was excited to learn about the various galaxies, planets, and stars. The first words the instructor spoke were, “I want you to know, this is not an astrology class. Astrology is a bunch of rubbish. This is astronomy.” I immediately raised my hand and asked, “How long have you studied astrology and why do you dismiss it?” The instructor mumbled something under his breath and ignored the question. He clearly knew very little about the subject that he claimed was invalid. Maybe he was afraid to explore something that would disrupt his understanding of the world.
In my life I’ve studied astrology along with many psychic modalities, including mediumship, psychic development, automatic writing, and more. When I was in my 20s just starting out, I attended a psychic development class. We met once a week at a Unitarian Church. In a session with this group, we were asked to pair up with another person to give them a psychic reading. The instructions were to sit silently facing the other person and stare into their eyes for five minutes. We were to record any impressions that came to us about this person.
This was strange and slightly unnerving, but I was excited to try it. My partner in this exercise was a nice-looking woman in her 60s, whom I had never met before. As I sat across from her, I looked directly into her eyes. This was not easy. Suddenly, I got the overwhelming feeling she was mourning the death of a loved one. Her sadness enveloped me. After the five minutes was up, she revealed she had recently lost her husband and was devastated by his death.
This was not my first experience with psychic phenomena, but it was the first time I tried to connect purposely with another person using my mind. Many people in the class had similar experiences that day, by simply focusing quietly on another human being.
As humans, we have much more intuitive potential than we are aware of. The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) in London has been documenting and researching psychic phenomena since the mid 1800s. Michio Kaku, the author and physicist, writes in his book, The Future of the Mind, about telepathy. He states that telepathy (communicating mentally) is now the subject of intense research at many universities.
Why am I bringing this up? Because I’m continually surprised that many people seem to have no interest in astrology or learning about their own psychic abilities. I think they are missing out on something that is truly inspiring and remarkable.
As humans, we have access to the part of ourselves that is intuitive and psychic. It may take practice and patience to see results, but we can learn to tap into this unseen part of us. I realize there are many reasons a person may not want to explore their own abilities or go beyond what is comfortable for them. It could be a religious affiliation, or a belief that psychics are tapping into negative spirits, a personal insecurity that maybe not everyone is gifted, or a fear that friends and family may think they’re crazy.
These are all valid concerns, but cultures all over the world believe we are more than our physical bodies and possess extrasensory perception. If my astronomy teacher had been more open-minded, his class could have included some information about astrology. The two subjects have many things in common. They are both ancient practices encompassing the same universe. Astrology is based on the movement of the stars and planets, which is understood using math and physics, like astronomy. Both have their share of mystery.
If you are a person interested in exploring your own psychic abilities, here are some easy, confidence-building exercises to try.
See the Shapes
All you need is another willing participant. Have the other person draw simple shapes on separate pieces of paper, such as a triangle, square or an outline of an object, like a sailboat. Then, one at a time, your helper will hold up a page with the shape or object facing away from you. Your job is to use your intuition or psychic sense to see what is on the paper. Close your eyes and note what comes into your mind’s eye. Often, you will see the exact shape or object. Or maybe part of it. This may seem overly simple, but it’s a good way to get your intuition warmed up. Many teachers use this method for beginners.
What Are They Wearing?
I have a weekly class I attend and find it fun to see if I can tune into what my instructor is going to be wearing each week. Often, I get some or all of this right. You can do this with anyone you will be seeing on a particular day.
Before you go to a class or a meeting, sit quietly and clear your mind. If thoughts come in, push them aside. You can come back to them later. Now envision a person of your choice walking into a room. What are they wearing? What colors, textures or patterns do you see? Maybe you only see one thing, such as a color, and that’s okay. Make a note and when you see them in person, see how many things you got right. You will surprise yourself. The more you do this, the more accurate you will become.
Tarot as a Tool
Tarot cards can be an excellent way to develop your intuition and psychic skills. If you take some time to learn the basic meaning of each card, you can use the cards as a catalyst for your own intuitive interpretations. To learn more about how to do this, see my article at The Edge Magazine (1/11/25).
Like any skill, psychic work takes practice, so start simply. What will you get out of it? And what does this do for you? Your perception will be keener, your intuition sharper, and it’s both fun and rewarding when you explore your own potential.