Spirit Contact

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Centaur	02 Jan 2003
Hey everyone. I have been having the wierdest of experiences lately. Since taking up tarot reading last year, I have become quite perceptive to what I can only describe as the 'feeling' that something 'else' is in the immediate environment. Sometimes this happens when I am reading tarot, and sometimes when I am not, and it is accompanied by the strangest tingly feeling. Often it is accompanied with an image, or a name, and usually this means something ot the person I am giving the reading to. Does anyone else have these kind of experiences?? Centaur

allibee	02 Jan 2003
yes, yes, YES. LOL.... tingly sort of cobwebby/prickly, but nice, warm feeling like tangible excitement. It is the raising of your vibrations, your energies, to a level where spirit resides and can communicate. Spirit is around us all the time, everywhere. Pleased to meet you and welcome to Aeclectic, by the way :) If you have links or books on spirit, may I suggest you take some time out to make sure you open and close yourself properly too. allibee

Minderwiz	03 Jan 2003
Allibee is right, what you are experiencing is a psychic connection. For you Tarot helps you to achieve what some psychics call an Alpha state where you become aware of the vibrations and presence of the non-physical. Everyone has such powers, its just that we rarely try to use them or enter situations in which these senses are engaged. Tarot helps to create a situation in which these senses come into their own. Others may achieve this heightened awareness through meditation or yoga and for some it is easy to attain, almost like switching a light on, whilst for others (such as me) its much more a struggle that doesn't always succeed.

Centaur	03 Jan 2003
Thanks for the welcome, and for the responses! I was beginning to think that perhaps it was just a 'me' thing HEHE! Abillee & Minderwiz - Abillee you describe the feeling exactly! It's the sort of feeling that raises goosebumps on my skin - anticipation. It's very strange. Should I be protecting myself during this experience? It has happened once or twice before falling asleep - on one occasion, I could physically hear a number of voices talking to me, and was quite frightened. Very odd. Are there any links where I could find out some more information on this? Again, thanks for the welcome. I'm really pleased to have found such an interesting tarot community. Just as a sidenote, I find the whole spirit contact thing to be utterly fascinating - I am a postgraduate psychology student, and ofcourse, psychology would suggest that such a thing cannot be possible. I cannot dispute these experiences though!! Keep Well! Centaur

Minderwiz	03 Jan 2003
I would suggest that you do protect yourself during these times - there are a variety of either rituals or simple prayers or thoughts that you can go through - one is to imagine yourself surrounded in a bubble of white light. I don't particularly believe you'll be attacked by 'evil influences' or anything so melodramatic, but you will find that going through a ritual of opening yourself up and then closing down at the end of a session will prevent an undue drain on your psychic energy.

Centaur	04 Jan 2003
Cheers. I'll keep that in mind. C

zorya	04 Jan 2003
...another 'protection' idea. before i begin, i ask for assistance and guidance from the spirits of the four directions and my spirit guides and teachers. that way i am surrounded by helpful loving presences. another description of the experience you are talking about, could be of the 'tapping into the universal'....connecting with all that is. it is a great 'expanding' feeling.

allibee	04 Jan 2003
Hi Centaur You may be interested in reading this - so as you know you are not alone, LOL - this was over a period of time and much has been learned since then. www.spirit.tarotpeople.com I can totally relate to the just before falling asleep thing too. I also know when I am 'receiving' when the skin on the top of my head, my crown feels like it is tightening and drawing back, even though no physical change takes place. Do you have any information on the pineal gland, where the third eye is supposed to be physically located. Look it up on the web, it's a real eye opener. Also the advice for protection given here is very good. But look up info on protection/opening and closing around the net to get lots of ideas. The Spiritual Platform site is very informative, and there is a link for it on the above mentioned site. hope this helps Minderwiz: what may help you struggle less is Prana, and pranic breathing. Also I think Crystalinks does a meditation on opening the Chakras which is also based on the Sound of Music 'Do - Ray - Mi' principle. Also, I have to say there is a difference between psychic information/communication and spirit information/communication. Psychic is based on a different/lower vibration that is only a short leap from our everyday vibration to that of spirit which is a much higher 'frequency' if you follow. allibee

Sea Sprite	04 Jan 2003
Hi Centaur, Ground and protect yourself before doing any spiritual work. :D Sea Sprite :CL

Centaur	05 Jan 2003
Allibee what a fascinating site! Again, you describe the experience exactly. It happened to me twice today on a train to London - a tingling feeling starting from my head (and no it wasn't a hangover haha!). However, it does leave me slightly unsettled. Sea Sprite - thanks for your post, but how do I ground and protect myself?? Centaur

genna	06 Jan 2003
Hi! One way to ground is to make-believe you are a tree and sink your "roots" down into the Earth.Breath out bad energy through the roots,and breath in good green Earth energy.Then breath in Earth energy,breath it out through the top of your skull(your dream-eye),and let it fall like a golden rain around you.Then imagine a golden light 12 inches above your head and breath in through the top of your skull,and out through your heart(chacra)in a golden circle around you.One breath for Earth,one for Sky energy,repeat.Itīs described in Mary K. Greerīs "Tarot For Yourself",and many other places.Continue until it feels right to stop.I do this before every reading. To protect yourself,try the Lesser Banishing Ritual described here by Tarotbear.It is very effective. Aso burn sage,and clean your aura with the smoke and a feather,or use your hands to direct the smoke(not for the asthmatic). About those voices during the night...maybe you need to take a break from your esoteric persuits right now,except for grounding and protecting.It could be stress,and a sign to live more peacefully for some time,donīt put yourself under a lot of pressure.This could prove important.If it continues,if you are disturbed by voices,seek medical advice.It can be stress,depression etc. Hope that helps a little.

Centaur	06 Jan 2003
Well, I have been a little bit stressed out lately! But not THAT stressed out ha! (I think!!!). I have read about the psychological phenomenon of sleep paralysis, which is often accompanied with hypnogogic or hypnopompic hallucinations - when the body awakens but the mind is still within the dream state. At first, I thought this provided the expanation. My sister suffers quite badly from 'sleep paralysis', her dream hallucinations often featuring an 'intruder' who enters her room, and the feeling of suffocation and breathlessness. See:- http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/~acheyne/S_P.html This is an interesting resource for sleep paralysis, and describes the whole 'intruder' experience, and visual and auditory hallucinations. But this doesn't explain the day-time and waking 'tingling'. I have always had a rather bizzare sleeping life. A sleep walker from an early age, I began lucid dreaming when I was about fourteen, waking in complete darkness to the experience of being 'spun' (the only word I can think of to describe it) into the air, a high pitched, and quite frightening whirring noise ever present. I then found myself in what can only be described as a waking dream, floating face down in the middle of my room. I knew this was a dream because the furniture in the room was arranged differently than it was in waking life. I woke from this feeling quite exhilirated, but ofcourse kept the experience to myself. 'Dad, i've just had a lucid dream', probably wouldn't have gone down too well at the breakfast table. I'm sure you all think i'm mad now. Centaur

genna	07 Jan 2003
Noone thinks you are mad.Itīs a fine line between receiving messeges,and "hearing voices" because you are stressed and depressed.Unfortunately,those who are most receptive,also can be more hurt by stress BECAUSE they are receptive,and thatīs why I suggested medical advice if you heard disturbing voices.I guess I misunderstood you,and am very sorry for being rude. I did not mean that those who,like you,receive messeges from other realms,are ill.

Centaur	07 Jan 2003
Hi Genna! No offense taken. I appreciate the concern!

Emily	07 Jan 2003
Before I start a spread I imagine a protecting white light starting from the top of my head and spreading down my body. It was something I read in one of my books, it does seem to make me focus better - I love the feelings I get, the tingling in my hands and just the "feeling" when I realise a reading is making total sense, when this happens I do feel like there is someone here with me even when I know I'm alone and just reading for myself or the online readings I do, so much so that I usually speak aloud when I work through the spread. :)

Centaur	09 Jan 2003
I tried grounding by visualising myself as a tree, breathing in the air and ridding myself of negative energies via the roots. Strangely, I did feel much better after having done this. Thanks for all your advice! Centaur

allibee	10 Jan 2003
hi Centaur I have a link for you to check out: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9047 and part of a previous post that may interest you: Quote: originally posted by allibee HIDEABED: It all depends on how spiritual you are and what has meaning for you. Many faiths believe that your soul/higher self is connected to your body by an infinate silver cord. Like when we are asleep, where do we go in our dreams? And upon returning we awake, sometimes we come back, slowly drawn by the cord. Other times it just snaps back and we wake up with a jolt - ever done that? When we die, this silver cord permanently disconnects, however if we are only partially away - sleeping, unconcious, comatose - then we are still attached, hence the NDE's and OBE's that see themselves floating above their bodies, but still feel attached; the ones that go to 'the other side' that are suddenly 'snapped' back into their bodies, and awake. Have you heard of the aura, and auric bodies? Check this out: http://spiritualplatform.org/sp/misc/theaura.html It is a.very interesting site in general. I am not saying that this is definative, but with all things, take what feels right to you and leave the rest beacause, like the Xfiles - the Truth is out there Also, I would like to add that the advice you have been offered thus far is very good in respect of grounding - even though it is mainly of a more Pagan expression than say a spiritualist may use, LOL, but each to his own. Here is some advice I offered to a lady that had actually come out the otherside of being committed because of all the strange and frightening things that had happened to her. She knew she was sane, I knew she was sane, but she really needed some answers about all the things she had seen and the voices that she heard that the doctors couldn't give her: Quote: originally posted by allibee My first impressions picked up from reading your post were the words: FULL STOP or if you're from the States: PERIOD. This is all gushing out of you and you feel so helpless, but you are truly the one who can take control and say STOP, but maybe you don't know how. When some people become aware of spirit, if they don't know how to be in control, they become like a radio antennae, always switched on and ready to receive whatever signal comes along. And because you are not tuned in properly, so to speak, the reception is all over the place. I know this from experience , and it can be really scary BUT you can take control, be in charge. For some like yourself, who have found this so traumatic, there is an immediate need to say NO, and then decide whether you are interested in understanding and learning more about this higher spirit world that surrounds and permeates our exsistance. To control this reception, to decide whether to be on and open, or off and closed, is really no harder than sending out a concious stream of thought saying NO MORE. FULL STOP. PERIOD. Then to imagine yourself inside a thick, white impenatrable cloud that totally covers you from head to foot, so nothing can come in to disturb you. Now imagine that you are outside of your cloud, looking at yourself in that cloud. And all the time you can imagine yourself in that cloud, nothing can enter without your permission..... Well that's all the advice I can offer at the moment Best wishes allibee ps I hear voices because I am clairaudient ... not insane or disturbed

Centaur	11 Jan 2003
Thanks for the interesting link and advice Allibee! With regards to the cord linking spirit to the body, I can understand the relevance of this in connection with my lucid dream experience. It was as though I was spiralling upwards at great speed (hurtling even). It was quite frightening. And the noise was very disturbing. Have you had any similar experiences???? Once, also, I spoke with a dead friend during a dream. I couldn't attend his funeral (for personal reasons), and he came to me in a dream a night later, to say goodbye. Do you think that spirit can communicate through dreams? Or was this perhaps me making myself feel better for not attending his funeral? Cheers for the input! Centaur

allibee	11 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by centaur20 And the noise was very disturbing. Have you had any similar experiences???? On my other internet home, LOL, I have heard many experiences like this that reflect an awareness when passing from one state of consciousness to another, specifically sleep, although I have not personally had this happen. Please don't let it unduly worry you. You just seem very aware and sensative, which can be a blessing as well as a burden, LOL. My advice is to spend a decent amount of time getting together a specific act of grounding and protection so that it becomes second nature to you. So that you only have to think of the intent, and it is done. Control is the key. Quote: Once, also, I spoke with a dead friend during a dream. I couldn't attend his funeral (for personal reasons), and he came to me in a dream a night later, to say goodbye. Do you think that spirit can communicate through dreams? Spirit only gives us as much as we can handle, and it seems clear to me that it was important to not only you, but your friend too, to be able to say your goodbyes. It was possible for him because of your heightened awareness. Even tho' it's none too balanced or controlled at the moment, it is another reminder from spirit that it is there for you. Always has been, always will be, but just like learning to ride a bike, it can take a little practice. Think of your experiences as having your trainer wheels taken off ... you're bound to be a bit 'wobbly' *LOL* I'd also like to say that in spirit, what seems like eternity to us, is but a blink of an eye to them, and 'they' - for a spirit is not a physical manifestation - can move forward and back at will. Time has no meaning in the universal unconscious. What you perceived as your friend can be likened to the residual self image in the Matrix or more appropriately, a spiritual fingerprint of that person, and I'm sure they were as happy to have made it through to you as you were. Don't forget that spirit is only ever a thought away. Best wishes allibee

Centaur	11 Jan 2003
I find your post to be both comforting and reassuring. Thank you. I have certainly had numerous experiences between waking and sleep - sensing a presence, or hearing voices. Haven't seen anything though! Maybe that would be just a little TOO much!! HEHE. And the dream with my friend. It was a very sad time. He was only 21 and with his whole life infront of him. That dream made me feel so much more at ease with what had happened. I felt like I had been given the chance to say my piece to him. A medium told me that he is always around me, often popping in to see how I am doing. So that's pretty cool! You say that it is like learning how to ride a bicycle. How do I handle it? What do I do? Should I join a spiritualist church or something? I really don't know what to do with it. It doesn't disturb me in the sense that something totally horrifying would disturb me. But because it is unfamiliar and strange, I am not sure what I should be doing or how I should be handling the situation. I mean, i'm not even sure what spirit is? Where is it coming from? Etc. I have so many questions, and no source from which I can get answers! Would there be any informative books etc? Again, thank you for your input. You know what you are talking about, and I appreciate someone like yourself taking time out to post for me. Centaur

allibee	11 Jan 2003
you are most very welcome Centaur. I can't advise you on what is right for you, that is a decision only you can make, but as my avatar suggests, I'm happy to point you in the direction of more information where I can:) http://www.spiritualplatform.org/index.html http://www.spiritsearch.com http://www.psychics.co.uk/index.html (even if all you do is hang out on the Delphi chatroom as an observer you will realise you are far from alone in your experiences) http://www.crystalinks.com/spirit_guides.html All these sites have even more links so you may be gone a while *LOL* I'd leave beating a path down to your local SNU church or other until you have read as much as you can and asked yourself lots of questions. But please do what you feel in yourself is right. It's perfectly OK to say well I can relate to this but not to that and then move on to another area. Although you may feel a little lost and in a state of confusion, you seem to be at the beginning of your journey, so slow down, enjoy the scenery and I wish you good luck allibee

Centaur	12 Jan 2003
Thanks again. I really appreciate this. I will have a look over these links. I just feel a little lost!!! Centaur

imagoddess	12 Jan 2003
Centaur20: Regarding grounding there are certainly many different things you can do, but you also might want to consider making friends with someone on the spiritual plane, say a Greek/Roman/Celtic/Eygptian God or Goddess, and your selection is not limited to those types of Gods or Goddesses, it could be a spirit guide you already have a relationship with or even a patron saint - someone from the Judeo-Christian tradition (I am not espousing this, but I have read that others do this). Well it is just a suggestion.

Centaur	13 Jan 2003
Hi :o) Well I have been doing some research over the past couple of days on the interesting sites provided by Allibee. I tried a few of these exercises for finding out about spirit guides and such like. I did get some results although I am not sure how much of this was my own mind and how much was not. Or indeed, if all of it was my own mind!! The responses I received to the questions, seemed to be closer to the right ear (in my head if that makes sense!), and they were deeper than anything else. Any points?? Centaur

allibee	13 Jan 2003
Rome wasn't built in a day :)

Centaur	13 Jan 2003
Good advice!! HEHE. I am certainly finding it a very interesting journey though!

Centaur	17 Jan 2003
I had yet some more bizzare experiences happen to me a couple of days ago; both sleep related. I had woken at around nine in the morning and drifted back to sleep, only to find myself in a lucid dream (I assume), but I was in my room, except everything was all off balance - it was like I was floating in my room. I woke up, fell asleep, and it happened again! What's that all about? Then I had this stupid dream where I visited a medium and she told me that there was a spirit around me and that it wanted to have sex with me. Perhaps I am just indulging in a perverse fantasy or something! HAHA. I think I have been reading too much stuff on spirit of late! Centaur

The Spirit Contact thread was originally posted on 02 Jan 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.