I felt myself to be in a garden—not by the garden but in it—my feet touching the cool, dark earth, enveloped by vibrant plants. As I moved into the experience, I felt overjoyed, even ecstatic, at being a flower among flowers.
This was during a mediumship reading when I connected with the sitter’s mother. She told me afterwards that the family had buried her mother’s ashes in her beloved garden but had had lingering doubts about whether they had done the right thing.
Psychic-Mediums often find themselves in places seen within the mind’s eye. As the experience develops, the place can be realized through the senses and emotions. This is different from psychological exploration and insight where we’re looking for something from the outside in—an experience leads us to wonder where it came from. Like a cat watching for a mouse, the mind that observes is a powerful tool of discovery for the right job, but it gets in the way of intuition.
It’s the difference between searching and receiving.
I’ve been wondering if it’s not possible to connect with Archetypes the way we connect with Spirit. For me, spiritual practice is inseparable from the psychological, as our human lives are enlightened not above our experiences but intimately within them.
In The Red Book, CG Jung described his deep descent into his own psyche and discovery that Archetypes are real. Not unlike meeting a person in the material world, within the expanse of the imaginal, the Archetypes live out collective patterns of thought and emotion. When seen, they respond with recognition and relief, particularly the ones we habitually ignore. Like being surprised when someone unexpectedly sees you and remembers your name, validation feels necessary and good.
Our human minds hold so much potential for transformation. I see the society we create as a mushrooming nightmare that is calling for revolution—both inner and outer.
The inner work is subtle work. Like Zen practice, the more you grasp at it, the further it recedes. So, offering a space within your mind can be an invitation for visitation.
Begin as with any psychological exploration—noticing you are caught in a pattern of strong emotion or web of thought. Instead of managing or psychologizing the experience, you can drop into the recesses of your mind, into a place.
When I began my mediumship development, some teachers encouraged us to put ourselves into an imagined scene—a crystal cave, a park bench, a train—and see who entered. After a time, I was less inclined to create a specific place, instead opening my mind for Spirit to show me the surroundings—walking through their home or watching the grandkids ride their bikes along the driveway.
As always, this practice rests in a relaxed and receptive state of mind and open heart. And that’s most of it! It’s not about getting the prize at the end but the practice of living close within our intuitive mind. No theory to hold onto or how to we can tightly follow. It’s a direct experience available to anyone willing to encounter all the obstacles along the way.
It’s the obstacles that can free us.
Until next time…