Have you ever had a sixth sense about something? You don't know how or why, you just feel it???
We call that "intuition," or, our "gut instinct." While the gut-brain axis has been proven to influence our thoughts in terms of our own body. I'm talking more about knowing the car in front of you is going to suddenly take a left without warning. Or, that someone is watching you while your back is turned.
Harvard University published their telepathy study in 2014. It proved that total strangers can send and receive basic images across thousands of miles. Harvard researchers were able to verify these results by connecting electrodes to participant-brains and measuring responses based on certain images. The caveat is that those of us outside of a research lab can't quantify such moments which means we also can't verify them. Without verification, acting on what we believe are telepathic messages, or any such "psychic" prompts, appears delusion. And, that can be *a tad* problematic:
Three years ago, I wrote a piece called #WritersBlock (24 February 2017). My work in the world of entertainment led to some really unfortunate turns, including cyber/stalkers. One in particular believed he could talk to the dead...specifically, the baby girl I lost in 2014. When he began relaying supposed "messages" from "the other side" full of info taken from my social media feed, it was an incredible violation. A horrific and painful exploitation of my loss. But I had dealt with people like this pathetic excuse for a human being before...in my own childhood.
My Psychology Today column, #SurviveAnything, includes a piece called "Fatal Attraction" (August 2019); it's about the pitfalls of accepting possibility over probability and how that may be a sign of serious mental health issues. In the piece, I share how a parent with these same symptoms (and later, a confirmed diagnosis) believed in psychic phenomenon. So much so, he used a psychic reading as an excuse to abuse me, hurting my life in irreparable ways. So, it's more than fair to say that when it comes to the unseen, I'm a healthy skeptic. But even I can't deny what Carl Jung described as synchronicity...or, signs.
The 10th of April is a day that marks the loss of two friends: A family member, "Scott," died unexpectedly seven years ago--long before his time. The other, a fellow author who became a friend and mentor, died but one year ago today. Her name was Heidi Messenger. And, believe it or not, she was a Medium.
Heidi was the most positive person I'd ever met. She was also a cancer survivor. Even in the midst of receiving harsh cancer treatments, Heidi made time for cheering others. She was unique--a true encourager. And I respected the hell out of her for having the grace of not just a queen, but an absolute Empress in the face of her own mortality...as well as the utter stupidity of others.
Because of my context, I basically saw Heidi as a nice lady who harmlessly gave others hope in order to help them heal. In fact, Heidi considered herself a healer. And, she really was, given how people responded to her.
Heidi truly believed in signs from the Universe. She saw magic in the smallest of creatures, like an ant or a spider. Heidi also believed we could connect to people who had passed. Most psychic mediums never tell others how they perform these magical feats. But Heidi actually held workshops to help folks develop what she saw as a natural talent that everyone is born with. Why would any psychic reveal their secrets, giving away the proverbial milk for free, as it were?
They wouldn't. Fakes (of all varieties) are loathe to say anything that might expose them as such.
Heidi Messenger was the real deal, that's why she used her sense of connection to the Universe to help others--not just to heal, but to develop their own intuition as well as TRUST their gut.To me, that's pure magic. As was Heidi.
Manifesting was part of Heidi's "magic," too. She developed a set of unique oracle cards that are essentially positive reminders to help one focus on the silver linings in life. And, they also feature a culmination of Irish art and artists with original paintings and cards that include Irish sayings like, "Ring in the Brack" (which is a golden ring placed in a traditional Irish sweetbread connected to Samhain, one of Ireland's four fire festivals).
Heidi and I met in Ireland, but Heidi was actually British. The first time we met, we were chatting away when all of a sudden, Heidi began speaking to me in an ancient language. I speak about 10 languages, some with more frequency than others. But this one in particular, I know really well. It's considered the language of the angels and when my very British friend began talking to me in a 6,000-year old language, I was utterly shocked.
Skeptic that I am, I (at first) assumed Heidi had prepared for our meeting, maybe memorized what she was saying. But a person who memorizes lines, knows how to pronounce the words. However, someone just hearing another speak in an unfamiliar language, then, attempting to relay it, will make minor errors in pronunciation. Having taught this particular language for four years, I knew when a student was just mimicking me versus actually learning to read (and speak) the language. When I heard Heidi drop a few natural syllables, I knew she was really "hearing" them--but from an unseen source. At least, unseen by me.
Perhaps the Harvard telepathy study (which I shared with Heidi as well) might help to explain how Heidi knew an ancient language very few speak today. Perhaps. Or, it's possible Heidi was right--"there is more to Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in our philosophies."
Shakespeare's famous quote (above) from Hamlet seems appropriate...the Prince of Denmark, like my friend Heidi, also saw ghosts.
Fellow author, friend and colleague, Chris Sherlock, has a radio programme in Galway. His show today was a beautiful tribute for our mutual fallen friend, Heidi. Chris had rather sweetly invited me to record a few minutes about Heidi and included it (around) 29 minutes into his show. After I finished listening to the heartfelt memorial, I recorded a voice message for Chris on WhatsApp, congratulating him on a job well done, commenting on Heidi's oracle cards--specifically the daffodil (one of Heidi's favorite flowers). Not even 60 seconds later, Chris responded with a picture of the daffodil card from Heidi's deck. Apparently, he was listening to my message while pulling cards. As I said the word, "daffodil," Chris turned over the actual daffodil card. I'm over 3,000 miles away. If Heidi were here right now, she'd be smiling....
All of this connects to an experience I had this summer and fall with someone who also believed in the currents of the Universe, too. Words like "Fate" and "Destiny" have real gravity. But after Heidi passed last April, despite my staunch skepticism, I found myself buying a split opal from the bottom of the world based on a random feeling. Or at least, what I perceived to be random.
Thinking about Heidi today has reminded me to be more present. I know quite a lot but I certainly don't know everything, and, that's okay.
It's hard to release our sense of control--especially amidst the uncertainty of the current pandemic. I did not believe in Fate. I believed in only Destiny--Destiny is a choice. We make it ourselves. That belief was called into question in 2019. I followed my feelings--a totally unusual thing for a pragmatist like me to do. And it seemed the Universe answered my willingness to trust in possibility (or potential) by granting me a wish.
To trust in what is fleeting. To believe in things we cannot quantify through scientific testing. That's hard. But I can't deny that the reward for putting aside my need for proof had a(n) (albeit unexpected, but) rather happy ending.
While I'm still a healthy skeptic, I can let go enough to concede that sometimes possibility wins out over probability. Earlier this evening, after listening to my friend Heidi's voice, I wandered down to my wine cellar and picked up a bottle I'd aged for the last 15 years. It was a rich Bordeaux from the Medoc. I haven't opened a bottle wine in literally six years. Six. Years. Why tonight? And, why red??? My gut is telling me it's connected to someone 3,300 miles away. I suppose I'll never know...but if Heidi was right about the world, perhaps in time, the mystery of my renewed faith will be rewarded once again.
I miss you, my dear friend, Heidi (whom I called "Cardinal of Earth"). If you can hear me, you know my heart's desire. And if you know my heart's desire, I have more faith than ever that it can, indeed, come true.
Until we meet again!
To hear Heidi talk about her experiences with the unseen, take a listen to her tribute on
The Chris Sherlock Show:
https://www.mixcloud.com/TheMidweekShow/a-tribute-to-author-medium-heidi-messenger/?utm_campaign=notification_new_upload&utm_medium=email&utm_source=notification&utm_content=html
#SIGNS
PS: The picture insert was taken yesterday during a hike. I was actually walking through a meadow and one of those feelings caught me--a feeling that I was being watched. When I turned with the camera in my hand, I saw this display of light through the lens. It wasn't visible otherwise. My beloved friend, Heidi, immediately came to mind....
We call that "intuition," or, our "gut instinct." While the gut-brain axis has been proven to influence our thoughts in terms of our own body. I'm talking more about knowing the car in front of you is going to suddenly take a left without warning. Or, that someone is watching you while your back is turned.
Harvard University published their telepathy study in 2014. It proved that total strangers can send and receive basic images across thousands of miles. Harvard researchers were able to verify these results by connecting electrodes to participant-brains and measuring responses based on certain images. The caveat is that those of us outside of a research lab can't quantify such moments which means we also can't verify them. Without verification, acting on what we believe are telepathic messages, or any such "psychic" prompts, appears delusion. And, that can be *a tad* problematic:
Three years ago, I wrote a piece called #WritersBlock (24 February 2017). My work in the world of entertainment led to some really unfortunate turns, including cyber/stalkers. One in particular believed he could talk to the dead...specifically, the baby girl I lost in 2014. When he began relaying supposed "messages" from "the other side" full of info taken from my social media feed, it was an incredible violation. A horrific and painful exploitation of my loss. But I had dealt with people like this pathetic excuse for a human being before...in my own childhood.
My Psychology Today column, #SurviveAnything, includes a piece called "Fatal Attraction" (August 2019); it's about the pitfalls of accepting possibility over probability and how that may be a sign of serious mental health issues. In the piece, I share how a parent with these same symptoms (and later, a confirmed diagnosis) believed in psychic phenomenon. So much so, he used a psychic reading as an excuse to abuse me, hurting my life in irreparable ways. So, it's more than fair to say that when it comes to the unseen, I'm a healthy skeptic. But even I can't deny what Carl Jung described as synchronicity...or, signs.
The 10th of April is a day that marks the loss of two friends: A family member, "Scott," died unexpectedly seven years ago--long before his time. The other, a fellow author who became a friend and mentor, died but one year ago today. Her name was Heidi Messenger. And, believe it or not, she was a Medium.
Heidi was the most positive person I'd ever met. She was also a cancer survivor. Even in the midst of receiving harsh cancer treatments, Heidi made time for cheering others. She was unique--a true encourager. And I respected the hell out of her for having the grace of not just a queen, but an absolute Empress in the face of her own mortality...as well as the utter stupidity of others.
Because of my context, I basically saw Heidi as a nice lady who harmlessly gave others hope in order to help them heal. In fact, Heidi considered herself a healer. And, she really was, given how people responded to her.
Heidi truly believed in signs from the Universe. She saw magic in the smallest of creatures, like an ant or a spider. Heidi also believed we could connect to people who had passed. Most psychic mediums never tell others how they perform these magical feats. But Heidi actually held workshops to help folks develop what she saw as a natural talent that everyone is born with. Why would any psychic reveal their secrets, giving away the proverbial milk for free, as it were?
They wouldn't. Fakes (of all varieties) are loathe to say anything that might expose them as such.
Heidi Messenger was the real deal, that's why she used her sense of connection to the Universe to help others--not just to heal, but to develop their own intuition as well as TRUST their gut.To me, that's pure magic. As was Heidi.
Manifesting was part of Heidi's "magic," too. She developed a set of unique oracle cards that are essentially positive reminders to help one focus on the silver linings in life. And, they also feature a culmination of Irish art and artists with original paintings and cards that include Irish sayings like, "Ring in the Brack" (which is a golden ring placed in a traditional Irish sweetbread connected to Samhain, one of Ireland's four fire festivals).
Heidi and I met in Ireland, but Heidi was actually British. The first time we met, we were chatting away when all of a sudden, Heidi began speaking to me in an ancient language. I speak about 10 languages, some with more frequency than others. But this one in particular, I know really well. It's considered the language of the angels and when my very British friend began talking to me in a 6,000-year old language, I was utterly shocked.
Skeptic that I am, I (at first) assumed Heidi had prepared for our meeting, maybe memorized what she was saying. But a person who memorizes lines, knows how to pronounce the words. However, someone just hearing another speak in an unfamiliar language, then, attempting to relay it, will make minor errors in pronunciation. Having taught this particular language for four years, I knew when a student was just mimicking me versus actually learning to read (and speak) the language. When I heard Heidi drop a few natural syllables, I knew she was really "hearing" them--but from an unseen source. At least, unseen by me.
Perhaps the Harvard telepathy study (which I shared with Heidi as well) might help to explain how Heidi knew an ancient language very few speak today. Perhaps. Or, it's possible Heidi was right--"there is more to Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in our philosophies."
Shakespeare's famous quote (above) from Hamlet seems appropriate...the Prince of Denmark, like my friend Heidi, also saw ghosts.
Fellow author, friend and colleague, Chris Sherlock, has a radio programme in Galway. His show today was a beautiful tribute for our mutual fallen friend, Heidi. Chris had rather sweetly invited me to record a few minutes about Heidi and included it (around) 29 minutes into his show. After I finished listening to the heartfelt memorial, I recorded a voice message for Chris on WhatsApp, congratulating him on a job well done, commenting on Heidi's oracle cards--specifically the daffodil (one of Heidi's favorite flowers). Not even 60 seconds later, Chris responded with a picture of the daffodil card from Heidi's deck. Apparently, he was listening to my message while pulling cards. As I said the word, "daffodil," Chris turned over the actual daffodil card. I'm over 3,000 miles away. If Heidi were here right now, she'd be smiling....
All of this connects to an experience I had this summer and fall with someone who also believed in the currents of the Universe, too. Words like "Fate" and "Destiny" have real gravity. But after Heidi passed last April, despite my staunch skepticism, I found myself buying a split opal from the bottom of the world based on a random feeling. Or at least, what I perceived to be random.
Thinking about Heidi today has reminded me to be more present. I know quite a lot but I certainly don't know everything, and, that's okay.
It's hard to release our sense of control--especially amidst the uncertainty of the current pandemic. I did not believe in Fate. I believed in only Destiny--Destiny is a choice. We make it ourselves. That belief was called into question in 2019. I followed my feelings--a totally unusual thing for a pragmatist like me to do. And it seemed the Universe answered my willingness to trust in possibility (or potential) by granting me a wish.
To trust in what is fleeting. To believe in things we cannot quantify through scientific testing. That's hard. But I can't deny that the reward for putting aside my need for proof had a(n) (albeit unexpected, but) rather happy ending.
While I'm still a healthy skeptic, I can let go enough to concede that sometimes possibility wins out over probability. Earlier this evening, after listening to my friend Heidi's voice, I wandered down to my wine cellar and picked up a bottle I'd aged for the last 15 years. It was a rich Bordeaux from the Medoc. I haven't opened a bottle wine in literally six years. Six. Years. Why tonight? And, why red??? My gut is telling me it's connected to someone 3,300 miles away. I suppose I'll never know...but if Heidi was right about the world, perhaps in time, the mystery of my renewed faith will be rewarded once again.
I miss you, my dear friend, Heidi (whom I called "Cardinal of Earth"). If you can hear me, you know my heart's desire. And if you know my heart's desire, I have more faith than ever that it can, indeed, come true.
Until we meet again!
To hear Heidi talk about her experiences with the unseen, take a listen to her tribute on
The Chris Sherlock Show:
https://www.mixcloud.com/TheMidweekShow/a-tribute-to-author-medium-heidi-messenger/?utm_campaign=notification_new_upload&utm_medium=email&utm_source=notification&utm_content=html
#SIGNS
PS: The picture insert was taken yesterday during a hike. I was actually walking through a meadow and one of those feelings caught me--a feeling that I was being watched. When I turned with the camera in my hand, I saw this display of light through the lens. It wasn't visible otherwise. My beloved friend, Heidi, immediately came to mind....
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