Whole Medium Academy Resources

Category: Personal Growth and Development

  • A Higher Purpose: Are You Up for the Challenge?

    A Higher Purpose: Are You Up for the Challenge?

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Sharon B. Jones and Nancy Scheel, WMA Faculty

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    Sometimes we get caught up juggling the “day-to-day” of our lives. You know what I mean … the laundry piling up at home. The report that’s due at work tomorrow. Next week’s play date with the kids. And that mediumship practice you’ve planned with a fellow student.

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    There’s nothing wrong with focusing on day-to-day details. It’s a significant part of life.

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    But there’s also something more.

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    There’s a greater reality. And it’s one we can choose to tune into at any given moment.

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    In that greater reality, each of us has a higher purpose. Many people believe we’ve come here — incarnated in the physical plane of Earth — to work towards (or realize) that purpose.

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    Where’s the Finish Line?

    As developing mediums, we often set goals for ourselves, either consciously or subconsciously. For example, we want to get more evidence. Hold our link longer. Deepen the conversation with the person in Spirit. Be more confident in our delivery.

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    Without realizing it (especially if our attention is rooted in the day-to-day) we begin to think of that goal as an actual finish line.

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    It goes something like this. You’ve been working hard to develop your mediumship abilities. You’ve practiced. Received feedback upon feedback upon feedback. You’ve just gotten to a comfortable place with how your mediumship is working for you.

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    Whew, you think. I’ve finally arrived!

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    And then … BAM!

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    The next thing you know, your guides have changed things up on you. Your comfort has once again become a kind of discomfort.

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    In mediumship, as in any type of growth, there really is no finish line! Our learning and our “becoming” is never complete. During the course of our development, our mediumship will change time and time again. That’s why your guides change things up! It’s to help you develop even further.

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    So THAT Happened … AGAIN …

    Even more, it’s through life’s challenges that we’re given the opportunity for “chosen” growth.  Have you noticed that the same challenges — in both your personal life and the fine tuning of your mediumship — seem to present themselves over and over again?

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    There is a higher purpose to this.  Each time a familiar situation arises in your life, you can choose to make a different choice in how you handle the situation. Or you can explore a new way of thinking about that particular situation.

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    When we pay close attention to how we feel both within our choices and within ourselves, we can begin to make our way to what feels good and most aligned with our authentic selves.

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    Make the Choice to Grow!

    All situations give us the privilege of that potential for learning. New awareness comes to us every time we go within and ask ourselves, “What can I learn from this experience?” Every choice we make leads to the next choice, and the next after that, making infinite growth possible.

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    Just think about that! Infinite growth.

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    And with it comes understanding, acceptance, compassion and empathy for ourselves and for others. Our mediumship, same as the broader context of life, is a challenging, miraculous, ever-changing journey. Embrace it![/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_separator el_width=”70″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]

    Want to start — or further — your mediumship journey?

    Check out WMA’s classes for all levels, plus Mediumship Mentoring Circles!

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][ult_buttons btn_title=”Show Me!” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fschool.wholemediumacademy.com%2Fcourses%2F|target:_blank” btn_align=”ubtn-center” btn_size=”ubtn-large” btn_title_color=”#ffffff” btn_bg_color=”#058b99″ icon_size=”32″ btn_icon_pos=”ubtn-sep-icon-at-left” btn_font_size=”desktop:18px;tablet:18px;tablet_portrait:18px;mobile_landscape:18px;mobile:18px;”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Let’s Talk About FEAR

    Let’s Talk About FEAR

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Nancy Scheel, MS, and Lynn Karjala, PhD

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    Mediumship is supposed to be about connection, healing and comfort— and even joy. So why do we need to talk about fear?

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    Because when you’re on your learning journey for mediumship, some form of fear will likely show up at one point or another. And that’s completely normal!

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    Whether you’re trying to connect with your own loved ones, or you’re learning to make connections for other people, you may fear:

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    • Making a mistake or being wrong
    • Looking stupid or foolish
    • Disappointing other people
    • Being seen (being vulnerable)
    • Being “bad” or “sinning” (going against religious upbringing)
    • Having your trust betrayed

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    Sometimes we’re aware of our fears, sometimes not. But either way, these fears usually create blocks to our intuition — mediumship or otherwise. For example, you:

    • criticize yourself for not being good enough — or not keeping up with your classmates.
    • feel paralyzed or terrified of practicing in class when others are watching.
    • doubt yourself or Spirit, or question whether mediumship “is even real.
    • are too anxious to “settle down” or “trust” enough to make a connection.

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    Can You Relate?

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    These fears come from your “Critical Voice” — that negative, nagging voice almost all of us have. Sometimes we hear actual words, like “dumb” or “stupid.” Sometimes we just experience of a wash of negative feeling, especially shame or guilt.

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    We create this part of ourselves in our early childhood to be a protector. No matter how judgmental our Critical Voice may be, it always has a positive purpose. It wants to keep us safe.

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    But it thinks like a 4-year-old child! Because that’s about our age when we create it. And it’s born out of trauma, including “everyday” trauma. The more unresolved trauma we’re carrying, the more powerful our Critical Voice becomes. Again, because it is trying to be protective.

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    Mediumship Without Fear

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    We often say that learning mediumship is a journey of learning to trust and to overcome doubt.

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    Once YOU are in the driver’s seat — instead of your Critical Voice — you’ll be able to develop authentic, abiding trust in Spirit and in yourself.

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    You’ll find it easier to make connections and hold them longer. You’ll get more information from your Spirit Communicators, and you’ll be able to confidently accept those inevitable “no’s” from your Sitters.

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    Why Fear Persists

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    Your Critical Voice creates fear. Think about it: if you’re afraid of danger, you’re more likely to avoid situations where that danger could arise. (See the list at the beginning of this article!)

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    You may know your fear is irrational. You may try to talk yourself out of it. You can be totally aware — and yet, it’s still there. Ugh!!

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    Your Critical Voice is not just in your head. Yes, it’s in your thoughts and emotions. But it’s also in your body (your stomach in knots, sweaty palms, tension, and so on). And it’s in your energy system, those invisible flows of electromagnetic energy throughout and around your body.

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    And, if you’ve ever tried to reason with a 4-year-old, you know it’s futile. The same is true for your Critical Voice.

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    A First Step

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    So, what can you do about your Critical Voice?

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    First, observe yourself when fears arise:

    • What words do you hear in your head?
    • What emotions do you feel?
    • What physical sensations?

    Your Critical Voice will have patterns that you can learn to recognize.

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    Once you’re able to recognize your Critical Voice, you can use mind-body-energy techniques to calm your nervous system.

    Then, you can create some “space” from your Critical Voice. Direct it to sit across the room from you, or even go into “time out.” Be authoritative in your tone — pleasant and firm.

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    Even still, your Critical Voice may present blocks or obstacles to your intuition and mediumship.

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    If so, consider working with a qualified coach (or, if you have severe trauma in your background, seek a licensed clinician specializing in trauma treatment).

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    You can also join WMA’s specialized group coaching program to help you release your Critical Voice’s beliefs and fears at the root — often permanently.

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    Without fears getting in the way, you can finally feel more confident and enjoy your mediumship learning journey![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator el_width=”70″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Nancy Scheel, MS, and Lynn Karjala, PhD, are faculty with Whole Medium Academy™. They help accelerate students’ intuitive development through the Clear/Create/Transform™ approach to holistic personal growth. Dr. Karjala is originator of the Critical Voice concept. See her book, Healing Everyday Traumas.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][ult_buttons btn_title=”Learn With Us” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fschool.wholemediumacademy.com%2Fcourses%2F|target:_blank” btn_align=”ubtn-center” btn_size=”ubtn-large” btn_title_color=”#ffffff” btn_bg_color=”#058b99″ icon_size=”32″ btn_icon_pos=”ubtn-sep-icon-at-left” btn_font_size=”desktop:18px;tablet:18px;tablet_portrait:18px;mobile_landscape:16px;mobile:16px;”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Mediumship: Your Amazing Journey

    Mediumship: Your Amazing Journey

    When you think of a journey, what comes to mind? Whether literal or metaphorical, a journey brings change, growth, new perspectives — and even personal transformation.

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    Sometimes we choose a journey. And sometimes the journey chooses us!

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    A journey isn’t a straight-line trip. It’s not a non-stop flight from point A to point B. Instead, it has some twists and turns. Some hills and valleys. Times when you wonder: Am I still on track? What is this journey? Where am I going?

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    At the same time, a journey brings fascinating discoveries. Pleasant surprises. Unexpected achievements. And deeper relationships with others who travel all or part of the way with you.

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    If you’re reading this, you’re most likely developing your mediumship or thinking about doing so. You’ve encountered (or soon will!) the skills — or “mechanics” — of the craft. They include clairvoyance, clairsentience, clairaudience and claircognization, and much more.

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    But learning mediumship is not only about those mechanics, is it? It is a journey, exciting and deeply fulfilling. It’s about self-discovery and growth as a person. Let’s take a closer look at some of the dimensions of that journey.

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    Your Beliefs

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    Connecting with the Spirit World (mediumship) can challenge everything we’d previously thought of as true. Growing up, we inherited beliefs from our families and society. Those often include lots of judgments — about ourselves and others. About what we “should” and “should not” do.

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    Stepping into the role of the medium and connecting with the Spirit World puts us in a different “place” or “state” where we can experience non-judgement and unconditional love. When that happens, we may discover many of our prior beliefs just don’t serve anymore — or even make sense! We find ourselves letting old beliefs fall away as new ones emerge.

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    Your Emotions

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    Every one of us experiences difficult emotions at times. (Or we push them away and go numb — which is not any better.) Emotions are part of the human experience — but wow, can they mess things up! Our feelings of fear, insecurity, anxiety or shame can prevent us from stepping out, taking risks and reaching our potential.

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    When we’re learning mediumship, we can experience difficult emotions, the same as learning anything new. We might feel frustrated or confused at times. We might struggle to understand or put the pieces together. We might feel we’re “not getting it.”

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    But there’s another angle. All of those emotions (and others) impede clear connections with the Spirit World. And these emotions can leak, unintentionally, into the sacred space we’re intending to create for our Sitter.

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    So, when we learn mediumship, we also have to learn about our emotional patterns. We discover how we habitually react. We discover new ways to respond with groundedness and confidence. This can be a bumpy road at times, but so worth the effort.

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    Your Relationships

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    As you’ve no doubt experienced, some friends and family embrace your journey of mediumship. Others reject it — whether they tell you outright, or simply don’t ever talk about it with you.

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    You don’t have control over how others think or feel. So, there is a journey of navigating your relationships. That means finding ways to feel authentically connected with others even when you can’t share the excitement of your growth. Or you may discover that it’s time to let some relationships gently go.

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    Meanwhile, as you discover what is important to you, you can choose to nurture the relationships that support and fulfill you.

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    Your Self-Care and Boundary Practices

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    Learning mediumship puts us face to face with our attitudes and habits around self-care and boundaries. Or lack thereof!

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    If you’d decided to learn a physical sport, you’d do exercises to increase your strength, flexibility and endurance. You’d pay greater attention to your hydration and nutrition, as well as your rest and sleep.

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    The journey of mediumship is also a journey of self-care, including boundaries. While it’s your soul that makes the actual connections to the Spirit World, your physical body and energy body are also very much involved.

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    While many of us may resist self-care — and boundaries — we soon discover that it’s really not optional. On the one hand, we find our bodies can absorb and hold onto heavy emotions that are not ours to hold. Over time, that creates new physical difficulties of our own. And, on the other hand, we discover that caring for our body and maintaining healthy boundaries bolsters our mediumship and keeps us energized throughout.

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    What Is YOUR Journey?

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    Everyone’s mediumship journey is personal and unique. And if you don’t have a supportive community, that journey can feel quite lonely at times.

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    If you’ve been focused mostly on the mechanics of mediumship, consider adding in some reflection. Keep a journal. Share experiences with a trusted friend. Explore your changing beliefs, emotional habits, relationships and practices in self-care and boundaries. Find a community of like-minded learners.

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    Celebrate every milestone. Be loving with whatever must be released. And every so often, pause and reflect on your amazing journey: where you started, where you are, and what incredible experiences lie ahead!