Do you advise for or against reading for yourself? When I try to use a pendulum, I wonder if I'm influencing it to give me the answers that I want. It's the same with tarot. Is it wise to do readings for yourself, or do we just end up leading ourselves down the garden path by viewing everything through the lens of our desires?
Thanks! - Lisa
Dreamchaser:
I am probably going to take a lot of heat for this answer, but oh well - I like living on the edge!
We can't read for ourselves because we can't be objective enough to see clearly. I've had people tell me that I'm not really psychic if I can't read for myself. I think that idea is totally false.
Obviously, I am psychic, but I am also human. If I try to read for myself, I get caught up in what I want to hear or have happen. If I think I want a certain outcome, I try to make whatever divination tool I am using give me that outcome. This is sort of like trying to cram a round peg into a square hole - and appearing to succeed!
What we CAN do is ask for signs from Spirit. (Ironically, this relates to our other question this week.) We can pray for messages and/or meditate in our own way to hear our own answers.
We all have psychic ability. We all have a sixth sense and "gut instincts." If we ask for clarity or an answer, it will come to us. Usually, however, that answer comes in the form of a message from Spirit via an external source.
When I'm seeking answers for myself, I listen to everything around me. I listen closely to the music on the radio or whatever is on television or to conversations around me. So often I hear the answer I'm seeking from "casual" sources.
For example, I recently asked Spirit if I should break off a relationship with a person who does not seem to be honoring me and my spirit. The answer came when this person did not contact me and did not return my calls. While this may not seem obvious to some people, I knew it was my answer.
It's only human to not like all the answers we receive and then to try another method to see if we can get a different answer. We can make our minds "see" or "hear" what we want them to see or hear, but we're only fooling ourselves. When asking for answers and guidance, we have to be truly open, receptive and honest with ourselves. We also have to be ready to receive any answer - even those that don't match what we think we want.
One way I rise above all of this confusion is to just live my life in the NOW. If I am living in the NOW, then whatever I need automatically comes to me. The past and the future don't matter when I'm in the NOW. I just trust that whatever comes across my path is exactly what I need at that time. It may not be what I think I want, but I know it is what is right for me.
When we live in the NOW, we relinquish the control we THINK we have over our lives and allow Spirit to guide us.
I wish you obvious answers.
*****
Astrea:
Reading for oneself is tricky, because regardless of the method, it's possible to influence or misinterpret the information received.
I imagine trying to use a pendulum for yourself would be VERY difficult, as your subconscious might "swing it your way" without you realizing it. Cards might be a little more accurate, though you can influence which ones you draw from the deck based on your desires. Even if you're good at automatic writing, you may never be sure that you aren't just writing down what you hope to see.
Every reading is an emotional experience, whether we're trying to read for ourselves or others. The more emotionally invested we are in the happiness of the person being read for, the more we'll influence the answers received.
My fellow psychics seem to be evenly split about whether it's wise to read for oneself. Some of them do it every day, and it becomes just another daily habit like brushing their teeth or getting dressed. Many of them believe this is a great way to test yourself and get connected with your divination tools before you go to work with them.
Like me, others believe you should NOT read for yourself or your own family because it's so hard to drop those rose-colored glasses.
Most people who are doing readings for themselves are involved in some kind of situation where they are worried or feel out of control, and when I feel that way, my cards WILL NOT cooperate and give me any kind of clear answers. Also, most people wouldn't be able to see past all the apparently negative stuff on the surface to the ultimately positive reasons it is happening.
If you MUST read for yourself, I recommend one of those $300 astrology programs that some genius mathematician has honed to a fine point. Those will give you objective readings because you can't control where the planets are landing in your sign at the time. Astrology isn't foolproof, but it's about as accurate as anyone can get in this kind of work.
Otherwise, I feel it's better to get someone ELSE to read for us. Even a friend can exercise more objectivity about our concerns than we can.
Sometimes I just spontaneously receive messages from my guides whether I try for them or not. The other day as I wrapped up many hours of doing readings at Psychic Chat, I discovered a card was missing from my tarot deck. I looked under the chair, and there it was. I was AFRAID to turn it over, but to my relief, it was the Sun. If it had been the Tower, I might have crawled under the chair with it and stayed there until the next morning!
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!
I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.