(Remember those?)

I have received quite a few calls and emails lately from people who were seeking psychic services in exchange for little or no money. One boasted that she had seen a number of psychics over the years, but that she had never paid more than $20 for a reading. I laughed out loud when I read that, then pressed the DELETE key.

You know, there are places where you can go to find free readings. Some talented professionals choose to share their work with the world pro bono.

This is not one of those places.

As an observation: I have noticed that a lot of those "free reading" places don't actually offer a whole lot of "free".

Most professionals--people who have worked at, and honed their craft--charge for their services.  For example: You don't see a whole lot of dentists, stockbrokers or chiropractors who give away their services.

Psychics and mediums are the same. Our work is intimate and spiritual. That doesn't mean it is any less work, that it is any less professional, or that we should not charge for it. On the contrary: a dentist or chiropractor can walk away from the work table. But anywhere we go, psychics and mediums have to hold our boundaries in order to avoid being flooded with information.

This is a business. I charge money for my services. I use my gift to help people enrich their lives. I have entered a contract with Spirit that this is one of the ways that I will be of service to the world. And, you know, it isn't like any other kind of gift. This ability comes with a price.

Perhaps I will say more about this another time. For now, I'll just say that being open to this energy means that certain other avenues are not available to me. I'm sensitive, and badly suited to career paths that require nontheatrical shouting (although I'm fantastic on a stage), treating people badly, and rigorous lying, among other things. Sadly, and maybe not so surprisingly, that leaves out a lot of career paths.

I have more than a handful of stories about hilariously awful jobs I held in yesteryear. Most of the psychics and mediums I have known, and have known of, have had similar experiences.

I know that our culture has entered a long-term discount fever. Daily Deal websites--Groupon, and its ilk--have become a permanent part of our culture, it seems. But I think we are forgetting that changing the dollars that we pay for something doesn't mean that we are changing the inherent value of that thing. And you know, there is a whole piece where maybe people are charging the money for X because that's what Thing X is worth. What happens to our relationships with shopkeepers and small business owners when we interrupt the flow of commerce all of the time?

Should we pay less for a sweater that was made inexpensively, and in quantity, by machines? Yes, I believe so. But a sweater that was made by human hands, with human talent and creativity, is inherently worth more, and I have come to believe that we should invest in this. It is worthwhile to invest in human services, as much as we are able to do so.

And of course, I believe that the value of contacting the Divine for information, for hope, for reassurance, and for contact with our Higher Self...well, that's priceless. That is not a service to slap a smaller number onto.  It's a service worth saving for, and looking forward to. It's a service to look back and cherish.





I do offer complimentary services to law enforcement, to family members who seek to locate missing persons, and to individuals who seek to address unsolved cases. If that describes you, click here to leave me a message. If you are among these, please know that you must have contacted the police before contacting me. I will ask you for a case number. There is some other fine print about the way this works. We can talk about that when you contact me.

In the years since I first started offering psychic services, the following are some of the questions I'm asked most frequently about what to do before the first appointment:

* Consider what you're looking for. Do you want to focus on your life direction? Some specific part of your life? Relationships with other people? The focus matters because it changes the way you prepare for the session. Your desired focus will even change the psychic you choose for your session. Identifying your focus will help you find someone who specializes in the thing you're looking for, or who offers the temperament that you can best identify with. Spend some time in the silence, allowing yourself to explore your vision for hints of the outcome you are hoping for. Identifying your goal will help you write the questions that most need answering, so that we can create the experience that will be most fulfilling.

* Know that this will be an interactive experience. I will invite you to ask for more details if you need them. I may suggest that you move in a new direction if the questions that you're asking are limiting you in some way. I offer these sessions in order to help you grow and develop your spirituality. I'm only doing my job when I encourage you to think bigger, and look at the larger picture.

* Know that this is private. This is your session. You are welcome to bring any concern that you have. I hold your questions, your concerns, and your confidence sacred.

* Bring a friend if you want or need to.  Sometimes, people bring trusted companions for support. This is perfectly fine. I know that it can be a little scary to go to a stranger with your intimate concerns! You may want to have a discussion with your friend before the session--often, intimate matters are revealed during the course of the reading. Make sure you feel comfortable sharing these concerns with a friend that you bring with you. All I ask is that you let me know in advance that your friend is joining you. I do have a comfortable chair in a separate area, as well as ample seating in my reading room--so it is up to you whether you friend joins us for the reading.

* You will need to do some pre-appointment work. Write a list of the qeustions that you want to discuss. Place them in the order that reflects the way you would like to address them. Also, spend some time in the silence--make sure you note everything that comes up for you. If you are bringing a friend, then you may want or need to alter the questions that we address during your session. Be sure to give this thought before our time together.

* Bring a way to record your impressions. For some people, this means bringing pad and paper. Others bring a recording device. Either way, it can be very useful to bring a memory aid, so that you can focus on being present--not on straining your mind to recall all of the things that happened during our session!

* Know that I am a psychic, not a medium. I can answer your questions, help you find your balance, encourage your spiritual growth, assist you in developing your own gifts, and more--but I can't help you connect to your loved ones who have passed beyond the veil.

* I can read objects. You are welcome to bring a phone, a set of keys, a watch, a wallet, or some other personal item belonging to your loved one. (This should be an item with which your loved one has had regular, exclusive contact. An item that has been shared by multiple people will hold the energy of multiple people, and the reading will be more challenging.) I can read the energy of the item, and answer your questions about the person and the circumstances related to the item.

* Yes/No questions don't give Spirit a chance to elaborate. My guides believe the question is over once the answer (in this case, the one-word response) has crossed my lips. They withdraw the energy--they are ready to move on! That doesn't give us time to explore the issues that are attached to the question. I know there is more...so I suggest doing your best to avoid asking these. Believe me, you want details.

* You will have homework. I may give you work to do after the session. Most often, this is a list of questions to answer for yourself, or exercises to complete. This is part of the experience. If I give you an assignment, it is because I believe it can help you progress in some way. Try to set aside the time, and to make your best effort.

These are not all of the issues to consider--but considering these is a good place to start.  Most importantly, give yourself plenty of time to identify the best decision for you.

Every so often, people ask if I have suggestions for manifestation. I go back and forth on whether I think it is a good thing that we generally don't have magic wands for instant gratification.  Generally, I land on the side of YES--some time between initially identifying the desire and the time when the object is made manifest gives us some time to refine what we asked for. (When I think about things I asked for when I was in high school, I shudder.)

The following are some suggestions for beginning your process of co-creation. They are only suggestions. Some people have more success by creating a vision board, or by otherwise manipulating physical tools. I prefer to reserve my focus for the goal itself. Otherwise, I end up dispersing energy worrying whether I have the right props (which is completely beside the point, right?). Your mileage may vary.

1.  Identify your desire. Write it down in all of the detail you can possibly muster. Include all of the parts that you are envisioning. Give yourself permission to look at the whole thing, exactly the way you see it in your mind's eye. This step can be eye-opening.

2.  Envision yourself having this. Make it a 3-dimensional experience. What does it look like to have it? How does it feel to have it? How do you shift other things in your life to make space for it? Take the steps to make your life ready.

3.  Stand guardian at the portals of your mind. Spend some time being aware of the thought processes that you are having about the thing that you are trying to manifest. Make a list of the "NO" voice in your head. (There IS one. It's okay. The "NO" voice happens to everyone.) Write a response to every block to having your desire.

4.  Spend some time in the silence every day, seeing the picture you envisioned and being grateful that your desired object is already in your life. Spending time with your vision is reinforcing the message that you're sending to the universe that YES, you DO want what you asked for. This is also important because it gives *you* time to reconnect with your vision, and to look again at some ways that you can make space for it in your life.

4 1/2.  Take action: Make the space. Review your desire. Be grateful. Let the manifestation be part of your joy.


For more about manifesting, I suggest that you visit one of the places I love--Boni Lonnsburry's website:  www.LiveaLifeYouLove.com  I started reading her site when I was working for a company that I now refer to as Evil, Inc., and was feeling completely trapped. I was struggling with anxiety and bouts of depression, and the stress of the workplace sent me into a nasty spiral of allergies and respiratory grossness. Reading the site gave me hope, which ultimately helped me find my way again.

If you are doing the emotional and spiritual work that goes into deciding whether scheduling an appointment to gain some insight from a psychic—congratulations! Even if you decide that it is time, and you are ready to commit, your work is not complete yet.

Before you come to your appointment, there are a few things that you should do that will help you get clarity, and will help you make the absolute most out of your reading:

1. Start early. Start your preparation ritual as soon as possible, in the interest of giving yourself as much time as you may need. It may take a while for ideas to come to you. You may want to sleep on the issues before you add them to your list. These things are perfectly normal. Just give yourself as much time as you find necessary for you to feel the work is complete.
   
   
2. List your issues. Start by making a list of the issues that you might like to discuss during your session. Don't count on your memory to help you during the session—the page will be far more reliable. Besides, when you make your list ahead of time, that means you'll have plenty of time to change your mind if you want or need to. While you are organizing your list, consider placing the items in the order that makes your heart beat fastest.
   
   
3. Form the questions. I do my best work for you when you ask for information by forming open-ended questions. Open-ended questions may begin with the words What or how. They ask for information by assuming the reader will commune with Spirit to fill in the blanks. (If you need help phrasing your questions, please let me know.) Open-ended questions are never answered with a simple yes or no. (It's best not to ask me that kind of question, since they disturb my flow.) This requires a little preparation on your part. Spend the time and invest the energy, to make the best use of your time.
   
   
4. Prioritize. Once you have the list, take some time to place the items in the order in which you would like to address them. Putting the list in order will help you make sure you have a clear sense of direction around how to spend your appointment time. It may also clarify your goals for the session—not only what you want to know, but how you would like to feel when you leave your appointment.
   
   
5. Take it easy. The Eagles were right. On the day of your reading, go to the appointment with a quiet, relaxed mind. Meditate or say a prayer before you go in. Your focus is an important gift that you can give yourself.
   
   
6. Make a record. In order to give yourself the best experience, take a pad and paper with you. Making notes about what happens during your reading is an excellent idea. It means that you won't have to strain to remember all of the details, and that you can be more present as a result. Taking notes means that you're less likely to suffer from psychic amnesia (blanking out about important details of your life in the middle of a reading). Some psychics offer recordings of their sessions. Ask your reader if she or he can provide a recording, or whether they mind if you create your own recording of your session. Your smartphone may have the equipment you need. This will give you a lasting record of your experience.
   
   
7. Create some space. Do your best to give yourself at least a free hour or two after the appointment, so that you can rest, relax, and process for a while. Whether or not you decided to tell a friend about your appointment, it may be useful to take some alone time before you move on to the next commitment. A reading is not an everyday experience. Give yourself time and special care in order to absorb it.

 In the days and weeks after your reading, you may remember more about topics that came up during the session. You may begin to make connections about your life that had eluded you previously. These things are normal. Hold the space for yourself with compassion. That's the most important gift that you can give –to both yourself and the world.

 I am ready to support you. Are you ready to go deeper?

Request an appointment now.

This is a list of answers to some of the questions that I am sometimes asked. I hope this helps to delineate the shape of the services I offer. Of course, I am always delighted to address your questions and concerns.

• I ask you to create a list of questions and bring them to your appointment because I believe it is an important way for you to focus your energy in the direction of the issues at hand. This method will also help you to determine the importance of each matter that you would like to explore during our time together. When I offer psychic information, I am requesting material about you from the eternal—think of it as taking a trip to the Hall of Records. When you tell me what you would like to focus on, that helps me to locate the specific information that you're wanting to hear about, as opposed to what happens when I look for information without a focus. What I find is still valid, but it may not be as useful to you—may be material that you know already, and did not want to spend time thinking or talking about.


• I will use my abilities to help you feel empowered to create changes, and make the best choices that are available to you in the moment, with respect to your resources and capabilities. Your general wellness is my most important concern. (This is why, if you ask me about other people in various types of relationships, my answers will always incorporate information about how you can best protect yourself, and grow!)


• I will not use my abilities to help you focus on people or ideas that may be harmful for you. To this end, I offer a maximum of three readings regarding the same issue in a six-week period. In addition to this, I do not answer questions about upcoming dates of physical transition (death), stock market, celebrity matters, or lottery numbers. (Read “lottery numbers” as “gambling pursuits”. I'm not making an anti-gambling mission statement of any sort; I buy lottery tickets too! I'm just saying that it is not the best use of my abilities to focus on these areas.)


• I am not likely to offer you reading time more than once per week. If you request readings more frequently, then I'll suggest a later date. I want my work to support your life, rather than interrupt it. My job is to offer you perspective and reveal information, so that you feel supported in moving forward and exploring your options.


• While I do my best, I can't claim to reach complete accuracy. The information that I receive is often encoded. Sometimes I make mistakes when I decode the information.


• In addition to this, the future is flexible in conjunction with our choices. We are co-creators of our own future. Instead of envisioning the future as something that's chiseled in stone, think of it as a group of stones set in a river. As we choose the next stone, the part of the river that we are looking at changes...the same way that life circumstances are altered every time we make a choice.


• I look forward to our time together! To this end, I have created an account at www.Schedulicity.com, where, at any time, you can schedule an appointment with Goddess Within. In addition to this, I will do my best to reply to your calls and emails within 24 hours. This is not always possible. If you have left a voice message that has not been returned, please accept my apologies. Sometimes e-mail is the best way to reach me.


• You can always expect that I will be committed to the time that we are scheduled to spend together. I will ask you to commit to our appointment also, by reserving your appointment time with your payment, and then by attending the appointment that you scheduled. If you cannot attend our appointment time, then I will expect that you let me know by 24 hours prior to the time you scheduled. Otherwise, your payment will be forfeit.
  


• Do you have questions about how a reading could help you? Send me a message. I would love to meet you.