It is a beautiful development that now, psychic phenomenae are discussed regularly in our modern culture. You can't possibly turn more than five channels (ha! channels!) without running across a television program concerning psychics, mediums, ghosts, or the beyond.

And when you read the biographies and autobiographies about the biggest, most widely-known names in the field--people such as John Edward, Char Margolis, Michelle Whitedove, John Holland, et cetera--they talk about knowing that their gifts were always part of their experience. They have always been able to hear ghosts, know what was going to happen next, see who was cheating on whom, and so on.

Well, the part that only some of those practitioners discuss at any length is the need to develop their abilities. Everybody does it. Listen, having psychic ability is sort of like having a bassoon. It's a beautiful instrument. You may be able to make it do things sometimes. Sometimes, it may even do what you want. But most of the time, it just seems to work of its own accord.

A better description of having psychic ability--it's a lot like having a cat:

  1.  It shows up when it wants.
  2.  It does what it wants when it gets there.
  3.  And then it checks out whenever it feels like it.

That's where everybody starts. You've got this really cool (and scary) talent, and you know what it's for...but you don't know how to make it work on purpose.

That's what psychic development studies are for. These are exercises that are intended to help you create a connection between you and your abilities (or, you and your inner cat). You learn what your triggers are. Learn how you work best. Learn what your boundaries are. That work is invaluable. At the end of that first series of sessions, you get to feel at home with your gift...sometimes for the first time ever.

And so. If you're wondering how people got so good...well, everybody has ability. Some of the development piece has to do with the size of your talent. But some of it--an enormous part--is practice, practice, practice.

When you are ready to learn more about how to train your inner cat, it's important that you ask for help. Don't worry, though--there is information everywhere. There are multiple books to read, live classes to attend, and people you can talk to. I am now offering psychic development classes, because I believe learning to work with your gift can help you trust its magnificence, and help you connect with a peace and loving of such magnitude that it find your spirit floating in a sea of joy.

And that's the biggest, brightest part of what I do. I help connect you with your joy.

When you are ready to get started, I am ready to meet you.

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.

This is a postscript to the previous essay.  After I clicked the button to make the post live, I realized that I left out something important.

Let me give you the names of some people who are important parts of my life. I don't know them, but they have helped me through vacation and depression; insomnia and delight.

In no particular order, the following is a list of some of the authors I read, who provide outstanding escapes into the realms of fantasy. I wish you many happy hours of discovery:

Tanya Huff          Possibly best known for the Blood series starring Vicki  Nelson (P.I.) and Henry (romance-writing vampire). The series was aired on Lifetime television as Blood Ties. I loved that series, but I was an even bigger fan of her Smoke Trilogy, starring Tony (reformed street kid from the Blood series).  The Smoke Trilogy begins with this book. Ms. Huff has many, many other delicious titles. Yum.

Mira Grant (a/k/a Seanan McGuire)   Oh, boy. I only discovered this writer a couple of years ago. It didn't take long before I was completely enchanted by her talent. You probably know her as the author of the Newsflesh Trilogy, a critically-acclaimed series that juxtaposed news writing and a postapocalyptic world filled with political problems and zombies. Sadly, the living are still the most frightening creatures. That series begins with this book. As Seanan McGuire (and also here and here), this author has created the acclaimed (and also wildly popular) October Daye series.

Robin Hobb  has written so many marvelous books that I don't know where to begin. I discovered her Liveship Traders trilogy first, so there lies my bias as to where a new reader could begin. Don't stop there, by any means. There is still the Royal Assassin series, as well as the Tawny Man series, and....well. Let me sum it up by saying:  Just keep reading.

Mercedes Lackey needs no introduction from me! I think I discovered her writing first by reading either this book or this one--I don't remember which.  I was going through a very difficult period, and felt utterly alone. These books made a big difference for me. (I have to admit: I am still a little bummed that this book, which is one of my all-time favorites by this author, is not available for Kindle.) Of course, then I was hooked by her style and her sense of adventure, and went on to read...well...everything else. (Almost.)

Elaine Viets  Okay, this author doesn't actually write fantasy. She is a mystery-writing friend of the talented Charlaine Harris, and her books are quite a bit of fun. I am a particular fan of her Dead-End Job mystery series, as I have held a number of dead-end jobs in my time, and this writer really seems to understand the experience!

Jim Butcher  I think I picked up my first Jim Butcher novel because Charlaine Harris had written a blurb for the cover. In her blog, she discusses the contest that she and Jim are waging, to see who can make his characters suffer the most (which, she acknowledges, Jim won).  I am a fan of the Dresden Files (both on and off the screen), featuring Chicago wizard Harry Dresden and a well-drawn cast of supporting characters. It is worth mentioning that most of the audiobooks were narrated by the gifted James Marsters (also known as Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel).

Alex Hughes is a recent discovery. I stumbled across Clean, the first book in the Mindspace Investigations series, at the end of an intensely busy period of travel, when I was trying to get used to sleeping in my own bed, and becoming reacquainted with going down to the kitchen to cook food instead of calling a restaurant. The breathtaking realism with which she writes the narrator's struggles is incredibly uncomfortable, and feels achingly true as a result. After this, be sure to read Payoff (the novella that was released between books) and Sharp, the next in the series.

Charlaine Harris  I remember picking up Dead Until Dark, the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, from an endcap created by a thoughtful librarian. It was love at first page. I love Charlaine's snarky sense of humor, her transparent characterization, and consistent worldbuilding. After this series, I went on to read all of Charlaine's other titles. This includes the Aurora Teagarden mysteries--which aren't fantasy, but are delightful reading--the dark, brooding Harper Connelly series, which begins with Grave Sight, and...well, I did say the rest. You know what that means. Ms. Harris's popularity soared with the release of True Blood, the Alan Ball-created television series about the world of Sookie Stackhouse, made with Charlaine's characters.  I have also played the hidden object game based on Dahlia, one of the characters in the Sookieverse. It's called Dying for Daylight, and I thought it was a lot of fun.

Richard Kadrey is the creator of the deliciously violent and impulsive Sandman Slim, whose sense of justice is always entertaining. Charlaine Harris, who wrote a blurb for the front cover, led me to this author as well.

Lilith Saintcrow is a writer of a number of dynamic fantasy series. I think the first thing I read by this author was one of her Dante Valentine series, but I will admit to falling for The Hedgewitch Queen (and sending a Kindle copy to my niece). Start here to learn more.

Holly Black is an author whose work I thought I first encountered in the anthology titled Teeth. When I looked at my digital copy, though, this author was credited for a different title. Undaunted, I checked By Blood We Live, the anthology where I discovered Garth Nix--but "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown", the short story I had fallen in love with, wasn't there.  When I felt an urgent read to lay my eyes on the tale again, I bought The Poison Eaters and Other Tales, an anthology of Holly Black's well-written stories. There, I fell hard for "The Coat of Stars", a tale crafted so exquisitely that I found myself sobbing aloud before the story's end.

Garth Nix is one of two authors here whose work I have read the least. I included him on this list because I was so impressed by "Infestation", his story in By Blood We Live.

Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of Delirium, and the second of two whose work I have seen very little of. She is included here because I so enjoyed the aforementioned title.

Neil Gaiman is the creator of the Sandman graphic novel series, which introduced the Eternals, a family of immortal creatures embodying human characteristics. Possibly, the two best-known of the family are the Sandman and Death. Mr. Gaiman has authored a number of beautifully complex tales, including Coraline (which was taken to the big screen in 2009), American Gods, and many, many others. The author was the winner of the World Fantasy Award in 1991 for Sandman #19,  "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Rumors insisted that the rules for the award were changed after a graphic novel was announced as one of the winners. For more information regarding Mr. Gaiman's works, see this page on the author's site, or this site.

Long may they all write on.

There are a great many people in this field--by which I mean, people who offer psychic, intuitive, or other spiritual work--who offer a fantastic service. It is honest, it's as advertised, it is useful, and applying it correctly can really help you change your life.

What most people in this field are *not* doing is offering this potentially life-changing work for free.

The people who are offering the work "free" are actually pretty rarely individuals. They are large companies whose owners believe that the "free" word will draw people's attention and traffic to the website, and so they throw it out there. You can probably think of two or three of these companies without even breaking a sweat.

When I have spoken with people about their experience when they've called those numbers to cash in their no-cost session, they generally tell me that at least three or four of those five "free" minutes are spent being shuffled about from one hold operator to another. They don't actually get to have more than sixty seconds of contact with a real person before someone starts charging them.

Pretty pathetic, right?

I don't think there is anything wrong with giving something away, if that is what you genuinely plan to do. But this doesn't seem to be part of the plan for the people who are throwing the word around left, right, and sideways.

 Something that we will discuss another time is that offering these services is a business. We all know how business works:  Business owners create a medium in which we exchange goods or services for money.  Some people price their services more affordably than others do. Ultimately, each artist must decide what she believes is an appropriate price for her time and abilities.

Psychic services are spiritual gifts, offered as an extension of my spiritual beliefs. It was a painful and challenging process for me to accept and publicly discuss my abilities. Frankly, I can't imagine offering five free minutes, one free question, or any other kind of gimmick with relation to them. Doing so cheapens an otherwise sacred connection.

In addition to this--and maybe more importantly--scheduling a session is a commitment for both of us. We are both setting aside the time, and each of us pledges to attend the appointment with a viable level of energy. We are committing to sharing more than our time with one another: we share our vulnerability. We bring our whole selves. That deserves more than a gimmick.

Although my fees are modest on a scale from here to Sylvia Browne, I do understand that my time is not inexpensive. What I do offer is a period of adjustment: if, in the first five minutes, you do not feel that we are well-suited to each other, then your monies will be refunded, and you will not be charged for my time.

This is better than the "dine-and-dash" thinking of the "five minutes free" offer. It shifts the focus away from the gimmick (read: trick). It lets you know that I am genuine; and that I am looking forward to our time together; and it allows us to make a connection with each other. That is the goal, after all--it is through our connection that I can offer the information that you seek.

I offer psychic services as a way to share compassion and support. That is why we are all here, you know...to hold each other up. Life is so much richer when we can show up and share our authentic selves....we get something beautiful in return.

Are you ready to share something beautiful?

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.

My name is Tanisia Smith, and I am a psychic intuitive. Through my practice, Goddess Within, I offer holistic healing services to benefit the whole self. Embodying the Goddess is the intuitive arts branch of that practice.

"Trusting the flow" is one phrase that I sometimes use to describe the intuitive process.

Sometimes, the information comes through in bits and pieces. Often, the bits and pieces feel completely unrelated--I may see a bicycle, and then smell chocolate--and part of my work is to form an understanding of the connection between the two things, and then help the client understand where their power lies.

Other times, the information comes through in one massive package. This can happen so rapidly that I am racing to describe the enormous amount of data that has come through to me, before I can no longer remember it all. This is always exciting, but it's always a challenge, too--sort of like getting a sneak preview of completely unconnected portions of a movie. (You know, the parts when someone is standing in the kitchen chopping onions, or walking outside to the old playground, or choosing a bottle of juice from the shelf. For someone who is just flipping channels and turning past the movie, the moment itself may not appear to mean anything, but to the person who has watched the whole thing, the same clip may explain who stole the cookies, or who the corporate mole is, etc.)

There are stages in between, of course; times when the information is relayed to me through a series of video clips, or when the answers suddenly appear in my mind; or seem to have been written across a large chalkboard.

By trusting the information as it comes clear to me, no matter what the method, I make my channel stronger. But when I try to pick the information apart, the common threads disintegrate, and the bits of knowledge swirl away from me like dry leaves in a strong wind.

It has taken a while to reach a place where I understand how to be a good channel for whatever is coming through. Part of that is developing some habits that help me understand when I am, energetically speaking, in the right place--which means that I have mindfully opened my channel, and am unavailable to other kinds of distractions--versus being in a more physically present mindset.

Trusting my flow also means being mindful about what is happening around me. Instead of trying to control everything, I can act on faith that things are proceeding just as they ought.

It also means that I need to have clarity about when it is up to me to take action. 2012 revealed a lot of client questions about how intuition works, about anxiety, and about how to have more peace in our lives. I am listening to the wisdom of the universe. Part of my plan for 2013 is to offer workshops on meditation, handling anxiety, and a collaborative series on developing intuition.

I am also committed to Health at Every Size principles. Health at Every Size, developed by Dr. Linda Bacon, is a set of principles that suggests that overall health is dependent upon eating well and moving our bodies. That means that health is a series of habits, and anyone who has a body can participate in these habits, independent of body size and shape.

This year, I will offer workshops about using massage and Reiki to help you develop a new relationship with the body that you're living in right now.

All of these things are in the flow for me. I have learned that when I try to work against the flow, things do not work out the way I plan.

What is your awareness about flow? How do you work within your flow? What do you notice when you work against your flow?

It's time to welcome more into your life. I stand ready to help. Are you ready to say yes?

I have had the fortune to meet with a number of people who are receiving psychic services for the very first time. They often have a certain look about them, as though they are expecting someone to leap out of a nearby copse of shrubbery and announce, "You're on Candid Camera!"

(I suspect I just dated myself. What is the new-century equivalent? Punked?)

The good news--and there is only good news--is this: There is a distinct lack of shrubbery near my door.

There won't be awkward surprises of any sort.

I am genuinely glad to see my clients.  When they arrive, I welcome them into my sitting room, where I offer them a space on one of my comfortable loveseats. Once they are seated, I offer a cup of tea from my (admittedly large) selection. If they accept, then I invite them to come fully into the room while I gather hot water and various sweeteners.

Once my client's tea and mine are steaming beside us, I say a brief and silent prayer, and then I ask my client what they would like to focus on first.

I encourage my clients to come to the reading with a list of questions they would like to address during our session. It may helpful to put the questions in the order in which we should address them. That will make the list easier to navigate, by means of not having to search the questions to see what is next.

Ask me anything. When you are my client, my first priority is giving you the tools and information that you need to make decisions that will help you go where you want to go. I have answered questions about pets, health, weather...oh, the list goes on.  I am committed to telling you what I can discern, in a compassionate and nurturing manner.

A reading is your time, during which I address what concerns you bring in with you. It is intimate and intense; joyful and affirming.

While my immediate goal is to answer the questions that the client presents, my larger concern is creating a framework within which the client can utilize new information for self-empowerment and more thorough planning and self-care. You will emerge feeling hopeful, refreshed, and renewed.

I stand ready to help. Are you ready to explore the mysteries?

Come now. All are welcome at my table.

Light to you,

Tanisia