My meeting with the psychic.

[Darla Shine]

Today I met with a man who is a medium, a psychic, a catholic, a dad, and a husband. A man who since he was a boy has seen the dead among us. He saw my grandmother right away. She was standing behind me. He also saw my father in law. He was standing out on my patio. He said my grandmother was assigned to me to be my guide and that my father in law was here to apologize for any mistakes he made and that he had regret. My grandmother had a lot to say to my mother. And it was amazing how she spoke about the silly day to day details of our life. Through this man my grandmother thanked my mother and spoke to her about this photo on her dresser. My mother talks to the photo every day.

This man told me that our souls travel through lives. Our souls have to learn life's lessons and only once they are all lived and learned can we reach GOD.

I asked him what the dead want the living to know. He said the dead communicate to him that the living need to love and live in the moment.

He also told me that negative energy does kill you. To stay away from toxic, negative people. That people can hurt you with their ill feelings towards you. You have to keep the negative vibes off you. If someone gives you an ill feeling to stay away.

He also said our spiritual guides do give us messages every day. Those little feelings, voices, dreams and intuition are the spirits trying to guide us.

There is so much more. But I am drained. It was very emotional.

[Darla Shine]

So no opinions?

[Brittanie]

I think it's interesting.. Do you believe he was legit based on what he said?

[mamaof4]

I guess what I got from that is this-- If you live your life through Jesus and follow the bible you will go to heaven. If you are given tests like we get everyday and you fail, you will be sent to purgatory. Which could mean more time on earth as a spirit to learn how to pass the tests God had given you on earth that you failed... Am I way off?

[mamaof4]

I should add that I didn't mean you had to be 100% perfect. Because we all know that is impossible. But I think people who live 3/4 of their entire lives obeying Jesus and God have a better chance of going straight to heaven then those that only follow 1/4 of the time. I hope that makes sense!

[Darla Shine]

No. When you are in heaven and your soul is there you can visit your loved ones and guide them and help them. It is no different than an angel coming to visit you.

[Fabian]

I think thats really interesting - did he say anything though that could have been generic/applied to most people of your demographic, or did he hit on some stuff that 'no-one else would know?'

[Darla Shine]

Well he named my grandmother, her sisters, and hit quite a few things on the head that no one could find out. I really though was just interested in hearing about my grandmother. I have written this before, that I have felt her presence with me and he saw her right behind me.

I will tell you one strange thing. Since he left my house birds have been coming up to my kitchen door and sitting above it and flying away. All day long. This has NEVER happened not once ever in the six years I am living here. Every day since he left. Today Hannah and I stood outside in front of the door and they came anyway and flew right next to our heads and landed atop the door. There is a roof over the door, it is a porch and so the birds have never flown under it. Crazy but interesting.

[Marjan]

I am curious about how you found him? My aunt has met with several psychics in NYC and has shared a few things with me that has got me interested. I have no idea how to find someone who is not just out to make money.

[readingmom]

I think you should be very careful with this kind of thing Darla. I believe that he told you things but I do not believe this power of his comes from God in any way shape or form. You see God and your deceased family members are not the only ones who know things about you. Satan does as well. I don't know what your spiritual beliefs are but please be careful. You can invite all kinds of spirits into your life when you mess with this stuff. This is what the Bible has to say.

Deuteronomy 18: 9-13
9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

[Darla Shine]

Wow that sounds scary. But what about all the angels and spirits in the Bible? What about when Jesus' spirit came back after he died? What about all the Saints who have visited humans. These are all written about.

[readingmom]

Well I would have to know what saints you are referring to to give an opinion on that but Jesus was risen from the dead by God and he spoke to his disciples and others and they could see him and speak with him. There were no mediums. Jesus was right there and he could do this because he is the son of God! Angels are not the same thing. People do not die according to God's word and then become angels or guides. Angels are spirtual beings created by God for a purpose. I strongly disagree that those little feelings, voices, intuitions we have are spirits or guides trying to tell you something. Feelings are often times just that feelings. If you are hearing little voices other than the Holy Spirit of God which is in you if you are a true Christian than you may want to question where that voice is coming from. Well you did want opinions did'nt you? LOL. I'd be happy to find more scripture for you if your interested. Please know that I am not judging you I am only concerned for you. I had a friend who got deep into this stuff and just about went crazy over it ( WHICH IS SATANS PLAN IN MY OPINION)

[intrinsik]

What about when Jesus' spirit came back after he died?

Actually, he came back in the flesh, not as a spirit. He shows the disciples the nail holes in his hands as proof that he's legit and alive, not a ghost. (Also the proof that the tomb was empty and his body was gone.)

I'm inclined to believe in ghosts and stuff, but I generally don't mess with contacting the dead because we don't always know what we're getting in touch with. You can never be sure the truth that you think you are hearing isn't a lie being told by something malicious -- On the off-chance it is legitimately a friend or relative, I believe they have other ways of letting us know without us seeking THEM out through unconventional means to verify their being. And, if they are friends/family, they'll just be there and be supportive regardless if we know they're there or not, because they'll want the best for us.. They'll do good things without needing credit to prove them being there.. (If that makes sense?) Malicious spirits need to gain your trust in order to affect you -- they lure you into a false sense of security and then work on you when you're at your weakest and least resistant. (What better guise to gain your trust than to say they are someone you have an emotional attachment to already?)

I'm not saying that the psychic wasn't legit or that your family members aren't necessarily there watching over you or that evil ghosts are out to get you, but that you should just take it all with a grain of salt and be careful.

I look at contacting the dead rather like dialing random numbers on your phone -- you have no idea who you're calling and you can't see who is on the other end of the line, but now (because everyone has caller ID these days) they have YOUR number and can call you back whenever they want to. Not necessarily a comforting thought..

[Darla Shine]

Well I wouldn't say I was contacting the dead. To me it was simply the affirmation that my grandmother is with me. I think the Bible is up for interpretation on so many levels. I minored in religion. And while I am a Christian and I believe in Jesus, there is a lot of unexplained phenomenon, or miracles today, throughout history, and recorded in the Bible. Plus, the catholic deutoronomy, the torrah, the old testiment, all have different additions and lets all remember that it was humans to begin with who wrote all of the information down that we read today. I just came back from the Leuvre and when you look at the art from ancient Rome you can see spirits, angels, and some other strange half human/half animal humans in all of the paintings. What does tha mean? I have no idea.

I have no idea about anything. I know that you can believe in GOD, Jesus, and still wonder how it all works.

Look around us. Birth, death, and in between. We have faith but so many questions.

I know one thing for sure. We could all benefit from becoming more spiritual. And we could all try harder to be more kind and generous.

[Norah]

Wow Darla. It sounds to me like you are embarking on a spiritual journey. Just be careful of the path you take. Search for truth, not for a warm fuzzy feeling. Feelings come and go. Truth will stand the test of time.

To put my opinion out there about the additions to the Bible, in Revelation it is written: "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19)

I accept that the Bible is the revealed Word of God: It is innerant, inspired, the "God-breathed" revelation from our Creator. There is an attack on the Word of God that is happening now. If one undermines the history in the Bible or reinterprets it, or tries to claim it is symbolic, then they undermine the foundation of the rest of the Bible. Remember that the first attack by Satan was to cast doubt on the Word of God? "Did God really say..."
The Bible was written by men. Men appointed by God to write what HE wanted them to through the Holy Spirit.

Art is amazing. It's tricky though to try to connect it with God. Some artists painted from their inspiration, while others from their fears.

It's so true that we can believe in God and Jesus and still wonder about so much. We search and search and search for meaning, for understanding, for answers. We will always have questions. But the one place we should go to for answers, as Christians, is God. He will never fail us.

I too was very concerned when you talked about having a psychic.

[readingmom]

Well said Norah!

[Dina]

I believe if God could make Mary conceive, anything is truly possible. Could He make someone see spirits/angels, etc.? Why not? Would that not be a gift that He gives a person?

Any one who is in tune with nature sees that there is nothing wasted -- God has made it efficient. If learning lessons from a deceased person is helpful to one's spiritual growth, why wouldn't He make that possible? Is He not present in all things?

Darla, when my Dad died there was this very crazy bird noise in the house (it was 3 am -- not the time birds are singing with reckless abandon). I met a man (maybe the same one you spoke with) who out of the blue asked me, "What was the deal with the bird? Did a bird fly into the church during the funeral?" There was no way he could have known that I had a bird story -- he had never met me before. When I described to him what had happened he said that the noise we heard was the sound of souls greeting his. It was a joyous sound, and I hope he was right.

[readingmom]

Yes I do believe that with God anything is possible. He can do anything he wants but that does not mean he will allow certain things. This is not a gift as you put it that is ever mentioned in the Bible that God will give to anyone. I don't see how learning lessons from the deceased will help in your spiritual growth. I believe the Bible is clear that we are to strive to be like Jesus and we grow through becoming closer to him and learning from God's word. Yes God is present in all things but he is not the only one present. The Bible says Satan is like a roaring lion roaming around seeking whom he may devour. Never underestmate Satan's knowledge and power but remember that God is all powerful. I base my beliefs on the written word of God the Bible and nothing else. I apologize if I am offending anyone as that is not my intention but I don't apologize for speaking what I believe is the truth.

[lauramt]

You know Darla, I think it was kind of cool that you got confirmation that your grandmother was with you.

I think we all have special gifts from the Lord, so why not have someone who can see dead spirits. I don't think that means you're into witch craft or calling out the devil or that you don't believe in the Bible. I think that means you're loved by your grandmother and she's watching over you. I think it's wonderful.

The Catholic Church does teach that we all have a guardian angel watching over us, so who's to say it's not your grandmother. Unless you're in Heaven, you can't say for fact one way or the other.

The advice the medium gave you is good advice. Live in the moment, love the people your with. Stay away from people who have negative feelings towards you... all things that are true and important.

So don't look to much into it all. Take what you want out of it and go forward. It's not about religion or believing in God or Jesus or the devil... it's about a little girl who knows her grandmother loves her. Plain and simple.

[Darla Shine]

That is the way I saw it Laura.