LIGHT
ARTICLE
Journal
of the College of Psychic Studies
Volume 117 No. 1 Summer 1997. Pages 24 - 26
Allowing A Psychic To Become One
BY STEVEN WARREN
I
have often read the content of editions of Light as they made
their way to me here in Devon and thought, "I must write
something myself based on my own experiences and insights gained".
A great list of topics came to mind prompted by the content of
other contributors over the years. Notice how "years"
comes into the equation. I am always full of good intentions.
Having a letter accepted for publication has been the prompt I
needed to start this article.
Reading
Jenny Grant's article in the last edition spurred me into action
when she mentioned how much Elizabeth Farrell has influenced her.
In
my work as a teacher and therapist specialising in loss, transition
and change - nearly twenty years in the same field - I wish to
base my article upon the way in which this extraordinary lady
helped me - particularly to enable me to help others.
I
first met Elizabeth in 1988. An urgent visit to the College had
been suggested by a good friend of mine. When I arrived at the
college's temporary address in Kensington I was in a state of
complete emotional exhaustion. On writing to the college a few
weeks before an appointment had been scheduled for me to meet
with the then President, Mrs Brenda Marshall.
I
came from a family background of medicine and "hard-science"
and up until the age of thirty-one studied the sciences and hung
on to them with a fervour which knew no bounds. However, fear
prompted me to make contact with the College and attend our meeting
on the agreed time and date. I sat in the reception area which
doubled as the library as a temporary measure until refurbishment
was complete at the Colleges HQ.
In
disbelief - what was I doing at a place like this? - I managed
to pull myself together and take in some of my surroundings. I
was immediately drawn to the bookshelves and assured that this
was a place of learning. Too soon my thoughts returned to my fear.
Would these people try to probe my confused mind? Would they try
to put bizarre or pseudo-religious thoughts into my head? I knew
in the midst of my confusion that I was terribly vulnerable and
as yet not reassured as to my safety.
Two
months before my initial journey to a meeting with Mrs Marshall
at the College my grandmother had died. Her death was sudden,
from a heart attack. I was with her at the time, by sheer coincidence?
She and I were very close -"like Tweedledum and Tweedledee",
many friends would say. We knew each other's thoughts and, yes,
you guessed it, she was a medium. Never trained, and in fact she
looked with disdain on the subject; but countless stories in the
family corroborate her abilities. Three weeks before her death,
while she was in a state of blissful health; we sat and drank
tea until the early hours of the morning. She told me she was
tired now of life and that she wished to be with her husband who
had been dead for some twenty-two years. She told me how she
"liked
the man I had grown into"
and she explained the fact that she recognised how I no longer
needed her. I replied that she was right.
Years
later, as I reflect, I always see her as my "sentinel"
- someone who looked over and protected not only me but the true
gift that I was given as a child. That night we thanked each other
for what we had shared during this life. We prepared all the details
of her funeral and she counselled me on what I would need after
her death. Much was spoken about. Many tears were shed as we realised
what that parting would be like for me. She was going forward
to be with the man she loved. I would have to listen to her words
in my mind after she had made that journey to find consolation
in the isolation I would feel.
Seven
weeks after her death, during which time I had no feeling of her
presence others would suggest when they visited her home, I had
a dream. I had returned to her home to start clearing out personal
items. But I knew I had taken time off work to complete the task
of grieving. On retiring for the night, in my sleep I heard a
young girl's voice calling my name. Initially I listened quietly
and then in curiosity replied,
"Yes?"
As
though this voice prompted me to wake in my dream, I opened my
eyes and saw my grandmother sitting in front of me. A woman sat
to her left, upright, frowning and almost severe as well as manner.
Grandma was animated, smiling, and eager to talk. My mind was
initially confused but this soon subsided as we engaged in our
old banter. I needed to ask questions:
"What
do you want to know, Stevie? "she replied.
I
recalled her lifeless body before the undertakers came to take
her to the hospital for the post-mortem. She hadn't been breathing
then -
"How
did you do that?" No, rather, where have you been grandma?"
"Resting"
came the reply.
My
mind returned to practical issues. Where was she going to sleep?
I had turned out all the rooms. Clothes were now ceremoniously
gathered in neat black bags, stored ready for disposal in the
cellar.
"Are
you going to stay?"
"Oh
no!" came the reply.
I
felt hurt, rejected and a little angry. Clearly wherever she had
been resting had made a major impression - providing something
better than I had to offer!
This
dialogue continued for almost ten minutes with the woman in blue
occasionally, often rudely, interjecting. Tiredness suddenly overcame
me and I stated that I had to go.
"Bye,
bye, Stevie," she replied.
On
waking from this dream, I met my mother a few days later and I
recounted the details of my experience to mother, a true sceptic.
Tearfully she listened to the story of my encounter with her mother.
Rather than being dismissive of the event, she prompted me to
continue, periodically asking for more detail - particularly of
the lady who accompanied my grandmother. Proof came from my then
closest sceptic when my mother, on reviewing the details I had
given, told me that I had described - in considerable detail -
Grandmothers mother.
The
following week, after this initiation, my personal world rapidly
began to fall apart. Tiredness which meant that I was finally
only able to stay awake for a few hours each day; physical symptoms
of glands enlarging in my body; a rapid deterioration in health
to the degree where friends and family noted how I had aged ten
years. All this as well as profound lack of concentration and
periodic trance states which would last up to half an hour. This
condition was now the shape of my world. All the periodic experiences
of my "strange" childhood became consistently present
and took over the reality of now. I would listen to others conversation,
except no one was physically present in the room. I saw colours.
I regularly mixed dreams of sleep with the dreams of waking.
Physical
symptoms persisted to the level where I sought an urgent consultation
with my GP.
Recognising physical symptoms in me, but without any demonstrable
cause, made the doctor suggest I should have blood tests before
any treatment was decided upon. After my initial consultation,
I was to return a week later for blood results and the way forwards.
In completeness, for the Virgo obsessionality is always there
no matter what, I met with a psychiatrist friend to ask if was
losing my mind. Fifteen minutes later I was told I was not schizophrenic
- No! - well, there's another safe haven lost!
On
returning for the next GP consultation, another was scheduled
as the blood tests proved negative. I thanked him, left the surgery
and wrote my initial letter to the College.
My
meeting with Mrs Marshall led to me being referred to Elizabeth.
Two
weeks later I made another journey to the College. While waiting
for my appointment, I heard the previous client schedule another
appointment for the very next day. He had travelled from America
for a few days to see Elizabeth - I felt really intimidated and
yet secretly impressed by this medium and the College.
On
entering the room I found it to be nothing like what I had anticipated.
Elizabeth appeared calm and serene, no darkened room. Instead,
light airiness and a freshness in her welcome as I sat down and
prepared to tell my disjointed story.
Fumbling
my words and not knowing where to start, I found that Elizabeth
encouraged me just to talk. She had at once informed me that I
had not come to her for a reading: I was quite capable of that
myself, as she stated categorically. No, I know I had met with
her for a desperate reason - my sanity. Soon, as we spoke and
she responded with shared images, colours and pictures, I realised
that I had not been alone in my thoughts and feelings all these
years.
Since
the age of four, and with my grandmother's protection and encouragement,
I had taken these experiences of people; sounds, colours and images,
to be quite natural. At grandmother's death, she had stopped regulating
this ability. My contact with her that night had almost been an
encouragement and endorsement from beyond the grave for me now
to embrace what we had always shared.
Elisabeth
quickly picked up the fact that grandmother and I have been so
close, emotionally as well as physically at her death, and this,
combined with the emotional shock, created a psychic vortex where
I could not resist or stabilise myself. As grandma left, I had
travelled with her - simply when I did return, the unnatural event
meant that I was out of alignment between the physical and the
etheric.
Elizabeth's simple exercises - but more importantly a deep soul
connection and resultant encouragement - left me to pursue my
own path of psychic development.
For
two or three years I began to read more - and to follow articles
in Light and attend a few lectures. Confidence gradually grew
and I used my teaching as a format to experiment. Many people
particularly in the caring professions, readily understood what
I had to say of the psychic world around and within us. Met with
this further encouragement, my work with clients who came for
counselling changed.
Cancer
patients understood our unspoken language, referring to the world
of "spirit" as it equates to each individual in their
own meaningful way. The dying, the bereaved and the desperate
through loss - I sit with them and encourage them to tell me what
it is that they know. Asking and then, importantly, listening
is often all that they need. I am helped directly by Guides -
friends towards whom I realise I owe a firm allegiance.
The
past three years have seen me offer readings which demonstrate
such accuracy that they even still surprise me. My practice has
gradually changed to include psychic reading and energy work combined
with counselling. In addition a workshop series I began in counselling,
and using psychic energy, had provided positive benefits for me
in relation to my future career as well as giving people who attend
the workshops a sound foundation for future life events.
Here
is my letter to you Elizabeth - and I have chosen a more public
forum to say thank you for that so important meeting.
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