Hi, Sandmansvr,

Because my "opening up" to being able to see and speak to spirits came suddenly and with no effort on my part (I never believed it possible, so I never tried!) two years ago, I can't be of much use in giving advice on how to bring that about (or increase it).

But my first impulse on reading your posts here was that (and please don't be offended, as that's not my intent) you're trying too hard.  My ability to "see" comes and goes in waves--never completely gone, but sometimes much stronger than other times.  I don't get too concerned (as I used to do) when it wanes, because I have learned that it has a cyclical nature.

But I have tried on occasion to "figure out" what makes it stronger or weaker at times, and I've come to the conclusion that it's not up to me, because it's really not coming from me or from anything or anyone in what I suppose you could call this "realm".  It doesn't belong to me, and I do find that if I try too hard to control it, make sense of it, try to influence it, that's when things tend to fade a bit.  It's as if I'm being told that it's out of my hands--and by that I mean something good...it's in the hands of a power much greater than anyone among us, and that's where the good will come from, if we don't get distracted, and just let it happen (as I'm constantly told by the spirits who guide and teach me--they've had to tell me so many times that they're probably sick of saying it by now!).

I agree with the Alchemist that your desire to help others is a good one, and will no doubt help you on your path if you remain sincere.  My only advice on that is that you don't try to be the one to decide HOW you go about doing that--don't try to force anything.  If it's meant to happen, it will be decided for you (as I mentioned in another recent thread, I'm starting to see that the ways in which I'm being guided to help seem to have been chosen specifically for me--as if someone read my resume and decided what job to give me based on that, with no real input from me!).

Doe

P.S.  I just came back from a walk, during which I remembered something else that I wanted to mention to you.  You mention having joined a "ghost-hunter" group, and being involved with those types of activities (which, as I understand it, involve trying to detect the presence of spirits in a "scientific" way).

Clearly your intentions are good; I can tell from what you've said in your posts here.  Nevertheless, please consider this:  if you were a spirit (which, of course, we all will be one day), would you be likely to show yourself to/guide/reach out in any way except perhaps in annoyance or hurt to people who were treating you as a being to be chased, studied like some kind of alien life form or insect, and "banished" at the whim of the living?  They are the very cognizant (in most cases--unless they're lost or confused for some reason) spirits/souls of human beings who once lived as any of us did, and are deserving of the same respect and compassion.  The mere term "ghost-hunter" is indicative of what it must seem like to them--hurtful, frightening, and/or insulting.

Again, I am not saying in the least that your intentions are to cause harm or hurt feelings.  It simply sounds as if you have an inquisitive and perhaps scientifically-oriented mind.  But if you're looking to move toward a greater ability to sense, see, and/or communicate with the spirit world, I have a strong belief that those kinds of activities will not help you attain that goal, and may very well hinder it.

In my experience, empathy is as priceless in dealing with spirits as it is in dealing with the living.  It's what the lost ones, especially, need.

Doe

There is a healing affirmation in my following and one part of it says:  And I will do my part!  What is that part?  IME the part that a medium plays in their own spiritualizing of the soul and educating the mind.  We can not sit back and expect others (spirit or otherwise) to do the work of our own education and learning.

How this is done is as individual as each person.  Some believe they can just ask the universe, God, spirit, whoever they are in touch with to enlighten them.  The mind can only accept the education it has fitted itself to open up to by its striving and learning.  To expect a high philosopher to talk to someone not in the least interested in the subject seems a bit unfocused.

The more you understand and know spirit (which, is within each of us even in our material bodies) the more it can be enlightened with lessons.  To just ask with no understanding to be enlightened will not get the job done.  

One of the principles of my following:  Personal Responsibility.  This includes all aspects of our own individual growth which gives us free will choices and the focus to learn and grow in our own way, in our own time, in our own direction.

Haven't checked this in a while.  I understand what you are saying Doe, but out group (close friends) is just 3 or 4 people.  One of which is the my psychic/medium friend.  We now always open investigations with him inviting the spirits to talk to us, respectfully and to talk to them and communicate.  He can see them and tell us what is happening and we record with our equipment.  We have always been respectful to the spirits we go and see, bu now with him we know he is communicating to them our respect.  So that is no a problem.

I do think you are right, in that I try to hard.  I think I am "straining" to hard.  I bought "Psychic Development for Beginners" by William W. Hewitt.  Great book, the intro stuff my psychic friend had told me to do!  Plus there is more in there.  The spirit section is easy and simple, there are exercises and I think the intro stuff is great and really easy.  I need to do more basic things, visualization and such.  Maybe I need to go back to the basics and do more.

That's good to hear.  I wasn't trying to assume anything about your approach; as I said, it sounds as if you're thoughtful and caring about it.  I guess I've just watched some of those "ghost-hunter" shows and thought that it was terrible how "ghosts" were chased around as if they were wild animals with no feelings or free will--as if the living felt that they have some kind of understanding about it beyond God's (however you define God), and that it was their right to tell spirits what to do (even if they have the ability, and I don't know that they do).  My belief is that spirits are in God's hands.  If they ask, we can be kind and perhaps comforting to the ones who are lost or frightened, and perhaps pray for them, but the rest is not up to us.

It's good that you and your friends respectfully offer to communicate.  Just know that not all spirits will understand your intentions.  But perhaps if you continue to simply be open and show your compassion, the ones who do understand will make themselves known to you more.

Good luck, and take care,

Doe