Listening to your spirit

When your spirit spoke to you, did you question the truth of it?

Like my other spiritual experiences, my immediate, intuitive sense of Mahalia was crystal clear—I was hearing the voice of my spirit. Later, I did wonder if I had imagined it, if I had been caught up in what Amelia had told me about Michael and our lost destiny.

I reminded myself that I had no history of hearing voices or having delusional thoughts, and I thought it significant that I heard her voice only twice. If I had imagined it, why not do so again and again? Could it have been the power of suggestion? No, at that time I had never heard of such a thing. Now there are individuals who facilitate such encounters, but I didn’t hear of the phenomenon until many years after my experience.

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How might I have the same experience of my spirit speaking to me?

I did not seek direct contact with Mahalia. I believed that I had a spirit and that I often acted on her guidance, but I did not expect to hear her. I think the fact that I was not trying may have made it easier for her, as trying implies a cognitive event that could block a spirit’s access. Others have told me of their frustration and disappointment with their conscious efforts.

Amelia said it takes much reflection, patience and time. For ten years prior, I had frequently spent time in meditation and reflection, and I had had some awareness of my spirit for years before that. Then, in the two or three years previous to hearing her, I had reached out to others spiritually. After being approached, I was even more open to the world of spirit and was aware of my spirit’s stronger presence. Finally, it was my reaching out to Michael that triggered her effort. If not for that, I don't know if she would have spoken out loud to me.

​I would suggest that you let go of your desire and focus on developing or increasing your awareness of your spirit in other contexts. For me, those have included an awareness of spiritual energy and noticing urges to follow a certain course. Time spent in meditation and prayer, and quiet time to reflect, are essential. For me, this has always included time spent in nature, but do whatever brings you a feeling of calm and connection. It is more important that this time be regular than that it be lengthy.

You may want to take a class in meditation or mindfulness or check out those topics on You Tube. Listening to calming music or reading an inspirational book can have a similar effect and be an easier first step to beginning a meditation practice. I often combine meditation with prayer. If you are not used to prayer, you can look online for "best prayers" and find some examples. It may be the words, the rhythm of it, perhaps a calming effect or a sense of reaching out to something greater than yourself that will draw you to one. Read it daily, slowly and with intention. More ideas on meditation, reflection, and prayer will appear on the Reflection page.


​ How can I determine the status of my spirit?
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I once asked Zachary if commonly held perceptions of “old souls” were accurate, and if we can make any assumptions about those whose behavior suggests they are quite new to physical lifetimes. He shook his head and said it is not that easy, that many variables are involved.

 A young spirit might choose a life in which the genetics and family role models cause them to come across as wise and have traits we associate with old spirits—a manner of speaking, a resonant voice, a certain quality to their eyes, a calm disposition. A person might have those traits due to factors of genetics and environment, but it is also possible that those traits are inherent in their spirit, that it is in their nature and obvious in many of their lifetimes.

On the other hand, a spirit of higher status might have chosen a life with less favorable genetics, a dysfunctional family or a difficult environment for the lessons it would offer, and then not have been able to guide it as well as they had thought they could. The result might be a life that fits our idea of a young spirit. And, once again, consider the nature of the spirit. Some spirits, even of quite high status, have a nature that is more impulsive and prone to taking risks. Or, they may have taken the life to experience and observe those qualities in their human counterpart and then have been unable to redirect it.

Though we shouldn’t be quick to make assumptions, they may often be accurate. When Zachary first told me about status, I thought back to studies done on children who show resilience in the worst of circumstances, and I wondered if the status of their spirits was a contributing factor, assuming that a more mature spirit would be more resilient. An online search will reveal a number of sites that list the qualities of an "old soul." If you find that they describe you, you may very well be one.

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