Many have asked, so here goes: “Life changing.” That’s how my experience at Spooks’ College was. Yes, that’s what the locals call the place. They don’t know what you’re talking about if you get lost north of London and ask for the Arthur Findlay College of Psychic Sciences. I travelled there last week for the second time to attend a one-week intensive course called “Mediumship: Meeting the Needs of Today.” I call AFC “Boot Camp for Mediums,” with sessions running from 9 am to 9 pm each day.
People were surprised when they heard I was going back to school. I’m grateful for that reaction. It shows that the evidence I’m able to bring through in my one-one-one readings as a medium is doing the job. That evidence is showing people that consciousness continues after death. I am awed by the connection I am able to achieve in a reading … awed, but aware there is always room for improvement. If we think we know it all, we don’t know it all at all!
I traveled to England for two very specific reasons: to experience once again the special energy of the college and to study with the same wonderful tutor I had the first time I went to AFC, one of the greatest of the great mediums, Mavis Pittilla. Yes, I wanted to get more detailed evidence in my readings. Yes, I wanted it to flow with greater ease. But I especially wanted to learn techniques for doing public demonstrations of mediumship.
I’ve shied away from doing “dems” for several reasons, and all of them boiled down to one word: fear. Fear that I would make a contact and nobody in the audience would raise their hand. Fear that I would stand in front of an audience and sense nothing. I could go on with this list, but I think you get the idea.
It was a Skype call with Mavis last summer that pushed just the right button to move me past my fears. “How are your demonstrations going, Dear?” Mavis asked sweetly. I told her that I preferred to share the evidence from my one-on-one readings as part of my workshops. These stories share the miracle of mediumship and keep the audience fully engaged. This was a totally truthful answer that did not require me to admit my fears. And then Mavis made a statement that I experienced like a punch to the gut: “Yes, Dear,” she said, “but Jesus DEMONSTRATED the miracles.”
In my workshops I teach that anything that makes us uncomfortable is a sign of something we need to work on in ourselves. The gauntlet to do demonstrations had been thrown, and I signed up for the AFC course the very next day. From that moment on my guides, Sanaya, conspired to teach me how to overcome my fears. They did so in magical ways, gently leading and encouraging me, and always with the reminder that fear comes from our human side, but there is a greater side of us that knows no fear, only love.
Growth is not easy. Stretching ourselves often causes discomfort, and I was not immune from discomfort this past week in England. The group of 80 students was divided into 6 sub-groups, each led by one of six tutors. In the first small group session we each had to stand and bring through a spirit contact to provide Mavis with a baseline of our abilities. The video of my awkward attempt is too painful for me to watch, but I was comforted that I was in the same boat with the rest of my fellow mediums.
I soaked up the feedback Mavis gave each of us and hung on every nugget of instruction that followed. (“You must not close your eyes. Move about. Engage everyone present. Feel the spirit in your solar plexus. Don’t over-analyze. Feel the difference between being in the Power and when you drop the connection. Don’t rush. Enjoy yourself – this is all about the joy of serving Spirit!”)
That evening I was chosen to demonstrate before a larger group of students than just our sub-group. Armed with all of Mavis’ feedback and instruction I eagerly stepped onto the platform … and bombed.
Okay, those who witnessed my dem told me I did well, but I disagreed. Why? Because I didn’t feel the presence of the spirit and I most certainly did not feel joy. I felt as if I were flailing. I was totally in my head, caught up in my doubts. It’s no wonder I couldn’t hold the connection. I wanted to rush off the platform and head for the airport for the next flight home.
I went to bed beating myself up and awoke the next day in a gray cloud. I clearly recalled going through the same self-doubts six years earlier on my first visit to the college. In 2006 “Weepy Wednesday” lived up to its name. In 2015 I was just a bit ahead of schedule as I experienced “Tearful Tuesday,” questioning why I was putting myself through humiliation and pain and wondering how I was ever going to demonstrate the miracles.
That morning as I cried in frustration and yes, despair, I was grateful for the private room that had shocked me for its sparseness when I first arrived. In the privacy of my “cell,” I got down on my knees beside my bed and prayed for a miracle.
What followed was a series of miracles that left me sobbing—not from despair, but from awe at how Spirit works. My step-daughter, Susan, who is the reason I do this work, made her presence known repeatedly through other mediums and through a series of stunning synchronicities that would take days to write about. Once I acknowledged her message that she is my muse and my inspiration, the floodgates opened. Always a talker, Susan’s chatty teachings filled pages in my notebook, and she promised that she would be right there beside me from that day on every time I did a public demonstration.
Susan provided the miracles and Mavis provided the guidance and inspiration for each of us to achieve noticeable improvements by the end of the week. While still a bit awkward in the final video of my practice demonstrations, I can watch it with gratitude. Why? Because unlike my first failed attempts, I recall clearly being aware of the presence of the spirit I brought through. I recall feeling the flow of the evidence and knowing the flow was the result of not listening to the thoughts in my head, but to the voices of spirit in my heart.
I came home with a notebook filled with Mavis’ gems of wisdom. One of them will stay with me forever. She once again referenced one of my greatest role models, stating, “Jesus would not have been afraid to step onto the platform, for he knew that ‘the Father and I are one.’”
I feel that oneness every time I give a reading, and now, with Susan at my side (and even if she decides to let me fly solo) I look forward to achieving that state of connection in future public demonstrations. Having connected with thousands of spirits in my sessions, I KNOW the spirit world is real. The evidence they have given me has left no doubt that our loved ones are still with us. Those on the other side dearly want to let us know that they are here, and I do not want to let them down.
This past Sunday I was scheduled to do a special session with Sanaya that had been on the calendar before I went to England. I’ve been leading these sessions for four years, and all have come to expect me to share the latest “wows” from my readings before bringing Sanaya through. When I arrived home from England I looked forward to getting more experience with public demonstrations before I demmed in front of “the home crowd.” No one was expecting me to do a demonstration of mediumship that night … not even my husband, because I just didn’t do that.
But the date was December 6th, Susan’s birthday. I realized that delaying a dem in front of my home crowd was nothing more than the old fears trying to make me forget all the miracles. How better to honor Susan and Spirit than to get out of the head, where doubts and fears fester, and into the heart, where the power of love resides.
You can witness my birthday present to Susan on the video filmed that evening by clicking the link at the end of this post. I explain my definition of a miracle at the beginning of the video, and we were all witness to a miracle that evening. There were several wonderful, verifiable pieces of evidence given to me by a father in spirit that evening as I allowed him to reconnect with his son. The miracle for me is that I felt his presence. I enjoyed the contact. And I don’t think I’ll ever forget “Eastern Airlines.”
I share the video (with the permission of the man’s son) with a bit of hesitation because I can see things in it that Mavis could “ding” me on, but I’ll get better. I share it because mediumship is about showing that consciousness continues beyond death … giving those who no longer have a physical voice a chance to share with their loved ones again … and this video does that. This, to me, is cause for celebration on many levels. This father’s holiday message to his son and daughter and grandson is the same for all of you: “We’re with you this season and always. Love never dies.”
It is Spirit, and Love, and you who inspire me. May these words inspire you to realize who you really are—a beautiful, eternal soul. May they inspire you to push past your own fears and doubts about what you are capable of and to serve God and your fellow spirits with all of your heart.
Video of a demonstration of mediumship with Suzanne on December 6, 2015
Oh, Suzanne, you are such an inspiration. All of our human fears–I’ve spent most of my life avoiding them!–and you did one of the scariest things anyone can ever do in my opinion–stand up in front of a room doing something you aren’t completely confident about. Of course, when I watch videos of you speaking, I am full of admiration (and maybe a little wistfulness for myself and my lifelong avoidance of public speaking) because you are so polished and seem so easy and confident. But I see that it’s your courage and discipline and determination. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. So many people are learning so much from you sharing these experiences. (And thank you to Susan and of course Sanaya and all of your other teachers, as well.)
Love,
Joan
Wow, that was amazing and I’m glad you d for it. Getting out of my head is a big part of it I know.
Thanks again for your efforts to communicate with spirit and us who have gained much from it! Brad
Fantastic! Keep trusting the spirit :) I wholeheartedly believe in moving through our fear and am so excited to see you take this next step. I loved your workshop when I took it 3 years ago in Phoenix Arizona and your “work” will only expand with this new adventure into the place you fear. Keep doing what you are doing!
Much love and light to you,
Janine
Oh and thank you thank you thank you!
Can I ask why when you were asked to connect to a spirit in England that t you didn’t bring the roof down with a demonstration of lovely Sanaya?
YES! <3
That was wonderful Suzanne! Thank you so much for sharing so much of yourself with all of us. It is such an encouragement to me on this journey. I can’t imagine Mavis seeing anything she could “ding” you on in that! I thought it was so good.
Susanne, I love you so much and am so proud of you. I knew going back to the school you spoke of in your books would be a blessing to you and many people. I believe my Dale feels a special connection to you as well.
What a privilege it was to have met you (Indianapolis, Unity Church) and to follow you online, dear Suzanne. I positively relish reading about your experiences, your challenges, your connections, your joy over helping others connect with loved ones on the other side. I very much enjoyed watching this video. Your honesty and commitment to honing and sharing your gift are appreciated beyond words. Sincere thanks for sharing your beautiful gift with others and for providing a constant reminder that our souls are eternal and our loved ones never die.
Your compassionate heart, Suzanne, is a refined conduit connecting the spirit world with humanity. You lovingly line it’s perplexing passages with God-inspired insight and wisdom. Keep on keeping on. We are the blest beneficiaries. For all you are and for the comforting messages you kindle, a heartfelt thank you.
Dear Suzanne, You continue to amaze me with your gifts and abilities. You are such a blessing to so many who are searching. Your heart, words, and actions are so full of love and light. Thank you for giving and serving others who need someone to guide them, inspire them, and show them a different way. By the way Happy Birthday to your Dear Susan as my birthday is December 6 also. May God Bless You, Protect You, and Guide You in all you do…Love and Light to you my friend …
How so true that anything that makes us uncomfortable is a sign of something we need to work on in ourselves. I will try to use this as inspiration to face my discomforts. Thank you so much for sharing.
What a beautiful blessing this message is … Especially at this difficult time of year without our loved ones. I am so grateful to you for sharing – even the hard stuff – Suzanne. We went to hear you speak in Aspen, Colorado, and have followed you ever since. Observing/listening/reading your experiences has opened our eyes and set us on a whole new life changing course …which is an indescribable, eternal gift … and I know there are many more who share my sentiments. God bless you and yours this Christmas <3
I’m printing this off to hang on my wall as a daily inspiration. After I had met you in October of 2014, I read Wolf’s Message some times with powerful synchronistic things occurring as I read it. I’ve had mediumistic experiences since then. I read your article on Arthur Findlay and was amazed you experience the same fears I and others share in pursuing mediumship. The first time I brought a spirit through I thought I didn’t get enough information. As I went to lay down in bed, I got something more. I was skeptical and laid down only to hear it again! So I got up and wrote down everything and emailed the person it was for the next day. She wrote me back overjoyed I had made contact and knew exactly what the message meant for her. Then I attended a week long workshop with Simon James and Brian Robertson at The Journey Within and was just amazed. We usually worked in pairs with different people all the time, and I was truly amazed at what I brought through and what others brought through to me. Once I got home all the self-doubts about how to further this work crept back in. Then spirit introduces me to a person who is on the same path. We connected by sharing responses on your Sanaya Says posts. I’m awed by the power of Spirit to move us in ways we cannot fathom. Directing us to where we are meant to go. I just watched the demonstration. So very wonderful, it brought back memories of things that happened in the class I took in October. How all of a sudden I became very animated. Using my hands in ways not familiar to me. Using my hands to make explanatory motions. Opening my heart to love and service. Meeting you Suzanne took my life in a whole new direction, I am blessed to know you for you are truly an inspiration to all you meet. God bless you and Ty and your wonderful work. As I write this an email message notification flashes on my computer “It’s Finally Your Turn!” Blown away by spirit calling to me yet again.
Dear Suzanne. You may remember me here in Sarasota. I had told you my daughter passed in 2007. Your messages lately about spirit living on, etc. have been blessings to me as my husband of 55 years just passed on Thanksgiving morning. Without my guides and spirit helpers, I would be a basket case. I have my moments realizing that my whole life has changed. I’m one now after 55 years instead of two and it’s very difficult getting acclimated to that realization. Keep doing what you do and send a good thought my way. God Bless!
Thank you. I know I block my abilities with fear and doubts. I asked for help and your blog is part of Their answer. If YOU feel fear with all you can do, then I can better trust myself and Connection by remembering my miracles, too, and focusing on my faith. Thank you for sharing with us to help those new to the world of Spirit and those like me who need encouragement to develop and spread the messages of hope, truth and love. I’m so grateful for you. Thank you.
You did it! Good for you! Thank you so much for sharing this with us! Your readings so often bring me to tears….good tears! Please keep sharing videos. They are so much fun to watch.
Joan hit the nail on the head. You are an incredible inspiration to the world. Thank you~
Suzanne, Annie and I are so fortunate (for a portion of the year) to know that you and Ty reside in our community; and for the rest of the year to cover the rest of the world, If not the realm of Sanaya ! I am one of those many who have benefited greatly from your mediation and personal friendship. Thankfully and much Love, Howard and Annie.