Just like grounding your house allows for a balanced electrical circuit in your home, grounding your body and spirit helps bring balance to your life. Grounding is a method that is often associated with physically touching the Earth’s surface. It is believed that when our physical bodies make contact with our planet’s free electrons (unattached, negatively charged particles) it can be beneficial for our physical health. Some studies have shown that participating in regular grounding techniques can actually help us with fatigue, chronic pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and cardiovascular disease.

However, grounding is not just for our physical bodies. It can also have a positive and therapeutic affect on mental and emotional health, such as helping ease anxiety, depression, loneliness and the sense of feeling lost. Grounding activates our Root Chakra, which brings a feeling of safety, security and steadiness. The act of grounding allows us the opportunity to connect with our planet and all of its inhabitants, creating a sense of unity and wholeness. Being grounded can help sync your spiritual self with your physical self, so you stop feeling like you’re on autopilot and start feeling more in control.

There are many grounding techniques and they can be done indoors or outdoors. Here are just a few examples of how you can ground yourself:

Touching the Earth: Having physical contact with nature is always the first thing that comes to mind when talking about grounding. You can do outdoor exercises, like yoga in your yard or a barefoot walk on the beach. Gardening is a wonderful outdoor grounding activity too. On snowy days, you can connect with nature indoors by simply keeping house plants and touching their leaves and/or soil as you tend to them regularly. Soil and plants are nature too, indoors or out.

Take a Long Soak: Just like soil is a part of the Earth, so is water. So, why not consider splashing around in a lake or playing in the waves at the beach. Even soaking in a tub is a great way to relax, relieve stress and ground yourself. If you don’t have the luxury of a tub bath, a foot bath works too. Add some Epsom salts to your baths to help with grounding and have the added benefits of easing muscle pain, drawing out toxins and adding magnesium. I enjoy Epsom salt baths regularly, especially after doing spiritual work.

Crystals for Grounding: You can do grounding anywhere when you have the right crystals or stones with you. Here are a few to help you ground wherever you are.

• Hematite – This black-silver shiny stone with high iron content is connected with the Root Chakra. It is known as a “healing stone” that can also offer protection from negativity and provide a sense of safety, security and balance.
• Black Tourmaline – Known to be one of the strongest grounding spiritual stones, black tourmaline carries lots of positive energy. This is my favorite protection stone to wear as it helps protect you from negative energy as well as assist with pain and stress.
• Smoky Quartz – This detoxifying crystal helps cleanse negative energy, calm feelings of fear and depression and is also a top favorite grounding crystal.
• Red Jasper – The Root Chakra is often portrayed with the color red. So, it’s no surprise that Red Jasper is a beneficial stone for your grounding chakra. This nurturing stone helps bring balance while protecting against and cleansing negative energies.
• Black Obsidian – This crystal is known for clearing psychic smog and cleansing auras. It is not only a strong psychic protection stone but it also has a strong connection to the Earth making it ideal for grounding. This is a great stone for those who do healing and spiritual work.
• Shungite – This is another crystal known for it’s psychic protection properties but also known for it’s protection against EMFs (Electromagnetic Fields). Shungite is also connected with our first three chakras, including the Root Chakra. This explains it’s ability to assist in grounding and balance.
• Tigers Eye – Tigers Eye is known for assisting with balance, protection, luck and grounding. It can help you see the positive in any situation and encourage you to go after your dreams. This crystal is linked to the lower chakras.

Grounding Meditation:

1. Find a space in your home where you feel safe and sit comfortably with your palms facing up.
2. Close your eyes and breathe slowly, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Roll back your shoulders, releasing any tension you may be carrying with you.
3. Relax your body and visualize golden-white light shining down from the sky above you and filling you with warmth as it washes away your pain and worries.
4. The golden-white light that has completely filled your body begins to extend from the soles of your feet and the base of your spine in the form of roots.
5. These roots break through the ground beneath you and dive into the soil as they spread out connecting your life force with Mother Earth.
6. As the light flows into you from above, it flows through you and into the Earth taking with it the negative energies, fears and worries you have been carrying with you. The Earth cleanses them as they return to the source.
7. Your energy is now linked with the energy of Earth, connecting you to something greater than yourself and grounding you to the strongest foundation there is.

Whether or not you know it, everyone is able to pick up on energy around them. Have you ever encountered an angry coworker and walked away angry yourself? Have you ever felt sad after speaking with someone who just lost a loved one? Have you ever felt happy after seeing a smiling baby? Everyone is capable of sensing energy from people around them, locations they are in and even spiritual beings near by. Not only can you pick up on the good stuff but also the bad. So, it’s a good idea to find ways to block out the less desirable energies any way that you can. This is especially true for Highly Sensitive People, Empaths, Healers, Psychics and others with spiritual abilities, since they are more susceptible to absorbing energy.

Negative energies can be targeted at specific people or they could be unintentionally put out into the world and easily collected by spiritually sensitive people like myself. That is why one of the first things my grandmother taught me was how to protect myself from negative energies with what she called a Protection Bubble. A Protection Bubble is a way to clear the energy within and around you as well as block undesirable energies and entities from entering your space by envisioning a circle of light around you.

Here’s how you too can create a Protection Bubble for your personal spiritual safety:

• Begin in a quiet place where you can sit comfortably with your feet on the ground. Take deep breaths to calm and relax your body, as you ask God (or the Universe) to send down His holy light from above.
• Visualize the golden-white light creating a column from the sky above and making it’s way into the top of your head, as it enters your Crown Chakra.
• It pours into you, coating every inch of you like paint slowly running down walls. As the light fills your body, head to toe, it makes you radiate with a golden-white color.
• The light continues through the bottom of your feet and from the base of your spine as it flows through you and creates roots that penetrate the ground beneath you. They make their way into the earth below. The roots stretch out as the light flows from above you, through you and into the earth. The light carries away any residual, stale energy as it cleanses your personal essence and connects you to the earth, grounding you.
• Once your energy is cleansed, the light begins to expand beyond your body, pushing out any remaining unsavory energies, as it forms a circle of light around you. This circle, or bubble, can be as big or small as you’d like.
• Now it’s time to set an intention for your bubble. I like to say “Only positive energy and positive spirits whom walk in God’s white light are allowed in my space. All negative energies and negative spirits are repelled by the light and not allowed to enter my space at any time.” I repeat this to my Spirit Guides, the Spirit World, and to Spirits in general, until I feel the energy is clear and I feel a sense of peace and confidence in my Protection Bubble.

When I first started using my Protection Bubble to block unwanted energies, I practiced it each night and each morning. Each time I practiced, I felt my bubble lasted a little longer than the time before. I needed to do the visualization less often. Now, when I feel the urge to use my Protection Bubble, it just takes a minute or two at most to get it up and activated.

I always use a Protection Bubble before doing any spiritual work. I suggest you do the same when opening up to the Spirit World. You can also use this method if you deal with anxiety in crowds or when leaving your home. You are welcome to use my technique or tweak it to suit you better. However, please be sure to include these important steps: cleanse your energy, ground yourself and set an intention for your bubble to keep out negative energies. To find more ways to protect yourself spiritual, check out my post “How to Protect Yourself as an Empath”. Remember to follow your intuition and do what feels right for you in goodness and love, because you’re worth it.

If you read “What is an Empath?” and related with many of the characteristics, then you might be an Empath. Most likely many parts of your personality and life are influenced by this intuitive ability. If this is the case, you might be curious as to how you can protect yourself from unwanted energies. Here are a few suggestions that might work for you…

1. Visualize

• Your Solar Plexus Chakra is your energy center located between your belly button and sternum. It can connect you to the energy of those around you. Visualizing a shield of light in front of your abdomen can keep your Solar Plexus from absorbing energy from other people. It’s a good idea to visualize this Empath Shield before heading out of the house or going into large crowds, especially if you deal with anxiety.
• Picturing a golden-white bubble of light surrounding you is another way to block the energy of others from mingling with yours. This Protection Bubble can also help block negative energy from places and also spirits from coming into your personal space.

2. Meditate

• Spiritual Grounding is a great way to let the world’s energy flow through you, instead of it getting trapped within you. Holding onto the energy of others can become toxic for you physically and emotionally. Visualizing golden-white light entering the top of your head and flowing through your body as it returns to the Earth can help cleanse any stagnant energy from your body that may have been left behind by others.
• If you believe you are carrying the negative emotions or physical discomforts of someone else, it’s best to send that energy back to it’s source but with love. First recognize the foreign energy. Next, thank God (or Universe, or Source) for surrounding the energy with light and love and returning it to it’s true owner. Express gratitude for that person having the strength, courage and wisdom to address that energy. This will hopefully help you feel lighter and more like yourself.

3. Protect Your Space

• Crystals are a great resource when wanting a physical object to help you shield against or cleanse negative energy. Just a few examples of protective crystals to consider keeping on you (in your pocket or as jewelry) or in your home are: Black Tourmaline, Black Obsidian, Selenite, and Clear Quartz.

• You can also clear the energy in your space by burning White Sage or Palo Santo Wood, which is what is often used when smudging. I like to include a prayer before smudging and repeating an intention as I spread the smoke into every nook and cranny of my space. For example: “Please remove all negative energy and negative Spirit from this space in God’s name. Only allow positive energy and positive Spirit into this space.” I also like to bathe in the smoke to cleanse my personal energy as well.

• Be selective of who you share your space with. If you feel drained after being around some people, maybe consider spending less time with those people. Or use the Protection Bubble when around them. Some people can be Energy Vampires and not even realize it. Surround yourself with people who give off positive vibes as often as possible. This can be quite healing.

Hopefully you will be able to find some relief with some of the suggestions above. However, I believe the most important part of protecting yourself as an Empath is taking care of you. Spend time alone to rest and recharge. Stay hydrated and eat nutritious foods. Find ways to raise your vibrations and find joy where ever you can.

If you would like to learn more about the suggestions mentioned above, please stay tuned to this blog as I go further into detail with future posts. If you have any suggestions for empathic protection, please share them in the comments below. May your day be filled with joyful thoughts and positive vibes.

When I finally accepted the fact that I am a Spiritual Medium, I was in a rush to learn. I was also eager to help anyone and everyone. Unfortunately, that is not how it works but, that didn’t stop me from trying though. The truth is developing spiritual abilities takes time and patience. I’m always growing and learning and that’s what this blog is all about.

Accepting your spiritual abilities is one thing but, understanding them is a whole other thing. It’s difficult to find trustworthy information online or even in books. With my strong desire to move forward on my spiritual journey, it was easy to want to spend money on webinars, online courses and retreats. But, something in me said to wait. Sure, there are totally authentic sources out there but, I knew that some are just out there to make money. I have learned to take the time to listen to and follow my intuition when choosing what to spend my time and money on.

It definitely helps to hear about other people’s spiritual journeys and how they learned and developed their abilities. However, I’ve discovered that the most helpful way to learn about my abilities was by looking inward. Prayer and meditation have taught me how to listen to the soft, positive voice within that so desperately wanted to guide me. Learning to be quiet, has helped me to discover that the answers that I had been longing for were in me all along. That voice told me to share my story. So, I began to open up to close family and friends and tell them about my spiritual experiences. I told them about the things I saw, felt and heard when I was around them.

By sharing with others, I was able to practice my abilities and understand them more. In the process of learning, I was also able to help others. It turned out that the information I received was actually messages for the people around me. These messages brought those I spoke with a sense of peace and comfort. They wanted the ones they cared about to have that same feeling. So, I was often asked to sit with their loved ones and that’s when I began to give readings.

After a while, I had the feeling that I needed to do more than just readings to help people. So, again, I looked inward and I was told “share your story” and “write”. That’s why this blog exists. So, if you’re here looking for answers or advice, I suggest that you learn to be quiet and look within to find your answers. Follow your intuition, your gut and listen to the soft, positive voice in your head. This is your journey, no one else’s. It won’t be exactly the same as anyone else’s and it’s not supposed to be. And don’t forget, you’re never done learning.

I didn’t grow up with my grandmother in my life but, we connected when I was in college. During one of our first conversations she shocked me when she said that she knows I have “the gift”. My grandmother went on to say that she knows I see and hear things that others don’t. After a lifetime of keeping quiet about my experiences for fear of people thinking I was crazy, I was hesitant to say anything.

My grandmother went on to tell me about things that had happened to her and our relatives. I began to believe her because the stories she told me sounded so similar to my own. It gave me a sense of relief and some comfort, in knowing that not only was I not crazy but I was not alone.

Over the next few years, my grandmother gave me tips on how to spiritually protect myself and how to handle what was happening to me. Although I was still having trouble completely believing that I had spiritual abilities but, I enjoyed the relationship we were developing. We became close quickly.

Unfortunately, my time with my grandmother was cut short. After her passing, I didn’t think much about the spiritual path my grandmother had started me on. Instead, I focused on the young family my husband and I were growing. But, it wasn’t long before my interest was peaked again because my children started to have experiences that were all too familiar. If my children were to inherit “the gift” my grandmother told me about, I wanted to make sure that they grew up knowing what was happening and not grow up living in fear. So, I hit the books and began my journey to learning as much as I could about the spiritual world.

Needless to say, I do believe spiritual abilities can be inherited. However, I don’t think that spiritual abilities have to be inherited for someone to have them. I believe everyone is capable of communicating with Spirit. It’s a skill, like singing. Most of us are able to sing but, how well we can sing depends on our natural talent and training. However, there are some, like myself, who can sing but, even after training and years of practice, I’ll never be stage worthy. It’s all good though, it doesn’t keep me from singing.

Discovering my abilities took time. And funny enough, it took others telling me that I was capable of connecting with unseen energies before I even considered the possibility. It wasn’t until I reconnected with my grandmother in my early twenties, that I was introduced to the idea of my experiences being a skill that I inherited, instead of a curse I was being punished with. Later on in my life, it was my family and friends that helped me embrace these skills.

My grandmother moved in with my mother and stepdad when I was away at college. I hadn’t seen her since I was very little but, I was able to build a relationship with her during my visits home. During one of our first conversations she told me “You have the Gift.” Her comment was out of the blue and took me by surprise, especially since I didn’t know her that well. However, after years of visiting with my grandmother, she helped me understand a few things about what she called “the gift” and how it was a family trait. My grandmother also taught me about Psychic Mediums but, I still hadn’t accepted the possibility of me having any of the same talents as the famous TV Psychic Mediums she introduced me to.

After my grandmother passed away, I didn’t think much about my spiritual abilities and I focused on my young growing family. However, that didn’t stop my spiritual encounters from happening. To feel “normal” I started watching paranormal TV shows. Then a reality show about a Medium opened my mind again. Her stories and experiences were so similar to mine, it was hard to ignore. Apparently, my mother had seen the same show and called me to tell me that the woman’s stories sounded very similar to the ones I told her when I was young. My mom started to help me explore the possibility of me being Medium. We read books and I began to practice meditating.

Soon after, I became close with a few new friends and shared my stories with them. They allowed me to be myself and they did not judge me. They actually encouraged me to explore and understand what I was able to do. They were supportive and loving throughout my entire discovery process. These ladies were there for me when others turned away and I will forever be grateful for them. They each brought me something that I needed most at that time. They were meant to be a part of my life during one of the most difficult times I have had to endure: coming out of the Psychic Closet.

With the support of my family, friends and my amazing husband, I was able to not only accept my ability to communicate with spiritual energy but, I was also able to find the courage to share this ability with others. It’s quite funny looking back on it now because I see how what I thought were mistakes and coincidences were all stepping stones to get me where I am now. I am incredibly grateful to be able to help others with my spiritual abilities. I would like to think that when people speak with me, they find hope in knowing that there is life after death and that our loved ones are always around us, enjoying our lives with us. I am forever grateful for each person and each experience that helped me to get where I am now.

A lot of people call me a Psychic Medium because I communicate with the spiritual world similarly to how well-known Psychic Mediums do. However, that title just never felt like a good fit for me. Especially in the beginning, when I didn’t feel worthy of having the same label as internationally known Psychic Mediums who had abilities well beyond my own. Also, where I lived at the time, as soon as the word “psychic” comes out of your mouth, most people immediately labeled you crazy and stopped listening.

But, I needed a way to describe what I do in less than a paragraph and I felt it should be my choice, as it is for everyone. So, I prayed, meditated and asked for guidance on a different way to describe what I do. After some time, I heard “Spiritual Sensitive”. The word “spiritual” meaning: relating to or affecting spirit and the word “sensitive” meaning: quick to notice signals. Calling myself a Spiritual Sensitive worked for me, for a long time.

However, after years of doing readings, people were still referring to me as a Psychic Medium or they were uncertain as to what to call me. So, I did some more praying, meditating and some research. I discovered that the name Psychic Medium is actually redundant. You see, psychics are people who can pick up on a living person’s energy. Mediums are psychics who can communicate with the spiritual world in addition to picking up on a living person’s energy or spirit. Therefore, all mediums are psychic but not all psychics are mediums. So, I thought to say “I’m a Medium” would be enough.

I tried calling myself Medium but, that had its own complications. When I introduced myself to someone and said “Hello! I’m Nicole. I’m a Medium,” I often had to go into much further explanation. It always began with explaining that I wasn’t sharing my shirt size. I realized that I needed an adjective to clarify that I was talking about what I’m able to do. After some thought, I combined Psychic Medium and Spiritual Sensitive and got Spiritual Medium. My perfect fit was found and it’s what I now choose to call myself.

Hello!  I’m Nicole.  I’m a Spiritual Medium.