By Lori Lines

​A common theme often arises in our spiritual exploration: the relentless pursuit of our spiritual gifts.  Many seekers yearn to discover their unique abilities, whether intuition, empathy, or other gifts they feel are waiting to be unlocked.  Yet, this intense desire for these abilities can ironically create the very obstacles that prevent them from becoming realized. By over-focusing on finding spiritual gifts, we can unwittingly create a sense of anxiety, doubt, and self-imposed limitations, which can hinder actual spiritual growth.  The key lies in shifting focus: by trusting our unique journey and allowing spiritual gifts to arise organically, we can cultivate a more genuine, balanced, and spiritual practice.


The Irony of Seeking

Imagine your spiritual gifts as flowers in a garden.  When we become overly eager to see them bloom, we might start tugging at the buds, hoping to speed up the process.  Yet, by doing so, we can only damage the flowers and rely upon their natural progression of blossoming.  In the same way, spiritual gifts need time and nurturing to reveal themselves.  By focusing too much on achieving specific abilities, we may begin to adopt a rigid mindset, where we set expectations that must be met.  This restricts energy flow, creating blocks that can limit the potential for organic, often profound realizations.

Trusting the Process

Letting go and trusting the process may seem passive or counterintuitive, but it is a critical step in opening oneself to proper spiritual growth.  Trust allows us to relax, to release any pressure we place upon ourselves, and to foster a receptive mindset that lets spiritual gifts emerge when the time is right.  Just as one wouldn’t rush the sunrise, allowing spiritual abilities to unfold naturally prevents the stagnation that comes from overthinking.

When we trust, we surrender control over when and how our gifts manifest.  This creates a mental and emotional openness that enables our true abilities to unfold.  Trusting the process involves nurturing our personal growth, healing, and awareness rather than honing in on specific goals or talents.  In doing so, we naturally align ourselves with the energies needed for spiritual abilities to develop, free from the limits of expectation.

The Role of Self-Reflection

Self-reflection is critical to opening doors to new insights and abilities.  When we shift our attention from “What is my gift?” To “Who am I becoming in this process?” We create space for self-awareness.  Actual growth often comes through observing patterns, reflecting on experiences, and integrating life lessons.

Consider how intuitive abilities often arise from heightened self-awareness and empathy rather than as isolated talents.  By exploring the deeper layers of our own psyche, we strengthen the foundation on which our gifts will eventually flourish.  Self-reflection gives us tools to understand our strengths, limitations, and areas of resistance.  It also helps to root out the need to prove or possess specific talents.  Instead, we become more interested in how to best serve our spiritual path and support others on theirs.

Letting Go of the “How” and “When”

A primary obstacle to self-discovery is the obsession with knowing exactly how and when our abilities will appear.  We often want timelines, specific instructions, or comparisons to gauge our progress. But spiritual journeys don’t follow linear paths.  Profound moments of insight usually arise in surprising ways and at unexpected times.  When we let go of needing to know how and when things will happen, we open ourselves to the joy of unexpected discovery.

Instead of setting rigid expectations, allow yourself to be surprised by what arises within you.  Acknowledge that everyone’s path is different and that comparing our journey to someone else’s can diminish the value of your experiences.  Trusting the divine timing encourages patience and flexibility, reminding us that every moment is a valuable part of the path.

Faith in the Journey

Spiritual seekers are often called to develop faith in the unseen. Rather than demanding proof or pushing for results, there’s a gentle art in cultivating a quiet inner knowing that everything is unfolding as it should.  Faith in our path reminds us that growth doesn’t always look like grand revelations sent from on high; sometimes, it’s found in the gentle, everyday moments of presence.

By living with faith in the process, we become more grounded and centered, focusing on the present rather than worrying about future achievements.  When we live with a sense of surrender, we open ourselves to a constant flow of energy and insights, creating a powerful receptivity to whatever gifts or abilities are meant to come our way.

Discovery Through Service

A surprising truth about spiritual gifts is that they often reveal themselves most clearly when we are not looking for them but rather when we’re focused on helping others.  Serving from a place of authenticity can frequently unlock our abilities.  When we are present for others and seek to support and uplift those around us, we bypass ego-driven needs to prove or display our gifts.  In doing so, we naturally attune to energies that highlight our most authentic qualities, which may manifest as spiritual gifts we hadn’t anticipated.

The Power of Allowing

Rather than forcing, allowing is at the heart of genuine spiritual growth.  By releasing the need for certainty, we create a space for the unknown to reveal itself, transforming potential blocks into opportunities for deeper understanding.  Through this mindset, we find ourselves in the flow of spiritual growth, unburdened by the need to control or predict.  Our gifts, in time, will make themselves known, not because we forced them to but because we allowed them to naturally and authentically emerge.

In the end, our path isn’t about acquiring talents or achievements. It’s about becoming.  And in becoming, we may discover that our true gifts are far beyond what we once imagined.

In love and truth,
Lori Lines

By Lori Lines

Seeing With the Soul and Sensing With the Heart
Many of us have done it; You have a big decision or a nagging question keeping you up at night, so you ask Spirit for a sign. Next, you reach for an Oracle deck, but the wisdom of the deck and the message from Spirit are conflicting. This leads you to reach out to your favorite psychic or intuitive, the answer they share further contradicts the guidance you’ve received, and you reach out to a new seer to make sense of it all. This new seer’s reading is somehow different from the last! 

Who’s wrong, and who’s right? Is Spirit “testing” you? Are the psychics you spoke to frauds?!  Going down the rabbit hole in such a way can leave us frustrated, stressed, and feeling misled or taken advantage of. However, there is a very good reason why your message from Spirit, Oracle cards, favorite psychic, and new reader have differing responses.

All About Perspective
As a child, do you remember gazing off into the distance with one eye closed and the other open and then musing on how the vision changed when you switched which eye was open and which was closed?  That was your first lesson in perspective. You received four different answers because you looked at your conundrum from 4 different perspectives. 

It is all about perspective! You may have heard of the folklore of the three blind men who encountered an elephant. The man who felt the trunk surmised that it was a snake, the man who touched the tail said it was a rope, and the man who met the elephant’s flank discerned that it was a wall.

In the case of intuitives, psychics, and your personal forms of divination, the perception shifts are often due to the levels of consciousness. Each of you vibrates at your own frequency, accessing varying levels of higher consciousness and spiritual perception. Moreover, you have all had different life experiences, spiritual journeys, and mental, emotional, and spiritual dispositions. What does this mean? Confirmation bias has entered the chat!

The Lens of Assumption
Confirmation bias is the innate tendency to frame our experiences and understanding in a way that maintains and substantiates our previously established beliefs and perspectives. For example, if you tell two psychics that your partner has been withdrawn and emotionally unavailable. Psychic #1, who has had an unfaithful partner, may perceive the information Spirit shares in a way that supports their belief that people cheat. Whereas Psychic #2, who struggles with anxiety or depression, may perceive the voice of intuition in a way that maintains their view that people internalize their emotional pain. 

Confirmation bias isn’t limited to personal experience. Current mainstream political, social, and media influences can also shape an intuitive’s perception of the wisdom they channel. And we all do it to some degree as a subconscious means of automatic processing. This is why Spirit sometimes communicates with psychics in a shorthand that they understand. For instance, one seer may associate roses with funerals, while another associates them with romance. As a result, psychics who share your reality, level of consciousness, and value systems often give readings that seem to resonate most.

Like Attracts Like
Based on the Law of Attraction, we attract people and circumstances that match our vibration and level of consciousness. This means that you are likely to attract like-minded intuitives. However, what happens when your frequency changes or your consciousness expands? Though the psychic is still doing their “job” to the best of their ability, you will likely start to get answers you don’t expect or don’t seem to fit into your current narrative or experience. You may even follow their advice and fail to get the results you desire or the seer predicts.

The beautiful thing about the Divine is that even when things seem misaligned, Spirit can still guide us towards our greatest good and highest purpose! When your favored seer no longer matches your frequency, it can still serve as a moment of growth and transformation. Ideally, this energetic mismatch will inspire you to embark on a journey of inner reflection, spiritual seeking, and intuition building. In this way, a psychic can still further your spiritual evolution whether you see eye-to-eye or not.

Seeing With Your Soul
Even the best intuitives and psychics can’t deliver wisdom as purely as a direct connection to Spirit can. Psychics are channels; as they channel, their spiritual insights will be filtered by their lens, even by the smallest amount. The true calling of a seer is to help you strengthen your own intuitive gifts and psychic knowing. Whether dramatically with a dissonant message or subtly with a confirmation of your senses.
​ 
Ultimately, it is a journey to help you fully realize your intuition and psychic knowing because your intuition is your most trusted guide and honest friend. Intuition is seeing with the soul and sensing with the heart. All you need to do is cultivate the courage to follow it and the confidence to trust it. 

In love and truth,
Lori Lines

By Lori Lines

I tell my clients and friends all the time about this ritual for abundance.  However, it is important to explain how important it is to learn oneself so well, through the practice of mindfulness, that this ritual will work quickly and flawlessly.

You see, when we are in a state of presence within ourselves, we can bear witness to the thoughts and feelings that obstruct the treasures that are already there for us to uncover and enjoy. Also, it needs to be said, mindfulness is simple yet no human is able to become an expert. Mindfulness is a practice that helps us gain insight into the thoughts and emotions that shape our reality...it helps us get to know ourselves so well that we are able to eventually remove obstacles, that we create, to having or being what we desire.  Mindfulness is usually that step that most "gurus" forget to tell us about when talking about ritual and affirmation regarding what we want in our lives.

That being said, here's a ritual that I have used for years and, over time, using my mindfulness techniques, I've been able to remove some, but not all, of my self-induced obstacles to getting what I want. I, like you, am a work in progress. :)

Here's what you will need:

• Green candle
• Anointing oil
• Matches or lighter
• Candle snuffer
• Something sharp like a pin, a fine point pen, or a small knife

Holding intention for abundance, use your sharp object to scratch your name into the candle seven times. Anoint the candle with the oil. Place the candle in a secure holder on a fireproof surface. Keep away from children.

To do an effective ritual, be of clear mind when you light the candle. Staring into the flame for a few moments to allow the candle to absorb your intentions.  Allow the flame to serve as a symbol of your prayer. Now,  with imagination and emotion project what it would feel like to have all the money you want, say this affirmation at least 10 times:

"Money comes to me easily.  I prosper at everything I do.  I have money in the bank, money in my pockets (or purse), money to spend and money to share.  I am one with infinite supply.  I am wealthy.  I am generous.  I am comfortable and secure because I always have plenty of money.  I am fortunate, blessed with abundance.  There is no limit to my wealth and for this, I am grateful."

When finished, thank the Divine for granting your request, ask that harm come to none.

If you would like, you can leave the candle burning as long as you are in attendance.  Never leave your candle unattended.  Instead of blowing your candle out, use a candle snuffer.  Blowing a candle out blows your intentions away.

Continue to light the candle daily, repeating the affirmation until the candle is consumed.

I wish you abundance and peace,

​Lori Lines

By Lori Lines

Life is full of ups and downs and it’s important to be aware that there are different kinds of people among us. I tend to subscribe to the belief that most people are good but life has handed them challenges designed to recognize, acknowledge, take responsibility for, heal and let go of their beliefs and behaviors rooted in fear.  The problems arise when we meet up with an energy vampire. Usually these people, in one way or another, are not taking responsibility for their own energy and they appear to think that the whole world is revolving around them and, at this time, they only care about themselves. They don’t care about other’s emotions because they seem to be self-involved and these are the kind of people that I refer to as energy vampires.  They might be your friends, family members, colleagues.
In our society, especially if you are a highly sensitive person, it is difficult to keep your own energy and vitality up and it is important to prepare yourself for these vampires in order to move forward - otherwise you can make your life more difficult. In looking back on my own experiences, I can see how the Universe has brought energy vampires into my life and I can see how they have been tests for me to see how committed I am to my own self-worth, the work I’m called to do in this lifetime, my own self-love and self-respect.  These people have been challenging for sure, but, in the end it seems that I have either transcended the challenges with or without those people in my life.  In this article I am going to explain how you can generally protect yourself from the energy vampires I spoke about in my first article, “How to Recognize the Energy Vampire in Yourself and Others.”

• Take A Deep Breath – If you are in a situation when there are many energy vampires around you (I see many in work situations where you might have to interact with many), or just one energy vampire, take a deep breath, stay detached yet aware, and let them to do their thing. If you are in the presence of the Overly Suspicious Vampire, it is best to NEVER argue with them.  Refrain from making eye contact with them. I have found they usually put a lot of emphasis on eye-to-eye contact and this is detrimental to the sensitive person. If you can stay in a state of witness and not allow them to pull you in to their drama, you will be better off. Don’t lose your confidence despite their behavior and attitude; don’t give them even a single chance to take you down a level. And, lastly, try to change the subject to something pleasant and do not raise your voice. Speak softly to them, otherwise you will have surrendered your innate power, within yourself, to them.
• Make Yourself Aware- This is very crucial step to rid yourself from being a victim of energy vampires. For, without having awareness, you can’t take the next steps. There are some major signs which can alert awareness about energy vampires.  Do you notice when you are in their presence or shortly after leaving them, you feel a lack of motivation? Do you feel depressed? Is there a pattern of headaches, tiredness, weakness, exhaustion, fatigue, fuzzy thinking, sickness?  If you feel any of these signs then you are being victimized by an energy vampire.  Staying aware of your internal dialogue and feelings is crucial here.  Especially if you are in the presence of one of the Zombie-like vampires.  These are the vampires you can’t quite get validation from, no matter how hard you try or how “good” you are.  These people are great teachers in teaching you what your expectations are. Are you one of those who seeks validation from outside yourself?  If so, maybe it’s time to go within, identify the origin which makes this belief true to you.  Work on your own self-worth by learning how to access your own inner compass.
• Stay Calm And Cool- Let them do what they do.  It’s important not to take on what they are dishing out, even if they are yelling at you, blaming you, or attempting to demotivate. Just stay calm and cool and do not become emotionally reactive, otherwise they will come in with an extra force. Do your best to stay in a state of  happiness and confident in this energy.  Tip:  For the Passive-aggressive type energy vampire - these are the ones who ask for advice but never take it to heart - is to just stop giving them your energy and advice.  Detach from the need to help them because these are the ones who expect you to take over and fix them…which, of course, you can’t.
• Be in Good Company- Instead of wasting your time around energy vampires it is better to find the company of positive, motivated, and energetic people with whom you feel comfortable sharing your views and ideas. One of the best ways I’ve dealt with the energy vampirism is to join a group of like-minded people. Then, when I felt a need to go in a different direction, I began my own group. The best way to find these kinds of people is through your friends and social media. Once you meet like-minded people in person, it will surely give you a boost.  Tip: If you are dealing with an Insecure-type energy vampire, try not to stand directly in front of this person. Do not make eye contact with him or her, if possible. Encourage them with words, but do not offer to do things for them. Remember these individuals live in constant fear of rejection and abandonment. Do not let your pity for them be a basis for you being their next victim.
• Make Use Of Crystals/Jewelry-  There are many people who don’t believe in this kind of stuff but according to studies it is shown that special kinds of pendants, rings or just the stones can detour negative rays. Two that I like are Red Carnelian, Pyrite, or Agate.  Any of these stones will help you to protect yourself from the negativity energy vampires project. They can help provide an energetic boundary between you and the person in question.
• Hire A Consultant- If you are being victimized by any energy vampire and, if after reading this article, you are not clear on what to do, then I suggest you hire a consultant who is experienced and good at clearing negative energy.  In my practice, if you choose to hire me, I will consult with you about your specific case and offer recommendations that will empower you to do this for yourself or, if need be, I will partner with you to dissolve it.

These were some major ways to transcend or protect yourself from energy vampires. it is not really difficult to deal with them if you are willing to make changes within yourself by making solid decisions on an action plan and sticking to it.

By Lori Lines

For many people, who live in a practical world, psychic mediums are viewed with cynicism. But, crystals have many scientific properties, as it absorbs and also reflects sun rays that contain divine light. When people start enhancing their intuitive abilities, and learn tools and techniques of crystal gazing, they will gain an insight about the surroundings, gain self awareness, and also receive guidance about their future. Intuitively you will be tuned into realms where you will find spirit guides who will help you find your  way. Scrying is a way of looking into the crystal ball and getting an insight into the mystical world. Mostly it is practiced in a dimly lit area. 

Foretelling
The crystal ball predictions are not a myth, but gazing at the crystal ball gives insights from the subconscious mind of psychics and that is how  popular psychics have been predicting the future by gazing into the crystal ball. The images about the person’s future are seen in the mind of the psychic and not the crystal ball. This crystal ball is only a medium through which the psychic connects to different realms. The psychic is in a trance state when they are looking at the crystal ball.

Selecting a crystal ball
If you want to begin with scrying, you need to first decide what kind of crystal ball you need. There are different kinds of crystal balls available, and each has different properties. For instance, there is carnelian, lapis lazuli, amber, smoky quartz, amethyst, obsidian, labradorite, and many other kinds of crystals that are available online and in many crystal stores in your local area.  Among all of these crystals, the most popular ones which are available are lapis lazuli, labradorite, amethyst, and smoky quartz. These crystals are said to be spiritual crystals and they also protect the practitioner from any kind of psychic attacks during their course of learning. Your intuitive abilities will be heightened and you will be able to find all the solutions for you problems psychically. 

Cleansing a crystal ball
All the crystals that you purchase should to be cleansed prior to using them. Since, many people before you have touched them and used them, these crystals will have energies stored from different people, which needs to be neutralized. Therefore, if you are beginning to learn about crystal gazing, these are the first few steps that you need to follow. Any crystal that you buy, you have to cleanse them before using it. To be able to do this, first wash the crystal ball in room temperature, soak it in salt water. Himalayan sea salt is the best cleanser.  If you are using a crystal that represents fire, then use sunlight to soak these cleansed crystals. If you are using milder crystals made of rose quartz, etc. use moonlight to soak it with the energy of full moon. When using the energy of moon rays, soak these crystals in moonlight only on the night of the full moon.

Smudging
You can cleanse the energy of a room when you place an activated crystal in that room. An activated crystal will have your pure thoughts and intentions and this will reflect throughout the room. Also, since crystals are good at absorbing and reflecting energies, be careful that you will not use any negative thoughts while activating the crystal. These cleansing rituals, protection rituals, cleaning crystal ball, meditation, are useful for the evolution of the human consciousness. Once your thought is in line with that of the crystal you use, meditate upon this crystal for a lengthier amount of time. Your subconscious mind will be trained to be in line with the divine energy from the universe. You must always light incense, like sage, sandalwood, frankincense, etc. Doing this simple protection ritual in the morning and in the evening will work wonders. Once, the crystal ball is activated do not expose it to sunlight, unless and until you want to cleanse and reactivate it.

How to use an activated crystal ball
First choose a quiet room. There should be no background noise. Dim the light, burn candles, incense, and always place the crystal ball on a solid surface that is dark in color. Always ensure that the surface you use to place the crystal ball is dark and not something that would reflect light. You can cleanse the room as well before placing the crystal for additional benefits. Clean your hands and also wear light colored clean clothes before handling the crystal. Now hold the crystal in your hands and create a bond with this crystal. While holding the crystal, think about the objective or the purpose you have in your mind. Visualize the question in your mind while holding this crystal. Now ask the question in your mind. Place the crystal back onto the table, and gaze at it, while intuitively touching the realms in your mind. When you start focusing, you will have visions in your mind, and your mind will become receptive to these messages. You will thus, start to develop psychic powers as regularly as you practice them. 

© Lori Lines, 2015, All Rights Reserved.

By Lori Lines

Manipulation and movement of different types of negative (or dark) energies and spirits that affect someone’s energetic and physical body are called Psychic Manipulations. Some people call it Psychic Attacks.  I tend to think the word “attack” is too strong as I choose not to give this manipulation too much power. However, psychic manipulation is a supernatural energy and force.  They occur when negative energetic vibrations are sent from one person to another person or place creating a disturbance in the energetic and physical body of the person or place.  These occurrences can create harmful effects within the person receiving them and these manipulations are happening more often than ever before because as the veil of spiritual understanding is thinning and, as a result, collectively, we are becoming more empathic, telepathic, and psychically aware.  

Sometimes these energetic and physical disturbances are sent without conscious awareness of the person sending them.  Others use psychic manipulation intentionally to create harm, often to control, manipulate, or punish the individual.  

The good news is that it’s extremely difficult for anyone to penetrate an aura that is healthy and strong.  An aura is our energetic body that emanates from our physical body that can be weakened by depression, by negative emotions, by the regular use of drugs or alcohol, by smoking, and by a variety of diseases.  Fungus, parasites, worms, metal, chemical or atomic poisons can seriously weaken our energetic body.  Therefore, it is imperative that we take care to protect our energetic body as much as our physical body in order to repel psychic manipulations by staying strong and healthy.  

Protecting against Psychic Manipulations and Attacks
 
In another blog post, I talked about Spiritual Cleansing by using the spiritual bath technique (which is my favorite).  I do not want to be redundant but Spiritual Cleansing is a great way to cleanse your aura after a psychic attack or manipulation.  There are other ways of Spiritual Cleansing that I will speak about in future blog posts, but right now,  having the knowledge and using the spiritual bath is sufficient.  So, what can you do to protect yourself, overall, from these attacks and manipulations?

Ground yourself

“Grounding” is a term used by many psychics, metaphysicians, energy healers, and others of like mind that means staying in your body and rooted with the earth with conviction.  Some ways to do this are to listen to an MP3 or CD that helps direct your energy for grounding. Other ways are getting out in nature and turning your attention to being fully present in the moment or using gem stones such as Hematite or Amber.  If you like the feel of the gemstones, hold any of these in your right hand or place in a right hand pocket for good protection.

Another way is to sit comfortably with both feet planted on the floor, and if possible, on the earth directly.  Imagine a thin cord running from the center of your body or from each  ankle down to the center of the earth.  Hold this visual until you feel deeply connected to the earth.  This is an important beginning to many types of work with other dimensions.  You want to connect with the highest energies in other dimensions while staying firmly planted and deeply connected to Mother Earth.

Spiritual Intent

You can use this method to protect yourself, friends, pets, and your home.  It is imperative as a first step that you call in special protection for yourself.  To protect yourself or someone else with intent, sit in a comfortable chair and close your eyes.  Ensure your intention is coming from a place of love for all energies, including the negative psychic energies.  Once fully relaxed, connect with the energies of other dimensions and ask for protection from the Universe or Angels so that negative energies cannot find you or others.  Establish a cone of white light coming down from the heavens so that the negative energies, entities, spirits can follow this white light up into the Universe.  Then ask the Universe or Angels to remove all negative energies, entities, or spirits using the name of the person being protected and ask the Angels of the Universe to move the darkness up into the light so they cannot harm anyone or anything else on this earth.  Hold this thought and light for several minutes.  You will need to hold this intention and deep concentration for some time for this protection to work.

Afterwards, thank the Universe and the Angels for the help and close down the light.  

Prayer and Connecting with Beings of Light

People jump into fear when they believe they have been psychically manipulated.  Fear is a great problem associated with these manipulations since fear tends to magnify the experience of the individual.  

With that said, prayer is very powerful and can help a great deal when psychically manipulated.  Prayer for strength and courage helps alleviate the fear and then you will be better able to focus on applying a number of the protection suggestions.  Positive, affirmative prayer in love strengthens us to address our issues.  There are special convents, monasteries, and prayer lines (such as Silent Unity) with people who do nothing but pray each day, all day long.  Call one of these and ask them to pray for you or those you are helping, as a special intention.  Prayer always needs to be an integral part of the healing process.

Also, Angels and Beings of Light are always there to help guide you.  They are there and just need to be asked.  

Releasing Fear

Prayer and meditation is the first, most powerful support for releasing fear associated with psychic manipulations and attacks.  It is much easier to clear and protect yourself when the fear is diminished.  This, in itself, will help to raise your auric vibration and make it stronger.

After Cleansing and Protecting, Rebalance your Aura and Chakras

You will need to ask an Energy Healer to do this for you because if you have been under psychic attack or manipulation, your chakras will be distorted by these darker energies and they will no longer be working properly.  There will also be holes in your aura.  Ask the Energy Healer to bring your chakras back to perfect working order, to be sure they are spinning properly at the perfect speed and to close the holes in your aura.

Ask the Energy Healer to remove all hooks, attachments, markings, and any negative energy rays that might have become attached to you.  

Lastly, ask the Energy Healer to seal your aura, to eliminate all holes, and to be certain your aura is not leaking any energy.  You may be asked to return to your energy healer to check for leakages afterwards.

© Lori Lines.  All rights reserved. 2012-2013
​