@MTVTrueLife Interview
"What's your ability? Can you communicate with the dead, read auras, interpret images, predict fates, etc?"
I can see and hear ghosts, draw auras that I see (I went to Springbrook Academy of Fine Art specifically to hone my aura drawing ability), and predict fates using divination tools such as dreams, clairvoyance, clairaudience, palmistry, tarot cards, tea leaves, astrology, numerology, a crystal ball, a pendulum and more. I am a professional fortune teller.
"Is this a gift that is part of your family line? Or are you unique in your family in that sense?"
Yes, it is part of my family. My mother is also a professional fortune teller and can sense ghosts, have out-of-body-experiences, and read the tarot cards very well.
"How did you discover and come to accept this ability?"
It was a natural part of my growing up. I didn't know that other people were not able to do all of these things. When I was a toddler, I had my first out-of-body-experience. It scared me and I cried, but my mother told me that it was normal. As a school-age child I learned divination methods such as tarot card reading, runes and ogham. It became a part of my personal spiritual practice, and later I was initiated into British Traditional Wicca at age 24, which further honed my understanding of a spiritual connection to my abilities. My parents were very supportive in my childhood, and even drove me to groups who shared my interests. I had a tough time with acceptance in college, when other students slashed my car tires due to my practices and threatened me for my beliefs. I was even diagnosed with schizophrenia at one point due to my visions. At age 18, I started my fortune telling business, and now I'm even a member of the Renton Chamber of Commerce and the Washington State Holistic Chamber of Commerce, finding acceptance in my community. This year I sponsored the Business and Education Exchange and taught numerology to elementary school kids!
"Can you control it?"
I can't ever really "turn it off," if that's what you mean. As mentioned in my previous answer, due to uncontrollable and increasing visions and hearing things, when I was 21 I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and attempted many treatments to make it all disappear. Now, I've found ways to cope with both the blessing and the curse of my experiences, and I'm satisfied with the level of understanding, if not complete power, that I have over my psychic ability.
"Do you believe that all psychic mediums are able to see past, present, future, and connect with those who have passed? Do some people have a stronger ability with one of those qualities? If so, what is yours?"
I think that everyone has the potential to develop all of those abilities. However, some people might stumble upon and nurture talents more than others, while some might actively work against developing those abilities due to beliefs or culture. I don't think that one thing I experience is "stronger" than another, but I am more comfortable helping people professionally with some things than others simply due to the my experience doing so. For example, I'm quite comfortable telling the past, present and future with tarot cards due to the decade of doing so daily for my work. However, even though I very strongly see and hear ghosts daily, I have less experience delivering their messages to peoples, since that's less commonly desired, and so often feel nervous when the messages might be disturbing to surviving loved-ones.
"In speaking with psychics, they have mentioned picking up certain smells and sounds. Does this apply to you?"
Yes, as I said I often hear sounds and voices of the dead. I can sense smells too, as does my mother. For example, we both smell cigarette smoke when my deceased dad's presence is around.
"How do you differentiate what is currently happening in the world around you and what is coming through from the other side?"
It is a constant battle of purposeful doubt that actually makes it more difficult to use my psychic abilities, instead of easier, which is why I went to be evaluated for mental problems in the first place at age 21! Clairvoyance and hallucinations might go hand in hand, but a man in a wheelchair could win a downhill race, too. Schizophrenia is a disability, and I have to accommodate it in any job, making my life as a fortune teller more challenging, not easier. My current way of doing things is only a working hypothesis. I believe that my way of creative tension between the two concepts and critical thinking is best for all concerned. If I choose to theoretically separate my disability and reality from my abilities, I may still reap the benefits of any added talent that there may or may not be, as well as avoiding pitfalls of overconfidence and self-delusion. Embracing doubt may or may not help, but it can‘t harm, as opposed to the opposite worldview.
"Have you lost friendships over your abilities? Tell us about it."
No, since I have experienced this my entire life, people who don't accept it generally probably stay away from being my friend in the first place.
"In what ways does being a psychic enhance your life?"
My job as a fortune teller is the best job in the world! I get to help people every day, and they are so very grateful, telling me right away how I've helped and even coming back months or years in the future to thank me again! I'm constantly learning and growing, and I can't see ever doing anything else. I also think the spiritual aspects of my abilities are very fulfilling for me. I took Clinical Pastoral Education at the University of Washington and now volunteer as a chaplain to help the sick and the dying at Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington Medical Center. Understanding the connection between death and life better is one growing benefit of my ability.
"In what ways does being a psychic complicate your life?"
My inability to "turn it off" can lead me to learn things about people that I can't share with them if they don't want to know, which can feel like a burden. It also means that I can't really hold down a "normal" job, having such experiences twenty-four hours a day. There's so much that I keep learning about myself every day, and it can be difficult. I imagine that when I'm older, things will be easier!
"How do your abilities affect your romantic relationships?"
I am married, and my husband is very supportive of my business and loves what I do. In the past, I had boyfriends who weren't as supportive and it was very annoying. But he is wonderful!
"Tell me about any public events you participate in. Lectures? Workshops?"
I'm a Certified Professional Tarot Reader through the American Tarot Association, and my mother and I have attended their workshops for training. Mom and I also worked together last year on a themed cruise called "Psychics on the Sea" where we got to go to the Bahamas and read for people! As I mentioned earlier, I'm very active in my local Chamber of Commerce and recently sponsored the Business and Education exchange, teaching elementary schoolers numerology and inviting their teacher to my place of work. I've also taught children when hired by the Newport Way Library Association for a teen event. I've exhibited at psychic fairs hosted by Covenant of the Goddess and the Whole Life Centre as well as Folklife, Hempfest, Our Lady of the Earth and Sky's festivals, Renton River Days and the Women of Wisdom Conference. I've appeared as a guest on broadcasts including National Public Radio, NewsTalk KIRO 97.3, LuvChat, Shoroba, Faith vs Fate Productions and A Girl On A Mission TV and acted as a resource for journalists and reporters for publications including Seattle Weekly and The Seattle Times.
"What is the main use of your gift?"
My daily, full-time job as a fortune teller is the main use of my gift, and also just the way I experience the world 24-hours a day.
"What do you say to the non-believers?"
I don't really push my beliefs onto others, so if they don't believe me or think that I'm crazy, that's fine by me. We're all just operating under our own understanding of the world, and I'm not out to forcibly convince anyone who doesn't want to be convinced. I've certainly won over quite a few skeptics through my work, though, who were willing.
"Why is this gift so important to you - personally or professionally?"
It's just how I've lived my entire life. Like a fish in water, I don't know what life would be like without it. My work is extremely important to me and very fulfilling, and I look forward to continuing it as long as I live.
"What is happening in your life over the next 6 months? Are there any goals you’re looking to accomplish? Obstacles you’d like to overcome? Milestones? Big events? Etc."
So much! First of all, I'm getting my very first book published! It is a beginner's instruction book on how to read a crystal ball, and it has gone through acquisitions successfully already with a publisher. That's a long process that will be happening for quite some time. I'm currently almost five months pregnant with my first child! I'm biased, but I taught my husband how to do pendulum dowsing to determine the gender, and his results showed that it might be a girl! We'll find out for sure on May 5th! My mother is getting a kidney transplant on June 3rd, so I'm looking forward to spiritually and emotionally helping her through that time. My best friend is also having a baby, and is due June 16th! I correctly detected that hers was a girl! For my business, I'm hoping to roll out my first television commercial campaign over the next year.