There's often a lot of confusion when it comes to the different types of sensitive abilities. I frequently get comments like: "What do you see in my future?" and "I'll be cheating on my psychic if I see you!". The truth is, these categories of abilities actually DO differ greatly. While many sensitives, have the ability to tap in to all of them, most have a focused area. A medium is not the same as a psychic (though there are some "psychic mediums"). Personally, I still don't call myself a Psychic, even though I often include "intuitive" reads during my session. 

I am a FIRM believer that every single living person on this Earth (and animals) have the ability to tap in to these areas. I don't think there are certain "chosen ones", however, I do believe certain souls are destined to experience these roles more strongly in their present lifetime. We're all on a continuing spiritual journey throughout our lifetimes and we are meant to experience different things and grow in certain ways. 
 
For each and every person who harnesses these abilities, they may present in completely different ways. Some, but not all experience similar things, but many receive messages in a way that is clear and specific to them. 

The following is a clear and simple breakdown of the different ways sensitive spiritual abilities may present themselves. You'll likely be surprised by how many you find yourself experiencing! 

Medium:

• A person who acts as a middle man to pass on messages from deceased people or loved ones.
• Information comes in different ways for different people
  • Visual images (like pictures in the mind, sometimes symbols,  sometimes able to see actual manifestation of spirit)
  • Mediums tend to hold a somewhat telepathic conversation with the spirit

Psychic:

• Usually telling the future, predicting, and giving caution and guidence to upcoming events in a person's life.

Clairvoyant:

• Meaning “clear vision”
• Experiences psychic phenomena through visual outlets
  • Dreaming and or daydreaming
    • Many of these are prophetic in nature
    • may experience dreams you awake from and think "that's just not an ordinary dream..."
  • Images flashing in your mind- some disruptive in certain situations
  • Seeing light flashes or colors
    • Especially in a meditative state

Clairsentient:

• Meaning “clear feeling” or “clear sensing”
• The ability to feel present, past, or future emotional or physical states of others.
• Often experience a lot of “gut feelings” that turn out to be true, or are quick to perceive a person's goodness (or lack of) and respond accordingly and quickly
• Often able to pick up on information about the past from houses, other buildings, and outside areas/land

Clairaudience

• Meaning “clear hearing”
• Receiving messages about past, present or future and picking up on spiritual surroundings by hearing words, sounds, music etc.

Claircognizence:

• Meaning “clear knowing”
• Often feeling as if you “just know”
  • For example: knowing who is calling the instant the phone rings
  • Knowing the question someone is about to ask before they ask it or knowing an answer immediately.

Clairgustance:

• The most uncommon 
• Meaning “clear taste”
• Being able to taste something that is not actually in the mouth.

Empathic:

• Falls under Clairsentient
• Being able to actually pick up on and feel the emotional or mental state of another person (living or not) 

Other Intriguing Concepts that often fall in to these categories include: 

Telepathy:

• Communication of thought from one being to another without using any of the known senses.
• Most who experience this, find it is an ability that comes with the deepest of soul connections (twin flames, soul mates, and those who have walked alongside us through many lifetimes). 

Psychokinesis/Telekinesis 

• The ability to move physical objects using the mind by willing them to.
  • Like Matilda!

Intuition:

• Being able to understand something immediately without the need for conscious reasoning.
• “Instinctive Understanding”  
• "Gut Feeling” or an instant knowing of what you or someone else is “meant to do” or what is right or wrong 

As I said earlier, after reading through this list, you're probably amazed at how many of these phenomenon's you have experienced, even if just a time or two. Of course, I am going to challenge you to bring more awareness to these moments. Acknowledging these moments and learning from them are one of the best ways to increase and focus on your abilities. Try not to be frightened by them. Remember you are in fact, ALWAYS in control. 

If you know you experience one or more of these frequently and are hoping to grow in your abilities, I invite you to join my private Facebook Group for support. I have created a family here of understanding and non-judgmental individuals who are all on a journey of working on, growing and coping with these things we experience. It is a safe space for asking questions, getting guidance, and sharing experiences with like-minded people. 

Crystals have been used for thousands of years and in many cultures for decoration, adornment, protection, and healing. Crystals can aid in healing the emotional, physical and energetic body.    

Ancient people all over the world used crystals for their magical and spiritual powers and referred to them as the “Bones of the Earth”. It is their vibrations from how they are created (heat, pressure, location  in the earth etc.) that give them their unique properties to aid the body in different ways. Certain crystals are also known to work better for the different Chakras (for more on chakras go here). You may notice their colour often (but not always) corresponds with the chakra they help the most with. 

How Do I Choose a Crystal to Work With? 

• Pick up a crystal you are initially drawn to
  • ​This means DO NOT buy online! 
• Hold it, examine it and try to connect with it. See what you like about it. What drew you to it?
• See if you feel any tingling, warmness, coldness, static, or energetic charge throughout your body. You may even feel it vibrate as you hold it. If this feels positive for you, it's vibrations resonate with yours! 
  • If it is not a positive sensation, it may mean that crystal is not right for you, or you may need to examine the properties of the crystal and see if it is bringing up something you are avoiding but NEED to address and work on. If this is the case- try holding a couple other crystals with the same properties and see if any of them feel better. 

Storing Crystals:

• Treat them with love and respect as they are aiding in your well-being.
• Rough cut crystals, or points can be more fragile, whereas tumbled stones tend to be heartier. 
• It is recommended to wrap fragile crystals separately, but tumbled stones should be fine stored in a pouch together.
• Try having them on display where you can connect with them daily, or have them around parts of your home you are frequently in. 
  • ​Do your research here- some crystals aren't the best to have in your bedroom (becuase this is a beginner post, I will not get into that kind of detail). 

Cleansing Your Crystals:

• You will want to cleanse your crystals when you first get them and regularly as you work and meditate with them.
• Cleansing is essential. Just as they transmit positive energy TO you, they also always absorb and carry negative energy AWAY from you.
• ​There are several methods to cleanse crystals:
  • Water
    • ​​Run your crystals under running tap water, or immerse them in a stream, waterfall, or ocean. You can also soak them in a salt water bath.
    • Be cautious!!! Not all crystals are safe to use this method. The harder the crystal, the better. Be sure to look up before soaking. Selenite for example will disolve when wet! 
  • Smudging/Smoke
    • ​Burning white sage and letting the smoke wash over the crystal.
    • This also works using incense.
  • ​Moonlight
    • All crystals can be placed in the moonlight (full moon is best) for a few hours or overnight to cleanse and recharge their energy! I always suggest doing a monthly cleanse/recharge on the full moon. 
    • ​Outside in direct moolight is best but indoor on a windowsill where the moonlight reaches works well. ​
    • ​Be careful! Don't put your crystals out in freezing cold or extreme temperatures. They may crack!
    • ​If it is overcast: the moon will still do the job! 
  • Salt 
    • Place sea salt in a glass container. Cover your crystals with points down and leave overnight. 
      • Like water, some crystals do not hold up to salt! Again, please research before using this method! 

Using Crystals Daily:

You may use crystals daily. You may carry them in your pocket, or close to your skin for them to benefit you throughout the day. Many crystals can be made into jewelry! 

Meditating with Crystals:

• Laying down with crystals on corresponding chakra points
• Sitting, holding the crystals you wish to work with in your hands, with any others close enough they are within your aura.  
• You may do a general spiritual meditation, focused on inner peace/balance or meditate focusing on ONE of your chakras and its purpose in your life.

Using Crystals to Heal the Physical Body:
***Crystal healing is NOT a replacement for medical care. Please consult your doctor about any medical concerns***

• Find your corresponding crystal. Crystal Quartz however, can be considered a “universal pain reliever”
  • In Chinese medicine, its considered to harness the pure essence of “Chi” or “Life Force”
  • It Carries the full spectrum of color, therefore aids in all chakras.
• Sit for a moment. Look at it and connect with it. Put your intentions and wishes for outcome into it while holding it.
• Then sit or lay, you may hold your crystal around or above the spot you’re looking for healing or set it there.
• As you take deep breath in, breathe into your pain. Focus on it, and its location.
• On exhale push this pain into the crystal. Picture it as being a sponge as you are transferring the energy to the crystal.
• Do this until you start feeling relief, or if it’s not pain, say, if trying to encourage better fertility, or promote healing (cancer, swelling, etc) do this until you have a positive feeling and peaceful energy.
• When finished doing a healing session, ALWAYS cleanse your crystals, and wash your hands/ or smudge yourself, to rid the negative, harmful energy completely.

Crystal Work is a Practice! It takes time and patience as you find yourself becoming more immersed and aware to your spiritual energy and self you will really start noticing differences.

WARNING: Falling in love with crystals can result in many crsytal purchases. Proceed with caution! 

Wanting to learn more? Keep an eye out! Ever weekly Blog will have a Crystal of the Week! What a chance to learn about different crystals and their properties! Subscribe to get remiders!