Are You Blocking Spirit? Tips from James Van Praagh
It’s no coincidence that James Van Praagh was in Denver at Mile Hi Church speaking about spirits, connection, and love the very same day that gay marriage was legalized by the U.S. Supreme Court — June 26, 2015. The bubbly spiritual medium came on stage waving a rainbow flag a “Mile Hi-er” gave to him just moments ahead of time. It was synchronistic one could say.
JVP was at Mile Hi for An Evening of Spirit, a packed event where attendees came in the hopes of connecting with loved ones who have crossed over to the other side. It was more than that, though. Those not getting a personal reading still left that evening with plenty of tools in their spiritual toolbox in order to connect with not just loved ones, but with Spirit itself, the Divine love that created the universe.
Connecting with Spirit
James started out by explaining that in order to connect with spirit, one must look at it from a soul’s point of view, not a human’s point of view. Spirit tells us we must be mindful. Every single person is God. And that vibration, that God energy, is light. So how are you shining your light? Each choice we make originates from either love or fear. In every decision we make, we are moving toward one or the other.
Spirit is all around you and wants to help you clear your mindset of expectations, negative energy, and destructive thought patterns. Why? Because it’s easier to communicate with you this way. These spirit-blocking energies are a result of the ego. What does the ego do? The ego edges God out.
How to Attract Spirit
Here are some tips for being more open to attracting spirit(s) into your life.
Stay in the Light
Have an atmosphere of love and light. Do your best to move away from fear, anger, hate, and other negative emotions that cause you to vibrate at a lower level.
Be Open
Be open to whatever happens.
Detach Yourself from Expectations
Release all of your expectations. Expectations block energy!
Check Your Ego at the Door
The more you know, the less you will be afraid. Your ego tries to outsmart what you know deep down inside of your soul. Don’t let it edge God out.
Do Some Mental Housekeeping
Clean up the conditions of your mind. Thoughts become things, and you are the only one who controls which thoughts you manifest.
Meditate
The more you meditate, the closer you can get to spirit. Meditation helps you clean your energy field – your thoughts, your chakras, the vibrations you emit constantly simply by living.
James says that thoughts are like bullets. When someone thinks about you, it goes right to you. (Ever had the phone ring shortly after you’ve been thinking about the person on the other end? That’s energy exchange.)
Thoughts have colors, vibrations, character, and design. It is our thoughts, and corresponding choices arising from those thoughts, that creates the fabric that bleeds into the tapestry of life. Your thoughts and actions are a single thread in the larger tapestry of consciousness. You will be held responsible for your actions when you pass over to the other side. It’s called a life review. When you get there, what will yours look like?
Be patient
Manifestation of the Divine and connecting with those on the other side can take time on this physical plane called Earth. Physical vibration is slower than spiritual vibration. This is why you’ll notice James gets very excited and high energy when he’s channeling spirits; the spirits knocking on his door are vibrating at a much higher level.
Spirit is All Around Us
Spirit can connect with you in many different ways. You don’t have to see a spiritual medium in order to know that someone is with you. Music, guided meditations, individual or silent meditation, animals, and many other signs are spirit speaking to you.
Coming to see JVP with the expectation that a loved one will come through can actually block the occurrence from happening. If you’ll be meeting James any time soon, refer to the tips above to better prepare for the exchange.
About Mile Hi Church
Located in Lakewood, CO and known worldwide, Mile Hi Church teaches the principles of Science of Mind and Spirit, the basic principles being Love and Law. Their teachings are based on the work of Ernest Holmes. Their vision is oneness revealed…a world of love, peace, and abundance for all. Their mission? To serve as a spiritual beacon for personal empowerment and global enlightenment.
Learn more about Mile Hi Church at www.milehichurch.org and check out their event schedule. Many of their speakers have programming you can watch right here on Gaiam TV.
Not yet a member of the Gaia community? Sign up now and start watching our transformational programming, including original programs like Spirit Talk with James Van Praagh.
About the Author
Contacting the Dead Through Psychomanteum Mirror Gazing
Is it possible to connect with loved ones after they’ve moved on from this lifetime? Sure, it may be common to have seen a ghost or felt the presence of an otherworldly spirit at some point in life, but those experiences are often spontaneous or fleeting.
Through séances and psychic sessions, some claim to have had initiated intentional connections with the departed, but there is another way that one might be able to make contact, drawing on a method originally developed in ancient Greece. It turns out that many people have reported successful contact through the use of a simplified psychomanteum. This modernized practice of mirror gazing has been developed by Dr. Raymond Moody, a man who has devoted his life to studying near-death experiences and, through this process, has had some profound results.
The Ancient Greek Psychomanteum
In ancient Greece, people would go to a Necromanteion, a ziggurat-like temple that was devoted to Hades, Persephone, and the dead, in order to contact the spirits of their departed relatives. Necromanteion translates to “oracle of the dead,” with the Temple of Ephyra being the most recognized.
During a ceremony, subjects would take part in a ceremonial meal, undergo a series of rituals, and perform animal sacrifices. Inside the Necromanteion there would be a long hallway in which a bronze cauldron full of water and was polished often, to be as reflective as possible. The hallways would be dimly lit by lamps that cast flickering light and diffuse reflections on the water, creating a reflective surface like a mirror, in which the Greeks believed they could see the spirits of the dead.
Dr. Raymond Moody’s Mirror Gazing
Within more recent history, Dr. Raymond Moody has brought the concept of the psychomanteum back as a medium for contacting the dead through the simple use of a mirror and without animal sacrifice. Moody, who coined the term near-death experience, is a famous philosopher, physician, and psychologist who has dedicated his life to exploring NDEs and contact with the spirit world.
Mirror gazing with a psychomanteum is similar to the practice of scrying and is sometimes referred to as catoptromancy, or the use of a reflective psychic medium, much like the stereotypical fortune teller looking into a crystal ball. It is used for divination or to uncover messages related to personal development, epiphanies, and prophecies.
How to Contact the Dead & Communicate with Spirits by Mirror Gazing
Moody has developed a technique for easily recreating a personal psychomanteum at home, or wherever one may desire, with the necessary tools. The following are his recommended steps for a successful mirror-gazing session to contact the dead:
- Food – Get into a serene state of mind by eliminating caffeine and dairy the day before. Eat simple meals leading up to your session, such as fruits and vegetables.
- Location – Go to the quietest part of the house, where you can truly relax. Unplug all clocks and phones in that room.
- Clothing – Take off all jewelry including watches; wear loose, comfortable clothing.
- Mirror – Place large mirror in front of a comfy chair, and place it so you can gaze at it comfortably. It’s best if you cannot see your own reflection.
- Chair – Sit in your chair with your head supported.
- Awareness – Ease into your transition to an altered state of awareness.
- Posture – Relax your posture.
- Mood – Soothe yourself with aesthetically pleasing material for about 15 minutes by looking at works of art or listening to soft music, in order to stimulate awareness.
- Memories – Gather photographs and personal items of the loved one you wish to contact. Touch them and remember your loved one. Imprint your loved one firmly in your mind. Family films and videos can help, or anything else that you associate with them.
- Light – At twilight, light a candle and place it behind you. A dim light from behind you is ideal but experiment with the light for proper adjustment. Twilight is best because it typically stimulates altered states, especially for first-timers.
