About 13 years ago a dear friend of mine was training to become a certified hypnotherapist and was looking for someone to practice on.  I volunteered and he began the session by asking me to close my eyes and visualize myself on a beautiful ocean beach.  By following his words, I relaxed and found myself slipping into an altered state of consciousness.  In that open and aware state, I spontaneously started channeling one of my spirit guides.  It felt good, so I didn't fight it.  It was loving, and the words spoken were very assuring and insightful.  My friend, who was very spiritual and familiar with channeling, continued the session talking with my spirit guide.  After he brought me back to full consciousness, he said "Wow! How long have you been channeling?"  I could barely contain myself as I excitedly said "That was my first time!"

         I had been to a channeler before, so the concept was not unfamiliar to me.  After the "hypnotherapy" experience, I realized that channeling was not difficult for me and I got very excited that I could do this.  I began to practice channeling with my friends and family.  Over the years my channeling kept getting better and better.  I became quite serious about my spiritual growth and my personal healing process.  You can't work with angels and not grow.  The wisdom that was shared with me changed my life forever.  I became more aware of the "big picture" of life and more connected with my higher purposes, my reasons for being.

         Over time it became more clear to me that my life's purpose is about serving humanity by connecting with the angelic realm and bringing through messages of love and empowerment.  I retired from my 20-year paralegal career (yes, I was a normal person once!) to pursue my spiritual work on a full-time basis. This is my calling.

         Over the past 10 years I have come to know and love my primary group of angels and spirit guides, a loving entity named ONE.  They are my soul family.  They have brought many wonderful blessings into my life and I have been privileged to share their love and wisdom with many others.

         ONE guided me to write this article on "The Fine Art of Channeling" to help people understand, from our perspective, what channeling is about, what its not about, and how you can do it too.

What is Channeling?

         Simply put, channeling is the ability to quiet the busy mind, attune to the higher vibrational frequencies of the angelic and celestial realms, and bring through messages of love and wisdom from spirit guides and angels.  Sometimes the messages may be from the higher self or God self, which can also be of a pure and truthful nature.  There is a level of integrity that must be maintained in this work so as to not allow your personal thoughts and feelings to interfere with the information coming from spirit.  There is a place of centered truth within all of us and channeling, in its pure form, will always resonate with that still, centered place of truth inside you.

         To maintain the highest level of integrity in this work, be sure you only work with the highest and most loving spirit guides, angels, Archangels, Ascended Masters, etc., who resonate with the vibrational frequency of the love and light of God.  It is not my desire to perpetuate fear in any way so I will simply say it is wise to be aware that there are, in spirit form, some lower vibrational entities or beings, who are not very evolved in a spiritual sense.  I don't believe they are "evil" but I do believe they can be self-serving and may bring chaotic energy with them.  If you encounter any such being or entity in your meditation work that is not of a loving energy, simply command them to leave in the name of God (or Christ or whatever other name of God you wish to use).  Be sure to bring in the white light again and ask Christ (or other God-embodiment) to protect you.  Know that these beings have no power over you unless you give it to them.  Consequently, there is no need to fear them, just have the awareness that you are in control of you.

         Know as well that you are worthy enough to be calling on the Christ.  Don't ever feel that you would be "bothering him" for any small thing.  The Christ that I know loves each and every one of us.  He is there for you in every way.  Call upon Him for protection, support, friendship, guidance and love.   Likewise, the Mother Mary and beings like St.Germain, St. Francis, the Archangels, the Ascended Masters, Buddha, Krishna, etc. are all available to us for love, protection and support.

Preparing to Channel

         I always found that practicing channeling with others was easier for me than practicing alone.  However, taking time for solitude and meditation was also important to help strengthen my connection with my angels and spirit guides.  Whether alone or with someone, take some time to sit quietly. Create a sacred space for yourself by lighting a candle (I prefer white or pink) and/or burning some incense (nag champa is my current favorite).  Visualize and feel the white light from the heart of God/Goddess/All That Is flowing into you.  Breathe deeply and focus on the breath to give your brain a job.  Sometimes the busy brain just needs a job.  Tell it to focus on breathing to help quiet the mind.

         It is good to say a prayer or invocation.  Some recite the Lord's Prayer, or create a simple prayer blessing of their own.  I liked "The Great Invocation" originally by, I believe, Alice Bailey.  However, I felt it needed a little updating, so I modified it as follows:

 "The Great Invocation"   (Originally by Alice Bailey, As Modified by Terra Sonora)

 Straight from the Heart of God
 Love pours forth into my soul;
 May all know that God dwells within.

 Straight from the Light of God
 Peace and tranquility clear my mind.
 May God's Light awaken each soul.

 Straight from the Wisdom of God
 I am guided to fulfill my life purposes.
 May each one honor their Divine gifts.

 Straight from the Kingdom of God,
 comes unity and oneness with all.
 May the souls of humanity know love.

 Straight from the Intention of God,
 many helpers come into my life.
 May we all receive with joy.

 Straight from my own heart
 The love of God shines forth.
 May all know the God that I AM.

 When I work in groups I often use a healing and cleansing prayer to raise everyone's vibration and set the tone.  I have combined some suggested prayers from the teachings of Dr. Joshua David Stone and added some of my own to it.   Here is the prayer I use:

 Cleansing and Healing Prayer

 Collectively we call in the energies of God/Goddess/All-That-Is to join with us
 me and manifest in our hearts as pure Divine, Loving, Healing Energy.

 We call in the Energies of Christ, Mother Mary, the Archangels, the Seraphims, the Ascended Masters and all our Spirit Guides and Angels to join with us and hold the light of sacred space around us.

 We call forth the violet flame of Saint Germain to bathe our entire being in his powerful violet transmuting flame. Let this beautiful violet energy, flowing from the Heart of God, transmute any and all negativity into the purity and love of God.

 We call forth the Golden Ray and allow it to bathe our entire being in the energy of the Christ Consciousness.

 We call forth our own Healing Angels to energize and heal all our chakras.

 We open to the beauty of our own spirit.  So be it.
 

         The Invocation and Prayer can help you create a higher vibrational environment for this work.  When you have taken a few moments to breathe deeply, while visualizing the white light, stay centered and connected to that still, peaceful place inside your heart.

How to Connect with your Angels and Guides

         I believe everyone has an angel that is always with you, and who loves you very much.  It is good to start your channeling practice with that angel.  Everyone also has at least one spirit guide, or perhaps several, and if you feel a stronger pull to work with your spirit guide, then do that.  Telepathically call out to your angels and spirit guides to come and be with you in your sacred space.  In your mind's eye begin to see them coming to you.  When you feel their presence,  imagine that a beam of light begins to radiate from your angel's or guide's heart to yours.  Open your heart and begin to feel their love for you.  Feel the energy flowing both ways from their heart to yours and your heart to theirs.  Once that energy is flowing strongly, imagine a second beam of light radiating from their third eye to yours.  Open all your psychic senses and feel the flow of energy between your third eye and theirs.

         I have found that connecting on both the heart and psychic levels strengthens the telepathic communication link.  If you are comfortable, invite your angel to come and blend with you.  There is nothing to fear here.  If you feel and discern that your angel radiates a God- centered loving energy, absolutely no harm can come to you in allowing your angel to come close to you.  There are no ulterior motives in the angelic realm, they simply want to love you and help you.  I let my angels come right into me and blend with me.  Its as if we share the same space for a while and since they are pure Divine light, its not the least bit crowded!

         Once in that state, open to the bliss of the oneness.  The angels and guides of the highest light always come in with tremendous loving energy.  It should feel comforting, soothing and uplifting.

         If you feel any fear and uncomfortableness, go back to step one and focus on bringing in more white light.  Ask yourself what are you afraid of?  Try to let go of the fears and understand that you have complete control over what you allow into your energy field.  Proclaim your power!

Working with God

         If you have any doubts about what you are connecting with, or are not too sure yet about angels and spirit guides, just work with God.  I believe that God is so vast that it may be difficult for some to comprehend a form of God that they can relate to.  I would suggest you pick any God-embodiment that you can identify as being pure, Divine loving energy.  I usually see God/Goddess/All That Is as a brilliant central sun, like thousands of suns, but pulsating with energy, with love and with immense intelligence.  I see the Christ as being the primary human embodiment of God.  Christ, as the Master Jesus, was able to embody the essence, love and purity of God in perhaps the most perfected state a human was capable of achieving at the time.  He was a role model for all of us, to teach us how to embody the essence of God into our lives.  If that resonates with you, work with Christ.  If there is another aspect of God that resonates more strongly with you, work with that.  I know there are some who may relate more to the Buddha, Yogis, Krishna, or perhaps Sai Baba, as being humans or avatars who embody the purity of the essence of the Creator.  Great, go with that.  Again, don't waste your time feeling unworthy.  That is illusion, old programming that you can erase.

Working with Angels and Spirit Guides

         The Angelic Realm is filled with infinite gifts of love from the heart of God/Goddess.  Our guardian angels and spirit guides can offer us loving, healing energy as well as valuable insight from their unique perspective.  Accessing these higher dimensions and feeling connected to our angels can strengthen our souls and help us enjoy the flow of life.

         To strengthen your connection with your angels and guides, you can simply acknowledge their presence in your life.  Talk to them telepathically, and trust that they hear you.  They respond to you and it just takes an open-ness on your part to "hear" them.  They may communicate by a vision, words or a feeling of knowingness.

         While you are in meditation, ask your angels and spirit guides to identify themselves by name.  Be in an open receptive state and you will likely perceive their name in response.  If the name feels right, use it to converse with your angels and guides to help strengthen your relationship with them.  If you do not hear a particular name, focus on their energy signature and try to feel a name that resonates with their vibration. Then select a name that you feel fits, and start calling them that.  The angels or guides will honor that name or otherwise let you know if they prefer a different name.  Think about it.  If someone starts calling you by a name that isn't your name, you would certainly let that person know if you didn't like it.  On the other hand, if it felt like a term of endearment, you just might like it when they call you that. That's how the angels feel about it too.  I can just hear them now, "Oh how sweet - she wants to call me Lilly!"  They love that!

         Keep a journal or notebook and pen or tape recorder handy when you meditate.  You just may receive a profound message that you will feel compelled to record in some way.  This allows you to work with the message until it feels integrated.  It also allows you the opportunity to share the message with others, which is a way to validate your experience.

         If there is any aspect of your life that you would like clarity or insight about, go into mediation and ask your angels to help you.  Pray with them (and God) to help manifest the healing or circumstances for joy you seek.  Create an open feeling within you to receive their blessings and guidance.  Trust that you will be able to discern what is truth for you.  Your true guides and angels will never lead you astray, and will always guide you along the path of your highest and greatest destiny.

         By practicing these exercises you can come to know your guides and angels in a deep and profound way.  In these chaotic times, taking a moment to connect with your spirit guides and angels can give you the reassurance you need.  Even if you don't have a specific question, connect with your healing angels to send you healing energy to balance and energize you.

Verbal Channeling Skills

         It is wonderful to work with your guides and angels in meditation.  If you are able to bring through loving messages for others, that is a form of channeling.  Some people write down messages, like taking dictation from the angel or spirit guide, which is called automatic writing.  That is another form of channeling.  However, the most popular form of channeling is when the angel, spirit guide or entity comes fully into the body of the channeler and speaks directly to others.  This is the form of channeling that I practice most often.  I have developed such a strong relationship with ONE, that I can easily feel their energy.  After bringing in white light, I invite them to blend with me.  Its not long before I hear their loving words "Fear not, dear one, we are with you." There are certain physiological responses I experience in the process, such as the left side of my face twitches and scrunches up a bit.  I feel them come into me and its like an expansion.  Suddenly my aura feels like its five or ten feet across.  A strong but peaceful, loving feeling comes over me.

         The issue of trust is important here.  I would not surrender my body to any entity, that's for sure.  Ask the angel or being or prove to you that it is of the light.  Again, if there is any uncomfortableness, command it to leave.  However, if it feels loving and angelic in energy, and your gut tells you it is safe and pure, you can allow the energy to blend with you.  The moment of surrender may be different for each person.  For me, it is an allowing of ONE to come and be fully present.  Sometimes I visualize my favorite sacred tree in Sedona to help me let go.  This is the part that takes practice.  It is not for everyone, but if you are guided to practice channeling in this way, partner up with a loving friend whom you trust with all your heart, and have fun with it.

         Do not be alarmed if the tone or pitch of your voice changes slightly when the being is speaking through you.  They have their own energy signature that may be different from yours and they will utilize your voice in the way that best expresses who they are.

         Be sure you really open your heart and let in their love for you.  This can be quite profound and can help you to understand how the angels perceive you.

Channeling vs. Mediumship

         Channeling is not necessarily the same thing as mediumship.  While there are some channelers who can act as mediums, and some mediums are excellent channelers, I'd like to try to explain the difference.  As I have come to understand it, a medium is focused on primarily bringing through messages from deceased loved ones.   A channeler is focused on primarily bringing through messages from angels and spirit guides.  The lines of distinction become even thinner when a deceased loved one happens to be dwelling in the angelic realms and is acting like a spirit guide to their loved ones left behind.

         When I channel for my clients, it is not unusual for someone to ask if there is a message from a particular deceased loved.  We (ONE and I) ask for the deceased person's full name.  We then send out a telepathic call to that soul and see if they show up.  Most of the time they come when called.   I find it interesting that sometimes the loved ones have specific messages that offer validating details of their life, and other times the messages are simply that they are at peace and they send their love.  Since we have no control over what the deceased loved ones will want to tell us, it can be difficult if a client has certain expectations that the spirits must provide hard core proof of their existence.  Sometimes spirit simply won't play that game.  While I have facilitated countless profound healing experiences between deceased loved ones and their survivors, it is always my preference to keep my focus on channeling the energies of the angelic realm.  Mediumship can be emotionally draining and I honor the brave souls who have taken on that particular task of serving humanity.
 
         The channeling work that I do is rarely draining upon me.  I have had channeling days of back-to-back appointments from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (with breaks, of course)  and would actually feel energized at the end of the day.  I have always felt that if someone feels completely drained after giving a channeling session, then they may be putting too much of themselves into it or somehow resisting the energies.  I believe that if you open up (all your chakras) to the Divine loving energy of the Creator, you can be filled with tremendous energy so that the spirit works through you, and not draining your own energies in the process.  Any tiredness from a long day like that would be just from the effort of holding a focus for that long.  For me, keeping the channeling link strong is about holding the focus, holding the energy of the spirit and staying in that altered state for the entire duration of the session.

Trance Channeling vs. Conscious Channeling

         There are some channelers who fall into a deep trance, similar to sleep.  They channel messages from spirit and when they are done, they "wake up" and don't remember anything that was said.  Personally, I never liked that kind of channeling for me.  I always wanted to hear what was being said and benefit from the loving advice they gave to others.

         There are some very good psychics who are actually conscious channelers. They remain fully conscious, with eyes open, and are actually connecting with their higher self, spirit guides and angels during their readings.  They pull the information psychically, from the higher realms, and when connected in this way, the information will be respectful of your free will, true and supportive.  The best conscious channelers can communicate messages from the higher realms while staying fully present themselves.  That is truly an art!

         I use and teach a middle-of-the-road approach.  I prefer to go into a light trance or meditative state.  I stay conscious of what is going on in the room, but my energies are enough out of the way that I feel the pure messages of spirit and the loving energy of the angels are coming through with clarity.  It is an altered state of consciousness where you remain fully awake and aware.  By practicing meditation, and the techniques offered here, you can create that altered state at will.
 
Reverence and Respect

         I hope this has helped to explain channeling in more detail for those who are interested in this area of spiritual exploration.  Channeling can be safe, when treated with respect.  Understand that you are slightly vulnerable in that altered state (believe me, you don't want your big dog running into the room and jumping on you when you are channeling!)  You can equate it to a deep peaceful sleep - no one likes that feeling of your spirit being "slammed" back into your body when jarred abruptly.  And you don't want to invite "any spirit" to just jump in.  Be very specific in what type of beings (i.e. loving and God-like) that you want to attract and work with.

         Honor the sacredness of your communications with spirit.  Approach it with reverence and profound respect.  Open your heart to receive the many gifts of spirit and you will be overwhelmed with gratitude for the abundance of love and blessings in your life.  I wish you much joy and love in your explorations with spirit guides and angels.

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