Are you afraid you’ll give a bad psychic, mediumship, or tarot reading? Ugh, I know. I used to be, too!
The journey of developing your intuitive and mediumship abilities is a true cornucopia of awesomeness.
Some days, you feel like a boss.
Energy flows. You feel enlightened. Everything feels natural. You’re singing Irene Cara’s What a Feeling at the top of your lungs.
You can’t get your hands on enough books or read enough blog posts. You’re rockin’ giving practice readings. You KNOW this is your CALLING. You can FEEL it!
It feels like pure bliss!
A grandé café-mocha!
#HAPPY
And then… the dip.
You give a practice reading and it doesn’t go so well. You question if you’re good enough.
You wonder if your psychic awakening is real or if you’re just imagining all of this.
Fear creeps in.
You question if this is really your path.
#OVERWHELMED
Here’s what I know about this roller coaster ride…
Most psychics, mediums, tarot card readers, and all other types of intuitive readers have struggled with
- lacking confidence
- trusting what they’re getting
- feeling nervous about giving a bad psychic reading
- feeling overwhelmed or confused as they learn
Me? One of the things I struggled with Tremendously (note the capital T and italics) was lack of confidence and trusting what I was getting. I almost quit about – oh, a bajillion times!
I can’t tell you how many times I sat on the couch with a pint of vanilla bean ice cream crying, I can’t do this… it’s too hard! What if I’m no good?!
I had so many vanilla-bean-crying-binges that I was certain I was keeping the Breyer’s ice cream company in business!
If a client had to cancel a reading, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief!
Then I would feel guilty because I KNEW I could help people, but I was just too nervous. I was so stressed out that I was losing sleep.
It was an awful way to live and this “spiritual work” didn’t feel very spiritual at all.
Butterflies in the stomach – totally normal. Avoiding giving readings because you’re scared and feeling your emotions all twisted up inside – not healthy.
How to look FORWARD to giving readings and stop being so nervous:
I still use these techniques to this day. They work wonders and help you stop worrying so much about giving a bad reading:
1. Shift your perspective
The quickest way to get from insecure to inspired is to change your entire outlook on giving readings.
I used to worry about ME when I gave a reading:
What if I can’t connect to anyone in spirit? What if I keep hearing the name Bob and my client doesn’t know a Bob? OMG I’ll turn 10 shades of red and crawl under the table! My client will think I suck and I’ll never be able to give another reading!
Then one day it was as if spirit knocked me on the head and reminded me that this process isn’t about ME at all…
- If I’m giving an intuitive reading, it’s about my client.
- If I’m giving a mediumship reading, it’s about giving a voice to someone in spirit and connecting them with a loved one.
Once you shift your focus away from YOU and onto your client and the Divine reasons for doing the work – you’ll begin to relax.
2. Look at your client on the soul level
Sometimes, when we are sitting to do a reading, we freak out like it’s some big test and our client is judge and jury. They’re not.
The person that’s sitting with you is just that – a person.
Doing divine work means opening your heart. Focus on connecting with the soul of your client. It will help you feel divinely supported, and your client will be divinely supported, too.
Ask yourself: How can I serve this soul? What is beautiful about this soul?
Those two questions can shift your perspective entirely from a place of insecurity to one of inspiration.
Read: The Question You Need to Ask ALL of Your Mediumship & Intuitive Reading Clients
3. Have a “pre-reading” practice
Until about a year and a half ago, I did a “precog” before every reading I gave.
I would take 20 minutes prior to a reading – 10 to meditate, then 10 to sit quietly with a pen and paper. I’d write down all of the impressions I received about my client or the spirit they wanted to connect with BEFORE they arrived for the reading.
To me, carving out that time to honor the reading made it feel extra special and sacred.
The cherry on top: You’ll already feel like you’re “in flow” with the energy when your client arrives. Totally helps get rid of icky pre-reading jitters.
Your pre-reading practice might be dancing, singing, painting, or going for a walk in nature. Do whatever helps you feel connected to the divine.
4. Remember that love and happiness are our natural states
Feelings like fear and insecurity are normal human emotions. But our natural spiritual state is one of love, creativity, and happiness.
When the fear comes in before a reading, acknowledge it, make room for it, and thank it. Why? Because these icky emotions are clues that it’s your physical being – your ego – that is the one talking.
Your TRUE essence – the one doing the Divine work – feels love.
Ask yourself, where’s there love here? Breathe in and focus on your heart.
Ask your guides to help you see this reading through Divine eyes, instead of a limited physical perspective.
Read: What to do When the Spirit You Want to Communicate with Didn’t Speak English
If all else fails…
Remember that the ebbs and flows happen to all of us. Whether you’re parenting, planning a wedding (have you heard the story of how my cat almost destroyed my wedding dress?), or learning to play an instrument – you’ll feel awesome sometimes and not-so-awesome other times.
I recently read that Adele has stage fright. Gasp! Adele who always has THE perfect make-up and always looks so confident on stage? Adele, who sings like an angel? THAT Adele?
Why would she be nervous!
Oh yeah! She’s human, too, and totally cares about giving a quality performance :)
Isn’t it comforting to know that superstars, like Adele, get nervous, too? See, you’re feeling better already!
Next Read: 4 Steps to Clearer Spirit Communication
Thank you so much for this article. It’s now something I can refer back to when I forget that it’s not about me. I’m working on being confident in my abilities. I’m a Spiritual Advisor and Life Coach. My mediumship abilities are finally coming in , in a way that’s more controllable (yay). However one day I give an amazing reading, the next fear sets in and I can hear or see anything. Can you relate?
You’re welcome!