Have you ever wondered what you could learn from people who have lived before us and have already passed on? Do you wish that you had the expertise of someone who cannot physically sit across from you for a conversation? Maybe you already feel like your thoughts and decisions are influenced by a spirit guide who you cannot feel or touch, but who you know is present in your life. When we reach out beyond the physical realm and communicate with the spirits of the deceased, with angels, and with other spiritual entities, this is known as channeling. If we are not limiting ourselves to what can be learned from the people who are walking amongst us on Earth, the possibilities for knowledge are endless!
Channeling occurs primarily in a couple of ways. First, there is the instance in which a medium will link into spirit vibrations and use their sensitivity and clairvoyance to produce evidence of the spirit’s presence. This proof usually will have special meaning to the person who is intended to be the recipient of the spirit communication. One example of this is the popular work of John Edward, who has brought a fresh, honest, and thought provoking attitude to the world of psychic phenomena on national television.
Channeling also may occur spontaneously with loved ones of those who have passed on and saints of the Church who are prepared to help survivors with the challenge of life. The Rev. Gino Concetti, chief theological commentator for the Vatican, declared, “Communication is possible between those who live on this earth and those who live in a state of eternal repose, in Heaven or Purgatory. It may even be that God lets our loved ones send us messages to guide us at certain moments in our life.” Fr. Concetti said the key to the Church’s attitude was the Roman Catholic belief in a “Communion of Saints,” which includes Christians on earth as well as those in the after-life. “Where there is communion, there is communication,” he said.
Perhaps the most famous example of channeling in popular media comes from the blockbuster movie Ghost (1990). In this film, Whoopi Goldberg plays psychic Oda Mae Brown, who surprises even herself when she channels the spirit of Sam, the character played by the late Patrick Swayze. Sam’s spirit did not necessarily plan to offer teachings to those still on Earth, although he did share a great deal about love and the eternal continuation of the spirit, but to solve his own murder and to let his wife know that all was well. This movie did a lot to expose the mainstream viewing audience to the concepts of channeling and spirit guides, and hopefully led some of those in the theaters to explore their own ability to communicate with the spirit realm.
Sometimes, it takes an event that shatters our comfortable lives to put us in touch with the spirit world. It is only then that we are ready to open ourselves up to new ideas and become willing students of what a teacher is ready to share. Such is the case with the earthly author of the book Voices of Sedona and the accompanying series of essays entitled Lessons from Sedona. While grieving the untimely loss of his wife to cancer, the writer was introduced to Sedona M. Schnebly, the namesake of the scenic resort in Arizona who had died many years earlier in 1950. She put him in contact with five spiritual teachers who each taught him a universal principle of reality that has developed into a belief system known as Theofatalism™. It is Sedona who is speaking through the words of Voice of Sedona and Lessons of Sedona and who offers to teach to anyone who is ready for a journey of personal growth. Sedona wants the readers to feel good on the inside no matter what is happening on the outside.
You can get the full story of Theofatalism™ at www.churchoftheofatalism.org and regularly-updated essays inspired by Sedona at www.sedonavoices.blog.com. Voices of Sedona may be ordered from www.IUniverse.com, as well as the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites.
