Reading: Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone, 09.2019

 

Had high hopes for this Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone series/link-up but it didn’t take off like I imagined.  Seems like doing something new, uncomfortable, unfamiliar would be so good for all of us to try now and then.  And taking it a step further by sharing about ways we have stretched ourselves could possibly inspire others to do the same.  That was my hope anyway.

This month’s activity outside my comfort zone began as something for which I just accompanied my youngest daughter Lauren.  And then, somehow, I wound up in the middle of things.  Let me explain.

Reading:  Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone, 09.2019

Lauren is now 6 months pregnant with little Camila.  You might remember, she had a miscarriage a little less than a year ago, losing a daughter whom they had named Emma.  A month or so ago, Lauren began asking me questions about whether I thought Camila had her own soul or if her soul was that of Emma’s.  Talk about tough questions.

In addition, Lucia has spoken about seeing ghosts quite a bit since she was very small.  And she spoke of ghosts being in their home in Albuquerque.  At one point, she was talking about ghosts so much that her daycare teacher became concerned because Lucia was telling her about the ghosts, always ‘good’ ghosts, she saw at home.  The teacher spoke with Lauren about what Lucia was saying.  Lauren was aware that Lucia talked about seeing ghosts but became more concerned after talking with the teacher.

Early in September, Lauren decided to contact a medium, a psychic named Kim O’Neill from Houston.  When I asked how Lauren came to select this medium, she said that the mother of a medical student in school with Francisco had used O’Neill.  Lauren asked me to sit with her during her reading.

To Begin

O’Neill suggested that Lauren have some questions jotted down ahead of time to refer to during her session.  Her questions were mostly about Camila and Lucia, but she also wanted to know if our former pets – especially our dogs – knew that we think of them, miss and love them.  Lauren asked me to have some questions ready, too.  I wanted to know if our loved ones who have passed know how much we think of them.  And what we can do to reach out to them and honor them.

The reading was recorded and lasted a little over an hour.  Lauren informed the medium that I was with her and asked if we could put O’Neill on speaker phone so we could both hear her and both take notes on the session.  When the reading was over, O’Neill emailed an audio recording of the session to Lauren and to me.

My Reading

Although I was there only to support Lauren, Kim O’Neill asked to talk with me first.  The only information she asked of us was our names and how to spell them.  She said that I was very intuitive, and immediately asked me to consider becoming a medium myself.  I have always felt that I had a sixth sense of sorts, and both Lauren and I were instantly reminded that I had a dream about a mass stabbing in a public place 2 nights before the shooting in El Paso.

Angels and Loved Ones

The medium said that I have 67 guardian angels who look over me.  It was my angels that were coming forward to give O’Neill information about me.  She encouraged me to talk with the loved ones like my father, nephew and grandmother who have crossed to the other side.

O’Neill mentioned that I have a connection with butterflies.  As many people do.  I have always associated them with my father.  And when I see a butterfly, I always say my dad is visiting.  But the medium said the butterflies are actually my maternal grandmother, Ada Elizabeth.

Health

She discussed various aspects of my health.  Interestingly, she said I:

• would live to be 102-103 years old
• have amazing healing abilities
• no issues with my immune system
• require gallbladder surgery in 2-3 years
• need cataract surgery in both eyes in about 15 years
• become a vegetarian
• should anticipate heart ablation surgery to correct an irregular heart beat issue
• would never be diagnosed with cancer

O’Neill mentioned an issue with calcium.  I have been diagnosed with high calcium which has required that I be monitored by an endocrinologist and a nephrologist because high calcium can be caused by overactive parathyroid or kidney disease.  The doctors can’t decide which in my case.

Platonic Relationships

According to O’Neill we have platonic soulmates with whom we have had relationships in this and past lives.  Lauren and I are platonic soulmates.  Lauren and Lucia are platonic soulmates.  Not sure if that means Lucia and I are, too.  And supposedly, Cady, my older granddaughter and Lauren and I are all three platonic soulmates.  O’Neill encouraged Lauren and me to maintain a close relationship with Cady because she feels a special connection to us.

Doughnut

In June, before moving to El Paso, Lauren had to put her kitty down after years of diabetes and kidney issues.  Lucia absolutely adored Doughnut and he was so patient and good with her.  Our baby girl cried for days after her “DeeDee” died.  She talks about him constantly even now, and begins every day saying DeeDee has died but she still loves him very much.  Lauren had a stuffed kitty created by Petsies to look just like Doughnut, whom Lucia refers to as DeeDee dos (Spanish for 2).  O’Neill explained that the ghosts Lucia sees are departed loved ones, including Doughnut, who the medium says is always with Lucia.  She said that these spirits are common place to her, 3-dimensional and are not negative in anyway.  Apparently, my grandmother, Ada Elizabeth is also always with Lucia.

When Lauren asked what she can do to soothe Lucia, our darling child, the psychic said that baby girl loves to sing and be sung to, read to and to have her back massaged and scratched in order to help her relax.  Lucia has always asked for “cuddles lil bitsy” and “huggies.”  So much so, that I have written a story called “Cuddles Lil Bitsy.”

Emma and Camila

Some of the information O’Neill shared about our baby girl Camila was a little unsettling for me.  To Lauren’s question about Camila’s soul, the medium responded that Camila is Emma.  She explained that Emma wanted to come later than what would have been her early July birth-date.  That Emma wanted to come later because she thought she would be more successful.  When Lauren had asked me that difficult question about the babies’ souls, I had offered that I thought all beings have their own souls…Emma had hers and now Camila has hers.  Not sure how I feel about what O’Neill said.  Other than I would like to think that Emma didn’t die but just postponed her life a few months.  The psychic also reassured Lauren that nothing that did caused her to miscarry Emma.

According to O’Neill, Camila is going to be brilliant.  Very fiery.  (Isn’t that what we have in Lucia?)  And Camila does not like her name.  She wants to be named Rebecca.  And if not Rebecca, then Eliza or Elizabeth (after my maternal grandmother?).  The medium cautioned Lauren that Camila will come quickly and since Lauren will be having a C-section, it is important that the delivery date be scheduled early enough that she won’t go into labor first.  O’Neill assured Lauren that this pregnancy was viable and Camila is healthy.  But she did mention that Camila was a twin, which had been suggested very early on in this pregnancy by Lauren’s obstetrician in Albuquerque.  Whatever the case, there is only one baby now.  And she is apparently chomping at the bit to make her debut.

Answers and More Questions

I guess Lauren got the answers to her questions.  But in doing so, we began formulating more questions.  Which, I am sure, is how these mediums thrive.  Do I believe everything Kim O’Neill told us?  Is everything she imparted just based on lucky guesses and vague generalizations?  Can participating in this reading be considered partaking ‘of the evil and darkness of the enemy?’

This article on beliefnet.com explains that we should turn to God for advice and support about our future.  Author Megan Bailey writes:

It’s completely normal to be worried about the future. We all want to know what will happen tomorrow, and get anxiety. However, using tarot is not the correct way to sooth those fears. We should not put our faith in tarot, and instead put it into the Lord. Isaiah 46:10 says “Only God holds the future, and only He truly knows what will happen”. This is further echoed in Romans 8:17: “If you desire to have peace about your future, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. The future is bright for those who know Him”.

Isaiah 8:19 reminds us further that we should be trusting in God, and Him alone. It says: “People will say to you, ‘Ask for help from the mediums and the fortunetellers, who whisper and mutter.’ Shouldn’t people ask their God for help instead? Why should they ask the dead to help the living?”

Proverbs 3:5-7 is another verse that many Christians turn to when they are dealing with anxiety. It says: “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth. Do not consider yourself wise. Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”

My Takeaway

I don’t imagine that Lauren will seek another reading in the future.  And I certainly can’t imagine accompanying her for one or having a reading of my own.  Nothing that O’Neill said changed my beliefs about the hereafter or ghosts or my loved ones who have departed.  When I see butterflies now, I still think of my dad, but there’s room for some of them to represent my grandmother, or my nephew or my puppies.  Before the reading I knew that they were just insects and I still understand that.

But if seeing a butterfly can bring to mind the love and memories I have for those who have passed, then I think that’s a good thing.  I believe my puppies know that I am thinking of them…just this morning sharing stories about our crazy Cici with my daughter Brennyn.  And I know my dad and my nephew and my grandmother, and others who have passed, know that I love and miss them.

It’s easy to see how people could tread a slippery slope if they began using mediums and readings before making any decisions, moving forward on any projects or responsibilities in life.  Praying is a far wiser answer.  Talking with God, praying for a light on our steps, on our path, and being cognizant of God’s voice, His direction, His guidance is what I look and listen for.

Your Turn

Have you ever had an encounter with a medium or a psychic, a reading?  Do you believe those we loved on earth continue to know we love them once they have died?  As a child, did you have a Ouija board?  Or maybe a Magic Eight Ball?

Will continue writing about my adventures stepping outside my comfort zone but for now, I will set aside the link-up.  Maybe in the new year, there will be renewed interest and I can bring it back.  So, if you have tried something outside your comfort zone would love to have you share about it in a comment below.  It is so important for all of us to  S T R E T C H ourselves, to try new experiences.  Hope to come back the end of October with another Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone post.  If you are a blogger, would love to have you join me.  And if not, you can always share in a comment!

Off to eat pizza and watch Monday night football.  My Pale Pink Porkbellies fantasy football team is not off to a very good season.  Hoping the tide will turn tonight!

Hugs and kisses,