How Do You Perceive Reality?

It’s Spring in the Upper Midwest! Hallelujah! The weather was bright and sunny today and the forecast is above freezing for the next week and a half. Melting snow and rain boot season is here, and it brings with it a vibrant energy of growth. There’s a lot of discussion about when spring really starts. Is it a specific date? When the crocus blooms? For me, it’s when I walk outside and the cold doesn’t hurt my face! (Very low standards here in Wisconsin.)  

The return of the birds is one of my favorite signs of spring. They have been chirping their beaks off at dawn for the last two weeks. A few days ago, I saw a frustrated little chickadee out in my garden. It reminded me of one of my favorite analogies for explaining how loved ones in Spirit do not miss out on what happens in our lives. 

My garden is very narrow and is shaded by the house most of the day. I usually move my computer up to my dining room to work so I can look out the window and enjoy the flowers. To help me get a better view of my roses, and to increase the amount of light the plants receive, I lean old mirrors against the fence.  It’s really neat, and I can see so much more of the garden from my window. 

I first spotted the chickadee through the kitchen window while I was pouring my morning coffee. He was hopping around on the snow in front of a mirror and would try to jump into it. He’d fall back onto the snow, shake his head, and do it again. This sort of scene carried on all day. He’d hop onto a hydrangea branch, stare at himself in the mirror and try to jump onto the branch that was reflected in the glass. He’d perch on the top edge of the mirror, lean over, look at himself and AGAIN try to somersault into what he perceived as another part of the garden. 

Mirrors provide an interesting view, don’t they? In the chickadee’s case, he just couldn’t see beyond his own reality. 

One of the great concerns people share with me during their grieving is that their loved ones didn’t live to see their grandchildren, graduations, weddings, etc.

But your loved ones in Spirit really do see what happens after they pass. They share those special moments with you, both the joyous and difficult ones.

To help people understand this better, I explain it like this:

Everyone has seen a television show with a police questioning room in it. The subject sits on a chair alone and is surrounded by walls made of two-way mirrors.  All he can see is his own reality reflected back at him. Yet on the “Other Side” of those mirrors sit many people who are able to see through the glass and observe everything the subject is doing. 

Easy to understand, right? We get very caught up in our reality, because it’s all we can see in the looking glass. But that is not true for our loved ones who have passed into the next dimension—call it Heaven, the Other Side, the Spirit World, or whatever you like. They don’t miss anything!

Just a few weeks ago I connected a family to their son who had recently passed. After his message, he communicated for me to “Tell my mom I see the new broom.” Sure enough, she had just bought a new broom for the kitchen. If he sees the new broom, he certainly sees the big things that are happening! It’s important to pay attention to these kinds of small details during a connection with a medium. They are so specific that only those living in the home will be able to validate them. Non-Google-able, as I like to say.

Try to remember the mirror analogy next time you feel that wave of sadness creep in and you think of what your loved one is missing. They see you. They send you their support and prayers. 

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Interested in having a personal connection to your loved ones in Spirit though Mollie? Click here for information on booking a private session.

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©Mollie Morning Star 2014  Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited. 

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The Criticism Cure

The wisdom shared from the Spirit world during sessions is always meant to help us live better in the here and now. Theirs is a unique viewpoint; they've crossed that bridge and have seen the results of their actions from all perspectives. In other words, they know some good stuff about life.

While I was connecting a daughter to her mother in Spirit recently, the mother acknowledged that her daughter's marriage had undergone a transformation for the better, significantly better, in the last year. The woman smiled, and said to me, "It really has. We are much closer and happier now." Curious, I asked what she did that resulted in such an improvement? Her answer was simple, "I stopped criticizing my partner."

Inspired by her relationship transformation, I did an exhaustive search online for articles about criticism, the potential it yields for harm (HUGE) and the potential it might hold for positive change (small, and only when given by a unrelated third party).

Thinking back to when my children were very young, I remember times when a teacher or another parent would tell me something positive my child had done. I would think to myself, "Why do they act exactly the opposite at home? I've asked them a million times to do that!" I'll also never forget the day a dear friend of mine called in tears because a mutual friend had offered her "constructive criticism" in front of group of people. And who hasn't had a relative offer a cutting remark during the holidays?

I am not an expert in psychology, but I can tell you this: criticism is a killer when delivered by someone you love.

It wipes out trust.

It obliterates intimacy.

It causes pain.

It creates distance.

There are few places where criticism can be offered and accepted with helpful results; for example, when it is sought from a professional counselor or a trusted mentor. These specific people are teachers for us; we expect their feedback and are open to it.

But, when criticism comes from a parent, partner, lover, spouse, friend or relative it hurts. It damages the relationship. Our friends and family in the Spirit world have the benefit of seeing the big picture. Often they come through in a reading with apologies for judging others too harshly during their time on Earth. Their experience offers a valuable lesson for those of us willing to listen: it's time for a criticism cure. 

Our basic needs in life, outside of food and shelter, are love and acceptance. These needs are universal.

The very fact that you are reading this blog means you are interested in self-awareness and spiritual growth. I'm willing to bet 100% of you have a fully-formed, inner critic who works overtime. You are aware of your issues, and the last thing you need is for your mother or spouse to highlight them for you.

A true intention to help someone comes from a place of love.

Whether you are trying to figure out how to deal with an outside critic or calm your own inner critic, remember that statement: A true intention to help comes from a place of love.

It can be hard to take criticism from a loved one, and even harder to look at ourselves as being too critical. Want to make changes in the way you approach your relationships? Offer loving and positive suggestions instead of highlighting what someone is doing wrong. Never attack a person; address their behavior.

Instead of saying to someone: "You have such a low self-esteem. Your life will just be full of problems until you correct that," try: "I really value you and our connection. You add something unique to my life. You've grown so much over the years, I notice the self work you are doing. I love you."

The best, strongest and most growth-oriented relationships are based on unconditional love, kindness and acceptance. People suffering with a low self-esteem are probably keenly aware of that, and having it thrown in their face again is not going to be helpful. Instead, offer encouragement. Relationships are mirrors that show us we are worthy of love. 

Marriages and friendships don't end because the mutual support was just too much to handle, they end because the flaw-finding became toxic.

One of the best articles I discovered about what DOES work in a relationship is Masters of Love, by Emily Esfahani. My favorite quote from this article: "Kindness, on the other hand, glues couples together. Research independent from theirs has shown that kindness (along with emotional stability) is the most important predictor of satisfaction and stability in a marriage. Kindness makes each partner feel cared for, understood, and validated-feel loved."

Many years ago while on vacation in Hawaii, I met a restaurant reviewer while relaxing at the pool. I'll never forget something he said to me, "We never give anyone a poor review. The unspoken rule here in Hawaii is, 'Never say bad.' We simply promote and highlight the restaurants that are doing a great job."

Imagine the fundamental change we could make in our relationships and our own happiness if we resolved to silence the critic and "Never say bad." Every word of support we choose over criticism is a seed for our relationship growth. What we plant now, in our homes, at our holiday gatherings and within ourselves will be harvested perennially in years to come. Treating one another with loving kindness, patience and gentleness could be the greatest gift we give to ourselves and those we love--no wrapping required. What will you choose to cultivate?

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Interested in having a personal connection to your loved ones in Spirit though Mollie? Click here for information on booking a private session.

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©Mollie Morning Star 2014  Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited. 

Signs of Hope.

There is nothing like the holiday season's ability to inspire us with joy or fill us with sorrow, practically at the same time. The melody of a familiar Christmas carol, the smell of cookies and pine, and the unpacking of family ornaments all have the potential to whisk our hearts back to happy moments. And it's a wonderful place to linger; memories of a cherished loved one are absolutely the greatest gift we can ever receive and hold dear.

Your loved ones in Spirit are aware of how much they are missed during celebrations, and they wish to make their loving presence known. Family traditions are often carried forward  in honor of a special person who has passed away. If you stop and think about them for a moment, do you realize in doing that, you are sending a "sign" to a loved one in Spirit that YOU are with THEM? 

Have you ever considered that perhaps your loved one is looking for a "sign" from you?  

I'm often asked about specific signs from loved ones who have passed, and the answer is the same for everyone. Whatever makes you think of your loved one and causes you to feel something emotionally or physically in that moment, that's your sign. There are so many ways for a loved one in Spirit to share a loving thought with you. Perhaps you'll see their name printed on a magazine in an odd space, find coins, or hear a special song on the radio as you scan through the channels. I've shared my story many times about my own personal sign from my older brother who passed 19 years ago. For many years, I've been finding paper money in the strangest places, and often in odd amounts. I've had five dollar bills being pushed up in my garden with the daffodils on my birthday in May. Once, I stepped onto a pile of cash in an empty parking lot, $168, the exact amount I needed for a doctor visit that week. It took me a LONG TIME to see the connection: my brother's name is Bill. It's almost embarrassing that I didn't get it sooner !

A few weeks ago I received a spectacular message in the form of two blue jays. I had woken up early that morning, full of excitement to film an episode for a new TV show. (It will be airing in a few months!) As I sat down at my desk with coffee, I was immediately drawn to look out the window into the the garden. There, perched on the fence, were two gorgeous blue jays, yapping and squawking to get my attention. Perhaps it's not uncommon in the Upper Midwest, except that I have never once, in 12 years of living here, seen a blue jay in my neighborhood. With my curiosity piqued, I did an internet search to see what special meaning a blue jay holds in animal lore. This is what I found: "Blue jay people are learning to embrace a more exciting, flamboyant and glamorous life while at the same time fitting in wherever they choose to land. Blue jay arrives onto the scene with beauty, color, energy and commanding attention like royalty or stardom walking on the red carpet."

The perfect message for a day of working on TV! 

My Blue Jay visit inspired me to paint this for a friend. 

The comfort granted through a small sign from a loved one cannot be conveyed in earthly terms. Honestly, I believe it sometimes makes the difference between living a day in peace, and wishing you would have never awakened. We can't know the pain of another, but this time of year we all really need to dig deep and find gentle compassion for the newly-bereaved and for bereaved parents. 

The first few years without a beloved parent present during the holiday celebrations can be very difficult. It's a quandary for those who have been blessed with strong, close, parent-child relationships. No one ever takes a happy moment with a loved one for granted but the truth is, there are some mothers who set the room aglow with their holiday cheer. Those moms who fill every heart with tender joy and every belly with her secret recipes. There's always that crazy cousin or uncle who is life of the party and thrills everyone with his wild stories while the laughter lasts all night long. They are missed terribly at the holidays!

It would be just like that crazy cousin to pull a prank as a sign from Spirit, wouldn't it? Perhaps lights flickering? And your mom might send you a sign in the form of a familiar smell while driving in a closed car. Perhaps a friend will randomly email you a quote that happened to be a favorite of your loved one in Spirit. Keep you heart and eyes open to the many ways you can be touched by love.

We have to keep on, in whatever way we can, and look for those unexpected moments of serendipity that prove we never face a day alone. 

There is another way you can be graced with hope from a loved one without even realizing it's happening. At some point, we all come up against a bad day, when the grief just hurts and the loneliness is overwhelming. We huddle up somewhere safe and alone, and release the tears. Eventually the tears dry up, the tissues run out and we find ourselves getting back to business. It's in those quiet moments that the love of Spirit is flowing directly into your Soul. The power or prayer or intention is unlimited, and you need to know that your loved one is praying for you, thinking about you and sending you all the love in the universe in those moments of despair. So silent is the exchange that you are unaware, but somehow, someway, you found the strength to pick up and try again. It's a gift of grace. 

Above all, be gentle during this season. Be gentle with yourself and everyone you meet. Walk slower, listen more, compromise when you can, forgive, forgive and forgive. Be the gift of love to everyone you encounter. 

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Interested in having a personal connection to your loved ones in Spirit though Mollie? Click here for information on booking a private session.

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©Mollie Morning Star 2014  Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited. 

The Right Place, The Right Time.

I'm just back from the end of my fall tour which concluded in New England on Sunday. I had such a great time traveling, seeing the autumn colors and making new friends both in the flesh and in Spirit. These intimate group readings truly allow us the opportunity to share these incredible encounters on a personal level with Spirit and one another. 

Yet from time to time, it's natural for all of us to wonder if we're on the right path. And though I love my job, sometimes the simple desire to sleep in my own bed gets me wondering. Luckily, if I'm ever curious whether I'm in the right place, Spirit always shows up with some wonderful coincidence to show me my path is true. This was the case during my recent travels, and chances are, Spirit reaches out to you the same way, too. 

After landing at Boston Logan airport Thursday evening in dreary rain, my assistant, Mary, and I drove to New Hampshire for the night. We don't have much extra time while on a multi-city tour, but we try to squeeze in an hour or two of local flavor each morning whenever possible. The first night we stayed at an historic inn near Portsmouth, on Castle Island. When the sun came up Friday morning, we looked out the window to see we were surrounded by water, boats and beautiful fall foliage. It was breathtaking and incredibly peaceful. We made our way down to breakfast, which was served in a gorgeous dining room with a domed ceiling, a roaring fire and overstuffed chairs. It was emblematic of quintessential New England charm, and we smiled at each other and stifled a giggle while listening to the valet speak in his thick Boston accent. A young woman came to the table and introduced herself as our server. We remarked about how wonderful the atmosphere was, and how stunning the fall leaves were as they were reflected off the water. I asked if she was from New Hampshire. She said, yes, she lived there most of her life but was born in Wisconsin. With my curiosity piqued, I inquired, "What town?" "Oh, a little place called Sheboygan," she replied. We could hardly believe that the first person we met on the first morning of our trip was from the same small town we had left only hours beforehand! It was a sure sign to me from Spirit that we were in the right place. 

At Castle Island, New Hampshire

Another string of interesting coincidences happened while on tour in California three weeks ago which also let me know I was in the right place, at the right time. Flash back to a year ago: I was invited by Marc Mondavi to be a special guest at a wine dinner at the Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee, to introduce the release of his label produced by Charles Krug called, The Divining Rod. Marc uses dowsing rods to source water in many of the vineyards in Napa and calls himself a "Water Witch." It was a really fun event, Marc had copper rods for everyone and demonstrated his dowsing methods and I did random readings while everyone enjoyed a fabulous meal. Fast forward to this April, when my ultra-cool, psychic friend, Mark Christopher Nelson, said during a reading that he saw me "At a very special winery" in the near future. 

This brings us up to the present, mid-October, and an amazing coincidence. While on tour in Northern California, a good friend of mine took me to Napa for lunch and a late afternoon drive up the Silverado Trail. The trail is 26-mile scenic route from Napa to Calistoga with vineyard after vineyard. It is absolutely gorgeous in the fall, and with the setting sun illuminating the hills, it was just sensational! Near the end of our drive, I realized the light was nearly gone and I wanted to take some photos. I asked my friend to pull into the next winery. A minute later she pulled into a long driveway, only to round the corner and see a large "Charles Krug" sign. A very special winery indeed! They had closed a few minutes earlier but were kind enough to let us in for a quick look around and a chance to capture a few splendid pictures. I had to shake my head at the connection; I literally have no ties to any winery in Napa (or anywhere else for that matter) so it really delighted me to visit the home of the people I had met the year before at the special wine dinner.

At Charles Krug Vineyard, California. 

The string of coincidences got one step more bizarre when a friend, who doesn't know any of this, sent me a quote from a book called "The Divining Rod," by Michael Knight. Okay Universe, I got it! 

The signs are everywhere if we only choose to see them. It's not only about receiving a sign from a loved one who has passed. It could be a road marker, like the signs I received, that in the Divine scheme of things, I was in the right place, at the right time, following my path for the highest good. 

Right now, all my signs are pointing to turkey dinners, festive decorations, cuddles with my kitty and cherished time with family and friends. To all of you who have supported me during my travels this year, I thank you! It was my greatest pleasure and a humble honor to experience your loved ones with you.

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Interested in having a personal connection to your loved ones in Spirit though Mollie? Click here for information on booking a private session.

©Mollie Morning Star 2014  Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited. 

Playing Games with Spirit

When was the last time you had fun talking to a deceased loved one? Strange question, right? All too often when we are longing for a connection, a sign, or some form of communication, we are reaching out in desperation, almost begging our loved ones to acknowledge their presence in our lives. We wait for the lights to flicker, or the photo to fly off the wall...the more dramatic the sign, the closer they are, right? Not so fast...in all of our urgency we often overlook the simple ways they reach out to us every day. Not every butterfly that flutters by is a sign from our departed loved ones, but occasionally, it just might be so. 

The overarching need for our loved ones to communicate with us after death is to assure us they are still alive and connected. That really is it. Their presence, no matter how we manage to feel or perceive it, is serving that purpose. The more serious and desperate we are, the more difficult it is for us to notice the small signs. So for anyone wishing to communicate with a loved one or trying to develop their intuition, I suggest making a game out of it. That's right...play with it! It is a fun way to test your ability and sharpen your awareness. 

One of the best ways I have found to hone intuition is by using oracle cards. These are different from tarot cards in that each card has a specific meaning, and a guidebook explains what each cards means. You can ask questions about your life when you need a spiritual perspective. You can also use the cards as a tool to sharpen your awareness: simply choose a card and before looking at the image, try to glean information about it. When I was first developing my abilities, a friend would pick a card, then try to mentally project the image to me. It's great fun. Anyone can try this.

Last weekend a friend came over for a day of fun, baking and friendship. She is also a medium, so naturally we like to push ourselves by testing new methods of connecting with Spirit. We concoct crazy card readings. We try different ways of choosing cards and use several different decks together, pulling a few cards from each. It was a fun day of play. We certainly didn't take ourselves too seriously and our games involved a lot of laughter. And sometimes, things that come up just don't seem to make sense. In fact, that's completely normal. Intuitive games and messages won't always be immediately clear, but it's important to sit with the information anyway. If you try this at home, remember, the information may be confusing in the moment, but that doesn't mean you are getting wrong information. 

While I was connecting with my friend's son who had passed, he showed me the image of a balloon, and a short, four-lettered man's name starting with "A." Unsure, I asked,"Well, is it anyone's birthday?" Sometimes I see balloons if it is. Remember, we were playing...this isn't a serious situation or life-changing reading. I got the impression that the balloon was from a balloon release in her son's honor, but we didn't have any idea what the "A" name connection was. A few hours later, the mystery was solved when she went home and read her mail. One of the balloons had been found in a cornfield by a woman who wrote that she, too, had lost a son named Adam. The woman shared that she had been to see a medium, and that my friend should take comfort in knowing her son would always be with her. Two families, separated by many miles, connected by a balloon and possibly fate. What a powerful message emerged from our "play!" Had we considered the information wrong just because it didn't make sense right away, we might have lost focus on the deeper meaning that would eventually reveal itself. The important thing to remember when you try this on your own, is to be patient and just have fun. Tune in and see what's there. Then, give the information some time to fall into place. 

Remember why your loved ones try to communicate: to help you realize this life is only a drop in eternity. To help you feel the comfort of their love, and to see you feeling joyful! Getting yourself in that space requires letting go of expectations. Ease up on your demands of your loved one to manifest what you want, and instead, make a fun game out of what they can do. Then, keep a little journal of the signs you receive and see if something keeps repeating itself. 

A couple of my favorite card decks for playing with intuition are:

• The Enchanted Map by Colette Baron-Reid

• Psychic Tarot for the Heart by John Holland

Here's an Amazon list of what's available. You'll know the right deck for you when you see it! 

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Interested in having a personal connection to your loved ones in Spirit though Mollie? Click here for information on booking a private session.

©Mollie Morning Star - All Rights Reserved 

The Language of Spirit

"I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things." - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

One of the first books I read on my spiritual journey was The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, and it was a great choice for a beginner. It's the story of a young man on a long journey who is learning the language of the Universe. If you are ready to learn more about Spirit communication, this is a great story to inspire your desire to understand signs and symbols.

The most persistent question I get asked about my work as a medium is, "How can I communicate with my loved ones who have passed?"  

The answer lies within your willingness to learn about and try something new. The language of Spirit is much different than the way we communicate in the physical world, using our mouths to form words that are heard by someone's ears. When I was in school, I studied Spanish. On the first day of class, I wasn't yet ready to hear and understand a dissertation in that foreign language. But by the end of the week I had figured out how to say, "Hello!", "Goodbye", and "Where is the bathroom?" Just the basics. Funnily enough, my ex-husband was Belgian, and despite being divorced for a decade, I can still swear fluently in Flemish. (Tells you a lot about the marriage, eh?) Having spent a lot of time in Europe, I learned the frustration of being in social settings as a non-native language speaker. I had to be really alert, watch body language and listen for intonation since I didn't always readily understand the words being spoken.

The language of Spirit is nonverbal. Mediums have to develop their own relationship with those who are in Spirit to receive the information. Simply put, it is mental telepathy; pictures, images and thoughts. All of us do this constantly, but most people haven't really studied it. This is why we think of a person who is calling us right before the phone rings, or have a persistent urge to reach out to someone without knowing the reason why. Our Souls are beacons, constantly sending out signals to each other. The big question is, "How do we register those signals?"

A few years ago, I was conducting a Skype session for a woman in England whose husband had passed. During the communication, I saw images in my mind of the Hampton Court Flower Show. You might wonder how a medium living in the Upper Midwest of the USA knows about a flower show in London. Well, I have been there! In this particular case, I was the right medium for this woman because of my knowledge and experience. Another great example of how this works happened during a phone session last week. I was connecting a couple who had been deeply in love when I saw the image of a woman I know named Stephanie. The woman I was speaking with confirmed her friend named Stephanie had to break the news to her that her fiancee had died. Again, through mental telepathy, this was her fiancee's way of confirming he was aware of events that had taken place after his passing. It was also a way for him to thank Stephanie for the great care she took in handling the sad task of sharing that news. 

The language of Spirit is subtle one: signs in nature, the words of a stranger, mental images, feelings and sensations. The language of the Soul is universal; free from the barriers of language and the physical body. It is knowing of sorts. And like any other relationship, it takes patience and trust to develop.

If you want to learn how to communicate with a loved one in Spirit, you have to be willing to study, try something new and educate yourself. Read lots of books! Visit spirituality centers and see what kind of awareness classes they offer. Your results will be as good as the work you are willing to put into it.  

Being a professional medium, I am adept at practicing mental telepathy, and while that's great when I am working, it can cause some interesting circumstances for me in my normal life. Recently, while I was getting a manicure by a Vietnamese nail technician who was chatting in his native language with a coworker about the weather, I unwittingly contributed to the conversation. Stunned, he looked up at me and said, "You understand Vietnamese?" I was as surprised as he was! I said, "Just a little." and vowed to keep my mouth and brain shut from then on. Ha!

Have fun with your experimentation. Your loved ones in the Spirit world know you are just learning and want the process to be joyful for you. Try not too be too serious; you may even want to make a bit of a game out of it. When it comes to communicating with Spirit, our Souls are beacons, constantly sending out messages to one another. With dedicated practice, we can all begin to receive those messages with crystal clarity.

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Interested in having a personal connection to your loved ones in Spirit though Mollie? Click here for information on booking a private session.

©Mollie Morning Star 2015 –Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited. 

Five myths about mediumship revealed!

Here's my top list of of the fishy (and sometimes funny) issues about mediumship and Spirit communication I deal with most often.  

Myth One: Your loved ones jump all over me at the grocery store or visit me at home when I'm just relaxing with my family. 

People have often said to me, "I told my Dad to go find you when he died!"  Wait a minute....why would you tell your Dad to enter the home of someone he doesn't know? Did he do that when he was alive? Another classic situation occurs when someone asks,"So, what do you do for a living?"  My response is usually met with, "Oh my gosh, do you see anyone with me?" or "You're crazy!"

While it has happened that a random soul has shown up to urge me to deliver a message, I can count the times over the years on one hand. It simply doesn't work that way, especially for a full-time medium. In order for me to give someone a great reading, I need to tune into that energy, and that is simply not happening when I am cooking dinner, surfing the internet or having coffee with a friend. Reality TV shows have led people to believe the life of a medium is one full of constant connections regardless of the who, what, where or when. That Spirit just HAS to deliver a message right now, in the middle of aerobics class. What everyone really needs to bear in mind is that reality TV is meant to be entertaining, and producers carefully coordinate situations for that purpose. Filming permits are required and often people are cast into certain situations because they have a dramatic story. All that glitters is not necessarily gold. 

I occasionally meet someone with the ability who says they are being bombarded all day by errant spirits. My response it to tell that person that perhaps they need to explore their ability. I know first-hand, if a medium is using the ability to help people consistently, there will be no need for their dinner to be disrupted so they can give readings then, too. It's largely a matter of discipline and choosing to tune in at the appropriate time. 

I also don't have the ability to sit around and chat all day with my deceased relatives. I am not objective, and like you, I will book a session with a medium or work on my own to recognize their signs and subtle communication. 

Myth Two: A "certified medium" is guaranteed to give you a great reading.

This is a question that I feel truly needs to be addressed, even knowing I am likely to upset some of my peers. First of all, mediumship is not a regulated industry. We don't have to pass a Board Exam and go to school in order to open a business. Most mediums claiming to be certified have simply paid for and attended a series of classes. Sometimes the teacher is famous. The testing for these certificates is lenient, unregulated and ungoverned. The teacher alone determines whether the medium passes. The complaints I receive most frequently from clients about poor previous readings involve this type of "certified medium." 

Many intuitives have some ability, but not enough to consistently (and I mean 99.99% percent of the time) make accurate, validating connections. An 80% success rate is not enough when you are responsible for someone's emotional well-being. There are also mediums that are certified and tested scientifically in blind studies by the Forever Family Foundation and other comparable scientific studies. The mediums do not pay for this certificate and it is difficult to achieve. The downside is that it is a slow process therefore not enough mediums are able to be tested and funding for the program isn't abundant. But that is one certificate that should be held in esteem. 

My advice is this: if you are researching for a mediumistic reading, look for someone with years of experience and large quantities of positive feedback. Get referrals from people you know. Attend a public event first to see them work.  When you visit a medium's website and their tagline or bio is a list of who they have studied with or are certified by, consider for a moment, why are they using someone else's name to describe themselves? If a medium is good, you'll be reading lots of reviews from their clients--not a list of who they have taken classes from. Don't judge a medium by their Facebook following, either. Large numbers of followers doesn't indicate any ability beyond knowing how to maximize exposure on social media. 

 As a side note, in the UK, getting certificates by the Spiritualist National Union for different aspects of mediumship is actually a very rigorous process. This sort of regulation doesn't exist in the U.S., but there are smaller organizations such as the Forever Family Foundation that are making great strides to recognize truly capable mediums.

Progress is being made, but it is ultimately up to the potential client to decide if a certificate seems holds any merit. 

Myth Three: You have to wait a specific amount of time after a loved one's passing before you can have a session because the Soul has to get adjusted before they can communicate.

Completely untrue. I have received validating messages from Souls who have passed over within a few hours. The right time to schedule a reading is when you feel able to handle the emotions that arise from the communication. There is a school of thought that you should also be in a place of acceptance of the passing before you have a session. This to me is a flexible area. I see no benefit for the newly bereaved to wait a set amount of time to receive the communication from a child or spouse that could possibly save them from extreme despair. A reading will not remove your experience of grief, but it may remove the fear of the separation. You will know your loved is spiritually close and always will be. You will know they are still alive. People who get thrown into grief without a prior knowledge of spiritual connections stand to benefit the most from experiencing a connection. If you have ever had a validating session, then theoretically you know the afterlife is real and you can handle subsequent losses more gracefully. This is the reason why I offer High Priority sessions at all times for those who are newly bereaved and have never experienced the communication before. The sooner, the better. 

Myth Four: Only strong, loud spirits come through in a group sessions.

Again, there is no evidence to support this. I have connected with hundreds of very shy, quiet Souls in group sessions. Mediums are not in charge of who comes through; it is organized by our Spiritual helpers based on who is in the audience. It is Spirit's intention that the messages which come through touch the hearts of everyone present. Likewise, the most bereaved person doesn't necessarily receive the connection either. It's a group, and a group experience will address the overall needs of everyone present. 

Myth Five: Your loved ones in Spirit are with you ALL of the time. 

Okay, this isn't a myth. It's true. Your loved ones are with you 24/7 especially when you are in the bedroom and bathroom. :-)

Joking! But, I get asked that ALL the time! People worry they have no privacy. Even while alive, we are not with anyone 24/7. Our children go to school. Our spouses go to work. We move out from our parents homes. Yes, your sacred, private moments are yours. No worries there anymore, okay? The most important thing to know is that Spirit is with you in the moments when you need them most. 

As you seek answers in your own life and in the midst of your own losses, here's hoping this myth-busting helps you on your journey.

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Interested in having a personal connection to your loved ones in Spirit though Mollie? Click here for information on booking a private session.

 

©Mollie Morning Star 2015 –Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited. 

Earth Angels

Has anyone ever said to you, "Wow, that was just what I needed to hear today." Or, "You have such great timing!" 

We all know about angels: beings of light who are helping humanity. But how about Earth Angels: those special people who walk the Earth by day, sharing the light and love of the Divine with everyone they meet? 

You are an Earth Angel. Yes, you.

Let me explain a little insight from loved ones in Spirit that will help you understand how you are used to bring love into this world. 

Imagine a scenario where you are in line at the grocery store waiting to check out and having a teary day. It's one of those marker days, maybe the birthday of a loved one in Spirit. You can't stop thinking about them or feeling the pain of the physical separation. Let's imagine it's the birthday of your father, Michael. As you stand there getting lost in your grief, a young woman gets in line behind you. You look in her shopping cart, and there is a birthday cake that says,"Happy Birthday, Michael!"  It almost takes your breath away. The stranger smiles at you, and starts making small talk about the party she's having that afternoon. You end up telling her it is your deceased father's birthday, too and his name was also Michael. The next thing you know the two of you are chatting like old friends about your fondest memories of your fathers. In that moment, this unsuspecting woman is your personal Earth Angel.  

Who do you think inspired her to to choose your check out line from the seven that were open? Chances are, it was someone in Spirit who knew you needed some sign of comfort and remembrance today.

Many times we have random, but persistent thoughts of a friend. Unsure of why this person comes to mind, we often just pass the thought off in our busyness instead of acting on it as a signal to reach out. When we realize the Soul of a friend's loved one who died can influence our thoughts and encourage us to reach out, we can begin to act our part as Earth Angel to each other. 

I have a friend who lost a daughter named Molly a few years ago, and Molly is one of the greatest spiritual influencers I've ever met. Last year I was meeting a friend in Ireland and when we reunited she said to me, "I bought you this little gift, I just felt really drawn to it and I know it's not how you spell your name." She handed me a beautiful, bright blue, heart-shaped crystal with the name "Molly" on it. Instantly, I knew it was a gift from Molly to her mom. That shade of blue was Molly's color. The anniversary of Molly's passing was just a few days away and this was her way of reaching her mom through a series of Earth Angel kindnesses.

It works both ways, too. A few weeks ago I got an email from my friend who told me she sensed Molly's presence around and couldn't stop thinking of me, so she gave in to the thought and sent me a quick note asking how I was doing. Well, it's no surprise that I was having a difficult day. My heart warmed up instantly and I felt loved. I felt touched that Molly would reciprocate the favor by encouraging a bit of support for me when I needed it. 

I could go on writing for days about examples of people who show up at exactly the right moment with some sort of Divine message, but I think you get the idea of what I'm trying to convey. 

You have the potential to be an Earth Angel to many. All you have to do is pay attention to the random thoughts that encourage you to reach out to someone. You don't need to know why, all you need to do is let someone know you are thinking of them. That they are remembered. That they are loved. Put away your phone while you are in line and talk to the people around you. The majority of the messages you will receive from loved ones in Spirit will fall out of the mouths of the people around you, not during a visit with a medium. Pay attention and see what Spirit is trying to communicate to you through a repeated message. Is everyone telling you the same thing, over and over? Take heed and take heart. You are deeply loved, and Spirit will always find a way to remind you!

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Private sessions are available by phone/Skype or in-person in Chicago, IL.

I hope you'll join me for an intimate evening of Spirit communication and messages. Click to my "Events" page to see all the cities.

©Mollie Morning Star 2014-2016  Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited. 

Grief and the Soul's Journey

Here's a question I'm often asked:

When a loved one passes, can our feelings of grief and loss hold them to us or impede their journey in any way?

To the best of my knowledge and experience, the simple answer is no. Your feelings cannot alter the course of another Soul's eternal path. If that were possible, wouldn't they still be alive, right in your arms where you want them? 

And if it were possible, wouldn't we also change the Soul's journey for loved ones who make destructive choices while here on earth? Anyone who has had a family member fall into substance addiction or abusive behavior has had to learn the very difficult art of letting go. It requires acceptance that we cannot control anyone's journey but our own. And so it is with our loved ones in Spirit.

Feelings of grief and despair are completely normal after a loved one dies. While we are experiencing these emotions, they feel foreign, terrible, unwanted, and we'd give nearly anything to rid ourselves of the pain. But none of those feelings can change the fact that grief is the normal reaction to the losing someone we love. Coping with those feelings as they arise on a day-to-day basis is difficult; accepting that your feelings are natural can help.

You are not alone in your sorrow. Grieving is a part of loving. The pain of loss is felt by all of humanity. 

Yes, we feel the loss deeply. Yet our loved ones who have passed into Spirit are eternally connected to us through the bonds of love. No matter how many seasons pass, that bond always remains. Even if you recover. Even if you move on. Even if you find love with someone else. Even if you have another child. We are bound to time as a form of measurement here on the earthly plane, yet, in the eternal realm, our loved ones do not suffer from the same measurements. Our earthly lives are but a chapter in the whole story, and our loved ones in Spirit are able to observe and be aware of us from their dimension. The pain of separation we experience here on earth, is not their experience. 

It's okay to feel your grief, as lousy as it is. Every wrenching moment of it is justified by your love. But you must not give up hope; grief, like all things, changes over time. Often it is transformed into a new perspective, a goal, or a sense of purpose. In fact, in time, many people are able to see and share the unexpected gifts loss has brought to them, such as:

• deeper compassion
• a closeness to nature
• a desire to be of service
• tolerance for human differences
• the ability to let go of petty grievances 

These gifts are the phoenix rising from the ashes of our loss. Clouded by our sadness, they can sometimes go unnoticed. But if we are open to the possibility that we can learn from our loss, that we can create good from our sorrow, we will come to see that our grief and our continuing connection to Spirit can inspire us to breathe light and life into places of the heart we thought were gone forever. Maybe it's your Soul's journey, maybe it's the journey of your loved ones in Spirit, and maybe it's your shared path. In truth, in the midst of your loss, know that there is no greater legacy you could leave for those you are bonded to through eternity. 

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Interested in having a personal connection to your loved ones in Spirit though Mollie? Click here for information on booking a private session.

I hope you'll join me for an intimate evening of Spirit communication and messages. Click to my "Events" page to see all the cities.

©Mollie Morning Star 2014  Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited. 

Love Makes a Parent, Not DNA.

I kicked off the Fall Tour season in Madison and Green Bay, Wisconsin this week and had some wonderful messages about parenthood, adoption, abandonment and what it truly means to be a parent. I love when we are able to share these experiences publicly in a group setting; the messages are healing to so many people. The healing continues, as I get validation over and over again from readers who are also healed by these stories.

At the event in Madison, an older gentleman come though, showing me a thick head of gray hair, giving me the names Mary* and Paul. A woman in the audience, Mary, recognized this to be her biological father who had given her up for adoption, whom she'd never met. It was a wonderful connection; a chance for him to recognize some of her accomplishments and also the difficulties she has endured. He explained that adoption wasn't his first choice; the situation had been out of his control. Mostly, he wanted her to know she is loved and wanted in this world and that from a spiritual standpoint, he is now supporting her. The father then brought the soul of Mary's deceased husband forward so he could also connect and create more healing. It was possibly one of the first acts of fatherly love that he was able to do for his daughter. Even after death, his desire to take care of her lives on. It was an emotional reading for everyone who witnessed it. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. 

After that connection, I got the name of Mike and a connection to a young man who had passed in his early 20s in a car accident. A woman recognized this to be her ex-brother-in-law. Mike's message was about how he wanted to let her know he was looking out for her daughter, his niece. He acknowledged that she has support from his side of the family in Spirit, to help with the challenges of co-parenting with her ex-husband. The woman was crying and I could feel her releasing her stress as she realized that her ex-husband's family validated her struggle and was supporting her in Spirit. People in Spirit are pretty great! I then heard Spirit communicate to me, "Allan is here for the woman next to her in the aisle." I shook my head incredulously, hardly believing it myself and asked the woman sitting next to her if she had an Allan in Spirit. She instantly cried out, "That was my biological father!" In this situation, due to his addiction issues, he was not able to be a great father, and wanted to validate to her that she really matters to him, and he is no longer having that struggle. The woman's mother (Allan's ex) was also in the audience and got a long overdue acknowledgement for all she had endured.

The theme continued in Green Bay, where a young woman's grandfather came through. After a few minutes of evidence and messages, the most incredible thing happened. He wanted me to communicate to her, "Your biggest dreams are coming true now." Through her tears she quietly sobbed and said, "That's all I needed tonight. I just needed to know if he was okay with my situation."  She confessed that although she'd had a close, loving relationship with her grandfather, her father had not been very involved in her life. She had recently decided to allow her step-father to adopt her. She had been worried her grandfather would be upset that she had terminated his son's parental rights. 

The grandfather's message was beautiful and profound, and terribly important for many people to hear: "It's not about who gives the DNA, it's about who gives you love."

Adoption and parent-child relationships are viewed with great love and understanding by those who have passed into the afterlife. I have connected many adoptees to biological parents in Spirit, whom they never knew in the physical world. There is often very little evidence that the child knows to validate, but somehow, someway, a little gem of knowledge proves the connection. It is incredibly validating and healing for the child. Likewise, I have had countless connections where someone comes through and they feel "like a parent." I have yet to feel an energetic difference between someone who was a biological parent and someone who adopted or simply chose to love someone as their child. The connection is about the love and the relationship. If that connection exists in life, it remains in death.

Being adopted can leave many unanswered questions, so having a posthumous connection that answers even a few of them can be a life-changing experience. I have seen tremendous healing happen time and time again when these Souls are reunited. There is always hope for a fresh start, even a fresh start that begins when the physical life ends. 

*Names have been changed out of respect for the privacy of those who received messages, although the names given during the readings were accurate.

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Interested in having a personal connection to your loved ones in Spirit though Mollie? Click here for information on booking a private session.

©Mollie Morning Star 2014  Short excerpts of this article may be shared on the internet provided a live link back to this original source is used. Reproduction in print is prohibited.