FaceTime & Skype Sessions Open Again

Hi all!

I'm pleased to announce that after almost two years, I've re-opened my FaceTime and Skype sessions to those who can't get to my Chantilly, VA office.  I am still not conducting telephone sessions but wanted to accommodate clients who have a difficult time getting to my office or simply are just too far away... and FaceTime/Skype feels more personal to me than phone sessions, anyway.

For now, the FT/Skype sessions will be conducted on Wednesday evenings at 7 - 8pm EST.  I may extend the timeframe of these sessions at some point in the future.

I will be taking individual sessions (with no more than two extra participants - no groups) at the same rate as my in-person sessions.  The sessions with extra participants will work in the same way where you will purchase the individual session and then add the extra participant fee(s) if applicable.  For the best possible experience, I recommend having a good internet connection and to be in a quiet space in your home or office where you won't be distracted by other people or noises, etc.

Because my online booking system won't allow me to split my services/locations, you'll just need to call me at (703) 474-2227 to book this kind of session and I'll put you in the system manually.  You will still need to supply your credit card or I can send you a PayPal invoice, but like my in-person sessions, you'll need to confirm your appointment with your payment in advance since my sessions are so limited.  Thank you for understanding!

A few points on FT/Skype sessions...

One of the reasons I stopped doing these kinds of readings was because of people off-camera quietly participating in the reading with nods and whispers while not paying to participate like you would if you brought someone to my office.  If you're in the same room and off to the side and interacting with my client - silent or not - you're experiencing the reading live and are an extra participant.  I really don't want this to be an issue this time, which is why I'm laying it all on the table now.  If I notice this happening, I will need to stop the session.  I do hope you understand.

And I know this sounds silly, but it's happened more than a few times and also has to be addressed. Please don't wear your pajamas or nightgown for a session, lol.  I know you're comfy in your home, but it's a bit uncomfortable if you're in hair rollers and a robe, lol.  No, you don't have to dress up and I seriously don't care if you wear sweats to be comfy (I may as well), but I've had some awkward situations, so I'll just leave it there... I know you get it.  :D

THAT SAID... (don't judge... ) the only space in my home where I have peace and quiet is my silversmithing studio and having a corner desk, well, you're gonna see my workbenches in the background.  Even all cleaned up, tools and workbenches are messy, and if it seems to be an issue, I'll try to find a room divider or backdrop.

SO... there you go!  If you can't come to Chantilly or it's a big pain in the butt, now you have another option!  :D  Please spread the news with friends you think may be interested!  :)  My website is www.BarbMallon.com and then just click the appointments tab.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!  Stay warm!
Barb xo

Happy New Year and It's Been a While!

Happy New Year, everyone and I hope you had a lovely holiday season!

I'm betting that you probably thought that I've fallen off the edge of the earth since I haven't written or updated since August!  This is the first year where I buckled down in the spring and applied for a lot (for me) of holiday festivals to showcase and sell my jewelry.  I did one or two a month from September to January and what I didn't realize is that if I sold a lot (a good thing!) I had to very quickly create more pieces for the next show which was usually a week or so from the one I had just done.  Because I have family obligations during the day and clients a few times a week, this makes it pretty difficult, so I found myself huddled in my studio after dinner for a few hours every night.  Now Mike knows how I feel when he's getting ready for an election and I feel like a single mom!

Some smaller stocking stuffer-type pieces take maybe 30 minutes, but most others take a few hours to create from start to finish, so I just didn't have time for anything but being able to bring a good amount of pretties to each holiday show.  All of the shows except for one were packed with people, so while it was a really busy few months for me, it was completely satisfying to see my jewelry being purchased, boxed up and customers walking away happy.  Yay!

My last show for a while was last weekend, so now I'm in 2018 planning mode trying to figure out what the heck I want to fill this year up with.  :D

For those of you who are interested in my jewelry, I have 12 new pieces in the shop left over from my shows.  Go check them out!  AND, as a FaceBook follower or blog follower of mine use this secret code at checkout to get 15% off all items (ready to ship).  SECRET18.

You can have a coupon code automatically added by just clicking this link:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/barbmallonjewelry?coupon=SECRET18‌

I will also be adding some textiles to my shop.  I used to macrame as a kid and now that it's really popular again, I've created some pretty wall hangings and plant hangers all in white cotton rope with pieces of driftwood.  This is a new big trend now, but it's so fun to get back into, so those will be in the shop hopefully tomorrow.

Click here to see.... enjoy!

Regarding mediumship sessions, I'm seriously thinking of adding a few days a month to do FaceTime sessions (not Skype).  I have a lot of clients who miss my phone sessions who live all around the country/world, so I may add this option very soon.  Please contact me if you'd be interested.  The backdrop to your sessions will not be pretty spiritual stuff, but rather my jewelry workbench and messy soldering station but if you're ok with that... :)  Please be sure to like my FaceBook page and/or follow this blog for updates!

I am still accepting clients in my Chantilly, VA office on Tuesday early evenings and Friday afternoons.  There is no wait list any longer and you can easily book yourself from my website under the Appointments tab.  Easy peasy!  

As far as classes go, as soon as I figure out my spring show schedule, I'll announce some classes for the spring and early summer.  Please let me know if you'd be interested in my Psychic Development Workshop or my Animal Communication Workshop.  Both are held in my Chantilly, VA office.

Personal/family stuff... everyone is good!  Maggie and Sammy are showing a little more grey in their muzzle but are just as silly and feisty as ever!  The Madam Bun is her same diva self and is currently shedding like crazy.  I couldn't figure out why this was until someone on a rabbit FB page said theirs did the same thing because it's warmer in the house than outside.  OH. Didn't even occur to me, so she's on something called Laxitone now to make sure her tummy doesn't get blocked up by her fur, which can be deadly for buns.  I could have already made a sweater from the amount of fur coming off of her!  She will NOT allow me to brush her or use any hair removal device, so I have to patiently and gently pluck all loose fur while making sure I do NOT stop petting her nose, otherwise she jumps right off me and... THUMPS.

The boys are good.  Two big birthdays this year... my youngest, Bren turned 18 in October and likes to bring up the fact that he doesn't need my permission for some things... um... you still live at home, dude.  :D  And Brady just turned 21 yesterday!  I can't believe all of my kids are grown, but at least I have a silly little Grandboo to FaceTime with weekly and go visit.  My daughter Sara and her husband Brad just bought a beautiful new home not too far from where they lived before.  Mike and I are looking forward to visiting soon and seeing it first-hand.  

I'm also very grateful that I recently had the very unexpected opportunity to reconnect with my family whom I hadn't been connected to in 12 years, I think.  A lot has changed, but it has been very calming and healing.  I think sometimes you just have to let the past go and try to grow and evolve in love as life is short.  It takes time, conversations and smiles, but at least that door is open now and that makes me happy.  :)  Plus, they like my jewelry so I have new models for marketing, hehe!  :D

Again, wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2018!  I'll be back in touch soon!

Barb xo

Summer Update and Bye Bye Waitlist!

Hello, everyone!

Happy summer!  I hope you're enjoying your summer so far!  It's been a rainy few days which I think helped keep people from setting off too many fireworks at bay.  Our dog, Sammy is deathly afraid of them, so he's been hiding in the basement on the couch.   On the fourth, I even had to sedate him slightly as he was so anxious he was constantly trembling.  Anyhoo, glad that's over!  :)

So, I finally finished up my 15-month wait list and am ready to start taking clients online again!  I found a wonderful booking website called Schedulicity and have added a button to my "appointments" page on my website.

I am still taking way fewer clients than I used to but did pick up every other Tuesday so there may be a wait, but not too bad of one as of now.

I still am not taking phone sessions and probably won't, but am thinking of doing FaceTime/Skype sessions sometime in the future.  If I do, I'll be sure to announce it on my FaceBook page and here as well as my website.

So, feel free to book yourself online!  If you have any trouble, just contact me!

As far as jewelry news, I've added a bunch of new pieces to my Etsy store and am gearing up for fall shows!  I'll be announcing where I'll be very soon so I hope you will come by and see me!  :)

Here's a little peek!

Hope you all have had a great SHORT week at work!  Tomorrow is Friday, yay!

OH, and I still have TWO seats left for me Animal Communication Class on Sunday from noon to 3pm if anyone is interested.  It's a fun class, for sure and helps you have a better relationship with your fur babies!  Click here if you'd like to register.

Enjoy your weekend!

Barb xx

YAY, Spring! Updates and News...

Well, hello!

I'm sorry it's been a little longer than planned to update my blog.  I always seem to remember to update it when I have to run to do something else!  I think that's always the way, though.

After the weirdest "winter" ever, we're back again in spring.  This is my favorite time of year.  Everything starts to turn from this dull green to bright green.  No, it's not fun for allergy sufferers, but the blooming trees are just beautiful.  I have another month before I get to hang my hummingbird feeders again, filling them with sugar water and cleaning them almost every other day.  It's arduous sometimes, but I love seeing those little buzzing beings flying around my front and back yard.  I've had the same three return each year, so I'm looking forward to seeing my rubies again!

The pups are happy to be able to go out on walks again.  The lack of walks was mostly due to Mike's knee needing to heal from his meniscus surgery (I would have walked both, but I cannot handle Sam... he's way too strong for me!).  He's slowly back at the gym and doing pretty well. The Madam was cleared for her spay with an xray showing no masses.  The vet said that he thought she was even a little younger than we thought... possibly 4.5 - 5 instead of 6?   Her spay was scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23.  Brady and I visited her on Friday, and she truly looked traumatized.  I felt so badly, but with a uterine cancer risk of 85 - 90%, it had to be done.  We carefully brought her home on Saturday and she's healed perfectly.  We had to make some adjustments to her hutch, going from a two-story to a one story, which she was NOT happy about.  Speaking of bunnitudes, I read on many forums that sometimes a bun's attitude dramatically changes... or they don't speak to you for quite a while afterward.  I was so worried about this, but she's just as kissy as she was.  She has been different in some weird ways.  She's almost impossible to get out of her hutch for her free roam and even harder to put back in.  She doesn't like being picked up at all and just hops a foot in the air if you try to do so.  It's not that she's in pain, I think it's just that she was grabbed and moved a lot at the vet and she's wary of it now.  She doesn't get as excited about her hide a treat toy much, anymore, and she doesn't jump up in my lap like she used to.  It's only been a month, but hopefully, she'll be her old self again soon!

Sorry there was so much about the bun, but everyone always wants to know about her the most!

Ok, some updates!

MEDIUM STUFF:

I am still working through my wait list, so thank you for your patience!

Regarding my waitlist.  What I basically do is pull about 6 people for 6 spots and write them with dates, info, and prices and then ask for them to get back to me to book ASAP.  The pattern seems to be that about 1/2 get back to me within a few days and are booked, easy peasy.  The other 1/2 I just don't hear back from, even after a few reminder emails where I mark a "1, 2, 3" near their name.  I have a mail track system that shows me if someone opens my email, so I know it's been received. After the third email, I will cross the person off the list.  All this said, if you are on the list and want a session, it may come up a little sooner than I thought.  :)

If I send you an Appointment Availabilities email and you are no longer interested, would you please simply reply that you are, in fact, no longer interested?  Thank you so much... this way I can get to other clients faster.

CLASSES ARE BACK!

I am once again holding my Psychic Development and Animal Communication classes in my Chantilly, VA office.  I was holding out for a while trying to find another hotel or large conference room who wouldn't charge me an arm and a leg and just haven't been able to find one yet.  So, I just decided to hold smaller classes in the office suite I'm in now.

These are going to be a little different in that they will be very small, intimate classes with 4 - 6 students only.  The PD class will be 4 people and will take place in the office where I conduct sessions.  The AC class will be held in the conference room in my office suite.

Upcoming classes:
Psychic Development - Sunday, April 30 from 11 - 4 (SOLD OUT)
Animal Communication - Sunday, May 21 from 12 - 3:30 (5 spots left)
Psychic Development - Sunday, June 4 from 11 - 4 (4 spots left)

Interested?  Here's the link to my Events page! 

JEWELRY STUFF:

I'm currently looking for worthwhile fairs and shows to attend and will keep you updated when shows come up.

Also, if you don't already know, I've had a big sale going on for about a week in my Etsy shop and still have some really pretty pieces left!  Just a few more days and it'll be over!

YOU get 25% OFF any item in my shop (excluding custom orders) if you use COUPON CODE: YAYSPRING at checkout!  25% off!!  :)

Go take a peek!  As you can see, my pieces are already pretty reasonable.  Imagine 25% off!  :)

I think that's it for now!  Ms. Bun needs to go back into her hutch, so we'll see how long it takes me.  :/

Hope you all have a wonderful week and let me know if you have any questions about anything!

Barb xo

June Update!

Hello, everyone!  The following is from my June newsletter.  If you haven't signed up, why not do so, now?  You can either text BARBMALLON at 22828 or...

Sign up for my Newsletter!

Hoping you're having a wonderful week.  It's been nice and cool here in Northern Virginia, but apparently we're getting some HOT weather this weekend.  Ah well.  :)

What's new here, you ask?  Lots of news! I've been trying to be much better about my blog and adding interesting things.  I'm about to start blogging on my diet and exercise regiment, if for nothing else, to keep myself on track.  I'm on day 12 of very healthy eating and already feel better, but in order to lose (or as a friend says, reduce my weight by...) this ickky 20 pounds, I need to incorporate more exercise.  My daughter is getting married at the end of September, so I need to work my butt off!  I've forced myself on my elliptical and stationary bike and have been taking 30-45 minute walks per day.  Hoping it'll start to work soon!  :D  Thanks to my wonderful friend Will for the help and encouragement.  Also, if you're on "myfitnesspal.com" friend me!  It's an app for iphones/ipads, etc. and is also online.

My friend, Rob Gutro has written another book, "Lessons Learned From Talking to the Dead" and he's included me throughout it.  It's a great book and I recommend you pick it up!  I'm also in another friend's book, "The Girls Ghost Hunting Guide" - check them both out when you have a chance!

I also had to get... ugh... progressives as I was sick of having 5 pairs of different strength reading glasses laying all over my house.  They are a ***** to get used to, let me tell you, and I think I'm going to have to upgrade from the "standard" lenses to the better ones, even if that means hearing an "I told you so" from the salesman I bought them from.  At least they're cute Ray Bans.  Ha!

I am not sure about where I'll be conducting my in-person sessions yet, as I just officially ended my contract with Regus.  They were just too unprofessional for me to deal with anymore, so I'll be moving at the end of August.  I will keep you up to date!

For all of you who have asked and asked about my Psychic Development Workshop, it's NEXT WEEKEND!  Please don't hesitate if you want to sign up.  There are three seats left!

All the fur babies are fine... Maggie is her same sweet pain in the butt (she figured out how to back out of her harness, ugh), and Sadie is getting a little older and more mellow.  We have Rocky raccoon come by every night and there's always a little turf war (hissing and yelling) between Rocky and the other raccoon "Gimpy" (he/she has an unusable back leg).  Our possums make an appearance every once in a while and our family of squirrels are all around still.  Fiona and Snickers both love to jump up on our kitchen screen as if to say "WHERE ARE MY PEANUTS, WOMAN?"

Here's today's food/workout diary:

20 mins elliptical
biceps curl - 5 sets, 10 reps, 2lbs
lateral raise - dumbbell side - 5 sets, 10 reps, 2lbs
triceps extension - 5 sets, 10 reps, 2lbs
dumbbell hanging triceps extension - 5 sets, 10 reps, 2lbs
kickbacks, bent, 1 arm, dumbbell - 5 sets, 10 reps, 2lbs
walk 45 mins (later, after dinner)

banana/whole wheat toast/coffee for breakfast
spinach and avocado salad w/light ranch and flax seed
broccoli & eggwhite stir fry w/quinoa for dinner (later)
maybe a little vino and a weight watcher ice cream bar… we'll see. :D


Have a great evening!
Barb

A Day in the Life of “Mom the Medium”

NOTE:  From Oct. 09 - I'm pulling a few blogs from my old Wordpress blog.  Yep, you've probably read this before.  If  not, enjoy!

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It’s funny.  People often think that a psychic or a medium’s daily life is somehow different from the typical person’s on the street.  Like we have some advantage over situations and events and everything just runs ohhh soooo smoothly.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

It’s not uncommon for me to wake up to dog poop/vomit, or have to shampoo my elderly dog after she’s urinated all over herself in her sleep (not before she’s shaken all the pee off herself onto me).  I, like many now, have to choose the bills I’m able to pay and quickly pay them over the phone before something gets cut off.  My HUGE clean laundry pile is presently all over my couch waiting to be folded, but I’m blogging instead (I hate that stupid laundry monster).  I had to put down our beloved long-haired hamster, Mac not long ago because he had tumors in his liver and kidneys, and promising my son, I stayed with sweet little Mac while the vet gave him his shots (and, by the way, it is NOT the same as putting down larger animals.  I don’t think I could go through watching that again.).  My one son calls me the “meanest mom in the world” on a daily basis because I won’t give him a “free day” from school so he can play video games instead.  This is the same child who we nearly have to drag to school and makes himself late daily (those tardies are gonna teach him, eventually).  Then, I have to play the “calmer downer” for the 12 yr old, while he gets completely overwhelmed about the insane amount of homework he sometimes has, which takes up about 2 hours for both of us some days (I will say, though, that I am getting quite a refresher course on various Junior High subjects… so it can’t be that bad!).  

See?  Just like with everyone, ”(insert curse word) happens.”  Oh, and I could go on for HOURS, but that laundry monster is now yelling at me from upstairs.

Ah, I hear you all saying, “but if she were REALLY psychic, she’d know things were going to happen and prevent it.”  Nope.  Why?  Because we’re all here to learn and travel down that unknown path.  Confronting and accepting our contracts, making the best choices we can, and scraping along like everyone else.  Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes, not so much.

One of the Universe’s little jokes for most psychics is that we can’t really read ourselves well.  Not funny, Universe, but most psychics will tell you that we just don’t receive information about ourselves in the same way we do for our clients.  We know ourselves too well, are too biased and therefore, our brain gets in the way clouding most info coming in.  That’s why most psychics/mediums have their own favorite psychic or medium to call, hehe… it’s true!

That said, I DO get a “heads-up” or a ”mini premonition” many times in my dream state.  Unfortunately, it’s not the earth-shattering information/help I’d like (hey Universe, lotto numbers would be really cool, by the way, JK.).  One example of the many mini premonitions I’ve had:  not long ago, I had a quick dream that my youngest was going to throw up.  I awoke immediately knowing I had to bolt to the closet and grab the puke bucket.  Thankfully for all involved, the bucket was under that boys chin not 5 seconds before he let it all out.  So, actually, that IS pretty earth-shattering, isn’t it?   I can’t think of one person who really wants to clean up vomit all over a bed and a child at 3am… especially if you have an awful gag reflex like me. 

So, you see… we aren’t so different at all.  With that, I’m off to tackle that damn laundry monster who JUST won’t shut up.  Have a great Saturday!

Barb

Switch On, Switch Off

NOTE from Oct. 09:  I'm pulling a few blogs from my old Wordpress blog.  Yep, you've probably read this before.  If  not, enjoy!

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One of the questions I’m frequently asked is, “do you see dead people all the time?”  OR, ”when you’re in the produce section at the grocery store, do you see dead people hanging around their live people?”  I don’t know why, but when people think about a grocery store, they always think the produce section first, so I get that scenario in their question quite a bit. 

The answer is no.  But can you imagine?  That would drive me crazy (not that I’m not a little crazy, anyway).

You see, first of all, I don’t SEE dead people, which I prefer to call “spirit people.”  They’re still people but just in spirit form instead.  I have seen full manifestations of spirit, but it’s a rare occurence for me (as cool as it is).  Normally, when I’m in my linking mode, I feel a spirit energy first and where they are in the room, and then I’ll start to hear sentences, music, names, information about them, as well as see symbols pertaining to them.  I don’t just see a spirit person hanging around their physical person here.  That said, I do very often see them in my mind’s eye during readings, but not as a 3-D type image that you see on shows like “Ghost Whisperer” or “Medium”.

No, I don’t bump into spirit people at the grocery store or when dining out, UNLESS I CHOOSE to tune in to a person.  The thing is, I need my time off, too.  I’m sure if an accountant has spent all day crunching numbers, the last thing he/she wants to do is sit down in the grocery store and do someone’s taxes.  I choose to close down, and most mediums will tell you that this is how it works for them too.  I’ve heard John Holland say something to the extent, “it would take an awfully strong spirit to get my attention when I’m not working.”  Exactly, and to be ON all of the time would be incredibly draining.

Besides that, one of the rules I try to stick to is not to read someone unless they ask me to.  There are many mediums out there who do, and that’s fine for them, but I’ve found that it’s not the best thing.  I remember standing in line one time at the local McDonald’s and while waiting, accidentally slipping into that attuning  mode.  I clearly saw an elderly spirit woman standing behind her husband (who was oblivious, of course, to her being there) just peacefully reading the paper and eating his hamburger.  Can you imagine if I walked up to him and said, “hey, please don’t be scared, but your wife is standing behind you and says…”    For some, it would be incredibly unnerving and shocking.  This happens with me here and there, and it’s not always that the spirit person has the needto communicate anything – I’m just sensitive to their energy and am a witness to what’s happening on its own – I happened to pick up on this man’s passed wife who was just visiting her husband for a bit.

When I AM about to link to spirit and take clients, I shift my gears energy-wise.  I sit and meditate, breathe, expand my consciousness and attune to spirit.  When finished, I “close myself down”, if you will, and return to my regularly scheduled broadcast of Barb’s Wacky Life, which is what I’m off to do right now.

Enjoy your evening, too!
Barb

A Few Small but Important Tidbits if You’re Considering Contacting a Medium

NOTE:  I'm pulling a few blogs from my old Wordpress blog.  Yep, you've probably read this before.  If  not, enjoy!

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Recently, I’ve had more people than usual not understand how a medium works, how the process works or why they don’t hear what they wish to hear in a session.  I’ve even had clients tell me how they want me to read for them with no “ifs,” “ands,” or “buts” accepted.   I truly can’t dictate a reading, nor can I conform how I work to fit someone else’s expectations.  It’s really always best to understand how a psychic or medium works, know what to expect in advance, and to get good references, rather than be too “on guard.” 

Here are a few pointers:

1. Allow the psychic or medium to work in the way THEY need to work.  Understandably, there are many charlatans out there, and you really DO need to be wary of the “generals” in a reading (and if you feel the psychic isn’t connecting with you, and giving vague info, DO let them know and possibly even stop the session.)  It’s always best to go into a session relaxed and open to info and messages, not to hear what you want to hear or connect to that exact person in spirit.   Let the psychic or medium do their job in the way they need to do it, leave expectations at the door and your session will more than likely flow much better.  As I told one lady this month, you don’t go into the doctors’ office and tell the doctor how to examine you, or a lawyer how to work on your case.  The psychic needs to conduct a reading the way they need to.
    
2. Try to go to a psychic or medium who has been referred to you by someone who has had a good experience.  If you don’t know of anyone who’s been to a psychic, try to find a site on the internet with fair reviews on the psychic.  While testimonials are nice on a psychics website, you really don’t know for sure they are legitimate, so it’s a good idea not to choose a psychic because of his or her own website testimonials.
    
3. Don’t call or write a psychic or medium for a freebie or “test” mini reading.  Most valid mediums I know need to prepare with prayer, meditation and ritual before opening up to spirit, spirit guides or the angelic realm.  It’s not fair to expect a medium to connect on the spot… we have lives too!
    
4. Try not to rate a psychic or medium with “hits” or “misses.”  There will ALWAYS be information not understood during a session that a psychic will “leave you” with.  These are not necessarily “misses,” and are usually understood at a later time.  There will always be validations that occur AFTER the session is over when the unknowns in a reading are discovered!
    
5. During a session, if a psychic or medium tells you things about yourself, it’s a good thing!  I’ve had people tell me, “yes, I know this about myself… so?”  Well, I DON’T! This means the psychic is connecting with your energy and if that’s the case, should be able to link with your people in spirit as well, if that’s what you’re looking for.  We know YOU know things about yourself, but a psychic doesn’t know anything about you, so this is a good indication that a link has been established between you and the psychic.
    
6. For medium sessions where a psychic links to your people in spirit, it’s important to allow the process to unfold in the way spirit would like it to.  Allow them to bring through ANY pieces of info, even if it seems “trivial” or “insignificant” to you.  Example:  Me:  (laughing…) “wow, he tells me he always late, correct?”  Client: (shrugging shoulders…) “yes, he was always late, so????”   Again, YOU may know this about your spirit person, but the medium doesn’t, and this is very important.  The spirit person will give the medium anything – seemingly insignificant things, or very significant things – to prove to you it’s them!   They are all little puzzle pieces of information about themselves that you’ll put together to understand and identify a spirit person.
    
7. On that same note, don’t feel a medium hasn’t connected with your spirit person just because that ONE thing you asked them to bring through in your reading didn’t come through.  I can tell someone 50 things about their spirit person with “yes” to all of them, but because that one item didn’t come through, the client will disqualify the fact that it was the spirit person they thought it was.  This is so unfair to spirit and the process as they work VERY hard to get as much to you about themselves as possible, and then any messages THEY feel they’d like to give you.  If you don’t hear that one particular thing, it’s ok.  DO remember to collect all they DID give to you, know they did the best they could and thank them.
    
8. Spirit people will also tell you what YOU did today, last week, yesterday, etc.  Why?  To show they DO visit often and are aware of your life!  Again, these can be just silly little things such as you ordering pizza or dropping a bowl on the ground.  The medium doesn’t know you did this, but your spirit people do!
    
9. Understand that a medium is given information quickly, symbolically and that their guides use what the medium has stored in their brain for references/evidence to give to you.  Don’t try to make it fit or hang on the exact thing you’re waiting for.  Example:  “I’m seeing the time when I closed the door on my cats tail. Your dad is bringing my experience up because you must have had the same kind of experience.  Does this make sense?”   Normally, it either very closely makes sense for the spirit person or you, and they’ll bring this up to give you another puzzle piece.  If you had a similar experience and understand what they are TRYING to relay, it’s best to acknowledge it.
    
10. It’s ok to say “no, that doesn’t make sense for him/her.”  You won’t hurt the mediums feelings!  The medium can and should ask for clarification if something doesn’t make sense to you.  Normally, it means that two energies may be blending, and that another spirit person is trying to come through.  Remember too, that some info isn’t validated until later.

Overall?  Being an open skeptic is best.  Don’t reach for everything and make it fit, and don’t be so insistent that only certain people or info should come through.  Understand that it is a process, and for me, it’s much like playing charades when I can barely see, feel or hear them.  The connection may be very strong or somewhat light depending on many variables, and we do the best we can to snag that evidential info from them and pass it along to you.  So, just try to let the medium do their work and the spirit people or guides do their work as well.  This will allow the session to unfold in the way it was meant to!

Barb

Expanding Horizons

Hi everyone!

Yep, I suck at keeping up with my blogging, but that’s going to change.  And there are a few reasons why, which I’ll get into later.  While you read these, however, please keep in mind that I really don’t feel the need to gramatically correct anything, heh.  I think that’s part of my problem.  I can be so worried about how a sentence is being written that I just decide not to write anything.  Anywhoo…

So, for those who follow my pages on Facebook, you’ll know that I’ve recently (as of December) started back up my jewelry business.  About 16/15 years ago, I had a website and created and sold more metaphysically/spiritually inspired jewelry.  Little, unobstructive pretties with gemstones, charms and chain.  I really loved it and since many weren’t really creating much metaphysical jewelry, I did pretty well.  At the same time, I was feeling incredibly pulled to expand and work with my own intuitive abilities and well, the rest is history.  I’ve been a spiritual medium since then and love my work tremendously.  It’s something that has always fed my soul and brought joy to me and my clients.  What could be better?  Welllll…. all that said, this year or so I’ve found myself feeling a bit burned out.  I don’t work a “regular” job; taking clients is the only way I help to pay bills.  Because of the economy and my husband having a very hard time finding full time work (he finally did, phew), it’s been more about “having” to work rather than “wanting” to work.  Before, I was helping with the bills and taking care of the kids, but these past few years it’s been more about what absolutely needs to be in money-wise in order to survive.  This brings a different energy and I’ve tried hard to harmonize my feelings about this and to stay positive.  The work I do has enabled me to have an extremely flexible schedule, to be home for my kids and be there whenever they need me, so I’m very blessed and grateful, but… I really wanted to bring into my life something more creative, as well.  This is something that comes through for my clients all of the time.  Balance, harmonize, bring joy into your life.

After many months of thinking about it, I finally went down to the basement and found my two huge boxes of gemstones and silver charms and took inventory.  TONS of things left over and I started to dabble again.  Had to find my old tools, but once I did it was like a bolt of lightening hit me.  ZAP!  I started ordering ear wires, new beads and some chain.  I created a few pieces, started an Etsy store and was having a ball… THEN, I had the idea, “hey, these earwires are just sterling wire.  I wonder if there’s a video about how to make your own earwires?”  Well, there was!  And lots of them!  Times are so different now… if you need to know how to do something, YouTube it!  I learned how to make my own earwires, and then I learned how to make my own headpins, and then what were these?  ”Balled” headpins?  What do you need to make those (and thereby saving a TON of money)… a micro torch???  Ok!  And it was about this time while hammering on a plastic table in my living room that I had the thought that this set up just wouldn’t do.  I saw how folks had (can you believe it?) JEWELERS BENCHES and bench blocks, bench pins and tools and saws and lights and containers and … SOLDER EQUIPMENT?  Nope, terrified of that, so I YouTubed it, found easy videos of how to use silver solder paste or wire and fell in love.  I’ve now gone from a Micro butane torch which I’ve used to solder much of my silver, to owning an acetylene torch (no, I haven’t used it yet… still scared… ha).  The cool thing?  My daughter just got engaged and her fiance’ is a metalsmith, so I can ask tons of questions about this scary torch, which I hear isn’t really too scary afterall.  Hmmm….

Anyway my office, where I’ve always conducted my phone sessions has now become my office/studio.  I have three workbenches (well, ok, ONE real workbench, and two tables.  Still trying to find a cheap workbench or two!) and different stations: hammering/creating, soldering, pickling and tumbling.  My basement bathroom is now where I rinse and patina my silver.  Basically, I’ve taken over 2/3 of the basement and am now trying to really “get out there” and sell more jewelry – emmm, yep, to pay for what I’ve put into it!  :D  I’ve sold many, many items, and have even created custom orders (4 of which were wedding bands, how cool is that?!?) and yes, I’m in love!

I’m getting pretty good at putting pieces together now.  Surprisingly, there are many self-taught silversmiths out there.  Eventually, I’d love to find some classes, but it’s going well and I feel I’m in it for the long run.

So, you’ll see more consistent blogs about my progress along with things I’ve learned the hard way NOT to do (um, wear shoes and natural fibers so you don’t burn yourself, derrr!).  I’ll even do a few videos of how to make certain things… this helped me so much while I’ve been learning and gave me such inspiration so I want to do the same for other newbs.

If you’d like to see some of my work you can find it at http://www.barbmallon.etsy.com 

Go see!  Everything’s on sale until the 30th!  With that, it’s time to pull my jewelry out of the tumbler which, by the way, freaks out my new dog!

Enjoy your day!

Barb