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Most psychics, clairvoyants, mediums and spiritual teachers make use of the power of meditation on a daily basis, in order to regenerate or maintain their own flow of energy, increase their spiritual awareness, and further strengthen their extra-sensory abilities. It is a good idea for the clients of psychics to do some meditation, or even place themselves in a meditative state, before they receive a psychic reading. This will greatly enhance the results of the psychic reading or channeling session. So, what is meditation? When we pray we are talking to Spirit. Meditation is when we listen . Meditation serves to silence the human ego, so that you can hear the voice of the Divine. It does not involve any form of rational thinking, logical analysis or critical judgment - those are the activities of the human ego. Meditating is the process of entering into an altered state of consciousness where you become a witness, observer and receiver. Meditation is the ideal foundation and most tried-and-tested method of spiritual development and greater alignment with your Higher Self and Divine nature. It enables us to clear negative energy attachments, improve our spiritual equilibrium, access our intuition, find answers to personal issues, resolve spiritual questions and enhance our cosmic connection with the Universe or source energy. To get the best results from your meditations, it is important to choose a suitable meditation technique for your level of development and start from a solid foundation and have the following building blocks in place. Comfortable Position It does not matter too much in what position or posture you place yourself to meditate. The most popular method is seated on the floor with the legs crossed. It is, however, perfectly acceptable to meditate while sitting in a chair, lying down on your back or even standing up. The truly important aspect is to ensure that you are perfectly comfortable and relaxed in whatever position you choose. If you experience any discomfort, adjust your position or change to a more comfortable posture. Closed Circuit Meditation is greatly enhanced by crossing the legs at the ankles and gently clasping the hands or intertwining the fingers. This creates a closed circuit, providing a more stable basis for the flow of energy. Progressive Relaxation Progressively relax different parts of your body, one at a time, simply by focusing on that area and imagining the tension ‘flowing out’ or ‘melting away’. A good way for beginners to learn this process of complete relaxation is to tighten or contract the muscles in each area, holding it for a few seconds, and then letting it go and feeling the area relax. Quiet Mind Once your body is completely relaxed, the next step is to shut down all your thoughts and let your mental state become quiet, calm and relaxed. Avoid any inner ‘chatter’, self-talk or the chanting of any mantras. Forget all your responsibilities, worries, concerns and anxieties. The aim is to ‘clear’ the mind completely. Do not allow your mind to wander. Simply relax and try to think of absolutely nothing. It is also important to reduce the effect of external stimulation of the mind via the five senses. Therefore it is best to meditate with your eyes gently closed in a quiet, warm and comfortable environment. Focused Breathing The main focus of any meditation session should always be on your breathing. By diverting our attention to the natural flow of our breath, we are more easily able to transcend the mind and calm our thoughts. Your breathing should not be done consciously; don’t focus or put any effort into inhaling or exhaling. Simply allow breathing to occur spontaneously, while you merely observe it happening. Each time you find yourself being distracted, or your mind following a thought process, return to your observation of breathing. You are ready to begin your meditation once you have reached a state of complete relaxation, when the mind is ‘thoughtless’ and you are no longer aware of your breathing. © 2010 Anthon St. Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology . Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word , and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

Psychics and mediums in the movies are traditionally depicted as shrewd, flaky or simply evil. To this day it remains the exception to the rule to find a decent film or television show that genuine psychics will be able to relate to. Very few films in the archives offer a reasonably authentic representation of the ordinary psychic’s true life experiences. The range of stereotypical stock characters in film is almost never-ending: from the typical dumb blondes and computer-hacking geeks, to corrupt Catholic priests, zany black cops, Las Vegas mobsters, flamboyant gay men, conspiring politicians, sex-obsessed teenagers and bombastic corporate executives with fat cigars. Of course, psychics and mediums also make the perfect stereotype. We are ideal to be cast in the role of the satanic villain, or merely as an odd source of comic relief. For example, Whoopi Goldberg’s madcap portrayal of Oda Mae Brown, the fraudulent medium in Ghost (1990), was so well-received after the film’s release that she won a Golden Globe for her hilarious antics, as well as an Academy Award. Hollywood relies on these stereotypes to increase box office success. Portraying misrepresented characters in a one-dimensional manner has a much wider audience appeal. Sadly, it also leads to ignorance, misconception, prejudice and discrimination. It all began way back with silent movies like The Spanish Dancer (1923), in which the famous Polish femme fatale , Pola Negri, portrays her exotic version of the typical Gypsy fortune teller, and later Blithe Spirit (1945), the entertaining British comedy starring Margaret Rutherford as Madame Arcati, an eccentric medium who hosts a whacky séance. From there it pretty much went downhill. Films like The Black Widow (1947) involves a fortune-telling spy from an Asian country, intent on world domination, and The Village of the Damned (1960) features wicked little blonde children, with glowing eyes and psychic powers, threatening to destroy mankind forever. In my youth there were hardly any characters on the big screen I would consider inspiring, or at least somewhat realistic role-models for a gifted child. At the time films like Blood Orgy of the She Devils (1972), Psychic Killer (1975) and Carrie (1976) were the typical money-spinners. In those days most films depicted psychic abilities such as psychokinesis, precognition, astral travelling and telepathy, as tools of demonic witchcraft, or as terrifying murder weapons. No wonder it took me and some of my peers years to figure out who and what we were; to find our feet and accept what really makes us tick. Many of today’s reputable psychics and mediums grew up with unnecessary shame, fear and social alienation – too often due to what people saw on the silver screen. Over the years some skeptics have also allowed themselves to be suckered by these stereotypes, to such an extent that they do not always base their criticism of psychics and paranormal phenomena on pure scientific fact or evidence. Many false ideas and opinions about psychics sprout from inaccurate perceptions and prejudice, often created by the modern media and pop culture. I guess some folks will always expect only the worst, and too often simply believe what they see and read, regardless of it being based on fact or fiction. Fortunately, the times are gradually changing. In recent years a few mainstream films have been featuring characters with psychic abilities who defy the old school version. These films no longer portray the gifted person as a weirdo, con artist or devil worshipper. In fact, the latest movies produced in this genre even feature the psychic or medium as the hero! ​ Excellent examples of this trend can be seen in The Gift (2000) starring Cate Blanchett as the local psychic in a small town, as well as the soon to be released Hereafter (2010), featuring Matt Damon as a blue-collar factory worker who happens to be a very reluctant psychic medium. My Favorite Psychic Movies Hereafter (2010) The Men Who Stared At Goats (2009) The Gift (2000) Knowing (2009) Next (2007) Minority Report (2002) Hearts In Atlantis (2001) What Women Want (2000) The Sixth Sense (1999) Powder (1995) Rumor also has it that Robert De Niro has signed up to play the role of a psychic in a new thriller, Red Lights , alongside Sigourney Weaver. The movie is set to start shooting next year and will feature Weaver as a physiologist conducting a paranormal research project, with De Niro as her subject. Will De Niro’s character be the freak, the villain or the hero? Modern filmmakers seem to be more sensitive to gender, culture and religious diversity. Outdated stereotypes are increasingly being replaced with more accurate portrayals of people who deviate from the so-called ‘norm’. The portrayal of psychic phenomena and mediumship is therefore also becoming much more realistic, accurate and thought-provoking. This is further encouraged by the information age, which offers people easier access to knowledge and data, as well as a global spiritual awakening and shift in consciousness. Psychics and mediums are no longer merely the villains or freaks in trashy, low-budget B-movies. We have come a long way since the previous century. Not only will psychic films continue to be more realistic in future, but a growing number of them will also be based on factual evidence, true stories and real-life events. Psychic movie heroes will become the new norm in the years to come. It is simply a sign of the times. © 2010 Anthon St. Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology . Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word , and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

They say when an angel misses you, they toss a penny down from heaven. Sadly, not everyone knows how much truth there is in this old adage. Spirit has in fact many interesting ways to communicate with us, and always on a very personal level. Spirit signs and synchronicities can range from the truly spectacular to the very mundane. And sometimes they can be found in the most unusual places, or when they are least unexpected. Two of the most commonly sighted phenomena are coins or ‘pennies’, as well as feathers. Depending on your personal belief system, these items are left around for us by loved ones, animal guides, angels and spirit guides. ​No matter where you believe your signs may be coming from, they are most certainly meant especially for you, and they always have a sincere and personal meaning, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant they may appear to be. ​ Of course, many skeptics doubt that these phenomena exist, and it is often discounted as mere superstition or urban myth. I have, however, had several powerful personal experiences of such signs over the years, and I also hear frequent reports from friends and clients who experience the same thing. So, don’t pass by that penny, When you’re feeling blue. It may be a penny from heaven, that an Angel’s tossed to you ~ Charles Marshburn Spirit has indeed taught me some very valuable lessons through different signs and signals, and these personal, first-hand experiences contradict the most one-dimensional or misguided opinion of any skeptic. A dear friend and client recently received very compelling confirmation of the signs she had been questioning for years.* She is currently in the midst of a major life transition and a personal transformation. For quite some time now we have been discussing the signs she has been receiving in the form of popular songs. She keeps hearing them: over the radio, in the gym and in the shopping mall. Once she even heard it on the phone, after she was placed on hold by a call centre. The signs keep coming consistently; every time she asks for them, she receives them. But the doubt secretly creeps back into her mind soon after. What if it was just her imagination? Two days ago she messaged me, wanting to know if the latest incident was another sign. There is a specific song she has always associated with a certain special person in her life, for a very particular reason. She had now heard this song on three separate occasions at very significant moments. Each time it happened she was either with this person, or she was specifically thinking of him, or she was asking for a sign about him. I explained to her that we sometimes receive the same signs more than once, in order to overcome our doubt or fear. In her case she was getting her signs in three’s. But I also knew that she had to see proof of this for herself, before she would feel truly content. I therefore suggested she ask for a confirmation of the fact that important signs come to her in three’s. The answer came sooner than anticipated. She was in a public place when she received my response. She did not even have to ask for confirmation. The minute she opened my text message on her cellphone, even before she had finished reading all of it, she discovered three pennies on a seat she was about to sit down on. The angels are so enamored of the language that is spoken in heaven that they will not distort their lips with the hissing and unmusical dialects of men, but speak their own, whether there be any who understand it or not ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson She immediately sent me the news and I then assured her that pennies are a well-known sign for many people all over the world. I also urged her to keep the pennies in a safe place and have another look at them later, because sometimes the dates or other engravings on them also have special meanings. The next day I received a follow-up: “Thanks Anthon! You wouldn’t believe this, but later yesterday I saw three feathers. Well, actually four, I saw one at first and did a double take – but dismissed it, then an hour or so later saw a cluster of three feathers together on the floor.” Messages from the spiritual realm are potentially life-changing, but they so often pass us by, unnoticed, mostly because of our lack of awareness. In fact, some of us are so stubborn or oblivious to our metaphysical reality that we first have to receive a pebble, then a rock and finally a ton of bricks, before we eventually sit up and pay attention! First there is a message, then a lesson and finally comes the crisis. If you have never experienced the wonder of witnessing the effect of such miraculous signs and signals in your life, I highly recommend that you consider giving it a shot. What do you stand to lose? All you need to do is heighten your awareness and increase your consciousness. Don’t allow yourself to let your mystical reminders and spiritual signposts pass you by forever. Signs and signals from the spiritual realm always have a purpose. Most often they are important guideposts or ‘traffic signs’ along our life path, confirming our choices, decisions and actions. Sometimes we receive these messages to console us in times of distress or sadness , while at other times they come as warnings, urging us to proceed with caution. Reading your special signs and signals is your divine right, and a basic skill that anyone can develop. Some gurus would have you believe that this is a complex art or science, or that it requires special psychic abilities or years of study and practice. The truth is that this is a blessing freely available to all of us, regardless of whom we are or what we believe in. All you need to do is ask, and it will be given. The best way to start reading signs is by simply becoming more aware. Take more notice of the small wonders that happen in the world around you every day. Look out for patterns and synchronicities, because there are no ‘coincidences’ in life. Everything happens for a reason; there are no windfalls, only godsends. Soon you will begin to discover your unique set of personal symbols and patterns. Your special signs could come in the form of dreams, colors, words, numbers, sounds, songs, computer messages, clouds, images, animals, people, places or specific objects, like coins and feathers. They could also come in a certain order or they may be repeated a certain number of times. The list of possibilities and combinations is truly endless. It is also very different for each individual, depending on your belief system, as well as your cultural background and your unique personality and interests. The whole visible universe is but a storehouse of images and signs to which the imagination will give a relative place and value; it is a sort of pasture which the imagination must digest and transform. ~ Charles Baudelaire Always keep your expectations simple and don’t expect weird riddles or complex messages. The message is always very clear and direct. The intention is after all to communicate and guide, not to confuse, frighten or mislead you. Also, use some common sense. If you never listen to the radio, you certainly cannot expect it to become a conduit for spiritual communication. Your signs will show up in accessible ways that complement your lifestyle, or match your personal outlook. All you need to do is become more aware and be open to the process. Finally, we need to be thankful for every sign or message we receive. Express your gratitude by being kind to yourself and others, and show your appreciation by caring for all living creatures, as well as our magnificent planet. Count each and every blessing. The Universe is an abundant and interactive place of wonder and magic; it is ready and waiting to respond to your needs. You can heal your life and make all your wishes come true. Spirit wants the opportunity to guide you and protect you on your journey through life. Acknowledge your higher self and learn to trust your intuition. You have inside of you a deep well of wisdom and you are connected to everything in the Universe. You are part of an infinite and ever-expanding grid of spiritual consciousness. Use your signs and godsends to re-design your life and create the destiny you truly want; learn to apply your divine ‘early warning system’ to avoid unnecessary obstacles and setbacks along the way. All you need to do is ask. Reclaim what is rightfully yours. * Dedicated to my friend ‘Ms C’. Thank you for allowing me to share your story with the world. © 2010 Anthon St. Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology . Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word , and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

Do you also believe that we teach others how to treat us? It is a motto I have religiously adhered to for most of my adult life. However, I must add that I have made some radical changes to my ‘teaching strategy’ over the years, and this change in my approach has brought me much inner peace and harmony with others. I have learned that we can ‘teach others’ with much less fuss and drama. In my early adulthood I used to take a firm stand on just about everything and everyone who I felt were out of line. I am someone who often feels compelled to stand up for others, as well as for myself and my beliefs. ​I also have this annoying habit of constantly wanting to side with the ‘underdog’ in any given situation. Like most empaths, I just cannot come to grips with any form of injustice or underhanded behavior. Circumstances that are unfair, dishonest or cruel really trouble me, and people who are unreasonable, inconsiderate or simply mean have always been one of my ‘pet peeves’. Apart from being an empath, the desire for justice and fairness also stems from my youth. The trouble started long before I was born. Not only did I enter this lifetime blessed with the psychic abilities of my ancestors, I was also one of the many ‘first wave’ Indigo children who arrived on our planet in the 60’s and 70’s. Love is misunderstood to be an emotion; actually, it is a state of awareness, a way of being in the world, a way of seeing oneself and others. ~ David R. Hawkins I was a gifted and very unusual child, growing up in an extremely conservative and conformist society. I carried a target on my forehead from my very first day in kindergarten. I was bullied and ridiculed for most of my childhood and teenage years. South Africa under apartheid was not the most friendly place for anyone who dared to be different in any way. Bigotry, prejudice and intolerance was to be found around every corner and in all walks of life. If you were discovered to be out of the ordinary, or if you did not conform to the norm, you were not very welcome in the politically controlled and socially engineered world which I grew up in. Thankfully all of this changed when I was coming of age. By the time they released Nelson Mandela from prison, I had also been personally liberated by means of a tertiary education, the inner strength that comes from surviving several traumatic life events, as well as a profound spiritual awakening and growing personal acceptance of my psychic legacy. I was now a young adult and along the way I had also discovered that I am more than able to take a stand and defend myself, and others, whenever I felt it necessary. I certainly wasted no time exercising my new found personal freedom. I was very much inspired by the newly achieved democracy in my country and those who had fought for it. In my own way, I also had a voice now and I wanted to use it. It was important to me to put the ‘bad guys’ in their place. Mean, nasty behavior had to have consequences. Keeping my mouth shut or backing down was no longer an option. I was never going to return willingly to that psychological prison created by others’ small-mindedness. I was, after all, busy teaching the world how to treat me and I had a lot of catching up to do. I certainly was not going to take any prisoners. To offer no resistance to life is to be in a state of grace, ease, and lightness. This state is then no longer dependent upon things being in a certain way, good or bad. ~ Eckhart Tolle Fortunately, we never stop learning and over the years I have come to realize that this ‘fight for your right’ approach offers very little spiritual fulfillment or lasting inner peace. I have in time discovered that it is mostly the weak who react in anger or frustration. It is the weak who constantly seeks justice or revenge. It is the weak who feels compelled to be tough and defiant. Standing your ground is trivial and has very little to do with your inner strength. The truly enlightened and wise find their power in unconditional love. Who is right and who is wrong is spiritually insignificant. Truly powerful people seldom have any need for excessive self-defense or forcing their views upon others. It simply does not matter. Do you want to be right… or do you want to make a difference in the world? Instead of focusing on what others say or do or believe, turn your attention to your inner being. Focus on your own vibration. Work on feeling better about yourself and your life. Other people are not responsible for how you feel. If the words and actions of someone or something are currently determining your state of mind, or your self-esteem, it means that you have been giving away your power, and it is time for you to take it back. You were born with the basic spiritual right to feel good and be happy. In fact, you have inherited a divine right to feel really great about yourself and your life. It is vital that we feel this way, because it empowers us to love others unconditionally. Once you feel happy and centered in your own being, it is so much easier to be kind and tolerant towards others. Claiming your place in the sun and staying true to yourself does not have to involve any form of violent conviction, dogged persistence, foolish bravery or brute force. There is nothing that you have to prove to anyone. There is nobody that must be resisted or refuted or convinced by you at all cost. Not everything needs to be changed by you; everyone and everybody does not require your supervision or control. Your opinion is not always required. When you are in alignment with your higher self and your true life purpose, others can behave as they wish; you won’t even notice. When you are in that ‘zone ‘ it simply does not matter what other people say or do or think. What matters is how you respond to them. There are never any winners if there also has to be losers, no matter what the circumstance. Jesus referred to it as “ turning the other cheek ” and “doing unto others”; the Buddha talked of " cultivating a limitless heart ” and the Prophet Muhammad encouraged the “conquest of self” and " loving our fellow-beings first ”. It does not matter how one describes it. What matters is how ‘the zone’ makes you feel, and what it enables you to do in order to make the world a better place. You are killing one another as you argue over whose way of life is the right way, when there is not one right way of life. There is just life…and you all get to choose the way. No one can threaten your way of life. ~ Abraham-Hicks With this approach it becomes so much easier to ‘teach others’. You no longer have to deal with all the stress, drama and negative, destructive emotions. There is no longer any desire to be constantly affirmed or acknowledged by others. Gone are the regrets and the grudges. Conflict and arguments all but disappear from your life. It really does take two to tango and nobody enjoys dancing solo, especially if there is no music to dance to. The results are amazing. When you respond to the mean, petty moments of others from within your ‘zone’, you will find that the guilty parties tend to apologize more often and more readily. When you’re true to yourself and aligned with the rest of the Universe, people actually become willing to listen and calmly consider your point of view. Even the really tough and deluded folks become a non-issue, because they will eventually give up and move on. All of this may seem like a lot of hard work, but it does not have to be. Getting into the ‘zone’ is much easier than you may think. Deepak Chopra describes it as following the Law of Least Effort. There are three components to this law, namely acceptance, responsibility and defenselessness, which he outlines in his book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success . Chopra explains that acceptance simply means that you make a commitment: ‘Today I will accept people, situations, circumstances and events as they occur.’ This means you will know that this moment is as it should be, because the whole universe is as it should be”. Responsibility means “not blaming anyone or anything for your situation, including yourself. This allows you the ability to have a creative response to the situation as it is now. All problems contain the seeds of opportunity, and this awareness allows you to take the moment and transform it to a better situation or thing.” ​Finally, he describes the most important component of getting into the ‘zone’, namely becoming defenseless . He defines this process as “relinquishing the need to convince or persuade others of your point of view. If you relinquish this need you will in that relinquishment gain access to enormous amounts of energy that have been previously wasted”. I also recommend three simple rules of thumb that I try to follow to help me stay in my ‘zone’. The first is to always pick your battles carefully and to let the Law of Karma take care of the rest. The second is to not buy into other people’s drama. The third is to recognize that you were never supposed to be anybody’s doormat, so don’t allow yourself to go down that slippery slope in the first place. Does this mean that we should always remain silent when we are made victims, or look the other way when we see atrocities committed? Not at all. Nelson Mandela did not remain silent. Neither did Mahatma Ghandi. But they also came to the realization during the course of their lives that using force to convince others was not the best way to change the world. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”, said Ghandi. “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner”, said Mandela. When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall – think of it, always. ~ Mahatma Gandhi It is not about remaining silent or avoiding reality. It is about remaining faithful to your feelings, beliefs and values, without having to force it upon others. Your life and the rest of the world can be changed without violence or drama or force. We don’t have to shout our personal slogans from rooftops. Mandela and Ghandi are two excellent examples of how to achieve personal peace, spiritual wisdom and harmony with others… and yet, they both managed to completely change the history of the world! Now, I must admit, this alternative approach to ‘teaching others how to treat us’ remains a work in progress for me. I don’t always get it right in my moments of weakness. ​ Some bullies just have the uncanny ability to drag you away from your ‘path of least resistance’ and, before you know it, you are completely out of your ‘zone’. On those occasions one tends to forget all your best intentions and give in to anger, hurt or frustration. Even Jesus had his moment, when he entered the temple courts and drove out the money lenders with a considerable display of violent behavior ! But it gets easier with practice and one does become stronger. And while I learn to let go more and more each day, I find comfort in the words of Jack Kornfield who once said that “a genuine spiritual path is not to avoid difficulties but to learn the art of making mistakes wakefully, to bring them to the transformative power of our heart”. © 2011 Anthon St. Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology . Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word , and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

Human beings are creatures of habit and therefore it is vital to establish a consistent, daily routine of spiritual practice after your spiritual awakening. Your own set of metaphysical rites and daily rituals will ensure the strength and clarity of your inner guidance system. Awakening, reconnecting and realigning with the Divine Self is no doubt the most important first step in personal spiritual growth. To rediscover your Higher Self and tap into your Higher Consciousness is usually a very awe-inspiring and life-changing experience. But your new found spiritual awareness and rediscovered Divine origins may soon lose its power to transform your life if you do not adopt a new lifestyle that includes some kind of consistent spiritual practice. ​Divine Living and spiritual practice goes hand in hand. A Divine Life is impossible to achieve without some form of regular spiritual practice, in order to increase and maintain your connection and alignment with the Divine Self. What you come to know and believe about your own spiritual origins is meaningless, unless you have a direct and personal daily experience of receiving guidance from your inner Divinity. There isn’t anything except your own life that can be used as ground for your spiritual practice. Spiritual practice is your life, twenty-four hours a day ~ Pema Chodron The only way to achieve this is to practice your new awareness and beliefs on a daily basis. In our human state we sometimes too easily slide back into old habits, and with the constant onslaught of materialism, misinformation, fear conditioning, scientific skepticism and the distraction of mass entertainment and popular culture, you have a very limited probability of expanding your new found spiritual awareness, unless you engage yourself consciously in some form of habitual and frequent spiritual practice. Spiritual practices are actions and activities we undertake on a regular basis for the purpose of cultivating spiritual development. There are a plethora of spiritual practices available, both ancient and modern, that you can apply in your own life to sustain your spiritual awareness and Divine connection. Regular spiritual activity will fine-tune your alignment with the Divine Self, improve the clarity of your inner guidance, and consistently nurture and develop your ability to manifest abundance. ​When undertaking any spiritual practice it is important to bear in mind that we are all different. We all have our own beliefs, temperaments, personalities, interests and personal preferences. Your beliefs and spiritual practices will depend a lot on your personal spiritual journey, your past life experiences, and your karmic quest. Each of us has a unique Life Plan, Soul Purpose and Life Calling to achieve in this lifetime. A spiritual practice that is ideal for one person’s soul growth may simply not work at all for another. Therefore it is recommended that you seek intuitive guidance from your Divine Self on which practices will best suit your unique needs in this lifetime. Ultimately, it does not matter which practice or discipline you choose, as long as you incorporate it into your daily living and apply it consistently. Methods Of Spiritual Practice Your spiritual practice is a matter of personal choice and may include any of the following: Affirmations Astral Travel & Projection Breathing Exercises Ceremonies, Rites & Rituals Channeling Charity & Acts of Kindness Cleansing (Fasting, Energy Clearing, Sage burning, Baptism) Creating Sacred Space Dancing Divination (Tarot, Astrology, I Ching, Numerology, Runes) Dreamwork Energy Work Gratitude Journaling Healing Practices (Acupuncture, Reiki, Shiatsu) Past Life Regression Inducing Trance / Altered States of Consciousness Mandala Meditation / Guided Meditation Music (playing, listening to) Physical Activity (Yoga, T’ai chi ch’uan, Aikido) Pilgrimage Prayer Readings (Empathic, Psychic, Mediumship, Akasha, Aura) Religious Worship & Practice Shamanic Practice Singing & Chanting Study & Contemplation Vision Boards Visualization Excerpt adapted from the book Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny. © 2012 Anthon St Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology. Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word, and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

Good morning fellow seekers and believers. A warm welcome also to 'ye of little faith.' Take a deep breath, you are indeed still alive! The Mayan calendar has finally come to a grinding halt. Yes, it is December 21st, 2012 and the time is exactly 11:11 GMT, the official time of the Solstice. It is indeed a blessing to greet you at the dawn of yet another perfect Solstice day in this miraculous annual progression of human history. ​If you are one of the more adventurous and spirited among us, you may very well find yourself today on a Mayan galactic alignment cruise or magical pilgrimage to the Chichen Itza in the Mexican state of Yucatan, or at Stonehenge in the United Kingdom, waiting for the first light to break on the horizon. I can only imagine how much fun you must be having! If you are more pessimistically inclined, you may however be searching for alien evacuation portals on 'Apocalypse Island' in Chile, or you may very well be reading this from the comfort of the 2012 survival bunker you built in your backyard, whilst snacking on the emergency supply of canned food and water you have carefully stocked up since 2010. It appears to me 2012 isn’t a spiritual awakening, but instead, a human one. It is the disillusionment from the nonsense being sold to us from gurus for centuries and the empowerment of our true selves ~ Steve Maraboli Most people are however simply on their way to work this morning – facing yet another hectic day at the office, and later possibly some last minute holiday shopping at a snail’s pace in another traffic jam. Yet, is it not great to be alive! And like our ancestors have done for millennia, and like our children’s grandchildren will do for many more, we are once again today witnessing the shortest, or longest day of the year, depending on the hemisphere in which you find yourself. Today’s Solstice is however, as you surely know by now, also of unique significance to some people around the world. Yes, indeed, today is that official ‘dark doomsday’ we have been hearing about for several years now. It has finally arrived – the time of ‘the shift’, or the ‘end of time’, depending on how you choose to look at things. ​Yes, it is December, 21st 2012 – the date on which the ancient Mayan calendar is said to come to a grinding halt. And as most of us predicted, the world did not meet a tragic fate in some calamitous catastrophe. Could it be that the Mayans really did just run out of stone to chisel on? ​ As you may well know, the controversy, fear-mongering and apocalyptic opinions regarding this significant date have been widespread and omnipresent for many years now. In fact, the hysteria reached such a fever-pitch some time ago, that most people seemed to have completely lost interest in the whole affair in recent months. Everyone clearly had had enough of the constant bombardment, and all the doom prophecies therefore lost most of its hot air. Even the Mayan spiritual elders, with all their patience and access to ancient wisdom were fed up. It is no secret that most of the hype around the year 2012 originated from the money lenders and merchants who continue to ply their trade inside the temple, like wolves in sheep’s clothing. A year or two ago it was impossible to log into any online spiritual forum, or watch any paranormal TV show, without being confronted with some form of 2012 hullabaloo. Humans just keep picking these false endings to poke at themselves for motivation sake… This time-space reality has the wherewithal to support you farther than your mind can comprehend time! ~ Abraham-Hicks But what goes up must come down, and in recent months the stacks of 2012 books on store shelves were clearly gathering dust. Today many of the half truths, and much of the fear-mongering, will thankfully come to an end. ​​ The feeding frenzy is finally over, for the time being anyway, and Mother Earth continues to spin on her axis as she always has. I just have one concern. What on earth will the publishers and vendors be doing with all those unsold 2012 books? I also shudder at the thought of how many rain forests were destroyed in the process. Of course, in 2013 ye shall also hear of more gloom and rumors of doom, but see that ye be not troubled dear friend. And please keep your wallet or your purse tightly zipped. We live in an abundant Universe where well-being is plentiful, and freely available, and balance and harmony always somehow abounds. For most of us today is just a wonderfully ordinary day, with good weather in some places and a few bad patches in other, just as it always has been, and always will be. If you are one of the lucky people sitting in a traffic jam, or an office cubicle, or especially if you are on vacation, do yourself a favor and take a look outside your window right now. Look up at the wide, open sky and remind yourself that all is well in your world. Well-being and prosperity surrounds you all day, every day. You are truly blessed. Do you not feel the yearning in your heart for hope and inner peace; do you not long to have faith in better days ahead? Do not drift unconsciously and without reflection through the labyrinth of a disconnected, cynical life. Do not fear the natural world. And most of all do not forfeit your Divine right to a life free from struggle, anxiety and suffering. Also, do not surrender your inner Divine guidance to the paranoid opinions, greed and morbid false beliefs of others. Find your truth within. Embrace your bliss. Jump feet first into a life of joy and fulfillment. Live in harmony with yourself, your fellow man and the wonderful planet we inhabit. Make today the first day of the rest of your earthly existence. Simply choose today to flow with the miracles of life, and become more in tune with the gentle wisdom and powerful pulse that is our conscious Universe. Your life is singular, unique and wonderful. A Divine life of abundance, well-being, peace and prosperity is your sacred birthright. You simply need to embrace it. Claim it. The Universe shall provide for you always. © 2012 Anthon St Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology. Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word, and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

There was no need for a term like ‘magical thinking’ in the Golden Age of Man. There was only genuine everyday magic and mysticism. Children were not mocked or scolded in those days for singing to the rain, or talking to the wind. Magical thinking is a common trait found among all children all over the world, between the ages of approximately two until seven years of age. This time frame is also known as the pre-operational stage of child development and it is the period in our early life when we increasingly explore our environment, and gradually learn to distinguish between ‘fantasy’ and ‘reality’. Children at this age initially have all kinds of imaginative ideas and magical interpretations of the world, in order to make sense of their external and internal reality. At this age we still believe that we can grow wings and learn to fly; or that animals can talk and sing; or that our shadow is a magical person following us around; or that the Sun goes to sleep in the ocean; that there is a man living in the Moon; or that the wind, the clouds and the trees notice us and obey our instructions. We often also have imaginary friends at this age. The process of exploring the actual limitations of our time-space reality lasts several years. Most ‘magical thinking’ typically disappears around the time when a child finally accepts that there is no such thing as the Tooth Fairy, or Santa Clause. As our understanding and knowledge of Earth reality increases, we lose our imaginative sense of the magical and metaphysical. Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry Potter, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real? ~ J.K. Rowling It appears that the only reason magical thinking must fade into the background of our consciousness as we grow up is because it can become inappropriate or dangerous from a survival perspective. To live safely in our physical body on this planet in primitive times we had to recognize certain patterns in our environment. For example we had to know that certain berries or plants are poisonous when we eat them, or that we may die should we fall off a cliff, or that wild animals can cause us physical harm. Confronted with the independent forces of nature it is obviously not a good idea for frail young humans to believe that they can fly or give instructions to wild animals. However, we never fully lose the tendency to see the magical or mysterious in the ordinary. Findings in cognitive science suggest that magical thinking is an inherent, human trait that persists into adulthood and this appears to be prevalent in all societies and cultures. It is also a phenomenon that is found in all civilizations. Throughout recorded human history we find clear evidence that mankind has always believed that some things are sacred; that things can be cursed; that the human mind can control matter; that rituals bring prosperity or good fortune; that there is power in words and the names assigned to things; that there is justice and moral order in the Universe (such as karma or God’s judgment); and finally that the Universe is ‘alive’ or has a conscious awareness of its own existence. The fact that these fundamental beliefs are widespread and common in all cultures is no coincidence or accident. If we accept that we are spiritual beings having a physical, human experience, our tendency towards ‘magical thinking’ and metaphysical belief makes all the sense in the world! However, many scientists attach absolutely no metaphysical or spiritual significance to these phenomena. For example, researcher Dr Eugene Subbotsky refers to it as "magical ideation" and suggests that we retain our preference for magical thinking because “it’s much more comfortable to think that your fate is written down in a constellation of stars than that you’re one of a certain group of intelligent animals who are lost in frozen space forever."​ Neuropsychologist Peter Brugger, takes a more positive approach, which goes beyond the mere survival theory. He states that it is not healthy for us humans to be entirely stripped of all our magical thinking. His data seems to show that a lack of magical thinking leads to anhedonia, which is the inability to experience pleasure. We should be cautiously open to the spiritual and non-rational, and skeptical of the more invisible magical thinking - what we might call ‘magical reason’ - pervading secular thought and experience in modern society. Science and technology are for most people a new religion, and their orthodoxies are believed with the same fervor ~ David Watson ​We were never really meant to feel like ‘animals’ lost in space. It is clear that we have an innate urge or intuitive desire to find meaning and purpose in our lives, and that we derive a lot of pleasure and joy from the so-called ‘magical ideations’ we attach to random patterns and coincidences. I propose that although it is necessary for us to initially put our ‘magical thinking’ into its proper earthly perspective, while we grow up, we should not be encouraged or pressured to relinquish it entirely, for it is an expression of our original spiritual nature. ​ It is also my experience that a true spiritual awakening is always accompanied by the return of so-called ‘magical thinking’ to our consciousness in some way, shape or form. Without ‘magical ideation’ true spiritual awareness seems impossible. ​Yes, we did come here for a physical human experience and therefore we have to make do with little or no awareness of our ‘superpowers’ for a large portion of our life. It is part of the deal. One cannot expect to have a truly physical life experience bound by time and space, while retaining your full spiritual capacity. The two states of being are mutually exclusive. In this lifetime we are like Superman who must remain disguised as the nerdy newspaper journalist Clark Kent, or Harry Potter and his friends who are not allowed to do magic while they are on holiday, away from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We don’t mind this compulsory precondition for our current physical incarnation, because being more physical than spiritual is essential to the authentic human experience. It is after all what we originally signed up for! However, we were not meant to completely abandon our metaphysical nature and enter this time-space reality entirely ‘unarmed’ and powerless. Even Harry Potter and Clark Kent get to tap into their special powers once in a while, especially when the going gets tough. © 2012 Anthon St Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology. Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word, and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

What we think, and what we believe, is what we become. We create our own reality. Constantly exposing yourself to popular culture and the mass media will ultimately shape your reality tunnel in ways that are not necessarily conducive to achieving your Soul Purpose and Life Calling. Modern society has generally ‘lost the plot’. Slavishly following its false gods and idols makes no sense in a spiritually aware life. The same holds true for toxic relationships, and people in your life who consistently indulge in negativity, cynicism, prejudice, fear-mongering, pessimism, and hatred. But have no illusions – the opposite extreme is just as noxious. Be equally cautious of those who deem themselves spiritually superior or ‘holier-than-thou’. Be wary of the well-meaning souls who profess themselves to be paragons of unconditional love and light, or who claim they have attained perfect insight into all the mysteries of the Universe. ​It may seem very “unspiritual” of me to advise you to avoid certain people, but it is often for the best to completely eliminate all the ‘trolls’ from your life as much as you possibly can. For truth be told, you can be of no real service to any of them if you allow them to impede and obstruct your well-being and spiritual growth. It is your divine right and your spiritual duty to protect your energy field from unwanted influences. In the wise words of the Mahatma, do not allow anyone to walk through your mind with their dirty feet. Our children must learn how to spot a stereotype, isolate a social cliché and distinguish facts from propaganda, analysis from banter, important news from coverage ~ Ernest Boyer Sure, as your fellow seekers these people do need your love and support, but you can only provide them with the help they need by staying in alignment with your own Soul Purpose and Life Calling. Only by striving towards the accomplishment of your own spiritual mission in this lifetime do you become truly empowered to be of service to others. If you really want to help all the lost souls who have been poisoning your mind with their skepticism, negative attitudes, false beliefs, sacred snobbery, or delusions of grandeur, then get away from them as soon as possible, and first seek your own truth and personal bliss. The people who truly need your help will gravitate to you in time. Don’t try to heal the whole world all at once. Personally, I had to cut loose several acquaintances, colleagues, ‘friends’ and family members over the years in order to fully come into my own, and as a consequence I have been a source of guidance and support to hundreds of wonderful people all over the world. I used to be a lost soul myself and therefore I did not always keep the most positive or uplifting company. ​ Had I continued to indulge and tolerate some of those toxic people in my aura on a daily basis, I would have been of little or no use to the many amazing clients and students who I now daily assist in transforming their lives. I would certainly not have managed to write this book had I allowed all the naysayers and doom prophets to stick around. ​Practicing social censorship in our daily life presents a real dilemma for some people. We have been so conditioned to believe that we must ‘be nice’ to get ahead in the rat race, and that we need to stay abreast of the mainstream news at all cost, just like we have come to believe that we must be on top of the latest fashions, technologies and lifestyle trends. I am often asked how I manage to stay informed about what goes on in the world, since I no longer watch, read or listen to the news. My answer often surprises people. I typically have no idea, or any real interest in what the global media chooses to report on from day to day. Most of it is drivel, hype, lies and disinformation anyway. Yet, despite the fact that I do not follow the news, I always know just enough about the really important events happening in the world. I remain reasonably well-informed of the most vital international and local developments. ​This does not happen by accident or coincidence. It is my firm belief that should there is something in the news that I need to know, the most essential information will find its way to me. It is further my conscious intention that the news I need to hear will reach me in a form that will not disturb, or upset me. And this is exactly how it manifests in my life. Whatever I need to now, I always attract into my conscious awareness. I trust in the wisdom and guidance I receive from my Divine Self and I trust in the power of my own intention as a co-creator of our shared reality, to draw to me all that I need to live a happy, safe and fulfilling life. The things I need to hear, or see always come to me in the right way and at the right time. Unceasingly we are bombarded with pseudo-realities manufactured by very sophisticated people using very sophisticated electronic mechanisms. I do not distrust their motives; I distrust their power. They have a lot of it. And it is an astonishing power: that of creating whole universes, universes of the mind ~ Philip K. Dick Why do we have this obsession with “staying informed” about absolutely everything in the world, anyway? How much of what you watch on television, or read in your newspaper, truly affects your daily life directly, and how much of it can you change without some kind of Divine intervention? ​In my mind the only reason why any spiritually aware soul would want to follow the mainstream news would be to use the information gained to make the world a better place. To follow the news out of fear and uncertainty only breeds further fear and uncertainty. It is my view that the only people who should be following the mainstream news consistently, should be people who actually need the relevant information to fulfill their Life Calling. Yet, even in those instances modern technology provides us with so many options these days to filter the information that ultimately reaches us. For example, I have set several Google Alerts on my email account that focus on specific news topics that are of particular importance in my professional work. I find it to be more than sufficient. ​We cannot be everything to everyone. I cannot possibly do my life’s work as a psychic medium, while at the same time attempting to solve local crime, world hunger, social injustice and political corruption. There are others who have a Life Calling to address those matters. To each his own. If you are searching for inner peace and spiritual truth, take my advice and turn off your television set. © 2012 Anthon St. Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology. Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word, and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

The most significant moment in my life thus far was the day I finally found the real me. In that profound moment I finally came to understand the value of being true to myself. And once I had discovered the true power of authenticity, the quest for living an authentic life completely began to alter my world. Like a Columbus of the heart, mind and soul I have hurled myself off the shores of my own fears and limiting beliefs, to venture far out into the uncharted territories of my inner truth in search of what it means to be genuine and at peace with who I really am. I have abandoned the masquerade of living up to the expectations of others and have been exploring the new horizons of what it means to be truly and completely me, in all my amazing imperfection and most splendid insecurity. It all began when I finally surrendered my shame to accept my psychic abilities as a blessing and not a curse. New doors swung wide open in my life when I discovered that being an empath is not a weakness and that being a psychic medium is not a sinful insanity. To be sensitive, vulnerable and emotional are taboos in our world, especially for men. When your authentic self miraculously awakens and becomes stronger than your ego, then you will truly begin to make a difference in this world. You will literally enter into a partnership with the creative principle ~ Andrew Cohen Combine that with being a new age weirdo who hears the voices of dead people... and you have the perfect breeding ground for shame, self-hatred and imagined public humiliation. I remember when the debilitating shame began. Growing up in Apartheid South Africa our school environment was shaped by a government policy known at the time as Christelike Nasionale Opvoeding (Christian National Education). This restrictive policy was geared towards social engineering and allowed very little religious or ideological freedom. Even the Catholic faith was considered suspicious. We were encouraged to embrace the Calvinistic and highly chauvinistic values that were forced upon us. We were programmed not to question authority, and to comply with the prescribed cultural expectations of our community. In this environment I was obviously soon misunderstood, excluded and bullied, to the extent that I began to view my highly sensitive nature and psychic heritage as a shameful secret, as some kind of personal disability. I soon realized I had to start wearing masks and pretend to be what I am not, for fear of rejection and ridicule. I fervently began to resist my extra sensory experiences. My fascination with all things metaphysical became my ‘dirty little secret’. I no longer told the other children about the metaphysical beings I spoke to, or the paranormal phenomena I saw and heard. I also no longer blurted out the secrets of unsuspecting adults, which often caused many red faces and awkward silences around tea tables and barbeque fires. I was disregarded by teachers, and rejected and tortured by many of my peers. The name-calling and physical abuse started very early, in my second year at school. I remember finding myself one day surrounded by a group of hyperactive eight-year olds. They were pointing fingers, laughing, and calling me cruel names. Today the scene reminds me of the witch hunters of old. Ironically, I realize now that some of their fathers were most likely firing teargas at rioting youths in one of the black townships at that very moment, while their children were hurling stones at me for daring to be different from the norm. Those bullies had no idea why they felt the need to terrorize me; they just sensed intuitively that I was somehow unusual, a threat. Within me there was a silent, latent force that made them very uncomfortable. They were taught since birth to despise that which was different from them in race, creed, language, culture and faith. They feared what they did not understand. Being different, or standing out from the crowd in any way, was seen as anti-Christian, non-Afrikaans and unpatriotic. We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection ~ Brené Brown ​I remember the dread in their eyes when they used to push me around and hurl insults in my direction. It is disturbing to know that many of them still uphold some of those prejudiced views and bigoted values to this very day. I know some of their current beliefs and attitudes, because these days many of them want to be my friends on Facebook. People often say that love is the key to conscious living; they say love is the essence of joy and happiness and spiritual enlightenment. I beg to differ. For without authenticity there will never be complete unconditional love. True love and connection with ourselves, others and the planet is impossible without being fully authentic. First we must express and embrace our authentic self, before we will be able to love anyone else unconditionally. The lack of authenticity is a modern epidemic. We live in a perpetual hall of mirrors where very few of us are what we appear, or claim to be. We have created a counterfeit, pretentious society where we all seek sincere love and true connection from behind the towering walls of our falsehood. We yearn to reach out to one another from our fortresses of deception and our facades of self-protection. All the world is our stage and every day we dance around each other craving to connect with the real people behind the masks of fear and shame we all wear. Is it any wonder there are so many lonely people on this planet? Is it any surprise that relationships have become so complex and near impossible to navigate? ​There is only one true key to lasting personal fulfillment and true intimacy with others – to be authentic. For when we are authentic we release our fears and step into being bona fide, and utterly vulnerable. We cannot experience true love and connection without also risking heartbreak and disillusionment. We must allow ourselves to be vulnerable, because when we shield ourselves from loss, rejection and disappointment, when we hide from sadness and despair, we also shut out opportunities for love, happiness, joy, acceptance and fulfillment. ​ To be authentic is to be vulnerable, and to be vulnerable is to embrace the very essence of all that human life has to offer. How does one become more authentic? To be authentic is to strip away the layers of pretense we have adopted to please others. To be authentic is to abandon the senseless roles we play to meet the imagined expectations of society. To be authentic is to break free from the oppressive chains of guilt and shame that keep our awkward masks in place, that keep our glasses half empty and not half full. To be authentic is to be stripped bare of all our pretenses and stand proud in the bareness of who we really are. Once we rip off the disguise we assumed for others, the real person is revealed. There is no more putting on a show for the sake of others… and we are finally free! If you put shame in a Petri dish, it needs three things to grow exponentially: secrecy, silence and judgment ~ Brené Brown Carl Jung said, “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” To stand vulnerable before the world in all your brokenness and imperfection is the most powerful place you can ever be. Being vulnerable is not weakness, it is strength. Being authentic and vulnerable yields a phenomenal power that can move mountains. It is the magic of being alive. Holding yourself in a place of false pretense and self-protection only serves to block out all potential for true well-being and joy. When we shutdown and sedate all negative feeling, we also shutdown and sedate all the good stuff. When we anesthetize our sadness and despair with alcohol, drugs or food we also shut out all feelings of happiness, joy and ultimate bliss. We cannot feel selectively. We cannot feel only some things, and not others. We feel, or we don’t feel. So, start feeling! I sometimes tell my clients that “pity parties” are good to indulge in. But if you are going to throw one, do it properly! Throw yourself the best self-pity extravaganza anyone has ever had. Call forth the violins, bring out the long black garments, decorate the room with all those sad memories of humiliation, betrayal and abuse. Go ahead and cover your head in ashes, and flood the floor with your tears. Revel in your misfortune. Get it all out of your system to make space in your heart for love, joy and happiness. And when that clock strikes midnight, declare the party over! Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, and use the rest of that dark night to sweep the whole miserable mess out the backdoor. Then open the front door to welcome in the sunlight, fling open the windows to let in a fresh breeze of hope and faith. Run outside to embrace the dawning of a bright new day! Don’t be afraid to love with every fiber in your being. Put your heart on the line each and every time, even when there are no guarantees. Know that you are worthy of love and belonging. Understand that you are imperfect, we all are. We are all defenseless, at risk and flawed in so many ways. Celebrate yourself. Accept that you are enough. Dare to declare who you are. It is not far from the shores of silence to the boundaries of speech. The path is not long, but the way is deep. You must not only walk there, you must be prepared to leap ~ Hildegard Von Bingen Show the real you to the world , for you are special and unique… warts and all. Embrace every opportunity to love and connect with others. Social researcher Brené Brown says, “When we work from a place that says, ‘I am enough’ we stop screaming and start listening. We are kinder and gentler to the people around us, and we are kinder and gentler to our ourselves.” The truly authentic are blessed. They are the warriors of the soul, the champions of love. Let your authentic self be seen by the rest of the world. You may fear rejection and ridicule, but what you will gain is your freedom and personal power. What you will find is true love and acceptance. We fear the judgment of others, but when we strip away the veils of pretense we discover that there is really only one nasty critic in our lives. There is only one malicious judge who raises eyebrows and wags a disapproving finger at us all the time. That judge is us – you and me. We are our own worst critics. While the rest of the world goes about their business and could care less about our imagined imperfections, we spend hours in our personal hall of mirrors: judging, shaming and blaming ourselves beyond all recognition. Don’t be afraid to be who you are, but be smart about it. Being authentic is not about exposing yourself like an open book. You need not share your most personal thoughts and deepest personal secrets with the world. You need not wear your heart on your sleeve. Brené Brown sums it up perfectly when she states that one should only share your "shame story" with those who have earned the right to hear your story. Perfect strangers need not know every little intimate fact or detail about your life. Frankly, most people are not all that interested to know it all anyway. But what people are interested in is to engage with other people who are sincere and vulnerable, people who are able to ask for help and affection, people who can admit their own mistakes and imperfections, and people who are always true to themselves and stand up for what they believe in. They are interested in real people who are just like them. So, just be you for change. It will transform your life forever. © 2013 Anthon St. Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology. Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word, and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

For millennia pilgrims have made the trek up to the Acropolis, the mythological citadel of Athens. Heeding the whispers of an ancient deity, I wandered off the beaten tourist track to find my way to the doorstep of the Goddess Athena. Many centuries have come and gone since the Athenians ascended the Acropolis to seek the guidance and protection of Athena, the maiden goddess of wisdom, war and divine intelligence. Her status as the favorite daughter of Zeus, and powerful patron deity of the city of Athens, remains evident to this day. Expecting to be mostly drawn to the Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus, when I visited the Acropolis of Athens in Greece, I was instead keenly aware of the omnipresence of Athena’s legacy. My undergraduate education afforded me a reasonably good understanding of the role of the god Dionysus in ancient Greek culture. I know about the festivals and plays, and as a student I often imagined visiting the remains of those historic open-air auditoriums. A sacred landscape is not simply a backdrop for action, but rather a place filled with names, associations and memories that link together everything present there. Humans become linked to the rocks, trees, animals, rivers, mountains and these bonds guide future human interaction with that place ~ Christopher Tilley But when my friend Sandra and I reached the Theatre of Dionysus, I did not hear the echoes of the choruses of long-forgotten Greek tragedies, or the murmur of the 17,000 spectators who came to see them lament. Instead I heard the resounding, reassuring voice of Athena only – a goddess I never paid much attention to before. She called to me, inviting me higher up to her sanctuary. Pagan tradition has it that places and objects are charged with magical, transformative energy through focused ritual, belief, thought and prayer. This ancient sacred energy bestowed upon Athena by so many devotees is vividly palpable on the Acropolis. This sacred historical site remains imbued with her electric strength, her infinite wisdom and her feminine charm. The prayers and offerings of every man, woman and child who over the centuries reached out to her for guidance and protection are still whispered by the winds around the marble columns. Her name is perceptibly hummed by the birds in the olive trees on the way up the steep slope. Millions of feet have made this trek up to the architectural marvels awaiting on top of the Acropolis. One can feel its power underfoot. Expecting to encounter Athena at her most famous and impressive temple, the Parthenon. I was once again surprised to hear her calling me to the more humble Erechteion. This temple on the northern side of the Acropolis was dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon, the god of the ocean, earth-quakes and horses. Poseidon competed in a contest with Athena for the position as patron and protector of the city of Athens below. But the people chose Athena, because she created the first olive tree as a gift to the Athenians. Poseidon gave them a spring, but it ran salt water and it was of no use to them. According to an archaeologist we spoke to at the Acropolis Museum, there are various myths about what exactly happened at that contest. One version has it that Poseidon neglected to bring a witness to his miracle of bringing forth water from the mountain, so nobody believed he was responsible. Another version has it that the people were asked to vote. All the women then voted for Athena, and since there were more women than men… Athena won by a landslide! A visit to the Acropolis Museum is highly recommended when you visit Athens and the Acropolis. Athena’s presence is also very much dominant here and I especially appreciated the close-up view of the original Koira (maidens) from the Erechtheion. Statues of Athena are everywhere in the museum in various shapes and sizes. Many of them reminded me of the Virgin Mary. One cannot help but notice the similarities in her depiction, right down to her headdress resembling a halo. © 2013 Anthon St Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology. Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word, and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

While planning my visit to this sacred site in Delphi, Greece, I set the intention to receive a sign from the famous Oracle at the Temple of Apollo. The deity of revelation and inspiration did not disappoint and sent me a good omen, without me being aware of it at the time. Would you not do the same if you were going to visit the remains of the legendary sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, Greece? Well, I did! I humbly requested a simple sign or personal omen from the god of light, truth and prophecy, while I was planning my visit to this ancient sacred space. I sensed several months before I undertook this pilgrimage that the place would not disappoint, but ultimately I received much more than I had anticipated. The famous oracle who communicated Apollo’s messages to the people, and the priests who interpreted them, no longer ply their trade at this once glorious place, but Apollo has certainly not abandoned his remarkable temple. He still answers the call of mortals here, despite the fact that most of us now live in a world devoid of the mystical and the miraculous. Yes, he certainly does. I have proof. At first I was somewhat disenchanted with this sacred site, but I nevertheless paid my respects to Apollo at the foot of his altar. I also paused for a while at the remains of the grand entrance to the temple, reminding him that the two of us had a date here with destiny. But nothing came to me. I even snooped around the entrance to Pythia's chamber, in the hope that the famous oracle woman would appear from the depths below to step out onto the Rock of Sybil in a trance. The lord whose is the oracle at Delphi neither utters nor hides his meaning, but shows it by a sign. The Sibyl, with raving lips uttering things mirthless, unbedizened, and unperfumed, reaches over a thousand years with her voice, thanks to the god in her ~ Heraclitus In this altered state of consciousness, possibly induced by the hallucinogenic gasses from below the temple foundation, she would utter mysterious, prophetic messages from Apollo himself. It is rumored that she predicted the fall of Troy. Surely she could manage a simple little sign from Apollo for me? Yet, the temple ruins remained as silent as the grave. Maybe the Christians, who later turned a part of the site into a church, were successful in driving out the last remnants of the old religion with their Grecian crosses? They posted these crucifixes at the entrance to the sanctuary, possibly to dispel the evil and heresy of the site’s pagan past. They no longer had any need for the protection of the colossal Naxian sphinx, which used to guard this place from up high, on top of a marble column. Unlike the clear call of Athena that I heard on the Acropolis in Athens, just a few days earlier, the sacred site of Apollo at Delphi remained shrouded in a mysterious, yet reassuring silence. ​But then Apollo surprised me with proof that the sacred force of Delphi remains. His presence here reaches as far back as many centuries BC; as far back as the time when he is believed to have dug the foundations of the first temple at Delphi himself. Delphi did not shape the fate and direct the destiny of so many nations, kings and warriors by accident. This place is after all where Zeus, with the assistance of his two eagles, determined where the center of the world must be. The energy here has gathered over millennia. This is after all where the ancient Greek aphorism "Know Thyself" was inscribed in the forecourt of the temple, along with the other 147 Delphic maxims. There is much magical power in these ruins, despite me being so slow on the uptake. The distractions caused by the unusual European summer heat, jet lag, and the chatter of babbling tour guides, seemed to be interfering with the radar of my sixth sense. Eventually, I was going further up the slopes of Mount Parnassus, when I had a sudden intuitive urge to pause. Not to take a picture, as I normally might, but record a short video of myself with the temple behind me. This was unusual at the time. I am not at all fond of posing for photos, much less appearing on video or television. But Apollo insisted, so I obliged, and paused my trek up the incline. I had never before used the video capture facility on my new smart phone, so it took me a while to figure it out. The heat was becoming unbearable. At last I managed to record a brief video of myself, just saying a few words about the temple at Delphi behind me. Then I walked on. I still did not realize what had actually occurred, or what the significance was of this seemingly mundane incident. May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun; and find your shoulder to light on; to bring you luck, happiness and riches… today, tomorrow and beyond ~ Irish Blessing And then I discovered it: my own little miracle message courtesy of Apollo’s oracle! While waiting at the Delphi Museum, for the small tour group I had abandoned earlier, to catch up with me, I made an amazing discovery. I was scanning through the photos I took at the temple earlier, and came upon the video I recorded. I had already forgotten about it. I cringed for a moment at the prospect of seeing myself on the screen, but curiosity got the better of me, and I pressed play. A few seconds into the video... my jaw dropped. I was amazed and very surprised. There I was, mumbling a brief introduction about the temple and the oracle, while from nowhere a large black butterfly descended from above and came to rest on my shoulder! It remained there until the end of my unplanned monologue. Long after the video ended, I remained staring at the screen in bewilderment. After I posted the video on Facebook, a friend pointed out to me that apart from the butterfly a second amazing thing happened at the end of the video. I never noticed it the first time around. The moment the butterfly leaves my shoulder, a man walks into view in the background… and proceeds to embrace a tree growing near the temple. This held a special, personal symbolism for me. ​Not only did Apollo answer my prayer for a sign, but he also made sure the moment would be captured for posterity. He made sure nobody would doubt the story of my encounter with him up on that mountain. Some may see it merely as a lucky accident or coincidence, but I see only the blessing of a spiritual sign in this synchronistic occurrence. Greece was my first stop in Europe. Butterflies came to me in every country and at every sacred site I subsequently visited. In Celtic folklore the butterfly represents growth, personal expansion, transformation and rebirth. In Native American mysticism the butterfly was believed to be a messenger that would carry secret prayers and wishes to the Great Spirit. In ancient Rome, butterflies were found on coins, next to Juno, the goddess of weddings and marriage. And in Greek mythology Psyche, the Greek goddess of the soul, is represented by a butterfly. ​What was the significance to me? Apollo knew that I was not only embarking on a physical journey, but that I had also entered a period of significant personal change in my life in recent months. He reminded me that I had all the spiritual support I needed to continue breaking out of the cocoon of the past with courage. I was on the cusp of a new way of life, and under the watchful eyes of the gods, I was preparing to embrace a new chapter in my human journey, while wrapping my arms around the ever-expanding tree of life. © 2013 Anthon St Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology. Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word, and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.

Butterflies appear as a synchronistic sign every time I visit a sacred site, but I never expected a psychedelic paper butterfly to be one of mystical route markers upon my spiritual travels. In a previous blog I shared the story of the sign I received from the ancient oracle during my visit to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Well, the magical presence of the butterfly totem did not end with my visit to Greece. In all of the other spiritual places I was to subsequently visit I would encounter butterflies at every sacred site, and also at other special moments of spiritual and personal significance. The butterfly phenomenon took an unexpected turn when I arrived at a country inn in Gottsdorf, outside Berlin, Germany. This was to be the venue for a four-day spiritual retreat I was attending. The event was set to take place in a cozy Yoga studio attached to the small hotel. The moment I entered this room, I noticed a small altar the seminar organizer had set up in this space. The display was charming and colorful, but that was not what drew my attention. No, what struck me instantaneously was the large, vibrant butterfly hanging on the brick wall behind the altar. Yes, indeed. I had received yet another mystical route marker along this personal odyssey into self-realization. The sacred cycle of transformation begins by cultivating life experiences and embracing the evolving human spirit. Meaning, purpose and joy are our birthright and by dancing our sacred dream we create a richly woven tapestry of spiritual thought and action ~ Micheal Teal This time the butterfly was not black and white, like the one who came to whisper in my ear at Delphi. Instead a brightly colored paper butterfly waved hello to me from above! It was like a psychedelic kaleidoscope reminiscent of the shapes one sometimes sees in sacred geometry art or tie-died T-shirts from the 60's. Another butterfly sign? What was it doing up there? Was this moment the next step in my transformation; did this butterfly signal the next phase of my personal rebirth into a new era in my life? Mr. Butterfly flashed me an affirmative smile. ​Two days later I had the opportunity to discuss my experience at Delphi with the course facilitator. I was curious as to why he brought the butterfly along, because he was not using it any way during the seminar. But to my disappointed he revealed that he was not the one responsible for the butterfly on the wall. He found it there upon his arrival and decided to leave it up, since it made a colorful contribution to his own display of spiritual items. ​I then turned to the owner of the venue for answers. I had to know who put up that butterfly, and why? After my experience in Greece, I knew there was more to the presence of that unusual item of decor, and to discover the answers, I had to find out how it got there in the first place. ​“Aaah, der schmetterling,” the German inn-keeper sighed, “It does not belong to me either.” She then explained that just prior to our arrival, there was a shamanic workshop conducted at the same venue. The shaman who conducted the classes is originally from Peru and he was in a hurry to leave on the last day. He had asked her to keep the butterfly safe for him, and bring it with her later, when she went to Berlin for shopping. Such a coincidence,” added the inn owner, “He contacted me just yesterday to ask how his butterfly was doing!” I just smiled at her and said, “When you speak to the shaman again, please thank him for the butterfly medicine he brought into my life.” The butterfly featured as symbol of transformation in Aztec, Inca and Mayan culture. In Peru over 90 varieties of butterfly are found, where they are considered a symbol of transition and celebration. The enchanting Morpho didius, or Blue Morpho is the most famous in South America and considered a national symbol of Peru. ‘Morpho’ means changed or modified. This shimmering butterfly is also an epithet of Aphrodite and Venus, the goddesses of love, beauty, pleasure, and prosperity. © 2013 Anthon St Maarten ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthon St. Maarten is a psychic medium and destiny coach with a global clientele of thought leaders, business executives, celebrities, politicians, academics, and luminaries in the arts and sciences in more than thirty countries spanning five continents. He is also a metaphysics teacher, psychic development coach, podcaster, and spiritual blogger. Anthon is a hereditary psychic medium in professional practice since 2004 and a liberal arts post-graduate with a major in psychology. Anthon publishes the spiritual life design blog, The S Word, and is the author of Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny and The Sensible Psychic: A Leading-Edge Guide To True Psychic Perception.