How To Develop Your Psychic and Intuitive Abilities

This blog post was written a while ago in response to a question from a client and I’ve just updated it.

Andrea’s Question: "Do you have any recommendations about how one should go about furthering their psychic abilities? I've read tarot cards on and off, and seem to have a knack, and then of course there's my natural ability to "read" people. But not necessarily with dates & times and all that predictive stuff."

My Response: I personally like to learn experientially in a hands-on fashion, but my very earliest experiences with the intuitive realms involved private exploration of dreams and dream journaling, astrology, tarot and paganism. I began learning about these things in my early teens and have gone on to develop my natural intuitive abilities (which we all have) with the help of teachers, through group classes, workshops, lectures, books and private sessions with healers and intuitive guides.

Dreams

I started out by working with my dreams and recommend keeping a dream journal by your bed where you can record dreams when you wake up or by setting an alarm clock to wake yourself up at an odd hour to facilitate dream remembrance. Significant dreams will stay with you and resonate for years to come and you will begin to know which dreams are significant with practice. You can also work with lucid dreaming or by asking yourself a question before falling asleep and requesting that the answer come to you in a dream. Often dreams will allow you to re-connect with deceased friends or relatives and sometimes you may astro travel as well.

Update: Now that I’ve been dream journalling for so long I don’t like to request dream guidance very often because I often find that it disrupts my sleep. But sometimes on special occasions (significant moon phases/equinoxes etc) I will.

Recommended books: “Symbols for Self Understanding” by Betty Bethard

Astrology

There is much more to astrology than just your sun sign (determined by the day you were born.) Becoming involved with the study of the planets and stars will expand your awareness on a universal level connecting you with the bigger picture crossing generations and even universes. My own studies in metaphysics began with dreams, which led to astrology.

Recommended books: “The Only Way To Learn Astrology” (6 Volumes) by Marion March & Joan McEvers, “Planets in Transit” by Robert Hand, “Astrology for the Soul” by Jan Spiller, “The Liquid Light of Sex” by Barbara Hand Clow, “The Changing Sky” by Steven Forrest
Recommended magazine: “The Mountain Astrologer”
Recommended authors & teachers: Steven Forrest, Barbara Hand Clow

Tarot

Tarot decks are a whole world onto themselves and can involve you in an ancient study of images and symbols with mysterious origins. Working with tarot cards has allowed me to access the many realms depicted in the cards. By working with a Pre-Celtic Shamanistic deck called “The Greenwood Deck” I first encountered one of my main spirit guides while meditating upon the Ancestor card.

Update: I’ve self published 3 oracle decks (as of 2020). Oracle Decks also help to stimulate our intuition connecting us with universal archetypes. I prefer to create oracle decks because I can create my own system rather than working within an established system such as the Tarot.

Recommended books: “Tarot For Yourself” by Mary K. Greer

Paganism
& Goddess Worship

I became involved with the study of paganism and ancient goddess religions when I was at university taking a Women’s Studies class. On a more personal level I was first introduced to this topic by a male friend of mine who liked to dress up as Pan on Halloween. I have attended several goddess groups and pagan rituals but prefer to practice my own solitary, eclectic and personal blend of reverence for Mother Earth.

Update: Currently I work within the tradition of Third Road Celtic Faerie Shamanism and was initiated into this tradition in 2017 by Francesca De Grandis.

Recommended books:”The Language of the Goddess” by Marija Gimbutas (archaeology), “The Motherpeace Tarot” deck and book by Vicki Noble, “The Book of Goddesses & Heroines” by Patricia Monaghan, “Be A Goddess” by Francesca De Grandis.

Recommended authors, teachers & leaders: Starhawk, Szusanna Budapest, COG (Covenant of the Goddess), Francesca De Grandis

Upcoming posts will delve into: shamanism, energy healing, herbs, mediumship, crystal healing, channeling, psychic work, meditation, yoga and past life regression.

To read more posts about My Psychic Background please click here and for Psychic Development please click here.

About Kathy Crabbe

I’ve been an artist and astrologer forever and a soul reader since awakening my intuitive gifts while painting with my non-dominant left hand. I’m here on this planet to be of service. My Lefty Oracle, Elfin Ally Oracle, and Zodiac Goddess Power decks can help awaken your intuition and creativity and my readings heal and guide. I am proud to have my work featured in women-centric places such as We’Moon Datebook, Women’s Museum of California and Sage Woman Magazine. I write for Witches and Pagans, belong to Hey Grrrl Collective and teach a Divine Feminine eClass at Wise Woman University. I make my home in Southern California with two pooches and architect partner, Mark in an adobe style home we built ourselves.

Consulting Your Spirit Guides (Secret No. 7)

This week as part of our highly creative bloggers Next Chapter Book Club we are taking a look at: seeking out role models and advisers, reading about inspiring lives, and guiding others. (Side Note: This post is from a few years ago)

CHALLENGE #1 Searching for a guide (in the flesh):

My story - Short Version:

Never had one.
Always wanted one.
Dreamed I was one.
Became one.

*Update - I now have a spiritual mentor/guide in the flesh and her name is Francesca De Grandis.

Long Version - How to Find Your Spirit Guides:

I never actually found the "perfect guide" in the flesh, but I did find several in the spirit world. My recommendation, for those of you searching for your spirit guides, is to start out by working with a deck of tarot or oracle cards. My deck of choice was the Greenwood Deck, a Celtic Pagan deck created by Mark Ryan and illustrated by Chesca Potter. The two cards featured in this blog post were the ones that kept cropping up for me over and over again. But it was the Ancestor card that proved to be my greatest guide, acting as a gateway into the spirit world. By following (metaphorically/symbolically) the trunk and roots of the trees pictured in the card, down into the ground and beyond, I was able to access my main spirit guide, Annie.

Update: Nowadays I would definitely work with my own hand painted oracle decks!

How To Connect with Guides to Help Others:

When I give readings, I connect with the greatest guides there are, The Divines. I didn't start out by giving readings, I worked up to it over many, many years of practice. I suggest you find what methods work best for you, whatever allows you to quiet your mind (monkey-mind), open your heart, and become humble in the presence of Divine Beauty, with the realization that you are merely a channel and a messenger. Your job as a guide, is to remain open and connected, so that you can deliver healing and insightful messages in a non-judgemental, comprehensible and clear manner.

To read more blog posts about Psychic Development please click here. To read more about my personal Psychic Background please click here.

About Kathy Crabbe

Kathy Crabbe has been an artist forever and a soul reader since awakening her intuitive gifts at age forty after five years painting with her non dominant left hand. This awakened her intuition in a big way. In 2008 she created a Lefty Oracle deck and started giving intuitive soul readings. Her second deck, The Elfin Ally Oracle was published in 2019 and a third deck is planned for release in Spring, 2020. Kathy lives in sunny Southern California with her two dogs and architect husband in an adobe style home they built themselves.

I am NOT a corporate brand

“Deeper always deeper, darker ever darker.” We hold within us a deep body memory of who we are. We are so much more. We are faerie, goddess, trickster, spirit animal, wise woman, witch. Let us never forget. We are not a label, a corporate brand, a commodity. We are mystery, magic, light and dark and that still, quiet place in between, the place where poetry grows.

You are welcome to sign up for my monthly musings below,

Kathy Crabbe, Santa Rosa Plateau, Wildomar, California (photo by Chad Woodward)

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Fey Magick by Kathy Crabbe, watercolor on paper.

How to Tell If You're Getting the Best Psychic Reading Ever

In my humble opinion as an experienced soul reader and as a recipient of many psychic readings over the years, a good psychic, spiritual reading shifts one's energy on a deep cellular level so that one is able to sense things in a new way and with greater understanding of oneself, one's relationships and the world. A good psychic, soul reading should also leave you with at least ONE gold nugget of wisdom that deeply resonates with you and stays with you for the rest of your life acting as a touchstone for your soul.

A good spiritual reading should also provide you with tools to help you help yourself so that you don't rely on a psychic or guide to do that for you. A psychic reading is not a crutch or a bandaid.

Healing stones by Kathy Crabbe

Unlike a therapist, you CAN get what you need in a single session. That session can play out in a myriad of ways depending on your needs at the moment.

Sometimes a psychic, soul reading will involve experiential exercises, training or teaching. Sometimes it's mostly guidance and talking and sometimes a spirit guide or ancestor will come through to help out.

Psychic readings can be matter-of-fact or they may involve, deep, mystical truths sheathed in mystery or disguised as a story. Or a psychic may share their own personal story if relevant.

Often the nugget or jewel within a reading will come in the first few minutes and then be expanded upon during the reading. Sometimes the truth in a reading isn't understood untillater, perhaps even months or years later when one reviews the reading.

Sometimes simplicity is best in a reading; just the 'bare bones' which may at first appear like too little information, but in fact proves to be quite profound, as simple things often are. A lot of words in a reading does not a reading make and in fact a wordy reading may just be repeating the same thing over and over in different ways.

So, to sum things up, look out for these key points in a good psychic, spiritual, soul reading:

1. A key phrase that deeply resonates.

   1. At least one tool that you can use to help you help yourself; a reading or reader is NOT a crutch.

   2. If it feels wrong to you pay attention, a reading is never set in stone - trust your own good sense and intuition first and foremost.

More About Readings

• What to expect

• Prepare for your reading

• Sample readings

• Testimonials

Book a Reading with Kathy here.

Kathy Crabbe Creative Soul Guide in Temecula Wine Country, California

About Kathy

Kathy Crabbe has been an artist forever and a Creative Soul Guide since awakening her intuitive gifts at age forty.

Kathy lives in sunny SoCal with her architect husband and pet muses, Abby the shaggy black dog and Djinn Djinn, the small scruffy one in an adobe home they built themselves. Kathy shares behind-the-scenes glimpses into her work and life on Instagram

If you want to learn more about my soul readings, past life readings or astrology reports please email me or click on the links above to book a phone reading, an in-person reading (Southern California) or receive a typed/illustrated reading.

What is Scrying?

Petrified wood Sphere

I was recently asked what 'scrying' is so I've included a helpful video below (discovered on You Tube) that explains it clearly and concisely. I do not currently practice scrying although I do work with crystal balls and spheres of all shapes and sizes. Some of my favorites are:

Pink Quartz: for heart healing and connecting.

Jet: to connect with the ancestors and past lives.

Mahogany Obsidian: for going much deeper into a soul reading to clairvoyantly see and feel energy.

Labradorite: for journeys into other worlds with curiosity and wonder.

Moss Agate: for grounding and connection with Mother Earth.

Petrified Wood: to connect with emotional traumas and blockages and connect with past lives.