By Shelly Romine for Inland360
Two out of three Americans believe in some sort of psychic phenomena, according to a recent Gallup poll, which lists extrasensory perception, telepathy, clairvoyance, and astrology as the things people are most likely to put stock in.
But what exactly is psychic phenomena?
Two Lewiston-Clarkston Valley women, Melissa Holmes, a medium, and Carla Carlson, an intuitive healer, have combined efforts to offer classes to educate people about the various aspects of psychic phenomena. People tend to fear what they don’t understand, and by providing classes Holmes and Carlson hope to take away the mystery which has surrounded anything labeled “psychic,” and show people how to use these concepts to enhance their lives instead.
Both women hope to illustrate how the powers they rely upon to help others and themselves actually come from “good.”
“My gift comes from God, and I try and use it for his good,” said Holmes.
“Everyone has psychic ability,” Holmes said, “and by being aware of how to develop that ability, people can enhance their lives. I like to give this example to illustrate: Everyone can draw, but not everyone is Leonardo Da Vinci. Everyone has psychic ability, but not everyone is going to be a medium or healer, but everyone can open their gifts enough to help themselves.”
Each week, class participants will learn about a different topic. These could include: Chakras, meditation, numerology, psychometry, aura readings, palmistry, spirit guides, power animals, tea leaves, pendulums, energy work, and self-awareness, just to name a few. Carlson stated that she and Holmes will not be providing any readings at these workshops. The workshops will only be educational and open by donation.
For the first class people should bring a paper and pencil for notes and an open mind, said Holmes.
Holmes, a medium who claims she can see and speak to those who have died, said she became aware of her gift to see “others” when she was five years old. As she entered elementary school, she thought everyone could see and speak to dead people. She was surprised to learn they couldn’t. As a young woman, she received training in Ipswich, England from a private mentor and learned how to use her gift to help others. She has been doing so professionally for more than 30 years now. She teaches, lectures, provides readings and works privately for individuals.
Carlson, an intuitive healer, works as a Registered Nurse. She has had training in hands-on healing, Reiki and BodyTalk. In addition to working full-time as a nurse, she teaches – something near and dear to her heart, she said.
Holmes and Carlson met at a meditation class. They were both teaching meditation classes in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and decided to join forces. They attend meditation classes at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Valley Spiritual Center in Clarkston. The classes are guided and open to anyone. No experience is necessary.
Psychic terms glossary:
Extrasensory perception: Perceiving things other than through known senses.
Telepathy: The ability to communicate via thought.
Clairvoyance: The power to see objects or events that cannot be perceived by the senses.
Astrology: The interpretation of the movements and position of celestial bodies as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world.
Chakras: Each of the seven centers of spiritual power in the human body.
Meditation: The act or process of spending time in quiet thought.
Numerology: The belief in the relationship between a number and one or more coinciding events.
Psychometry: The ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects.
Aura: Human energy field.
Palmistry: The practice of interpreting a person’s character or predicting their future by reading the lines and other features on the hand.
Spirit guide: Human guide or protector.
Power animal: Native American belief that an animal chooses you or you choose it, to receive guidance and knowledge which will help you through life.
Reading tea leaves (tasseography): Interpreting patterns in tea leave to foretell the future.
Pendulum: A weight hung from a fixed point so that it swings freely back and forth. Used to communicate with spirit guides.
Energy work: Energy healing done by tapping into the body’s own frequencies. Alternative medicine.
Self awareness: Conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires.
Hands-on healing: Energy therapy in which practitioners consciously use their hands to support and facilitate physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.
Reiki: A healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient’s body and restore physical and emotional well-being.
Body talk: Holistic therapy that allows the body’s energy systems to be re-synchronised, helping to restore its ability to heal and fix itself.
If You Go
What: Psychic Awareness Classes
When: Beginning 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1 and taking place on Tuesday nights through Sept. 26.
Where: Valley Spiritual Center (formerly the Center for Spiritual Living), 2702 27th St., Clarkston
Cost: Donations will be accepted with proceeds going to the Valley Spiritual Center.
Of Note: Pre-registration is requested. Questions and registration can be emailed to weareonethistime@gmail.com. Classes are open to anyone ages 15 and up. People are asked not to bring younger children.
