Awaking from a most unpleasant dream involving a man with a frightening presence taunting me,  I found myself pinned to the bed, paralysed, unable to move. I immediately called inside myself to Archangel Michael, the angel of protection, for immediate help. Yet still I couldn’t move. I called again, only this time with more gusto and urgency, and withing seconds the icky presence had gone.

We’ve all heard stories of ghostly encounters with the deceased and of houses that had unmistakable spooky presences, and perhaps you have your own stories to tell. I certainly get a lot of emails and calls asking for advice about this subject.

Is it an over active imagination at work or are ghosts for real? When we speak of the Spirit world where the deceased exist, where is it anyway? There is no GPS to guide us there but I believe it is another world, functioning on a higher vibration than earth and within that world there are varying degrees of vibration. Occasionally, our two worlds collide.

Not all presences are unwelcome.  It is common for people to say good bye to their loved ones before they cross over which can be a loving and special experience.

Then you have the Spirits that have unfinished business, are stubborn or attached to things, people or houses which prevents them from crossing over. Perhaps you have visited somewhere that had a strange energy and something has attached itself to you. Apparently, they like hotels and alcohol. I once picked up an old lady spirit after walking through a cemetery. She was not very pleasant but I was able to move her on. If you encounter these types of ghosts, there is no need to fear them, even if they are disturbing. In fact fear is what they feed on. They can be attention seeking, like a child who feels neglected. People are ignoring them and in their confused state, they cannot understand why.

The basic thing to understand is that if you raise the vibration in your environment and your own energy, the undesirable entities will not feel comfortable and will choose to move on.  They often hook into your energy when you are vulnerable, perhaps ill or feeling down. By simply raising the vibration, they can’t exist comfortably and will naturally disappear.

Here are some tips to move them on with the concept of raising vibration:

• Firstly, ask your guides and angels for help and protection and visualise a shield of white light around you
• Even though you may feel a tad silly, talk aloud to them, tell them they have passed on and there is a wonderful place waiting for them.
• Play healing, soothing or classical music. This will lift the vibration making it uncomfortable for them to stay in the same space.
• Light candles, burn oils such as lavender, sandalwood or eucalyptus or burn a sage stick
• Walk around the house slowly and notice if there are any cold spots, if you locate a spot, put the music, candles and oils in that room.
• Place some bowls of water with salt in them in each corner The salt will absorb any negative energy. Throw the water out after a day or so and repeat if it still feels weird.
• Walk around outside the perimeter of your house throwing salt.
• Sage your house and yourself with a sage stick
• Burn sandalwood incense
• Clear you own energy by having a salt bath or scrub (any sort of salt works)
• Program crystals for protection by firstly cleansing them and then projecting protection prayers and thoughts into the crystal. Wear the crystals or place them around the home.
• Balance your chakra centres (try Doreen Virtue’s You Tube chakra balancing meditation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xam4tq_UVEQ
• Call on Archangel Michael

These souls are often confused so send loving thoughts to them but at the same time put down your boundaries and tell them it is not appropriate they stay.

If you don’t feel any improvement after this or you feel uncomfortable dealing with this on your own, enlist the help of a ‘ghost buster’ type clairvoyant.

Remember that you have Spirit Guides and Angels that love you dearly and will always be there to help you but the key is to ask for their help. With a simple request you can unlock unconditional love, light and protection!

Liz Winter is a Medium, Reiki Master/Healer, Angel Therapist, Spiritual Teacher, Dream Coach, Qualified Counsellor.  Liz is based in Mullumbimby. lizwintermedium

You can read her blog here: soultalkwithlizwinter

Catch her on Facebook here: facebook.com/pages/Liz-Winters-Soul-Talk-Page

You can buy her book, For Love of Spirit here: For-Love-Spirit-Medium-Memoir

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A morning walk turns into a journey of discovery for Verandah Magazine’s resident psychic and medium Liz Winter.

One morning, in a reflective mood, I walking  down the street during the mundane, routine hours of a working day – I could almost say my body walked my soul, when I began to study the faces that passed by me.

When you really start to look at the people passing you, it’s an interesting process, and, sad to say, there not that many happy faces.  Some people passed me by with faces like stone, some had paper thin tight smiles, others seemed so distant and vague it was as if there was  no one home.

But then I saw a woman kiss a dog and a mother bend down to comfort her crying child…and suddenly I had a thought: Do we all wonder at some point in our lives, who is going to love us?

When we know we are loved our world brightens, when we know we are loved, our challenges seem easier, when we know we are loved we find strength we didn’t know we had. But can we depend on others to love us at all times? Unconditional love is rare, even from parent to child.  So where can we turn to for those inevitable occasions when we feel unloved, unwanted or misunderstood?

My love of spiritual matters has often been my source of love when human love seems to have temporarily deserted me.  Feeling a warmth from the ‘other side’ in a form of a sign, a vision, a dream or a message has  been like a blanket of comfort more than once in my life.

However, as I’m ageing, and entering my ‘wise woman’ years, (I hope) it is clear to me that the most powerful love is self love. Self love, once you’ve connected to it, is always on tap and never lets you down.  Now, when I wake in the morning, I kiss my own shoulder, (because it’s easy to reach) hug my body and say to myself, ‘Liz, you are so special and you rock.’  Funnily enough, once we do own that self love, others seem to offer their love freely and frequently, which leads me to the inevitable conclusion so many people have written and spoken about – self love is a magnet.  In the manner of the Law of Attraction, you attract what you project.  If you project self-love more love will come.

And the best thing?  You can love yourself anywhere, all the time, any time.  It takes very little effort once you’ve got started, it’s absolutely free and when you’re brimming with self-love you’ll be amazed at how everybody around you will feel happy in your company – even the passers-by in the street are likely to smile!

Here are some guidelines and tips I took from the Queen of self love – Louise Hay;

12 Commandments to help you learn how to love yourself:

Stop All Criticism.
Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.

Forgive Yourself.
Let the past go. You did the best you could at the time with the understanding, awareness, and knowledge that you had. Now you are growing and changing, and you will live life differently.

Don’t Scare Yourself.
Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It’s a dreadful way to live. Find a mental image that gives you pleasure, and immediately switch your scary thought to a pleasure thought.

Be Gentle and Kind and Patient.
Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself as you learn the new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would someone you really loved.

Be Kind to Your Mind.
Self-hatred is only hating your own thoughts. Don’t hate yourself for having the thoughts. Gently change your thoughts.

Praise Yourself.
Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can. Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.

Support Yourself.
Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it.

Be Loving to Your Negatives.
Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill a need. Now you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs. So lovingly release the old negative patterns.

Take Care of Your Body.
Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need in order to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercise. What kind of exercise do you enjoy? Cherish and revere the temple you live in.

Do Mirror Work.
Look into your eyes often. Express this growing sense of love you have for yourself. Forgive yourself while looking into the mirror. Talk to your parents while looking into the mirror. Forgive them, too. At least once a day, say, “I love you, I really love you!”

Love Yourself . . . Do It Now.
Don’t wait until you get well, or lose the weight, or get the new job, or find the new relationship. Begin now—and do the best you can.’                                Louise L Hay

There really is no need to wait for love to find you, it’s already there.

Liz Winter has been a medium and spiritual development teacher for over 25 years.  Liz is a Medium, Reiki Master/Healer, Angel Therapist, Spiritual Teacher, Author and Qualified Counsellor. To contact Liz go to her website: lizwinter

You can purchase Liz’s memoir from Amazon here: LoveofSpirit  You can read Barry Eaton’s review of Liz’s book here: verandahmagazine.following-path-spirit/

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Liz Winter, Verandah Magazine’s resident psychic tunes into the spirit world to answer the age-old question – what is a soulmate, and more importantly who are our soulmates?

I was spending time with my 87 year old mother, and suddenly I had a visual in my mind of how attractive she was in her youth and how she still seemed to have a flirtatious nature.  I was thinking about it, and smiling at her, when she said to me:  “I wonder which of the loves in my life will greet me when I die? Will it be your father, your stepdad or the boyfriend  I was madly in love with?  They’re all passed on, and I do wonder sometimes.”

It got me thinking and questioning. I thought of  partners I’ve had in my life, but also special friends and even my children. What is a ‘soulmate?’ What is the function of a soul mate and how do we know when we’ve met one? Are some people extra  ‘soulmate’ like? Is everyone we meet a soulmate? And what about people in Spirit, do they continue to be our ‘soulmate’ when they pass?

I decided to meditate on these questions, and specifically what my mother had asked me, and ask Spirit for some answers. I put on a  guardian angel meditation to get in the right frame of mind and was almost asleep I was so relaxed when I heard the gentle words of my guardian angel begin to come through to me:

‘Soulmates love, that’s what they do. Soulmates have something you need and you have something they need. Each soulmate is like fertiliser to a plant, you can’t really blossom without the energy of soulmates in your life. Not everyone is a soulmate. The people that make you feel deeply, think differently and inspire you to take positive actions and choices in your life are soulmates. Sometimes a soul mate will also be a catalyst for difficult feelings to arise within you but ultimately they love you and they are there in order to help you heal deep wounds.

Soulmates are eternal. You are part of each other, so death does not separate soul mates. In the case of your mother, all three may greet her at her time of transition as there is no jealousy or competition in the spirit world, only unconditional love. Soulmates turn up in your physical life when you need them, there is always a divine timing involved.

Soulmates are not only lovers, they can also come in the form of friends, family, teachers, co-workers and pets. A soulmate can turn up anywhere and anytime but there will always be an inner knowing or feeling when you meet them, trust that feeling and remember that ultimately, soulmates love, that’s what they do.’

Liz Winter has been a medium and spiritual development teacher for over 25 years.  Liz is a Medium, Reiki Master/Healer, Angel Therapist, Spiritual Teacher, Author and Qualified Counsellor. To contact Liz go to her website: lizwinter

You can purchase Liz’s memoir from Amazon here: LoveofSpirit

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The Inaugrual Australian Afterlife Explorers Conference is taking place in Sydney on January 24, 25 and 26.

 Perhaps even more concerning to humanity than the Secret of Life, is the Secret of Death.  Where do we go when we die?  Do we really die?  Now a group of afterlife experts, including our own local afterlife expert Barry Eaton are taking part in the first ever Australian Afterlife Conference.

Most people tend to associate conferences with a group of corporate type people getting together for a talk fest and post event social celebration.  Well, forget that! I am delighted to be part of a fascinating conference for people who don’t want to get all frocked up to impress the competition and of course their colleagues.

If you’re interested in the mysteries of life there is an exciting opportunity to be part of Australia’s inaugural Afterlife Conference in January in Sydney.

The Australian Afterlife Explorers Conference will bring together some of Australia’s and New Zealand’s finest afterlife researchers, academics, authors and mediums in a three day event over the Australia Day holiday weekend.

The main aim of the conference is to forge the link between science and spirituality, to challenge our negative perception of death and to remove the fear associated with it. “Death is one of life’s greatest mysteries,” says conference organizer, Mick Turner. “When we die, do we simply no longer exist, or is there a continuity of consciousness and progression of our soul?”

The prospect of our consciousness surviving the physical death of our body all too often is simply dismissed by a sceptical scientific community. Scientists sadly often ignore and ridicule reports of strange phenomena from those who have approached, and in some cases gone beyond, the threshold of death … even though such experiences have a profound effect upon those who experience them.

Some of Australia’s most knowledgeable professionals will be presenting a the conference, including retired lawyer Victor Zammit, International President of the Michael Newton Institute, Peter Smith, and Australian social scientist Michele Knight. Well known mediums Ezio and Michelle DeAngelis and Val Hood will not only speak at the conference, but will give demonstrations of afterlife contact. They will be joined by other leading mediums in special presentations on the Saturday and Sunday evenings.

I am very pleased to also be one of the presenters, as well as MC-ing what is shaping up to be a memorable weekend. Having written two books on this subject I can attest to the growing interest in all areas of life after death, ranging from Near Death Experiences to the afterlife journey itself.

Over three days there will be twenty-one presentations with a diverse array of topics including ‘The Metaphysical Experiences of Following and Observing Three Souls at the Moment of Physical Death’ by Michael Roads.

“It’s time we all realised that we are eternal beings,” says Peter Smith, President of the Michael Newton Institute. “We have Life between Lives therapists validating the afterlife experience for clients in 40 countries around the world on a daily basis.”

Whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one, curious about what happens when you die, or pondering your own mortality, then this conference will leave you feeling less fearful about death, inspired to live a more loving and purposeful life, and comforted  by new thoughts of your loved ones in the afterlife. One of the most important benefits of this conference will be to help people realise that life is ongoing, only the body dies.

The conference will be held at the Parramatta RSL Club in Sydney on the 24^th, 25^th and 26^th January 2015

For more details of the conference, including a full list of the presenters and the daily schedule please visit the website Afterlifeexplorers

Barry Eaton is a former ABC radio and TV presenter, current host of RadioOutThere.com and the author of ‘Afterlife’ and ‘No Goodbyes’.  You can order his book here: afterlifebarryeaton and find out more about Radio Out There here: radiooutthere

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Verandah Magazine’s Liz Winter discovers that out Christmas shopping help is at hand, if we only think to ask…

In a crowded department store, my senses were bombarded with Christmas Carols, decorations and stressed out people. The chaos in my mind was no better and there was a sick feeling of panic in my lower stomach. It’s one thing to buy a birthday gift as there is generally only one gift to choose but when you are faced with a dozen or more at once, it can take a toll of us mentally, emotionally and financially.

Somewhere in that moment of panic, I called out for help to my Spirit Guides, Angels or whoever may be listening, trying hard not to resent them for living in a non-physical world where Christmas gifts didn’t exist. Quite spontaneously, I felt my breath slow down and closed my eyes for a moment. I saw in my mind’s eye a clear vision of one of the intended recipients of my gifts. I tuned in psychically on this person’s energy and I asked their higher self, what can I gift you with that would bring you pleasure? I opened my eyes and it felt like my head was literally turned by some invisible force towards the sports section. I then recalled this person did have a passion for sport. I went straight to the item and purchased it, intuitively knowing this was the correct gift.

This experience led me to re-evaluate my gift giving techniques. I realised that often I buy gifts when I feel obligated and pressured and also how I frequently choose gifts that I think the person should have. Sometimes I can even be resentful I have to buy a gift when my funds are low. I am sure someone would not want a gift given with the energy of resentment.   I have made a decision to shift my focus now when buying gifts and be more aware of the person, their needs and their passions. Then there truly is the joy of giving and hopefully the energy of care and love will be felt.

The reminder I want to leave you with from this story is that you can ask your Spirit Helpers for any type of assistance, anytime and anywhere.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas! May you give and receive gifts that emanate love!

Liz Winter has been a medium and spiritual development teacher for over 25 years.  Liz is a Medium, Reiki Master/Healer, Angel Therapist, Spiritual Teacher, Author and Qualified Counsellor. To contact Liz go to her website: lizwintermedium

You can purchase Liz’s memoir from Amazon here: LoveofSpirit

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Psychic and medium Liz Winter believes all of us are born with the gift to communicate with those on the other side…but as with any skill practice, she says, makes perfect.

The client who sat in front of me looked at rather dubiously. ’What do you mean, I could be a medium?’ she asked. Carol had just finished describing how her late husband had visited her in her dreams and that on occasion, she distinctly heard his voice call her name. She also described other encounters with loved ones who had passed on. Carol however, did not believe that she could possibly be a medium. Sound familiar to you?

I believe we are all born with the ability to encounter and communicate with those who dwell on the other side. It certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but then neither is playing the guitar or running marathons. We can all choose to develop our various inner talents and often it is simply the belief that we ‘can’t’ or the fear that we will fail that stops us. For some of us, like Carol, mediumship comes easily but I believe it is a gift we all possess. Like any skill it takes practice and patience.

The fear factor around mediumship encompasses stories of ghosts, being possessed and losing the plot, often inspired by B grade movies – which have certainly lost their plot! Whilst spiritual protection is an important part of medium development, it’s something that is easily learned.

The most amazing aspect to mediumship is the healing and the comfort that it can bring to those grieving for their loved ones who have passed over. For some of us it’s a calling, so if you feel compelled to develop your inner medium, my advice is to allow your passion to override any self-doubt.

How to develop your mediumship skills

My advice is to firstly do your homework. Read, research, observe mediums in action via the web or perhaps go to a live show in your area. Get a feel for what it’s  all about, seek out recommendations of reputable mediums and perhaps book in for a reading.

Developing your inner medium is best done with a mentor and/or a group setting. Putting on a scarf and shining up your crystal ball may end up being a dull experience on your own.

If, after some research, you feel you would like to go ahead to develop your skills, see what courses are available. Ask your loved ones in Spirit to guide you to the right teacher. I love the saying ‘when the student is ready the teacher appears’.

Liz Winter has been a medium and spiritual development teacher for over 25 years.  Liz is a Medium, Reiki Master/Healer, Angel Therapist, Spiritual Teacher, Author and Qualified Counsellor. To contact Liz go to her website: lizwintermedium

You purchase Liz’s memoir from Amazon here: LoveofSpirit

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Rainbow lorikeet: Signs to bring us back to present moment

Our resident psychic and medium, Liz Winter, finds that nature often provides a timely reminder that our angels and guides are with us all the time, if we care to look.

A few days ago, as my dog and I walked along my local country road, my shoulders felt heavy with the worries of the world. My gaze followed the ground as my mind searched for solutions to problems in my life. I was feeling like a rat in a maze coming up against walls in every direction I thought of taking.

Suddenly a bright, colourful lorikeet swooped within inches of my nose and as it did, my heart jumped and I broke into an involuntary smile. I suddenly noticed the sunlight touching the tall trees and the scent of Jasmine in the air and instantaneously, I was kissed back to life in the present. To me the lorikeet was a sign, a sign of love from Spirit. It was saying look at the beauty around you, look at where you are right now and I felt deep down, in my quiet space within, that I was not alone.

It led me to think about how we can believe that we are not alone and that Angels, Guides and loved ones that have passed are always around us.

After all, it’s easy to wonder if the feather we saw is really a sign from Spirit or simply, that – a feather, or whether the vivid dream we had was actually sending us a profound message from the other side or did we just eat too much cheese before bed?

It’s normal to question signs from spirit, even as a believer, because it’s where our logic and intuition argue and yet at the same time I believe it’s also natural for human beings to seek to commune and find answers from a higher force.

For me, I know that a sign or an answer is real when I feel it deep down somewhere inside me, and also when I know I have directly asked my Spirit Allies for help. I have faith if I have asked sincerely from my heart an answer will come. The answer may be when I least expect it and in ways I often could not have fathomed.

Then again, sometimes, the answers are so blatant and immediate they are undeniabl. There was a time many years ago as a single mum, when I prayed for help because I was $20 short for my groceries and a kind man waiting in line, paid it for me. I’m sure if you think about it, you have your own stories of special ‘sign’ moments in your life.

Signs are like a big hug of encouragement from Spirit to help navigate your way through life and are a personal and intimate communication between yourself and Spirit. Signs are the glue that binds us to the invisible forces that love and guide us.

We all have our personal Spirit Allies, ready and waiting to serve us. Their reward is the joy in your heart when you feel their love.

My advice is not to be shy with the Spirit World – talk to them, unload on them, ask for signs, they are there to help. Life at times can feel lonely even when we are surrounded by others, but our relationship with the other side can be a unique tonic that is found no where else.

Liz Winter has been a medium and spiritual development teacher for over 25 years.  Liz is a Medium, Reiki Master/Healer, Angel Therapist, Spiritual Teacher, Dream Coach and Qualified Counsellor.  To contact Liz go to her website: lizwintermedium

You purchase Liz’s memoir from Amazon here: LoveofSpirit

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In the first of her new columns, psychic Liz Winter, who is based near Mullumbimby, says that intuition can be as simple as remembering to pack an umbrella – and practice makes perfect.

As I threw open the curtains I was greeted by the sun spraying golden beams of light into my bedroom. Excited about my upcoming Byron Bay lighthouse walk, I began preparing.

Somewhere in my busy mind, just below the surface I could hear a thought that seemed to be stuck on repeat. ‘Pack the umbrella, Pack the umbrella.’ I immediately started arguing: ‘It’s not logical, it’s a beautiful day, the weather forecast says clear skies.’ So I carried on and made my way to the lighthouse. Half way through the walk, you guessed it – out of nowhere came black clouds and a heavy downpour of rain. Sitting on a rock with a soggy sandwich, all I could think about was; ‘Why didn’t I just trust that thought?’

This is what I call an intuitive experience. We all have them; it’s just that we often aren’t aware exactly what it is. It’s the feeling in the stomach, the thought coming in out of nowhere when we are doing a mundane task, like washing the dishes or driving the car. The ‘I can’t put my finger on it, but something doesn’t feel right’ experience or thinking of someone and then they ring or you run into them down the street.

One example is a story I once heard about a woman who had a strong feeling to put scissors in her car. A week later she was in a car accident, the seat belt was stuck and the scissors saved her life.

We were all born with an innate radar system that can help navigate us through life – from everything to simple choices like what we should eat for dinner to more complex situations like whether we should leave a job or begin (or end) a relationship.

How does one become more in tune with one’s instincts and hunches? It can be as simple as becoming more aware and giving acknowledgement when these experiences happen. Love and honour your intuition, treat it with respect and don’t be too quick to write off these magic moments as always having a logical explanation. Over time you will recognise these unique feelings and thoughts and the more you put faith in your own ability, your intuition will expand and feel more natural to you.

Just as our bodies need nourishment and our hearts need love, our intuition needs some nurturing also.

It’s not necessary to be a yogi and meditate for hours – although it can be like water to a flower to know how to quieten your mind regularly. A few minutes of focusing on your breath, staring at an ocean, a tree, a view or perhaps closing your eyes and listening to music can be all you need to allow your intuition to blossom and grow.

So next time that repeating thought behind the chatter of your mind tells you to wear flat shoes, ring that friend, fill the car up with petrol or pack that umbrella trust yourself and listen!

Liz Winter has been a medium and spiritual development teacher for over 25 years.  Liz is a Medium, Reiki Master/Healer, Angel Therapist, Spiritual Teacher, Dream Coach and Qualified Counsellor.  To contact Liz go to her website:  www.lizwintermedium.com

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