Blog: A Spiritualist Medium's Point of View

Your Are Your Own Authority
One of the things I’ve learned in my mediumship work over the years is that, in working with the world of Spirit, we are the ones who have to set the parameters. We need to say to our guides, I won’t accept any negative energy, I want information that is only from the highest and best sources, and so forth. One of the reasons for this is that we are the physical instruments in the work, and we have to maintain our physical, mental, and emotional bodies in a way that allows us to have the energy needed to do the work. In many of the other helping professions, it's also necessary to set boundaries around what we will and will not do, so that we don't become burned out over time.

This has been an issue for me because I’ve had difficulties setting boundaries, with people, all of my life. When we’re small, we have to follow the rules in order to survive and keep ourselves safe, and unless we’re encouraged to trust our ability to make our own choices in life, we look to others in an effort to find our way. Going to school is another exercise in following outside authority. For much of my adult life, I looked outside of myself for all the answers, and for some reason, never quite got answers that satisfied me. Then about 20 years ago, a number of events and experiences caused me to begin to look inside a bit. What I have found over the years has astounded me. Once you start following your own authority, you’ll discover gifts you never even knew you had.

For eons, organized religions have tried to convince us that they have the answers, and we only need to follow their rules and beliefs in order to live life well. But I believe that our deepest connection to the Divine is inside us, that looking within is the way we find the answers we seek. Recently I read a quote by Rumi, a mystical poet born in Afghanistan around the year 1200, which has been reverberating through me ever since. He wrote, “Being inside human beings is how God learns.” It was such a validation for me that the Source of Divinity truly is within. I’ve learned that when I try to follow other people, I’m sort of living their life path, not my own. But looking within myself for the answers has led me much more quickly and directly to where I’m supposed to be – which may not be where other people think I should be, but that’s because they’re on their own paths, not mine.

This doesn’t mean that other people can’t be helpful, and have good and useful ideas. But if you just accept others’ ideas and beliefs at face value, without running them through your own internal “truth” meter and making your own choice, then you’re living under their authority, not your own. Even when you get a reading, or listen to advice from someone you trust, you still need to check in with yourself and find out if the information or idea rings true for you, because each of us has our own perspective, and only you can know what's right for you.

It’s not at all easy to be your own authority. The government, the media, religious organizations, and even family and friends often discourage us from being our own authority. But it’s what each of us is here to do. And by being your own authority, you give the highest potential of your self and your gifts an opportunity to grow and blossom.

One thing I’ve discovered as I’ve worked towards becoming my own authority is that it becomes a wonderful habit, if you keep at it long enough and keep removing doubts that you can trust yourself. Those doubts were usually put there by other people – those same people who wanted you to follow their authority, not your own. And as I’ve begun to make it a habit, now I can check in with myself and say, “Wait a minute. That doesn’t jive. And what’s this little funny feeling I’m having over here in response?” Or sometimes it’s simply a way to check in and find out, “Yes, this does feel just right for me.”

In fact, it’s gotten to the point now where my inner authority will speak right up. “Huh-uh! I don’t believe that one!” And I think this process is the same thing many people would call “developing your intuition,” yet what we’re really doing is following our inner guidance, our inner connection to the Divine. You Are Your Own Authority – and nobody has the right to tell you what you should do, to direct your life, to force you to do anything, because you know best for you. I believe we were created with this Divine internal connection to each be the authority in our own lives – not to follow the lives or rules of those who came before us, or who live among us now. So I’d encourage you to work a bit over time on looking inside, asking to connect with your own Divine authority, and taking steps (which will probably feel like they’re based on impulses) to become your own authority.

We’re so afraid to go our own way, to do what we feel is right for us, and mostly it’s because we grew up having to do what other people wanted – “Clean your room!” “Be in by 8:00!” “Study for the test on Tuesday!” – so it’s just a habit we learned early and well. If it feels like you don’t have any choice in some area of your life, it’s only because you’ve been trained to believe that. You do have a choice.

In this culture, we don’t really have any rituals that signify adulthood (other than getting driver’s licenses and being able to get drunk legally) – there’s no time in your life at which someone says, “Now it’s your turn – tap into that Divine potential within you, take charge of your life, and GO FOR IT!” Each of us has to decide for ourselves that we’re going to take our turn. You have a connection to the Divine within you, and it’s time to link up with that and become your own authority. That’s your right, and your responsibility to yourself. I will not judge you for your choices; and there are a lot of other people who won’t judge you for your choices. For those who do judge you, that’s your chance to revisit a fun childhood pastime: head for the nearest bathroom or private place, and stick your tongue out at ‘em. Because God is learning from inside of you, and God wants you to be the best that you can be. All you have to do is believe in your own Divine authority, and send your energy in the direction it takes you.

The funny thing about Life is that you can’t get it wrong, no matter what you do, because it’s all an exercise in learning.

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