I began receiving spirit messages at eight years old. It happened during a family seance my grandfather led one evening at the dining table. We held hands, lit a candle, closed our eyes, and were told to speak up if anything came through. A voice popped into my head: my great-grandfather was telling us my mother would get a job hosting a TV show in Atlanta and we should start looking for a house. The job happened. The move happened. At the time it felt normal. Years later, it became the beginning of a life dedicated to mediumship and service.

How study and mentorship shaped my approach

My formal exposure to parapsychology came as a short-term student at the University of Kent at Canterbury, where I explored topics such as the self, religion, parapsychology, and philosophy. Those academic conversations were valuable, but the apprenticeship-style learning made the biggest impact. Working with mentors in England, especially Joe Wyn, taught me how psychic energy operates, how to protect myself, and how to work responsibly with spirit.

Academic study gave context and vocabulary. Mentorship gave me practical tools: how to open and close my energy, how to recognize different kinds of impressions, and how to trust what arrives during a reading. Together they built the foundation for the evidential mediumship I practice today.

Becoming a professional medium: a turning point

I spent decades doing readings for family and friends while working in the corporate world. In 2017, on a hike at High Falls in Dupont State Forest, a clear message arrived while I was meditating: become a medium and channel loved ones who have crossed over. The instructions were simple—read, meditate, and connect with other mediums. Within a month I began channeling publicly.

That direct, undeniable nudge changed everything. It also reinforced something important: preparation matters, but control is limited. Mediumship is a partnership with spirit. I can create the conditions for healing, but I cannot guarantee who will come or what form the information will take.

What I perceive: the clair senses and empathy

I work as an empath and clairvoyant while also experiencing many of the "claire" senses. Here are the primary ways information arrives for me:

Clairvoyant — I see images.
Clairaudient — I hear messages.
Clairsentient — I physically feel energy in the body.
Claircognizant — I simply know things without a known source.
Clairalient — I sometimes receive smells; taste-based impressions are rare but have occurred.
Empathy — I feel emotions belonging to others.

These abilities can be a blessing and a responsibility. When you are porous to other people's energy, strong boundaries and practices are not optional—they are essential.

Practical psychic hygiene: grounding, cleansing, protection

My work rests on a short, reliable toolkit I teach to new practitioners and use daily:

Grounding: Anchor yourself to the Earth. Visualize a root or breathe and imagine energy sinking into the ground.
Cleansing: Clear your space and field with simple rituals: breath, visualization, or energetic smudging methods you trust.
Protection: Build an energetic shield you can raise and lower. Know how to open and close your field intentionally.
Open and close on purpose: Be available when you choose to be, and closed when you are not working.
Reset between sessions: Use a short clearing routine after each client to avoid carrying residual energy into the next session.

When you are "wide open" in public places, you invite an ongoing drain. If you are developing, practice opening and closing deliberately so your sensitivity becomes a tool rather than a constant distraction.

Evidential mediumship and ethical boundaries

Evidential mediumship means bringing verifiable details that confirm a spirit connection. A warm message about love is meaningful, but when I give specific, corroborating details first, the reading becomes validating and healing.

Examples of evidential impressions I have brought through include:

Place and numbers: noticing an area code like 404 and correctly identifying Georgia.
Unusual physical items or details: a deceased person showing up with an inflatable Tyrannosaurus Rex or a family member described as having an albatross motif on a coffin—details that would be unlikely guesses.
Roles and memories: a spirit thanking a caregiver named Monica and clearing years of guilt from that caregiver's shoulders.

Ethical practice matters because the work is intimate and vulnerable. I operate with transparency about what is psychic and what could be influenced by context. I will occasionally preface an impression by acknowledging its commonality to avoid overstating certainty. For example, I might say, "I'm getting the letter J. I know J is a common initial, but it's standing out here." That kind of honesty keeps the reading grounded and builds trust.

Operationally, I prevent hot-reading by allowing friends or family to book appointments without revealing the client's identity. I also do readings by phone to remove visual cues when needed. These measures protect both the client and my integrity.

Holding compassionate space without overstepping

People often come to mediumship during their most vulnerable moments. I want clients to know they are safe. That means creating a space where emotions can flow and where evidence comes before interpretation. When grief is raw, I recommend waiting before seeking a reading.

My guideline: wait about six months after a death. This is not a rigid rule. It is a suggestion to allow initial transition and the acute early waves of grief to settle. Newly transitioned spirits sometimes need time to adjust. More importantly, clients need space to fully experience grief so that a reading can be genuinely restorative rather than a rush past natural process.

Compassionate boundaries also mean I do not claim to solve crimes. Occasionally my impressions can offer leads that law enforcement may consider, but detectives perform the investigative work. I aim to be helpful without overpromising.

Running a heart-centered spiritual practice

Being a spiritual entrepreneur requires both heart and systems. Moral clarity is the backbone of sustainable work. I structure my business to reflect values: transparent pricing, sliding scales where possible, clear policies, and staff interactions handled with kindness and fairness.

When difficult personnel issues arise, I draft responses, step away, and return with fresh eyes. That pause allows me to act from alignment rather than reactivity. In heart-centered leadership, integrity often looks like patience and persistent compassion.

Advice for people exploring their own intuition

If you are beginning to explore intuitive abilities, start with the basics:

Get grounded: Learn a short grounding exercise you can do anytime.
Establish cleansing routines: Clear your space and field regularly.
Practice protection: Build a simple shield and practice opening and closing.
Experiment kindly: You will be wrong sometimes. Give yourself grace. Accuracy improves with practice.

Think of psychic work as a muscle—the more you use it responsibly, the stronger it becomes. Most experienced readers are not perfect; an honest, steady rate of accuracy is the realistic goal.

A simple practice to reconnect today

When grief feels overwhelming or when you simply want to feel supported, try this immediate step: close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply for one to two minutes. Long, full inhales and calm, complete exhales help center your nervous system and make it easier to perceive quieter impressions. You do not need a lengthy ritual. Consistent, small practices build presence and connection.

"I am channeling white light toward a better world."

That is the guiding intention behind my work. The goal is not to perform miracles but to offer validation, quiet worries, and support people as they move toward healing. If you are curious about readings, mentorship in psychic development, or learning simple practices to protect and strengthen your sensitivity, approach the process with honesty, patience, and compassion for yourself.

Kelly Palmatier: Evidential Mediumship, Psychic Hygiene, and Heart-Centered Practice