You Don't Have to Meditate to Connect with Spirit

Are you a “mustard on your hot dog” person, a ketchup person, or someone who changes it up depending on the day?

Maybe you throw on a little relish if it’s there?

I think connecting with Spirit works the same way.

When Spiritual Connection Feels Hard

For a long time, I thought spiritual connection, especially through the Akashic Records energy healing or mediumship, had to look a certain way, like

• Make an altar

• Light a candle

• Sage the space

• Close your eyes, be still, and meditate

• Don’t mess it up

It seemed that there was a right way to do this.

I used to think connecting with Spirit had to be quiet, serious, focused, and done correctly. I tried other people’s routines and rituals. I felt the pressure to get it right.

And honestly?

I would feel like I was the ultimate Negative Nancy. Sometimes that pressure made me avoid connecting at all.

Making an altar felt a little too spiritual for me. I didn’t want a dedicated space in my home with candles and crystals. It just wasn’t me.

And burning sage? That triggered my migraines.

And sitting still for several minutes, which seemingly was so easy, wasn’t working for me.

My mind wandered to my to-do list or something I was worried about.

I felt frustrated that I couldn’t even get it right.

Finding Your Own Way

Eventually, I realized that the way I connect with Spirit, even when working with the Akashic Records, sometimes doesn’t look like other people’s idea of spiritual connection at all.

Some days it’s journaling, other days a walk around my favorite lake, baking chocolate chip cookies or coloring. Before a reading, some days I listen to classical music, other days I move to 80’s top 40. It’s whatever feels right in the moment. (Curious about exploring your own style? You can learn more about my Akashic Records and Mediumship workshops and readings here.)

I’ve found that the best insight, clarity, ideas, or just a knowing often shows up when I’m not forcing it or following a rigid ritual, but simply allowing space that feels good and natural at the time.

Over time, I’ve learned that connection comes from space, trust, and even a little joy.

What works for someone else may not work for me, and some days I connect differently than other days. That’s perfectly fine.

Connection Doesn’t Have to Be Formal

My guides often remind me to have fun with it, to not be so serious. I trust I’m doing it in a way that feels aligned and right for me.

For many people who are spiritually curious, the biggest block starting isn’t their connection. It’s the belief that there’s a right way to access it or that their guides aren’t there to help them. (Or even that they don’t have guides at all.)

If you’ve ever wondered how to connect with Spirit and felt unsure where to begin, this is your permission to start where you already are. Maybe ask Spirit a question while tying your shoes before heading into an exercise class or as you drift off to sleep. Or notice if a sign, idea, or message comes to you while washing the dishes, walking the dog, or even sitting in traffic. Need inspiration for questions? Here’s a list of 33 questions to ask in the Akashic Records you can try.

Connecting to spirit doesn’t have to be formal.

It just has to feel right to you.

Unexpected Gratitude

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been reflecting not just on what I’m grateful for, but also on the unexpected paths life has taken me down. It’s easy to focus on the positives, but I also want to honor the twists and turns—both highs and lows—that have shaped where I am today.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life doesn’t always go as planned.

What feels like a failure can actually lead you to some of the best things in your life. My guides are quick to remind me that it's never a failure, but rather a learning experience.

“Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.” – Dalai Lama

This quote resonates with me. Life often doesn’t unfold the way we expect it to, and as someone who is probably juggling multiple things, I know you can relate to that, too. What feels like a setback can open doors to something even better eventually.

Bombing an interview for my dream teaching job, calling off a wedding, or closing a business that wasn’t working out—none of these were things I would have chosen. They were tough at the time, but looking back, I can see how each of these experiences led to new opportunities and helped me grow in ways I never expected.

Sometimes, life gives us exactly what we need—even when it doesn’t feel that way in the moment.

Now, as I step into my work with Akashic Records and mediumship, I see how every challenge and redirection is shaping me into a new version of myself. There are times when I think about going back to what’s easier, but I remind myself to pause and consider what might lie on the other side of something that feels hard, uncomfortable, or challenging.

I use this quote as a mantra to remind me to keep on going:

You didn’t come this far to only come this far

As we enter this holiday season, I’m deeply grateful for the unexpected lessons, people, and paths that have brought me to where I am in life.

This Thanksgiving week, I’d love to hear:

What unexpected turns have shaped your journey? What are you grateful for that you didn’t notice at first?

Remember, every step you take is part of your beautiful journey. You've got this!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Unwavering Dreams

When I was a little girl, a basement space became my very own classroom. My parents crafted a makeshift school with a large chalkboard, colored chalk, two small desks and workbooks. I loved playing teacher, imagining a classroom filled with students, all ready to listen. From then on, I dreamed of becoming a real teacher someday.

Fast forward about 45 years to this past weekend, when my college roommates and I met up together. As we sat poring over photo albums for hours, reminiscing about old times, Barb, now a respected school principal, teased, "You won't believe the story I share with my teachers during workshops!"

I wondered what funny college time she could possibly be sharing about me.

"It's that unforgettable interview you had with Dorothy at the very end of senior year," Barb recalled.

I could feel the memories flooding back. Oh, yes, I remember it vividly. It was a second interview for a job in a dream school district, the place I longed to be. But when Dorothy, the interviewer, asked the crucial question of how to teach a kindergartener to read, all of a sudden I found myself flustered and overwhelmed. Words stumbled out of my mouth, and I could tell by Dorothy's expression that I hadn't given her the answer she had hoped for.

Leaving that interview room, my spirits crashed, and I felt dejected. All that hard work in college and dreams of becoming a teacher over the years, and there I was, feeling like I had failed miserably.

Doubts crept in. Was teaching really the right path for me? Did I even have the necessary skills?

Unfortunately, my suspicions of how the interview went were confirmed when the call for that position never came. The teaching job market was fiercely competitive at that time, and I began to wonder if my dream of becoming a teacher would ever come true.

However, just when I least expected it, life took a serendipitous turn. A college friend came through with a lead in a different district. Two months later, I found myself landing an incredible teaching position in a fantastic school. The first year had its challenges and often tested me. But it marked the beginning of a long, fulfilling career working with students.

After I married, had kids of my own and ventured beyond my own classroom, I began substitute teaching in various schools and even spent a few years in the world of online teaching, connecting with hundreds of students from different countries. I didn't mind settling into my online classroom before the sun rose because it brought me so much happiness to see them learn, laugh and grow.

Throughout my journey, I've had heartwarming experiences that proved I'm doing what truly matters to me - making a positive impact on others. For instance, while substituting in a nearby high school last year, students recognized me from their elementary days, and their smiles and memories made me so happy.

Just yesterday, I received a touching message from a student in China, expressing how much they missed me and our classes together. It's truly indescribable to know that I've touched lives even from thousands of miles away.

Now that I'm realizing another dream of being a spiritual practitioner for others, I see how my journey as a teacher has beautifully intertwined with my spiritual path. It's become clear that I should never let any one incident deter me from moving forward and continuing to help others on their life paths. I sometimes think what might have happened if I let that one unfortunate interview with Dorothy turn me away from pursuing my dream, and am so grateful that it didn't.

Sometimes the uncertainty and challenges along the way have been very hard. But I've realized it’s so important to trust every experience and remember that my puzzle piece may not fit in the spot I hope or expect it will, but someday it will end up in the right spot.

Staying true to ourselves and our aspirations can lead us to unexpected and beautiful places.

Because we'll all have a "Dorothy Interview" in our way sometime, but the important thing is not to let it stop us.

Reflecting on my path from a little girl playing teacher in the basement to a spiritual practitioner now, I can say the twists and turns were all worth it.

So, when you face your own "Dorothy Interview" moment, remember this: if you really want something, don't let one bad event or something someone says get in your way.

Trust the process, as hard as it might be, and just keep going.