It turns outs that since there were so many enthusiastic participants for the “Coming Out of the Psychic Closet Interviews” that October is also Coming Out of the Closet month on this blog. It really is most appropriate when you think about the veils thinning at Halloween and how close we come to the other worlds during this month…
Without further ado, I introduce the third interview in this series, with Slade Roberson.
Slade Roberson is an intuitive counselor, writer, and the author of the blog Shift Your Spirits. Slade teaches others how to communicate with Spirit. His blog is so incredibly rich with knowledge, thoughtfulness, and beauty. Among a million other pieces of insight I got from his writings, he convinced me that writing is a healing practice, like any other healing art. Grasping this concept was a big turning point for me, in how I assessed my own value, and how I could help others.
He also authors and provides professional training and mentoring for healing arts practitioners through his site, Automatic Intuition.
Slade will always hold a special place in my heart, as his blog Shift Your Spirits inspired and encouraged me to blog in the first place. This blog would not exist without his blog. His fantastic Problogging Tutorial e-book (**50% off if you order by Oct.31), was the only reason that I got cracking in the first place. It is the perfect tool for anyone who wishes to get started with a spiritually-oriented blog.
I will always be very grateful to him for inspiring me. Plus, he’s got a magical way with words…read him and find out for yourself.
Do you have specific “super powers” (ie. clairaudient, clairsentient, etc.)?
I experience a mix of the clairs, some greater than others. From “most” to “least”: empath, clairaudient, claircognizant, clairvoyant (just a few sprinkles of the visual, like a bit of glitter here and there…)
What general label to do you use for your “super powers”? (intuitive, psychic, etc.) Why did you choose this term?
(I’m not at all comfortable with calling intuitive abilities “super powers” — even with quotes.)
Within my extended family, we use the word “psychic” a lot, but to describe a wide range of topics that I would more accurately label “metaphysical.”
I refer to my work as Intuitive Counseling. My sessions with clients incorporate life coaching, career counseling, intuitive astrology, and Jungian vocabulary, modalities, and techniques as much if not more than “psychic” reading, energy work or divination.
Do you believe you were intuitive/psychic as a child?
Yes.
What kinds of experiences made you think this?
I always had an awareness of spirit entities — both what we would call angels and ghosts. As well as “knowing things” about people or relying on non-verbal cues to make decisions. I also felt plagued and bombarded by other people’s emotions.
Was your family aware of and/or accepting of your psychic abilities?
It was always talked about in general regarding members of my extended family. My parents both readily shared their personal experiences and stories within their families. It was never pointedly discussed in regards to me personally. I don’t remember ever being accused of making things up and was never told not to talk about these kinds of things. If anything, there was a bit of pride and delight in reporting your “hits” to other people — predicting the gender of unborn children, calling out who was calling when the telephone rang…that kind of thing.
Who was the first person you told that you thought you were psychic?
It’s hard to pin that down. Over the years, it seems that I have attracted other highly intuitive people, and we sort of just “know,” without having to be obvious about it, like a kind of radar.
I remember the first person who ever employed me for my abilities, and I believe he actually asked ME, instead of my telling him.
What was their reaction?
By way of explanation, he said his mother was “gifted” and offered me a job, in the same paragraph. This is kind of typical of the people I encounter — it’s probably a bit anticlimactic.
Since I began writing about it publicly in 2006, my blog does all the talking for me. I generally let people bring it up to me.
When did you fully accept that you were psychic?
It became increasingly difficult to ignore… I made a conscious decision to embrace my experiences, at least to myself, in my mid-thirties (2004, if I remember correctly).
Was there a turning point that made you accept your psychic gifts? If so, what was it?
My life sort of “fell apart” on every level, in every area. I imploded.
Are you fully out of the psychic closet today? If yes, why. If no, why not.
I guess. I mean, friend me on Facebook or Google me, I’m out there. But I don’t introduce myself to people in my everyday life as “Slade, professional psychic, glad to know you…” It depends on the person and the context, when asked what I “do” I generally identify as an author and a counselor to a stranger. Those who want to know more or are drawn to me energetically will instigate further conversation.
What was the worst reaction you ever got after telling someone you were psychic?
The only negative reactions I get are from fundamentalist, evangelical Christian ministers. Ironically, the cafe where I frequently take my computer to work attracts a lot of youth ministers. In my mind, our purposes and our roles in the world are very similar; they feel quite the opposite. (I should say there are a few exceptions who “get” this, much as I do.) But the only closed-minded, negative reactions I get are from narrow-minded Bible beaters who chat me up in the cafe, best of friends, until they read my blog. Then they never make eye contact with me again.
It always sucks. It always hurts your feelings. It’s always disappointing. Just a little bit.
What was the best reaction?
I was always wary of clinical psychotherapists and actually had something of a fear of being diagnosed as mentally ill – until I actually dated one. Who assured me that I qualify as “well-adjusted, self-actualized, and highly proactive.” It was also suggested to me, that should I ever feel “accused” of being clinically mentally disabled, I should point my critic to my article archives — apparently schizophrenics are not likely to function at that level of productivity and lucidity.
How do you feel now about being psychic?
I feel less and less that it is “special” or “super” anything — I feel that intuitive abilities are inherent to everyone, and that, like an athlete or a musician, I may have some “natural inclination” but more than anything, I am simply someone who has focused, trained, practiced, and worked at it.
What would you recommend to other psychics who are “coming out of the psychic closet”?
Dr. Seuss is my mantra “Those who mind don’t matter; those matter don’t mind.”
Kara’s note: I have to say this is my very favourite quote about coming out, and the one that has given me personally the most comfort. Thanks Slade!
What was one thing you feared about coming out that never materialized?
Oh, I had terrible dark fantasies of martyrdom, with me as a modern Joan of Arc, Francis Farmer, or Janet Frame.
What advice do you have for anyone else who is considering “coming out of the psychic closet”?
Be discerning in who, when, and how you “out” yourself. Just like anything about yourself, it’s not something you have to walk around announcing on a t-shirt. Find like-minded people to connect with regarding psychic experiences — your friends, family, and neighbors may not belong to that community. Go to workshops, conferences, training programs and immerse yourself in a like-minded population. (Think HayHouse -type events…) If you can’t afford to travel, are physically isolated, or require a degree of anonymity, the Web provides absolutely thousands of potentially life-changing friends and peers.
Slade has also written some other great articles on coming out of the psychic closet:
http://sladeroberson.com/life-purpose/the-psychic-closet.html
http://automaticintuition.com/life-purpose/are-you-out-there-as-a-healer.html
*** *** *** *** *** ***
I’m still here at conduitofjoy@hotmail.com, helping you connect to that giant Switchboard in the sky…email me for a reading.
Kara
