I have never seen an angel; at least, one that fits the description of a person with white light around him or her and wings. I do believe that angels come to the aid of us mortals in the form of a person. Perhaps they are regular people who perform the function of an angel. Perhaps regular people are just a different kind of angel. I do not profess to have all the answers. Only God has all the answers. I can say, however, that I have been blessed by at least two visitations from angels in the form of regular people.
Both incidences occurred when I was in law school. Every day I would start the day with a little prayer, particularly if I were traveling. I had a car that was barely dependable, but I could not afford anything more at that time. One day while I was on the way to school and traveling at 65 miles an hour on the expressway (freeway) in Philadelphia, something told me to try my brakes. There was no reason for trying my brakes because the closest car ahead of me in my lane was a substantial distance away at that time. Still, a small voice told me to try the brakes after my initial logical refusal. I did so and discovered that I had none. I did not panic because something was clearly guiding me and I instinctively trusted that voice. It felt like someone was speaking to me from behind my right shoulder. It told me not to try to slow down, but to continue to my exit. This was not logical. Why should I continue instead of trying to slow down and bring the car to a stop along the side of the road when I could? I don’t know why but I did what the voice suggested. I continued to my exit and when I got off, the voice told me to continue. The logical side of my brain said that this was madness, but I continued and only slowed down some. There were twists and turns on this back road and there was nothing around – no houses or buildings of any kind. I continued to drive until I saw a large space beside this narrow road and pulled over and let the car stop. As soon as the car came to a stop, a man pulled up behind me. This man said he thought I was in trouble and asked what happened. I told him that my car had no brakes and he said he would take me to a gas station that was not too far away. I would never suggest doing such a thing to anyone, and would be very upset if my sons accepted a ride from a stranger. However, since I was always able to trust my instincts, I did so and this man took me to the gas station and waited for me to call someone to pick me up. Then he disappeared and I did not even get a chance to thank him.
Another time, driving this same car, I was coming home at night from school. Again, I was traveling the expressway. All of a sudden my car literally started to die. It just started slowing down. I pulled over to the side and stopped. It was the worse neighborhood possible. As soon as I stopped, a car pulled up behind me and a man got out of his car. He told me to stay in the car because cars were coming by quickly and it was a dangerous spot. He said he noticed me putting on my flashers when the car started to slow down. He said that there was a gas station just off the exit where I stopped. He would take me there and it would be safe. Again, the voice said that it would be safe to go with him. I did and he took me to the gas station. He dumped a handful of coins in my hand for phone calls (this was before cell phones) and asked the station manager if I could stay inside until someone came for me. He felt it was too dangerous for me to be by myself at night at that location. The station manager agreed. The man then asked me if I had reached someone and I said yes. I was still on the phone, giving my location. The man told me to stay inside with the manager, who would look out for me. Then the man left before I could thank him or even get his name.
There have been one or two other instances in my life where individuals seem to come out of nowhere to help me when I needed help, without my ever having to ask, and they knew just what to do. Angels?
Wayshowers are a group of individuals who have completed three specifically designed courses for intuitive development taught by Henry Reed, Ph.D. and Carol Ann Liaros at the Association for Research and Enlightenment (“ARE”). The ARE is sometimes referred to as the Edgar Cayce association. (Edgar Cayce, as many know, was what some refer to as a “western psychic” or “Christian mystic”. His reading have been preserved and studied by many in the traditional professions as well as the metaphysical field.) The ARE does not encourage people to leave their own spiritual path, but provides a place where people of various faiths can come together to research, study and apply the principles and guidance found in the Cayce readings. The certification process for Wayshowers involves the taking of The “Edgar Cayce Legacy”, the “Intuitive Imagination,” and the “Intensive” courses taught by Henry and Carol Ann. The term “wayshowers” was taken from the Cayce readings and in this case, as the term implies, indicates one who has traveled the path in spiritual intuitive development and is showing the path to others who are led to seek such training. Contrary to what many some Christians think, this does not teach or encourage Christians to depart from the teaching or following Christ, but rather teaches one what lies behind His teaching on many levels and how to use the talent and skills given to us.
The wayshowers are composed of a diverse group of individuals who share a commitment to spiritual development and practical application of the natural gift of intuition. We share the knowledge acquired through training and our own life applications, with others by example, group application and service to our communities; including workshops and other training opportunities. We are also “there” for each other and provide support, love and encouragement to each other as we walk our paths individually and together. We are committed to seeking the highest good in all that we do and provide the way for Spirit (the Divine within each of us) to lead us.
When I took my first workshop in the certification process, I was on my own path to self discovery and spiritual and intuitional development and I thought that it would just stop there. Interestingly, I had two friends who attended with me at that time who said that they could see me in the role of “wayshower”. I kindly told my friends that they were being absurd. I was a lawyer and was not going to do anything of the kind, and that was that! Spirit obviously had other ideas. By the time I completed the last workshop, I felt the strong need to use my skills in service to others who were struggling with their own developmental needs and were looking for a safe, spiritual place to study, learn, explore and grow. In addition, when one completes all these courses and develops one’s own talent and skills, the obvious question appears, that is, “now what?”
The wayshowers provide a place to answer that question in a way that permits each individual to grow as they are led, or not. It is always the individual’s choice as to what extent they want to take advantage of from the group. At the very least, the annual meeting (gathering) provides an opportunity to network and find out what others are and have been doing. It provides an opportunity for individuals to recharge, get new and fresh ideas and practice their skills in a nurturing and safe environment. For those who might be going through some personal difficulties, there are always wayshowers available to assist. Many times the person will get help without asking. After all, that is what we are about – knowing without being told on a conscious level, with the constant intent to give of ourselves to those that could benefit by us being a channel for blessings.
I have found these gatherings to be particularly energizing. Each of us from time to time can benefit from spiritual healing as well as emotional and physical healing. How wonderful it is to be with a group of people where someone will “pick up” on your need and provide the right help, some times without even knowing. It is the openness to be used in such a fashion and seeing this constantly in motion that is so invigorating and inspiring, even if you don’t have any healing need at the time. I am presently Wayshower Counsel and former vice-president and will remain a member as long the group continues as it is and I am led by spirit to do so.
In my workshops I give my students and clients some of the benefits of using intuitive skills in the workplace. I received these from my teachers and through personal experience. The general benefits are:
- With more and complete information, one can make better decisions.
- Use of intuitive skills enables us to get beyond the surface, and in turn, influences
how we relate, communicate, and respond to others. - The use of intuitive skills enables one to anticipate and prepare for change.
- Intuitive skill provide access to one’s own genius. (We only use about 10% of our
brains. We need to use more) - Intuitive skills provide access to other information that is useful. (Like a
computer, unless you know how to access information using the hardware
available to you, you are unable to obtain it readily and derive the benefits from
quick and easy retrieval, which is possible.) - Any advantage or skill that could make your job easier is a good thing!
I have had people from many areas of the working world in my workshops. These include teachers, medical professionals, lawyers, social services individuals, contractors, office administrators, insurance professionals, engineers, and ministers, just to name a few. I have also worked with another attorney in assisting a non-profit corporation in building team and work relations and selecting and prioritizing projects. All of these individuals learned how to tailor their intuitive skills to their working life to their benefit, their colleagues’ benefit, and the benefit of the people who were the object of their services.
The examples of how my clients and students used their intuitive skills are numerous. For example, I had one client that was and still is a contractor. He is a very physical individual. As it turns out, he receives intuitive information by having the hairs on his arm and the back of his neck stand up. This is a very physical way for him to distinguish when he is receiving valid intuitive information from other forms of information. He decided at the conclusion of the class that this would be helpful in deciding with whom he should partner in strategic partnering arrangements and who he should avoid. The medical professionals with whom I work almost always use their intuitive skills in the practicing of their profession. In fact, most find out that they have been using these skills all along, but not on a conscious level and not on demand. The lawyers found many uses for intuitive skills. For myself, I have used them quite successfully in dealing with witnesses, finding areas that I should look into much more quickly (thereby saving me time in researching), scheduling (knowing when something is likely to cancel and having a back up plan when possible), hiring, uncovering someone’s hidden agenda (it is not necessary to be in the board room to uncover what is generally going on), problems with employees who do not articulate what is going on in their lives but who demonstrate that there is something wrong, and knowing when I am going to have a conflict or confrontation with someone.
Some things cannot be avoided or prevented, but even in these instances I find that it is always better if I am emotionally prepared. Intuitive skills are also very useful in counseling people. Many times it is useful and relevant to be able to assess the individual’s emotional state. This helps the person counseling to determine which path to take and how to communicate with the individual so that communication is the most effective. The use of intuitive skills is certainly beneficial in the receipt of helpful warnings. For example, if you had a warning that your computer was going to quit on you (for those that use computers) or that it is likely that you were going to experience technical problems on a particular day, wouldn’t this be helpful in taking precautions, just in case? Another way I found intuitive information useful is in balancing one’s work and personal life. For example, arranging to take time off when you intuitively feel that your family was going to need you at home for some reason unknown to you at the time. Lastly, there is the creative aspect. I have used this when I was trying to come up with a creative solution to a problem. I and others have used this quite successfully, to come up with a new idea when needed.
For quite some time now, it has been my practice to start each day with a prayer that I might be a “channel of blessing to those with whom I come in contact “; also, to be a “lamp of the light of the Supreme”. I have raised my sons with the same thought as expressed by Edgar Cayce. That is, not just to be good, but rather, to be good for something. Applying this principle on a daily basis and trying always to adhere to my ideal – The Christ, it is only natural that spiritual assistance would be demonstrated in my work. There have been many examples of this.
The first that I recall at present occurred when I was a managing attorney. In this position I supervised other attorneys and also had my own caseload and other responsibilities. One day one of the attorneys I supervised brought me a tape that he thought I should hear. The tape involved a business transaction that was recorded and when matched with other information, might have been evidence of involvement in a crime that national authorities were investigating. The tape had been brought to the attorney by a business client and after looking into the matter the attorney brought the tape to me because the evidence seemed equivocal when analyzed. I was very busy at the time and could not look into the matter then, however, I agreed to take the tape home for the weekend and look into the matter then. As soon as I touched the tape, I knew that there was substance to the matter. It felt like I received an electric shock. The power was overwhelming. I decided to follow up on this and looked for objective evidence that might substantiate what I felt. I discovered a few things that appeared to corroborate my intuitive feelings, and called my supervisor. At first my supervisor did not share my view. However, after discussion of my reasons substantiating my view, my supervisor agreed that we should pass this information on to the appropriate investigating authorities. We did so and they were very interested. I do not know what occurred afterwards, but I am sure we did the right thing.
Another time I was investigating a sexual harassment matter that had been brought to the attention of my office. It involved gender persecution with horrible letters and other communications directed at individuals who were assumed to be homosexuals. The victims felt strongly that they knew who the perpetrator was and wanted the company to take action. Others were also calling for this person’s head. When I gathered the information and held the items with the intent as expressed in my daily prayers (above) and in accordance with my ideal, I felt strongly that the person targeted as the perpetrator was not the right one. I kept pressing for objective evidence to establish conclusively the identity of the perpetrator. I could not advise the company to take action against an individual that would severely damage this person’s professional as well as personal life, without strong evidence. Admittedly, there was enough evidence to strongly suggest culpability and the company’s actions would have been defensible, however, it did not “feel” right. Because of my pressing for further evidence and receiving spiritual guidance on where to look, evidence was discovered that exonerated the individual and led us to the real perpetrator.
Another incidence involved a case in litigation in which I was working with outside trial counsel. The case was a wrongful termination case in which the company had substantial evidence to discharge the employee. It was necessary however, to demonstrate before the decision-makers the former employee’s true character and personality. During the former employee’s cross-examination, the individual managed to come across as someone other than what we knew was the person’s true self. As I watched the individual’s testimony, I decided to do a quick “reading”, intuitively, to see what we should do. It came to me that if we continued as we were; the individual would reveal the true self at a certain time in the afternoon. My problem was how to approach outside counsel with this information. At lunch we discussed whether to change strategy in the cross-examination and the others (legal team) were not certain which way to go. I therefore presented a legal, rational reason for continuing until the time I “felt” would turn things around for us. I simply stated that I believed the individual was getting tired, and that if we continued for a time after lunch, the person would reveal their true self. This indeed occurred, and I was off by about 8 minutes. Counsel teased me about the 8 minutes, but we were all glad we proceeded as I suggested.
These are just a few of the many examples of applied spirituality in my work. There have also been times where creativity was sought and provided. There is no limit to what can be achieved when spiritual principles are applied.
Several years ago I did a reading on myself that revealed that there was a concern with my pituitary gland. I meant to look into it; however, with my job, my family and my in-laws who lived with us, the demands were great; so I just brushed it aside and soon forgot about it. At the same time, during this period, I was trying to gain balance in my life and thought I had pretty much achieved this. I thought, even though I was spending about 12-14 hours a day on my job or doing work, and occasionally work from home on weekends, that I had attained balance by using intuitive skills in my work to help reduce stress and personally, to keep close to and care for my family. In April of 2004, I was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease (or Syndrome). This disease is caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland or adrenal glands. While my doctors were taking tests to see whether the physical cause was the adrenals or pituitary, my husband reminded me of the reading I did which warned of a problem with the pituitary gland. I was therefore ahead of my doctors by the time their tests arrived at the same conclusion. I had already researched the curative methods and healing process. My doctors took some time and expense to catch up to me. By the time they reached the same conclusion, I was prepared for what was ahead of me.
As soon as I recalled the reading of several years ago, I immediately went to the Cayce Readings to see what Cayce had to say about the pituitary gland. I knew that I needed to get to the spiritual cause of my disease in order to be restored to full health. I knew that if I did not get to the spiritual cause, my health problem would not go away, which seemed to be the case with many Cushing’s patients who went for long periods of time before it was accurately diagnosed and, or, had long and difficult periods of recovery. The length of time for recovery of Cushing’s patients is one to two years.
I discovered that this “master gland” controlled everything. In my case the pituitary gland caused the adrenals to constantly produce an excess amount of the hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is the stress hormone. I quickly realized that the spiritual cause of my “dis-ease”, to use the term Cayce frequently used, was my lack of balance. That is, attunement of mind, body and spirit. I needed to get back to meditations, relaxation, active spiritual growth and development, and change my working life and the environment. I implemented these changes and enlisted the help of spiritual healers. Specifically, I left the corporate legal world in which I was working for a constantly demanding corporate client, instead of just changing clients (or corporations) and started training for Virginia Supreme Court certification at various levels in mediation. I also started handling cases as an arbitrator. Essentially, I decided to continue what I had started, my own practice in alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”), and took it further to become a founder of collaborative law in the Richmond, Virginia area. Working as an ADR specialist, I help people to resolve and “heal” relationships. While doing this, I am also working to heal myself internally and spiritually. The result? I had 2 MRIs that showed tumors. However, when the operation was performed, no tumors where found.
They did remove a portion of my pituitary that the surgeon thought might be causing the problem.
I am now in recovery and doing better than most that have had this operation. I attribute the success of my operation and my recovery to getting to the spiritual cause of the disease as well as enlisting the aid of spiritual healers. Although the recovery period is 1-2 years for full heath, I was fully recovered in nine months
I personally find that the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi expresses my heart’s desire as to how I express my spiritual ideal – The Christ. I found the first part specifically significant when it came time to take a different route in my career. As some might recall, the words of the first paragraph are “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon, where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.” Some might think that this is something that is unlikely to be expressed or demonstrated in the legal profession, and for the most part, that might be correct. I do not say that it is impossible, only that it is difficult in an environment or arena that is not conducive for the expression of this principle. After many years as a corporate lawyer and managing attorney, the desire for expression of this principle became stronger and my comfort with the corporate world, weaker. It isn’t that there were no opportunities to express this way of life or values; it was just that in my opinion, the opportunities were few and far between. Yet, I have always said what I have always known to be true, that I am a lawyer by nature as well as training. I could not imagine being anything else.
As the desire to express the sentiments in the prayer of St. Francis grew stronger, I knew that I had to make a change. After much prayer, there were several coincidences or occasions of synchronicity that led me to the Alternate Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) field. I had people whose opinions I trusted, suggest that I try this area as they thought I was a natural, and provided pportunities to help me find out more about it. As I followed up on these and sought training in this specialized area, I received more encouragement and opportunities to practice presented themselves.
As an ADR practitioner, I help people find an alternative to the trial or litigation path, to resolve disputes. As someone put it, I am helping to heal relationships. I am helping people to resolve in a non-adversarial or non-combative way, disputes so that they can get on with their lives and put the matter in dispute behind them in a non-threatening, non-intimidating environment. Since they have a hand in the development of the resolution, they have a hand in their own relationship healing. As a mediator, I facilitate communication between or among the parties and help them to develop a solution that is acceptable to all parties. I do not make judgments or tell any party what to do. I help to create a safe environment for all to vent emotions (with controls of course), and to say all
that they feel needs to be said in order for them to feel that they can now work on a solution and put the matter of the dispute behind them. I have received help from the voice inside all of us that some call “instinct”, in very specific ways that have helped me to assist the parties in the development of a resolution acceptable to all.
In one notable instance, there were several parties in a commercial matter and three attorneys representing the parties. I “knew” that the complaining party was not finished venting, even though the client had been provided sufficient time to do so and had apparently completed all this person had to say. The party’s lawyer felt that the client had completed all that needed to be said also, and was gently trying to move the matter along. I realized the lawyer thought that I did not really have sufficient control at that point since I was letting the client continue. What the lawyer didn’t know was that I knew the client wasn’t finished, even though it appeared to everyone else in the room that the client was finished. Since what I thought was correct, the parties were having difficulties coming to a mutually agreed upon resolution. That is, until out of nowhere (to the other parties) the person that I knew was not finished, made a personal allegation against one of the other parties. All of the attorneys were surprised and looked to me to do something. I was completely calm since I had been waiting for it, although I did not know in advance what “it” was, and was able to get things back on track. In spite of the emotionally charged allegation which called other items affecting the matter in dispute into question, a satisfactory resolution was achieved. In many instances, if there is an emotionally charged situation that might cause a problem, I am aware even before I meet the parties. This has proven very helpful.
I am also a collaborative practice attorney. Collaborative law (also known as Collaborative practice) is a relatively new and rapidly growing area of law that has developed in the Family Law arena and is being extended into the Civil area. In collaborative law, the lawyers work cooperatively together, often with other professionals (therapist, accountants, mental health practitioners, etc.) to work out a resolution for the benefit of all parties, in a non-adversarial way. In this arena I find another way to actualize the prayer of St. Francis in my work.
