December, 2008 Interview with Tracy Johnson from Psychic Blessings

Tracy
Please tell us a little bit about yourself, aside from your psychic capabilities. Your age, where you were born and raised, how many siblings you have and where you fall in that line up, were you raised by both of your biological parents, what kind of "religious" upbringing or environment were you raised in, how large a community, and what was your childhood experience - i.e.; did you make friends easily...what kind of subjects, sports, extra-curricular activities did you participate in school, did you finish high school, go to college, earn a degree? What is your marital status and do you have children and/or pets, etc.

Terri
I am 44 years old and I was born on June, 19th 1964 in Philadelphia, PA. while my father was in the Navy. We relocated to Houston, Texas when I was 6 months old and this is where I was raised. I have 1 older brother, 1 older sister and 1 younger sister. We were raised by both parents in a traditional family structure (Dad worked, Mom stayed at home) until my Fathers death in 1975. My Father was from a Southern Baptist background while my Mother came from a Lutheran background. We attended the Lutheran church, though neither of my parents were overtly religious. When I was young I tended to be a bit shy and did not make friends easily. The friends I did make however have endured over many years. I was a bit of a tomboy in terms of activities and my favorite pastime was riding dirt bikes. After high school I went on to college to become a nurse and graduated on the Deans list in 1988. I am currently divorced and have two beautiful daughters and a quirky English springer spaniel.

Tracy
Does psychic ability run in your family? If so, could you tell us who else in your family (that you know of) has psychic ability and to what degree?

Terri
I do not know much about my Fathers family, as we drifted apart after my Fathers death, but on my Mothers side there is a long history of psychic abilities especially among the women. My Grandmother was a very strong intuitive but because of social and religious beliefs; she always referred to her gifts as being Maternal Instincts. This was probably because that term was a socially palatable phrase where as the term ‘psychic’ was considered a negative stigma.

Tracy
At what age did you first recognize your abilities and when or did you feel free to share and talk about these abilities with family and others? Were your abilities accepted or ridiculed?

Terri
I honestly can not remember NOT having these abilities, but they became much more pronounced, or I became more aware of them when I was about 8 years old. At that time, I began having precognitive dreams. At first, my parents did not think much about the dreams until I became afraid to go to sleep at night and started telling them of the events in my dreams. When I started having dreams about my Father dying, my parents became very concerned and took me to a psychologist. He reported to them that I was just an imaginative child and they needed to monitor and restrict what I was watching on television. I am not certain how my family thought or felt about the oddities that surrounded me, but I think they more or less tried to find rational explanations for them. One prominent ability I had was finding lost things. I once found our lost kitten through a dream. The kitten had been missing for three days and we had looked everywhere for it to no avail. One night, I had a dream and woke up in the middle of the night with a vision of where the kitten was. The next morning, I found the kitten exactly where I had dreamed it was, trapped in an old BBQ pit behind our house by the boat shed. Additionally, A few months after I turned 11, my Father was killed as in my dreams. This was the darkest and most confusing experience of my life and it took me many, many years to come to grips with it.

Tracy
What or who do you recognize as the "source" of your psychic information? In other words...can you explain your experience with the process of HOW you receive your insights?

Terri
 I believe psychic abilities are innate human abilities but because we are not taught to use them when we are young, we never develop them to their full extent as we do our physical senses. The source to me comes from that which created us. Whether you wish to call that energy source God, Universal Creative Force or what have you. There is an energy source which powers all that is and we are all connected to it.

Tracy
Are your insights random occurrences that you have no control over? Or are you able to focus your own intent to get "in touch with" or to access this psychic ability?

Terri
I do both. There are times when out of the blue something becomes clear to me for no apparent reason at all, yet I can focus my consciousness in order to ‘see’ things I am specifically looking for.

Tracy
Can you please identify and then define for those readers who do not understand your interpretation of which psychic gifts you have access to, i.e.; clairaudient, clairvoyant, etc. And which ones you utilize most frequently? Also include whether you utilize any specific "tools" for gaining your information, i.e.; tarot cards, I ching, crystal ball, scrying, automatic writing, etc.

Terri
Clairvoyance seems to be the method I have the most control over. In other words, by simply shifting my consciousness, I can focus that type of energy at will to receive messages. But I am also Clairaudient (hearing things other can not hear), Clairsentient (Feeling things other do not feel), Clairalience (Smelling things others can not smell) and I am a Physical Medium, meaning that I can allow energy to use part or all of my body to convey a message to me. For instance, if I ask an energy that has passed over how they passed, I will feel tingling sensations or pressure or other energy movement physically on and within my body to indicate a method of passing. I also possess the ability for Automatic Writing. I do know Tarot, I Ching and Runes and have written articles on these topics but I find that using those tools for divination is cumbersome and takes more time than simply reading energy psychically.

Tracy
Have you formed a belief or personal explanation regarding WHY you have these abilities and others don't? Do you believe there is a definite "purpose" for which you receive these impressions or this information?

Terri
Again, I believe it is an innate human attribute .  I believe everyone has the potential to develop these abilities and just as some people are musically inclined and others are mathematically inclined, some people are stronger in one psychic ability and others are stronger in another psychic ability. I think the distinguishing factor is the desire to strengthen those abilities by actively using and learning about them. I believe there is a purpose to them yes, but that purpose is as individual as the ability itself. I believe my life has a purpose whether I choose to integrate my psychic abilities into that purpose or not. I became a nurse because I felt it was my purpose to heal others pain. I give psychic readings for the same reason; to facilitate healing. But my psychic abilities are focused on the Soul level than being limited to the physical level. My purpose in both is the same, to heal.

Tracy
Do you feel your psychic ability is any of the following: a blessing, a gift, a curse? And why do you feel the way you do?

Terri
At different times and in different situations in my life I have thought it was one of all three! But ultimately, I believe it is far more than all of those things. It is who I am. It is the energy that is simply me in my purest and truest form. There is a feeling of total completeness, peace and sublime wholeness when I am functioning in a state where the source of my energy being and my physical being are completely integrated and acting in sync.

Tracy
Do you believe your abilities are special or unique? If so, in what way?

Terri
I believe I am special and unique because I accept my abilities and have chosen to enhance and learn from them, but I am certainly not the only person who has them. I have spent the past 20 years building upon the strength of my natural abilities. The only difference is the amount of desire I have to strengthen them.

Tracy
Do you believe all people are psychic, to one degree or another, but some just come by it more naturally than others? Do you believe everyone can "learn" to access, improve or increase their own psychic abilities? Or do you feel psychic ability is a rare and unique ability available only to a select few?

Terri
I believe everyone has the potential to develop these abilities. I do think that others have an easier time building and strengthening them though. This is, in my opinion affected by a multitude of things including past life experiences, Soul Paths we chose prior to our physical incarnations and goals we set in our life path. It is also said that psychic abilities are Right Brain functions just as Painting, Music and other artistic abilities. However, it is not in my opinion; impossible for those who possess higher Left Brain skills to learn to pain. Likewise, Right Brain artists can learn math. The things we tend to excel at are the things we tend to enjoy most so, again we have the Desire Factor. There are numerous reasons why some people never develop psychically, but it is not because they do not possess the potential to do so.

Tracy
As you are aware, there are hundreds and thousands of people who say they are "psychic" and we have all heard the stories or accusations of deception, lies, corruption and outright charlatan tactics used all in the name of earning an astonishing fee for their "services." What are your thoughts and opinions on; a.) These accusations, b.) The people who are "posing" as psychics in these situations, c.) Charging what may seem to some to be an unreasonable or even outrageous per minute or hourly rate based on "taking advantage" of the misery or emotional distress of others?

Terri
A) Unfortunately, some of these accusations are true. And I will admit that the fact that the psychic industry is for the most part, unregulated has much to do with the fact that so many people getaway with such deceptions. However, this is not the only industry where fraud is prevalent and one need only look at the current state of the housing crisis in America to see that.

B) Those people who do participate in deceptive practices, no matter what the industry will, in my opinion eventually come to face the Justice due them. I believe the words Enigma so eloquently stated, “There is a Universal Truth and the Eyes of Justice are always watching.” Simply put, no crime goes un punished. Eventually, you will be called to account for your actions, either in this life time or in another.

C) I do not support regulation of fees. Additionally, differing geographical locations are under differing economic standards so, all things are relative. So long as a fee is clearly stated and adhered to, the consumer has the choice to pay that fee or find someone who is offering their services at a rate more in line with what the client is willing to spend. I have spent many years developing my abilities and I would not say they are worth minimum wage! Also, you do have to look at the time it takes to maintain your abilities and skills. This is not necessarily through doing more readings, but the meditation time it takes to keep your energy flowing smoothly so that you are able to maintain a clear channel for the energy. Just as a model must maintain her physique so she is able to perform to the level that is expected for her, a psychic must also keep in shape. Thus, the model takes that time into account when he/she negotiates her fees, thus must a medium take this into account he/she sets fee schedules. You must also look at credibility. A psychic who has been professionally active for many years and has established a sound reputation of being accurate will of course, be able to negotiate a higher fee. A professional psychic who is just beginning to get exposure and is seeking to get their name out in the market place may not be able to command those higher fees until they have established their credibility. And finally, it is a business and you must be able to cover your overhead and expenses.

Tracy
Do you believe true psychics should abide by any certain "code of ethics" when it comes to being held accountable for the advice or predictions they offer? In other words...do you consider psychic or spiritual counseling to be "for entertainment purposes only" and that clients should have no recourse for inaccurate information? Or do you believe there is validity in the information you receive on behalf of an individual, but that free-choice plays a definite role in the ultimate outcome of any given prediction?

Terri
I believe both. I think every profession which is consumer driven should have Ethical Standards they practice by. As far as predictions go, nothing is ever absolute. I have a saying that I pass on to my clients: With the future, you are dealing with potentials. In the Now you are dealing with actuality. The past does not determine the Future, but it is an indicator of patterns that may be repeated if the Universe is trying to get a message through to you. In most cases you have the power to direct your future. A good psychic reading will show the client the possibilities and potentials and advise them on the best path to take to turn a possibility into a probability. But only the client can turn a probability into a reality.

Tracy
Do you feel there should be a "reasonable", standardized fee for services? For instance, I know the current going rate for a psychic reading runs the gamut from 99 cents to $5.99 a minute on most websites. I have even seen psychics charging close to $20.00 per minute for their services. Do you feel this should be an "open market" based on supply and demand, i.e.; if a psychic can successfully secure paying clients at that rate, then they should be free to do so? Or do you feel there is an ethical and/or moral line being crossed by those who are charging what may seem to be exorbitant fees?

Terri
Again, I do not believe in regulation or standardization of fees. I do believe that whatever the fee is, it should be clearly stated and adhered to. The client has the choice to find a psychic who is more in line with what they are comfortable paying.

Tracy
Have you personally interacted with people who claim to be professional psychics but who you know or believe have no real skills or abilities but are just "in it for the money?" What are your thoughts on these people?

Terri
I have knowledge of some who are Psychic but profess to be Mediums and I have seen others who profess to be Mediums channeling arch angels, but can not give a psychic reading. I basically stay clear of both, but again, I believe that anyone who sets out with the intention of deceiving others pays the price in the end.

Tracy
Do you believe psychic counseling is an honorable profession? As you know, the psychic industry has received a "tainted" reputation. What do you believe is the cause of this reputation and do you believe there is a way to turn this public attitude around so that genuine psychics receive more respect?

Terri
 I believe it is already come a long way towards becoming acceptable and even honored in some ways. Educating the public as to how to find a reputable psychic, how to detect a possibly fraudulent situation and understanding what a psychic actually can and can not do is the most important message to get out to the public. I believe that once a person has had a reading by a genuine psychic, they will be able to detect a ‘poser’ within a few minutes of talking to them.

Tracy
Do you feel there should be a way to "weed out" the "posers" in the psychic industry so that those with genuine ability will then be seen with more creditability? What are your thoughts on certification or governmental testing? I know in the UK some laws have been passed requiring testing or licensing. What are your thoughts in this area?

Terri
I do not support this in terms of government regulation as I think the bureaucracy would be a nightmare. I am aware of cases both in the UK and US where fraudulent psychics have been prosecuted and I believe these cases have set precedents which have paved the way for others who have been victims of fraudulent psychics. Until someone can show me a method that is completely un biased and totally provable regarding the degree of psychic ability someone has, I could not support such a proposal. The issue I have with certification is, exactly what are you certifying? Every psychic has not only differing styles and attributes, but differing degrees of each of these attributes. The psychic would have to be tested in each attribute, and then each attribute would have to be scored through a scientific rating system. There are already several ‘Associations’ in the US that ‘certify’ psychics but I have found their processes and their intent questionable. One of the main ‘Associations’ simply requires the psychic to send three letters of reference from clients and a fee, and they will ‘certify’ the psychic as legitimate. So long as the psychic pays their membership dues, they can advertise themselves as ‘certified’ by this organization. In my opinion, that leaves a lot of motivation, and a lot of room for both the psychic and the organization to be less than honest about the ‘certification’.

Tracy
In your experience, do you believe there are spirits or entities on this plane of existence which may or may not seek to have interaction with regular people? What, if anything, has been your experience in this area?

Terri
Definitely! My experiences have been many and varied. Some seek healing, some seek to heal their loved ones, some are watching over difficult situations, and some simply want us to know that they still exist. I have had some wanting to be forgiven, and others wanting to let someone here know that have forgiven them. The list on “why” could go on and on and on…

Tracy
Is it possible to control other spirits or entities abilities to contact, connect or interact with humans? And do you believe there are reasons for their interaction? In your experience, are there both loving and angry spirits on our plane of existence?

Terri
You have the ability to control any energy entering your space so long as you accept that you have the ability to do so. But you do NOT have the ability to control other energies that are not within your energetic space just to ‘control’ them. There are indeed angry energies or ‘spirits’ just as there are joyful and loving ‘spirits’. But, there is another aspect of energy that is out there which you must take care with and that is what some call ‘demons’. Being a Kabbalist, I prefer to call them ‘shells’ or ‘shards’ and they can be nasty little things which can affect a persons well being. They are not connected to the Divine Energy which is the source of power and light for our individual souls so they try to attach themselves to our ‘light’ in order to experience ‘life’. These are not what is known as possessions as in the movie “The Exorcist” but they can drain us of our light and energy and bring us down to a very low vibrational rate. Protecting your self from these energies is quite simple though just keep your thoughts and actions true and in line with loving kindness.

Tracy
Is there a personal story or experience you would like to share here about your own experience as professional psychic and spiritual counselor?

Terri
Confidentiality prevents me from divulging specific information about readings I have done for others, but in general, I will say that reading for others has brought me closer to those love ones that I have lost and I have learned that the love you have for someone is a living thing. It is alive and it goes with them when they are no longer here. It is the cord which keeps us connected to each other so, go….tell the people you love, that you love them. Tell them in as many ways as you know how to say it. Show it, be it, live it. In the end, it is the reason for everything from the rising of the sun to the new blade of grass. It is all about Loving Each Other.

You can read more about Tracy Johnson at Psychic Blessing