Princeton Center for Yoga & Health will present a program on ‘spirits’ who come to visit.
By: Susan Van Dongen
With shows like John Edward’s Crossing Over and the NBC series Medium, TV viewers are seeing more and more "mediums" these days. So-called mediums do not necessarily look like the elderly lady with a crystal ball, sitting behind the curtain in a little storefront on the boardwalk.
Self-described medium Trish Woods says she believes more people have some kind of special gift and are able to communicate with "celestials" entities on the "other side."
"I have so many parents telling me that their kids are ‘gifted,’" she says. "Whereas, when I was a kid, my mother would tell me I just had a vivid imagination. But now there are all kinds of mediums including well-known names like Sylvia Brown and James Von Praagh. John Edward is huge, though, and he’s really paved the way. It’s as though the masses are this big dense forest and John is out there with a scythe cutting a path and moving us forward, sowing the seeds for people to find their way."
Those curious about "what’s out there" are invited to spend an Afternoon Speaking with Spirit at Princeton Center for Yoga & Health in Montgomery Dec. 3. Ms. Woods and two other self-described mediums will talk about the process of "connecting with spirit," answer questions and do live spot readings for those in attendance.
It’s potentially a lively time for the spirit world, Ms. Woods says. Around the holidays, family energy is raised and loved ones who have passed away are sometimes easier to connect with, she adds.
"I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard ‘Oh, it was around Christmas or Hanukkah and we heard footsteps…’" she says. "We’re reflective as far as family is concerned and it’s a very energetic time as far as love. We’re thinking about loved ones, eating together, giving gifts and all this builds the energy and makes it easier for spirits to communicate, and also for us to hear or feel spirit around."
She says indications of "visiting spirits" vary it depends on the individual personality on the "other side."
"If ‘Uncle Bob’ was a jokester and he comes through to you, the spirit is going to reflect that," Ms. Woods says. "Someone outgoing and playful could blink the lights, whereas someone money conscious would be leaving pennies, for example."
For Ms. Woods, there’s a lot of physicality in how spirits communicate, which she found disturbing at first. Ms. Woods has heard and felt unusual things since childhood, she says, and was discouraged by her family from sharing this information.
"Becoming a medium is not something I would wish on anyone," she says. "Growing up, I was taught that when you pass away, your soul goes to heaven. But I never knew about things that could be around or near you. As things started to develop intensely in my late teens, I had no frame of reference, except for horror movies and threats from my parents’ religion. It was very frightening.
"I reached out for many years trying to find someone to help me shut it off," she continues. "That’s all I wanted to do find the ‘off switch.’ I was finally able to find someone to teach me the discipline of turning (information) on and off and actually work with the ‘gifts.’ I didn’t know they were gifts. They felt more like interruptions."
Ms. Woods says spirits were frequently "exposing" themselves to her, waking her up by rapping on walls, caressing her or moving objects.
"One time, three books fell off my third shelf at 3 p.m. after a 30-minute nap," Ms. Woods says. "My teacher, Suzanne Northrup, told me when things came through that I didn’t want, the spirits were showing me how they would be communicating with me."
With development and understanding, Ms. Wood says she learned how to thank the spirits for their "validation" but decline their information.
"I did this and it worked, so no more falling books or touching, it’s now just a ‘hello’ or a genuine reflection of the person from the other side," she says. "Spirit came to be my friend. The friendly voice I had heard in my ear all my life became spirit all around me."
A Bridgewater resident, Ms. Woods has been working in the metaphysical field for 17 years, and in 2003 became ordained as a spiritual minister, so she is able to conduct weddings and baptisms. She’s appeared on numerous radio and TV programs, talking about life after death and spiritual existence. She also teaches and participates in conferences in the United States and abroad and, in fact, has recently returned from Australia.
She truly believes that sometime in the not-too-distant future everyone will have some kind of intuitive "talent" and be more accepting of information from "the other side."
"I think it’s become more mainstream, which is necessary for the time we’re in," Ms. Woods says. "We’re really in the age of awareness. Forty years ago maybe there was one person like me in 100. Since that time (this ability) has become more common, maybe one out of 10 people. The more evolved we become, the better chance we have for an enlightened future on this beautiful planet."
An Afternoon Speaking with Spirit with Trish Woods will be held at Princeton
Center for Yoga & Health, 50 Vreeland Drive, Suite 506, Montgomery, Dec. 3,
3 p.m. Admission costs $15. For information, call (609) 924-7294. On the Web:
www.princetonyoga.com.
Trish Woods on the Web: www.trishwoods.com