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Choosing to Be a Medium: Experience & Share the Healing Wonder of Spirit Communication
Discover How to Become a Medium When You're Not Born That Way...Or Are You? Experience the wonder of spirit communication first hand―even if you don't think you were born a medium. Sharon Farber shares her amazing story of becoming a medium through study, not birthright, and she reveals how you can become one, too. This easy-to-use, empowering book provides everything needed to lay your foundation for connecting with loved ones in spirit. Build your skills through practical techniques and hands-on exercises. Explore the different types of mediumship, what it is and isn't, and its roots in Spiritualism. Learn how to gather information from those you connect with in spirit and how to overcome common fears and challenges. Featuring insights from Q & A sessions with various mediums, along with many ways to enhance your abilities―including setting intention, raising your vibration, trance work, meditation, and grounding― Choosing to Be a Medium demonstrates that anyone can connect with spirits on the other side.
264 pages, Paperback
Published March 8, 2019
65 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Farber
2 books21 followersSharon Farber is a massage therapist, healer, award-winning artist, medium, teacher, and the owner of Dragonfly Healing Arts in Pine Meadow, CT. She gives mediumship readings and demonstrations, facilitates a mediumship development circle, teaches mediumship classes, and leads mediumship development retreats.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 7, 2019
The amount of information in this book is grandiose.
This book is divided in 3 parts: Groundwork, Diving in, and Advanced Mediumship. Features 10 chapters, and a total of 65 step by step exercises.
All exercises where nicely explained, and I followed a few already.
One of the very first ones, is to constantly try to guess numbers to tune into your abilities. The author recommends guessing before looking what time it is, so I've been doing that, as is very easy. Unfortunately, I didn't get it a single time, not even close.
In between the exercises you will also find a myriad, of anecdotal information, which gives a nice rest in between exercises, as there is no way I would try each one back to back, and is also a nice read to get antiquated with the author personal experiences.
I particularly enjoyed a section presented on the appendix, titled "Ten Mediums, Ten Questions" where the same 10 questions are made to 10 different mediums as a sort of interview.
Overall I really liked this book, and I found it to be an interesting read.
I like that the author writes in a very human and personal approach, and even if I never become a medium myself, I enjoyed reading about her and others that are one.
This book is divided in 3 parts: Groundwork, Diving in, and Advanced Mediumship. Features 10 chapters, and a total of 65 step by step exercises.
All exercises where nicely explained, and I followed a few already.
One of the very first ones, is to constantly try to guess numbers to tune into your abilities. The author recommends guessing before looking what time it is, so I've been doing that, as is very easy. Unfortunately, I didn't get it a single time, not even close.
In between the exercises you will also find a myriad, of anecdotal information, which gives a nice rest in between exercises, as there is no way I would try each one back to back, and is also a nice read to get antiquated with the author personal experiences.
I particularly enjoyed a section presented on the appendix, titled "Ten Mediums, Ten Questions" where the same 10 questions are made to 10 different mediums as a sort of interview.
Overall I really liked this book, and I found it to be an interesting read.
I like that the author writes in a very human and personal approach, and even if I never become a medium myself, I enjoyed reading about her and others that are one.
December 19, 2024
I really liked this book. A great, grounded resource for anyone interested in mediumship. The author sets very clear parameters - the topic of this book is evidential mediumship, not intuition or psychic ability, specifically the ability to communicate with human souls that are in spirit - not angels, faries, ETs, guides, or other channeled beings. I appreciate her straightforwardness and clarity. She is also very upfront about her personal opinions regarding mediumship while still acknowledging that there are varying opinions and approaches. The exercises are simple, practical, and well explained. She creates an accessible framework for understanding exactly what evidential mediumship is and how to work on developing it. She asserts that someone doesn't have to be a "born medium" but that its a skill that can be developed with discipline and commitment. This book actually brought me some clarity and deepened my understanding of practical and ethical mediumship practices.
Ok, I do like this book and would definitely recommend it but I need to get on my soapbox a minute:
I will always find it problematic when spiritual teachers poo-poo the existence of negative energies, entities, and thougtforms. Just because they are outside of your realm of personal experience or practice doesn't mean that they aren't real. I don't know if this is some kind of pushback against those that say mediumship is "demonic" - it's not helpful to blame everything on demons but it's not helpful to flat out deny the existence of negative entities and energies. I absolutely agree with Farber that in most cases negative experiences with the spirit realm are due to personal issues and fears, underdeveloped boundaries, or personal projections. And people who pursue spiritual practices with good intentions and positivity probably won't ever attract or experience negative energies. I also agree that most "hauntings" are residual energy or overactive imagination. However, if you are a person with underdeveloped/unacknowledged/unrecognized mediumship ability who is dabbling with ouija boards or the occult - especially if you have underlying mental health problems or issues with drugs and alcohol - you are opening yourself up for negative energies and attachments. I don't think it's necessary to be fearful or obsess about protection, but I lock my front door when I go to bed at night to keep out unwanted/uninvited guests. I'm not living in fear, I'm just being practical. I think spiritual teachers should be encouraging others to be practical and responsible in their endeavors, that's all. That's my ten cents anyway, maybe a quarter 😅
All that aside I definitely would still recommend this book. I enjoyed the author's approach and teaching. I love that at the end she asks ten mediums the same ten questions, showing an array of opinions and beliefs. I really respect her ability to be very clear and firm in her own stance/approach/beliefs while allowing space for other mediums to share their perspectives. I'm sure she would be 100% unbothered by my opinion and I love that 😄 And I really liked the appendix where she shares information about different Spiritualist organizations and their beliefs. A great resource.
Ok, I do like this book and would definitely recommend it but I need to get on my soapbox a minute:
I will always find it problematic when spiritual teachers poo-poo the existence of negative energies, entities, and thougtforms. Just because they are outside of your realm of personal experience or practice doesn't mean that they aren't real. I don't know if this is some kind of pushback against those that say mediumship is "demonic" - it's not helpful to blame everything on demons but it's not helpful to flat out deny the existence of negative entities and energies. I absolutely agree with Farber that in most cases negative experiences with the spirit realm are due to personal issues and fears, underdeveloped boundaries, or personal projections. And people who pursue spiritual practices with good intentions and positivity probably won't ever attract or experience negative energies. I also agree that most "hauntings" are residual energy or overactive imagination. However, if you are a person with underdeveloped/unacknowledged/unrecognized mediumship ability who is dabbling with ouija boards or the occult - especially if you have underlying mental health problems or issues with drugs and alcohol - you are opening yourself up for negative energies and attachments. I don't think it's necessary to be fearful or obsess about protection, but I lock my front door when I go to bed at night to keep out unwanted/uninvited guests. I'm not living in fear, I'm just being practical. I think spiritual teachers should be encouraging others to be practical and responsible in their endeavors, that's all. That's my ten cents anyway, maybe a quarter 😅
All that aside I definitely would still recommend this book. I enjoyed the author's approach and teaching. I love that at the end she asks ten mediums the same ten questions, showing an array of opinions and beliefs. I really respect her ability to be very clear and firm in her own stance/approach/beliefs while allowing space for other mediums to share their perspectives. I'm sure she would be 100% unbothered by my opinion and I love that 😄 And I really liked the appendix where she shares information about different Spiritualist organizations and their beliefs. A great resource.
April 14, 2019
Choosing to Be a Medium was a quick, easy and interesting read! As someone who is interested and dabbles in the spiritual realm, I really enjoyed this one! Sharon Farber has made the process and techniques very approachable and realistic for the beginner to access and practice themselves. It was very encouraging and positive but did not give false expectations that spiritual communication happens quickly and easily for every person.
July 4, 2019
A clear and comprehensive book that can be used as a guide as told through first-hand knowledge in a delightful, accessible voice. Well done Sharon Farber!
May 8, 2019
I chose this book as part of Indie April and was interested in the topic. This book is great for people who want to get to know beginning level mediumship and want to learn more about the concepts that are involved. I love the cover as well.
March 11, 2019
I wish I could give more than 5 stars! This book was fantastic! I wish I would have this book when I was starting out on my journey of mediumship. This is a must read! I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 26, 2018
You have to be born with the power of a medium, right? No, not right. The author felt that she needed to become a medium and started studying to become one. This book explains what mediumship is and isn't. Using spirit communication to help heal is one the main focus' of this book. The author gives a list of exercises and practice techniques to use for learning how to be a medium. She gives advice on the education you need and how the correct frame of mind is especially important to working with the spirits. I find the subject fascinating. I received this book from Net Galley and Llewellyn Publications for a honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.
April 28, 2024
This was an enjoyable book to listen to. It was narrated well and is filled with some interesting advice for those who wish to communicate with those who have passed. I don’t fully agree with all the advice and suggestions given in this book. Not that it’s wrong to me, I just think it’s important to learn from a variety of people in this practice and then find your way, fine tuning it and choosing what feels most honourable and truthful for you and your receivers of spiritual messages.
I give this book 3.25 stars. Worth the read/listen if you’re interested or intrigued in this practice.
January 4, 2019
I truly enjoyed reading Sharon Farber's book "Choosing to Be a Medium." Any reader interested in Spirit, the afterlife, psychic mediums and especially becoming a medium will find Farber's book to be of great interest. I strongly recommend her book to those wishing to expand their command of mediumship or who are interested in reading about how to pursue this life path.
July 15, 2021
Ms. Farber received her BA in sociology at Univ. of Mass. before pursuing a path in healing arts. This is evident and supportive in the manner in which Choosing To Be A Medium is written and the subject in general is presented. This very pragmatic approach is reflected in the Disclaimer at the beginning of the book…
“ Not everybody has the ideal emotional strength and stability to be a medium. Good mental health, including a strong connection to reality is vital. People with certain types of mental illness, including clinical depression or psychosis, are advised to consult with a healthcare provider or spiritual mentor before pursuing mediumship development.”…
Even if you read no further, this recommendation brings a practical attitude and also dispels the glamour that is often associated with mediumship. This is further supported by the fact that Ms. Farber shows that becoming a medium and interacting with the Spirit world is actually a gift than can be developed, having had no experience prior to her own seeking it out. This dispels the thought that you have to be born into this practice or have some specifically endowed capabilities that set you apart as different from others. In fact, the emphasis here is that everyone and anyone can do this…
… I agreed to write this book because I have a different perspective than many other mediumship authors. Most of them connected spontaneously with spirit people and didn’t have to learn how. I became fascinated with mediumship without seeing spirit people. This book shares how I learned to become a medium and how you can too…
Choosing To Be A Medium is divided into three parts and eleven chapters. Each builds upon the other, with the final-Part Three: Chapters 10 and 11-dedicated to “Advanced Mediumship and refining the skills you have been practicing for use as a professional medium.
We begin the journey in Part One-Groundwork. The three chapters contained in this section provide a personal accounting of the author’s journey into work as a medium. The author fills these pages with anecdotal information and practical exercises while giving the reader the definitions of terminology used and a deeper clarity of what mediumship is and is not. There are plenty of exercises to develop your skills and Chapter Three concludes this section in discussion of Spirits, how they communicate, what they are and more.
Part Two, entitled Diving In, aptly contains the meat of the study towards becoming a medium.
All the tools needed to begin honing your skills are provided, both with theoretical study and plenty of experiential exercises – 65 total to be precise – that build both confidence and develop deeper awareness of the natural gifts of psychism, sensing energy and interaction with the spirit world that we inherently have. I particularly enjoyed Ms. Farber’s approach to the fears that we may have around allowing ourselves to be open to the Spirit realms and what that entails.
There is an abundance of useful information that may also be applied in general to a variety of spiritual practices and skills sets. The information contained in Finding A Teacher (as it relates to a mentor or other experienced medium to guide you) is useful for many of the disciplines that we wish to learn more about. Grounding, breathwork and meditations to cleanse and clear away negativity are other topics covered and again, are useful tools in establishing a good routine practice regardless of whether you will be using it as support for mediumship, ritual work or any other spiritual endeavors.
Part Three takes your journey to another level giving suggestions about establishing yourself professionally as a medium. Everything you need to get started, should you choose to work in this field is discussed as well as the pros and cons to putting yourself out there. Ethics is brought into the equation as well, something that greatly appreciate particularly given the vulnerability of those you would be reading for. An additional feature that supports diving right into finding your own style of mediumship is the author’s companion journal with ample of space to record and revisit the exercises suggested in the Choosing To Be A Medium book.
Choosing To Be A Medium is packed with opportunity to test out your abilities and try out what you believe being a medium is and what the reality of its work entails. This is one of the few books I’ve come across that is so effectively organized that it naturally encourages growth in your own abilities, at all levels. It speaks to all levels of inquiry and many of the exercises are great reminders for those already involved in the practice of mediumship as refreshers and self-care tools. Kudos to Ms. Farber for making this mysterious skill so accessible!
by Robin Fennelly of PaganPages.org
http://paganpages.org/content/2019/04...
“ Not everybody has the ideal emotional strength and stability to be a medium. Good mental health, including a strong connection to reality is vital. People with certain types of mental illness, including clinical depression or psychosis, are advised to consult with a healthcare provider or spiritual mentor before pursuing mediumship development.”…
Even if you read no further, this recommendation brings a practical attitude and also dispels the glamour that is often associated with mediumship. This is further supported by the fact that Ms. Farber shows that becoming a medium and interacting with the Spirit world is actually a gift than can be developed, having had no experience prior to her own seeking it out. This dispels the thought that you have to be born into this practice or have some specifically endowed capabilities that set you apart as different from others. In fact, the emphasis here is that everyone and anyone can do this…
… I agreed to write this book because I have a different perspective than many other mediumship authors. Most of them connected spontaneously with spirit people and didn’t have to learn how. I became fascinated with mediumship without seeing spirit people. This book shares how I learned to become a medium and how you can too…
Choosing To Be A Medium is divided into three parts and eleven chapters. Each builds upon the other, with the final-Part Three: Chapters 10 and 11-dedicated to “Advanced Mediumship and refining the skills you have been practicing for use as a professional medium.
We begin the journey in Part One-Groundwork. The three chapters contained in this section provide a personal accounting of the author’s journey into work as a medium. The author fills these pages with anecdotal information and practical exercises while giving the reader the definitions of terminology used and a deeper clarity of what mediumship is and is not. There are plenty of exercises to develop your skills and Chapter Three concludes this section in discussion of Spirits, how they communicate, what they are and more.
Part Two, entitled Diving In, aptly contains the meat of the study towards becoming a medium.
All the tools needed to begin honing your skills are provided, both with theoretical study and plenty of experiential exercises – 65 total to be precise – that build both confidence and develop deeper awareness of the natural gifts of psychism, sensing energy and interaction with the spirit world that we inherently have. I particularly enjoyed Ms. Farber’s approach to the fears that we may have around allowing ourselves to be open to the Spirit realms and what that entails.
There is an abundance of useful information that may also be applied in general to a variety of spiritual practices and skills sets. The information contained in Finding A Teacher (as it relates to a mentor or other experienced medium to guide you) is useful for many of the disciplines that we wish to learn more about. Grounding, breathwork and meditations to cleanse and clear away negativity are other topics covered and again, are useful tools in establishing a good routine practice regardless of whether you will be using it as support for mediumship, ritual work or any other spiritual endeavors.
Part Three takes your journey to another level giving suggestions about establishing yourself professionally as a medium. Everything you need to get started, should you choose to work in this field is discussed as well as the pros and cons to putting yourself out there. Ethics is brought into the equation as well, something that greatly appreciate particularly given the vulnerability of those you would be reading for. An additional feature that supports diving right into finding your own style of mediumship is the author’s companion journal with ample of space to record and revisit the exercises suggested in the Choosing To Be A Medium book.
Choosing To Be A Medium is packed with opportunity to test out your abilities and try out what you believe being a medium is and what the reality of its work entails. This is one of the few books I’ve come across that is so effectively organized that it naturally encourages growth in your own abilities, at all levels. It speaks to all levels of inquiry and many of the exercises are great reminders for those already involved in the practice of mediumship as refreshers and self-care tools. Kudos to Ms. Farber for making this mysterious skill so accessible!
by Robin Fennelly of PaganPages.org
http://paganpages.org/content/2019/04...
December 23, 2020
This book attracted me right away as Farber was direct in stating that you don't have to be born with specific talents to become a medium - that anyone can study to become a medium the same way she did. Farber then describes the various circles and programs she has been a part of over time that have aided in her personal cultivation of this skill. The final touch that added to this read were the shared interviews from other mediums which Farber included at the back of the book. Farber shared her gifts in a way that allows the reader to see mediumship as attainable. I would have liked to read more about cultural considerations with mediumship rules (i.e. not charging for services vs. charging based on cultural preferences of the client and medium), however Farber takes on several tough topics involving how to start a business and/or give back to the community at large.
January 18, 2023
Honestly what is this book and more importantly who is this woman? Who read her draft and said”yea,she’s alright “
What a ridiculous book…. so she does not believe in evil spirits,only in good. She thinks there is no devil,but there is a God who is good and of course forgiving. She says that if one ever experience some “influence” or a bad energy overall that person need to tell that spirit to “go away” and to “ask your spirits to protect you and get the bad energy away”.
The author spent an entire book clarifying she does not believe in evil spirits but she sure knows how to “get rid” of them if needed. What a joke.
At the beginning of the book she says people can learn how to be mediums. So i will now go write and PUBLISH a book on this matter not knowing anything about it-just like she did!
A few hours of my life i would not get back listening to this BS.
What a ridiculous book…. so she does not believe in evil spirits,only in good. She thinks there is no devil,but there is a God who is good and of course forgiving. She says that if one ever experience some “influence” or a bad energy overall that person need to tell that spirit to “go away” and to “ask your spirits to protect you and get the bad energy away”.
The author spent an entire book clarifying she does not believe in evil spirits but she sure knows how to “get rid” of them if needed. What a joke.
At the beginning of the book she says people can learn how to be mediums. So i will now go write and PUBLISH a book on this matter not knowing anything about it-just like she did!
A few hours of my life i would not get back listening to this BS.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2021
I read the audiobook version. Very quick read, reader was easy to understand and follow. I found the book very basic and I did enjoy it but was looking for something different. This would be a good book for someone who hasn’t had any experience and might be looking to start building skills. Well written.
December 11, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. Finally a book that is about mediumship that wasn’t just a memoir of a medium. This was a how to book with practical steps to help you practice mediumship. I did know most of the information that was in this book but it was a great refresher. Practical information and exercises. I will refer back to this book.
May 23, 2022
I felt like this book had some interesting exercises to help promote medium work but the reality is being a medium is not entirely just a choice someone makes. Some parts felt hokey and some parts felt too simplistic.
March 3, 2024
A brilliant book. Filled with so much knowledge. Most medium books are filled with ego and about Me me me! Not this one it is done in a way of teacher and student filled with brilliant advice and includes everything!!!
August 8, 2019
We can all connect is the gist...glad that someone finally wrote about this.
March 3, 2021
I found this very interesting and will definitely be looking into mediumship more now.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews