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Talking to Spirits: A Modern Medium's Practical Advice for Spirit Communication
Safely Communicate with Any Kind of Spirit and Enjoy Good Stories Along the Way Through step-by-step guidance and fascinating tales from her decades of experience, Sterling Moon teaches you how to develop your own spirit communication practice. She shows that everyone can connect with spirits―you, too, can enrich your life, find peace, and make the world more fun and interesting through mediumship. This comprehensive book reveals how to identify and interact with many different types of spirits, including ancestors, deities, shadow people, and elementals. Sterling Moon provides journal prompts in every chapter as well as techniques for managing haunted people, places, and objects. You'll also explore a variety of communication tools such as scrying mirrors and ghost boxes. From ethical considerations to protection against negative entities, this book covers everything you need to build a safe and successful practice.
200 pages, Paperback
Published February 8, 2023
21 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 6, 2023
Sterling Moon's new book, Talking to Spirits, focuses on mediumship in all forms. Now, medium isn't a term I'd ever have used for myself. I always associate it with ghosts. Ghosts aren't really part of my spiritual life right now.
I have spirit companions, but they haven't ever been "alive" in the usual human sense. Quite a few are thoughtforms or egregores, but not ghosts. I've made altars for ancestors, the mighty dead, loved ones, etc... but I don't converse with them. Not like that.
I'm a spiritworker, in other words, but I don't talk to the dead. I venerate them, but I don't work with them. It doesn't call to me (for personal reasons).
Still, I figured I'd read this, and pick up some broad techniques for spirit communication. The author's personal definition of mediumship includes all spirit communication, not only departed human spirits. Much of the book does focus on ghosts, but, as noted, you can apply it elsewhere too.
I’d consider this book to be good for intermediate practitioners. A lot of what Sterling Moon teaches here builds upon foundational magical skills. You don't have to master those first, but you need some familiarity.
If you don’t find journaling comfortable or worthwhile, this might be one to skip. Almost all the exercises rely on journaling in some respect. You can adapt them to pure reflection, but to get the most from this book, you should journal.
The author talks about her journey towards greater understanding of her gifts. She's frank in her admission that her own path hasn't always been easy. This will resonate with a lot of us who've had similar struggles, especially these past few years.
Sterling Moon discusses how COVID19 affected her spiritual community and herself. It's good to see authors point out the effects of collective traumas on our practices. This kind of community shadow work is necessary, but rare. This is my favorite aspect of this book.
Some authors push a “do what feels right” approach to the point of leaving out what might be helpful advice. Sterling Moon carefully doesn’t do that, though.
Here's an example. She says that you shouldn't keep an ancestor altar with a partner (unless you have children). She explains her reasoning for this, and I ended up agreeing. I appreciate the bluntness; it even comes through in the writing style.
There’s the sense of “yes, you can do what feels right, but here is what I do, why, and what happens if I do it.”
This book actually addresses the issue of problematic ancestors, at least somewhat. The author believes that spirits sometimes can find ways to heal and grow after death. In other words, they might mend their ways beyond the grave. Some won't, of course, and that's acknowledged, too.
Sterling Moon has a nuanced take on the whole thing and how to handle the bad guys in your family tree. I don't have experience with this issue in ancestor worship, though, so I can't really speak about it. This book has a lot to say about intergenerational trauma and the spirit world, too - a good conversation to be having.
Having finished the book, I've still got no desire to work with ghosts. I didn't expect reading one book to change that. The subject (from a sort of armchair perspective) definitely interests me more now. I'd like to have read more about spirits potentially healing after death, but that's a huge subject. It could fill its own book.
I disagreed a bit with some of the author's metaphysics. That's beyond the scope of this review, though. I still enjoyed reading about it, and much of the book is still useful. The book presents a toolkit that leaves room for the reader’s own paradigm.
This approach has strengths and weaknesses. On one hand, it’s adaptable and fluid. But, it assumes a reader who's ready to fill in the blanks. Again, this isn't a book for beginners.
I’ve never been a particular fan of Spiritualism or physical mediumship. The book gives a short summary of the Fox Sisters incident. It also gives Sterling Moon’s theories about what might’ve actually been going on. It was a novel, interesting perspective.
It didn’t change my (skeptical) views on Spiritualism and physical mediumship. It made me a bit more sympathetic towards the Fox sisters themselves, though.
There's a section on “conjured spirits." That would be Sterling Moon's term for any spirit created by humans. There's a cool summary of the Philip Experiment, where a group "created" a ghost (named Phil). I won't spoil things, but it's one of many interesting anecdotes in this book.
I like that the author addresses this topic. For whatever reason, these created spirits seem more common nowadays. Witches might do well to learn to work with them. Working with "conjured spirits" has been part of my practices since the early 2000s.
I give this book three out of five stars. It's not all that accessible for newbies, but does it need to be? I'm not sure. I know that not every book needs to be designed for newbies.
I recommend it for the intermediate occult practitioner whose done some work with spirits. If you want to deepen spiritwork practices, this book can help.
I have spirit companions, but they haven't ever been "alive" in the usual human sense. Quite a few are thoughtforms or egregores, but not ghosts. I've made altars for ancestors, the mighty dead, loved ones, etc... but I don't converse with them. Not like that.
I'm a spiritworker, in other words, but I don't talk to the dead. I venerate them, but I don't work with them. It doesn't call to me (for personal reasons).
Still, I figured I'd read this, and pick up some broad techniques for spirit communication. The author's personal definition of mediumship includes all spirit communication, not only departed human spirits. Much of the book does focus on ghosts, but, as noted, you can apply it elsewhere too.
I’d consider this book to be good for intermediate practitioners. A lot of what Sterling Moon teaches here builds upon foundational magical skills. You don't have to master those first, but you need some familiarity.
If you don’t find journaling comfortable or worthwhile, this might be one to skip. Almost all the exercises rely on journaling in some respect. You can adapt them to pure reflection, but to get the most from this book, you should journal.
The author talks about her journey towards greater understanding of her gifts. She's frank in her admission that her own path hasn't always been easy. This will resonate with a lot of us who've had similar struggles, especially these past few years.
Sterling Moon discusses how COVID19 affected her spiritual community and herself. It's good to see authors point out the effects of collective traumas on our practices. This kind of community shadow work is necessary, but rare. This is my favorite aspect of this book.
Some authors push a “do what feels right” approach to the point of leaving out what might be helpful advice. Sterling Moon carefully doesn’t do that, though.
Here's an example. She says that you shouldn't keep an ancestor altar with a partner (unless you have children). She explains her reasoning for this, and I ended up agreeing. I appreciate the bluntness; it even comes through in the writing style.
There’s the sense of “yes, you can do what feels right, but here is what I do, why, and what happens if I do it.”
This book actually addresses the issue of problematic ancestors, at least somewhat. The author believes that spirits sometimes can find ways to heal and grow after death. In other words, they might mend their ways beyond the grave. Some won't, of course, and that's acknowledged, too.
Sterling Moon has a nuanced take on the whole thing and how to handle the bad guys in your family tree. I don't have experience with this issue in ancestor worship, though, so I can't really speak about it. This book has a lot to say about intergenerational trauma and the spirit world, too - a good conversation to be having.
Having finished the book, I've still got no desire to work with ghosts. I didn't expect reading one book to change that. The subject (from a sort of armchair perspective) definitely interests me more now. I'd like to have read more about spirits potentially healing after death, but that's a huge subject. It could fill its own book.
I disagreed a bit with some of the author's metaphysics. That's beyond the scope of this review, though. I still enjoyed reading about it, and much of the book is still useful. The book presents a toolkit that leaves room for the reader’s own paradigm.
This approach has strengths and weaknesses. On one hand, it’s adaptable and fluid. But, it assumes a reader who's ready to fill in the blanks. Again, this isn't a book for beginners.
I’ve never been a particular fan of Spiritualism or physical mediumship. The book gives a short summary of the Fox Sisters incident. It also gives Sterling Moon’s theories about what might’ve actually been going on. It was a novel, interesting perspective.
It didn’t change my (skeptical) views on Spiritualism and physical mediumship. It made me a bit more sympathetic towards the Fox sisters themselves, though.
There's a section on “conjured spirits." That would be Sterling Moon's term for any spirit created by humans. There's a cool summary of the Philip Experiment, where a group "created" a ghost (named Phil). I won't spoil things, but it's one of many interesting anecdotes in this book.
I like that the author addresses this topic. For whatever reason, these created spirits seem more common nowadays. Witches might do well to learn to work with them. Working with "conjured spirits" has been part of my practices since the early 2000s.
I give this book three out of five stars. It's not all that accessible for newbies, but does it need to be? I'm not sure. I know that not every book needs to be designed for newbies.
I recommend it for the intermediate occult practitioner whose done some work with spirits. If you want to deepen spiritwork practices, this book can help.
January 14, 2023
Connecting With Our Ancestors
The author provides some background information on the four primary ways in which she practices and teaches mediumship. They are:
1. Classic mediumship techniques.
2. Folk magic.
3. Paranormal investigation.
4. Working with natural talents.
The author provides a list of things you should journal in your Grimoire, such as:
1. Describing your spiritual background.
2. Whether you grow up in a religious or spiritual tradition.
3. How do you feel about your spiritual or religious background or upbringing now?
4. What, if anything, has changed for you?
5. Is there anything in the meditation and journaling exercise you did in the previous section that overlaps with your current beliefs or spiritual upbringing?
She states by using journaling prompts, they may be helpful to revisit periodically as your beliefs clarify and evolve.
The author provides exercises for which to mediate on in order to connect with your ancestors, and a suggested set-up for your ancestor’s altar.
This book is exactly what I've been seeking. It contains a lot of information the various means by which we may connect with our ancestors, and it would be a great asset and a reference book for any level of medium. I highly recommend it for anyone, whether a beginner or a well-seasoned medium.
The author provides some background information on the four primary ways in which she practices and teaches mediumship. They are:
1. Classic mediumship techniques.
2. Folk magic.
3. Paranormal investigation.
4. Working with natural talents.
The author provides a list of things you should journal in your Grimoire, such as:
1. Describing your spiritual background.
2. Whether you grow up in a religious or spiritual tradition.
3. How do you feel about your spiritual or religious background or upbringing now?
4. What, if anything, has changed for you?
5. Is there anything in the meditation and journaling exercise you did in the previous section that overlaps with your current beliefs or spiritual upbringing?
She states by using journaling prompts, they may be helpful to revisit periodically as your beliefs clarify and evolve.
The author provides exercises for which to mediate on in order to connect with your ancestors, and a suggested set-up for your ancestor’s altar.
This book is exactly what I've been seeking. It contains a lot of information the various means by which we may connect with our ancestors, and it would be a great asset and a reference book for any level of medium. I highly recommend it for anyone, whether a beginner or a well-seasoned medium.
December 16, 2022
That inner voice that you hear? Is it really an inner voice or a spirit communicating with you? Often people aren’t sure and assume, but this book will help you learn how to listen and communicate with spirits that are trying to speak with you. It’s easy an d clear to understand, which is a blessing in itself as some books on the subject are really convoluted and not easily consumed.
But fear no more because Sterling Moon has you covered. This is a fabulous way to get yourself started and connect with spirits. My female ancestors are the spirits I communicate with most often, but this book helps me to expand my skills and communicate with more clarity and purpose in other scenarios. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is reading this review…because you HAVE found what you are looking for!
But fear no more because Sterling Moon has you covered. This is a fabulous way to get yourself started and connect with spirits. My female ancestors are the spirits I communicate with most often, but this book helps me to expand my skills and communicate with more clarity and purpose in other scenarios. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is reading this review…because you HAVE found what you are looking for!
May 22, 2025
I've been studying the occult for 6 years now and to me, the supernatural is the most important part of that topic.
Sterling Moon's book is something that I have read in almost every other spirit book that I've gotten my hands on. It's fancy in the way of re-wording information that was already published in books that have been around for a long time with that specific information. However, she is good at simplifying certain topics and the conversational flow of the book, so that way it is easy for the reader.
Her uniqueness comes from believing in elemental spirits, which at this time in the Psychic medium game, I'm sure they all believe in the trolls from Frozen. It was hard not to laugh at someone who claims to be attacked by fairies and other folklore creatures, and offers advice on how to protect yourself from them. I do believe in folklore, don't get me wrong, but I also have my beliefs that alot of these Psychics are demonically possesed, (read Possession and Exorcism by Traugott K Oesterreich, to see why.) and having a visual of trolls causing chaos amongst the living tickled me quite a lot.
As a Witch, this is not what I was looking for, and her beliefs that she can just banish spirits and that protection works, validates for me that people play with things they don't understand for popularity purposes and fame, because I don't believe that protection works, it will find a way to harm you, even if it has to be, "In time!" - That famous quote from The Demon God Pazuzu. It's the same thing that has been spewed in other works, as I've said, but she is educated in the line of psychic propaganda and information that has been allowed to be promoted.
As a Demon, I do believe I am searching for something much darker, and I have read some books that truly fed my desires, but this wasn't one of them. I did like the layout and look of the book, very creative and beautiful. Well put together.
The boundaries thing upset me, as a psychic medium she doesn't like to be touched or approached without her consent. I guess it's the Egyptian heritage in me, and Anubis being one of my religions, but I believe the dead is constantly disrespected. I have experience death before, and coming back isn't any easy thing, and I can only imagine the pain the dead feel about being on the other side. It just seems like these ghosts a lot of psychics talk to never seem distraught or have any problems. They don't talk about giving someone a reading, and realizing the uncle they are talking to is a pedophile. It's like everyone has a set storyline, aunt who died of heartattack, or brother in car wreck. It's the same thing you can read over and over again when it comes to them sharing their psychic work or conversations. I just believe when conversing with the dead, there's something else going on there, like relief of finally being seen. But it just upset me that this person would have such a wonderful gift, and have a hard time holding her hand out to the dead for sympathy purposes, you know?
Her part on the graveyards, such a popularity contests of Lydia Deetz out there, I don't believe that the dead want anybody there, I just hope they remember to pay the gate keeper of the cemetery that they can't see. It seems like she comes from a line of people who are superstitious, convinced she should cover her head, but I believe nobody should go there at all unless they are visiting a loved one.
Talking to spirits is a popular event these days, BUT so is Exorcisms.
Sterling Moon's book is something that I have read in almost every other spirit book that I've gotten my hands on. It's fancy in the way of re-wording information that was already published in books that have been around for a long time with that specific information. However, she is good at simplifying certain topics and the conversational flow of the book, so that way it is easy for the reader.
Her uniqueness comes from believing in elemental spirits, which at this time in the Psychic medium game, I'm sure they all believe in the trolls from Frozen. It was hard not to laugh at someone who claims to be attacked by fairies and other folklore creatures, and offers advice on how to protect yourself from them. I do believe in folklore, don't get me wrong, but I also have my beliefs that alot of these Psychics are demonically possesed, (read Possession and Exorcism by Traugott K Oesterreich, to see why.) and having a visual of trolls causing chaos amongst the living tickled me quite a lot.
As a Witch, this is not what I was looking for, and her beliefs that she can just banish spirits and that protection works, validates for me that people play with things they don't understand for popularity purposes and fame, because I don't believe that protection works, it will find a way to harm you, even if it has to be, "In time!" - That famous quote from The Demon God Pazuzu. It's the same thing that has been spewed in other works, as I've said, but she is educated in the line of psychic propaganda and information that has been allowed to be promoted.
As a Demon, I do believe I am searching for something much darker, and I have read some books that truly fed my desires, but this wasn't one of them. I did like the layout and look of the book, very creative and beautiful. Well put together.
The boundaries thing upset me, as a psychic medium she doesn't like to be touched or approached without her consent. I guess it's the Egyptian heritage in me, and Anubis being one of my religions, but I believe the dead is constantly disrespected. I have experience death before, and coming back isn't any easy thing, and I can only imagine the pain the dead feel about being on the other side. It just seems like these ghosts a lot of psychics talk to never seem distraught or have any problems. They don't talk about giving someone a reading, and realizing the uncle they are talking to is a pedophile. It's like everyone has a set storyline, aunt who died of heartattack, or brother in car wreck. It's the same thing you can read over and over again when it comes to them sharing their psychic work or conversations. I just believe when conversing with the dead, there's something else going on there, like relief of finally being seen. But it just upset me that this person would have such a wonderful gift, and have a hard time holding her hand out to the dead for sympathy purposes, you know?
Her part on the graveyards, such a popularity contests of Lydia Deetz out there, I don't believe that the dead want anybody there, I just hope they remember to pay the gate keeper of the cemetery that they can't see. It seems like she comes from a line of people who are superstitious, convinced she should cover her head, but I believe nobody should go there at all unless they are visiting a loved one.
Talking to spirits is a popular event these days, BUT so is Exorcisms.
Read
July 9, 2023This is a good introduction to the subject. I didn't learn a great deal of new information, but it goes about the process of contacting spirits differently than shamanism, so was very interesting. I would recommend this book as a way to learn how to contact spirits more readily than in a shamanic journey.
The author brings up the interesting point that not all spirits are dead humans–many are elementals, the fae, or other animals, as well as beings of which we cannot even understand. It was a quick and easy read. If you are already familiar with the topic, you probably would want something more advanced though.
The author brings up the interesting point that not all spirits are dead humans–many are elementals, the fae, or other animals, as well as beings of which we cannot even understand. It was a quick and easy read. If you are already familiar with the topic, you probably would want something more advanced though.
April 26, 2023
ARC NETGALLEY REVIEW
A delightful and original take on a topic that can sometimes be very wish washy. From the very beginning the author validate her own beliefs and experiences and how she approaches this. Giving guidance and answers to questions I’ve asked myself and other teachers and didn’t quite have an answer for. Highly recommend this to anyone wanting to expand the ability or learn more about it.
A delightful and original take on a topic that can sometimes be very wish washy. From the very beginning the author validate her own beliefs and experiences and how she approaches this. Giving guidance and answers to questions I’ve asked myself and other teachers and didn’t quite have an answer for. Highly recommend this to anyone wanting to expand the ability or learn more about it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews