Saturday, November 13, 2021

You Too Can Be Paranormal! by Marilyn Barr

 When I say I’m taking classes to specialize in my spiritual healing practice, I get strange looks. Many people believe you get “the call”, hang up your shingle in a remote area of a forest, and perform miracles within a few days. The reality can’t be further from the truth. Once you get “the call”, you embark on a lifelong path which includes studying under mentors for years. I am blessed to have two mentors who have been with me every step of the way. They have taught me how to help others and importantly, how not to hurt myself in the process.

Everyone can tap into healing abilities to better know their body. One of the first lessons in spiritual healing is to trust your intuition. Whether you call it your gut feeling, messages from God, your conscience (but please no singing crickets), or your intuition, we are talking about the same internal compass. In an age where information is at your fingertips and commentators tell you what to think around-the-clock, this may sound absurd. How do you learn to tune them out and listen to a wordless feeling inside of you? How do you trust this inner voice more than those people with fancy degrees and a seat on TV? Let me show you.


One of my first homework assignments was to look into a mirror for my inner truths, issues, and desires. First, I found all the flaws on my face, laughed at my silliness, and cried at my aging. It took many tries (and a box of tissues) to look beyond my physical body to my energetic one. I found I wanted a job where I created a physical product. The book I was writing for spite (dare from the husband) was actually for my highest self. Whoa. It blossomed into my author career and I’m forever grateful I could see past the shadows under my eyes from food allergies. What will you find? I dare you to try it.

My next homework assignment was to sit outside and experience everything. I repeat this every day when the temperature outside above 10 degrees Fahrenheit. (This spiritual lady lives in a physical body that can get frostbite!) Sitting on the ground (even snow), preferably barefoot, place your palms on the ground. Relax with your eyes closed and allow your other senses to take in your surroundings. You will find this difficult at first because our techie-savvy world has trained us to depend on our eyes and block out distractions.

At first, you may hear birds or traffic, feel breezes, and smell your neighbor burning leaves. As you sit it will get deeper. Your inner voice will stop talking about the chores nagging at you and start talking about your inner sensations. Is your stomach digesting or asking for food? As you weed through these physical sensations, your emotional ones will rise to the surface of your consciousness. You will sense more because you will be grounded in reality. Your mind will be released from the world we have created with blinking artificial lights of phones, televisions, and kindles.


With your deeper understanding of yourself and a wider range of sensation practices, you are now paranormal. Welcome to the dark side. We have cookies – more specifically Russian tea cakes but more on that later. You will be able to sense things in your gut with no intellectual or logical basis. Just by looking at someone across the restaurant, you will be able to tell if they have money troubles, relationship woes, a secret worthy of a novel, a new hope to better their lives, or maybe you have the talents to know their whole live story. What have you tapped into? This is where finding a mentor is crucial because entering someone’s energy grid risks your health.

In Dance to Wylder Beat, I wrote a novel about a Shamanic Apprentice with fantastic boundaries, spiritual guides who keep him from harm, and a respect for his abilities’ consequences. However, not every intuitive is so responsible. In my new release, The Spy Who Loved My Russian Tea Cakes, Cassie’s mentor leaves her practicing alone over the Christmas holiday. Had Cassie stuck to managing the pain of the nursing home community they have served together; she might have been safe.


Instead, Cassie is drawn into a procedure she isn’t trained to handle. She bends the laws of consent to wake a handsome coma patient. In doing so, she wraps her energy grids with his but doesn’t realize the consequences before she tears her life apart. Knowing someone’s every secret may be embarrassing but what if they are a Russian vigilante on the run…


How did Cassie’s ego lead get her into this mess? Here is a snippet from The Spy Who Loved My Russian Tea Cakes...

“Of course, but I’m not a nurse. I’m the Reiki—”

“Yes, the spiritual healer. You are the one I meant to find. I knew it the minute I saw you.”

“Great, then lead the way.” I gesture to the stairs behind her and regret not asking her if she would prefer the elevator. Together we shuffle at a snail’s pace.

“My Sergei’s room is the first one at the top of the stairs, dearie.” She puffs with each step. I reach out to help her, but most of our residents find a helping hand to be a dig against their independence. I push open the door to the hall and wait for her to step through. She then waits regally for me to open the door to her son’s room. “Sergei is in bad shape. He needs you to wake him up. He’s in a coma, you see.”

“If he’s not consenting, then I don’t think I can—”

“He would want your help. I know it. As his only relative, I give consent on his behalf. You are his only hope.” She’s on the brink of tears. Her gnarled hands tangle handfuls of her sweater set like she’s wringing out a washrag. My heart pounds. Coma healing is a gray area in the number one rule of energetic healing. Never journey on someone’s behalf without their consent. Would Leslie fault me for calling her so soon after she left?

“Please, for a mother’s love.”



Oh boy, when a healer’s ego wants to save everyone, it is difficult for the most experienced to set appropriate boundaries. The lines of right and wrong blur. Poor Cassie never stood a chance. Now she’s plagued with dream walking, a treasure trove of government secrets, and growing feelings for a man with a dubious past. How will she get out of this? Find out on 11/30/2021 when The Spy Who Loved My Russian Tea Cakes hits your kindle after you pick your favorite online retailer here -  https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/21443f24-21f0-11ec-96d1-ff537fc2cbb2




11 comments:

Nancy Gideon said...

What a great conflict for your heroine! That "I can, but should I?" is a powerful question.

Marilyn Barr said...

Thank you! I love stories where the "villain" is an internal conflict.

Diane Burton said...

Your post is so interesting. Not sure I'm up to sitting in the snow barefoot, though. LOL I love the premise of your story. What a dilemma. How can she refuse? Yet . . .

Maureen said...

I love the idea of experiencing everything. Thank you for sharing!

Nightingale said...

When I lived in Miami, I was more in touch with my spiritual side. Reading your article, maybe I need to try to get back to that. Maybe my writing would benefit as well. Thanks for an inspiring article.

Marilyn Barr said...

I must admit blocking out the cold to meditate is difficult but I struggle more with the KY heat in August or the aggressive bugs in September! I attract mosquitoes like flies to honey.

Marilyn Barr said...

I've found it enhanced my writing when I made it a habit. Of course, I had to block plot bunnies when I thought of writing, lol!

Marilyn Barr said...

I love that I could inspire you to reopen your senses. I cherish my connection to Mother Earth and want the same for you!

Mary Morgan said...

You should see me smiling, Marilyn. I truly enjoyed your post and reading about your journey. Mine began under a full moon during Midsummer of 1994. It was the first time I got my hands dirty, literally! Planted my first garden and experienced the wonderful, magical world of nature and so much more. All the best with your upcoming book releases!

Jessica E. Subject said...

Your posts are always so interesting! And also make me self-reflect. My mom always told me to trust my gut, and I've learned to make decisions based on a balance of intuition and proper research. I also find I do the first exercise you mentioned quite often. One workplace is full of mirrors, so I have to look at and into myself all the time. Thank you and all the best with this release!

Marilyn Barr said...

I'm so happy I could make you smile. I agree a garden is a spiritual place. I feel a special peace when I get my hands dirty too.