Let’s face it, some days I wake up and I just feel… off. And so I gulp down some coffee (or a mimosa – just kidding), but that doesn’t seem to help. Food’s not going to work because breakfast feels like a chore. The day hasn’t even started yet and I just want to go back to sleep. Do you feel me?

So where’s that funky feeling coming from? It’s from your energy field.

What exactly is that you may ask? Think of your energy field as the vibrations that your thoughts and actions give off in the universe. Still don't get it? Then imagine yourself as a radio station -- the perfect radio station where you can choose any song you want to play. Your brain is like that radio station. When you choose positive thoughts, it feels like you're playing the perfect song. The perfect song raises your vibration and immediately makes you feel better. When it’s good, it feels like you can't play your song loud enough. The same is true, however, when you have negative thoughts. It’s like the radio station in your head started playing the Chicken Dance song. You suddenly want to stop dancing. Your energy field is lowered and you feel like crap. It’s that simple.

Sometimes I have a critic attack before going to sleep. I wake up in the morning and my energy field picks up where I left it, trolling through the garbage of my emotions. It’s the worst song for me to be listening too and it’s way too loud. I can’t switch that dial fast enough. I start feeling cranky and frustrated and the coffee, or food, is doing nothing for me.

The good news is, you are the creator of your own life and that dial is always accessible to you. It is in your hand rolling along your fingertips. So change it. The first thing in the morning is the perfect time to find the right song and start raising your vibration. Make a commitment to yourself and meditate for 5 or10 minutes right when you get up. That always helps me. You must stop playing the old woe-is-me me song. Change it right now! You deserve it! Start playing your favorite song -- all the time. With this simple practice, you are going to start seeing a positive change in your life.

You know that saying “like attracts like?” It’s true! So if you’re a negative person, you’re going to attract more negative people. If you’re thinking negative thoughts about yourself or others you’re going to attract people that have a similar vibration.

Which means if you want to change, your gonna have to stop that. You will receive resistance from those who want to hang out and be negative, but you must.

This means I need to tell you something you probably won’t like… gossiping is bad for your energy field. I get it -- when we’re all together sharing all those juicy details; it feels kind of powerful to have all this knowledge. *cue evil laugh*

But it’s bad for us. It lowers your vibration and weakens your energy field. It’s easy to get sucked in, but you must have discipline of mind. Most of us already carry around a tidbit of negativity, so when we add the negativity of those around us, it only brings us down. With practice, you will have an even better experience, I promise you. 

You’ll discuss positive things – your dreams, your passions, and your powers! It takes the same amount of effort, but in the end, you will feel empowered. Your heart will be open and you will feel the higher vibration in everything you do.

Now for all of us who may still have a hard time thinking positive thoughts about ourselves, or seem to be waking up on the wrong side of the bed more often than not, next week I’ll talk about how to clean up your energy field. And I promise, there’s no broom needed.

A few years ago, a strange incident happened to me when I was living in beautiful San Diego. I had my adorable 4-year-old, Skylar in tow and I was pregnant with my second child. We were going shopping for bedding for Sky's new "big girl" bed. At the local linen store, Sky was squeezing my hand in delight as we fussed over all the options. It was then that I felt someone watching us. I could feel it in my gut. From the corner of my eye, I spotted a couple paying very close attention to us. That little voice inside me whispered, “Something's not right.”

I continued shopping, still keeping a smile on my face, but now I had an eye and a tentacle on my little one. All of a sudden and very abruptly, the woman I had been watching asked me how far along I was in my pregnancy. It was more of a bark than a polite inquiry and all the while she was still on her phone. My instincts flared up. Fight or flight. (WTF..I think to myself). Trying not to jump to any conclusions, I flippantly remarked, “Oh, it’s my second pregnancy. Who keeps track?"

Something inside me told me her question was not authentic. But my logical mind, the one that wants me to be polite, is telling me, “It’s broad daylight - in a store - filled with people.

This is not some dark alley in a scary part of town.” Still, I tell my daughter that we are going to leave and look somewhere else for her bedding.  I held her tightly in my arms, squeezing her with love and appreciation as I sprinted toward the door.

At my truck, I took a deep breath and scolded my imagination for reciting the plot for a bad after-school special in my head. I buckled Sky in and turned on some tunes to change the energy. Suddenly, as I pulled out of my parking spot, a car sped toward us flashing its lights. I slowed down and they pulled up to next to me on the driver’s side. I saw three people in the car; two males in the front and a pregnant female in the back dressed similarly to the woman in the store.

The driver of the car tells me that the front of my truck is smashed and that he can fix it for me. Well, maybe my instincts had been primed inside the store, but my spidey senses were on high alert. The man then tells me to get out of the car and look at the dent with him. This was the moment for which I am still very grateful. I did not react or try to please the man.

Instead, I listened to that voice inside my head, that superpower I like to call it, and I did not do what he wanted me to. In fact, the little voice inside me was screaming to get out of there. I didn’t care if my truck was smashed. It felt like the least of my worries at that moment. When I did not respond to his offer to fix the truck for me, the man became very upset, almost demanding that I get out of the car to look at it. I simply rolled up my window and drove away.

Now, there are a few of you reading this who might think I was overreacting, that maybe I was making assumptions about the individuals, but there is more. (There always is.) Once I was away and out on the street, I stopped at a light. I told Sky that, “I’m just gonna run out and see what the heck happened to our truck.”

There was nothing wrong with my truck. Nothing at all. I turned around to get back into the vehicle when ANOTHER car speeds toward me. This time, two undercover cops flashing their badges jump out and sprint straight at me. Each one blurts out questions about the car in the parking lot. I tell them the story, they look at each other and dart back to their car yelling, “That’s them! That’s them!”

Chills ran up and down my body followed by tears on my face. I turned and looked at my beautiful safe baby in the back seat. I’m still not exactly sure what their master plan was, but I am so grateful that I trusted both my instincts and my intuition in those moments, both in the store and the parking lot.

As you can see, instinct and intuition have always been a big part of my life. It's a very important subject for me and I'm always looking for ways to hone this power.

First I wanted to get down the basics, I know we have both instincts and intuition, but what’s the difference?

Instincts are primal. They’re what kept our caveman ancestors alive (It’s that feeling I get when my kid decides to do a cartwheel in the kitchen and I get this alarming feeling in my stomach to move my glass of wine before she knocks it over ). We gotta do, what we gotta do to survive the week!

Now, intuition is different in that it comes to us through our senses; it’s what we hear, touch, and see. You know that hinky feeling you get when you shake someone’s hand and you’re instantly creeped out? That’s your intuition talking to you. The thing about your intuition is that it tends to be a quiet whisper. It doesn’t yell or clamor for your attention like my daughter is doing at this very moment. You have to take a moment and really listen.

It doesn’t help that the foods we eat and the drinks we drink affect our intuition either. When you’ve had a big meal and a glass or three of wine, your intuition is going to be as sleepy as you are. Keep that in mind before you tackle these next steps.

Here are 5 Tricks to Help you Tap into Your Super Power - I mean Intuition!

Tip #1: Turn off your brain.

...and your phone, computer, and stop thinking of your to do list that’s a mile long. Focus on the moment and try to find that little voice that’s being drowned out. In this quiet time ask yourself questions, and listen!

Tip #2: Take a bath or have some tea.

There’s something relaxing about the warm water that helps you push your problems away so that you can hear that little voice inside you.

I love these teas. They make teas specific for your psychic superpower. Click on the picture or click here to get your own.

Tip #3: Get back into nature - take your shoes off and wiggle those toes in the grass.

Stepping away from the situation and reestablishing your connection to nature can be tremendously helpful when trying to hear your intuition.

Tip #4: Do a little meditation.

Taking a few minutes to meditate can be really helpful so complete your favorite one or we can even do one together here .

Tip #5: Listen to your gut.

It’s easy to say this, but can be harder to do. Instead of overthinking things or wallowing in self-doubt, embrace what your gut is telling you. You might be surprised by the results!

We all share this super power. It's that voice that guides you. Make time for it. Practice making it stronger. Some of the most successful people on the planet swear by it. Oprah Winfrey once said, "I've trusted the still, small voice of intuition my entire life."

You are in good company.

How to Clean your Energy Field - Without Using Bleach.

I know, I know. You have more than enough to clean - your house, your kids, your husband… Trust me, I get it. But our energy fields are constantly changing and interacting with those around us. We must clean them as well. Since I have a pretty busy schedule, I don’t always remember to centre myself or put a shield of white light around my body. And, if you're sensitive, like most psychics, you will pick up other people's thoughts and emotions better than a lint brush at a dog shelter. It’s draining, and it leaves your energy field less than sparkling. It can even lead to negative self-talk and that unbalanced feeling that can make you doubt yourself. We don’t need more of that.

So it’s time for a little spring cleaning… no bleach required.

Here are a few of my favorite tips to keep my energy field clean:

Tip #1: Take a bath with sea salt.

Dissolve about a cup of sea salt in your bath water, sit back and relax. Who knew cleaning could be so easy? Take it a step further and say a mantra or do a meditation to focus your energy on your intention—resetting your energetic field. And you don’t need the fancy, expensive kind. I use Dr. Teal’s Epsom salts from the grocery store.

Tip #2: Use A Sage Wand.

Burning sage, aka smudging, has been used for centuries to cleanse the air and auras. I like to make a circle around myself and say “If this is not mine, please take it away.” Say it aloud or if you’re feeling bashful, think it to yourself. But I promise, the more you do this, the more comfortable you’ll be.

Tip #3: Get Outside!

Sunshine naturally purifies your energy so taking a walk will do you good. Even better? Take a walk in nature. Find a lake, beach, or forest and feel your good vibes rise. But remember, get out of your head. Connect to the beauty of nature and leave any negative feelings outside.

Tip #4: Get Your Groove On.

No, not "that" groove. You know how you smile the second your favorite song comes on? Well, press play and start dancing. Movement is a great way to clear up your energy field. I’m giving you permission to be that crazy person singing at the top of your lungs in the car next to you.

We’ve talked about how negativity can affect your energy field and how you can make it bright and shiny again when you clean it. So now, let’s talk about how you can prevent it from getting damaged and dirty altogether.

With the holidays coming up, you know that there are going to be a lot of trips to a crowded mall, a lot of parties, and a lot of family and friends time. And even if you don’t have a crazy passionate  family like mine (I love you all, I promise!), it can really wipe you out.

Visualize a pure white light flowing all over you. It starts at the top of you head and flows all the way down through each energetic point in your body. Visualize this white light washing away any low frequencies that no longer serve you - anything that is not giving you the chance to bring in positive feel good ones.

Here are 3 Simple Tricks to Protect Your Energy Field.

Trick #1: Shielding.

Imagine a loving layer of white light surrounding your body. Make sure your intention is to protect your energy field and ask the universe or your guides to help you. With practice, this can be as strong as a brick wall. (maybe add a moat around your brick wall if you’re having an especially bad day or walking into somewhere you know that’s going to drive you crazy.) You may have to do this several times a day. It only takes a few seconds so don’t let the bad vibes in.

Tip #2: Visualization

Visualize a pure white light flowing all over you. It starts at the top of you head and flows all the way down through each energetic point in your body. Visualize this white light washing away any low frequencies that no longer serve you - anything that is not giving you the chance to bring in positive feel good ones.

Tip #3: Crystals

Crystals can be a great way to ward off negativity. It’s all in your intention, I let my crystals know how I want them to protect me. Especially because I usually forget to do the top two tricks. Try an amethyst or a smoky quartz crystal and see if you can feel the difference.

I also think it’s important to give yourself permission to SET BOUNDARIES. No, they’re not just for the bedroom, though those are important too. You know that friend who always just complains? Think about the feeling you get when you go to lunch with her. Before you even get there, you’re bracing yourself for whatever drama she’s going to share. And by the time you leave, her negativity is weighing heavier on you!

So next time you’re in this situation or even going into a house full of your in-laws, tell yourself that you’re not going to let anyone else bring you down. Create that boundary and set limits so that you decide what you’re going to feel. If you know that you can only handle two hours there before you’re ready to hide in the closet with a bottle of wine, then fake an emergency at that two-hour mark.

I know it can be especially hard for sensitive people to say no or back away from being the shoulder that everyone cries on, but you need to take care of you too!

Want to learn more? Check out the next section of the “Hands of Light” book. There’s a ton of information in here that might be particularly useful with the holidays coming up. Don’t have it? Get it here.

You’ve probably heard the term “chakras” thrown around at yoga class or when people talk about meditation, but if you were like me, you might not know what it all means. The term chakra actually translates to wheel in Sanskrit and it refers to the wheels of energy throughout the body. Yup, you have spinning wheels that center and surround your body. This is where consciousness and energy meet. Like on a date (but not). People call this energy Prana. It’s pretty important too, and you have to take care of these chakras if you want to live a healthier, happier life.

Let's talk about the seven main chakras. They run from the base of your spine to the top of your head. Nerd alert: If you’ve seen Doctor Strange, they look like those spinning discs he creates, but in different colors.

In my video, I share a metaphor of a chakra and a clogged toilet. (Watch here) No one likes a clogged toilet… or chakra. It’s a mess. It leads to crappy feelings and crappier results. You might feel off, your head might be a little fuzzy (and not from the wine), you find it hard to express your emotions, there's a lot of negative self talk, or you might even get sick.

I know when my chakras are clogged I start to feel stuck and depressed. My self doubt comes out full swing and I’m back to playing the same old dysfunctional records I thought I was done with. Bring out the violin, I’m about to play the “woe is me” song.  There are many side effect of blocked or unbalanced chakras and important to deal with these block if you want to live a fuller more vibrant life.

Depending on which of your chakras is clogged, you’ll have different exercises or rituals to do. Once you establish what's affecting you, you can work specifically with the vibration of that chakra and restore its energy. So remember to shift your awareness to the chakra you want to work with. You can open each one and align it to keep your energy flowing freely. I’ll go into more detail next time on each chakra and how to keep them balanced and healthy so stay tuned!

I'll admit it. I’m fascinated with “the other side”. I’m convinced there is more to life than this physical body. My body is simply a vehicle for my soul, or my energy, or my essence - use whatever word you like. I really believe that when it dies, I’m going to do everything I can to come back and haunt my children. (Just kidding, only my husband.) But will I? Can I? Is it possible? Wouldn’t it be cool to connect with our loved ones who have passed? I think it’s possible. And if you stick around, I’ll share the secrets of how I’ve done it before.

First of all, unless you already know you have the gift, it will take some practice to get good at this. Understand, you can’t just light some candles, cross your legs and dial up the dead, it takes practice to raise your vibrational frequency. Lots of practice.

We are all composed of atoms & molecules. They vibrate at a particular frequency and follow the Law of Vibration, which states, energy is constantly moving, vibrating, and shifting into various forms and we are no exception. When we exist in this physical form, we vibrate at a much lower frequency than our deceased loved ones. Therefore, when I raise my frequency, moving closer to my natural, energetic form, then I create the ability to connect with the other side. You know that expression “Meet me Halfway”? Well, this is what I think of. The spirit on the other side lowers their frequency and I raise mine. This allows us to connect. And it’s a beautiful thing.

"But Marisa, what does raise your frequency mean? What does it feel like? How do I know I did it?"

Good question! For me, when I raise my frequency, I become super sensitive. I can feel my whole body tingling and I can actually begin to sense waves of energy all around me - other frequencies. Now I know I am ready to connect to the other side. So how do I shift my vibration - my frequency?

Tip #1 Visualization

First, I visualize myself surrounded by a white cocoon of protection. Think of it as a cosmic condom. This visualization makes me feel safe and secure. Now I begin a meditation, one that will raise my frequency. I find different meditations can provide different results for people but you want one that makes you feel safe and relaxed. For this one, I start at the bottom of my feet and light up each chakra all the way to my gateway chakra which is located about 30 cm above your head. I like to envision myself traveling up to the stars, scooping up the cosmic wisdom,  and then settling back to my body. I’ll post a guided meditation for you on the website to help you with this.

Tip #2 Focus

Now that my energetic self is primed, I need to focus, and I need to nudge my ego out of the way. I imagine myself sliding to the right side of my body making room for me to communicate. If your frequency is high enough, you may already begin to grab fragments or feel additional energies through your Clairs. (Show Image again) Remember these? A clairaudient may catch a whisper, a clairvoyant may start to get pieces of an image or symbols or a clairsentient may get goosebumps. They come quickly. Remember their energy is very high. Learn to trust yourself and be patient. If I feel connected at this stage I will often ask a question and wait to see if I get any form of response.

Tip #3 Use a Photo

If I still get nothing, I’ll grab a photo of my loved one. Then I’ll clear all thoughts and concentrate on the image with soft focus. This is done by gazing at the corner of the photo and not looking directly at the person - almost a trance-like stare allowing your consciousness to expand. The more significant the image is, the easier it will be to establish a connection.  This is the one I use when connecting with my Nonno Pasquale. Again ask a question while focused on the picture. Hold your mind still. Be focused and wait. Do not let your ego answer how you believe that person would answer. This is not going to be like a phone call. It’s not a conversation with perfect sentence structure. For me it always bits and pieces and images.

Tip #4 Use an Object

If the photo doesn’t work, I’ll try holding an object or possession that was close to the person. This is called psychometry. Psychometry is a form of extrasensory perception that uses an object of the loved one. I believe that when a person wears an object for a long period of time, they transfer their vibration to the object. That energy field can then transfer knowledge of that person and when I hold it, the object helps me to connect to their frequency. The object can be a ring or piece of clothing, even a tool they used regularly and it helps me to get laser-focused, clear my mind, and wait for a message.

Don't Forget your Clairs!

So the type of message you receive will be tied to one of your psychic superpowers - the Clairs! This could clairvoyance, Clairolfaction, clairsentience… if you’re not familiar with your Clair, go watch my video called “Do you have these Psychic Superpowers?” to find yours.
Now, when attempting to connect with someone who has passed, you may not get your grandfather, you may get your grandmother instead. If this person feels light and familiar then go for it. But it’s very important to practice discernment.

Tip #5 Practice Discernment

You can’t let your thoughts and ego get in the way. This is easy to do in the beginning, especially if you really, really want to make this connection. Be aware that what you really miss is the connection to the physical form, the touching and holding and kissing - but that’s not what’s going to happen. This is an energetic connection. You will feel the warmth and the love. It’s amazing, but you can also connect with someone feeling extremely cranky or angry. Do not be scared, simply ask them to leave. Some beings have not connected with Source energy yet and you don’t need to talk to those, simply push them away. I never listen to messages that are not coming from the light. (We'll do another post on how to assist those beings into the light).

I love making connections to the other side. It’s one of my favorite things. When I make a connection it is such an exciting and exhilarating feeling. When I’m done, my energy is so high I need to take some time to bring myself back into the physical realm. It’s hard for me to concentrate, or even hold a conversation, so be benevolent with yourself, you will come down naturally.

So remember, if you want to connect with a loved one who has passed practice on raising your vibrational frequency. The first step is to believe. Understand we are all these towers of energy transmitting thoughts and feelings throughout the universe. Become familiar with your clairs to tame this psychic superpower or yours. Meditate, push your ego mind aside, and if you want a little help, concentrate on a photo or an object, and then enjoy your connection. Don’t forget to say hi for me.

Until next time. I’m Marisa Grieco Your Mystical Guide.