In life we all have experiences that are thought provoking, make us question our belief systems and rock us to the core. These experiences are generally connected to a person or people. In my case the person is Chris Stillar, a Spiritual Medium and author.
Chris Stillar undeniably has a gift. It is not something that can be scientifically measured or quantified but only felt to be confirmed, like love. His purpose is not to provide lottery numbers, advice or be a Whoopi Goldberg style conduit (from the film Ghost) – a place where one can come for conversations with a loved one who has crossed over. He is there to provide validations that the people who have passed are still around you. It is not a guaranteed resolution to grief, but it can be. It can also be a great point to start healing. Beyond this purpose it is a great place to open your mind to the possibility that there is something more happening then we are physically aware of. You can start to remove your egocentric ideas that we as physical bodies are the only thing that inhabits our physical space. It could be received as a test to your faith and belief system, no matter what the depth and nature of it. I am not a religious person and I don’t believe in or subscribe to organized religion in ANY form for more reasons than I wish to state here. I am however a spiritual person who now believes that there is something beyond this physical life we lead, that we are not alone and when our loved ones leave us, they don’t really, they just change their form.
Chris & I
Let me tell you though I was a SERIOUS SKEPTIC when I first met Chris. But through my experiences with him I could honestly put to rest any misgivings I has about Chris' authenticity.
He does LIVE seminars in both intimate and large group settings, one-on-one consultations, telephone readings, works with MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada and television appearances.
I had a chance to sit down with Chris and ask him a few questions recently.
LISA: What is your definition of Mediumship?
CHRIS: To me a medium is a person who acts as a channel or go-between an earthly (physical) life and that of the spirit world for the purpose of communication. Mediums act as a connecting link between physical consciousness and the consciousness of the spirit world. All of life, no matter whether here on earth or in the afterlife, is simply energy. The vibrating movement of energy varies depending on which plain you reside on; the earth plain vibrates slower compared to that of the spirit plain or Heaven which has an accelerated vibration. A medium successfully interprets and discerns conscious thought, images, words and feelings (all of which is energy moving or vibrating) from those residing in the spirit world passing on said messages to loved ones here on earth coping with loss and bereavement.
LISA: What do you feel is the purpose of your gift?
CHRIS: First of all, I would like to clarify that what I am blessed to do is not seen as a gift in my eyes. I choose to view what I do as an ability or skill-set. To me something is only a gift when it is given or shared with another. So once I have used my skill-set of spirit communication to help another, the recipient may view the end result of my attempt as a gift, I can never allow myself to see it as a gift, though. Simply because I can connect with spirit, does not make it a gift; until I have decided to pass on the love and healing intent from spirit, no gift has been given. I am no different than any other person reading this, I simply have a distinct ability to interpret thought, feelings and emotions from spirit in perhaps a more decisive and literal way than most; but make no mistake about it, each of us can and do connect with spirit daily. My level of awareness of this very basic skill may be simply more heightened than most. The purpose as I see it for my ability is to bring forth awareness, healing and the truth to mankind (or at least to those willing to listen) that love and life is truly eternal. I have found after fifteen years of doing this incredible work; that people’s lives can drastically and profoundly change for the better after experiencing my talent for spirit communication.
LISA: Can you explain how you receive your messages: what do you see? or hear?
CHRIS: Explaining how I receive and interpret messages from spirit is not a simple request. I receive messages in several different styles. The first type of communication is classified as Clairvoyance or Clear viewing. Clairvoyance is the ability to receive visual images from spirit. They usually appear to me as mental pictures and moving images like watching a movie, only the images are internal. The simplest way to explain to you what I mean would be to ask you to close your eyes and visualize your wedding day, or birth of a child, I am sure you have full color video memories playing in your head now. This is clairvoyance; the only difference is that a psychic or medium can’t control the content and delivery of the messages or images.
The second form of communication is called Clairaudience or clear hearing. This is the ability to receive audible thoughts and speech from spirit. Quite often a person may have heard someone call their name, but in reality no one from the physical plain did and yet you know what you heard, this could be considered clairaudience.
Clairsentience is the third style of spirit communication, meaning clear feeling. This is an intuitive knowing of facts and details that are as clear and precise as if you were told the information by a living person. Clairsentience is felt in the pit of your stomach. You don’t know why or how you know, you simply do. This is your gut response talking to you, please always listen to this inner voice.
Not all mediums share equal strength in each form of communication. For me, the best results occur when all three forms blend together creating a balanced form of communication. When this occurs lives are changed forever.
LISA: Do you believe in coincidences in life? or the "everything happens for a reason" cliche? and why?
CHRIS: I truly and whole-heartedly believe that everything happens for an intended and multi-level reason. We; all of us are connected and regardless whether something great occurs or perhaps an incredible tragedy takes place in our lives; the events in life unfold just as they need to and are meant to. I do not believe even for a second that God blesses some and condemns and judges others. I believe that each person who has been born and everyone that will be born in the future have picked their lives, family members, friends etc. We pick the greatness in our lives and we pick the challenges and tragedies. I believe we do this from a soul level of awareness. We pick the precise and perfect events so our souls (each of us) can experience growth and progression in an experiential way. In accepting this as my truth, I end up taking responsibility and ownership for every aspect of my life. In doing so, I have total control in changing any aspect of my life I do not enjoy, thus I never feel like a victim. The word victim is not a characteristic in my personal life.
To believe in coincidences, is a chaotic thought process that I simply can not wrap my brain around. To experience authentic peace in my life, I have come to realize EVERYTHING happens (or doesn’t) at the precise and perfect time. When confronted with a personal tragedy, this concept and belief can be challenging to accept; but truth is truth. And with enough time, I know I will look back on any event and see perfection and harmony in it.
LISA: What inspired your book?
CHRIS: My book ‘Pennies from Heaven’ was inspired by the events in my life as a medium, as well as a genuine need to give back and help others. I always say; in living one’s life, if we can positively impact or change someone’s life for the better, then life is worth living. I am blessed to do this almost daily through my work as a medium. I see my book as an extension of my daily work, reaching, touching and ultimately impacting countless lives in a positive way that I could not do on a one on one basis. The one thing the human race can use at any given time is ‘healing’. It is my intent to help facilitate as many people’s recovery from grief and loss as possible. I believe Pennies from Heaven can and will do just that.
LISA: Can you comment about what is outside this physical life? Some people fear death. Can you speak to this fear through your experiences?
CHRIS: Even though I am a medium and have been for the past fifteen years, I need to make it perfectly clear that neither I nor any other person can definitely declare what the ‘After Life’ is like. Human being’s personal beliefs, teachings and experiences come into play whenever someone tries to clarify what ‘Heaven’ is like. What I can tell you is that my experience and the experiences of thousands of people who have had a session with me is that there is definitely some form of consciousness of life after what we call physical death and one day each of us will experience first-hand what that reality is.
I have come to realize that we humans sure fear a lot of things about life. What I can speak to is that all fear (with the exception of 2) are taught and applied onto the human psyche. Only the fears of loud noises and the fear of falling are instinctual born to every soul. Every other fear has to be taught to us. I always say that my death does not, nor has it ever scared me. The path or chain of events that will lead to my death may not be too appealing to think about. But in actuality no matter what form my death shall come in, I do know that it is but a blip on the time wheel of eternal life. The one thing I have discovered as a medium is, regardless of the physical manner of death, every soul I have ever communicated with was in a state of unparalleled well being once they resided in spirit. Regardless whether a person passes from cancer, homicide, suicide or accidental causes, all souls are renewed and healed regardless of their earthly experiences.
The acronym for the word fear is:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
LISA: What would you say to your detractors? or the "non-believers"?
CHRIS: I don’t have much if anything to say to my detractors or non-believers. Who am I; to try to convince anyone else that my beliefs are for them. That is the problem with the world, each country, religion, organization or individual person believes their way is the only and right way. God gave us Free Will and how conceited and self-indulgent would I be, to believe my truth is for anyone else. I simply do and share with those who are interested and want healing. To the rest, I simply wish you all well and say have a nice life. I have met many a skeptic and am proud to say when they left following their readings, their concepts and concrete beliefs had been rocked somewhat, causing them to re-analyze their beliefs. My goal is never to convert anyone; I simply want to be a voice for those without one. For those who choose to listen to what I and others like me have to say, that is wonderful.
LISA: Where does your client base come from? What is the farthest distance a client has reached out to you via phone? or came in person?
CHRIS: My client base is very diverse. The majority of my in-office clients travel from within a 2 hour radius of my office. The large majority come from the Greater Toronto area. I have had clients drive up to six hours one way to sit in-person for their private session. One lady took a train from Montreal, Quebec early one morning to Toronto and drove the rest of the way to my office. This particular lady had lost her daughter and following her session she told me she would have gone to where-ever I was to have the experience she had just received from her daughter.
My client’s literally come from all over the world. Thanks to phone readings, I have clients from all across Canada, throughout the Unites States of America, including the states of Ohio and California. Clients call from the Netherlands, Switzerland and one young man who lost his wife called from the Ivory Coast of Africa.
LISA: How can my readers reach out to you? How can they connect with you for a reading?
CHRIS: For any of your readers who might be interested in a private session they can reach me by calling my direct line at 705-424-2189. People can email me at spiritual@spiritualmedium.ca . All appointments must be booked via the telephone. For additional information on my services and my life as a medium and to access over 1600 questions I have answered from anonymous bereaved readers on my website, log onto www.spiritualmedium.ca Right now my waiting period from time of booking one’s appointment is approximately two months. My fee for a private session for the past eight years has been $150.00; that fee is changing as of November 1st, 2011. With every in-office reading the client receives a recording on CD that they take home with them. For clients who have a telephone session, their reading is recorded on cassette tape and mailed to them the same day. There is absolutely no difference in quality between an in-office session and one conducted over the telephone with a client half a world away.
I have had the honor and privilege to write the forward for Chris' soon to be released book "Pennies from Heaven" which is due to be released from Balboa press (a Division of Hay House) August 2011. You can purchase a copy NOW
In my opinion this phenomenon must be experienced and felt in order to be accepted and truly comprehended. Reading this book is the first step and will reinforce what I just shared. Even if the only validation you receive is that your mind is open to possibility it is a wonderful place to start in your personal evolution. Skepticism in life is a very healthy way to approach new experiences and certainly enhances them, especially if the outcome is the polar opposite of what you expect or initially believe. Expectations also play a role in what you take from an experience such as this, so release them. Expect to have an experience and let anything beyond that become an additional gift.