More than one friend has said to me, “If I were going to a medium, I would wear different clothes. I'm going to take off all my jewelry, change my hair; I'll disguise myself somehow. I don't want the medium to have any clues about me."

"You can do that," I always say, "but it doesn't work like that.

True mediumship isn't like the Wizard of Oz, where the traveling magician digs through Dorothy's basket to learn more about her.(Well, there are some like that—don't go to them.)

So how does mediumship really work?

I'll share a little about how it works for me, as the workings of this gift are as unique as the individual. And of course, a lot of it comes down to training, integrity, skill, and practice. Practice helps the medium hone his/her craft, while training and ethics help provide the greatest of details and heart-touching messages. This is when healing can take place—relief can come in to replace grief. Peace can enter and replace whatever is troubling the heart.

There are a multitude of ways that our loved ones connect with us after they have passed. They sprinkle the scent of their favorite perfume (or tobacco) in the room. They twiddle with the lights. They tap you on the shoulder to make sure you know—yes, that’s their song you hear playing over the shopping mall’s audio.

But sometimes you want a little more. You want to feel some sort of connection. You want a knowing they are watching over you.

While you could connect and receive Marvelous Messages™ with a medium, maybe that’s not your thing. Or maybe you are just looking for a quick nod on a blustery, rainy day.

One way to do that is by using an oracle deck. Here’s How: