Fringe Dweller: an afterlife paramedic

Monica enjoys answering your questions. Although it is impossible to answer everyone, she will personally answer general questions, or those of a similar theme, and post them here on this page. If you have a question, comment, or thought  for the ‘Ask the Fringe Dweller’ page, please fill out the contact form below.

Monica’s an author, so your questions and similar themes may be addressed in future books and other creations. By posting, you’re allowing her the right to quote the post. Please let us know if you’d like names changed or if you would prefer not to have your question answered publicly.

Submitted on 2010/06/12 at 12:43 am

Hey Monica,

Love your web site.

I have found all kinds of wonderful info on how to have an OBE (Out of Body Experience).

However, now that I have the info and am ready  to try it, I’m wondering about any dangers that may be waiting just outside my physical body. I’ve never even attempted this before and know nothing outside of what I’ve read online.

Any helpful hints you have would be greatly appreciated.

Barbara

Hello Barbara,

If you haven’t already read these, I’d like to recommend two books. One is Toltec Dreaming by Ken Eagle Feather. The author goes into great detail of the various states of dreaming, including “creating a conscious dreaming body, often referred to as an out-of-body experience.”

The second is Astral Dynamics: A New Approach to Out of Body Experiences by Robert Bruce. The author goes into detail about the various astral states and planned out of body experiences, including bi-location.

Both books offer suggested do’s and don’ts.

I can offer a few suggestions from my own experiences:

Learn to ground yourself before embarking on any astral journey.

Protect yourself via positive intention and mantras. You can set boundaries by giving yourself cues to ‘come back safely’ if you find yourself in an uncomfortable experience.

Know that there is a connection between your physical body, and your astral body. This is referred to as a ‘silver cord’ that connects the two. Think of it as a safety bungee cord. Just being aware of its existence, may ease your trepidation about astral travel.

It’s important to be in a positive state of being, stress free, to allow the experience to unfold into a pleasurable one. Fear and stress will only hinder and challenge any experience. If you subconsciously tell yourself there may be dangers, you’ve already created that layer of resistance. If this is the case, you may not be ready for the experience.

It’s tough, however letting go of any preconceived ideas is helpful. Do your best not to project any expectations, and allow the journey to proceed without judgment. I’ve found as soon as you stop being simply the observer of things, the experience tends to slide sideways into unpredictable nonsense before grinding to a sudden halt.

Don’t be hard on yourself, as in disappointment if nothing happens. Let it go, and try a nightly routine of intention before sleep time. It may be months before anything occurs, or it may be that very first time…do your best to simply allow what is.

If you hear or see a cue that it’s time to return to your body, act on it. I’ve often heard a voice telling my ‘it’s time to go back now’, as if from an ethereal guardian. Its comforting to know they exist. I’ve noticed the longer I do stay ‘away’, the rougher the re-entry can be…lol. Don’t be alarmed, it sometimes feels like a bumpy return landing on an airport runway!

You may want to keep a dream journal by your bedside, to jot down initial impressions as you return.

I hope this helps, and may all your astral journeys be joyful and rewarding.

Sincerely, the Fringe Dweller

Submitted on 2010/06/20 at 6:22 pm

Greetings

Hello Monica

I was being guided by spirit to portals of creativity and originality when I found myself at the engaging and enchanting portal that is your home on the web.

You are a person of authenticity and originality whose life and work inspire. Know that I honor who you are and what you do. Thank you for sharing of yourself for when we give who we are into the world we enlighten and educate.

I enjoyed your unique essence and positive energy. I wish you a journey of peace and prosperity where joy is a way of life.

May you be embraced lovingly in the arms of Sacred Mother Earth as you manifest a destiny of unbridled joy and may you live the life your soul intended as you explore the beauty that lies within.

Yours in Mind Body and Soul Connection

Micheal Teal

The Ancient One

Hello Micheal,

Thank you for your poetic praise, you write beautifully.

You have a great site full of information and opportunity. It’s wonderful to see people sharing and offering their authenticity.

Love and Light,

Sincerely, the Fringe Dweller

Submitted on 2010/06/14 at 4:59 pm

I just finished reading the Fringe Dweller book.  I have never in my life felt so positive and completely engrossed in such a novel, so far at least, who knows what I will read next.

I just wanted to say that reading this novel really helps to quiet the uncertainty one feels when they enter into this kind of study.  My whole life my mother has talked openly with me about the true nature of god, and the state of things in the universe.  My favorite saying has always been that there is no such thing as “can’t”.  While you don’t outright say it, I get the overwhelming feeling that anything is possible in this world as in others.

Thank you for writing such a beautifully expressive piece of literature. I only hope that more people can start opening their hearts to the truth of love and compassion.

Thank you again.

Matthew

Thank you for your kind words Matthew.

I’m glad Fringe Dweller on the Night Shift offered  a positive outlook for you. I too take comfort when a lantern is shedding light in unexplored paranormal worlds. I think it helps us feel we’re not alone on this journey.

Thank you for expressing your thoughts, it makes a difference when we share what we feel. The more we do this, the more it unites us, and I believe that this enables us to experience unconditional love and compassion even further.

Sincerely, the Fringe Dweller

Submitted on 2010/04/18/ at 5:25 pm

Since I was a child, I have experienced “strange” events, ranging from contact with non-human entities to psychic connections leading to learning to read Tarot to talking with dead people and helping people to die.

I feel, however, that I have been very bottled up and that what I have experienced is the smallest amount that has been able to get through. I often feel as though an iron door slams shut whenever I begin to open up. Have you any suggestions that can help me open up to what I strongly feel is really within me?

Thank you, and I love your book!

Samantha

Hi Samantha,

I’m glad you like the book!

Now in answer to your query, I can say this, because I’ve done it myself. Sometimes the wanting and willingness impedes the allowing of gifts to emerge.

I found myself feeling frustrated whenever I heard Wayne Dyer say “Let go, and let God”. However once I started working with my mentor Carolyn Long, I realized the wisdom in such phrases, because as I let go of the desire for results, things began to unfold naturally.

In the post ‘I’ve had Light for Healing…’ I mention “Many times there are so many circles ‘of life stuff’ that are constantly spinning, there’s no ‘break’ in the cycle for anything new to take hold.”

That said, I also recognize the opposite. There is truth in the phrase “God/Creator/The Universe only gives  you what you are able to handle”.

These are two example of what you may be dealing with. You’ll have to reflect within yourself what resonates truthfully.

I’ve gone into detail in posts such as “Why is Psychic Work such a Roller Coaster Ride”, describing the slow periods vs the chaos of activity. In “Am I Opening a Door I’m not Ready for” I talk about grounding, and protection so that you have tools to assist you in not feeling overwhelmed by strange activity that may flood through the gates.

I’ve spoken about my experience with ‘the art of allowing’. It may sound simple, however when in the moment, thinking without drawing conclusions, that can roll into judgment, and potentially result in not meeting the expectations you drew from your conclusions of how the experience should unfold  … can very much impede the natural flow and unfolding of the experience itself. I understand that might sound strange, however as I said, it has been my experience that during every moment of an experience, the more I simply observe, the broader the experience becomes.

The most beautiful explanation I’ve come across so far is from The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment by Thaddeus Golas:  

“Music teaches us how to maintain pleasure and ecstasy. Normally we tend to think of a moment of euphoric realization as unbearable and impossible to continue. It slips away and then we pursue it again. It does so because we are unwilling to let it go, but if we take the example of music, letting go of one note to hear the next, then our pleasure can be constant through the vibrations change.”

I hope this helps, and may you have wonderful positive experiences unfold!

Sincerely, the Fringe Dweller

Submitted on 2010/04/09 at 12:02 pm

Hello Monica,

I am a almost fifty four years young woman who has had, and much more of the experiences that you talked about in The Quester ‘s Volume 30, 2010.

I’ve seen the light. I’ve had the light for healing. I see dead people but I am not always sure until after the fact.

I have received many abilities after six close calls with cancer. It bothers me when I smell cancer on people in a crowd but not sure who it is.

I joined  The Questers  hoping to find some answers but so far I have a lot going on but don’t know what to do with it.

Do you have a message for me or can you help.

~B

Hello ~B,

What comes to mind , is how you yourself perceive these occurrences. Does it feel right, does it resonate with you to embrace yourself as a healer?

Since you’ve had these brushes with cancer, it would make sense that you’re much more open to that side of the healing modality. I understand when you describe the ‘smell’ of cancer amongst people, and the double edged sword of recognizing the cancer, yet not in a position to help.

To start, I  suggest, you explore, go with your heart, and act on what feels right.

There is a young healer known as Adam, and in his Dreamhealer books goes into detail of the medical intuitive side of healing. He explores medical details, however applies specific meditations and visualizations as a healing approach.

Considering you’ve dealt with cancer yourself, you may be drawn to helping others who are dealing with it.

As frustrating as it may sound, the answer inevitably comes from within ourselves. At some point we are in a state of being where we recognize, accept, and seek out further knowledge. This is the start of the journey. What it yields will depend on what you are open to, and what resonate within you. The rest will just reveal itself and unfold in a natural way, and may even surprise you with the ease of which it appeared.

A book that helped me understand energetic frequencies, how they interact with emotion, and help with healing, is Power vs Force by David R. Hawkins.

You write that you ‘have a lot going on’. As challenging as it may seem, perhaps do your best to quiet your mind with a daily meditation. Many times there are so many circles ‘of life stuff’ that are constantly spinning, there’s no ‘break’ in the cycle for anything new to take hold. You may be surprised that the more you relax and slow down the spinning wheel, the more aware you’ll be, without the hyper vigilance of daily schedules.

I hope this helps, and I’m glad the article in the Quester’s magazine found you.

Sincerely, the Fringe Dweller

Submitted on 2010/04/19 at 12:59 pm

Hello,

I know this question may be more directed to Nicole but here is goes….

When Nicole talked about Empaths and how they feel everything… I am like that sometimes, picking up on whoever is around me, their emotions.

How do I feel my own when other people are around?  I can give opinions when other people are present but they are generally logic and common sense. When other people are unhappy, so am I. Sometimes I can shake it and sometimes I cannot.

Any suggestions??

Thank You!!! Cheers

Hey Cassandra,

Hope you don’t mind Monica passing this one on to me but I can get a little like the character Horshack on Welcome Back Kotter when its one I know the answer to (grin).

Ground yourself.  Learn to run your own essence energy through the 7 major chakras in your body.  It can be a longer meditation if you wish, or as short as imagining your grounding being a root of a tree leaving your body through your feet and driving into the earth below going deeper and deeper utterly connecting you to mother earth.  Then imagine energy from the sun being love from your Creator (however you identify with that) and see it as a golden river of honey that moves from the top of your head cascading and winding itself throughout your body eventually exiting out your feet.  Think of how warm the sun feels on your skin when doing this.  Imagine drinking Creator’s energy (Love) directly in, and while doing so summon any part of your own emotional body back to you that may have been ‘attached’ with or to someone else.  Pretend that there is a shimmering energetic egg shape around your body that embodies the highest frequency…Love.  Mentally say, “All that is not mine, be gone. “ Only love may enters and only love may exit.

The more you ‘run’ your own essence energy the more you will become aware of what is yours, and what is not yours.  You can choose when to merge your essence energy with another in this way instead of ‘going along for the ride’ all the time.  This would be a good time to pick up a book on ‘Chakras’ and try some of the meditations to see what works for you.

Namaste, Nicole

Submitted on 2010/02/25 at 2:33 pm

Hi Monica

I have a question for you about a recent experience of mine.  Throughout my life I have had many intuitive or “paranormal” (for lack of a better word) experiences such as knowing things before they happen, seeing/sensing spirits, and having lucid dreams, but they have all been widely interspersed through the years (I’m 22 now) and fairly infrequent.  I had my first OBE at 17 and another last year.

I began listening to these hypnotic trance CDs about two weeks ago that have really been putting me into a deep state every time I listen to them, and ever since I have been experiencing lucid dreaming almost every other night, including intense flying dreams, and last week I had another OBE.  It’s funny, because the CDs are only meant to bring you into more of an abundance mentality, but it seems like they have opened up more channels for me.

What’s most interesting is the experience that I had while I was out of body.  It started with a dream, then I was flying over the ocean, (in the most conscious, lucid state I have ever experienced while dreaming) then I was floating barely a foot above my body in bed and feeling myself out of my body and yet I could feel my limbs buzzing at the same time.  Here’s the weird part: as I was laying there, I suddenly heard this voice.  And we’re not talking like dream-hearing, where you know you heard it but it doesn’t really make any sound.  No, I heard this with my ears.  It was almost like picking up static from a radio frequency.

The first thing the voice said was a long string of numbers and letters, something similar to: “M41IYIYIYIYIY.”  Then it spoke a couple of sentences in English, but get this: I couldn’t comprehend it.  I heard each word, recognized it as an English word, knew that the sentence should make sense, but as hard as I tried I simply could not put any meaning to the words, and had no idea what he was saying.  Then, it gets stranger: I heard MY voice respond – with another sentence I couldn’t comprehend – but I wasn’t trying to say anything back.  I get the feeling it wasn’t me, it just was my voice somehow.  Then the other voice responded, and I heard, clear as day: “can you hear me?”

This was the first time I actually felt like the voice was “aware” of me, so to speak, and was actually addressing ME, floating/laying there, and I could understand what he was saying.  The impression that I got was that it was surprised by my hearing it.  I tried to respond with a simple “yes,” but without meaning to I was trying to speak with my lips, rather than just thinking it, and I felt my lips move but all that came out was this long garbled noise like you would hear if someone tried to talk underwater, and my attempting to physically move is what I think snapped me out of it and back into my body.  As I lay there, the voices literally went quiet around me and the silence in the room grew SO loud.  I’ve never experienced anything like that before.

So my question is, do you have any idea what the voices could have been or what I was hearing/tuning in to?

I understand if you can’t respond but if you do I really appreciate it!  Thanks. 

Tien

Dear Tien,

Well it certainly sounds like you had quite the OBE (out of body experience)!  I understand how challenging it can be to describe such an event to others who haven’t had a similar experience. Somehow, the depth of the supernatural feeling never seems to get expressed quite the way we wish it could. That’s when the English language with ‘words’ seems somehow cumbersome. It can be very frustrating. You did very well, I can relate to a lot of what you described!

Let me start off, who or what exactly the voices were, I can’t tell you specifically. Perhaps a guide, another spirit, your own higher self, the possibilities are many.   I can however offer information that may lead  you to finding out.  I hope you’ll bare with me.

If you’ve already had similar OBE and Astral Dream experiences, you are likely of a ‘sensitive’ nature. Like most psychics, that means any methods of deep relaxation can increase the likelihood of deeper experiences- you’ll find yourself going further ‘down the rabbit hole’.  This goes hand in hand with something I like to call ‘The Art of Allowing’. However, this is not as easy as it may sound.

I’ve often referred to my ‘back seat driver’, the logical mind that comes along for the ride as a passenger during my lucid dreaming experiences. Finding what makes a good marriage between the art of allowing, and the observer part of the logical mind to enable the experience not to crash to an abrupt halt, can be a tedious balancing act that improves over time with each experience.

Most people have a really tough time ‘letting go’ of the how, what, when, where, why of things.  Hence, I would make a lousy journalist, because most of those things are irrelevant to me during a spiritual experience, because they tend to override the whole concept of ‘being’ in the moment of something.

Having the feeling of being SAFE during your astral travel, will open up and enable you to allow more freely. The more in the moment you are, the more potential you have to take things in, and you’ll pick up on more details each time. However, another key element in all this, is to do this with an open mind, free of EXPECTATIONS.

Many people have had one pivotal experience, which was joyously overwhelming. As soon as they try to REPEAT the experience, retracing over the same steps, disappointment is most often the result. Expectations are in direct conflict with the art of allowing. No two experiences are identical. See the dilemma?

As for the ‘voices’, or communication, I’ve had similar experiences. Again, the logical mind along for the ride is doing it’s dandiest to ‘decipher’ what’s going on, and gets twitter pated when it can’t seem to find ‘the words’ to do so. I’ve often described this type communication as complete thoughts that enter in a nano second, almost streaming in. For now, try to let go of all the ‘what’, and just allow the gist, the emotion, the overview to come through. When I journal these dreams, I often find myself stringing together 5-6 words that on their own, wouldn’t completely relay what I heard or felt. However, together in a string, I can revisit the event, and pick out the prime elements/aspect of each word that is relevant. Together as a whole, I then have the key thought and emotion I felt, that I couldn’t otherwise express.

Setting your INTENTION before going to bed, or meditating, also helps. You’d be surprised what the universe sends you in response. Most of us just aren’t aware enough, to take in the subtle messages that come our way when we’re truly open.

If you are feeling safe in your experiences, you can try the suggestions I’ve offered. Keep a journal, write down whatever comes to mind, WITHOUT questioning the logistics of it. Remember that colors have vibrations, so do emotions. Everything is interconnected.

The more experiences you have, the more you’ll recognize as familiar when you have new ones. As time progresses, your ‘observations’ will become keener, without interrupting the flow of the experience. You’re back seat driver will take more ‘notes’ in silence, then speaking up and interfering. You’ll potentially be in a better place to ask questions such as ‘Are you my spirit guide?’, or ‘Who are you?’. Upon waking, you’re recollection of things will have a broader spectrum. Hopefully, you’ll also have some answers!

There is a wonderful book I’ve recommended for those seeking the nitty gritty on details surrounding OBE’s, and astral travel:  Toltec Dreaming by Ken Eagle Feather. He offers in depth information on the various states of astral dreaming, and offers suggestions for levels of control while doing so. You may find more answers here that are specific to you.

When I first set out to find out some answers, I was frustrated that none of the ‘formulaic’ approaches available seemed to work for me. Once I let go of that, accepted things to simply unfold, I got the best results.

Remember that we are all unique ‘spirits having the human experience’, hence our results will differ. I wish you safe and happy travels!

Sincerely, the Fringe Dweller

Submitted on 2010/01/30 at 6:09 pm

Dear Monica,

I’m in the middle of reading your book and thought you might be just the person to answer my question.

There have been times when people who knew me very well and would not have mistaken my identity said that they saw me someplace or that I visited them. These visits were visual only, I never spoke to them when they occurred.

The only time that I know of when I spoke during one of these encounters was when I called on the telephone and asked to speak to my grandmother, but once she got on the phone I didn’t speak to her.

Can you please explain this phenomenon to me? Does it have a name?

Thank you, S.M.S.

Hello S.M.S.,

I haven’t had this experience, however the following explanation may apply.

The term Doppelganger refers to the ghostly double of a living person, one that may haunt the living originator. It comes from the German word Doppelgaenger meaning ‘double-goer’. There are several theories surrounding the appearance of one.

Some believe only the originator can see their Doppelganger while others feel they can be seen by anyone who knows the originator. The other theory is that it is an omen, a sign. Apparently they’re not common, but several cases have been documented, novelist Guy de Maupassant being one example.

In Sylvia Browne’s book Phenomenon, a handy book of paranormal definitions, Sylvia writes about her personal experience with her ghostly double. She also offers ideas on astral experiences and why our spirits are capable of bi-location, however that is too big of a subject to begin here. As for astral experiences such as bi-location, the variety, their names and definitions, I suggest the book  Astral Dynamics by Robert Bruce. He goes into depth how these out-of-body experiences differ.

I hope this information offers a starting point for further research. Good luck, and safe travels!

Sincerely, the Fringe Dweller

Submitted on 2010/01/28 at 7:43 pm

Q: Why is there such highs and lows in this ‘psychic work’?
There are times that info comes streaming in then nothing at all?
Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you! I totally enjoyed the read!! Awesome indeed!

Noelle

Hello Noelle,

Oh can I relate to that spiritual roller coaster! I’m sure many others out there can too.
Simply put, we get as much as we can handle.

I think one’s current ‘head space’, and emotional state are a big factor, as well as what I consider to be ‘spiritual growth spurts’. If I was exposed to everything I’ve experienced over the last 4 decades in one overnight ‘cram’ session, I’m sure I’d be a little scorch mark on the ground. I’ve discovered for myself, that after an intense workshop, or lecture, I need some ‘down time’, to let all the information sink in and gel a little bit.  After too many days of intense learning, I find myself touching that state of hyper sensitivity that can lead to a state of hyper vigilance. I love a good coffee, however 12 espressos in one sitting isn’t necessarily a ‘good’ thing.

I ’ve certainly noticed a change within myself growing up. As a teen, I was immersed in a quagmire of emotion (weren’t we all?!). I found myself in a constant state of hyper vigilance where the psychic energy surrounding me was frenetic and overwhelming. There was also a fair amount of Dark Energies making their presence known because I wasn’t informed, and didn’t have any tools in the tool box yet for protection.

Daily meditation and grounding certainly helps balance our state of mind. This enables an open minded approach to new things, as well as coping skills for overwhelming experiences. It’s beneficial to have a non judgmental perspective when taking in a lot of information at once.

I think what goes hand in hand with all this, is the concept that we can’t necessarily force or induce an experience. What’s important is the art of allowing an experience to unfold naturally in the moment, and to be present with it. This is what I would consider a natural pace through stages of spiritual growth.

It certainly is exciting when we experience and learn new things. However we can’t ‘live’ there all the time. There’s a reason for the expression ‘burning the candle at both ends’, it applies here too.

Do your best not to beat yourself up over the seemingly ‘slow’ periods, and perhaps embrace a state of gratitude with each new experience. It’s usually not until we look back and reflect upon things, that we can see how far we’ve come.

Sincerely, the Fringe Dweller

Submitted on 2010/01/04 7:40 pm

I am reading your book and love it so far.

I am on chapter 5, but have more questions than answers about Chapter 4, The Greys. I have so many questions on this chapter I could write a 1000 word letter on it and still not get all my thoughts captured. Your take on the Greys as a humorless, woe-ridden race is unlike any interpretation I’ve heard before.

I think the topic of aliens on the Night Shift deserves one or more chapters of its very own with nothing but your interpretation and reaction to any other races you encounter.  The Greys chapter is really more about emotions and free will and other topics than about these beings.

I’m curious about any and all races you have encountered through your dream state and how they relate to humanity. If another book is too ambitious at this point, I would really, really like to read blog articles about your new experiences at regular intervals.

Thank you again for sharing this part of your life with us.

Tom

Hello Tom,

The Greys … yes, many people have commented on them. As you mentioned, my Greys have nothing to do with the well known extraterrestrial association common with that name.

The topic of ‘Aliens’ as such certainly opens a large range of speculation in open dialogue.

I have volumes of Dream Journals filled with experiences yet to be shared. As of yet mention of another book hasn’t come up yet. However, I’m currently working on a concept to share these experiences in upcoming Blogs, in an artistic fashion. It helps when one is an artist…lol. I hope to unveil this concept soon.

It would certainly be intriguing to read what you came up with if you were to write that 1000 word letter, capturing as many of your thoughts as you could. You’d be surprised what may unfold if you were to follow through on something like that. Other people might share your queries. It’s always interesting hearing someone else’s perspective, as we are prone to see through the glasses we wear.

I’m glad you love the book so far, hope you enjoy the rest of it and perhaps find something helpful in it.

I’d be happy to read that letter if you were so inclined.

Sincerely, the Fringe Dweller