Question Me: 'Mara Gamiel'

'I noticed the web address for A Light In The Darkness incorporates the name Mara Gamiel ... I would be interested to know the significance of this name' (Ainsley Peters, Toronto, Canada)

I consider this a really good subject for a 'Question Me'. The answer to this question is really very simple. I did NOT intend to use the name Mara Gamiel. It is a permutation of Marah Gimel that somehow 'appeared' at the time I created the Blog.

It was only after I'd registered the Blog and come to use the web address that I realised the 'error'. I elected to leave it as it was sensing it was not a mistake but by design that the A Light In The Darkness acquired this web address!

Somehow the 'H' was omitted out of the Marah and the 'A' appeared plus the 'I' and the 'M' switched position. Very odd in truth. 'Divine intervention' perhaps. I researched both Mara and Gamiel at the time and decided the 'result' of this divine intervention was 'interesting':

Mara
In Buddhism there is a reference to Devaputra-mara, or Mara the son of a deva (god), that is, Mara as an objectively existent being rather than as a metaphor. Mara is described both as an entity having a literal existence, just as the various deities of the Vedic pantheon are shown existing around the Buddha, and also is described as a primarily psychological force - a metaphor for various processes of doubt and temptation that obstruct religious practice.

Gamiel
The Celestials are fictional characters in the Marvel Universe. Gamiel (the Manipulator) is a young Celestial who was assigned to watch over Earth. He was disgusted that Devron's Little Folk had beaten back his creations: the Killer Folk so he brought the Hulk from the future and sent him down upon the Little Folk and their champion: Devil Dinosaur. This is a humour story depicting Celestial youth (Wikipedia) ...

Thus I let the intervention ride ... basically because taking the literal meanings of the two names:

The first part of the name, MARA, appertains to 'an objective existence which represents the various processes of doubt and temptation which obstruct religious practice';

The second part, GAMIEL, is a totally fictional character which had the role of a 'watcher' who decided to become personally involved in the events which he was meant only to observe. He intervened with a 'creation' of his own.

Fine by me... an apt name I feel in truth for A Light In The Darkness which has the objective of 'providing alternative viewpoints to those which have been established with regard to matters of the Occult' plus the intention behind A Light In The Darkness was to provide an insight into personal involvement in the world of the Occult .... including insights into personal viewpoints and methodology.

Incidentally, by way of a footnote, the intended name of Marah Gimel appertains to the title 'Camel of the Great Sea' .... it relates to a position (and insight) on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Marah relates to the Sphere of Binah which can often be called Marah or the Great Sea. The Camel is Gimel in Hebrew. The Path of Gimel wanders through The Abyss connecting to the lower portions of the Tree of Life to the Supernals at the top of the tree. The concept of A Light In The Darkness was to make the occult and the hidden ... known ... to create a compendium of all things Occult. But there you go ... a higher force quoshed that planned idea and came up with something entirely different but strangely similar ....

Aliens, NDE and Purple Hebrew Fire Letters ...

 I've often been asked what are the strangest experiences, or phenomenon I've ever had? Have I seen, or been, in contact with aliens? Have I experienced a NDE .... 

What always springs to mind are the following strange experiences, though there are numerous others I could mention as well...

Number one on the list of strange phenomenon, must be the incredible Purple 'Fire Hebrew Letter' or burning 'Yod' that overwhelmed my entire awareness back in the early 2000's. I'd just settled into bed, had closed my eyes, but was still very much awake, when I noticed a small, moving, object in the back of my mind. It moved closer and closer, until I became aware it was of a purplish colour and appeared to be a flame of some kind. It continued to loom closer and closer, getting bigger and bigger until it hovered in front of my eyes. In the next instance the burning 'fire letter' had then entered through the brow of my head and immediately immersed my entire body, from head to toe, in an overwhelming energy of bliss and incredible energetic 'power'. It lasted for only a second or two, but it was an immense experience. Something I've never had since, and something I found the understanding of in the 'Keys Of Enoch' several months later.

Number two was the Near Death Experience or 'actual death experience' that I went through back in late 2014 when I had been taken seriously ill and rushed to a Medical Centre for treatment. I'd collapsed on the floor of the Medical Centre in incredible pain, and had slipped unconscious. I'd immediately witnessed a strobe of light emanating from above my head which had then enveloped me in its light. Immediately, I kind of 'shifted' my awareness from being in incredible pain, to somewhere else entirely. I'd merely entered another state of awareness, one in which I totally forgot the earth plane. I was commencing a journey across a sunlit field when I heard shouting my name. I found myself somehow back in my pain wracked body. For the next twelve weeks I was able to enter this altered state of awareness, at will, to avoid the intense pain from my body, and to also meet up with entities on other dimensions. During those journeys into these other dimensions, I could not fail the notice the incredible bliss, freedom and sense of belonging I experienced there. I know for a fact these were not dreams but projections by my consciousness to other dimensions where I was receiving healing and had a chance to review my life.

Number three was the time I awoke from sleep early one morning back in the mid 1980's to find five beings appear out of thin air in front of me. They were around 4ft 5ins in height and wore what looked like Egyptian masks. There was some kind of spinning/moving apparatus in their stomach area. It was literally as if someone had spray painted the air and made them appear. I understood they must have had the ability to translocate themselves from their reality to ours.

Number four was the time I was literally punched by a male entity that had appeared in the back of my mind one night when I'd just ventured to bed and closed my eyes. It wasn't a dream, I had become aware of this male who had suddenly squared up in front of me and landed a punch .... I felt the impact, all the way through my body, with a jolt ... as the punch appeared to strike an energy field around the top of my head; an energy field that enveloped my entire body like a sheath - Matthew James

'An Interview With Matthew James'

It's nearly time to let you in on the fantastic interview we had with renowned Medium Matthew James. He was the first Medium to choose the description 'renowned' and very soon numerous other Mediums chose to use the word 'renowned' (Coincidence?). 

'MJ', as he points out is a one of his nicknames,  recently talked to us in great depth about his life as a visionary and mediator (He strongly dislikes the term medium and prefers the ancient term 'mediator' instead). 

We met with him in his reading room deep in the heart of 'the old country'. He returned to the UK after an absence of 15 years, in April 2017, and has already re-established himself in 'Albion Magic' as he calls it. One interesting thing he pointed out, early on in the interview, was the fact that here in the Northern Hemisphere energy is raised in a clockwise direction; circles are opened in the same direction too. However, in the Southern Hemisphere, everything is the other way round. After decades of raising energy, commencing at 12 o'clock and moving round to 6 o'clock and back round to 12 o'clock, he found it weird doing it the other way round. We didn't know that. Even water goes down the plug hole in the opposite direction to here, apparently. 

Anyway, MJ met with us in this reading room, amid shelves of crystals, occult books, incense, and dozens of decks of Oracle Cards and Tarot Cards - the most intriguing fact being he has several sets of his own oracle cards, The Light Of Truth Oracle Cards. Amazing cards, amazing artwork, amazing talent as he devised everything himself - the concept, the artwork, the meanings - everything. 

He presented us with his really old guard of cards; cards which are now really faded and worn; very dog-eared. He tells us the decks are over 30 years old and have helped him to divinate for well over 100,000 'readings' in their time. Amazing! He comes across as very 'ordinary' with no special clothes or manner, until he opens up and starts talking about the occult and divination. Then his blue eyes seem to light up and go a much lighter shade of blue than they were before. He becomes very intense and serious. His demeanour becomes something else ... and what he revealed was incredible ....

After everything that has happened to him since his first 'reading' in 1981, he has become quite a private person; rarely sharing his innermost knowledge to anyone. We found ourselves there are concentric circles of information he reveals. The more he trusts, the more he reveals. He let us know that he went totally to ground in the last years of being in Australia, due to copycats stealing his ideas and taking the credit for his own hard earned methods and knowledge. In the end he decided enough was enough. He no longer posts his 'inimitable works' on social media. He limits what he reveals. So we were very surprised when he agreed to these interviews with us.

Next up, part one of the transcripts from 'An Interview With Matthew James' ....

'An Interview With Matthew James'

Matthew James has been a practising Medium & Clairvoyant for over 30 years. He began undertaking 'readings' and 'live demonstrations' back in the late 1980's ... at a time when the spiritual industry was totally different to it is now.

Back in the 1980's there was almost a prohibition on spiritualism; it was a taboo subject for many people; research material wasn't readily available - local libraries and occasional new age shops were the only places to gain an insight into the subject. Information was scarce, and places to meet up with people of similar mind, were few and far between. It was seen as a huge joke, and laid Matthew James open to constant mockery for being into spirituality.

Matthew James began at a time when it wasn't 'trendy' to be a medium; it wasn't something he chose to do, indeed it was thrust upon him. He was very reluctant to pursue the direction, gaining major ridicule from family, friends and work colleagues. He was one of the first male mediums in his area at the time, and was to some degree a pioneer of the arts he now practices.

Very few, if any, of the new breed of 'psychic mediums' will be able to comprehend the 'world of spirituality' back in the 1980's without the internet and social media for connection. Nor can they really appreciate the soul destroying hard work it took back then to become accepted in the spiritual field.

Coming soon, we have an extensive series of transcripts from an interview with Matthew James explaining what it was like, for him, back then to develop as a medium. We also gain some insights into his methods of communication , because in his own words 'I'am my own guide, and always have been. No supernatural being has ever presented itself to me, and said I am your guide. I have made all the connections himself  ... so its on my own head if the info is wrong or right. I can't blame it on aninvisible guide for getting it wrong.'

Over the coming weeks we will be adding part of the transcript on here ... so watch this space.  

Aliens, NDE and Purple Hebrew Fire Letters ...

I've often been asked what are the strangest experiences, or phenomenon I've ever had? Have I seen, or been, in contact with aliens? Have I experienced a NDE .... 

What always springs to mind are the following strange experiences, though there are numerous others I could mention as well...

Number one on the list of strange phenomenon, must be the incredible Purple 'Fire Hebrew Letter' or burning 'Yod' that overwhelmed my entire awareness back in the early 2000's. I'd just settled into bed, had closed my eyes, but was still very much awake, when I noticed a small, moving, object in the back of my mind. It moved closer and closer, until I became aware it was of a purplish colour and appeared to be a flame of some kind. It continued to loom closer and closer, getting bigger and bigger until it hovered in front of my eyes. In the next instance the burning 'fire letter' had then entered through the brow of my head and immediately immersed my entire body, from head to toe, in an overwhelming energy of bliss and incredible energetic 'power'. It lasted for only a second or two, but it was an immense experience. Something I've never had since, and something I found the understanding of in the 'Keys Of Enoch' several months later.

Number two was the Near Death Experience or 'actual death experience' that I went through back in late 2014 when I had been taken seriously ill and rushed to a Medical Centre for treatment. I'd collapsed on the floor of the Medical Centre in incredible pain, and had slipped unconscious. I'd immediately witnessed a strobe of light emanating from above my head which had then enveloped me in its light. Immediately, I kind of 'shifted' my awareness from being in incredible pain, to somewhere else entirely. I'd merely entered another state of awareness, one in which I totally forgot the earth plane. I was commencing a journey across a sunlit field when I heard shouting my name. I found myself somehow back in my pain wracked body. For the next twelve weeks I was able to enter this altered state of awareness, at will, to avoid the intense pain from my body, and to also meet up with entities on other dimensions. During those journeys into these other dimensions, I could not fail the notice the incredible bliss, freedom and sense of belonging I experienced there. I know for a fact these were not dreams but projections by my consciousness to other dimensions where I was receiving healing and had a chance to review my life.

Number three was the time I awoke from sleep early one morning back in the mid 1980's to find five beings appear out of thin air in front of me. They were around 4ft 5ins in height and wore what looked like Egyptian masks. There was some kind of spinning/moving apparatus in their stomach area. It was literally as if someone had spray painted the air and made them appear. I understood they must have had the ability to translocate themselves from their reality to ours.

Number four was the time I was literally punched by a male entity that had appeared in the back of my mind one night when I'd just ventured to bed and closed my eyes. It wasn't a dream, I had become aware of this male who had suddenly squared up in front of me and landed a punch .... I felt the impact, all the way through my body, with a jolt ... as the punch appeared to strike an energy field around the top of my head; an energy field that enveloped my entire body like a sheath - Matthew James

Question Me: 'Mara Gamiel'

'I noticed the web address for A Light In The Darkness incorporates the name Mara Gamiel ... I would be interested to know the significance of this name' (Ainsley Peters, Toronto, Canada)

I consider this a really good subject for a 'Question Me'. The answer to this question is really very simple. I did NOT intend to use the name Mara Gamiel. It is a permutation of Marah Gimel that somehow 'appeared' at the time I created the Blog exactly a year ago today.

It was only after I'd registered the Blog and come to use the web address that I realised the 'error'. I elected to leave it as it was sensing it was not a mistake but by design that the A Light In The Darkness acquired this web address!

Somehow the 'H' was omitted out of the Marah and the 'A' appeared plus the 'I' and the 'M' switched position. Very odd in truth. 'Divine intervention' perhaps. I researched both Mara and Gamiel at the time and decided the 'result' of this divine intervention was 'interesting':

Mara
In Buddhism there is a reference to Devaputra-mara, or Mara the son of a deva (god), that is, Mara as an objectively existent being rather than as a metaphor. Mara is described both as an entity having a literal existence, just as the various deities of the Vedic pantheon are shown existing around the Buddha, and also is described as a primarily psychological force - a metaphor for various processes of doubt and temptation that obstruct religious practice.

Gamiel
The Celestials are fictional characters in the Marvel Universe. Gamiel (the Manipulator) is a young Celestial who was assigned to watch over Earth. He was disgusted that Devron's Little Folk had beaten back his creations: the Killer Folk so he brought the Hulk from the future and sent him down upon the Little Folk and their champion: Devil Dinosaur. This is a humour story depicting Celestial youth (Wikipedia) ...

Thus I let the intervention ride ... basically because taking the literal meanings of the two names:

The first part of the name, MARA, appertains to 'an objective existence which represents the various processes of doubt and temptation which obstruct religious practice;

The second part, GAMIEL, is a totally fictional character which had the role of a 'watcher' who decided to become personally involved in the events which he was meant only to observe. He intervened with a 'creation' of his own.

Fine by me... an apt name I feel in truth for A Light In The Darkness which has the objective of 'providing alternative viewpoints to those which have been established with regard to matters of the Occult' plus the intention behind A Light In The Darkness was to provide an insight into personal involvement in the world of the Occult .... including insights into personal viewpoints and methodology ...

Incidentally, by way of a footnote, the intended name of Marah Gimel appertains to the title 'Camel of the Great Sea' .... it relates to a position (and insight) on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Marah relates to the Sphere of Binah which can often be called Marah or the Great Sea. The Camel is Gimel in Hebrew. The Path of Gimel wanders through The Abyss connecting to the lower portions of the Tree of Life to the Supernals at the top of the tree. The concept of A Light In The Darkness was to make the occult and the hidden ... known ... to create a compendium of all things Occult. But there you go ... a higher force quoshed that planned idea and came up with something entirely different but strangely similar .... 

Question Me: "How Did It All Begin?" Part 2

I was asked recently 'how did all the psychic stuff begin for you? What were the signs and what kind of life did it create for you?'

In this second of a three part article, I will explain how I began to develop my psychic ability ....

In truth I have always been interested in ESP, UFO's and paranormal matters. It's always been an integral part of my life. A natural essence and vein of interest since an early age. But it wasn't until I left sixth form college that life began to mould itself into a vehicle for my ability to begin to nurture itself.

In my late teens I had a close friend who had family connections to true blood gypsies. It was my friend's Mother Linda who first encouraged me to start developing my psychic abilities. My friend sadly left the UK to go to live with her Father in the States, but I kept in contact with her Mother. I first discovered my innate ability as a Medium, when I was asked to investigate the presences in one of her rental properties. The experience was extremely intense with a number of unexplained occurrences happening in the house as a result of my connection with the presences.

I was nearly 20 at the time, and I recall this as the first time I had used my abilities to purposely communicate as a Medium. I'd also astounded myself by clearing seeing images and faces in a crystal ball I'd been asked by Linda to experiment with ... in order to prove to me I did indeed have Clairvoyant abilities! My playing card party piece developed whilst at Sixth Form only added to further evidence I was indeed ready for some kind of psychic development.

I was introduced to the owners of The Psychic Centre in Blackpool, which was run by a local Medium called Paula Paradaema. Paula had a shop at the time, from where she undertook her private readings. I'd met Paula earlier in the week after being urged by Linda to make my way to Paula's shop to meet her. I'd then decided to attend a public demonstration night at her Psychic Centre later in the week.

I remember clearly the first night I joined the centre. I sat at the back of the club near to Paula's husband Vinny who was on the door taking the monies from people who were arriving for the evenings entertainment. I was rather uncomfortable and out of my depth. There was a young lady called Yvette on stage and she was undertaking a demonstration of Psychometry in front of around 100 people in the audience. I'd only just sat down after buying a drink from the club bar, when I became aware Paula was trying to get my attention! She was standing on the stage beside Yvette and was urging me to go and join her on the stage! I was felt very self conscious and not sure of what she wanted me to do ... so I made my onto the stage ...

In front of the audience, Paula explained that she wanted me to handle some of the jewellery that was on a tray in front of me and describe was I was feeling or seeing. Now bear in mind I'd never even heard of psychometry before at this time (I'd been in front of a live audience ... years earlier I'd joined a Drama School and had ended up in front of over 300 people in the Blackpool Opera House but that is another story ... ).

Anyway, I remember picking up the first item of jewellery and just opening my mouth to describe what I was feeling and seeing. Without a word, Paula then placed the item back down in the tray and asked me to try some more jewellery. She asked me to try a total of three items of jewellery. When I'd finished she then asked for the owners of the jewellery who were in the audience to validate what I had been saying. You can imagine my shock and horror when all THREE jewellery owners could validate totally what I had been saying!!! The audience roared with appreciation and I made my way to the back of the room in bewilderment.

It came as no surprise that I joined the Development Classes and Paula became my True Teacher and Mentor at that time ...! (Matthew James 7th August 2012)

Question Me: "How Did It All Begin?"

I was asked recently 'how did all the psychic stuff begin for you? What were the signs and what kind of life did it create for you?'

In truth I have always been interested in ESP, UFO's and paranormal matters. It's always been an integral part of my life. A natural essence and vein of interest since an early age. But it wasn't until I left sixth form college that life began to mould itself into a vehicle for my ability to begin to nurture itself. 

In my late teens I had a close friend who had family connections to true blood gypsies. It was my friend's Mother Linda who first encouraged me to start developing my psychic abilities. My friend sadly left the UK to go to live with her Father in the States, but I kept in contact with her Mother. I first discovered my innate ability as a Medium, when I was asked to investigate the presences in one of her rental properties. The experience was extremely intense with a number of unexplained occurrences happening in the house as a result of my connection with the presences.

I recall the first time I had used my abilities to purposely communicate as a Medium. I'd also astounded myself by clearing seeing images and faces in a crystal ball I'd been asked by Linda to experiment with ... in order to prove to me I did indeed have Clairvoyant abilities! My playing card party piece developed whilst at
Sixth Form only added to further evidence I was indeed ready for some kind of psychic development.

I was introduced to the owners of The Psychic Centre in Blackpool, which was run by a local Medium called Paula Paradaema. Paula had a shop at the time, from where she undertook her private readings. I'd met Paula earlier in the week after being urged by Linda to make my way to Paula's shop to meet her. I'd then decided to attend a public demonstration night at her Psychic Centre later in the week.

I remember clearly the first night I joined the centre. I sat at the back of the club near to Paula's husband Vinny who was on the door taking the monies from people who were arriving for the evenings entertainment. I was rather uncomfortable and out of my depth. There was a young lady called Yvette on stage and she was undertaking a demonstration of Psychometry in front of around 100 people in the audience. I'd only just sat down after buying a drink from the club bar, when I became aware Paula was trying to get my attention! She was standing on the stage beside Yvette and was urging me to go and join her on the stage! I was felt very self conscious and not sure of what she wanted me to do ... so I made my onto the stage ...

In front of the audience, Paula explained that she wanted me to handle some of the jewellery that was on a tray in front of me and describe was I was feeling or seeing. Now bear in mind I'd never even heard of psychometry before at this time (I'd been in front of a live audience ... years earlier I'd joined a Drama School and had ended up in front of over 300 people in the Blackpool Opera House but that is another story ... ).

Anyway, I remember picking up the first item of jewellery and just opening my mouth to describe what I was feeling and seeing. Without a word, Paula then placed the item back down in the tray and asked me to try some more jewellery. She asked me to try a total of three items of jewellery. When I'd finished she then asked for the owners of the jewellery who were in the audience to validate what I had been saying. You can imagine my shock and horror when all THREE jewellery owners could validate totally what I had been saying!!! The audience roared with appreciation and I made my way to the back of the room in bewilderment.

It came as no surprise that I joined the Development Classes and Paula became my True Teacher and Mentor at that time ...! (Matthew James 7th August 2012)

Question Me: "How Did It All Begin?" Part 2

I was asked recently 'how did all the psychic stuff begin for you? What were the signs and what kind of life did it create for you?'

In this second of a three part article, I will explain how I began to develop my psychic ability ....

In truth I have always been interested in ESP, UFO's and paranormal matters. It's always been an integral part of my life. A natural essence and vein of interest since an early age. But it wasn't until I left sixth form college that life began to mould itself into a vehicle for my ability to begin to nurture itself. 

In my late teens I had a close friend who had family connections to true blood gypsies. It was my friend's Mother Linda who first encouraged me to start developing my psychic abilities. My friend sadly left the UK to go to live with her Father in the States, but I kept in contact with her Mother. I first discovered my innate ability as a Medium, when I was asked to investigate the presences in one of her rental properties. The experience was extremely intense with a number of unexplained occurrences happening in the house as a result of my connection with the presences. 

I was nearly 20 at the time, and I recall this as the first time I had used my abilities to purposely communicate as a Medium. I'd also astounded myself by clearing seeing images and faces in a crystal ball I'd been asked by Linda to experiment with ... in order to prove to me I did indeed have Clairvoyant abilities! My playing card party piece developed whilst at Sixth Form only added to further evidence I was indeed ready for some kind of psychic development. 

I was introduced to the owners of The Psychic Centre in Blackpool, which was run by a local Medium called Paula Paradaema. Paula had a shop at the time, from where she undertook her private readings. I'd met Paula earlier in the week after being urged by Linda to make my way to Paula's shop to meet her. I'd then decided to attend a public demonstration night at her Psychic Centre later in the week. 

I remember clearly the first night I joined the centre. I sat at the back of the club near to Paula's husband Vinny who was on the door taking the monies from people who were arriving for the evenings entertainment. I was rather uncomfortable and out of my depth. There was a young lady called Yvette on stage and she was undertaking a demonstration of Psychometry in front of around 100 people in the audience. I'd only just sat down after buying a drink from the club bar, when I became aware Paula was trying to get my attention! She was standing on the stage beside Yvette and was urging me to go and join her on the stage! I was felt very self conscious and not sure of what she wanted me to do ... so I made my onto the stage ...

In front of the audience, Paula explained that she wanted me to handle some of the jewellery that was on a tray in front of me and describe was I was feeling or seeing. Now bear in mind I'd never even heard of psychometry before at this time (I'd been in front of a live audience ... years earlier I'd joined a Drama School and had ended up in front of over 300 people in the Blackpool Opera House but that is another story ... ). 

Anyway, I remember picking up the first item of jewellery and just opening my mouth to describe what I was feeling and seeing. Without a word, Paula then placed the item back down in the tray and asked me to try some more jewellery. She asked me to try a total of three items of jewellery. When I'd finished she then asked for the owners of the jewellery who were in the audience to validate what I had been saying. You can imagine my shock and horror when all THREE jewellery owners could validate totally what I had been saying!!! The audience roared with appreciation and I made my way to the back of the room in bewilderment. 

It came as no surprise that I joined the Development Classes and Paula became my True Teacher and Mentor at that time ...! (Matthew James 7th August 2012)

Feet In Both Worlds - 'How Did It All Start For You?'

I’ve often been asked ‘how did it all start for you? When was the defining moment in your life with regard to your spiritual path?’ It is answer I can give fairly easily, as I can actually recall that moment; though I didn’t realise it at the time! The event in question occurred back in the 1980's when I was very much ‘one of the lads’ ... my interests were firmly on cars, rock bands, real ale etc and certainly not focussed on spiritual development ...!

It was a Tuesday night in Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. I made my first visit to The New Age & Psychic Centre on Princes Parade close by to the Grand Metropole Hotel. I’d been invited along by a mutual friend who’d imparted those immortal words ‘you have psychic ability’ a few days earlier, then had spoken to me about Paula Paradaema who ran the Psychic Centre. Tuesday night was a show night, which meant there was always a demonstration medium on stage. I chose this particular night to venture into a different world to my own. A world which would very soon become my own too! But I did not know that when I first arrived. I had no idea what was going to unfold later that night when I ordered a pint from the club’s bar. I still had no idea when I sat rather nervously at the back of the room, beside Paula’s husband Vinny who was at the door, dealing with the tickets and admissions.

My life changed about 20 minutes into the show. It changed when Paula drew the audience’s attention to me at the back of the room, and gesticulated for me to join her and the guest medium on the stage! I felt like a rabbit caught in headlights. I had no chance to turn and run out of the exit doors ... instead I made my way up onto the stage with shaking legs and dry mouth. I felt totally out of place when all eyes of the audience were on me.

Paula introduced the young Medium on stage as Yvette and explained to me how ‘psychometry’ worked. I was spellbound as she pointed to a tray of people’s jewellery which lay on a table in front of me. Paula explained what I was to do ... ‘choose an item of jewellery, hold it in your hand and then describe what you see or feel’.

Who? Me? I’ve never done this sort of thing before!

The rest of the evening is, as they say, history ... I recall ‘saying something’ which related to three items of jewellery. Having never had any formal training as to the how, or the why, I blew my own socks off that I was able to get anything!

Each owner of the items of jewellery were then asked to stand up and explain if they could understand anything I had said to them. I was slightly bewildered when each person in turn nodded their heads and explain the accuracy of what I had said to them.

I was still in a state of bewilderment when people from the audience were milling around me after the evening, letting me know just how accurate I had been ... members of the development group, who in the coming years would become close friends, introduced themselves to me. It was then Paula dropped her first bombshell. The first of many I hasten to add ... ‘I was told to watch out for Matthew about 12 months ago. I knew you’d come, and I knew you’d be able to do what you just did’ ....

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Extract taken from ‘Feet In Both Worlds’ written by Matthew James - Copyright (All Rights Reserved) Matthew James Jan 2013  

More 'New' Concepts ahead ....

Straight on the heels of THE LIGHT OF TRUTH ORACLE are not one ... but TWO ... new concept divination card sets ... both with original artwork and photography by Matthew James ...

Ever the creative brain, Matthew James, once more taps into his wellspring of positive inspirations ... to manifest yet more creative ideas ...

Watch out for more on these two new concepts very soon ...

Matthew James will also be contributing to one of Australia's TOP Eco-living magazines in the very near future ... with his own REGULAR feature column ....

Planned in forthcoming editions will be an 'ASK MJ' section ... where you will be able to ask Matthew James ANYTHING about spiritual matters ... and next edition he will answer your questions for you.

Question Me "My Child Is Gifted ... When Should They Start?"

I've often been asked my opinion on the youngest age for psychic development. So many clients have gifted and highly evolved children and are eager for their children to embark on a psychic development trail.

Because I've had the ability all the way through my life ... and I've experienced the many pitfalls of having psychic abilities & clairvoyant abilities through my teens ... I would falter in
encouraging any development for anyone under the age of 18 ...

Our early teenage to mid-20's are meant to be spent dealing with peer pressures; formulating friendships; gaining an understanding of life. They are complicated enough without the additional pressures and responsibilities of spiritual awareness.

So my opinion on this is always the same. Unless there are exceptional circumstances I always recommend to clients that their children let their abilities evolve in their own way ... let the kids live their lives and experience the earth plane before exercising those psychic muscles!! There are always exceptions to the rule ... yes, I can hear the comments now ... 'what if it is the child's proper path to evolve at an early age?' .... in these instances the ability is going to occur irrespective of any encouragement. I know I'm not the only one who had it active virtually from birth. I suppose if I'd been encouraged or had it pointed out to me by earth bound souls in my formulative years ... it would have made a difference!

As far as permitting your children to undertake professional readings before the age of 18 ... ??? Mmm ... my opinion is a firm one ... the child will have limited life experiences and cannot be expected to grasp totally the situation they are dealing with unless it is compatible with experiences they have already had. There is also the notion of 'from the mouths of the innocent' ... whereby a direct source spiritual connection can be made to pass on unbiased information.

It is a complex situation as you can see, with many pros and cons. So there is no real right answer ...MJ

Question Me: "How Did It All Begin?" Part 2

I was asked recently 'how did all the psychic stuff begin for you? What were the signs and what kind of life did it create for you?'

In this second of a three part article, I will explain how I began to develop my psychic ability ....

In truth I have always been interested in ESP, UFO's and paranormal matters. It's always been an integral part of my life. A natural essence and vein of interest since an early age. But it wasn't until I left sixth form college that life began to mould itself into a vehicle for my ability to begin to nurture itself. 
   In my late teens I had a close friend who had family connections to true blood gypsies. It was my friend's Mother Linda who first encouraged me to start developing my psychic abilities. My friend sadly left the UK to go to live with her Father in the States, but I kept in contact with her Mother. I first discovered my innate ability as a Medium, when I was asked to investigate the presences in one of her rental properties. The experience was extremely intense with a number of unexplained occurrences happening in the house as a result of my connection with the presences. I was nearly 20 at the time, and I recall this as the first time I had used my abilities to purposely communicate as a Medium. I'd also astounded myself by clearing seeing images and faces in a crystal ball I'd been asked by Linda to experiment with ... in order to prove to me I did indeed have Clairvoyant abilities!  My playing card party piece developed whilst at Sixth Form only added to further evidence I was indeed ready for some kind of psychic development. 
   I was introduced to the owners of The Psychic Centre in Blackpool, which was run by a local Medium called Paula Paradaema. Paula had a shop at the time, from where she undertook her private readings. I'd met Paula earlier in the week after being urged by Linda to make my way to Paula's shop to meet her. I'd then decided to attend a public demonstration night at her Psychic Centre later in the week. 
   I remember clearly the first night I joined the centre. I sat at the back of the club near to Paula's husband Vinny who was on the door taking the monies from people who were arriving for the evenings entertainment. I was rather uncomfortable and out of my depth. There was a young lady called Yvette on stage and she was undertaking a demonstration of Psychometry in front of around 100 people in the audience. I'd only just sat down after buying a drink from the club bar, when I became aware Paula was trying to get my attention! She was standing on the stage beside Yvette and was urging me to go and join her on the stage! I was felt very self conscious and not sure of what she wanted me to do ... so I made my onto the stage ...
  In front of the audience, Paula explained that she wanted me to handle some of the jewellery that was on a tray in front of me and describe was I was feeling or seeing. Now bear in mind I'd never even heard of psychometry before at this time (I'd been in front of a live audience ... years earlier I'd joined a Drama School and had ended up in front of over 300 people in the Blackpool Opera House but that is another story ... ). Anyway, I remember picking up the first item of jewellery and just opening my mouth to describe what I was feeling and seeing. Without a word, Paula then placed the item back down in the tray and asked me to try some more jewellery. She asked me to try a total of three items of jewellery. When I'd finished she then asked for the owners of the jewellery who were in the audience to validate what I had been saying. You can imagine my shock and horror when all THREE jewellery owners could validate totally what I had been saying!!! The audience roared with appreciation and I made my way to the back of the room in bewilderment. 
   It came as no surprise that I joined the Development Classes and Paula became my True Teacher and Mentor at that time ...! (Matthew James 7th August 2012)

Question Me: "How Did It All Begin?" Part 1

I was asked recently 'how did all the psychic stuff begin for you? What were the signs and what kind of life did it create for you?'


In this first of a three part article, I will explain the early days of my life and my discovery of my own psychic ability ....

I was roughly five years old when an incredibly old looking man with long white hair began visiting me in my room late at night. Of course the man was 'a spirit' ... I know that now. But at the time ... I cannot recall if I knew he was 'not of the earth plane'. I can remember him visiting me on numerous occasions. I can vaguely recall many astral projections around the universe with this individual. It's hard to recall exact details because it is well over 40 years ago since these visitations. I know the information he parted to me was of significant importance to my life this time around. He's left a lasting impression on me throughout my life ... and I know also who 'the old man' was/is and what he represents. A clue is in the fact I have worked with Runes for the best part of my professional life, and they were in fact the very first divination tool I ever chose to work with ... but that comes into the story much later on. 
   Not long after the 'visible disappearance' of the old man ... he suddenly stopped visiting me at night ... I was then visited 'by the other ones'. My night times were filled with terrors and fears. I would dread going to bed. I hated going to sleep. I often found myself in an out of body state unable to get back into my physical body. Connected to the physical body in its rigor mortis state it enters during sleep ... me connected to a paralysed body unable to move or scream. Aware there was some awful presence close by. I would see dark shadows moving in my room. I would hear the sound like rotor blades prior to these night attacks. These experiences occurred I would say from about the age of 7 to about 13 or 14. It was really scary. The visitations seemed to cease at puberty but never really went away. I sporadically had similar attacks through my life until about the age of 30. 
   My first indications of any 'psychic ability' was foretold to me at the age of 14 by a school teacher playing the part of a palmist at a school fete. Looking back now I think the Music Teacher was very much into mysticism! She had taken one look at my hands and stated I would understand what she was saying when I was 24. This has always stuck with me. I can still see the event in the back of my mind. The age of 24 did turn out to be very significant indeed. 
   At 15 I began to experience psychic ability. It just appeared in my life without any prompting. Some friends of my parents had a daughter who was very much into psychic matters when I look back now. We would spend some time together watching shadows move about her parent's house. We practised simple ESP techniques without me realising what it was at the time. 
   Throughout my days at school from early primary school I used my psychic ability ... though I didn't realise it then as I must have thought everyone reacted to life the same ... For exampIe, would know when to walk into a vacant room to avoid the school bully who would be walking down the corridor moments later. 
   I always could reveal the deepest secrets and most embarrassing moments to defend myself against bullies. I could anger fellow class mates who were dating girls I fancied by revealing rather 'intimate' things about the girls. Things I couldn't possibly know which made it look like I'd been dating the girl prior to them. Silly things like the layout of their bedrooms or birthmarks in certain places. That kind of thing. I never saw it as psychic ability or remote viewing. It was just something I could do and I thought everyone did. Whenever I was set upon by a school bully I would always close my eyes and find myself outside of my body watching the bully kick ten barrels out of me. I never felt the pain and would always open my eyes and brush myself down after the pounding. I rarely defended myself, because when I did I always regretted it. It was easier to walk out of my body ... what I know now to be an out of body experience.
   At High School I scared the sh1t out of our History teacher! A group of us had been experimenting with a Ouija board ... my home made creation comprising a sheet of plywood, alphabetical Lexicon cards and a wine glass. I'd had incredible results at home in the street with visitations and all kinds of phenomenon. So I chose to take the home made board to school. We'd made contact with an entity that proceeded to slam windows and throw chalk dusters around the room. Then it became more serious as it began providing us information about Oliver Cromwell and his 'darker activities' ... the entity had called itself Prince William. We collated the information and approached our History teacher for validation. He came back to us three weeks later and confirmed the information. He'd then wanted to know where we had obtained the information from as it wasn't in school text books, and there was no internet at this time. He revealed to us he'd spent a few hours at Manchester University Library with some other research, and had checked the information out there to be able to confirm it. When we divulged it was via a Ouija board his face had become ashen white and we were before the headmaster facing expulsion from school!!! Not a nice experience believe me. 
   It was not long after this experience that it began to dawn on me that I had 'psychic ability' ... indeed in 6th Form college I was a bit of a no-no with regard to playing three card brag or blackjack. I was always accused of having marked cards because I seemed to always know what everyone else's hands were ... and what the cards that were in the pile ... it was just a party trick I had developed knowing what the cards were in the pile without having to see them. Red, black, red, red, seven, club ... that sort of thing. It was at that point that I began to use my psychic ability and my psychic senses more intentionally .... Matthew James 6th August 2012

Question Me: "How Do I Get Connections Prior To A Live Show?"

I have received a number of e-mails recently regarding my methods of receiving mediumship messages during Live Shows.

Usually my connections begin maybe a day before the show (And personal readings too ...!). I receive personal information from discarnate souls which I instinctively know is for members of the audience (Or a home reading client).

Two classic examples have been witnessed by personal friends of mine prior to the show. On the day of a Melbourne Live show in Hurstbridge ... I was actually crossing a busy road in Diamond Creek when I heard a reference to 'swearing red parrots'. I had intuited that the information was from a Grandfather in spirit who'd kept the parrots in life. I knew also the information was for a male in the audience later in the evening. On the evening itself, there were only two males in the audience. So I began the message with 'I need to come to a male in the audience' ... I then imparted the message about a swearing red parrot ... a male did indeed have a grandfather who kept red parrots and had taught one to swear. 

At a recent live show in Narrandera NSW ... I'd received information in the car on the way to the show from a deceased Grandmother who had a sheep called 'Rosemary' and a cow called 'Angus'. The occupants of the car had thought I was loopy! But having total faith in my connections I opened the show with 'can anyone take a Sheep called Rosemary'? ONE person put their hand up ... they did have a Grandmother in spirit who lived on a farm who called all the sheep & cattle names ... and couldn't kill one sheep who she'd called Rosemary and one cow she'd called Angus!!!

Often I will receive that much information from members of the spirit world prior to the show I have to WRITE the information down on a pad to remember the messages. The information often relates to exactly where a member of spirit world want me to go to in the audience; the colour of hair that the person was wearing at the time the deceased person passed with. The information will be names, places ... what they need to talk about and often the name of the person in the audience the need to talk to or about.

Remember, the information I gather before a live show has been provided by THE SPIRIT WORLD through clairaudient abilities ... I know of one other medium who does the same thing as me and that is the fantastic world renowned Medium Lisa Williams who I've had the pleasure of meeting personally after attending a phenomenal workshop of hers in the Gold Coast in 2010. Lisa often reads out messages from spirit she has received prior to the show ... Matthew James

Question Me "The Naming of The Four Mediums"

I was asked at a recent Psychic Expo about the origins of 'The Four Mediums' and how the idea was started ... 

The concept of The Four Mediums was born in July 2011 when I suggested to Suzie Price, one Saturday night after a live broadcast at Psychic TV Oz, that we should go on tour together. The original plan had been for me and Suzie Price to appear on stage together. Suzie had agreed, and had thought it was a fantastic idea. I'd then spoken to fellow medium Harry T on the phone about the concept of the live show idea. He'd been very interested ... and so we started planning a live show featuring the three of us. Suzie Price had also suggested we approach Luke Patrick, who she had previously done shows with in the past. This was the basic formation plan of the Four Mediums. 


It had been Harry T who devised the name 'The Psychic Four' ... but the name was later changed to the Four Mediums, after I'd made the comment we would be 'like Abba or something so we should be the 'Mediums 4' ... we all agreed that the Four Mediums was a good concept name. Unfortunately, Luke was unavailable for our first show ... so a local Psychic & Angel card reader, who I'd appeared on stage with previously, was invited along as a stand in, and would subsequently feature in a further show. 


As fate would have it, Harry T was unable to make the first performance and Robert Nacson was drafted in at the 11th hour for our first show in Parramatta late last year. Our 2nd show, in Newcastle, featured Luke Patrick who then became a permanent member of the Four Mediums ... alongside Suzie Price and myself. The fourth medium position has subsequently become a 'guest medium' space ...with a number of reputable Australian mediums planned to be on stage, in the future,  beside the permanent members - Matthew James, Suzie Price & Luke Patrick.  More Four Mediums shows are being planned for late 2012 and early 2013 ...   

Question Me: "Spiritual Matters"

In response to all the recent e-mail, skype & phone call queries relating to 'matters of a spiritual nature' we are presenting a series of Question Me posts to answer these queries ....  but, remember, these will be my opinion & personal philosophy only; I will be answering these questions with responses representing what I am comfortable in understanding these matters ...

Do You Have Spirit Guides? What Do You Think Spirit Guides are?
A popular question to kick proceedings off. It can be answered relatively easily too. In my all my years of experiences I've never had an entity connect with me and declare itself to be one of my 'spirit guides'. This is not to say that this hasn't occurred with other mediums, clairvoyants and mystics out there. For me I don't work with these type of spiritual beings. I have close friends and family members who are on the other side who aid me in my connections with the other side ... yes. They organise and instruct those who connect with me, from time to time. But, on the most part, it is me, myself and I who goes to the spirit world to make connections and to gain the 2-way conversations that constitute the mediumistic connections. To explain briefly ... I actually 'go out of body' and step into the other world when I make my connections. I'm co-existing in the two realms when I communicate. On this note, a medium acquaintance of mine at a recent venue we were both attending, actually raised this point with me when he'd actually observed me coming back into body after connecting with the other side! As for what spirit guides are ... I surmise that many spirit guides are actually higher aspects of ourselves communicating with us; others are members of family and old friends ... others are aspects of humanity who choose to help us from time to time ... but I choose not to accept the glamourised package deal that comes with being part of the New Age Movement! It's only because I developed my own means of communicating over three decades ago ... and maybe spirit guides avoid me for that reason?

Have You Seen Angels? And Do You Believe In The Angelic Realm?
Yes, I've seen angels ... but not in the archetypal images that are popularised these days. I often see giant-like entities which choose to manifest around me in light body forms. When I've researched the names they have given me ... I often find reference to angelic entities. Indeed, there are two lesser known 'Angels' who I confer with from time to time ... Raduriel and Dabriel. Raduriel is traditionally the angel who 'creates other angels and oversees archives' and Dabriel is the angel of the first heaven. I understand this combination as The Angel Of Song ... an angelic force which first connected with me in the days I was channelling prosody & poetry! The Angelic Realms to me are dimensions beyond 'the spirit world' ... the occupants are specifically non-human and may often be attributed to aiding mankind in its evolution as many of the entities there may well have been human at one time, and have retained some kind of interest in mankind's affairs!

Do You Believe in Reincarnation?
Yes .... there have been too many instances with clients over the years when I've been dealing with karmic family issues to not accept reincarnation. I've also had personal experiences within my own family & family circles too. I therefore firmly accept we all have past lives; parallel lives; repeats of lives etc.

What About Aliens Or Life On Other Worlds, What is Your Viewpoint?
Yes, I am a firm believer of life on other realms & other dimensions. I've had actual proof, believe it or not. There are a number of posts here on A Light In The Darkness which appertain to the experience I had around 15 years ago when 5 or 6 Non-human looking dwarf-like entities appeared before me ... very much appearing out of thin air like someone had spray brushed them onto the very air itself. After that experience, accepting alien life forms on other other realms and dimensions ... is EASY!

What About 'Apports' ... has this ever happened for you ???
This is a great topic to finish this line of questions off, and perfect inspiration to feature a post or two on this subject. An apport is basically an object sent from the spirit world to appear in our world ... and yes, it has happened to me several times in client's consultations ... though sadly it was only me who saw the objects. In one consultation ... a gentleman's watch, a lady's perfume bottle and a distinctive calligraphy pen all appeared. I described the watch to my client who confirmed that a watch matching that exact detail was worn by her late father who was communicating with me at the time. The way the watch was laid out matched exactly how he would have put it on a table! The lady's perfume bottle matched perfectly the description of her late mother-in-law's favourite perfume bottle! The expensive blue calligraphy pen also matched the pen used by her late father-in-law who was also mentioned in the consultation!!!!

The Meaning of "Mara Gamiel"

Mara In Buddhism there is a reference to Devaputra-mara, or Mara the son of a deva (god), that is, Mara as an objectively existent being rather than as a metaphor. Mara is described both as an entity having a literal existence, just as the various deities of the Vedic pantheon are shown existing around the Buddha, and also is described as a primarily psychological force - a metaphor for various processes of doubt and temptation that obstruct religious practice. Gamiel The Celestials are fictional characters in the Marvel Universe. Gamiel (the Manipulator) is a young Celestial who was assigned to watch over Earth. He was disgusted that Devron's Little Folk had beaten back his creations: the Killer Folk so he brought the Hulk from the future and sent him down upon the Little Folk and their champion: Devil Dinosaur. This is a humour story depicting Celestial youth (Wikipedia) ...Thus I let the intervention ride ... basically because taking the literal meanings of the two names: The first part of the name, MARA, appertains to 'an objective existence which represents the various processes of doubt and temptation which obstruct religious practice; The second part, GAMIEL, is a totally fictional character which had the role of a 'watcher' who decided to become personally involved in the events which he was meant only to observe. He intervened with a 'creation' of his own. Fine by me... an apt name I feel in truth for A Light In The Darkness which has the objective of 'providing alternative viewpoints to those which have been established with regard to matters of the Occult' plus the intention behind A Light In The Darkness was to provide an insight into personal involvement in the world of the Occult .... including insights into personal viewpoints and methodology ...Incidentally, by way of a footnote, the intended name of Marah Gimel appertains to the title 'Camel of the Great Sea' .... it relates to a position (and insight) on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Marah relates to the Sphere of Binah which can often be called Marah or the Great Sea. The Camel is Gimel in Hebrew. The Path of Gimel wanders through The Abyss connecting to the lower portions of the Tree of Life to the Supernals at the top of the tree. The concept of A Light In The Darkness was to make the occult and the hidden ... known ... to create a compendium of all things Occult. But there you go ... a higher force quoshed that planned idea and came up with something entirely different but strangely similar ....Taken from Question Me: Mara Gimel

Question Me: '2012'

It's a question that is on everyone's lips these days it seems ... 'what's going to happen at the end of 2012'? The media and internet is awash with thousands of theories relating to 2012. The Mayan Calendar has seemingly predicted a rather 'dramatic' change to life as we know it next year ... it's also a question that I've been asked several times recently. "What are my views on 2012'?

I'm afraid my answer is somewhat drab and 'ordinary' when compared to a host of the theories which are out there. My intuitive response focuses on the Age Of Aquarius and the arrival of the electric guitar back in the 1960's. I express the viewpoint that the 'change' has already begun ... some 45 - 50 years ago. We've been unaware of the processes due to the locking in of our consciousness to machine time. To the rituals and rigours of our current life patterns. The spiritual awakening took place in the late 70's and early 80's ... and we've been distracted from this truth. The raise in vibration is around us, and in my opinion, all the GM foods, additives, Sodium Fluoride, Aspartame etc issues relate to a strong effort to prevent our consciousness lifting to where it needs to go . This applies to the micro-chipping and 'terror alerts' which are upon us. Someone out there is scared that we become aware of this 'truth' ... hence the huge hype out there relating to 2012! The timing of the Mayan Calendar isn't exact ... and the change to the world calendar in the Middle Ages from a Lunar 13 month calendar to a solar 12 month calendar will have affected the timing too.

My only 'speculative' assessment of the situation ... is a potential happening sometime in the near distant future, when we seemingly go to sleep at night knowing reality as it currently is ... to wake up in the morning within a different reality ... and totally unaware of the reality hours before!! How or why I cannot say ... it is a sense I've carried with me since I was a young child. With it I also carry a sense that we all possess a crystal microchip somewhere within the human brain that is programmable. It sounds far fetched ... but alongside all the weird and wonderful 2012 theories ... it sounds feasible!! This crystalline microchip responds to information sent to it via the DNA ... and responds to light information from the sun. I get the impression that there has been mass tampering with this crystalline chip on the planet via WIFI, microwaves, mobile phones etc ... with an intention of disrupting its ability to receive updated information relating to the rise in consciousness which has been with us for nearly 50 years. Somehow the 'correct' update is going to occur ... and the upgrade can only occur when our body computer goes on standby; namely when we go to sleep. On waking ... the crystalline computer will begin to transmit the correct signals ... and the reality we will then find ourselves in ... will be the one we were in prior to the disruptive cycle mankind has been stuck in. This may occur with all of us or only some of us, the numbers it affects are not clear to me....MJ

Spirit Connections

I've been asked a number of times if I get bombarded by spirit connections 24/7? And if so ... how do I cope with it. My answer has to be 'yes I do' and I have learned to block the connections out. I place all connections on a 'mystic answer machine' ... and deal with them at a later date if there is a need to. It's taken a few decades to learn how to blank out the sometimes incessant chitter chatter in the back of my mind. At work it has been pretty straightforward up until recently. Most contactees have learnt to acknowledge my silent phone mode. However, in recent days, a rather persistent gentleman walking backwards and forwards behind me has caught my attention. And so have the raps and knocks on the workstation next to mine. All logical explanations have been dismissed ... and what's left is a rather persistent attempt at getting my attention. The gentleman is clearly linked to my work colleague ... but how do I breach the subject of spirit contact in a work situation? That is the dilemna, as I do not discuss any part of this side of my life in my work environment. The two are not compatible ...!!! MJ