A Simple Guide to Life

(Non-fiction, 50,000+ words)

Elsabé Smit is The Intuition Coach at www.TheIntuitionCoach.com. 

Elsabé has experienced a variety of life crises. Many people would have been broken by them, but somehow Elsabé seemed to flourish and grow from strength to strength.  This book explains Elsabé’s unique understanding of the purpose of life.  

Elsabé brings her own unique knowledge of sacred geometry and quantum physics under the same umbrella as well-known topics such as tarot or chakras and explains that life is only a mystery if you don’t want to know.  She has a gift of clarifying complex knowledge and making it practical.

My journey towards recovery started with me discovering that I am clairvoyant. In my culture being psychic was not an option. Religious people from “other” churches had visions—those were the people who could not control themselves and made a mockery of the bible. And of course drunks had visions of a different kind. Which group did I want to associate with before I was going to “stop this nonsense” of being psychic? Even yoga was seen as a sinful activity.

The first leg of my journey towards recovery was to understand what being psychic means. Some of the information in this book was repeated in numerous readings that I did for clients. I noticed that specific themes were channelled over and over again, and I began to realize that there is some universal truth that I was accessing. However, I wanted explanations and kept searching until I discovered logical, rational explanations for these truths. 

This is not a journey that ends when you get the answers. Answers result in questions, which result in more answers. This is where I am now, and I am still travelling—but my bags now contain a toothbrush, pyjamas and much space for what I discover on my travels and bring back with me. There is no excess baggage.

I will share some information that has been provided to me in psychic readings and my own research over many years.

Here is an extract:

Chapter 1: Embracing the Enemy

Question: Why would anyone need a simple guide to life? Answer: Because life is simple—once you have mastered the basic rules.

For the first half of my life I would have disputed this statement. My life was very complicated. My mother hated me from before I was born, because she believed that my arrival in this world ruined her dreams of the future. No matter how hard I tried, I was never good enough for her. I did not understand what I had done wrong, but I knew I was wrong. 

She blamed her drug and alcohol abuse on me, and ignorant, idealistic social and mental health workers believed her. She could only be cured if I changed. I believed them when they told me that, and did not at the time realize how much truth was in that statement—but not in the way they meant it. 

As a result of this emotional burden, I married a man who was also an alcoholic, and who targeted me with the same emotional abuse. It took me years to break away from that, and to see how both situations were designed for my benefit. 

Of course during this entire time I loathed myself—not because I had reason to, but because I followed their script. Loathing one-self is what one does—who needs a reason?

During this entire time I was questioning myself, the world, my place in the world, my faith (and at times lack of faith), and I was angry. Life was so unfair—it was a daily struggle. 

Add to that a nervous breakdown which proved that putting physical distance between you and your problems is not possible—you carry that baggage wherever you go.

Being a mistress was a short relief—it felt incredibly good to be so spoilt and the focus of so much attention—until I realized that was another form of emotional abuse. So I jumped from the pedestal right into the pit of more self-loathing.

Society did not help me to deal with any of these issues. I was bullied at work by people who had less experience and qualifications than I had—that was against the rules, but it seemed I was the only one who bothered to read those particular rules.

Of course God was always lurking at the edges—but not really helpful. He did not exactly light up my life when I asked a church minister for help while my family was falling apart. The minister reminded me when my next tithe would be due and prayed a lame and ineffectual prayer for me—and my family continued to fall apart.

Reading the Bible was like listening over and over again to the people I had left behind—I could smell the alcohol and see the wagging fingers of damnation. The tiny slivers of salvation in between the gore and blood were not quite what I was looking for. 

Being a single parent with an ex-spouse that was physically, emotionally and financially absent was not a joy ride. And the abuse continued. Successes were flukes and had nothing to do with me being a loving mother. Failures proved what kind of mother I was—and I failed all the time.

There was no replacement spouse—or even a significant other. Who wanted me anyway? I had enough baggage to fill a few large caravans, and a dependent child. 

In my 30’s, when a mentor encouraged me to enter a “Mrs” beauty competition, I did not even respond—I thought he was being very cruel. I was ugly—the fact that men noticed and complimented my figure and face and intelligence was quite irrelevant. And the fact that my own anger then chased them away escaped me—I was too angry at them for rubbing my nose into my failures with their flattering attention.

No person can live like that. 

When my personal journey through hell was crowned with unemployment, it was the cherry on the top—the straw that broke the camel’s back. That was one of the best, most rewarding, most terrifying experiences I have ever had. That set me on the path to discovering how simple life really is. That is what I will share with you in this book—how to live life the way it was meant to be, and not the trials and tribulations.

Now that you have read about some of my ordeals, try this exercise: Imagine we all get the opportunity to put our troubles in a large bin bag, neatly tie the bag and leave it in the middle of town. Then we can shop around at leisure until we find a bin bag with troubles that suit us perfectly. Which bag will you pick?

Yes, hearing someone else’s story does make our own stories sound quite lame in comparison. However, your story is no less painful once you have heard mine. And that is what has intrigued me all my life. How do I take the pain out of my story? That is what this book is about—how I dealt with my pain, and how you can use the same knowledge and methods to deal with your pain.

My journey towards recovery started with me discovering that I am clairvoyant. In my culture being psychic was not an option. Religious people from “other” churches had visions—those were the people who could not control themselves and made a mockery of the bible. And of course drunks had visions of a different kind. Which group did I want to associate with before I was going to “stop this nonsense” of being psychic? Even yoga was seen as a sinful activity.

The first leg of my journey towards recovery was to understand what being psychic means. Some of the information in this book was repeated in numerous readings that I did for clients. I noticed that specific themes were channelled over and over again, and I began to realize that there is some universal truth that I was accessing. However, I wanted explanations and kept searching until I discovered logical, rational explanations for these truths. 

This is not a journey that ends when you get the answers. Answers result in questions, which result in more answers. This is where I am now, and I am still travelling—but my bags now contain a toothbrush, pyjamas and much space for what I discover on my travels and bring back with me. There is no excess baggage.

I will share some information that has been provided to me in psychic readings and my own research over many years.

I Am Psychic, and So Are You

Yes, I am psychic. Yes, I speak to spirit guides and guardian angels and at times to people who have passed on. Every person on this earth has psychic abilities. Some people, like me, choose to use this ability to enrich our own and other people’s lives. You use your own psychic abilities when you have a brainwave or make excellent decisions based on gut feel. We all have our own way of using this Library.

• List your own views of what psychics, mediums and clairvoyants do and why you would either consult them or stay away from them. (Throughout this book the sign • will be used as a signal for you to stop and do some exploration to find your own truths).

Using Your Own Psychic Abilities

Many people have more and more experiences that have no logical explanation, such as hearing or seeing people that are not there, or becoming aware of familiar smells. People have disturbing dreams or recurring nightmares. They notice new patterns in their lives, and they become more aware of the world they live in. 

The world is changing rapidly because of our responses to planetary movements. We are getting a new, maybe confusing, perspective on our dramatically changed world. If we accept our psychic experiences, we will improve and enrich our life for ever.

• Before I explain what being psychic means, try this simple exercise. Think of any question you have right now, and write it down. Now close your eyes and imagine seeing three boxes of any shape or size. With your eyes still closed, pick one of these imaginary boxes and imagine opening this box. Take out the item that is in the box and have a good look at it. This item represents either a direct answer or a symbol that you can interpret yourself. Write down what you found in your box, in as much detail as you can, and then write down how you interpret it. You may not understand right now how this item answers your question. Leave it for a while and you will receive an insight.

If you found it difficult to visualise items in this exercise, then identify the sound or emotion you experienced when you did the exercise. This gives the clue to your answer. If you could do this exercise, you are psychic. If you struggled with the exercise, you are still psychic—but other parts of your brain work harder than the “receptor” part of your brain.

What Does Being Psychic Mean?

Psychics are best known for the sense of clairvoyance (an ability to see things most other people cannot see). Psychics also use clairaudience (an ability to hear things most people cannot hear) and clairsentience (feeling things most people either feel strongly or suppress). 

• List here your questions regarding what psychics do and what knowledge they tap into.

Psychics can tap into these extra-ordinary senses at will. Professional psychics who provide a paid service will never apply these abilities unless they have permission from their client.

People often make remarks such as “If you are psychic, how come you don’t know my name?” Psychics deal with the eternal part of your essence. They see, hear and feel some of the 99% of who you are. Most people believe the remaining, visible 1% that is your body is all there is. Psychics don’t know everything about you. As messengers, they reveal to you what your spirit guides and guardian angels want you to know at the time, and nothing more. If you do not believe in spirit guides and guardian angels, then I would say that psychics use their skills to identify and interpret the energy clusters around you. 

Energy exists around us as waves, and information is stored where these waves cross. It is like walking into a library that consists of different waves criss-crossing the space. At various points energy waves form a concentration called “book”.

When a psychic looks for specific information, they would walk along the “shelves” or waves and scan some “book titles”, or concentrations of energy. When they remove your “book” from a shelf and open it, they obtain information about you.

The psychic then “reads” this page to you, giving you adequate knowledge to either enact your story or change your outcome. When you don’t have access to your book, you only enact your story, with no indication of possible outcomes or your choices.

The main theme of your life is written in permanent ink. Options and choices that appear along the way are written in erasable ink. You can change these options as you become aware of them.

What Is Written In The Teacup?

Practices vary among psychics who foretell other people’s futures. Many psychics use tarot cards. Other psychics use angel cards, runes, or a crystal ball for similar purposes. In a traditional teacup reading the client drinks a cup of tea made from tea leaves (not tea bags) and the psychic interprets the tea leaves. Other psychics use ordinary playing cards to access information, while others hold an object, such as a watch, that belongs to the client.

Psychics use these practices to tap into information, assuage clients’ fears for the future, and make them aware of choices. However, none of these objects hold the entire secret to your future. Focusing on any object is only one means of opening your mind and accessing information you want.

Can I Foretell My Own Future?

Learning to use your psychic ability is like learning to ride a bicycle. Anyone can do it. Development groups in spiritualist churches can help you explore your own psychic abilities—if you want to also accept the religious structure that is part of the package. 

Professional mediums and clairvoyants don’t have copyright on psychic skills. Please don’t misunderstand me: I am not taking this ability lightly. I personally experience my psychic abilities as a gift from God and I treat these abilities with respect and awe. I would advise anyone who chooses to develop their own psychic abilities to do the same.

People often consult a psychic when in distress and looking for answers during a life crisis. When you deal with a client, you want to help them and respect their privacy just like you want to have your own privacy respected.

You get born with the natural skill of imagining your future until it materialises, but you get conditioned to ignore this skill. Your parents and teachers encourage you to “accept reality” and use your imagination in a structured way, for example art or design, but discourage you from exploring the unseen. You learn to distrust your intuition. You don’t look at brainwaves, gut feel and bouts of creative thinking too closely. And that is what intuition is—a means of exploring the unknown so that you can live a life that flows smoothly.

We all experience a life crisis at various points in our lives. You lose a friend because of an argument, or lose your job. You have to stand up against a domineering parent, or get a divorce. You have a health crisis or need to deal with a crisis that involves your child. You move house and realize how important stability to you are. Or you value your freedom and then lose someone or something else that is important to you, and that makes you re-think your freedom.

When people have a life crisis, they experience much confusion and anxiety. They suddenly receive lots of intuitive information, and many spiritual nuances and subtle issues create confusion. This catches them unaware and they have no idea what to do with this information or how to trust their intuition and the information they now have access to. 

These experiences seem irrational and inexplicable. They happen during a time when your sense of reality gets turned upside down. As a result you tend to question your own sanity. 

If you want to receive intuitive information, you need to trust your intuition.

• List any thoughts which made you doubt information you received intuitively, e.g. my intuition is not factual enough, it is impossible to speak to dead people, I am not psychic.

You could foretell your own future by means of prayer and meditation. When you pray you ask questions. When you meditate you allow answers to your questions into your consciousness. During meditation you need to focus on clearing your mind (so that you can receive information), rather than formulating questions or any other thoughts.

Of course meditation has a number of other benefits, such as relieving anxiety and tension, and dealing with issues that otherwise result in depression. Meditation also provides “me-time”, a luxury for people that are stressed because of a life crisis.

What If I Don’t Believe In Anything Psychic or Spiritual?

You want a miracle of healing, of relief from all inner pain and confusion which was caused by your life crisis. No matter what the nature of your life crisis is, your ever-present pain at times overwhelms you. No two people have the same experience. I will explain your unique experience and bring you relief if you are willing to open your mind.

If you don’t believe this information, you may want to treat it as fiction and allow me to entertain you. Reading about tarot and chakras may change your life and bring relief even if you have never believed in anything spiritual or occult. And if you still have unchanged beliefs once you have worked through all the material, you have a right to those beliefs. 

You had a reason for choosing to read this book as part of your quest for answers. If you don’t find all your answers in this book, then an interesting journey has just commenced. If you do find answers to all your current questions in this book, then you will experience relief, gratitude and inner peace.

This is a journey into a new and exciting country with different and interesting people. You don’t need to take on their culture and habits, because you may choose to remain a visitor. But you can study them and accept those parts you like.

Do Psychics Always Contact Dead People?

The main focus of many readings channelled through me relates to the trials my client face. Most clients will consult a psychic because they don’t cope with a particular situation in their lives. People who have already passed on often don’t participate in such a reading because they are too busy with their new lives in another dimension.

The deceased person’s personality also plays a role. If, for example, somebody was not helpful while they were alive, they won’t overnight become helpful and wise once they have passed over.

Where a person has gone to another dimension and has something to contribute to a reading for a client, they always identify themselves, if not by name, then at least by displaying some characteristic or using language and words familiar to the client.

However, in my experience quite often deceased people don’t participate in readings. This doesn’t show lack of interest from them or that I am unable to talk to dead people. Once people have passed over, they need time to recover from the death experience and settle into another phase of their own spiritual growth. During this time they are often not available to help those remaining behind.

Do Psychics Always Convey Bad News?

For a medium or psychic, ethics is as important as in any other profession. A psychic must convey a message with respect and skill. A psychic reading makes you as a client aware of your choices. Any professional psychic will always let their client judge a message for themselves. 

Why would you judge your message? You have been taught to decide what is “good” and “bad”, and you would be tempted to do the same with any psychic message. It takes time to learn not to judge anything, including psychic communications. 

A psychic message provides information to you, describing your spiritual space and your future choices. Psychics convey the messages they receive regarding the client’s situation and choices, without judgement. Since you are the expert on your own life, a psychic often confirms what you already know, and provides necessary comfort.

How Can You Trust a Psychic?

Your own intuition will tell you whether to trust a psychic or medium. Watch out for “cold” readings, many questions or blatant emotional blackmail when you consult a psychic.

A true psychic reading contains a clear message with guidance on your current situation. When a psychic needs to ask you many (in fact, any) questions and insists on answers to help “confirm a connection”, the psychic may be doing a “cold” reading at your expense. You have probably heard about so-called “psychics” who interpret body language and facial expressions, and give people evident information for a fee.

A “cold” reading is an interpretation of body language and obvious signs such as a mark on your ring finger where you had removed a wedding ring. Would it be ethical to expect you to pay for it?

When a medium asks you lots of questions, regard that as an indication of a “cold” reading and what I call “fishing for clues”. I only have one question before I start with a psychic reading. I ask the client’s name. I would never do a reading without a client’s permission. When you ask for a reading and give your name I have permission to continue with a reading for you.

Emotional blackmail happens where a psychic promises to relieve your spiritual and emotional burden if you pay additional money for things like “special” candles, rituals in moonlight or anything else which would cost a lot of money. When you ask for a psychic reading, you should pay for that reading and receive information. As soon as anyone asks you to pay more money for “additional services” to relieve your pain, you must take your money and run away, never to return to the “psychic”.

Why Should You Pay For a Psychic’s Service?

There are different reasons why you should pay a psychic for their services. 

You will agree that anyone can learn to sing. However, not everyone has a talent to sing in a way which brings tears of joy to your eyes. When you go to a music concert you are willing to pay to listen to a God-given talent. When a painting stirs your heart, you understand if you want to own it, you must pay for it. An artist also has bills to pay and they earn a living by making people happy with their talents. For similar reasons you should honour a psychic’s talents, especially when you approach them for a reading and receive information you asked for.

However, here is a far more important reason: when you give or receive a psychic reading, you exchange energy. The Universe is balanced. When you receive anything from anyone, you must be able to reciprocate in equal measure. When you receive words of wisdom, upliftment and encouragement, why would you withhold your exchange of energy in the form of money? If you withhold this exchange of energy, in the long run you will forget how to generate your own energy, and become dependent on other people. This stunts your own spiritual growth, and you don’t want that.

How Can Tarot Cards of Death or a Hanged Man be Helpful?

Knowledge is power. What if I tell you the Hanged Man represents inner peace and relief? Would you believe the Death card reflects a blessing no money can buy? If you say “not right now”, read on.

Tarot cards reflect a journey through life. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 will demystify tarot and address some misconceptions. Once you know more about tarot, you will agree with me that there is much more to tarot than a few memorable and scary cards. Many of your questions about having a life crisis when you least expected it will be answered. You will understand why you chose to experience this life crisis.

You will have moments of deep relief and stop feeling like a “victim” for short times. In a manner of speaking, you will stop hugging only one tree and notice a variety of trees in your wood, as well as other interesting plants and animals and birds in your tree.

Even a basic insight into tarot cards will help you on your journey. You can then choose whether to get tarot card readings or not.

What If Your Religion Doesn’t Allow You to Read This Book?

Curiosity killed the cat, the saying goes. But what if this cat risked, became wiser, and then died of natural causes, happy and content? I bet you have done many things in your life because you were curious. Why did you choose your career? Why do you pick specific holiday destinations? You bought this book out of curiosity. 

If you don’t want to believe what you read here, treat it as a work of fiction. You have no need to be afraid of reading fiction, have you? If I am asking too much, thank you for sharing this part of your journey. I respect your decisions and don’t intend converting anyone to a different way of thinking or believing.

This book came to your attention for a reason and obviously touches something in you, but you have free will. Have you become aware of a view of life which brings new knowledge and much relief to you? Or will you find new solace in your religion? Will you receive a new and enriching perspective on your religious beliefs? 

Or maybe you don’t want to discard this book. Maybe you want to give yourself permission to explore and get answers. You can do whatever you choose with this book, and it will be right for you. You can deal with your life crisis however you like.

What Else Can Help You Resolve Emotional and Spiritual Pain?

Everyone explores life in their own way. You will get answers in many different ways and in many places. Be clear on your questions, and open your heart to answers. You may read a quote which touches you deeply, or you may hear a song which brings tears to your eyes. A stranger may give you a friendly hug when you need physical touch. An acquaintance may come to your rescue when you least expect and most need it.

You may ask new questions in your religious exploration, or move away from religion. Anything which relieves your pain is right for you. If this means using alcohol or medication, remember you made that choice. Rather than judge yourself too harshly, ask yourself why you made this choice, and get your answers from within. Above all, Love yourself. We will explore free will in Chapter 2.