Julie Tallard Johnson - Teen Psychic. Exploring Your Intuitive Spiritual Powers

This book is dedicated to the memory of my generous father, Robert Henry Johnson, and to Colleen Brenzy, for passing on the teachings.

Dear reader, you and I may never meet, but I hope my words and teachings will empower you as the words of so many unmet teachers have empowered mePema Chdrn, Chgyam Trungpa, John Sanford, Lama Surya Das, Black Elk, and Carolyn Myss.

I remain always grateful to the Great Spirit who creates through us all, to the trees that give of their wood, and to my Spirit Guides who kept me safe through my teen years.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to first acknowledge all the teens who shared their stories and who gave this book its lifethank you. I also wish to express my thanks to the 2003 Seniors Rites of Passage group in Spring Green, Wisconsin; to a most amazing and inspiring high school teacher, Bob Weinswig; and to Hailey Roessler, whose words and wisdom you will find in this book.

If it werent for the beautiful and inspiring places where I am fortunate enough to write and journey, this book would only be an idea. So, thank you to my most wonderful husband for building a home where inspiration is the only possibility. Thanks also to Todd and Karin Miller for having the vision to open up the General Store in Spring Green, where many gather to swap stories (special thanks to David W. Rozelle for your swap). And always to my daughter, Lydia, I owe my heartfelt thanks for her patience and spirit.

I also want to thank the publishing folks who made this book a reality: Ehud Sperling, for putting Bindu Books out into the world; my editor, Vickie Trihy (you are awesome!), for her skill and attention; Jon Graham, who continues to speak up for the creative spirit; Jeanie Levitan, for her formative eye; Mary Anne Hurhula, for her intriguing book design; Peri Champine for the inviting cover; and Jess Matthews and Doris Troy for hunting down and eliminating technical errors. And much appreciation to Donna Dressen, teen mom extraor-dinaire, who created much of the art on these pages.

For long years I have kept this beauty within me.
It has been my life.
It is sacred.
I give it now that coming generations may know the truth...

DIN, SANDOVALS PRAYER,
TRANSLATED BY AILEEN OBRYAN

A Bird does not sing because it has an answerit singsbecause it has a song.

CHINESE PROVERB

Foreword

Letter from a Teen Psychic

C ommunication has always been difficult for me. I often felt loud, annoying, and high-strung around adults. I was a gawky, uncoordinated girl with huge glasses, alienated from the bulk of my class. So, just after the start of sixth grade, I retreated into myself.

As a teenager, I felt susceptible to peer pressure and I was overly concerned as to how others saw me. I began to let others run away with my life, losing sight of my own dreams and ideas.

My inability to communicate my internal energy and thoughts frustrated the people around me. A teacher at my high school helped me realize how damaging this was to my relationships and to myself. As a result of this realization I began a search I call Looking for Myself. My intention was to determine what was true for me, to figure out where I was and what I was going to do. I read many books, painted many pictures, and filled up many notebooks. I meditated. I attended a Senior Rites of Passage discussion group. I spent a great deal of time trying to determine what it was I was looking for, and what I wanted.

Through Julies book, the one you are about to read, I began the process of communicating with myself. Being in touch with myself allows me to realize what Im feeling and thinkingwhat I want. Being conscious of my own thoughts and energy lightens my body and soul; I am less confused and pulled off track by the intentions of others. This consciousness allows me, as it will allow you, to embrace your unique journey and path.

For me, thoughts and feelings are best conveyed through my writing and through living my own life according to the individual truth that is right for me. This book is about helping you find more of that truth for yourself. You may find many helpful tools in this book, as I haveall of which have led me to a stronger sense of self and purpose.

My hope for you is that this book will help you find your own truths. Your truths will nurture your existence and feed your mind, body, and soul. Your truths will enable you to cultivate a fulfilling life.

The journey is never done. I hope we all succeed at moving swiftly and surely toward our dreams as we begin our independent lives. As I am writing this letter, I am preparing to head out West to begin my physical journey of exploration, and then go on to college to learn journalism. I take with me many internal tools from this book. With every step I am a little closer to my true destinationmyself.

HAILEY ROESSLER

Introduction

Trusting What You Feel

I am going to share with you a secret. A family secret. Its one of those secrets no one has to tell you to keepyou just know not to speak about it. I am beginning with a family secret (you may have one like it) because often where there are secrets, there are treasures to be found. For me, the treasure was my intuition. Theres a good chance that much of your intuitive power lies hidden inside you, like a treasure waiting to be discovered.

Indeed, the most trusted friend we will ever know lives in our own skin.

J. T. GARRETT AND MICHAEL TLANUSTA GARRETT, CHEROKEE NATION, AUTHORS OF THECHEROKEEFULLCIRCLE

I knew this secret for a long time, but I didnt fully understand what I knew until my early twenties. When I was seven years old I began to have this sense, this feeling, that someone was missing in our family. Every time we gathered for our occasional family dinner or for a holiday I would be very aware of this missing presence. I would look around me at the dinner table, asking myself, Who is missing? and Where is this feeling coming from? Years later, when I began to keep a journal, I would write these experiences down. Even though this perception was persistent, I never spoke about it to anyone.

Where in our culture are we taught how to respond to such feelings? Not in most schools, churches, or homes. However, there was a time when people were taught to value, trust, and develop these feelings. There was a timeand I believe it is returningwhen young people entering their teens were given special instruction to develop their intuitive and spiritual powers. They were taught to understand their bodies not only as muscle, blood, and bone, but also as energy and containers of the spirit. They learned how to use their own intuitive experiences to reveal the truth about themselves and their world. Understanding these mystical truths was an essential part of the journey to adulthood in ancient cultures.

This ability to access inner wisdom is still valued and practiced in some areas of the world. As Arnold Mindell, author of