Is Being Psychic a Sin?

Is being psychic a sin? I’ve been looking at this fear for a long time. Then I received a question from a woman in my “Ask Terri” section this week that said, “I’m working on listening to my inner voice, but sometimes I’m not sure if it’s ‘ego’ or my ‘higher self.’ How can I be sure?” This blog may not have the exact answer she is looking for, but her question definitely got my juices flowing about being psychic. Let me explain why.

First off, let’s describe what the ego is and then the higher self. The ego is that part of us that says we “must do this” or we “need to do that” to get ahead, to have success or to receive God’s rewards. It’s the part that is competitive, feels lack, and often feels alone and unloved. The ego says “we are not enough” or “we need to do it right” so others will approve of us. Think of the good girl rules in your life. Your ego is the ringmaster with the whip who has you jumping through hoops to keep you from breaking those rules.

The higher self, on the other hand, is your connection to God. Some call this Source or the Universe. No matter what, it is love. For this blog, I’m going to call the higher self, God, because when we get out of the way with our minds and tune into our higher selves, we tap into God’s guidance and love.

The reason we struggle with knowing which is ego and which is God is because we are taught from a very young age to shut down our intuition. Your intuition is the direct channel to receiving God’s messages.

Intution

During childhood, parents, teachers and adult figures play the authorities in our lives. Instead of asking us what we think or feel, or encouraging us to find the answers within, the adults, instead, tell us that they know best. Thus, we shut down to trusting our knowingness and developing our intuition.

We all have the ability to be intuitive. It is our sixth sense. But unlike the five senses that we are taught about in school, the sixth sense is ignored, and is often taught to be evil. This is one of the key reasons I had a hard time trusting my intuition.

I was raised to believe that anything closely related to being intuitive was of the devil. “Seeing” was wrong. To even enquire about expanding my intuition was considered evil. So I stayed in my head. But being in my head and following the rules made me miserable! I constantly questioned myself as to whether I was doing the right thing or doing it wrong.

I often prayed for guidance, but never felt I could receive an answer. This confusion kept me in emotional chaos and often filled my life with remorse and guilt.

You can only imagine how I felt when I entered into a school for energetic healing and intuition. In other words, to become a clairvoyant, which means, “to see clearly,” otherwise known as being psychic. (FYI: Clairaudience is another form of intuition/psychic abilities, which means, “clear hearing,” and so is clairsentience, which means, “clear feeling.”) Upon entering the healing school, I had people tell me, “I’m afraid you’re working with the devil.” In the beginning, these remarks made me angry. The first time someone said this to me, my whole body trembled uncontrollably. I knew there was a gift, however, and went within to clean up the old beliefs that said I was evil for being psychic.

I am so glad I did! With every fear that raised it’s ugly head and with every release of the rules in my mind, I not only got clearer with my intuition, but also created a deeper connection to God than I’d ever known. That’s because not only did I pray for guidance, but was also open to receive messages via my intuition.

Now, most of the time, I trust and allow God to guide me because I know my intuition is fairly open. Some days it’s not. But for the most part, I stay pretty tapped in because I have worked diligently to clean up the old rules in my mind that said it wasn’t okay to be psychic.

I’ll never forget the day I walked into my home and Pastor Joel Osteen was on TV. I heard him say, “And Isaiah opened up his sixth sense of faith to see the band of angels.”

“Holy crap!” was my response. “Joel is talking about intuition.”

Why have we been taught that being intuitive/psychic is evil? Dictionary.com defines intuition as “direct perception of truth, fact, etc., independent of any reasoning process,” and defines being psychic as “sensitive to influences or forces of a nonphysical or supernatural nature.” Well, to me, they are one and the same. God is truth, omnipresent and supernatural. Why wouldn’t we all want to be sensitive to the influences of God?

I’m not a theologian in any way, but I do know that in the Bible, it says in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11, that there are many gifts. Here are the verses taken from the New International Version (NIV).

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

I don’t believe being psychic is a sin. I believe it is a tremendous gift! We are all intuitive in one way or another. I know that those of us who choose to expand our intuition are simply using one of these gifts. Whether it’s for seeing, hearing, or feeling, every person on this planet has some form of the sixth sense. We just have to get rid of the programming that tells us we are wrong for tapping into it.

I have a friend whose dad is a preacher. She said her dad used to feel that being “psychic” was evil, but now feels that it is all a matter of intention. I feel the same. Are we using these gifts to tap into God so that we can be an expression of love and service? Or are we doing it to harm another person?

So, to get back to the original question from one of our “Ask Terri” readers about how to know when it’s your ego or your higher self, my answer is to go within and clean up your past beliefs about tapping into your intuition and knowingness. That means to look at who you’ve made the authority of your life. Is it a parent’s voice in your mind that makes you question yourself? Or is it programming that says it is evil to tap in to your intuitive abilities? As you clean up these beliefs, you will gain clarity as to whether it’s your higher self or your ego speaking to you. Just remember, your ego tells you to “act” or “perform” and to seek others’ approval.  Your higher self, on the other hand, is all about connecting to God. And, expanding your intuition is the pathway there.

I’d love to hear your comments about being intuitive/psychic below! How do you feel about this? Have you shut down your sixth sense due to subconscious rules in your mind? What scares you most about saying yes to your intuitive gifts?

And if you have any questions regarding another concern, I want to hear from you. Go to the “Ask Terri” section on the Home page and fill in the drop down form. Who knows, your question may be the topic for my next blog!

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Responses

  1. I have been psychic all my life but suppressed it. Now at almost. 60, I am allowing my gifts to open. It did causeme to decide to leave my job in a mainline church. Not because I thought I was wrong, but because it made some folks very nervous to be around me. I am still serving God, just in a different way. I am excited about learning more about my cClair audience and clairsentiece. I know there is much healing needed on this planet, so I hope to become a spiritual counsellor someday.

    1. Beckie, I am so happy to hear that you are allowing your gifts to open up. What a gift you’re being by saying yes to the way you were created! Woo hoo!

  2. Thank you so much Terri all of your articles, blogs, facebook posts…I have yet to read one that I don’t find inspirational! This blog, on intuition and being a psychic, really hit home. Especially when you mentioned the following: “I often prayed for guidance, but never felt I could receive an answer. This confusion kept me in emotional chaos and often filled my life with remorse and guilt.” As a self-proclaimed “recovering control freak” and “over-analytical junky” I pray non-stop for guidance, peace & comfort. I long to hear, see and/or feel God speak to me (albeit I do see him working in my life daily…for which I am grateful!). My ego has a tendency to “scream”, though, and consequently get in the way of receiving any intuition. Thus, your article was so refreshing & enlightening! Thank you…

    1. Joetta, I totally get the “control freak” bit. I was that way, too. That’s the whole reason I began at the the healing school. I had a therapist tell me I was wound really tightly and encouraged me to get into meditation. The class I chose was at the school I mentioned in the article which was for intuitive counseling and energetic healing. My whole world opened up by giving myself permission to explore my intuitive gifts. I am so grateful I was guided along this path. It literally saved my life and my family’s, too. As I opened my intuition and deepened my connection to God, I no longer felt a need to control my hubby or kids. Whew! That was a relief!!!! Thanks for writing and sharing your heart! I so appreciate you! Hugs!

  3. Hi, Terri,

    This posting could not have come at a better time for me and I deeply thank you for it. I have been psychic as long as I can remember and wrote about it in my first novel “Chasing the Wind.” After a two-year episode for foreboding visions and dreams (a number of people were going to die) I was lead to a parapsychologist who helped me unravel the plethora of premonitions and we prevented a tragedy.

    During that odyssey I learned that being psychic is “a blessing and a burden,” and I did a lot or soul-searching to reconcile my sixth sense abilities to my deep-seeded Christian beliefs.

    It is my dream now that “Chasing the Wind” will be made into a movie so that I can share with others what I learned. If we were all more sensitive to each other and God, we could change the world.

    1. Margie, I couldn’t agree more with your statement, “If we were all more sensitive to each other and God, we could change the world.” I believe if every one of us tapped into our intuition and opened that connection to receive God’s blessing and miracles, there literally would no longer be competition, greed and power struggles. When you feel that kind of connection, you KNOW that you are loved and provided for. I so hope your book is made into a movie. Please keep us posted!

  4. Hi Terri,
    I have felt guided by my ancestors to use my intuition more and consider ways to create work with this gift. I currently work in home healthcare and sometimes have opportunities to use it currently, tho I know there is much more I have to share. I recently got insight around a coworkers illness. I shared my insights with her and she was grateful and it prompted her to request further medical tests. There are still some symptoms she is having and it seems some important factors are still being overlooked. I have stayed connected with her and get updates. I feell invested in a positive outcome for her. I am also a bit uncertain as to when it is time to let go and allow the situation to unfold. It seems to be a fine line with intuition/psychic abilities as to when to share/convey info. And be connected and/or stay neutral. This is where I question my intention to cultivate these gifts for more than casual use. I enjoy connection with others and intend to be helpful in an empowered way. Any words of wisdom to assist Me on this path? Thanks!

    1. Hey, Janet!

      I’m so glad you wrote. What powerful service work you’re doing. Thank you!

      When my late husband, Steve, was diagnosed with cancer, my first instinct was to want to jump in and try to help him heal. I was in shock, however, when I looked at his spirit first to ask him how I might be of service and saw that he had his hand up like a stop sign. In my mind I heard him say, “Stay back. This is my journey.” I knew instinctively that Steve was on this journey for a much bigger reason than to be sick. He needed to go through it for some spiritual reason. So, I decided to simply hold a high vibration of love in our home. I made sure to take care of myself and be the most joyful person I could be for both Steve and our kids. It was the best gift I could give him. He ended up beating the cancer. You would have never known he was sick. Ironically, a year-and-a-half later, Steve died instantly of a massive heart attack. I was at peace, however, for I saw him grow so much closer to God during his illness and the time following. I knew I had been of the greatest service by holding a space of love for him and our kids.

      Janet, the reason I share this story is to offer a suggestion to you for those times when you come to that place of drawing the line as to whether to stay connected to the person or be neutral. All you have to do is imagine seeing the person’s spirit and ask what he or she needs. It really is that simple. I use this tool for everything. Whether it’s with one of my kids, my hubby, a parent, a friend, or a co-worker, I go within and talk to their spirits. I simply get grounded and ask for God to show me the truth. I often tend to see the person’s spirit as a child of about five years old, especially when it comes to helping someone emotionally. That way I know I’m talking to the essence of that person. With Steve, however, I saw him as an adult.

      I share a wonderful story in my book, “The Enlightened Mom,” of how I used this tool to look at Steve’s energy when he was about to turn 50. He said he didn’t want a party, but my gut said to look at it intuitively. I did and saw that he most definitely wanted to celebrate. So I went to him and asked him why he told me “no.” He explained that he really did want a party but just didn’t want to put the effort forward. I told him I was going to handle it all so he said yes. I am so glad I did! I rented over a 100 foot yacht, had a casino on board, a dj and, most importantly, made a movie of his life. He cried like a baby. Just three years later he got sick. I am so grateful I had this intuitive tool to go within and see what was the true gift I could give him!

      I hope this tool helps you to continue to share your amazing gift and give you some peace of mind. Thank you for asking! I’m so glad I could help!

    2. In response to Janet’s posting — I have struggled with this issue most of my life: When do we say something (intervene) and when do we stand aside and say/do nothing. I worked on this in my novel (based on a true story) and each situation has to be evaluated on its own merit, and, as Terri says so beautifully, to ask the spirit what it wants/needs. I have found this to be a very reliable tool of discernment.

  5. Hi Terri,
    Wow – I’m so thankful for the time you took in addressing my question, and have loved reading these fantastic responses by both readers and yourself! How funny that you quoted Joel Osteen – I had just finished reading my newsletter from him before reading your post!
    Fortunately, I don’t have any authority figure’s voice in my head telling me intuition is a sin. My Mother was a Lutheran minister, and she was always pretty positive. I know that sin is just missing the mark, so it seems like when the ego is telling us what to do (out of fear), that’s more of a sin than listening to your inner voice. From Joel Osteen, I’ve learned that if we have negative, fearful thoughts, or hear condemnation from other people in our lives, we can decide not to accept them. We can affirm our belief in what we’d like to happen, or how we want things to turn out.
    I love your suggestion to go within and connect with our loved ones and their spirit. Not only does this idea fill my heart with love, it’s really a great way to help us navigate our relationships. The fact that you did that with your former husband and then were able to bring up a dialogue about what you discovered means that perhaps you created an energetic pathway in your relationship with him that was not there before. I plan to try your suggestion for issues that come up with people in my life. Thank you so much for your love, encouragement, and positive vibes!

    1. You all can’t imagine how much it means to me to read your comments and hear the positive words about being psychic — and using our inborn intuition to connect with God. I, too, am a huge Joel O’steen fan.

      My Mother believed in me and because of my “silent voice” (that’s what I call my intuition) she was not on a plane that crashed and killed 123 people. I was only 17 at the time and the episode sent me into a deep depression that lasted for several years.

      It is the life & death situations that have caused me the greatest concern all these years. I wish more people had the compassion and understanding that you all have. Thank you, Terri, for bringing this important topic into a discussion forum. Bless you!!!

      1. Wow, Margie! What a story! Thank you so much for sharing this. Such a powerful testimonial as to why each of us should nurture this God-given gift of intuition.

    2. Ginger, I am so thankful you posted the question to me that inspired this blog. It is something that we all need to be talking about. I truly believe our world would be a much happier place if we each cultivated our sixth sense. And I couldn’t agree more that it is more of a sin to act out of fear than to listen to our intuition. I see listening as putting God first. After all, it is God who gives us this gift.

  6. I look back over my life and clearly remember instances of knowing, and how I was discouraged from trusting that knowing. I mourn all the lost years (over 30!) of keeping my intuition shut down. How much sharper could it be by now and how would my life have gone differently if I’d been encouraged instead of discouraged? Don’t mean to sound bitter, because I’m not. Just kind of sad and wondering where to go from here. Is it like a muscle that atrophies if you don’t use it? And I do agree with you 100% Terri: the outcome depends on your intent. If you connect to God and love, you’re on the right path and evil cannot be the result. Everything works for the good of those who love God and have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) — in other words it’s all good if you are doing what He made you to do, right? Thanks so much for doing what you were called to do — it’s such a blessing for the rest of us who are still trying to find their way!

    1. Hey, Lisa! I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for sharing your heart. I want to encourage you, however, to let go of regret. I believe that whatever path we’ve been on is Divine. Ask what the gift is in all of those years of being discouraged. Maybe it happened so you can help others stop denying their intuition. I used to have regret about mistakes I made with my kids. Prior to stepping onto the path of The Enlightened Mom and using all of the intuitive tools I use and teach, I was the typical mom who was angry, tired and exhausted. But I changed. My daughter told me recently that she is so glad my shift happened the way it did because she got to witness it. She said, from my example, she knows it’s ok to change. What a gift! So, instead of beating yourself up about the past, give yourself permission to shift into your gifts. Just by saying, “I give myself permission to open up to my Divine intuition,” you will begin to see your life change. You asked where to go from here. For me, Grounding in God’s Light and running energy every day helps keep my intuition clear. It’s all about cleaning out the cobwebs! If you need a tool to clear out your energy, my CD, Message Sent, can be found here: https://terribritt.com/message-sent-2/. Grounding in God’s Light is the first audio and is what I use daily to stay clear. If you go to that page, you can listen to the samples and see if it rings true for you. I hope that helps! Hugs! ~Terri

      1. Thank you so much for your encouragement, Terri. You’re right: I have to know that everything has unfolded the way it should. I do ground in God’s light every morning during meditation, but I think you are correct about the cobwebs, too. Thanks for the link. I am going to check it out now. I so appreciate you, Terri. You thanked me for sharing my heart, but thank you for first sharing yours. Your story was what gave me the courage to move forward from the “stuck” place I was and try to live the life I am supposed to.

    2. Lisa, You don’t have to look at “all the lost years” of your intuition as an atrophied muscle. Why don’t you look at your intuition as a fine piece of silver that got tarnished sitting in the back of the cupboard. Just take it out, thrilled to have found it again, and start to polish it. You can do this by meditating, connecting with your higher self and God (in other words, get ego out of the way).

      When a challenging situation appears, simply ask yourself for guidance and discernment. I always ask myself if I can talk to another person before I charge ahead. As painful as it may be, you have detach yourself from the outcome. Romans 8:28 is one of my touchstones in this regard.

      I’ll be glad to share with you an experience I had years ago when I knew something drastic was going to happen to someone but I could not bring myself to say anything. It’s a long story, though, and I don’t want to bore you with it. Let me know. Blessings to you and Terri, and all the others who are contributing to this forum. I feel so blessed to be connected to you all.

      1. Hi Margie, thank you so much for redefining that for me — I love the analogy of the tarnished silver. Yes, I am thrilled to have found it again and will start polishing it. I’m sure your story would not be boring and I’m curious to hear it, if you wouldn’t mind sharing. Thank you, Margie for your encouraging words and for being a part of the blessing.

  7. Thank You so much Terri for Your comprehensive, loving response. Soooo helpful! I feel so blessed to bo connected to You all and would love to attend a tele class in intuition development if There is a possibility of that sometime in the future. Maestro conference is great and it allows for breakout sessions for chat time with class members so we may all learn, share and connect. Something yo consider? Love yo You all ss we support each other in this very important heart opening way. Xo Janet

    1. Janet, it’s so funny that I am reading this message from you right now. I have been thinking about doing a class on this. I need to meditate on it and see exactly what it looks like. Will keep you all posted! Thanks for the suggestion!

  8. Thanks Terri for the lovely blog. l love it and l am at place where l need to learn to clear the clatter within me and have a relationship with my father God. Will love to connect and go to a school where l can learn that . Thanks Selina

    1. Hey, Selina! So glad you’re here! I would like to encourage you to check out The Enlightened Mom Abundance program. It doesn’t matter if you’re a mom or not because the program is not going to teach you how to parent kids. It teaches you how to tap into the Divine Mother inside of you and align yourself with God. It’s a step-by-step program. You will feel connected and loved like never before. All of the tools I teach in it are the ones I use daily and my kids are all grown. I really believe you don’t have to go take a class, but can do this program on your own time and at a fraction of the cost. Here’s the link: https://terribritt.com/the-enlightened-mom-abundance-program/. I hope you’ll check it out! Hugs!

  9. I am know I am late but I am glad you posted this. I am currently 15 and am becoming spiritually awake using my gifts. This post made me happy knowing I am not going against God’s will. Thank you

    1. Hey, Katie! I’m so glad you wrote. I struggled for a long time believing that being intuitive was a sin. But as I have cleared out others’ opinions and fears, I am more clear than ever that we are ALL intuitive. I believe that’s how people saw the angels in the Bible, or had experiences with God, or seeing Jesus after he had been crucified. I believe they saw with their third eye. Some of us see. Other’s feel, hear or have a knowingness. For me, I’m so glad I’m clairvoyant. It’s such a blessing to be able to see. Don’t ever shut down your gifts. God gave them to you to use. Hugs to you, Katie! ~Terri

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