I transcribed this reading with one of my teachers in the UK because I did not have a tape recorder on which to play it and I often like to listen to these for a spiritual ‘top-up'. But I didn't feel the need to keep a spiritual journal for another 6 months. Since then I've kept a note of my thoughts, meditations, revelations and channellings on an almost daily basis, especially when the lessons have been hard and the blocks to my progress deep. It's now October 2006 and since these very humble and confused beginnings I've filled 5 Moleskine journals and tracked the most amazing changes.

In October 2004, at the Master of Metaphysics Course, run by the Maitreya Foundation in Brisbane, Australia, I was told that I would make an excellent astrologer. My reply was that although I was interested in it, it was all double Dutch to me. The next day I was also told that I would make an excellent deep trance channel, at which point I burst into tears of disbelief. This news was too much for a very left-brain change management consultant! My Self had a field day with all the fear that exploded at that simple statement. But something had changed. I went home and decided that if this was something I had a talent for I wanted to learn how to do it properly and lose my fear of being so publicly ‘spiritual'. Two weeks ago, at the final, Brotherhood Course, I brought through my Master, Lord Lanto in front of the other students and teachers for the first time and now I am about to embark on my career as a channel, using his wisdom to help individuals and companies change the way they live and work.

This, then, is the story of a very reluctant metaphysician and channel, who is humbled and honoured by this gift, and still scared of the tremendous responsibility that it brings. But I couldn't imagine my life without it and I know I couldn't have worked through my lessons nearly so quickly had I not been able to ask my guides for help whenever I needed. In the year since I began their words of love and wisdom have given me the courage to look at my fears; brought my loved ones so much help and me so much healing and they tell me that they're honoured!

At the time you, the reader, meet me (in April 2004), I have already been taking tentative steps towards my path for more than ten years, but I'm still terrified and doing an excellent impression of Doubting Thomas. Even my best friend doesn't know about any of this. She will do though, in six months' time because a 5-day course on other side of the world will change my life for good.

Congratulations on the progress made on your journey. You have been moving forward steadily and with great courage overcoming many, many obstacles in your determination to achieve your goals. You are starting to wonder if you ever will achieve your goals. You are starting to wonder what are these goals; have I got it wrong; am I right in this path? You are beset from time to time with the self-doubt with which you have been struggling for so very long. However, the times of the self-doubt are now much fewer. There is a knowledge and a certainty which illuminates your being and it is visible to all. So when you are assailed by the self-doubt remember what it is that we say to you here.

Grasp your courage once again and draw it about your person as it were, like a cloak. For you will find that in the months to come that there are many, let us say several, occurrences and opportunities of some significance to you and they are starting to become apparent already. Some of these will require decisions that may be a little tricky for you. For they will challenge your self-confidence - am I good enough; is it safe? - and so on. When these times occur don the mantle which we are giving you now: the mantle of courage, which we have created between us for your support in all aspects of your world: of yourself; of your being and you will find this of considerable assistance for what lies ahead: all of which leads to that which you desire so greatly.

What are my priorities for the next 12 months?

A simply little question! You will tell us what the options are as you see them and we will then sort the in order of priority. It is important for you to be clear as to what you see as the options. It is important at this stage of you journey that you are clear as to what is occurring and what is potentially occurring and then you will be able to prioritise. So, for example, there are aspects to do with your family; there are aspects to do very much with your working; there are aspects to do with your spiritual growth and advancement; there are aspects to do with relationships, there are aspects to do with location. That does not leave much does it? So, you will tell us – as we have spoken – these competing priorities.

As we were speaking which word leapt to you?

Family

Indeed. 'Twas ever so was it not? And there is still yet a little work for you to do here. You have done much and we spoke of these issues in our last conversation, but there is still a little of the tying of the loose ends – of the healing. For there is still some hurt within you relating to this family that you are now discovering and getting to know, coming to terms with and seeing both the sweet and the sour. Embrace the sour with the sweet. That is our advice to you: embrace the sour with the sweet. Accept that both are necessary and right at this time and when you are able to embrace them, then you will not be aware of the sour. You will merely see the family with love and with understanding – with compassion. As a loving, wise parent sees the recalcitrant children.

So this is indeed a priority. It is one that you have started to take but you have backed off for fear of the hurting; of the opening of the Pandora's Box, but it need not be the Pandora's Box. If you are gentle in your approach – for you are gentle - if you are gentle but direct, being ready, being prepared for the sour; bracing yourself; donning the mantle that we have given to you, you will be amazed by how differently they react. It does not need to be all or nothing. To chip, chip, chip will serve you. For as you chip, chip, chip then you will start to find that huge parts of the wall will disintegrate and the light will come through between you. You are the one who will heal this situation. They will not. They will not spontaneously initiate the healing. If it is to be done it comes from you and it must be so as part of your path. So, this is a priority and linked with this is the question of location.

We are not suggesting that you should uproot yourself from where you are, for this place where you are is a place of tranquillity and peace and pleasure for you. But you may find that you will be wishing to spend a little more of the time adjacent to certain members of the family: visits.

So open the door once more and you will find this time it will be different and you will know exactly what to do in order to open this door and all of you to move through this. See yourself as the mother dealing with a difficult family, for this is, in essence, what it is. You will find also, and this is linked in with the issue of the family, that the question of your personal friendships and relationships, separate from your family are of importance and significance at this point. It is timely for you to allow others into your life who will bring you their light and their love, in whatever way the relationship will be.

The opportunities here have been presented and because of your fear of rejection; of humiliation – your belief, let us say, because of your humility- you have not always allowed these to come to fruition; to blossom. But this year of your time there are 3, possibly 4 relationships of a very different nature which will become available and open to you: each one important in their own right for you, which will give you a breadth, a spectrum around you, fulfilling 3 or 4 different needs. And this will bring you much comfort and pleasure, for you still have not felt truly supported on your earth plane. There is still a little of the aspect of the loneliness within you. We wish you to know that when you are ready to fill the void you need merely state your intention and your readiness for this to manifest, and you have not quite done this.

The working is ticking, ticking nicely. It is not the end. It is not the finale of the changes in your working situation. There will be more changes to come but these will occur a little later. For now allow the stability of your working to support you, for you are comfortable. You are not excited but you are comfortable with what you have and it is time now for you to encourage the inner healing – the healing of the heart – to consider yourself rather than that which lies around you in the practical and the pragmatic sense.

When we speak with you we are like a magician, who very cleverly throws all the cards that you have so carefully placed upon the table up in the air. And this is how it should be, so please proceed. We are much enjoying our little chat.

What do I need to do to ensure I have the funds to finish the house?

It is important that you have this place, as you are aware. It may be that the well seems to run dry from time to time. Do not let this undermine you for when the well runs a little dry it means that it is time for you to stop momentarily, to devote your activities in other directions; with other priorities and then, when you are ready and the time is ready, then the funds will flow. It may take a little longer than you are anticipating, however you will achieve what you intend. This will occur.

Honour the cycles that are occurring for you. See all that transpires as being perfect in the moment. When, for example. The well runs a little dry then say ‘Well, this is the time for a little pause. What do I do now?' and you will know immediately what to do now. See the ebb and the flow within your life, for the currents are very strong for you.

Is it the right time for Bertie (my cat) to come back?

You wish to know whether this one is ready to return to you? Indeed, it is timely. So we would encourage you to go forth; to ask for this one to be given back to you. This one has healed. This one is like a little kitten with his youthfulness and his joie de vivre, but this one retains the wisdom and the love that you recognised so well. So you are ready. All that is necessary for you is to rejoice in the healing of the one that was the Bertie and to state to Spirit that you are ready to welcome this one back, and that is all that you need to do. Then this one will return.

It may not be tomorrow, but within 6 months, indeed 3 months, this one will be presented to you as a young cat. The appearance will be different, so do not expect the look to be the same but the eyes will be the same and there will be an instant recognition. So be alert. Be alert. Watch and wait and someone may say to you ‘There is a stray cat', or you will see one that seems to have no-one, or you will hear of a kitten that is requiring a home. Be alert to the message and the message will come and this one will be yours, back to you.

We would suggest, however, that you give this one a name that is unique to itself and you will know the name, but you may wish to use the other name as perhaps a little middle name, or adjunct. But let this one have its own identity and you will work together as you worked with this one. And this one will be of great, great joy to you as assistance in bringing light and laughter. For this one will have great humour and you will laugh very much.

Is there anything I need to know about my healing work? I would like to do more Reiki.

And what is preventing you? There is nothing to prevent you. Again, if you declare your intention to Spirit and ask for them to send you those whom you can heal they will do so. However, you do not at this time speak with many people of what you do and we would suggest you are not shy on this matter: that you speak more openly and say to those who you meet from time to time ‘Did you know that I am a Reiki healer? If I may be of assistance please let me know.'

You may offer this as a gift, for someone will give you a little assistance in one way or another and you will say ‘May I give you some healing in return?' Someone says they have a headache – ‘let me assist you'. So if you're a little more open about your gifts, for it is a true gift that you have, then you will find that they will come. They will come and you will be able to do much good. We would suggest also that when your new friend arrives, that you give this one the Reiki on a daily basis – your feline friend – for this will strengthen the bond between you.

This one may be a little frisky to begin with, so you then give the Reiki like the distance healing, where he or she - for it may be a she – will be in the chair, you will be in the other chair and you just look at this one as you give the distance healing. This one will in time come to ask for the healing with the hands, when this one is a little less frisky.

So, we have much enjoyed this little conversation. We have given you much to ponder upon haven't we! See where the cards fall that we have pushed into the air. See them face up. See them all as great opportunities, for this is a golden year for you – where there is, in particular, love that is coming to you, if you allow it, and which is so very well deserved.

‘Til we meet again we send you, as always, our love; our very many blessings.