When most people think of a psychic, they probably imagine an exotic-looking woman peering into a crystal ball. She wears giant hoop earrings and a long, flowing dress. In a mysterious foreign accent, she reveals what she sees in your future �?usually for a steep fee. Yet, you can be your own psychic, by developing your own natural power to see the future.

The word, "clairvoyance," means "clear seeing." In other words, a clairvoyant clearly sees the truth about the past, present, and future. You've probably experienced clairvoyance yourself, and may not have even known it. Common clairvoyant instances include:

�?You have a vivid dream which later comes true.

�?You lose your keys or wallet. Then, a picture of the place where you left the item flashes into your mind.

�?As you're driving, you see a mental image of the car ahead of you turning left. Two minutes later, the car turns left exactly as you'd mentally imaged.

�?You suddenly see an image of a person in your mind's eye. Later that day, you receive a call or a letter from that person.

These experiences of clairvoyance are quite normal and often very useful. Even more, you can learn how to increase your clairvoyant power so that it becomes reliable tool for everyday living.

We enhance and improve clairvoyance, like any behavior, with learning and practice. If you follow the seven steps listed below and practice them for seven days in a row, you'll experience more consistent and reliable clairvoyant images.

STEP 1: RELEASE THE FEAR OF SEEING THE FUTURE. My psychic development students usually recall being clairvoyant when they were children. In fact, studies show that young people have the highest rates of clairvoyance of any age group.

However, children often "turn off" their clairvoyance because of fear. This fear could come from a thoughtless remark of adults who say the child's invisible friend is his imagination (when, in truth, the child is seeing angels and spirit guides). Sometimes, parents tell their children that psychic insights are evil. Or, the child may see a frightening image of her parent's impending divorce, or some other painful future event. She then shuts her clairvoyant vision, because she doesn't want to see her future.

Whatever the source of fear, we must release this emotion to regain our full clairvoyant power. One of the best ways to rid yourself of fear-blocks is through saying an affirmative phrase. Sit in a comfortable position and take two or three very deep and slow breaths. As you breathe in and out, say these words either silently or aloud: "I am willing to release all fear of seeing my future."

STEP 2: FORMULATE YOUR QUESTION IN A SPECIFIC WAY. Accurate clairvoyant answers require accurately-stated questions. Carefully word your questions so you'll receive an answer that truly meets your needs. The best way is to be honest with yourself about your "bottom line" true desires.

For example, you might ask, "Will I meet someone at the dance tonight?" and then see a clairvoyant image of yourself talking with a new person who isn't your romantic type. A better question would be, "Will I meet my next romantic partner at the dance tonight?" Your question can have as many details as you like.

STEP 3: BREATHE AND CONCENTRATE UPON YOUR "THIRD EYE." After asking your question, take three deep and slow breaths. Put your focus on the area between your two eyes. This is an energy center, known as a "chakra," which activates clairvoyance. This chakra area contains a "third eye," which supplies psychic pictures in answer to your questions.

As you breathe, look for and notice an oval shape resting horizontally between your two eyes. Notice whether this "third eye" has its eyelid closed, open, or partially open. If the eyelid is closed or partially closed, ask it to open. Reaffirm your willingness to release the fear of seeing psychically. Once the eye is open, you will be rewarded with a blissful feeling of warm love, as you are reunited with a long-lost part of yourself.

STEP 4: NOTICE ANY PICTURES THAT ENTER YOUR MIND. Clairvoyant images generally come in one of four ways: as a single picture inside your mind's eye; as a single picture that you see outside your mind's eye; as a movie image inside your head; or a movie image outside your head. The pictures can be black and white or full-color. Sometimes, they may appear as a painting or a cartoon.

STEP 5: INCREASE THE BRIGHTNESS AND SIZE OF THE IMAGES. Simply think this phrase, "Pictures, I ask that you grow in size and strength, NOW!" With your powerful intention and decision, the clairvoyant pictures will instantly become larger, brighter, and bolder. Bigger and more colorful pictures are easier to interpret. If this step seems to give you trouble, repeat Step 1 above.

STEP 6: ASK FOR INTERPRETATION AND CLARIFICATION. You need to know the meaning of your clairvoyant images, to interpret them and put them to good use. If you are unsure of what your psychic pictures are trying to tell you, ask either mentally or aloud, "What do these pictures mean?" You will receive an answer as a feeling, thought, or sound. If the answer is unclear, ask that it be repeated or delivered to you in a different way. The spirit world wants to help you receive psychic information, and they will work with you until you clearly understand the answers to your questions.

STEP 7: TRUST IN WHAT YOU SEE. This last step is crucial, because if you discount your clairvoyant images or write them off as mere imagination, they are lost opportunities. You'll gain more confidence in your psychic abilities if you keep a record of your clairvoyant images. Be sure to notate each psychic image that comes true. In this way, you'll learn how reliable your clairvoyance truly is. You'll also understand your personal symbology, as each person's clairvoyant psyche uses a unique set of pictures to symbolize different meanings.

by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.  © 1998