Behind the Veil:A Look at the Phenomenon of Channeling
Interview with Lyssa Royal Holt by Kazumi Hoshina
Channeling is the process of receiving information or inspiration from realms beyond our physical reality. There are many forms of channeling such as vocal trance channeling and divination (using tools such as tarot or runes). Even the simplest form of creativity can be considered channeling such as music composition, dance and movement, and artistic endeavors. The specific source of channeled inspiration is not nearly as significant as the essence of the gift brought through to this reality.
From where does channeling come? Most people have heard of the process of channeling spirit guides, angels, extraterrestrials and ascended masters. But perhaps the most important aspect of channeling is each person's ability to connect with his or her own unique spiritual energy -- that of the Higher Self. Without that ability, the process of connecting with spirit guides may seem two-dimensional or shallow. As we develop our relationship with our own Higher Selves (thus committing to the process of our personal growth) the universe comes alive with consciousness that helps us learn about the wonders of God's universe.
This article is taken from an interview with well known channel Lyssa Royal on the subject of channeling and its connection with the Higher Self. Many subjects are discussed but an overall theme is explored -- that the channeling process can only be as clear as the channel. To achieve clarity a channel must commit herself to a journey of intense personal growth and discovery.
It is important to remember that each channel is unique. Just like musical styles, a channel and his/her guide learn to create a symphony of ideas and experiences for the listener. Every channel has his or her own style. If you are seeking a channel, it is suggested that you participate in several styles of channeling until you find one that inspires joy and awakening in your heart.
The following interview was conducted by Lyssa's Japanese interpreter, Ms. Kazumi Hoshina.
Q: How did you become a channel, and what kind of training did you go through? Please be specific about your training.
It seems like the circumstances in my life guided me to learn the skills that I needed to learn to become a channel long before I even knew what channeling was. In 1979 I had a UFO sighting with my family in New Hampshire. Though I had been interested in psychic phenomenon before that experience, the UFO sighting really accelerated my interest in paranormal subjects. I was in college at the time. Shortly after that I was studying hypnosis in college and learned to place myself in an altered state of consciousness, mostly for stress management.
Those early situations (the UFO sighting and learning to put myself in an altered state of consciousness) helped to lay the foundation for what happened later.
In 1984 I began to see a channel named Darryl Anka who channels Bashar. The channelings by Bashar had a very profound impact in my life. During that time I had a dream in which an entity materialized and touched all of my chakras. The entity said to me, "You will be a channel." That experience both scared and excited me. I immediately went to Bashar and asked him what this was all about and what I could do to develop my channeling.
Bashar actually recommended a channeling class that he knew of in Los Angeles that was just beginning. I called the teacher and it turned out that there was only one opening left. The class began a month or two after my initial phone call. During the interim I felt like I wanted to continue to learn about channeling before the class began.
An exciting process began happening. I began to feel the presence of other entities and a lot of energy around me. I would go into that self-hypnotic state that I had taught myself years before and the spirit guides began teaching me the early stages of channeling. They would blend their energy with mine, move my hands and head, and they would exercise my vocal chords so I could feel what it was like to speak with a new energy in my vocal chords. That really got me ready for the class.
Q: So the channeling began even before you took the class?
That is true, yes. I was channeling already before I began the class, but I felt that I needed some type of formal guidance. It is a very frightening experience to be opening to something like channeling without assistance.
I entered the class in January 1985 and I studied with five other individuals once a week with the teacher for about 4-5 hours. Then we met independently without the teacher once or twice per week for about 4 hours. The class itself taught a wide range of approaches to channeling -- all of which are very important aspects of the channeling experience.
One area that was stressed was the area of Personal Growth, which is what I focus on now when I teach channeling. This aspect is important because it is what allows a channel to be clear. If a channel processes his/her own fears, issues, and blockages, then they become clear as a person and thus will become clear as a channel. (A channel who is not clear, loving, and nonjudgmental in life will not be a clear, loving, and nonjudgmental channel.)
We also did a lot of work having to do with the subconscious. There were a lot of guided meditations that were for the purpose of releasing blocked energy that resides in the subconscious. This energy is expressed through an archetypal language understood mostly by the subconscious and unconscious aspects of ourselves. This includes the areas of fear, love, judgment, and the integration of polarity (whether it be male/female or dark/light).
There were many lessons having to do with the blending of spiritual energy with ourselves in human form and the expression of that energy through speech, movement, or music (depending upon the individual channel's talents). A lot of focus was placed on the Higher Self and how everything we need can be accessed within us without even having to work with entities outside of ourselves.
We also did basic work having to do with the development of our psychic abilities and the stimulation of our chakra (energy center) energy. We worked on divination using tools such as tarot cards, runes, etc. Our lessons were comprised of a whole mixture of teachings designed to shape us into flexible and clear channels.
Q: So this was some serious study.
Yes. Even late in the year we accelerated our class time and spent even more time practicing. We were very dedicated.
Q: Eventually you began to work with the entities Germane and Sasha. Before they appeared, what other entities were guiding you? Were they with you only to help you learn to channel?
The very first entities I began channeling (who came through before the class began) were a mixture. The first one I remember was a Chinese philosopher named Kwan. The entity Ra came through also. There were quite a few. I don't remember them all. The first entity that stayed with me and helped me develop as a channel called herself Raydia. I channeled her for three years. She was the entity that my Los Angeles clientele knew the most. I became known first for channeling Raydia. The whole time I lived in Los Angeles and I was channeling publicly, I was channeling Raydia, along with several others.
Q: What was Raydia like?
She is a female version of the guide I work with now named Germane. Just before I left Los Angeles [in 1988] and moved to Arizona she did her last channeling. She said to the group, "You will never see me in this form again." I had no idea what that meant. Eventually she integrated herself into Germane. Like Germane, she was a collective consciousness, but had a strong affiliation with the star Arcturus. Germane has many different aspects to him, but Raydia was very heart-centered and strongly affiliated with Arcturus.
I also channeled an entity called "the One" at that time, who had a strong connection to the energy being worshipped by Ahkenaton in his attempt to introduce monotheism in Egypt.
Q: You mentioned an entity named "Ra". Was that the same entity mentioned by the Egyptians?
It is not the same entity as the one discussed in the later dynasties of Egypt. The original Ra evolved into something else later in the mind of the later Egyptians. Ra was another collective.
Once I moved to Arizona, everything changed. Surprisingly, I began to channel Merlin. He was very enigmatic and kept telling us that he was just a temporary guide and that he was getting me prepared for a new frequency. About six months later, Germane appeared. He was very hard to channel at first, and had a bothersome accent. I begged him to work with me so that the accent could be dropped. He said the accent had something to do with the way his energy interfaced with my speech centers. It took a few years, but eventually the accent was lessened. Now it is just slightly perceptible. For people who have listened to my tapes since 1989, they will notice that the accent diminishes after about 4 years. This is indeed a long process!
Q: Could you tell us how contemporary channeling developed in America?
In the late 1800s the spiritualist movement in both Europe and America increased. The interest in mediumship strengthened. Back then, it mostly focused on channeling the entities who had died -- deceased spirits who return to give information. In the 1950s there was a surge of channeling from supposed extraterrestrial sources. One channel named George Van Tassel was a real pioneer in terms of ET channeling. At that time, it was very simplistic channeling but quite profound for the listeners.
I would say that the main influence for many of today's contemporary channels would have to be Jane Roberts who channeled Seth. She began channeling in the 1960s but her material wasn't well known until the 70s and then it experienced another surge in the 1980s. Her material is very intellectual and deals with the nature of reality as well as our connection with God, reincarnation, etc. It comes from a very well-balanced and well-rounded perspective. I feel she is the pioneer of modern day channeling in America.
In the 1980s another channel influenced channeling called J.Z. Knight who channels Ramtha. Unfortunately, her channeling style is very dramatic and there has been controversy around her. So, when channeling became popular in the 1980s and the media got a hold of it, J.Z. Knight was the one everyone focused on. The media portrayed her in a very bad light which influenced the way the world perceived channeling. Shirley Maclaine wrote about her as well. Channeling was distorted by the media immensely in the 1980s. Even J.Z. Knight's material was distorted by the media.
Another channel that influenced us in the 1980s was Kevin Ryerson who was also popularized by Shirley Maclaine. But, he did not get as much negative press as J.Z. Knight.
Right now, everyone involved in metaphysics or self-help pretty much knows what channeling is (but their true understanding of it is most likely inaccurate). Therapists are now using channeling in their practices. However, I still find that unless someone has experienced channeling firsthand and have had a good experience, they still do not understand what it is and judge it from a place of being misinformed.
Q: Isn't Edgar Cayce well known as well? Is he considered a channel also?
I forgot to mention him! I'm sorry about that. Edgar Cayce influenced American channeling a bit, but he is extremely unique. His material could be corroborated and often was validated, whether it was prophecy or medical remedies. His channeling wasn't known necessarily for philosophy and spirituality as it was for practical, down-to-earth information. He has done a wonderful service for channeling.
Q: Is there a hierarchy among the entities who are channeled?
You will get a different answer to this question depending upon who you ask. I will preface this by saying that this is my opinion, but I do believe it is true. For those of us in the physical plane, reality is linear. We always need to put things in a hierarchy in order to understand them. This is even reflected in our corporate structure. From the spiritual realms, the entities tell me that there is no hierarchy. The entities all view each other as equal, but perhaps with different areas of expertise. So the most common labels for the different types of entities channeled in America would be the following: Extraterrestrials, Angels, Ascended Masters, Spirit Guides who have lived lives on Earth and who have passed on, Collective Group Consciousness, Light Beings, Nature Spirits, etc. I have found that channels who are very good and clear do not channel about the concept of hierarchy. Some channels who are not as clear or developed might tend to focus on the idea of a hierarchy or on forms of separation. Each entity has their area of expertise that is reflected in the type of information that they bring through.
Q: Channeling has existed for centuries but has taken on different styles. Why do you think that the popularity of channeling has risen in conjunction with the growth of the New Age movement?
I think there are several reasons. One has to do with species evolution. If you look at human history there is always a resurgence of paranormal interest at the end of a millennium. This is both positive and negative. The negative is that there is a resurgence in apocalyptic prophecy. The positive is that there is a spiritual revival in one way or another. The boom of the New Age movement at the end of the 20th century falls in line with historical trends.
Also, we are living in an increasingly technological world that is leading us away from nature and our connection to the universe. I think people are trying to fill a need to feel connected again. Connection is our natural state of existence! People are looking for any activity or philosophy that can make them feel that connection. Channeling is providing a service, but it is certainly not the only way for people to make that connection.
Q: Do you think also that this resurgence in channeling is connected to the transition that many people feel we are now experiencing?
I think it is connected with the transition. If what is being channeled is true--that the vibration or energy of the planet is accelerating and that we are transforming ourselves in response to this acceleration--then it seems only natural that we will make use of the brain's capacity more than we have in the past.
There is now some research about what happens in the brain to one who is channeling. However, this research is not complete. Channeling is indeed connected to this transformation because the transformation is causing us to want to reach out and expand our potential, especially in the areas of thought and consciousness. Channeling is one way to do that.
Q: It is amazing that no one is doing serious research into channeling.
I think there has been some research done, especially at UCLA. The research that I am familiar with was done by Ph.D.s. One doctor studied the psychological changes in those who are developing as channels. She wrote a dissertation on her findings. [The late Dr. Margo Chandley.] There are also brain wave studies in which channels have been hooked up to EEG machines. [These are not released to the public yet.] When channels go into the channeling state and begin channeling an entity, all the brain waves peak. For instance, when we are awake in normal life, only the beta brain waves peak. It seems that channeling uses more of the brain because all the brain waves peak. The brain becomes more active. This is exciting because it may confirm the idea that, in fact, channeling is expanding the human potential.
Does this mean that everyone needs to learn to channel to expand their brain capacity? No, I don't think so. If the theories about the morphogenetic field are correct, there will only need to be a certain number of channels to reach critical mass. At critical mass, the brain evolution will be passed to the majority of the species, thus creating an evolutionary leap.
Q: From your experience as a channel since 1985, do you find any similarity in the messages that are being channeled?
There is definitely a similarity in the messages. It seems like each channel has their own area of expertise, but the overall message is the same. These basic messages include the following ideas:
" We are all the creators of our own realities, and reality is created through our thoughts and emotions.
" We are part of a galactic family of which we are not yet totally conscious. Beings of immense diversity have visited and continue to visit us whether in physical form (such as UFOs) or on the spiritual levels (such as angels).
" There is a transformation happening that called different names by different teachers. This is a real, tangible event
" We all have our connection to God within us and need not worship something external to us. We are all a part of God and need no one outside of ourselves to serve as a "cosmic messenger" -- no priest, no church, no guru, and certainly no trance channel!
Q: You often mention that channeling is a process of cooperation between the spirit guides and the channel. What do you mean by that? What determines the quality of a channel?
In old school mediumship, the mediums were just vehicles for the spirit's messages. Often the medium would enter a sleep state and not be present for the relaying of the message. When the entity would leave, the channel would collapse from exhaustion. They would then have to recharge themselves. It was a process of separation between a channel's life and their spiritual work.
In present day, channeling is much more a cooperative effort between the channels and the entities. Ultimately, I think this is healthier and a lot better for the growth of the channel. Most channels now enter a semiconscious state and don't surrender control to the entity. The entity can't do anything that is against the moral code of the channel. The channel enters a receptive state and allows the entity to do the work. While the channeling happens, the channel benefits also. They don't just go to sleep. They benefit and grow and the energy channeled through somehow also transforms the channel on very deep levels.
The channel is in partnership with the entity, so we as channels can say, "Your energy is too strong. Can you please give me less?" The channel can make requests of the entity and the entity is more than willing to comply. This is also extremely important because as we see ourselves as equals to the channeled entities and work in partnership with them, the idea of separation is decreased.
Now for the second part of your question. The aspects that determine the quality of a channel might be surprising to some people. One of the incorrect belief systems out there is that all "good" channels must be unconscious while channeling so the mind does not get in the way. However, I see far too many unconscious channels who are unclear and their channeled information is judgmental and, in some ways, hateful. What seems to determine the quality of a channel is how much personal processing they have done in their life. Have they worked on their fear and resistance, and their fear of victimization? Have they learned to relinquish judgment? If they have done work to become self-empowered, can become humble, and are committed to their personal growth (even if they have to see parts of themselves that they don't want to see) then they can make very good, clear channels.
It doesn't matter whether a channel is unconscious, semiconscious, or conscious. The state of the channel's heart, mind, and emotions is of utmost importance.