Step 1: Find a place to do the Reading
Find a location where you will not be disturbed for 15 to 20 minutes. It does not need to be a private space – just one where you will not be required to move or interact with others during the Reading.
Step 2: Gather the few materials you will need for the Reading
Gather the following items:
- Name of the individual for whom you are reading
- Sacred text you will be reading from, such as The American Book of the Dead by E.J. Gold
- Photograph of the individual for whom you are reading (if available)
The name and photograph are used in establishing contact with the Voyager – the individual the Reading is directed to.
Step 3: Compose yourself
Sit comfortably and attentively in the space.
Relax the body – especially the facial mask. The relaxation of the facial muscles will bring about relaxation of the whole body. Take a few cleansing breaths. A cleansing breath can be performed by inhaling deeply through the nostrils, then exhaling (letting it go) through the mouth.
Say aloud: “I wish for this effort to be used for the benefit of all beings everywhere.”
Step 4: Establish contact with the Voyager
Begin to establish contact with the Voyager by looking at the photograph.
Say the following aloud: “This Reading is addressed to the being of [name of individual here].”
(If you don’t have a photograph, then you may use the name of the Voyager written on a slip of paper.)
Step 5: Deliver the Reading
Begin by reading aloud the Obligatory Reader’s Invocation.
Now read the selected text aloud to the Voyager.
If you are not sure which text to select, the Clear Light Reading is a good choice for most occasions.
Step 6: Close the Reading Space
When the Reading is complete, declare: “This completes the reading of [name of text] addressed to the being of [name of Voyager].”
Place the photograph and/or the name card in an envelope (or perhaps a piece of aluminum foil) to be put away until the next Reading.
Clear away any other items you may have used for the Reading.
Declare: “I wish for the results of this reading to be used for the benefit of all beings everywhere.”
If you are keeping a journal or log of the Readings, now would be a good time to record your experience.
Additional Notes On Performing a Reading
We are often asked by new readers, “How do I know if I am doing the Readings correctly?”
If you are looking for a yardstick to gauge your Readings, consider the following points. They can be used as milestones to gauge your reading effectiveness.
Do you actually care that the other being hears you?
Drawing on analogies: Is it as if you are delivering instructions on a bad cell phone connection, or over shortwave radio, or that you are at a place where you will only have a short time to deliver a vital instruction in the midst of noise and distraction, i.e., a ticket booth at a train station, or the like?
Do you read with intention?
In this context, intention could be considered a kind of force. Are you pushing the Reading through the ethers toward the Voyager, or are you just letting the words fall from your lips? Reading with intention is taking the emotional connection that you have with the Voyager and strengthening it. Emotion may get your Reading started, but voluntary intention will power it.
Do you enunciate each word?
Each word is a universe. Deliver each word with the understanding that each word is an important contribution to the overall Reading. Delivering “most” of the words is not enough. All of the words individually and collectively are important.
Are you reading at an even, measured pace?
Caring enough to do the Reading without hurrying or slurring the words together is a good start. And delivering the Reading without ……… long ……… drawn ………….. out ……………. bizarre ………. pauses …… is good, too.
Do you sit quietly without fidgeting?
There are many aspects of fidgeting that make it a negative in the Reading Space. It is an energy drain. It is a distraction. It is an indication of a lack of attentiveness and focus. We could go on, but you get the idea.
Is your facial mask relaxed?
Maintaining a relaxed facial mask throughout the Reading is an important tool to keep you on track.
Can you carve out a time slot to do the Readings without hurrying?
It is important to free yourself from the normal demands of the day so that you may deliver the Reading without hurrying to get to the next task.
Do you have a sense of connection with the Voyager?
Simply, do you feel a connection with the individual you are reading for?
