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Ann Théato, International Psychic Medium and Spiritual Tutor, investigates psychic development, mediumship techniques, and paranormal science, so that you can come to understand your own innate psychic ability and expand your knowledge, whilst learning to develop a curious mind.

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Ann: Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to my very talented guest Shelley Youell, who is a gifted medium and spirit artist from the UK. Shelley holds a DSNU certificate from the Spiritualists’ National Union, demonstrating her world class expertise in speaking, demonstrating, and teaching within the spiritual realm. And her unique journey has taken her from the hugely creative world of hairdressing to becoming a gifted artist whose creations are guided by spirit. Shelley’s work has touched many lives and today she is here to share with you her wealth of experience in mediumship and creativity. Shelley, welcome to Psychic Matters.

Shelley: Thank you very much for inviting me, Ann, it’s a pleasure. It’s always a pleasure to share knowledge.

Ann: Lovely. It’s great to have you here, Shelley. Thank you for making time. I know you are particularly super, super busy. So, we’re thrilled that you’ve been able to find a slot in your diary to speak to us today. And I was wondering, Shelley, if we could We’re talking about, it’s quite interesting, um, from hairdresser to spirit artist. So quite an interesting journey there. So, I wonder if you could speak a little bit about your development and how it began.

Shelley: Well, it’s interesting you say that because, you know, with hairdressing, you are still of service, aren’t you, to people and you listen to people and, uh, sometimes try to help them with problems.  And so, it’s actually that being of service is what we do within our, our spiritual work has actually been there all the way along within my hairdressing as well. And I’ve always known that there is an unseen world, even as a child, uh, I never understood it. I never actually, as I got older in life, believed that I was a medium. But I always knew and I’d had different experiences throughout my life and it’s, it become something where, you know, you go for sit ins and then you, you go to see demonstrations and, and I’d be just keep dipping in and out of it, late when I got an adult obviously and then I decided to be brave enough to, to go on like workshops and, and different things in my area or I travelled a little bit where I could and, and again, i, I still come, I come away amazed by them, but never really thought I was a medium. That was my biggest stumbling block. but I realized within my hairdressing, sometimes when I’ll be talking with clients that I’d come out with things and I think, where did that, you know, and it, surprised me sometimes because they’re quite wise words, or, you know, and just, I was unaware that I was being influenced by the spirit world. So, so like I say, this is, this journey has been very interesting because I also would know with people, you know, as we do be a sensitive, I would know if somebody wasn’t right or not health wise, of course, I mean, if there was not in a emotionally not happy, shall we say. So, I’d always sort of intuitively know with my clients and, and that’s where it really started. And I just pursued it on and off just for really, just curiosity, but it becomes such a calling that I couldn’t sure, I couldn’t leave it alone. And that’s what led me to the Arthur Findlay College. And that was a catalyst of change within my development because then I realised after a week there, which was an amazing week, that I went, I actually am a medium. So, all these years, and I’ve been playing with cards and, you know, tarot and all of that. But I never truly believed that I had the ability until that time. And that’s when I really did start to embrace my journey, um, development.

Ann: it’s very interesting that isn’t it, how you can intuitively pick up on people’s emotional body, etc. Go back before that, Shelley, if you would, in hindsight, now looking back at your childhood, were there indications that perhaps you had a mediumistic talent there.

Shelley: Yes, there is now, but at the time, obviously, you know, I was, I was brought up in a non-spiritualist family. I’m not saying they didn’t believe, but, you know, the word spiritualists or mediums. Um, so yeah, it was, it was very much there. You know, I spent a lot of time with, uh, imaginary friends, which obviously I know a lot of those now were not imaginary. And, you know, always, would look at adults as well and come, why can’t they see what I see? Or I’d pick up situations, didn’t, again, didn’t understand because you’re naive at age. So yeah, it goes right back when I look. And they helped me immensely as a child and also the spirit world, I mean, and, you know, as, through teens, which is a very difficult time. But yeah, they’ve always been there for me. And like I said, you look back.

Ann: Yeah.

Shelley: It all makes sense.

Ann: And what about your parents and your, or I don’t know if you had parents, not everyone has, but what about the people that you grew up around? Were they supportive of you?

Shelley: Yeah. Um, with, well, my parents are actually both in the spirit world now, bless them. Um, they didn’t understand. So, because like I said, they’re not in, they weren’t, Spiritualists. They, they didn’t, you know, if I mentioned anything about, uh, ghosts as in poor little spirits, you know, they would talk with me, but they didn’t understand it themselves to be able to support me in that sense. But as parents, they supported me. But as I got older, um, with my dad, it was a bit of a taboo subject because he feared it, shall we say, for a time there. He didn’t understand. He supported me but didn’t understand it. So, if I talked about it, I’d get this glazed look like, I don’t know what she’s talking about, you know. But from the spirit world, especially. Since they’ve been passed, they support me extremely, a lot. They work with me, which is wonderful. But, yeah, they didn’t understand. That’s what it was. They supported me where they could.

Ann: Oh, that’s beautiful. Good for them. That’s really nice that you had that environment to grow up in. Um, for those listening, when you speak of them supporting you now from the spirit world, people listening might be wondering how, how can they support you? How does that work? Can you speak a little bit about that?

Shelley: Yeah, certainly. Well, I often feel them around. I mean, we can’t read for ourselves, obviously, but we, I feel their presence and their guidance. You know, there’s times that they, they bring me, um, information, especially sort of at night when you’re, or in the mornings before you, before you go to sleep, when you’re waking, because your conscious mind is so subdued, they can influence you more. So, through times of where I’ve had a challenging situation, I’ve very much had their guidance, in a simple way, sometimes even through music, I can hear certain music and the lyrics will help me understand what the situation is, if that makes sense. But also, because with me being a tutor and working with students, they’ve come through that way as well, through messages for me, with guidance. And of course, the students know nothing of my life. so yes. So, they often come in to let me know.

Ann: Oh, beautiful. Very nice. Lovely, lovely. so then let’s, let’s go back to your life as we follow the story of Shelley Youell along. Uh, you working hard as a hairdresser. I also know that you’re a single parent. Is that correct?

Shelley: That’s correct.

Ann: Is that right?

Shelley: Yeah.

Ann: Congratulations. Single parenting, all single parents out there. Big cheer for them. So, you’ve got a, you’ve got a child and you’re hairdressing, how have you made time to go to workshops? How have you found that ability to, and I’m asking this question because I also was a single parent of two and I couldn’t even get away from them for a second to go to any workshops and I had no money so I wasn’t able. How did you manage to make that transition?

Shelley: It was very difficult, because obviously my daughter, was, is, is, should I say, is my world and always will be, but she’s flown the nest now, and she’s very happy with her partner. So now, I, I don’t have the responsibility as I did, but she came first and foremost, and of course, as your soul, being a single mum and having to provide work, money, children, they come first. And she always did. Um, it wasn’t until she become teenager that, I started to have a little bit more, I suppose, freedom. and I did have the support of my parents and my stepparents that if I could do a workshop that they would, they would childmind, if you like, they would love to have the day with it, to be honest. But again, financially, it wasn’t something that I did all the time because I also couldn’t afford it. But I would have a little pot. to save, save in. And I always used to have a college fund when I started going to the college. So, for birthdays and Christmas, people asking family, what would you like? And I’ll say a donation to my college fund, please. And I’d have a tin and I would save. So, throughout the year, so I could go to the college. but again, like I say, my daughter then started to get to an age that, you know, I could, leave her because she was a young adult then. But it’s not easy, but then, life experiences shape us to who we are, don’t they? And, you know, uh, we have to live this life, physical life, to learn our experiences, to be able to utilize that within our spiritual work, if that makes sense.

Ann: Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And I love the fact that you had a college fund. I think that’s fantastic because it is expensive going to the Arthur Findlay College, especially if you’re flying in from abroad but what I used to do when people said, oh, have you ever been to Arthur Findlay College and I’d be like play my boohoo story. No boohoo. Got no money. Can’t get away from the children. And then I started demonstrating mediumship as one of my platform accreditation scheme. And then every time somebody gave me a spiritualist church, gave me my expenses for travel, I put that in a pot and soon there was enough to go to my first course. And that’s how I funded it as well. I also had a pot of money and spirit provide. Once you set your, once I paid my 100 deposit, they somehow made the rest arrive. Just enough to pay for the course.

Shelley: That’s just the same with me, yeah.

Ann: Yeah, it’s amazing. So, you go to the Arthur Findlay College and you have a lovely time and you study and so on and so on. How then have you become a tutor? Because it’s not an easy, it’s not an easy route, is it?

Shelley: No, I’ve learned so much though. The journey, yeah, at times it’s not been easy, I have to say, but the self-discovery and the knowledge I’ve learned along the way is priceless. But no, I certainly didn’t step into that college expecting to come out one day being a tutor. Um, I, like I said to you earlier, it was more about curiosity, and this calling that I needed to find out about myself as regards to am I, have I got this ability or not. So, I, of course, like I said, I started it, when I really took it on board at the college. The, the second year I went to the college, I decided to become a member of the Spiritualists’ National Union. I didn’t understand much about it then, to be honest, and it’s actually been a progression, an unexpected one, really, because then I had to learn studies, uh, into the introduction to spiritualism to become a member. Um, I think things have slightly changed now with that, but that was good, and and it led from there. Then like you with the platform accreditation, I thought, oh, I’ll do that because I’ve always, I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so if I’m gonna do something, I wanna do it well. But I have to say to all those perfectionists out there, don’t let it become the detriment of you, because that has, um, hindered me sometimes and I’ve learned that. But it’s good to want to do well. So that’s where I started on the education, you know, with the platform accreditation and doing the services. I never even dreamt to be a platform medium, to be honest, because I’m actually quite shy. So, believe it or not, I’ve had to work hard on that. so, for me to be on a church platform or demonstration was the last thing that I would ever dream I would do. And, but of course, gradually, spirits, encouragement, I started to do that. I worked with my platform skills, presentation skills and so on. And it’s a slow progression. Then I went from obviously doing the platform accreditation and I was encouraged from tutors at the college to, to go for the next qualification, which is the certificate of recognition. So, the CSNU, so I thought, right, that’s as far as I’m going. So, I went to that. And of course, you have to do the home studies, which were good. They’re good. I recommend anybody do them because it really gives you a good foundation and knowledge, as I’m sure you know yourself, doing the education. so then, yes, I did the demonstrate, CSNU in speaking and demonstrating. And then, then everybody was encouraging to go towards the tutor scheme. Well, you see, because again, I’m, I’m like quite shy and I’ve always thought I’m, I’m not good enough. So, I battled with that. And so, in a way, it’s been a big push. I’ve been pushed in a way from tutors and the spirit world. Encouraged, should I say, not pushed. because I’ve held myself back. And then, then it’s progressed. I did the tutor, tutor scheme. And I was invited not CSNUT, sorry, going backwards. I did that in teaching. Then I was invited on the tutor access week to do the tutor scheme and it’s gone from there. And then that led then to the diplomas as well, because we need to be a diploma in, diploma holder in speak, uh, in our discipline, which mine’s demonstrating and that of teaching.

So, and here I am.

Ann: Congratulations, Shelley, because it just shows huge dedication to the spirit world and huge dedication to your own understanding of your own soul, I think. And it’s interesting what you say about being shy about being a teacher, because I had the great good fortune of attending one of your classes. I don’t know if you remember me, but, last year there was an open week at the Arthur Findlay College and I’d never been to the open week before and I just went along for one day, but it does unfold over several days, doesn’t it, Shelly? Yeah, and there’s for those of you that are listening, I’ll ask Shelly to speak about it in a moment, the open week. Um, but from my experience was I had a gap in my, uh, little timetable that they give you. And there was this lady called Shelly Youell and she was offering a workshop in creativity within mediumship. And I thought, ooh, anything with creativity floats my boat. So, I thought, I’ll go in here and see what this chick is all about. And I went in. And it was one of the most welcoming experiences I would say that I’ve had. It was beautiful. We went in, there were so many people in the room, lots of people, but you made everybody, Shelley, feel really welcome as they came in. You asked people to come up and demonstrate, give a link from the spirit world, people that maybe had never done it before and you really stood by them and helped them understand the process and, and how to unfold their mediumship. And people were blown away by what they were able to deliver from the spirit world. Um, and I just thought that was really beautiful. And. One of the experiences I had was you said, um, come on, we’ll do one more exercise. And nobody put their hand up and you asked again, and nobody put their hand up. And eventually I put my hand up. I thought, okay, well, I’ll give it a whirl and. Yeah, the thing you asked me to do was reach for a musical reference from the spirit world. Ask them to speak to you through music. And you mentioned that earlier in the interview, which is why I’m remembering it now. And I remember coming up with this contact with this grandmother who played the spoons and I managed to place it with somebody in the in the audience and then I could hear the same grandmother playing the piano waltzing Matilda. I remember the link very well because it, you know, you remember the ones that really touch you in some way and, but she was playing it very sad and I said she has links with Australia, but it’s a sad link and the lady or gentleman I was working with said yes, this person is this lady’s son and he went to Australia and unfortunately he’s recently passed away or something along those lines. but all of that as, because you stood next to me while I was doing that link and I gave the first thing, oh yeah, I’ve got spoons. And you said, okay, come on then reach for something else. What else? What else? And you kept standing with me saying, what else is there? What else can you hear? And it was your encouragement that made me expand out to get all of that information. And I want to thank you for that. Uh, and just say, what a wonderful teacher I thought you were.

Shelley: Well, thank you very much. Do you know that means so much to me? Because that’s why I have pursued, really, to become a tutor, because, you know, it’s not always easy, and it does take courage to stand up and do a link, because we have this fear of being wrong, and, you know, and I know that when I nurture people. That brings out the best in them. You know, if somebody feels comfortable, supported, and I suppose safe to be vulnerable, shall we say. Not safe because you’re in any danger, of course, but that, then you see them shine, and you see their ability. That makes my heart sing. To help others, to have, uh, um, that opportunity to be a part of somebody’s journey. And to see them light up when they get it right, or epiphany moments, it’s, it’s truly magical. It really is. So, you know, so I’m very passionate about it. helping others, hence why I’m a tutor, but yeah. And to see that, because often, like I said, with me, being always thinking, am I good enough? I’ve always had that and a lot of self-doubt and, you know, lack of confidence, as many do. You know, I’d be concerned if somebody wasn’t, didn’t have those confident wobbles now and again. But, you know, it’s whether you allow the confidence, um, the self-doubt to get the better of you. And I like to create environments where people remove that self-doubt. We can build confidence up. It’s so important. Yeah. I do remember you, yes.

Ann: Oh, bless you. Thank you. Yeah, it was a great class. I really enjoyed that experience. It stayed with me through my mediumship as I work now thinking Shelley said, reach for more. I shall. So, it’s funny, isn’t it? The, the impact you can have on someone without really knowing it. Um, yeah, we can have a real impact. Even those that are listening that aren’t mediums or psychics, your words can really impact people, so we must use them carefully, folks. Um, Shelley, let’s go to creativity within mediumship. Where, where does that come from within you? Were you always great at art? Because I know that you do, you use drawing and illustration in your work as well. So, speak a little bit about that if you would.

Shelley: Yeah, I wouldn’t say that I’m a conventional artist at all. At school, um, you know, if I focused, I could do art. So, I knew that I had that artistic ability to some degree, but I never properly pursued it. I didn’t touch actual art, really, for many years, because obviously work, bringing my daughter up, but I’d encourage it with her that helped me bring it back into my life a bit more and I’ve always had that, that creativity, you know, within the creative mind, but then I always say that creativity is in everybody to be fair. And, yeah, it’s interesting because as I said to you, I pursued the mediumship first, the, my development in that aspect, but then somehow, I knew that I had to come into it. And I actually had an assessment, a spiritual assessment with one of the tutors at the college, uh, well, both years, but the second year. And she mentioned about you wanting to do art or you’re working with art because I was, but I didn’t know how the two would come together. And she said, you’ll bring the two together. And I never understood. at the time, but I’d be like drawing and, and I thought, well, I don’t know what I’m doing here. And then that become, where I started exploring with different art materials. I’ve never worked with acrylic paint before, for example. So, this one time. I’d had a bit of a testy conversation on the phone with a family member that left me a little bit frustrated, as we do, and my daughter was at her dad’s, so I was home alone, if you will, and I thought, I need to express these emotions, so I, ah, so my daughter’s got some paints, so I got this canvas board out and these acrylic paints, and I just used the colours and painted, nothing in particular. Just started to paint and I realized I felt so much better because I’d expressed my feelings. onto the paper, onto the canvas, and I’ve still got, uh, prints of that particular, uh, piece of artwork because I called it the Emotional Flame. So then, I never knew then that there’s art therapy, colour therapy, you know, because it’s not something I’d looked into, but then I started to look into that, and then I started playing around again. We got more paints, and this one day, I kept getting it, put the brush down. So, I kept getting this from the spirit world, put the brush down. So, like a teenager, I put the brush down and go, right then, what are we going to do then? Because I think, you know, how can I paint without, a spatula or brush. Um, and then I sat calmly and just sat in the power and presence of the spirit. And I work with my fingers and I, I’m not, I didn’t go into a trance or they didn’t control me, but I was inspired and I recommend anybody does it. if you don’t want to get my mucky fingers, I’d wear gloves, but it’s very liberating and freeing because again, cause my mind, I’m very, such a perfectionist, I want every detail to be to right, but Spirit wanted to move me beyond that, to be free, to be inspired by them. And I started as I would do this artwork, it would be quite raw, but I started to see imagery coming through as realise doing. If that makes sense, and it went, and it started from there, and then I started to very often do angels, which I do sometimes now, but it’s progressed to all different things now, and I never ever thought that I would do, spirit portraits, because again, I don’t think I’m good enough, but again, with gentle nudge and encouragement of the spirit world, I do do spirit art demonstrations now as well. So, so that’s, yeah, so it changes all the time, all the time.

Ann: Oh, that’s amazing. That’s so beautiful that you’ve moved on to that. So, some people are listening may not know what spirit art demonstration is and maybe you could speak about that too for those people.

Shelley: Of course. So, what it is, is when we do a demonstration, obviously like we do, we give communication, evidential information to validate who the spirit person is. But while I’m doing that, I’m actually drawing on paper. I often use charcoals at the moment, or pastels because it’s quicker than paints. And, and I start drawing a portrait of the spirit person and the interesting thing sometimes you’ll be speaking say for example the spirit communicator could be mum but I could be drawing dad so that’s quite interesting but I’m aware of that as I’m working so you may get you know the two communications but what the beauty of it is it never ceases to amaze me any of it to be honest. That not only do they get validation, their loved one lives on and still loves them, they actually get a portrait to take home too. And I always strive, again, my perfectionism, I keep wanting to be like a Picasso, I want to do it like a photographic image, but obviously we’ve got 10 minutes to get it onto paper and give the communication and the evidence. So, I’m always striving to be as more detailed as I go. But it progresses, like all our development does, but it always amazes me because I go, do you recognize them? And I always think they’re going to go, no, but they do. and I think I just trust and I don’t see spirit. If anybody’s wondering about that, Some, some spirit artists see the spirit person and they draw them, I don’t. I just am aware of them and they guide me as well. I just start to move the material across the paper and then I start to see them start to form and I bring them out onto the paper. But I know why I don’t see them is because of my perfection head. Because I’ll be too busy trying to get it so right. Whereas, if I can’t see them, I just work with them. And they’ll tell me, you know, like I’ve got red lipstick on, they’ll go, I like me red lipstick. So, you know, I put that on. Or my eyes are blue. Or, you know, different characteristics about them. So, yeah. But it’s interesting, because I am very clever, but not when I do spirit art. Not about their faces anyway.

Ann: Yeah. And clairvoyance is where you can clearly see in your mind’s eye. Uh, Hmm. That’s interesting, isn’t it? How your clairvoyance is withheld from you while you’re doing your spirit art. I went to a one-day workshop at the Arthur Findlay College once upon a time to do spirit portraiture, to learn how to do it. And it was brilliant day. I had a lovely time. I can’t remember the teacher. I’m sorry. Um, if I remember, I’ll put it in the show notes, everybody. Um, but it was. The lady, uh, the teacher afterwards encouraged us, well, next time you do a one to one sitting with somebody, attempt your spirit art at the same time. And I thought, how lovely. But when it actually came to it, Shelley, I just thought, oh my goodness, what if I draw some wonky old picture with one eye big and one eye small and tiny hands and they go, what on earth is this? I’d be so embarrassed. What do you think I should do? Should I give it a go and just say I’m trying to give some kind of impression here of what I’ve got?

Shelley: Yeah, you see, I often, what I’d say to people to encourage them with, whether it’s portraits, or whether it’s visionary art, because I love that as well, and using lots of colour. Um, you know, create space. in your diary, where you can sit and just explore. Sit with the spirit world and with your art materials and just play and practice. And with the influence of the spirit world. You know, the more you practice, like you do with your development, with your mediumship, the more you’ll refine it. So that way you don’t have the pressures and the expectations of somebody sitting in front of you. You know if you want to then with good friends or friends of friends that will be non-judgmental, that are willing to allow you to practice on them, then maybe then do it, but don’t have them in front of you. Because as soon as you have somebody in front of you, it puts you under pressure. And then you’re more in your mind then, questioning, I’m, oh, this is going to not work. and you’re going to be battling that. And rather than just say, give yourself the time and space to do it. And then maybe type up a reading or, you know, have a meeting with them then afterwards with the artwork in front of you that you’ve already done. And then link in with the spirit and then give the information. That’s why I often encourage, because I do get students doing the art and the meeting together, and some prefer it that way, or some prefer to do the artwork first. So, um, because they find they can’t Do the two things, at once, but everybody’s different, aren’t they? So, but I always think build your confidence up with it first. Build your relationship up with your spirit team that have, that are helping you with the art and, and explore. You’ll know when it’s time to step out and say, okay, I feel ready. Choose, choose people that, that are not going to judge you on it, that are quite happy for you to practice on, and then it will progress. Because I think sometimes, we are so eager that we run before we can walk. Yes, and sometimes then that creates stumbling blocks or potholes in the path, shall we say, and then that knocks our confidence or we have to go back and sort of slow down and start again. So, I always encourage, you know, just give yourself that time. I mean, I don’t have the time like I used to. But if I had a day where I was going to do art, I’d have to make sure all my practical jobs were done or everything like that had to be done. And then, because you wouldn’t, that would be me for hours doing art. And I mean, obviously my daughter would be at work. So, it’d be like, you know, it’s like create that space. So just me, spirit world and my art and, and, and linking in and, and unfold him. Yeah. Well, I say just. Just bring out the inner child. Give yourself that time. The artwork’s not for anybody else to judge at that stage. It’s, it’s for you and for the spirit world. And like I said, you’ll build it up gradually.

Ann: You spoke of visionary art. Say a little more about that. Is that different to portraiture? What is visionary art?

Shelley: Visionary is, you know, where you’re doing, a scene, shall we say, for example. I mean, I’ve got some in front of me, actually, but I don’t think you’ll see them very well on screen. You know, where I link in with the spirit world. I mean, for example, one lady, a medium and friend, lives up in Scotland and she asked me to do a series of artwork. So what I do I’d sit with in the power of spirit and I linked in and I would be inspired and I can’t remember all of them because it’s a while ago this example but you know I did a scene where there was a sunset and trees and and it was and then I didn’t know I haven’t been to her home so I wouldn’t know but actually that was the vision view she had from our home. Um, but I would also then, there’s so many ways you can work with it. But there was another one I did for her and she says that’s what I see when I meditate, when I sit in the power. but I’ve done it where you’ve done, like spirit communication, evidential. So, where I’ve done imagery on, on, on canvas, where it’s very evidential to do with, the spirit person’s life. So, it may be where they lived, it may be their favourite flowers, you know, uh, favourite colours. But you, you know, like when you look out to the garden, scenes like that, or maybe the sea, maybe the, the countryside, but there’s all sorts with visionary, clouds, sky, the universe. Has that answered your question?

Ann: Yeah, it has. And I think Probably, when I think about it myself, you just got to start, that’s, that’s probably the key, isn’t it?

Shelley: Yeah, and I think the thing is, a lot of people that shy away from creativity or art it’s because somewhere in their life, they’ve been either told or they felt that they’re not good, they’re not creative. And you see, I always encourage people, as you probably heard on that workshop, on the open day, that, the creativity is within everybody. each one of us is creative because we’re all creative beings, because each one of us are unique. So, that spiritual power, or God power as I like to say, is a creative power because it resides within all of us, doesn’t it? As well as nature as well. So that creativity is there to some degree. It’s just igniting it. Mediumship is a creative power, isn’t it? So, the minds are creative, mind’s creative too, and I say, you’ve got to start somewhere. it’s, things don’t happen overnight. Some people with some abilities are stronger than others, some have to work at them harder, as we know that with mediumship, or any, any ability to be honest. But I say you’ve got to start. I’ll never forget seeing this photograph of this gentleman holding two pictures up. It was on Facebook years ago now. And he held one and it looked like a child had drawn an eye. a human eye. And you could see, it was okay, you could see it was an eye. But it was very, simplistic, the other one, I thought was a photograph. It wasn’t. It took him 13 years from the first picture to the second one, through practice and dedication and it looked like a photograph of an eye. So, you’ve got to start somewhere. So, I encourage people, that’s why I say find a space where it’s just for you in the spirit world and for you to explore. Don’t put yourself under a situation, in situations where your work’s going to get judged because that’ll knock your confidence before you start. Yeah. And I always say, you know, be different. Think outside the box. Don’t think about it. that’s how I started with, like I said, with the acrylics, with, with my fingers. I’m allowed, I use the brush more now, but I often start them. with my fingers. And then the imagery starts to come out the scene as I’m working. But if I have in my mind an image and I try to put it on paper, it goes terribly wrong.

Ann: That’s beautiful, isn’t it? So, when you’re trying to control it with your conscious mind, that’s not going to work. But if you go with your feeling, is that what you’re saying? Move into the feelings.

Shelley: And allow the spirit to influence you. And you look at all these wonderful artists like musicians as well, and poets, and writers, and I do believe they’re inspired by them. Yeah. Well, very much so. Yeah, but it’s just got to start. So, and I know there’s creativity in everybody in one shape or another.

Ann: Oh, thank you so much for sharing all that. That’s really, really inspiring. interestingly, I was reading a book by Paul Jacobs last night, Man of God, and I managed to get him to sign it for me, actually, bless his heart. Thank you, Paul. I don’t think he does that very often, but he did sign it for me when I was there. And he was talking about colour in mediumship and he works a lot with colour and looking into the colours in people’s auric field. And he was saying that colours can mean so many different things, depending on whether it’s mental, spiritual, emotional. Can you expand on that because I only just was reading it last night, so I can’t speak with any authority on it.

Shelley: Oh, that’s fun. It’s interesting because I had a meeting online with the four of us about colour. So, and about the way of working with it. We really like with your, any form of mediumship, when you set an intention. So, say, you’re going to set the intention, you want to work with colour. So, like what Paul would say, he often would get a colour at the start of a sitting and that would give him a very good indication of where the sitting needs to go. Alright, so, you know, it’s good to understand the definitions of the colours, but depending which area it goes into what it means. So that’s where you’d work with your intuitive skills, your, you know, the intuition to work with where it needs to be. Does that make sense?

Ann: Yes. Yes.

Shelley: So, so obviously, you know, for example, red, we know is very much about red of the passion. It can be of love, but it can also have the negative tones of the anger, can’t it? If you want to call negative, but it’s like everything. It’s got both sides. So, you know, working with, with red there, so you know that, but if you know, when you’re working with, and it also is a power colour, well, they’re all power colours and it’s a very, authoritative colour, you know, it’s a life colour. And as Paul would say, if, if you don’t see a tinge of red in somebody’s auric field. We should do, because it’s the life force. So, whether it’s merged into a pink, because obviously pink is red and white, isn’t it? Or whether it’s in a bit of the orange with yellow and red. So, it will be there. But, you know, it is fascinating to listen to Paul with his concept of working with colour. And I’m very much, agree with him. And of course, he was taught by the, the wonderful Gordon Higginson, because he worked with colour. And, you know, it’s a science there, you know, it’s got to be some intelligence to it. It’s not just random pieces of information. But you see, with knowing the, for example, with the red, um, the different connotations, what it means, but you work with the intuitive skill to where it feels it fits. So it could be, it could be that somebody is a very much a businessperson and in, in high authority, if it’s in the physical aspect that you’re blending on, on within the aura, but then, on the emotional, again, it could mean. that they’re very, not only passionate, but they could also be very strong willed emotionally as well, if that gives a reasonable example to, what, what we work with it.

Ann: Yeah. That’s brilliant. Oh, thank you, Shelly. That’s really, really interesting. And I find all of that fascinating, the colours. I think I’m going to be asking spirits to influence me a little more with colour, I think in my work. Um, we did say at the beginning, we would just have a look at open week at Arthur Findlay College. And I wonder if you could speak a little about that for people that maybe might be able to go or I know there’s an open week in person and an open week online, but maybe you could speak about that for us, Shelley.

Shelley: Yeah, well firstly the Open Week Online came about in the pandemic because obviously we couldn’t be in person and now because that was such a success, we do that now in the autumn, usually around October time. And that’s wonderful for people overseas that can’t get to visit the college or for the Open Week in, in the, in the spring. But it’s usually, sort of the very beginning of May, like the May Bank holiday, around there we do it. And it’s a wonderful opportunity to have a taster of the college. And that’s obviously, that’s why it’s called an Open Week, where there’s I mean, it’s busy, isn’t it, Ann, you’ve been, so it’s very busy. The college is so, such an absolutely beautiful place, but it’s buzzing over that week with people and there’s, there’ll be lectures, there’ll be talks, there’ll be demonstrations, there’ll be workshops, tutorials, specialised workshops available for people, and of course if you want to, have a, evidential reading or a spiritual assessment, you can obviously have that as well. But it’s a day ticket for the most of it. The private sittings, of course, you have to pay extra for. But it’s a wonderful experience, to really see what the college is about get to see some of the tutors and there’s many of us that attend to support the college for that week and it’s great for all of us it’s very busy but it’s wonderful but like I said it gives you a taster into what the college can offer apart from unless you want to come because some people come and they actually stay., stay at, in the college for the open week. But, you know, because a lot of our courses, as are residential, uh, which is a wonderful experience because you’re, your whole day, morning to bed, is, is, the whole experience of the college, of the learnings, getting to know people. Yeah, so, but I highly recommend people go on the open week. If they’re considering going to the college, they’ll get a good insight into what it’s all about.

Ann: Yeah, that’s a great explanation. Thanks so much, Shelley. And of course, for those that live abroad and listen to this to in countries, who can’t make it as Shelley’s pointed out, there’s an online open week to very similar. You just can’t go around the rooms, the physical rooms in the college, you can certainly do all these different workshops and tutorials, can’t you Shelly, online?

Shelley: Yes, that’s a good, good, it does help people who are overseas definitely, but you can’t beat being at the college because it is such a beautiful place, it really is. And, the amount of spiritual people that have been there and the pioneers, you know, it’s so, the energy of the place is magnificent, but you know that.

Ann: Yeah, I do know that and we want everybody to know that and feel that don’t we? So do go along everybody, if you can possibly make it. Shelley, it’s been fabulous speaking to you. Tell us, just before you leave us, are you offering one to one sittings for people? Are you teaching in your own right outside of the college? Have you got online classes? Say a little bit about what you’re offering at the moment in the work that you’re doing.

Shelley: Yeah, I do, I do, yeah, I do in person or mainly online really, Zoom. I do sittings, I do evidential, I do spiritual assessments, I do, I do auragraphs, which if you want me to discuss that I can. But yes, I do obviously teach at the college, the Barbanell Centre. And I’m in the process of trying to sort some more, uh, private courses out, you know, that are outside of the college as well. Yeah, so, yeah, I offer a full range and of course go and do, serve churches and do demonstrations.

Ann: And if people want to book with you or find out a little bit more about you, Shelley, do you have a website or a Facebook page that you can direct people to?

Shelley: I’m in the process of the website, but yeah, Facebook, by all means, Shelley Youell, Spiritualist, Medium and Artist, um, or I’ve got a private page that’s not so private, but they can contact me that way or through email, which is all lowercase, shelleyyouell35@hotmail.co.uk so yeah. that’s the easiest. That’s the thing with today’s world, it’s all Facebook, isn’t it? And Instagram. Oh, I’m on Instagram as well.

Ann: fabulous. I shall have to follow you on your Instagram. I will put your details for people who might want to contact you directly to have a private sitting or. are interested in your courses, I’ll put your details in the show notes for the programme. and then, gosh, you just mentioned something else there, so we can’t let you leave yet. You now have to tell us about auragraph sittings, could you?

Shelley: Yes, certainly. Um, well, auragraphs originate from a gentleman called Harold Sharpe. And he had his oriental guide, Chanshi, or Chansho, that inspired him, and he used to create them extremely quickly. And, um, but anyway, moving forward, the modern, modern auragraphs, he used to do them either in an oval or a circle, many people do still now, which represents the aura, that electromagnetic field around the individual, all right? So, uh, whereas like you say, Paul does the colours and works with sittings with the, with using his intuitive skills. You do the same, but you put it onto paper. But that’s on the psychic side about the individual that you’re doing the artwork for. But I can also, with modern auragraphs, and of course, I like to think outside the box. I can work with spirit communication. So, you can do an autograph that will represent the person in the spirit world. Through symbology, colour. And I don’t always do it in a circle. to a degree I do, but I don’t like the restriction, you see, I like to feel free. But that’s, that creative, part of me that likes to feel unrestricted. But yes, I can do spiritual assessments as well through, with the aura, because that’s working intuitively as well, and obviously with the guidance of the spirit world. And then I, and I put a creative impression onto, onto paper.

Ann: Mm. Beautiful. And a spiritual assessment, if you could sum that up in a little sentence.

Shelley: Oh yes. Well, a spiritual assessment is, um, a little bit different, obviously, than an evidential sitting. It’s about looking at the individual, where they are within their development, their spirituality, about what, what pointers may be that they They, they need to work on, potentials going forward with what, what abilities they have, what they could pursue. it’s all about really your, yes, your spiritual pathway, putting it in a nutshell, really.

Ann: Yeah. Beautiful. And it’s really lovely to have a spiritual assessment as well. I found that to be a beautiful experience for people I’ve gone for. So, if you would like one of those people, Shelley Youell is your lady. Shelley, thank you very much for joining us. What’s next for you coming up?

Shelley: Um, well, in regard to work wise?

Ann: Um, anything you, you know, holiday, work.

Shelley: You don’t get many of those. Yes, well, I’m actually, um, soon going to be going to the Barbanell Centre because I’m taking on the, the platform accreditation and CSNU intensive training. So, I’ll be doing that. And I’m back at the college. So, a few times this year, I’ve got to sort some more private courses out, of course. there’s always something. There’s plenty to be doing. So, as well as sittings. And I will confess, I still do a little bit of hairdressing. I squeeze that in. Not much, but I squeeze a bit in. Because these people have been friends for years. So, I’ll still see them. So, yes, um, off to Italy. I think that’s in April. So, there’s quite a lot going on. Yeah.

Ann: Yeah. Beautiful.

Shelley: But it’s great. I love it. Love it.

Ann: Some lovely plans. Shelley, thank you so much. Again, we are so grateful to you for making time and sharing your knowledge. It’s been a wonderful, wonderful discussion. Thank you so very much.

Shelley: Thank you for inviting me. It’s truly been a pleasure, Ann.

Well, do look up the work of Shelly Youell, everybody.  I am so grateful for our wonderful conversation, she’s so easy to talk to and I absolutely love her fusion of mediumship and creativity. And as Shelley suggests, get your paints out and give it a try.  Let’s all do it, let’s make a commitment to be inspired by the spirit world and just put our hands in the paint and our hands on the canvas and let’s see what happens.  Do write in and let me know how you get on with that – you can contact me by e-mail ann@anntheato.com.

As with every episode of this podcast, it is deaf friendly and there is a complete transcription in the show notes for this episode which you can find on my website. I have some fabulous courses coming up later this year, so do sign up to my mailing list to receive information about those –  some fascinating courses coming in – remote viewing,  medical remote viewing, and all kinds of remote viewing really as well as some very unusual tarot workshops.  I teach a weekly mediumship and psychic development circle, so if you would like to join me, please do check out the courses section on my website, www.anntheato.com

I will be back with you in a couple of weeks’ time, and I look forward to being with you then.  Until then,  my name is Ann Theato and thank you for listening to psychic matters.

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