Monte Farber, her author husband, is also a professional metaphysical counselor and lecturer, musician, and filmmaker.

Together, they are the foremost designers of award-winning interactive personal guidance systems, with over one million copies of their work in print in nine languages around the world. Their other divination systems, CD-ROMs, children's books, and retrospective coffee-table fine art book are:

The instant Tarot Reader, The Alchemist (also available as a CD-ROM), The Enchanted Tarot (also available as a CD-ROM), Karma Cards (by Monte Farber), Cupid Cards, Goddess Guide Me

Children's books by Amy Zerner And Jessie Spicer Zerner
Zen ABC, Scheherazade's Quilt, The Dream Quilt

Paradise Found: The Visionary Art of Amy Zerner (by Monte Farber)

HOW TO USE THE PSYCHIC CIRCLE MAGICAL MESSAGE BOARD

"Seek truth and ripe dreams will follow."

Excerpt from authors' talking board session, November 26, 1977

You and Your "Psychic Circle" of Friends

Give yourself permission to take a little vacation from the world of things to do and remember! Plan to hold your session during a time you will not be interrupted. The room should be quiet and the lighting comfortable.

Have pen and paper or a tape recorder nearby to record your answers. For future reference, either you or one of your "psychic circle" of friends should keep records of the information you receive. Always make sure that the date, place, time, and people present are noted somewhere on your record. Though you may think that this is a bother, you will be very thankful that you took the time to record your sessions. Amy and I are continually surprised and delighted by the treasures we find "mining" our notes.

We have found that, although many people are capable of operatingThe Psychic Circlewith only their own hands on the indicator, the best results are obtained when another person is in the room as a participant in the session. The presence of two energies seems to have a beneficial effect. The other person can also assist with the recording of the session, suggest questions, and offer a different point of view on the answers received.

The size of your "psychic circle" is up to you. Some people suggest limiting it to four people, but we have found that it is the quality of the people present and not the quantity that makes the biggest difference.

Do not useThe Psychic Circlewhen someone present is not a part of the activities. That is enough to seriously impair the accuracy of the session. You should never attempt to useThe Psychic Circleif anyone present is suffering serious emotional distress, is intoxicated, under the influence of drugs, physically ill, or exhausted.

To obtain the best results, it is necessary that all present approach the session with a mixture of healthy skepticism (not ridicule) and an open mind. If you find yourself in the company of some who consider themselves too "scientific" to take your use ofThe Psychic Circleseriously, remind them that Thomas H. Huxley, the great British scientist said, "I am too much a skeptic not to believe that anything is possible."

Decide who is going to be using the board. At first, you may find it helpful to work with two people touching the indicator. You can also have just one person at a time try it. You can have as many people touching the indicator as can do so without covering its center. The center of the indicator is where you are going to look to see the answer to your questions.

Make sure that any partner you work with is someone with whom you feel genuinely comfortable. There should be mutual admiration and trust between all sets of partners. In our experience, either two women or a man and a woman make the best partners. To receive information, a passive, receptive attitude is necessary, and to most men the very word "passive" has a strongly negative connotation. This can also present difficulties for "controlling" people of either sex. A relaxed, receptive, patient, and sensitive person will make the best partner.

It is normal to find that you are able to workThe Psychic Circlebetter with some people than with others. The frequencies you tap into will move and communicate differently with each combination.

Asking Your Questions

It is good to have a list of questions prepared before you start your session. You can ask a question or, if you find you have no questions, you can ask for a message that is for you or for someone else. Other questions will suggest themselves when these first ones are answered. The questions should be about subjects that are important to you.

The first few rounds of questions should be those that can be answered simply by one of the many words, numbers, and symbols on the Magical Message Board. This feature of the board's design will enable you to receive meaningful, thought-provoking answers to your questions almost immediately. This will enable you to get a feel for attuning yourself to the energies.

Ask about subjects you really want to know the answer to. Make sure you want the answer given in front of your "psychic circle." Sincere questions will receive sincere answers. Silly questions will, likewise, receive silly answers. Ask your questions in a spirit of investigation.

Though using it is always a lot of fun,The Psychic Circleis not a toy, but a spiritual tool. It is always ready to be consulted for problem solving, decision making, creative inspiration, and wisdom. You can use it for communications with your angelic guardians, spirit guides, and your higher self. Its uses are limited only by your imagination and your beliefs regarding your spiritual nature.

Whatever your spiritual beliefs, we suggest that you begin your sessions with either one or both of the Purification Rituals detailed below. They are a combination of techniques evolved for invoking the most powerful forces of good.

The Purification Rituals can help your sessions by both eliminating anxiety and focusing the energies of all those present. When you all say them together, it helps to reinforce the spiritual bonds between you and to remind you of your common purpose, i.e., the very enjoyable exploration of the highest realms of being. Using the Purification Rituals helps to put you in a Zen-like state where subtle insights can reach your awareness.

The Purification Rituals

You and your partner are about to embark on a journey into yourselves and beyond. As every experienced traveler will tell you, preparation is the key to an enjoyable voyage. We have already mentioned the importance of an attitude of healthy skepticism and an open mind toward whatever information your session withThe Psychic Circlewill bring forth. It is also important that you bring a positive attitude and a state of relaxed contemplation. Expect The Psychic Circle to work for you.

It's easier than you might think. The method has been used by the seers and sages of many cultures around the world for thousands of years and works equally well today. Not only will putting yourself in a state of relaxed contemplation prepare you for a productive and enjoyable session withThe Psychic Circle,but it can help you to better work the board and absorb the information you receive.

The way to reach a state of relaxed contemplation begins with your breath. Unlike any of our other vital functions, our breathing can be placed under our conscious direction and, by so doing, we can control the beating of our heart and calm ourselves down.

Get comfortable and know that your session is going to be a pleasant and rewarding one. Have everyone present join hands. Everyone should take a slow, luxurious, and deep breath. Make the sacred sound, "Amen" or "Om," and stretch the sound out so that it lasts for the duration of your slow exhalation. This is the "sound of many rushing waters" heard by all who contact their divine source through ritual, meditation, and prayer. It is "the comforter," "the faithful and true Amen," and the Word that many religions believe made the creation of the universe possible.

You can use this spiritual sound anytime you need to clear the air and purify your intent. Let it remind you that your ultimate being resides in the world of spirit, far away from the cares and troubles of the day. Repeat this chant three times.

Remove yourPsychic CircleMagical Message Board from its box and carefully unfold it on a flat and level surface. When two or more people plan to use it, you may want to set it up on a small table, on the corner of a larger table, or on the floor. In order for your Magical Message Indicator to move freely across the surface of the board, it is important that the board lie perfectly flat.

Each time you useThe Psychic Circle,it is a good idea to lightly wipe off the board and indicator with a dry, soft cloth. The object of this is to remove dirt, dust, and anything else that might restrict the movement ofThe Psychic Circle'sMagical Message Indicator as it slides across the board.

Place the indicator in the center of the board, making sure that you can read the words,"The Psychic Circle,"which are engraved on its top surface. Your hands are going to be moving around the board. You should sit close enough so you can comfortably reach all of the board's four corners with your fingers resting lightly on the indicator.

The operator(s) should now place two fingertips of one hand on the Magical Message Indicator. They should rest lightly on the outer circle of the indicator, the portion with the words"The Psychic Circle"engraved on it. Do not exert too much pressure on the indicator. The fingertips of the other hand should lightly touch the edge of the board. Some people, especially those who are able to useThe Psychic Circlewithout a partner, prefer to keep two fingertips of each hand on the indicator. There are no hard-and-fast rules.

Following are two different Purification Rituals. They are both based on rituals that have stood the test of time. Use whatever method seems to work best for you. We prefer to use them both. If you want to modify them, or if you want to use a ritual you are more in harmony with, do so. After you have performed your ritual, complete your preparation with the White Light Visualization that follows.

I. The Ritual of the Four Directions

Repeat the following as you breathe slowly and evenly:

I call upon the Four Directions and the Four Elements to open our circle as a consecrated place of love, healing, and spiritual guidance.

May East and Air share their knowledge of all beginnings.

May North and Earth share their knowledge of all stabilizing influences.

May South and Fire share their knowledge of all changes.

May West and Water share their knowledge of all endings.

II. The Ritual of Goddess and God

Repeat the following as you continue to breathe slowly and evenly:

Goddess, the Mother of All, protects me.

God, the Father of All, defends me.

I am always safe.

I am never alone.

I call upon my angelic guardians,

I call upon my spirit guides, and I call upon all forces for good to enter our circle of white light and divine inspiration.

May my higher self transmit to me the knowledge I am ready to receive and the wisdom to make the best use of it.

THE WHITE LIGHT VISUALIZATION

Visualize the Magical Message Indicator completely enveloped in a circle of sparkling white light. See this circle become a ball, expanding until it is above, below, and completely around you and your "psychic circle" of friends. Know beyond a doubt that it is forming an impenetrable wall of pure love and healing energy around you all.

BEGINNING YOUR PSYCHIC CIRCLE SESSION

Now that you have completed one or both of the Purification Rituals and done the White Light Visualization, you are ready to begin yourPsychic Circlesession.

One of the people whose fingers are on the indicator should ask the question that is uppermost in her or his mind. Everyone else should silently concentrate on the same question. You may want to let everyone ask an agreed number of questions, no more than four apiece, and then allow the next person to ask. However you arrange it, the proper decorum must be maintained to get clear results.

You may have found that your Magical Message Indicator began to move as you performed the Purification Ritual. You may find that you have to repeat the question a few times as you wait several minutes before the indicator starts to move. Everyone should be patient and know that a wait of five to ten minutes is not unusual for those beginning to useThe Psychic Circle.Remember to ask simple questions that can be answered by one or more of the various symbols, colors, numbers, and words on your Magical Message Board. You can also ask for initials.

You may find that when the indicator begins to move, it moves very slowly and starts to circle the board. The energy trying to contact you is getting acquainted with the layout of the board and the feel of the people using it.

Be aware that each partner is going to believe the other is pushing the indicator.How else could you expect to feel? Do not get into a discussion accusing the other person of pushing the indicator. This is a feeling you have never experienced before. It will always be unique and exhilarating. Relax and enjoy it.

You will find that the indicator will hover over one or more of the words, letters, symbols, numbers, and colors on the board. You will see what it is hovering over displayed in the center of the indicator. This is the answer to your question. When you have received your answer you should call it out softly so that it may be recorded. Then the indicator will return to its starting point on the center of the board.

You may find that it waits on the letter "Q" instead, another way of indicating that you should ask your next question. Be on the lookout for these kinds of idiosyncrasies. They are often associated with the various energies that come throughThe Psychic Circle,especially when your indicator is hovering over the ring on the board containing the letters of the alphabet.

Some sources of information may prefer to use symbols and not letters. For others, the reverse may be true. Usually, it will be a mixture of both.The Psychic Circlehas been designed to make it easier for all users to communicate, both those on this plane and those on other planes of existence.

There used to be an advertisement for a school of shorthand that was displayed in the cars of the New York City subways. It said "If u cn rd ths ad u cn gt a gd jb w hi $." The energies answering your questions may use this kind of shorthand when they begin to use letters.

In our sessions, we have seen the letter "X" repeated three or more times in a row to indicate hugs and kisses. While you are first starting, you may find the number "4" used to indicate the word "for," the letter "U" used to indicate "you," the letter "C" used instead of "see," etc. Another example of this type of substitution would be hovering over the planet Mars to indicate a man or the planet Venus to indicate a woman.

You will find that the energies brought forth byThe Psychic Circlecan be quite creative. That is why they can help you with your own creative efforts.

If an answer seems confusing, suggest that the answer be clarified. It may help to rephrase what could have been a confusing question. You may even receive information in other languages. If this happens, ask that it be translated into English. Record all answers, no matter how unclear, because they might make sense later in the light of future information.

Be aware that the energies working through you are also getting the hang ofThe Psychic Circleprocess! Whenever you are in doubt, you can always ask a clarifying question that can be answered by a simple "yes" or "no" (or the North Node and South Node respectively).

It is very important for you not to have any preconceived notions or expectations regarding the answers you are receiving. Do not try and anticipate the answer as the indicator begins to move around the board. Enjoy being surprised. If you seem to have known where the indicator was going, fine. But then put that kind of thought out of your head and do not expect that you will know where it will go on the next question. You are here to have fun and investigate the phenomenon that isThe Psychic Circle,not to allow your ego to show everyone how psychic you are.

When the Magical Message Indicator Does Not Move

If, after ten minutes, the indicator fails to move you may want to vary the partners or have some of them try usingThe Psychic Circlealone. Be aware that it is usually anticipation, expectation, and ego attachment which block the "flow" of your session. These states of mind can also limit the range of the answers received by the majority of those who will find thatThe Psychic Circleworks easily for them. Because the energy is flowing through you, the more unattached you are to the answers you are getting, the better the answers will be. This is why it is important to be open to new ideas.

You may want to introduce yourself to the energies you are communicating with and ask them if they would like to be addressed in any particular way. If they claim to know about the Earth plane, ask them for details of their times here. If you see any inconsistencies in what you are getting, point them out and respectively ask for clarification. Do not be flippant, rude, or insulting. Be respectful and you will be answered respectfully.

The Law of Karma

You may have heard the wordkarma.It comes from the Eastern religious traditions. The Law of Karma states that what you do, both good and bad, comes back to you. It is the basis for the contemporary saying, "What goes around comes around." Karma is another example of how the religious beliefs of the West and of the East are remarkably similar. The Bible's admonition, "As you sow, so shall you reap," sums it up perfectly. Every scientist knows that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction (astrologer Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion).

The Law of Karma can easily be seen to work in aPsychic Circlesession. If you bring fear and negativity to the session, then your answers will address your fears specifically and confirm your negativity in the most direct fashion. If you are confused, then your answers will be confused. If you think the whole subject is nonsense, then do not be surprised if nonsense is all you get. If you are relaxed and purified by doing the rituals, and ready to receive guidance from the highest of sources, then that is what you are going to receive.

If you ask a question about someone else, make sure that you are only interested in knowing what is for their highest good. UsingThe Psychic Circlefor the purpose of gossiping or working against someone would be a waste of time and a terrible misuse of your spiritual power. The Law of Karma is always enforced.

Beliefs and Expectations

Our beliefs and expectations influence and may even create the events we experience.The Psychic Circlewill mirror this basic truth. As we like to say, keep your spirits high and you will encounter high spirits.

Here is where a skeptical attitude comes in handy. You are liable to receive information that affects you profoundly. You may receive information that makes eminent sense to you. You may also receive information that causes you to question some very basic assumptions regarding what you know to be true. Go slowly. If something you learn makes you feel uncomfortable, stop and ask yourself why it does so.

Much of the information you are going to receive is going to be accurate. But as we were once told during a session, "The subconscious is not always right, but it is close to the truth." Information obtained this way is dependent on the operative and interpretive skills of the operator.

The information you receive is going to be filtered by your expectations and desires. In other words, it may be wrong.

You will find, when you look back over your notes, that some of what you received was obviously colored in that way. Your answers will also be affected by the level of your ability, at the time, to operateThe Psychic Circlein a state of relaxed contemplation.

Do not act on any information you have not researched independently and experienced yourself. You are not being disrespectful to anyone here or over "there" if you approach any information you receive fromThe Psychic Circlewith a scientific, questioning, and critical attitude. The whole purpose ofThe Psychic Circleis to help you develop your own intuition and decision-making ability. Listening blindly to "disembodied energy essences" is just as bad as listening blindly to anyone on the Earth plane.

After more than twenty years of research into spirituality, one thing we are totally convinced of is that the free will possessed by each of us has a more powerful effect on our lives than anything else. Nothing holds any power over us unless we let it do so. If you ever receive information from any source that tries to get you to do anything that is contrary to your beliefs, common sense, the laws you live under, or the advice of a trained and licensed professional you trust, then we suggest that you disregard it.

Experience has shown us that some people are only too willing to give their own power away.The Psychic Circlehas been designed as a personal inner-guidance system; a tool for your empowerment. Its purpose is to help you get more in touch with your innate ability to direct your life.

ENDING YOUR PSYCHIC CIRCLE SESSION

If you become tired, stop. If you are still raring to go but the indicator stops, or if it goes onto the word "Goodbye," ask if there are any other highly evolved sources of information that would like to communicate with you for your highest good and greatest joy. If not, end the session by thanking the forces for good that have come through to communicate with you, and by chanting "Om" or "Amen" three times. Breath in the same relaxed fashion that you used to begin the session.

Now that you know the basic mechanics of how to useThe Psychic Circle,we will show you how to interpret your answers.

Copyright © 1993 by Amy Zerner and Monte Farber

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Excerpted from The Psychic Circle by Monte Farber, Amy Zerner
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.