Playing with the Universe
- sharidworkinsmith
- Jan 7
- 10 min read
It's worth the risk.
I believe, and regularly teach, that the more you open yourself to the Universe, the more the Universe can work in collaboration with your desires. I believe this so strongly, I’ve even created a class called Unspooling Your DNA to help people learn to work more effectively with the Universe in manifesting their desires.
I fully believe the Universe IS on our side and that most things, even the hard or “bad” stuff comes to help us move forward in some fashion. Yes, there will always be an element of “sometimes things happen” because humans have free will and some things are just out of our control or understanding.
Recently, I’ve been pondering the risk-reward scenario that continues to play out in my life. I’ve been working as a medium for many years and over that time fascinating and wonderful things have been happening. Each time I step out of my comfort zone, to take on a new challenge for example, the Universe responds in kind. The first time I saw the connection clearly was during a mediumship development workshop with Joe Shiel and John Holland. I was a working medium but at that time, I had no experience as a platform medium, reading for large groups or audiences from a stage. I had done plenty of public speaking but believe me when I say, that’s different.
During one of the afternoon sessions, Joe asked for a volunteer and, without a lick of forethought or intention, and from the very back row of the room, my arm shot up into the air! What the heck did I just do?I certainly didn’t mean to raise my hand, it just happened.
I had no idea what I just volunteered for as I made my way to the front of the room and stepped onto the small stage where Joe instructed me to give my very first platform reading. No other direction, just go.
I trust Spirit and I trust that, as a well-trained medium, a communicator will step in. All of a sudden a woman sitting about four rows back lit up like she was in a spotlight. It wasn’t the best reading I’d ever given but the information was solid and she could easily identify the man who connected with me. More importantly, she was grateful to receive what she called “a meaningful and long awaited message.” Whew! I’d done it!
I’m not afraid of public speaking, I have taught countless classes, large and small during my career as an Independent Sales Director with Mary Kay. But, getting up to teach a class which I have written or prepared is very different from stepping into an empty space and hoping someone shows up and gives you something to say!
That night, John and Joe did a wonderful public demonstration, showing all of us why they’re world renown mediums and why we’d come from all over to learn from them. I was already thinking about further study with Joe when, the very first contact he brought through was my grandmother Helen and her sister, Dora. The two of them were like twins so it made sense that they’d come in together. I love my grandmother though Dora was always a strong presence in my life. She was a mentor and friend and we even called her our auxiliary grandma. Not surprisingly, the day she transitioned, she took up the mantle of a trusted guide, her voice now often in my head rather than over the phone. I had never seen spirit art before and there was Joe, sharing details about two beloved women and drawing the unmistakable image of my grandmother’s face, wearing the outfit her sister is wearing in a picture of the two of them that hangs in my living room. Joe even apologized, saying, “I know she’s supposed to be wearing dark blue but I don’t have that color with me.” I like to think I understand mediumship but this left me dumbfounded.
That same night I received a dream visitation from another vitally important person in the spirit world.
I’ve only ever had one other dream visitation that I’m aware of and it was this same person, just prior to his passing, telling me I could not go with him and I had to stay here. Now, here he was again and I was overjoyed. Was this somehow a thank you from the Universe for taking the risk of a platform demonstration earlier in the day? Surely it must be a coincidence but, I don’t believe in those.
A year later a friend invited me to join him, working with another renown medium Tony Stockwell. I hemmed and hawed for a while and finally decided to go. Plus, it was a great excuse to spend a week with my friend who lived across the country. It was a wonderful experience and true to form, Tony pushed all of us to work outside our comfort zones. He also did a public demonstration one evening and, wouldn’t you know it, the first communicator that came to him was the same person from my dream! The information was incredible and the message profound. I couldn’t help thinking, Tony is one of the best working mediums in the world and I could easily imagine a mile long line of people in spirit, trying to come through to their loved ones still here. Yet there was my important person again, first in the line. A gift from the Universe.
Recently, while working with a client, we were discussing egg donation, as a path to pregnancy. In the 90’s I had been a donor, twice. When our first sone was born, I’d had a dreadful pregnancy and an even worse delivery. Any time your doctor exclaims, “Oh my God!” while you’re on an operating table, it’s easy to assume things are not going according to plan. Thankfully, my son and I were both fine in the end. And even back then (he’s 27 now), I knew I wanted to thank the Universe for the gift of our health and safety. I wanted to do something to somehow give back, I just had no idea what or how.
In the back of a parenting magazine I saw an ad looking for egg donors, specifically Jewish ones. My reaction was visceral and I applied that same day. Among our friends, we were the first to have children and it slowly became clear to us that at least a dozen of our couple friends were struggling to get pregnant. A few months after completing the first egg donation cycle, I learned the recipients were expecting twin girls and six of our couple friends were pregnant as well! Six months later, I donated again and all of the remaining couples were now pregnant as well! The whole thing is a really cool story and you can read more about it here.
I don’t think I had some magical fertility fairy dust for my friends but, something was clearly going on! Six months after that, I was pregnant with our second son and we were purchasing our first home! A townhouse that never went on the market and for which we never should have been able to qualify. And yet, there we were, buying that house in LA!
It was all so long ago and I had forgotten about all of this, what with raising two kids and moving across the country when they were six and three and I was grateful when the conversation came up with my client. The pattern had been there all along. When we take the risk, when we’re willing to step out of our comfort zones or give of ourselves, the Universe shows up in magical ways! It’s one of the reasons you’ll often hear people say, “When you’re feeling low about something, go help someone else and you’ll feel better.” Doing something for others get us out of our own way and activates the Universe to work on our behalf.
Recently I attended a mediumship retreat in Mexico where I had hoped to be one of the instructors. One of the confirmed teachers was unable to attend and I was interested in filling her spot. The retreat leaders chose to shift the schedule and my class would not be needed. I wasn’t concerned and agreed they’d made the right decision. We were having a wonderful time when two days later, while coming back from one of our planned excursions Julie, the retreat leader approached me and asked if I would be willing to teach. Of course, I was happy to do it. Thanks Universe.
I had never traveled with this group before and truthfully, I had partly come on the trip to see how they operated. I was impressed with their thoughtfulness and willingness to shift when flexibility was called for. I could see that Julie and her team were creating interesting and solid events while making a difference in people’s lives and I was glad to be part of it. I had come with an open mind and wasn’t expecting to be invited to teach so I was delighted to have the opportunity. I also made sure I was prepared before I left home as well. Even though there was nothing to suggest I’d be given the opportunity to teach, I had my materials with me, just in case. I was there to experience meeting and working with new people and I was open to whatever arose. So I wasn’t terribly surprised when the Universe showed up. Risk… Reward.
I teach, at almost any opportunity, that love and gratitude are the engines of the Universe. I know the Universe will show up when we ask for help. Don’t believe me? Check out my recent blog post, The Universe Is Always On Our Side. But, when we extend ourselves or take a leap of faith, is the Universe also rewarding us as well?
I believe the answer is yes. When I was unexpectedly asked to teach my class, I had taken a risk. I had packed my materials and carted them all the way to the Pacific coast of Mexico, even though I’d already been told no. And if it didn’t happen, that would have been ok too but, if there was any chance, any possibility the Universe was going to open a door for me, I wanted to be ready to step through it. It was a risk and likely presumptuous as well but, when the coordinator asked if could teach, the joy on her face when I said yes was a great relief.
That same evening, during one of the platform mediumship classes, the student mediums blessed me with messages from three important people in my life. They each brought forward valuable from people who mean the world to me. Risk… Reward.
Every single time I’ve put something to the Universe and stepped out in faith, something happened. Was it always good or easy? No. Was it what I expected? Almost never! Was it worth it in the end, even if that end turned out to be several years down the road? Absolutely.
I’m not confused. I know it’s not always sunshine and lollipops. When Bank of America tried to steal my house, the fight for our home took over three years and sent me into a years long depression. There were lessons I needed to learn and things about myself I hadn’t been willing to see until I was so far down into the darkness there was nothing else to see or hear except myself. It took a long time and finding my way back was harder than anything I’ve ever done but the whole time, the Universe was trying to help and kept putting good people in my path to help me find my way.
The Universe is always trying to help. It’s just that it never looks like we expect or have imagined in our minds. Sometimes, it also means putting us into situation after situation if we’re just not getting whatever lesson we’re supposed to be learning. Often, I felt like there was a carrot and stick scenario being played out and, when I was down in the darkness, it was ridiculously hard to remember that I actually had the power to control the stick. It is our stick and our mindset helps guide the Universe in how to wield it.
Though sometimes shi*t just goes sideways and we cross paths with things that are out of our control. As much as we’d like there to be, there’s just not always a logical explanation but, the more we can stay in those places of love and gratitude, and believe me, I know that’s not always easy, the more we’re telling the Universe we’re willing to grow, we’re open to receive and, easy or hard, we’re trying to learn those lessons.
When I was finally willing to listen to the Universe and my higher guidance, I was finally willing to give up control, letting go of having to “make” things happen rather than allowing them to unfold. Full disclosure, I still don’t like it, especially if something’s unfolding with my kids or husband but, the more I learned to trust and collaborate with the Universe, the more that stick became a strong support rather than a bludgeon.
It isn’t about giving up our autonomy, like Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory making all his decisions by rolling a dice. Humans do have free will and it’s important to utilize common sense and discernment rather than blind faith. Otherwise, like Sheldon, you might end up with a lot of things you don’t really want. It is safe to lean in and trust your higher power, just don’t lean over too far, and keep your wits about you as you do. It’s about faith over fear, not blind faith or submission.
The more you can lean in to the power of the Universe to create things in your life, the more things have the potential to change. You may or may not like the changes in the moment but often with time, we are able to see how events were shifting for our higher good or personal growth.
According to Angle Expert Kyle Gray, “the universe will offer you experiences that help you learn more about yourself — your boundaries, your desires, your patterns, your capacity for love. And sometimes it’s the challenging dynamics… that reveal the most about who you are becoming.”
You may not be planning to pick up your life and move across the country but, if you’ve been waking up every day casually saying, “one day I’m going to move to Tucson” don’t be too surprised when the Universe works it out for you to have an opportunity to do just that!
Keep in mind that the Universe doesn’t do well with ambiguity. If there’s something you truly want to bring into your life, and you’re willing to step out in faith, lean into the power of the Universe and be prepared for things to begin to change. As I’ve said, you may or may not like it in the moment but, that doesn’t mean it won’t still turn out to be a gift in the end. Either way, you might want to get prepared for what you’ve asked for to show up because it’s highly likely the Universe is already working out how to bring it to you. At the very least open your mind to the possibilities of change. Better still, take the risk and trust that it will be worth it.
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