The Eagle and the Rose

by Rosemary Altea

  “Well, that's it, then,” I stated quite confidently, adding without a thought of what I was saying: “If you want the wind, then I will make the wind.”

  Immediately I became still and spoke to my guide, sending up a silent request to Grey Eagle, positively asking for a wind to blow through the sails on the little boat to make it dance across the water. Silent and still I sat, gazing ahead to where my guide was, and I concentrated all my energies toward helping him. Not once did I doubt that my request would be granted, and sure enough, about ten minutes later I began to see results.

  At first I felt a gentle breeze, lightly touching my cheeks, and then fingers playing through my hair. Then the river began to sing as the wind, stronger now, skimmed through the water like stones. Suddenly a gust of wind caught at the sails of our little boat, which had been loosely furled, and they struggled to break free. Seconds later, for as far as the eye could see, the river came alive. With shouts and yells of glee, the natives brought their vessels into the water. Laughing, waving, they called to each other. The waiting was over, Allah was good to them, and they could work again.

  The sails now up and blowing full and free in the wind, we went out into the middle of the river. It was glorious and exhilarating, and I chuckled as I watched the busy scene, everyone noisy and happy.

  But my crew were silent, a look of doubt and uneasiness on their faces. The older of the two turned a searching, questioning gaze upon me, and I answered his silent inquiry. Looking directly into his eyes, smiling gently, I said quietly: “You wanted the wind, I gave it to you.”

  For the remainder of the excursion they were subdued, talking to each other only when necessary, every now and then sending furtive glances my way. And difficult though it was in the confined space we had, forced as they were to struggle for control of the sails, they made sure not to come within three feet of me, at least.

  Much later, when I was alone in my room, I thought hard about what had happened and began seriously to contemplate the power and energy it takes to create this kind of phenomenon. In the Pyramid, Grey Eagle had told me that I had gained power, and I hadn't understood.

  I think what he really meant was that I had gained knowledge of the power that I already had—the power that all of us possess, the power of the mind. It was up to me now, with his help, to harness that power and to use it in the best way possible—to do God's will. To help me in my daily life and to help me to help others.

  Above all else, it must be remembered by all those who have learned to harness such power as this, myself included, that respect of this power is all important.

  There is no doubt that through the ages there have been men and women with great power, their own power, people who have used and abused this to control others. It is more than possible to control or influence another's mind, especially if that mind is weak, and it is also possible not only to be constructive and creative, but to be destructive, too. History tells its own tales, of powerful and cruel men and women, kings and queens, holy men, tyrants and rulers, who have used their strength in negative and destructive ways. It also tells of powerful men and women who have been creative and good. All these people have one thing in common: they know their own power, they have known how to use it, they have understood the power of the mind … the most powerful and creative possession we all own.

  The power I possess, combined with the power of the universe, enables me to be what I am, to dare to be, to dare to be myself. I have made a vow, a promise to God, to the universe, to all of those in the spirit world. I made this vow a long, long time ago, and it is this. Whatever you may call it, this power that I have, this gift to see, to hear, to communicate, to travel, to heal, I will use this power for good and in the way that the universe demands is the right way—in a way that will heal and ease hearts, bring joy and light and, I truly hope, enlightenment.

  A Vision of the Future

  Having talked of astral travel, and of the power within us, I will now talk of how using that power enables me to see—and to see the future.

  But how do I begin this chapter? Knowing that this aspect of my gift is such a curiosity to so many people, knowing that there is a need for some kind of explanation, how do I begin?

  Many ancient cultures around the world, aware of the value of “dreams,” encourage the telling of dreams to their seer, for his or her interpretation. A dream could be of great importance to a young man wishing to know if he should be a hunter, a warrior, or a craftsman. A dream to a young woman could tell of a future husband and happiness. Such was the importance of dreams that some American Indian tribes would send out their young men, when they reached a certain age, either into the sweat lodge or into the desert, to seek a dream, to seek a vision. Some would meditate, others might adopt a sleep or trance state, and it was not unusual, when seeking a vision, to use hallucinatory substances.

  They would send their young men on a “vision quest” to seek their future. The interpretation of such dream visions was left to the wise man of the tribe, and that interpretation would determine the young man's future. Moreover, the wise man, seer, or shaman would also use this same exercise from time to time, for a successful vision quest would give him great clarity and aid him not only with his own learning and understanding, but also in giving help and advice to those members of his tribe for whom he was responsible.

  My guide has spoken many times to me of this, and so it was that Grey Eagle, shaman, spiritual leader of his tribe, would use this power, the power to “see” that which the future held, not just for himself, but for others, too. Sometimes he would know, without knowing how. Often he would have a vision with no effort on his part to receive one, and on occasion, needing more clarity, he would embark upon a vision quest, and he would discover the “future.”

  Many books are written on shamanism, some good, some bad. Some will give instructions to the layperson on how to become a shaman. Read them if you will, believe them if you will, but let me make clear what I believe, what I have been taught, knowing that some will disagree. Only a true shaman can teach a shaman. Only a true shaman can guide another, teach another, to become a true shaman, and this training will take years, perhaps even a lifetime, before the student can claim to be a shaman also. There is much mystique and mystic power, and enlightenment in the ways of the shaman is a slow process.

  And so it is that Grey Eagle, shaman, has taught his student—not with instant success, often with rigorous lessons, but always with immense patience and understanding for his student's shortcomings, which are many, and always acknowledging and gentle with his student's human frailties.

  And so it is, that I the student, medium and healer, often impatient, lacking understanding, angry and less than gentle with myself for my human frailties, demanding and often expecting too much too soon; and so it is, with time and patience, that Grey Eagle, shaman, has taught his student.

  It is easy for me to “see” another's future, for those in the spirit world will often give help and advice through me to those they love, advice regarding future prospects, new and forthcoming opportunities, choices. Sometimes they will show me the inevitable and inescapable path that a person will walk along. Grey Eagle is always there to show a clear pathway, if it is felt by those in the spirit world that this is necessary and that a person will benefit from this kind of guidance. At times, though, this door will be closed, and knowledge of the future will be withheld, inaccessible, for it may be considered by those in the spirit world that to divulge this information would be harmful or unnecessary to a person and may serve only to muddle or confuse. Or it may be considered that to tell too much would be detrimental to the learning process. There are certain answers that each must discover for himself, for it is in seeking out these answers that one grows. But more often than not I will talk to my clients of their future, not dictating a way of life, but rather allowing them to see their own potential, helping them to discover a door they had not yet realized was there, showing them an opportunity
and giving them the confidence to make the most of it. Giving hope where there was none, confidence where there was a lack of it, warnings of care to be taken when haste may wreak havoc.

  Born with the power to see, I have been taught by Grey Eagle to use my gift with great caution and with the utmost responsibility, for there are those who would allow me to dictate their every move, run their lives. And there are some who, knowing and having experienced the accuracy of this power I own, would (if I allowed them) pile the responsibilities of their lives upon me, instead of making their own decisions and being responsible for themselves.

  Grey Eagle has taught me well, and as a medium I am very aware of the great effect I have upon each individual who seeks me out. I know that I can change a person's life … have indeed changed many people's lives. And so I treat my gift with caution and with great care, knowing that this gift is a God-given one.

  From the most trivial to the more serious issues, I have learned that there is always a good reason why we are given information about the future, and if we use that information wisely, we can benefit greatly from it.

  I remember once, as in a vision, I saw a friend's car, parked by the side of the road with a flat tire. Knowing that the next day she was going to see her mother and that the journey was a fairly long one, around two and a half hours, I decided to tell her what I had seen and advised her to get her tires checked before she went. Both her husband and her son were car mechanics, and they went over the car with a fine-tooth comb, finding no problems whatsoever. But she had been warned, and taking notice, she took a more than steady drive to her parents’ home, instead of her usual fast pace. All went well, and they arrived safely at their destination. After the very necessary cup of English tea, she and her family decided to take a walk to stretch their legs. Out the door they went, past the car that was parked at the side of the road … with a totally flat tire.

  Now, no one can really say that an accident had been prevented. No one can assume that had my friend driven at her usual speed, the tire might have burst, causing the car to leave the road. No one really knows. But my friend Joan, well, I can tell you … she is in no doubt at all.

  Such a trivial issue, one that might or might not have become much less trivial if Joan had not listened.

  Of course I help, with the aid of those in the spirit world, and give guidance with so many different aspects of life, some of which I have already discussed throughout this book, and although I accept the fact which is that many people are able to glimpse the future in one way or another, the accuracy, the preciseness of detail in many cases of the information which I am able to give, still astounds and amazes me and makes it impossible, thank goodness, for me to become complacent, which is no bad thing. I do not pretend to know how it works, and I freely admit that I do not have all the answers, far from it. I am not all knowing and all seeing for all my gift may suggest that this is so. For all that I do know, I know that there is more to know, more to learn, much, much more. I am aware that being merely mortal gives me limited concepts, and so I try not to presume that A times B equals C; to do so would be to place limitations on the power of the universe, which has no limitations.

  Again, with regard to messages of future events for others, I was once a guest in the late 1980s on a BBC radio show. It was at the time of the International Around the World Yacht Race, and the presenter of the show, while talking to me in the studio, was also talking by radio phone to some of the members of the British Yacht Team. Naturally he asked me if I had any advice to give them. My answer was instant, for even as I was being asked this question Grey Eagle was talking to me.

  “I know nothing of yachts and sailing,” I said, aware that the show was live and that there would be thousands of listeners, “but I am told to advise you that there will be some problem with the engines or engineers, and I am also being told to tell you to be careful near the side of the boat.” And I repeated, “I can clearly see a problem with either engines or engineers and the side of the boat.”

  Well, as I relayed this message and my voice crackled down the radio receiver to the members of the yacht team, I could hear their laughter as they explained to me, with good humor, that yachts don't have engines. They were obviously not taking me one little bit seriously, which was a great pity. Had they listened, had they taken notice, maybe, just maybe, a tragic accident might have been avoided.

  Just a few days later, out at sea, one of the engineers fell over the side of the yacht and was drowned.

  One year later I was invited back to the same BBC radio show with the same interviewer, Charlie Partridge, who was now much more responsive and enthusiastic about the work I do and listened with new eagerness.

  For the thousands of clients I have, there are thousands of stories I could relate where information from the spirit world regarding future events has given comfort, hope, and inspiration to so many. One in particular sticks in my mind, a tale that has its own telling ending … and a hopeful and beautiful message for us all.

  I had not seen this lady before, and I cannot even remember her name, so for the purposes of this story, I will call her Eva. This was not the first time Eva had sought out someone to tell her her future, but she had never before been to a medium. So she was first shocked and then delighted to find herself suddenly communicating with her parents, who had died some several years earlier.

  Eva was in her early sixties, well and healthy in body but emotionally in great distress, as her parents were quick to explain to me. One day Eva came home from work to find her husband gone. He had taken all his belongings and, leaving a brief note, had disappeared. Eva was naturally devastated and confused, as she had thought her marriage of over thirty-five years a happy one. In the intervening three years she had heard not one word from her husband. All she could see for herself in her future was a life of misery and loneliness, for she knew she would never again trust any man enough even to consider starting up a relationship, let alone get married.

  I was immediately sympathetic toward Eva and asked Grey Eagle if he could help this lady, perhaps give her some hope for a better future.

  As in a vision I saw, much to my delight, that as unbelievable as it might seem to Eva, her life, her future, was going to be a happy one.

  I was shown a path, Eva's path, which at first was dark and narrow. I saw Eva walking along this path with her head down, her shoulders drooped, miserable and without hope. She walked along this path with heavy steps and heavy heart, but then I watched her approach a turn in the road—and suddenly, so suddenly, it was as if the sun had come out. The light was very bright and told of a future that was fulfilled and incredibly beautiful. As I recounted what I had seen to Eva, I was so enthusiastic in my description that a ray of hope came into her eyes. She cried and asked if I really thought this was possible. I was in no doubt, for what I had seen was so clear, and I told her so.

  “October,” I said, “only ten months away. I know that ten months seems a long time to wait, but it will go quickly, and then … well, then, my dear, the sun will come up, your life will change completely, and you will find the most unbelievable happiness.” Eva was thrilled and hopeful, and as her son drove her home, she recounted all that she had been told.

  The following November, eleven months later, Eva's son rang to thank me for giving his mother such a wonderful message, a message filled with joy. It had enabled her to live a happier life, since she had come to believe that her life would change for the better—which it had, her son then said.

  “Finally,” he told me, “she is happy and at peace, for we buried her a month ago.”

  Eva had suffered a sudden heart attack in October and had died instantly. Her path had indeed taken a turn, and as she had walked along that path the sun had at last begun to shine.

  I will often know whether my patients with serious illnesses will recover or if they will pass over into the spirit world. This is a hard part of my work as a medium and healer, for I get to know my patients well, a
nd because I hold the answers to many questions relating to life after death, there are those patients who are terminally ill who I develop a close relationship with.

  One such patient was Margery, who had suffered with cancer for some time before arriving at one of my centers with her husband one evening. As I spoke with Margery that night, I knew, I could “see,” that she was going to die, that no matter what she or I or anyone else did, she would soon go through that door marked death, to continue her journey on in another world.

  Over the months that followed I became very close with my patient, and I knew that she was so afraid to die. But, brave and battling, she rarely let this fear show through. Even when she had less than two weeks to go and knew the battle was nearly over, she still, with dignity, showed herself to be brave. I visited her every day, and after giving her healing, I would sit for an hour or two, sometimes talking, sometimes quietly holding her hand. Then one time, just a few days before she left us, as I walked up to the house the door opened. The doctor was just leaving, and Tony, Margery's husband, said, “Just go straight up, Rosemary, I'll be a little while with the doctor.”

  Now Margery had heard the doctor leave, but she did not know that I had arrived. Thinking that she was on her own, she began to cry, to beg, to plead, “Dear God, dear God, I don't want to die.” I heard her scream, “Please, please, God, don't let me die!”

  I had already begun to climb the stairs, and as I reached the top I could see into the bedroom. I could see Margery, leaning half out of her bed, clutching hold of the bedside chair, hysterical, terrified, and begging for help. I knew that the last thing she would want was for me to see her in this state, so I turned to go back down the stairs. Just then she looked up and saw me standing there. Straight away she stopped her crying, knowing that I had heard her but wanting desperately to cling to her dignity. For the one thing that Margery had always told me was that she was afraid that she might die with no dignity at all. Her hair was gone, but she wore a wig day and night, refusing to take it off; her face was yellow and bloated; but still she was a proud and dignified woman.