Mystic Mag’s Miguel Amado talked with Mary O’Maley, a mind mentor and soul scout that gave us a great interview via Zoom a couple of weeks ago.
To begin with, I would love to hear more about your history and how you got started in this business. I don’t know if I should call it a ‘business’ or a ‘service’…
Yes, it is a service but is also a business, since it’s how I make a living. I think I always had a psychic gift but it got drummed out of me when I was little. Then, in my late thirties I took a hypnotherapy course and was suddenly surrounded by people more familiar with the metaphysical aspects, and it was pointed out to me that I really had some psychic gifts!
On one hand, I really work at developing my psychic gifts, and that’s a huge part of my business. On the other hand, I’m a professional with a master’s degree in holistic health, and I’m a master hypnotherapist.
So, it was really hard for me to merge both sides. But I think I managed to do this over the years. I love doing hypnotherapy, coaching, energy work… At this point, I have a massively huge toolbox.
It has been a journey for me. I am from a little older generation, so it implied in a lot of throwing off the fears: ‘what’ll everybody think of me?’ At the time, I was working in a hospital and teaching, and it was a little scary. It is not so scary now and I was surprised and delighted at how people accepted me coming out of the ‘psychic closet’.
I believe more people are searching to get in touch with their own beings, right?
I think so, especially during COVID, when we all had a lot of time to be alone with ourselves and were almost forced into realizing that there’s more to us. There’s a communication between our conscious mind and the spiritual world, so to speak.
In my business, I like to take advantage of that right now and help people move into their soul space, hear what they have to say, how simple their life could really be but how rewarding it could be. I think for those of us in this business, that’s kind of a sacred element of our jobs right now: helping people through that.
What is exactly a ‘soul scout’? I saw the term and was really fascinated by it
The connection between God (or however you perceive that) and you is deep within you, in your soul. So, the opportunity to get to know that you have a soul, that you are deeply loved and not judged there, and that it’s OK to be you.
I think this is a gift that I can give people. It’s a deep voice, a deep knowing, a deep understanding and a deep communication process. So, that’s what I like to do: I help people meet their own soul, get comfortable with that and with who they really are. Knock off the judgement and be alright with who they really are.
What is the most important detail in maintaining the relationship with customers, since it is based on trust?
My job is to hold a safe space for them to get to know themselves better. I go out of my way to be non-judgemental. To be honest, if I am not comfortable with the way the information is coming through, I ask the spirit to give different words, so the person can hear more easily.
So, I think number one is being 100% honest: not trying to pretty it up but just being honest, working with spirits to find the correct words that a person can hear without feeling defensive.
What is the most popular type of reading that customers are looking for right now?
It’s funny: it depends on how much I am charging. For a while, I didn’t charge very much for readings and I would say 80% of the questions were ‘does he like me?’, ‘how do I get him back’ and so on.
As I went off on my own and started to charge more money, questions became more serious, about life path issues, relationships in general, not only romantic ones – work, kids, things like that.
These days, a lot of it is about business, finding new work or starting their own business. Also, there is a certain age group that is coming into this place of learning to put themselves first, how to say ‘no’, how to come to themselves, be themselves, and learn what they really want.
Are some types of psychic readings more demanding or difficult than others? I believe those about professional life paths could be more difficult because of the uncertainties…
Well, when I do a professional life path, it’s more about spirits giving me information about their talents, what they enjoy and really love, and then helping them to work with spirit into making that something that allows them to pay their rent.
It is so different for everybody. It depends on what is important to them about their lifestyle. And the stage of life they are in. It is funny because the spirit won’t tell them what to do but give them information about who they really are and what would make them happier.
I think one of my biggest roles is confirming their own intuitive hits. I love it when people say ‘I knew all that’ – yes, now it’s confirmed, trust yourself. That is important.
That’s great. I believe in these times you had to change your reading operations. Did you use technology before this pandemic?
Mostly, I used technology like this (Zoom) for coaching and hypnotherapy. It’s great for hypnotherapy and I’ve worked with people from Maryland, Alaska, all over the place.
As the pandemic hit, I’ve moved the ‘intuitive’ work, psychic work, online. So, I’d say 98% of it is done like this now and maybe 2% by phone.
Does it make a difference to your work to do it in-person or online?
I love online! I love being able to see the person in front of me. I know a lot of people that do hypnosis by phone but for me it is important to see what is going on with my client, visually.
Being isolated right now, I think that having a face to look at brings us a little closer and I think that’s important.
Finally, do you have a message for our readers in these difficult times?
Hang in there. Take advantage of the downtime to examine yourself, your needs and wants, and the difference between them; to trust yourself and your inner wisdom. Take this opportunity when we don’t have as many distractions and change things that you don’t like. For once in your life, you have the time – take it. Use it for yourself, trust yourself.
And don’t be afraid to reach out and get some help. If you are starting a business, for instance, you might need help with marketing. Reach out. Just because you are alone, it does not mean you have to do it all alone.
