It is never too late to find your path... by Josephine Buchanan

My journey began when my husband died suddenly of a heart attack in 1988. I was 50 years old.

I had been brought up a strict Roman Catholic with all that implied: sin, self-judgement, fear of hell and eternal damnation etc.  I had begun questioning this when I was in my teens and although I stuck with it till I was in my late 30s, I did so more because I couldn’t see a viable alternative than because I believed.

Suddenly, I was alone - and not so independent as I thought I would be.  I began to look for answers. Firstly at the local spiritualist church where I met people who looked at life from a different perspective. Then, in the early 90s my sister introduced me to energy healing. I qualified as an Electro-crystal Therapist (Harry Oldfield’s invention) and in the process discovered the chakra system, and the aura or 7-body system and began to read books to discover more.  This led to Reiki and Seichem and over a period of 5 years, I was initiated into the 3 levels of Reiki and Seichem, finally becoming a Master/teacher of both systems in 1999.

I took early retirement from teaching in 1995 and then had a hip replacement, and I continued to work part time for a while. Yet, it wasn’t until 2003 that my journey really began. The rest seemed merely like a preparation.  Through a series of synchronicities, I joined Qala’s Mystery School as one of the Rakuna Pod. Here I felt I had been thrown into the deep end with experienced swimmers. Almost unwillingly but with a sort of excitement, I discovered gifts I had denied and hidden for many lifetimes. However, curiously, at the end I felt lost: I had taken a completely new path and couldn’t see how to walk it. Occasionally I felt empowered, but for years I “drifted” spiritually.

Then I was introduced to Ishtar’s work: I read all her Friday channellings, which were transcribed and sent out by email by a former member of the Rakuna Pod, and I joined Ishtar’s mailing list.  I felt drawn to the Open to Channel course, from the first time I heard about it, but didn’t feel ready. It was more than 3 years before I was being pulled out of my chair and propelled towards my computer where I signed up for the 2013 programme.  From the beginning, I followed Ishtar’s advice to “practise, practise, practise” and gathered together a group who supported me while I did just that. Six years on, we still meet on a Tuesday evening, although the focus has changed.

The love and support I received from this group carried me through challenging times, particularly the death of a much-loved son-in-law. Also during this time I studied and was initiated into Healing with the Universal Rays. I completed the Open to Channel course in 2015.

On a retreat in Italy with Ishtar and other Open to Channel students, and a visit to the Damanhur community, I realised that I needed to teach The Masters’ Way.  Again my little group supported me and I taught all three paths over three years.

Now, as a Mentor of Love and Wisdom (a path I was again a bit reluctant to take) and being an octogenarian, I realise I have been working towards this for more than 30 years. This is my true path. I know there is no need to search any more. However, I am not allowed to let up. A spiritual life of any sort requires discipline, dedication and commitment.  These are my challenges now.

Looking back, I see how far I have come. However, I want to stress that I was not aware of my spiritual “gifts” since childhood. I have had no “road to Damascus” awakening. It has all been very gradual. I simply answered the calls when they came.

I should like to encourage all those who sometimes feel intimidated and discouraged, as I was, by those who share they have “seen spirits since they were 5” etc.

the path does not have to be amazing. The miracle is that it doesn’t matter what sort of journey you have: the awareness will come to you if you only open your heart, trust, and let it.