My Reading Teacher

For the past two years, Melanie has been my teacher, my guide, and my mentor through every stage of intuitive development. I’ve had other Spiritual teachers too, but the approach that Melanie took had the biggest impact on my intuitive development. With deep intuition and a gift for teaching, she helped me strengthen my psychic mediumship abilities in the most natural, developmentally appropriate way.

As a former reading teacher, I’ve always found it a little ironic—and quite funny—that my career evolved into another kind of “reading.” But today, Spirit gave me a moment of profound clarity that I just have to share.

It all began with a memory of my son as a baby. Born at 30 weeks, he had some developmental delays. When he was learning to walk, he wasn’t talking much, which concerned me. His physical therapist told me something that has stuck with me ever since: his brain was working so hard on mastering walking that there wasn’t much energy left for talking. But once walking became second nature, his language skills exploded. And she was right.

Then Spirit whispered, “Pay attention. There's a lesson here.”

Reading Development 101

Let’s revisit the stages of reading development—trust me, it ties in spiritually!

1. Concepts About Print

This is where a child learns how books work. They begin to recognize that letters form words, which form sentences, and that stories have a beginning, middle, and end. Without a full grasp on these concepts, learning to read is very difficult. 

2. Decoding

Next, they learn to sound out letters and letter combinations. This builds the foundation to read longer words and, eventually, sentences. Sight words also play a role here—those tricky high-frequency words that don’t follow normal rules.

3. Fluency

With repeated practice, children learn to read with proper pace, rhythm, expression, and accuracy. This builds confidence and flow.

4. Comprehension

This is where the magic happens. Once foundational skills are strong, comprehension blooms. Readers engage, ask questions, make connections, and immerse themselves in the story. The text becomes alive!

So…What Does This Have to Do with Spirit?

Everything.

As I reflected, Spirit revealed how this very same path applies to intuitive development.

1. Concepts About Spirit

At first, I was simply learning that Spirit is—that signs, symbols, dreams, and synchronicities are real and meaningful. Like learning to hold a book right-side up, I was discovering a whole new language.

2. Spiritual Decoding

Then I began to decode. Symbols, messages, feelings—they all had patterns. I started to recognize my personal “Spiritual dialect.” Just like decoding words, I learned to discern what messages were from Spirit and which were not.

3. Fluency with Spirit

With time and practice, my connection to Spirit became smoother, more confident. The messages flowed more clearly, and I trusted myself more. Just like reading out loud becomes fluid, so did my delivery of messages.

4. Comprehension and Transmission

This is where it all came together—my ability to understand Spirit’s messages deeply and communicate them in a way others could understand. I wasn't just “reading symbols”—I was composing a symphony of insight, intuition, and healing.

Literacy also includes writing.

Writing is a skill that is cultivated from early on; writing letters, words, sentences, and beyond. Without getting too deep into it, this is what you do with all of the above skills. Sometimes you will write for just you, sometimes it will be to reflect, and other times it will be your own sacred and creative expression. What you choose to do with it at any given time is for you to decide. Please let it be for good and good only. Please let it be your own (plagiarism is a big no no, just don’t do it). An author gives the world a gift when they share their voice with the world. If only one person receives it, never doubt its impact. 

In Gratitude

None of this would’ve been possible without Melanie. Her intuitive, Spirit-led approach to teaching mirrored the literacy development process in ways I didn’t recognize at first. But now I see it so clearly—she laid the foundation for me to flourish. Her fluency with Spirit gave me the space and tools to build my own.

And for that, I am endlessly grateful.

✨Bright Light Betsy ✨