October always brings forth a sense of change. The air is cooler and the thoughts of ghosts and goblins fill our minds. But what exactly are ghosts and goblins? And is it true that the veil between the worlds is really much thinner during this time of year?

As a small child I was both mesmerized and terrorized by the idea of ghosts and spirits and things that go “bump in the night.” My friends made fun of me because I hid my eyes when the wicked witch showed up in the movie “Snow White.” And as I got older my friends and I started reading books about ESP and ghostly encounters. Always on the fence between my skepticism and my belief, I started a quest to find out what exactly was going on. Throughout my quest I’ve met a number of people of pure dedication and commitment to communicating with our loved ones who have passed on. I’ve also met some charlatans and others that were purely scheming and trying to scare me into parting with my hard-earned cash.

This month’s column focuses on two of the “good” mediums and I hope it sheds some clarity on what it means to be a medium in today’s world, what a medium can do for you and answers the question of whether or not you are living with a ghost (or earthbound spirit) and what to do about it.

Both Bob Hickman and Barb Mallon are mediums that I have met over the past 4 years. I’ve found them to be open and communicative about their careers and they have both been wonderfully giving teachers as well as gifted mediums.

“All mediums are psychics,” Bob replies when I ask for a brief description of his job, “but not all psychics are mediums.” Boyish eyes twinkle as he elaborates, “a medium’s job is to use their psychic foundation in order to communicate with those on the other side.”

Both Barb and Bob agree that the thing most people find surprising about them is “how normal we are.” Both told me stories of meeting new clients and having that client’s jaw drop followed by “I sort of expected you to be more, well, you know, mysterious.”

Barb’s an average mom, raising her kids, worrying about her grown daughter, managing the house with her self-employed husband. She’s got a normal haircut, and favors comfortable jeans and shirts. If you came across her in the grocery store, you wouldn’t have any idea that she “talks to dead people for a living.”

“Another thing that seems to surprise people, is the fact that I can turn it off. I mean, it’s not like I’m being followed all day long by these spirits,” Barb says, adding, “it’s really not at all like it is on the popular television show Medium. Although if it were, it would be easier sometimes – what I do is like interpreting sign language through an opaque cloth in the dark. It’s not like I get a full length video in color and surround sound!”

Bob stresses, “We’re normal people with a slightly different way of perceiving the world. I see it that I operate in two worlds – the astral plane and the psychic world. But the key to successfully helping clients is staying grounded in this world.”

When Bob was a young boy he recalls knowing things, “Like when someone was going to die. Trust me,” he frowns, “this was pretty bad stuff for a little kid and it made me fearful of the whole thing. So I just pretty much repressed any psychic things that were happening.

I asked each medium to share with me a poignant or memorable story from their years working as a professional.

Over a healthy salad at Nickell’s and Sheffler, Bob sat back and told me the story of a woman who had come to him because she had a missing brother.

“She’d come to me because her adult brother was missing from the DC area. I gave her details down to the name of the hotel where he was – in Texas. The detectives she’d hired followed my instructions and found him in that very hotel!”

Barb shared this story of “The Bride” with me, “A group of ladies – a mom and her daughters came to me for a group reading and as I was connecting with some of their departed loved ones I simply said, looking at one of the daughters, ‘Boy, your grandmother says the person you’re dating has a true strong soul connection to you. In fact, you’re going to be planning a wedding within a year.’ The entire group just looked at each other and broke into laughter and disbelief.” Barb pauses, and ads, “Just recently they came back in with some other friends – as a bachelorette party! They thought it was the perfect way to celebrate with the girls, including their grandmother, as she – the grandmother – had known about the wedding long before the bride!”

Many skeptics are sure there is a “trick” to mediumship readings and both Barb and Bob agree that there are less than ethical people who actually “fish” for information about the readee’s deceased friends and relatives. Bob makes a point to have someone else schedule appointments for him and he doesn’t know who is coming for a reading until they arrive. Barb has an on-line scheduling system on her website, www.barbmallon.com and she too doesn’t do much more than check a list of appointment times prior to meeting with a client the first time. She also points out that sometimes the opposite is true, “you have to make sure people don’t become dependent on you as a medium, and it’s okay to ask people what they are going to do with the information they’ve received.”

Both Hickman and Mallon drive home the point that their job is to bring peace and healing to people here and on the other side. They spend time in meditation and preparation before beginning readings and they end their sessions with a process of shutting off the connection.

If you’re interested in a mediumship reading the best thing you can do according to Barb, is “know your family history before you go to the reading, so you can validate what’s coming through. Also, be open to anybody coming through. You may be hoping to hear from your favorite Uncle, but your mother-in-law comes through instead. Just be open to hearing the messages that are coming for you, because the spirit people have to work hard to make themselves heard.”

Bob adds, “be aware that there really are no accidents, the Higher force will always find a way to get you the information you need at exactly the time you need it. As a medium my job is to give you the message, not necessarily understand it, that means if the spirit person insists I ask you about the pink underwear incident, I will! Oh, and if you come for a reading and you’re a skeptic, that’s okay, but don’t be so skeptical that you can’t consider the truth when it’s presented.”

We moved into a discussion about ghosts, or what many people think of as ghostly encounters and I asked if it’s true that even “normal” people can have interactions with loved ones who have crossed over.

“Generally a loved one may come across with a scent that reminds you of them – for instance you may smell pipe tobacco when you’re cleaning and then you’ll immediately think of your Great Grandfather who always smoked a pipe,” says Barb

“If you’re wondering if it’s your mom coming through, it’s okay to ask for more signs, even ask for something specific, like seeing a pink rose while you’re going throughout your day,” Bob says.

“On the other hand an earth-bound entity – or ghost – doesn’t usually respond when you ask them to stop doing whatever it is – playing with electricity, making noises or doing other little things to get your attention. This doesn’t mean that they are going to hurt you or are evil spirits; it just means that they are connected to this plane for some reason. It could be the house, or the people in it that they are connected to. Or, oddly, it could be because they are afraid sometimes for their own religious reasons to move forward into the light.” Barb explains. “I consider it part of my job to help earth-bounds move into the light. As a medium in this situation I will come into the home and investigate. When I find the energy I make a connection and help them understand the reasons to move forward, that it’s okay and safe for them.”

Bob Hickman and Barb Mallon have both been trained and studied mediumship in addition to their practical experience.

You can reach Bob Hickman through Sacred Circle Books at 919 King Street in Old Town 703-299-9309 or through his home office at 703-823-2374 or spiritconsultant@yahoo.com.

Barb Mallon can be reached at www.barbmallon.com or by contacting her assistant at 703.822.4289 or through her office line at 703-822-4263.