These are two different experiences, and in this article, I'll describe receiving messages.
When and where it happens
Messages come at any time and in any place. I can be woken in the middle of the night with a message, or receive one in the middle of counting change as I'm making a purchase at the mall.
Most of the time, I sense the message when I'm near the person to whom I must deliver it.
And yes, I "must" deliver it. If I don't, the spirits tend to leave me alone for awhile. They know that I'm not reliable. While this has appeal, there's also guilt with it, perhaps a lingering reminder of my Catholic school upbringing.
So, most of the messages arrive when I'm shopping.
The telephone rings
When a message is on its way, it's like the telephone ringing. No matter how often or how recently I've received messages, I'm still startled when I realize I'm being sent something.
It's best described as how the movies or a play provide an aside. That is, what's around me gets a bit dimmer and quieter, and I can focus on what I'm supposed to "hear."
Of course, I rarely actually hear anything. I may "get" words or phrases, but they're impressed upon me, I don't hear them spoken in most cases.
Or, I may get a visual impression, but again, this isn't usually an actual vision. It's the sense that if I could see the person, he'd be doing or wearing whatever I'm thinking of.
It's as if someone pointed to a dog and asked you what it is. Of course, you'd say, "That's a dog." But, if the person then said, "How do you know it's a dog?" you might pause without a clear answer. You simply know that it's a dog, period.
In the same way, I may know that the message is coming from a woman in a bright red high-buttoned dress. Or a man with a white beard. Or I simply know that I'm supposed to say, "You don't need to change anything," or "When the small man with the attache arrives in your office, expect an important career opportunity."
But, no matter what the message, the surroundings seem a little dimmer and unimportant to me, as I receive the impression/message. And, I'll often remain preoccupied with the message until I deliver it, in full.
