Paintings and Messages from Spirit
by Theresa Nygard
Who
would think that a teaching fellow at Harvard University, with two
master’s degrees, who has held executive managements positions in
corporations and government around the world, would be in yoga class and
receiving visits from friendly spirits? That’s Marian Bayer’s
experience: “I'd be trying to do a pose, and someone would come and
push me over and and I would hear a giggle.” Bewildered, she would look
around, and seeing no one near, would realize a playful spirit was
visiting. “I would say, 'Okay that's funny. I know you’re here. Thanks,
but let me do my yoga practice.'”
Since
that time Marian has developed her abilities, and now communicates with
a group of beings in spirit called “The Famous 8,” a group of spirits
consisting of a doctor, a professor, an angel, a mother, a protector, a
philosopher, a comedian and an artist. The messages and paintings they
share with us are intended to help mankind. “Painting with the spirits
really came about one evening when in a meditation group with James Van
Praagh. I had the good fortune of sitting right next to James during the
meditation. As we shared what came through to us, I had no idea that
what James would say next would change my life forever. He looked at me
and said, 'Spirit says, keep painting.'”
Since
then, Marian has gotten to know the eight spirits as individuals, just
like us, and they have pushed her to grow beyond her limits. “It's an
amazing group and I'm very honored to work with them. They really
encourage me; they give me confidence and faith. They ask me to stretch
my medium abilities, and push me to grow beyond my private nature. I
just think it's such an honor to have this connection with them and to
support the work that they're trying to do.” They look to Marian to help
share their wonderful messages. For example, Mother Spirit says, “Don’t
let words, especially your own, bring your down.”
Marian
says that when she does readings, “You would think that people would
want to talk to their mother or a loved one who's passed, but many
people come to me wanting to talk to their guides.” Realizing so many
people want to know more about spirit guides in general and develop a
closer connection with their guides, Marian now offers a workshop on
connecting with your spirit guides. What she enjoys most about teaching
is creating a genuine safe, open conversation so people can ask what's
been on their mind and feel comfortable exploring their questions.
Part
of the information the spirits want her to communicate is how spirit
guides work: Why spirits choose to be spirit guides; what they have to
do to become a guide; how the guides learn to offer support in a way
that a person will accept the information, rather than dismiss it or be
afraid of it.
“A
spirit has to train and study hard to become a spirit guide. It is not
easy work to be a guide. There are special skills they learn like
lowering their vibration, they practice how to reach us, and they have
to prove themselves.” The Professor, one of the spirit beings in The
Famous 8, teaches at a university on a spiritual plane: “It's a two-year
program in our terms of time. Sometimes I set the intention that I'm
going to go meet up with the Professor, and I arrive in his classroom.
Occasionally I'm even the guest lecturer there and we will have a
question-and-answer session, just like here when I teach a class. I see
the student spirits there, and to me it's just as real as this room – I
can see what the classroom looks like, what the different spirits look
like, what they're wearing, their personalities, and I interact with
them just like I do with the students in my class. So I'm doing in the
spirit world the same thing I'm doing here – I help bridge the worlds.”
For
Marian, painting is another way she bridges the worlds. About 15 years
ago she took up oil painting. “I never took any lessons; I just dabbled
in it for relaxation. Several times while I was painting I could feel
where I went to a different dimension, and it was like someone else was
painting through me. It was just so automatic; it felt so loving and
comforting, nurturing and nourishing. Now I get the feeling to paint, or
a spirit is nudging me, asking me to paint. I never know what's going
to show up on the canvas, but the spirit painting gives me a feeling or
tells me what colors to use. I just hold the canvas and paint with my
fingers, turning the canvas and paint some more, then eventually the
images show up.”
Oftentimes
Marian will paint for the purpose of healing or shifting the energy of a
spirit that comes to her. Once a man in spirit came to her to paint.
“He was crying and very upset. His three year old daughter had passed
away while he was alive, and he never got over it – even as he went into
spirit, he still carried that grief with him. So through me he painted a
painting for Penelope, his daughter. When we finished I could feel his
energy shift and some of that grief release for him. That helped him
move on in his journey. When I do a painting like that, for me it's like
art therapy for spirit.” Other times, a spirit will come through to
paint and give a message for a particular person.
In
addition to private sittings to allow Spirit to create paintings for
people, Marian does readings as a medium, she offers energy healing
sessions, and she volunteers in Echo Bodine’s remote healing program.
“My whole life I knew I was supposed to use my gifts to help others. My
work was meaningful, but now pales in comparison to my work as a medium
and my connection with The Famous 8, channeling their paintings and
messages. Helping someone connect with their spirit guides or loved ones
who have crossed over is the most important work I will ever do.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Marian Bayer can be contacted at marian@thefamous8.com, or 952-221-1204, or visit her website at www.thefamous8.com.
