The Fastest Path to Mediumship Development Isn't What You Think

If you’ve browsed my upcoming workshops or classes, you might have noticed something missing: I rarely teach classes exclusively for absolute beginners.

Over the years, people sometimes ask me why I don’t set up dedicated introductory courses. Isn’t it better to ease people in? Shouldn’t beginners have a safe, insulated space where everyone is struggling through the basics together?

Intuitively, it sounds like a good idea. But in practice, I’ve found quite the opposite. Here is why I prefer teaching mixed-level groups, and why immersion in a community of varied experience levels is ultimately the fastest, most effective way to grow as a medium.

1. Immersion Is the Best Way to Learn (Even If It Feels Daunting)

Let’s be honest: diving straight into a mixed-level environment can feel intimidating when you’re brand new. It’s completely normal to feel scared, out of your depth, or unsure of where to even start.

Just like learning a new spoken language, however, immersion is ultimately the best way to learn.

You could spend months studying spiritual concepts and mediumship techniques. But true growth happens when you engage in the work rather than simply learning about it.

In my experience, immersion works best – especially when it’s combined with the support of an experienced teacher who can provide context, answer questions, and help you make sense of what you’re experiencing along the way.

2. Results Beat Unprovable Concepts

I find that a lot of time in traditional beginner classes can be spent exploring concepts that are largely matters of personal belief. People’s views are naturally influenced by their spiritual path, religious background, and lived experience, so perspectives can vary widely. Rather than spending hours debating ideas that cannot be definitively resolved, I prefer to focus on developing the practical skills that help someone give a clear, more accurate reading.

In mediumship, results matter more than dogma. Once you understand the basic mechanics—which are actually simple and can be taught quickly—you don’t need endless lecturing on theoretical frameworks. You need practice that produces verifiable evidence.

3. When Good Intentions Slow Development

Instead of focusing on actual development, beginner classes often lose valuable time to practices that simply don’t serve the work:

Guided Meditations: These rarely work well in a live classroom environment. They can inadvertently foster competition or comparison among students, and they often bring an energy that can actually be too relaxed—slipping into a sleepy state when mediumship actually requires alert, active communication.
Unhelpful Prerequisites: Many classes get bogged down teaching unnecessary concepts, such as insisting you must meet your spirit guide or wait to feel their specific “calling card” before you are allowed to work. These kinds of requirements often create doubt and hesitation, causing students to question themselves instead of developing through practice.

4. The Danger of Free Practice Circles

Many beginners gravitate toward free practice groups because they seem like a safe way to gain experience before joining a class or development program. Unfortunately, these groups often produce the opposite effect. Without experienced guidance, it’s easy for a group to become an echo chamber of uncertainty, where doubts, misconceptions, and ineffective habits get unintentionally reinforced. (If you want to read more about the specific pitfalls of unguided circles, check out my thoughts on the dangers of free practice circles).

5. The Magic of the Mixed Group

This is why joining a mixed-level group led by an experienced, supportive teacher offers the absolute best of both worlds.

For Beginners: You gain the benefit of immediate immersion. By observing strong, effective mediumship in action, you naturally develop a sense of its rhythm, flow, and standards. What might otherwise take months to learn through trial and error can often be absorbed simply by being part of the environment.
For Experienced Mediums: Teaching and practicing alongside beginners is a vital reminder. Advanced mediums often benefit immensely from reconnecting with beginners. They are reminded of foundational basics they may have forgotten or abandoned, and they rediscover the raw excitement of pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.

Raising the Standard Together

Spiritual development is a journey, and growth happens most naturally when we focus less on rigid beliefs and more on meaningful practice. In a supportive mixed-level environment, beginners gain confidence more quickly through immersion, while experienced practitioners remain engaged, grounded, and continually challenged to grow.

If you’re willing to dive in, trust the process, and learn by doing, joining a mixed-level class or series might just change everything for your development.

What has your experience been like learning new skills? Do you prefer a gentle, step-by-step conceptual approach, or do you like diving straight into the deep end? Let me know in the comments below!

Interested in Learning?
I frequently offer mediumship classes and workshops—usually online. Check Out My Current Classes →