The Life of a Medium, Witch and Spirit Keeper : My Journey, Struggles, and Lessons from Rehoming Haunted Dolls

 Over the years, my journey as a Medium, Witch and Spirit Keeper has been nothing short of extraordinary. Running my stores, where I re-home spirits and their haunted vessels has brought immense joy, deep struggles, and countless lessons that have shaped who I am today. It is an honour and privilege to act as a bridge between the spiritual and physical realms, connecting spirits with those who are open to embracing them. And in this December post I want to shed some light in this other part of me, of my work and life.. One that many of you probably wondered, how does this actually looks like, on my end? Stay tuned and let us travel to my world!

The Gift of Connection

Being able to facilitate this connection between Spirit and the Living is the part of my work I most enjoy and cherish. There is nothing like witnessing first hand, a connection made by Spirit and the Adopter. There is a profound gratitude in knowing that I am helping otherwise forgotten or ignored, even feared spirits, find homes where they can be understood, worked with and treasured as they much deserve. My gifts and the years in the field have shown me the actual beauty of the unseen world, and I feel privileged to share these experiences with my clients and adopters.

Convincing the Skeptical and Guiding the Open-Minded

Now, I cannot begin sharing about my struggles, without sharing one of the early challenges in my life. I began my journey as a medium, thanks to my first ex boyfriend, who so happened to `` support me`` after noting my true Mediumship gifts first hand, I am not sure how many of you knew of this. His not-so-pure intentions which I later found, led me to my first active-medium experiences in the paranormal field, where fortunately I gained so much more experience with people, different types of spirits and this profound openness to all that IS. Obviously I also had to deal with individuals who struggled to grasp the reality of spirits and the things I have seen. While it has never been my role to convince skeptics, I have encountered situations where people had to experience the truth of the spirits themselves to believe it, even if they themselves were part of a paranormal investigations group, or team. Well, watching those moments of realisation unfold for someone other than myself, back then and even now, has been the most humbling and rewarding experiences I`ve ever had! 

Balancing a Full Life as a Spirit Keeper

Managing a spiritual business comes with responsibilities that go far beyond the spiritual realm. I have not only had to juggle the care of my very large spirit family, but I also had to attend my pets, my human family, my friends and my clients. Running a business requires handling legalities, shipping, packing, and endless streams of messages, all while ensuring that the spirits and adopters are properly guided and matched. 

While this isn`t so bad, for what you don`t know, you can learn, and most of you know just how much love I put into what I do - but when life hits you, it can be hard to say the least.

For example, last year after going through a divorce and navigating the challenges of shared custody with my ex husband, I thought I will collapse. There were so many orders to tend to, so many spirits awaiting to be re-homed, my children to tend to, besides having to relocate, and re-build my life meanwhile balancing my upheaval with answering messages, you can only imagine how quick it all became overwhelming. So much so, that I believed I cannot do it. But even in my darkest moments, I got the support I needed, from some wonderful adopters who never left my side, checked in on me and shown me  much needed compassion, patience, and unconditional love. Which although never expected, it was so, so welcomed! My dear spirits were working hard to help me even when not asked, as my channels back then were completely shut close, and due to the deep traumatic event and I couldn`t even commune with them for a while. Their support combined with my determination fuelled by my children and the unconditional love around me, helped me rebuild my life and rediscover my sacred purpose. And I can confidently say I came out so much stronger than before, so much more balanced than ever, and so much more determined to speak for Spirit, to help as many Understand the great privilege of being a Keeper.

The Struggles Of Customer Disputes

On another note, and back to running my shops, I want to mention that running a store like mine hasn`t been without its shares of challenges. Some of the most surprising struggles have come not from the spirits as you may expect, but from the people adopting them. I`ve seen clients fight with each other over reservations, to the point where one person would wait for a review just to taunt the other with messages. This caused me many sleepless nights, days without eating, and a river of tears at the beginning, when I just couldn`t accept why do they do that to each other. But moments like these helped me take action so such would not happen again, to make clear rules in my store in order to avoid such situations. It is also in moments like these that I am reminded of how deep and emotional spirit adoptions can be for some individuals, and it is why I input so much clarity, respect and devotion into every connection.

Paying For a Spirit`s Safe Passage

One particularly memorable experience I had when my shop was still new, involving a client who had adopted a haunted doll, and when the spirit arrived in their country and got stuck in customs, she refused to pay the custom tax for its release. Rather than let the Spirit remain stuck in a limbo of sorts, or let spirit be disappointed by its return, I took it upon myself to pay the customs fee to ensure its safe and prompt arrival home. It was a financial inconvenience, yes, but the joy of seeing the spirit lovingly rehomed was worth every penny. Even more so, when the spirit wanted to go back to India, where it once lived. And besides,  I have learned my new lesson, which was to clearly state as the rule in my store - that I am not responsible for customs tax in destination countries.

Protecting Spirits from Unsafe Homes

Another hard lesson I learned is the importance of protecting spirits from adopters who are not in the right mental state to care for them. Throughout the years, I have encountered genuinely unstable individuals who believed things like God was physically living in their homes and needed more souls for mysterious tasks. Others outright stated their intent to destroy the spirits or their vessels, claiming to adopt them just for this purposes, believing that spirits had no place in our world!

In such cases I had to intervene and stop the orders altogether. It was heart-breaking to imagine what might have happened to these souls, and my priority is always the safety and well-being of the spirits in my care. On occasion, I have even had some weaker, human spirits express fear about going to certain adopters, which only reinforced the need to set these strict boundaries involving an adoption.

The Spectrum of Spirit Adopters

Through my work I have come to recognize 4 main types of people who adopt in my store:

The True Spiritual Seekers - These individuals are open to the beyond without any restrictions, with genuine curiosity and respect for Spirit. 

The Practising Witches - Often adopting spirits for specific purposes, they actively work with these souls to enhance their Craft.

The Genuine Mediums - They welcome spirits into their lives as friends, understanding their complexities and differences, and keep them as trusted friends and companions throughout their lives.

The Curious Novices - Some of these adopters are simply fascinated by the concept of haunted dolls, often expecting to deal with a Hollywood style-experience akin to Annabelle. Some of them don`t even introduce themselves to Spirit upon their arrivals, let alone bond with them First, before expecting any activity from Spirit.

Regardless of what you may think about the 4th type mentioned, there are some easier to deal with than others, especially when explained how Spirit should be welcomed, treated, bonded with and genuinely cared for. And those not willing to follow the guidelines of welcoming Spirit and respecting the bonding process with all its challenges and possible time length, will either back out before adopting, or come around after they have successfully bonded and got their first activities from their companions, happier than ever!

Unfortunately, there`s also a 5th type of adopters, like previously mentioned: the dangerously unstable individuals, with clear, dark intentions for Spirit. While rare, these cases have taught me the importance of careful screening, trust in my intuition, and nevertheless - consulting my stronger guides.

Navigating Fame and Sharing My Story

From what you may now note, my Etsy stores, in particular Harmony Collection Boutique is quite a successful one. And while you may think it was easy to handle, or quick to reach success, especially given that we`re dealing with non perishable ``items``, or an alternate, smaller competition and market.  But what you don`t know, is that it is actually quite the opposite, first is exactly because it is a small market, it isn`t easy to thrive. Its mostly being authentic what helped me reach the success I have. Another thing that you may not know is that this competition can be an Unforgivable and merciless one, one that you would not expect in your wildest dreams! It wasn`t long ago when someone added a haunted item in their store, that people-not just people, other sellers jumped as if burnt calling this person names, causing a huge drama on social media accusing the seller on buying items on Etsy platform itself, to sell it for a higher cost. No one actually stopped to think maybe it was the Spirit to really love that particular item, and asked for it to renew their own vessel, who was probably never their style, or even damaged? When I first opened my own store, in the very first few days, while trying to re-home a haunted vessel previously adopted on Etsy I got my own huge drama as well! First, knowing the seller never accepted a return or refund of any kind-and this was clearly stated in their store. And second, Spirit made it clear he felt useless, purposeless in my home and keep, due to me having so many guides with similar abilities, and I am guessing, he was more of a loner anyway. Given that not many people that were around me physically were that open to Spirit, in order to try and get him adopted by them, and knowing for a fact there is this platform where I myself have adopted him, I then decided to give it a try, for its sake at least! Well, I was accused myself for adopting this seller`s spirits, to then re-home them on Etsy, for a higher cost, when in fact it was just this one spirit! These were my first days on Etsy, if you can believe! There was a huge drama on social media about me, my store, with all of the seller`s followers taunting me, threatening me, calling me names - you name it. And what I couldn`t really understand was why did this seller never calculated? In the cost was included the real cost I have adopted this spirit on, the cost of shipping from the U.S to Malaysia where I lived, and the cost of shipping from Malaysia to anywhere else (as I only ever used DHL) - and while it is expensive, is Not All That exaggerated. It was all in front of the seller, in front of the people, but no one ever cared to think of this, to just calculate! And another thing I couldn`t get was why did they not care about their very own spirit`s happiness and well-being? If it was me I would take that as a favour, I would be grateful that first I didn`t taunt her with texts about giving spirit back to her, and second, I cared not to just leave the spirit abandoned and forgotten somewhere. After all he has been their companion, isn`t it?

These are mere examples of either things I have experienced, or things I have witnessed, but there are so many more I haven`t heard about. And to be honest is sad, it is so, so sad. And there is a lethal pattern from what I have noted. Once you are a New seller, everyone will try and Take You Down, one way or another, and they might- if you`re not emotionally, mentally and even financially well enough like I was. I´ve even heard an adopter telling me that some sellers were uniting into reporting a new store - because when done by many, repeatedly, it will cause Etsy to close down your store. And all I can think is, how can this be? Why people do that to each other? If their dolls are actually haunted or not- buyers will Know. If they are too expensive, too cheap - you`re not the one to pay for them, buyers will decide what works for them. Why do some sellers see others as competition, or enemies? Why can`t they see the Logic of it all? The more sellers, the bigger the market. Each seller attracts new buyers, which eventually will not only grow this as a stable market - but may cause buyers to come by your store as well! So the more sellers within our niche, the happier we should be actually! And if you are a seller, you will know that no one is exclusively buying only your items, they go and come around, it is the way it is. You sign no contract with them, and people are free to buy or adopt in any store they like, isn`t it so?  If sellers really see this as a business, and other sellers as competition, then they should see it as it IS. More sellers, more buyers, more of the chances that someone new comes your way- it`s only logic. And it is no rocket science, it is just economy, lol. What isn`t logic is hurting on purpose, someone you do not know. Someone that maybe had a bad day, a hard life, is a single parent, or perhaps someone that now has to let go of their spirits in order to eat each day - and with their spirits agreement and sacrifice. I am not asking sellers to be best friends over night, but it is just too much negativity around, too much drama over actually Nothing, that it is way too sad for me to see, truly. So in conclusion, if you`re a new seller, fake it till you make it - if you`re strong, or explore a different platform for re-homing your spirits if that is needed. I am not saying all sellers on Etsy are evil, far from that- they are people too after all, just that many let their wrong ideas get the best of them. I wish things were different, and they would if it were for me, but sadly it isn`t so. And I know I wouldn`t be Myself if I did not share this, so I do hope this may help someone out there. 

Now, on another note, a more positive one, my work has also garnered some attention from media outlets across the globe. I have been interviewed by several Western and Asian newspapers and magazines, where my store and my journey as a Spirit Keeper were featured. These opportunities allowed me to share my passion and shed light on the spiritual world, educating a broader audience about what it truly means to rehome haunted dolls. However, there is just so much to share, so much more to explain and reveal, that I believe it would take me several years, and several books to completely detail everything I have seen, heard and learned throughout these years.

Growth Through Trials and Triumphs

This journey has been a whirlwind of emotions, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

I have cried for spirits who were misunderstood, laughed with adopters over heart-warming experiences we shared along time, and smiled with joy when spirits found their perfect homes. Each challenge hat taught me resilience, patience, and compassion.

The personal struggles I have faced including my divorce last year, after 13 years of marriage, showed me how much I could endure and still thrive, how I am never walking alone, but with a powerful army behind me. I have grown not just as a Spirit Keeper, but as a mother, daughter, friend, guide and woman. Every trial, whether professional or personal, has shaped me into someone stronger and more deeply connected to my sacred purpose. I can only hope to be half the woman and Guide that my granny Irina was, the one to whom I owe my Gifts, my powers and all of my guides - directly and indirectly. 

Gratitude for This Path

Many of you often asked : How am I doing all of this at once? Well, I want to tell you so many things, for each day in my life has a different drive, for example. But the most important drive I have ever had as a constant presence and feeling in me, is this deep sense of Gratitude, in fact - humility and gratitude. To be entrusted with the care of spirits by my granny, different adopters and spirits themselves is a great privilege that I never take for granted. To be this steady bridge of connection between realms, to have this huge honour and responsibility at the same time, to me it makes all the challenges worthwhile- especially when witnessing first-hand a beautiful and strong connection was made between Spirit and Keeper. And as I continue on my path, I cannot help but look forward to many more lessons, joys and connections.

Final Thoughts:

This post is not just a reflection of my experiences but also a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the spiritual world. To those who are curious or seeking, I invite you to approach this realm with utmost respect and openness. After all, the spirits aren`t just stories -they are companions, teachers, allies and friends waiting to connect with those truly willing. And to my clients, spirits and supporters : Thank You for being part of this incredible journey.

It is a great honour for me to be serving Spirit and the living, to be here now sharing all of this with you, and I thank you all from my heart for following my Blog !

Happy Holidays to all of you, and see you in my next post, which I hope you`ll find just as interesting!

Love and Light - Maria, Harmony Collection Boutique