Applying Ethics in Mediumship
Mediumship is a powerful modality for providing healing, love, and service. However, like any form of healing—spiritual or otherwise—it carries deep responsibility and requires ethical conduct. Many people are surprised by this, often assuming that ethics in spiritual work is either common knowledge or inherently understood by those who perform such profound healing practices. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
Mediumship often takes place in deeply vulnerable and open states, where clients may experience profound emotions. A single message can hold immense meaning, bringing closure, healing, or even awakening new insights. However if a practitioner does not uphold strong moral and ethical standards, they risk unintentionally causing harm. A careless word could trigger unresolved trauma, mislead the client, or fail to offer meaningful support in their healing journey.
This is why it is important to continuously learn, educate ourselves, and share knowledge with others to ensure a safe and ethical space. We are all human, and each of us is here on earth to learn. Ethics, whether in spiritual or non-spiritual practices, is a vital aspect that is sometimes overlooked or not properly passed on. Therefore, it is essential to emphasize the importance of ethical standards in mediumship.
Let’s begin with the fundamental principle: "Do no harm." Words carry immense power, and mediums must ensure that the information they share fosters healing, comfort, and well-being—not fear, anxiety, or harm.
One of the ways mediums can ensure ethical practice is by recognizing and avoiding misleading techniques that might erode trust in their work. This leads to an important discussion: the difference between hot readings and cold readings.
One of the first concepts I learned from my mentors involved two terms that fascinated me: hot reading and cold reading. These are commonly used to describe unethical practices in mediumship.
A hot reading occurs when a medium has researched a client in advance and then presents that information as though it’s coming from spirit. This is deceptive and quickly breaks trust.
A cold reading, on the other hand, is when the medium interprets the client's body language or verbal cues to appear insightful. While this isn’t as openly dishonest as hot reading, it’s still not ethical because it relies on observation rather than genuine spiritual communication.
Ethical mediumship should be about receiving rather than deciphering clues. In this way, we must rely on the connection with spirit, not on external clues or manipulation.
Understanding the Medium’s Role
Another essential aspect is understanding the role of a medium. We are not doctors or therapists. It is not our job to diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or tell clients what to do with their lives.
Their role is simple yet profound: to be messengers—delivering information with integrity and allowing the client to interpret and integrate the message as they choose. This requires humility, respect, and a willingness to step aside so that spirit can communicate authentically.
If you ever feel like a medium is fishing for answers or asking too many leading questions, trust your intuition. Trust is built on evidence. One of the ways mediums establish credibility is by providing evidential information—specific details that the client can verify. This might include:
The spirit’s name, age, or occupation
How the spirit passed
The spirit’s relationship with the client
Imagine receiving a message from a loved one that is vague or generic—something that could apply to anyone. It might feel comforting, but would it truly reassure you that spirit is present? Now, imagine that the medium shares a name, a specific memory, or a personal detail that only you and your loved one would know. That’s the power of evidential information.
However, not everything in spiritual work can be validated in the same way. Concepts such as soul contracts or reincarnation may feel deeply meaningful to a client, but they cannot be presented as evidence. If these insights are shared at all, they should be offered as possibilities rather than facts. Personally, I prefer to refrain from discussing them, as they can easily become distractions from the role we are meant to play in this lifetime.
Avoiding Fear-Based Messaging
The spirit world is a place of love and healing. Life is fluid—circumstances can change—and focusing on fearful outcomes undermines a person’s sense of empowerment. This work is about helping people live fully in the present moment, not burdening them with fear of the future.
Messages that create fear or anxiety are not only unethical but also deeply disempowering. Focusing on fearful predictions weakens a person’s sense of agency over their own life. A medium’s role is to guide people toward a deeper connection with the present moment, not to spread fear about what lies ahead.
It happens, sometimes, that spirit presents sensitive information—such as trauma, loss, or past abuse. When this happens, it’s crucial to handle the message with care and compassion.
Always asking the client’s permission before sharing something deeply personal is a must. Spirit does not bring up painful topics to harm the client, but it is the responsibility of the medium to ensure these messages are delivered with respect and sensitivity.
Different Belief Systems
Not everyone shares the same beliefs about the spirit world or mediumship. Ethical mediums recognize this and do not push their own beliefs onto clients.
Instead, they:
Honor the client’s beliefs and experiences without judgment.
Offer support and insight without trying to convince or prove anything.
A respectful and open approach allows for genuine trust and connection to develop.
Avoiding Harmful Narratives
Equally important is avoiding harmful narratives that can disempower the client.
For example:
Telling a client they are cursed or stuck, creates unnecessary fear and dependency.
Clients do not need a medium to remove so-called curses. Mediumship is about empowerment, not fear-based reliance.
We are not communicating with ghosts or malevolent entities—we are connecting with real souls who have stories to share.
A session should leave the client feeling supported, uplifted, and empowered, not burdened by fear or uncertainty.
When a Reading Doesn't Go as Planned
Of course, not every reading will go smoothly. Even experienced mediums sometimes struggle with a connection that feels off or difficult to anchor.
In these cases, it’s important to be honest with the client. If needed, offer to reschedule or provide a refund. You might not be the right medium for that person at that moment, and that's perfectly okay. Integrity means respecting both parties by recognizing when a session isn’t working.
At its core, mediumship is about creating a safe, compassionate space for healing and spiritual connection. It’s about empowering clients to trust themselves and their own journeys while offering insights that uplift and inspire. These are some of the pearls, I have learned from mentors, other practitioners and by my own experience, by following these principles, practitioners can foster trust, healing, and meaningful transformation in the lives of those they serve.