Soul Talking
by Megan Norris

For the past four years, Perth medium, Anthony Grzelka, has been making his mark in psychic circles with his amazing connections between the spirit world and the grieving families left behind.

But today, the man dubbed Australia's own ''ghost whisperer'' - and the only Aussie medium endorsed by respected US medium, James Van Praagh who inspired Channel Seven's show of the same name - is tapping into new territory in a world much closer to our own.

For the 39-year-old father of three has been using his unique psychic gift to bring hope and relief to battling Australians whose lives have been blighted by tragedy, sickness and disaster.

And the results, say the astonished families who've experienced Anthony's special brand of 'crossing over', are beyond belief.

Fresh from his latest national tour, the talented medium responsible for bringing closure to a shattered Newcastle mother whose teenage daughter vanished in mysterious circumstances 27-years-ago - is now inundated with requests for his “soul-talking” gift.

And the unique `connections' he's made with everyone from severely disabled children, to stroke-ridden patients or people in comas, are finally unlocking hidden doorways into a little understood twilight world where he's become the 'voice' for a vulnerable, disadvantaged section of the community.

''I realised I had the ability to do this special work three years ago,'' says Anthony, who already provided mediumship readings.

''My first experience was with my 14-month-old nephew Isaiah who had been exhibiting major developmental problems which nobody understood,'' he explains.

''He'd been banging his head against his cot, and having tantrums but what we'd put down to toddler behaviour was suddenly telling me a different story.''

As Anthony held Isaiah in his arms, he suddenly experienced the same ''connected'' sensation that overwhelms him during contact with the spirit realm.

''It was as if Isaiah was silently 'speaking' to me and I felt flooded with information in which he was saying there was something wrong with his mind functioning,'' recalls Anthony.

''He explained he couldn't communicate with the adults around him in the way he wanted to.

''It was like I was talking with the reasoned adult soul of this little boy who was explaining clearly the reasons for his distress.''

Responding to Isaiah's plea to intervene, Anthony urged the boys parents to take him to a specialist where extensive tests later revealed he suffered from Fragile X Syndrome - a condition aligned to autism.

''Testing showed a malfunction in his brain wiring so that signals were being produced but not being transmitted to the body's responders - like a short circuiting problem,'' says Anthony who realised he could use his gift in a new way - making contact with the souls of the living as well as spirits of the dead.

''I had the same experience a while later during a reading for a local woman,'' he says.

''A man kept coming through, telling me how sick he'd been and from the way I was receiving information I assumed he'd passed.''

But the shocked woman revealed the details were coming from her husband who lay in a coma following a brain aneurism.

Another reading with an elderly woman saw Anthony picking up on a spirit who claimed he was“''locked away'' by illness and was ready to leave the world.

''The woman was in tears as she explained her husband was in the late stages of Alzheimer's and couldn't communicate.

''She was comforted to learn that he wanted her to let him go and died shortly afterwards.''

Then, in September 2006, Anthony visited a family in Northern NSW who asked for a soul-talking session with their severely disabled son.

Unknown to Anthony, Adam Dale, 32, had been robbed of his speech on his 11th birthday in 1984 when he suffered a massive stroke that left him in a coma.

Now severely disabled, the young man's doting parents, Brian and Robyn, were intrigued to see if Anthony could give them some insight into their son's closed world.

''We had so many questions,'' says Brian, a former schoolteacher recalling how his formerly energetic young son had returned from hospital barely able to blink.

''Adam had regained enough mobility to crawl along the floor and walk with a frame - but without speech, we had no idea if he was happy or if there were things we could do for him.

Devoted to their only son, the Dale's were desperate to know if relinquishing him to day care was the right move.

''We'd heard from a friend about Anthony's soul-talking and how he was opening up doors for communication between families with children like Adam who couldn't speak for themselves,'' says Brian.

Slowly, Anthony 'tuned in' to the young man - emerging with revelations which shocked Adam's parents.

''He said Adam had 'explained' how his brain injury had been caused during some sort of accident during childhood - and that he was not born disabled,'' says Brian.

''He even told Anthony about his concerns over an accident which occurred after his stroke - where someone close to him had fallen off something and seriously injured themselves.''

That freak accident, explains the Dale's in amazement, involved Adam's younger sister, Thala, who had experienced a brain hemorrhage after falling off her pony.

''This had happened four years after Adam's stroke and we'd never known he was aware of it, let alone grasped how concerned he'd been,'' says his father.

But they were even more shocked as Anthony revealed how Adam laughed about his father swearing when he wet the bed - and how much he missed his sister, Jade, who lived away.

''By the time Anthony described Adam's favourite past-time - sitting in the bath listening to his audio books – we knew for sure all this information could only possibly have come from our son.''

''He even told us how Adam disliked the foul tasting orange juice we give him every day...…which is true, because Robyn slips vitamin supplements in his juice every morning making it taste funny.

But the biggest insight for Robyn, was discovering how much her son enjoyed day care and his happiness at being with friends.

''I'd felt so guilty having this respite,'' she says.

''But I was able to let go of those feelings just knowing he was happy.''

In Perth, another mother of a severely disabled adult daughter, experienced the same relief.

Disabled since infancy, 25-year-old Jemima, is confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak.

Yet when her mother asked if she'd like a reading by the new ''ghost whisperer'', she became very animated.

''She was extremely excited,'' says Ria, explaining that her daughter understands most information but cannot speak for herself.

Again Anthony knew nothing of the family when he sat down with Jemima.

''He was amazing, explaining how Jemima had said she was not supposed to be in a wheelchair because she hadn't been born handicapped,'' says Ria, who remains uncertain of the cause of Jemima's disability which developed after baby immunizations.

''She also told Anthony she was 'with Jack and Thomas' - the names of my husbands uncle and grandfather who passed years before her birth.''

Like Adam, Jemima also revealed her enjoyment of daycare where she was well cared for.

''She even described her bedroom to him in great detail and told him she loved the banana milk shakes I make for her each morning,'' says Ria, thrilled.

But more telling, was Jemima's revelation that she'd accidentally burned her mouth on hot soup in day care.

''Nobody had ever mentioned this, but when I questioned Jemima's carers they confirmed an incident had occurred a few weeks earlier when she'd burned her mouth on hot soup.

Astonished by Anthony's accuracy, the family are stunned by the new calm surrounding their daughter since her soul-talking session.

''We believe she's finally been helped to say all the things she couldn't tell us before,'' says Ria.

''Anthony unlocked that door and brought her peace''

Story by Megan Norris.
If you have had a soul talking or psychic experience, Megan is interested in hearing from you.
Please email: megnorris@hotkey.net.au

The above article was published on page 37 of the New Idea, release date 20th February 2007, issue date 24th February 2007. Article written by Megan Norris.

SOUL TALKING CASES - FEEDBACK

Soul Talking Reading March 2007: What a wonderful man. He seemed so caring and gentle. I really got a lot out of the reading. For instance Jazzy likes the strawberry taste, that just meant the world to me to actually know what she likes to taste. Anthony also confirmed that Jazzy is blind and will only be with us for a short amount of time, which I am sure he must feel uncomfortable telling parents this, but in our case especially for myself the biggest fear is the unknown and just knowing I am hoping I will somehow be more prepared and handle the situation just that little bit better when Jazzy returns. One of my main concerns was if Jazzy was in any pain and it was a relief to know she was comfortable. He told us a few things which I am going to look into that could make her quality of life that little bit better. And another big thing for me was that he told us that she gets very excited with the sound of bells, Jules we go to a special needs play group and an instrument with bells is always put in Jazzys hand whilst a certain song is being played. That has really helped me as I was always wondering what she really likes to play with. Thankyou so much for you kindness and help, I just cant express how much it has meant to me. Sharon, Alice Springs NT

Anthony Adds: This reading with Jazzy and her wonderful mother Sharon was a real pleasure for me to do, as well as a little of a pioneering venture, as this was the first time I have tried a soul talking connection via the telephone. It was a wonderful experience for me to feel Sharons daughter Jazzys love for her Mother and her family. It is typical really of my soul talking experiences, the love and connectedness I feel between those who cannot communicate and those who shower so much love and care on them. Jazzy was able to share a few pieces of information with me despite the fact she was so very young, which can make soul talking just that little harder. All in all a wonderful experience for me and I thank Sharon for her courage and strength, and to Jazzy who was the real star in this connection.

Soul Talking Reading May 2007: My mum and I found Anthony's reading to be very good, he didn't seem to do what some other psychics do, and fish for a lot of information before giving details. He seemed to come up with things straight up, and things he couldn't know.

The first thing he said was that Matthew had had a lot of trouble with his stomach, a lot of pain, but it was much better now. My brother had been in and out of hospital a couple of years before because he suffered very very bad constipation from having a lazy bowel and his stomach was very distended. Having found the correct mix of treatment, my mum is now keeping this problem well in check, and it is something Anthony could not have known about.

He said that Matthew feels very connected to me, that I would look after him, which is probably correct as I am the eldest child, and mostly when i was still living at home, often helped out with caring for Matthew, and when visiting I sometimes still help out by putting videos on or feeding him.

Anthony mentioned that he felt there was another one, and asked if we had another sister or brother, which I said yes. He asked if this other one was a bit more of a rebel, a bit more of a handful as a child, which mum and I both smiled at and said yes, she was.

He said that Matthew loves Tuesdays, for some reason, and mum surmised that this was because he did swimming at school, on Tuesdays which Matthew loves. He also said that he hates having things put on his head, and mum assumed this was his swimming cap. We both know that Matthew doesn't like having things near his head or being restricted in his head.

Anthony mentioned a major operation to do with Matthew's legs, which was also true, but a very long time ago. He said that there was some talk about another operation which frightened Matthew quite a bit, Mum stated that she had already turned down this operation as she didn't feel it would help Matthew.

Anthony said that he felt Matthew was a very independent and very calm and content young man, of all the people he had seen in Matthew's situation, that he felt Matthew was one of the most secure and felt the most loved and content. Both mum and I know of Matthew's independent nature, he definitely will not do things unless it is on his own terms. Anthony said Matthew was a very clever boy, which mum has often felt, and also that he was a bit cheeky and mischevious, which we both laughed at because Matthew often does things which are totally out of the blue, to just annoy people (particularly my sister) and then laughs like crazy! Anthony laughed as he said Matthew did something like pulling earrings or pulled someone's earrings out, that he found it funny. Mum laughed as well as she said Matthew often grabbed my sister's dangling earrings just to annoy her and then laughed about it.

He asked me if I was in a relationship and said that Matthew was talking about my partner who he felt very comfortable with, that he had a very good rapport with (which is true) and asked if I was in another long term relationship before this, which I said yes. Anthony said that Matthew was acknowledging another one, before my current partner.

Other things he mentioned was Matthew's level of sight, and hearing, something we have never been able to discover as Matthew will not co operate with these kinds of tests for doctors (which he hates) it was as if Anthony could see and hear through Matthew, and verbalise these things for us to understand. He said that Matthew's right side of hearing was less capable than his left, which my mum mentioned later on that she had been often told that Matthew has a large amount of wax in his right ear which could be restricting his hearing (but getting him to be still to remove this wax could be near impossible)

Anthony also talked about the possible causes for Matthew's disability, he said he did not feel it was genetic (which we have been told in the past) and that he felt it was more a reaction to a chemical substance before Matthew was born. This is probably the most plausible theory, but unfortunately is one that cannot really be confirmed or denied. He said Matthew's consciousness seemed to click in and out, which was unusual, and that there was an element of autism, where Matthew seemed to focus and be completely enthralled in one particular thing.

He mentioned a little dog, that Matthew really liked, that he was very excited about and I told him that I had a black spaniel puppy, who I brought over to visit fairly often. Anthony nodded and said this is likely to be what Matthew was talking about. He also mentioned a big dog toy, that Matthew had in his room, that he liked also. Mum confirmed this and said she had been going to donate this toy, but knowing that Matthew actually noticed it and did like it, she would keep it in there. Anthony said that Matthew had recently been given his own room, and that he liked it very much, Mum confirmed that Matthew had slept in his cot in her room for many years, and recently had been put in his own space. Anthony said that Matthew was very independent and he really appreciated this space.

He said that Matthew was very close to Mum, and became a little bit anxious if she was not around, which we know, and he said that Matthew understood the need for respite care(which we had been talking about recently) but that he preferred to be at home with mum, but he was okay about mum taking a break. Anthony said that Matthew seemed to have a more mature outlook to his thinking, that perhaps in the past he would not have tolerated this, but now he was accepting of it.

One of the last things that Anthony said which really blew me away, was that he asked me if I had been thinking of getting a tattoo. I was confused for a minute and said that I did have one, and thought of getting more. But then I laughed as I remembered and said that we had passed a tattoo shop on the way to the reading and said I was going to get lots of tattoos, all over, one of mum, dad, matthew, rachel, Sam (my fianc'e), but just joking. Anthony nodded, and said that Matthew wanted us to know that he understood what we were all saying, even if he couldn't join in the conversation.

He asked if there was something to do with touching Matthew's ears, looking confused, Mum and I looked at one another and smiled and said Matthew LOVES his ears being tickled.

There were many more things that Anthony said, 95% of which we could immediately connect with something in Matthew's recent past, or long before, and only a couple that we couldn't really match up to anything. But perhaps they were things that Matthew could remember and we couldn't.

All in all, it was a fantastic reading and we were both (maybe all) very impressed with Anthony's gift, he is a very clever man. It was great for us to attend, it gave my mum a chance to ask some things for Matthew, find out if he was unhappy in any way, find out about his sight and hearing, and some peace of mind about taking him to weekend respite for her to take that much needed break. For me, I found it terrific, I felt like I could connect with my brother, and communicate with him in a way I never had been able to, to see him as a growing and maturing little guy and feel like I meant something to him too.

I would like to take this chance to thank both you, and Anthony, for this opportunity, and to let you know that we found this very worthwhile. Kellie, WA

Anthony Adds: Mathew was a great candidate for a soul reading connection. He was very receptive and very smart. He figured out things very quickly and was very excited by the prospect of communicating with his family. Families come to me for soul readings expecting various things to happen and I suppose have expectations of what will transpire. It is truely in the hands of the soul I am communicating with and its true to say one should expect the unexpected. Thank you to Mathew and his family for allowing me to help in some small way.