The Llama That Showed Up Later
I psychically saw a llama making a funny face; It showed up the next day
Llamas are not something I think about every day. Nor did I have any semblance of a llama in my life—until I apparently conjured one up.
Yeah, I know. I’m skeptical too. But honestly, what follows is a true story.
If you’ve been following my journey into the “woo,” you’ll know I’m in the process of creating WooBiz, a brand that incorporates a blog, a podcast (maybe more than one), a woo training finder, and agency for gifted woo practitioners. The aim is to help entrepreneurs, businesspeople, and innovators develop their extrasensory abilities–woo tactics to gain an edge in business. In an AI-world, those that are upskilled
As part of this mission, I’ve been training myself in these skills. That led me to Energy Awaken, a metaphysical studio run by my mentor Andrew Bray in nearby Hamilton (that’s in Ontario, Canada).
So there I am, sitting at the studio in a circle of people on a recent Friday nightWe are all gathered to listen to Shawn Martin, a gifted woo practitioner. Shawn is a “channeler” and medium. (Book Shawn here.)
Alternative realms
That means he can connect with alternative realms and deliver messages from a group of beings beyond this world. He’s had the ability for about 12 years he tells me later, but as a former primary school teacher, he kept it under wraps until retiring a few years ago. The night I met him was his first time channelling for a group. He usually works one-on-one. The evening wasn’t just a demo of his skills—it was also an opportunity for students like me to hone our own.
After a brief introduction and a meditation to “raise the vibration” of the group, I started feeling a pleasant tingling in my hands and feet. I’d felt this before in Sedona, Arizona—the vortex capital of the U.S. (A vortex is said to be a special spot on the Earth where energy either enters or projects out of the Earth’s plane.)
Studio owner Andrew explains that when people gather and do this kind of work, a vortex can spontaneously form. From what I’ve seen, Andrew seems able to generate this effect at will. So I sit there, tingly and excited, not sure what to expect.
Shawn closes his eyes and begins. Soon, he’s delivering messages to each member of the group—insights into their lives, challenges, and the beings delivering the messages. Most come from deceased relatives.
You’re Last
About 20 minutes in, he looks at me.
“You’re going to be last,” he says. “I don’t know why, but we’ll find out.”
I nod and wait patiently while he reads people one by one around the circle. He tells the woman beside me she has “shamanic” energy, and relays encouragement from her late Indigenous grandmother. The readings are compelling and clearly resonate with each person he speaks to.
Finally, it is my turn.
“Now I know why you’re last,” Shawn said. “They tell me you had to see me work with the others first, or you wouldn’t be open to what they’re about to say.”
I told the circle that I worked as a journalist for many years (more on Wikipedia here), and this is met with “ahas” and knowing nods.
“I’m open to it all, though,” I told the circle.
Shawn channels a few messages and said: “Your success with this project—it’s going to be huge. First, you need to get trained. But it’s coming.”
His tone is reassuring. And something about it lands.
I take a moment to share my story with the group—just a bit about my journey into the woo. I explain that I seem to be clairvoyant, a realization that was validated during a session with an intuitive trainer in Sedona. I also have the ability to see auras—something that first began happening over a decade ago.
When I soften my mental focus and look past someone in my mind’s eye, I often see coloured light surrounding them. It usually appears in three parts: a column or shaft above the head, and two arcs or “wings” on either side. The energy can be faint or vivid and often reflects the person’s emotional or internal state.
It’s not just imagination—it’s a perception that seems to come alive when I tune in.
To better understand what I mean, think of a person you know. Picture them in your mind. Now, try looking past them—not directly at their image, but just beyond it. This kind of defocused internal gaze can help trigger awareness of the aura and its hues.
Incidentally, these colours shift with emotional states. If someone is sick or unwell, I might see murky tones—browns, greys, or even a mottled grey-black. If they’re joyful, I often see a vibrant banana yellow. If they’re introspective, it’s usually a deep forest green. The colours often appear in concentric rings or layers.
See the images below for reference.
Occasionally, I will see a shaft off the top of the head I call this “the chimney.”
The person illustrated above had a grey/black chimney (it turned out they had cancer.)
People who are divinely connected—or “lit up by life,” as the saying goes—literally appear illuminated. They chimney is full of light. Shawn’s definitely was.
But, that night, for the first time ever, I could physically see Shawn’s aura with my eyes: a glowing light, four to six inches wide, around Shawn. A halo of sorts.
I’m a little freaked out at this. But mostly, I’m in awe of what seems to be awakening in me.
The llama still hasn’t shown up at this point. But it’s coming. Stay with me.
Shawn told me to look into the light around him and read it.
“What’s my birth month?” he asks. “It’s in the light—read it.”
I concentrate on it and hear “May” in my head.
“Close,” he says. “It’s June.”
So I’m no Sylvia Browne. Not yet, anyway.
“Anything else?” Shawn asks. “Any messages for me?”
And then it happens.
In my mind’s eye, a llama appears. For some reason it is cropped so I only see it from the chest up. It’s fur is white and shaggy. And it has a quirky expression on its face. I am not sure what to make of it.
‘Have You ever Been to Peru?’
“Have you ever been to Peru?” I ask Shawn. “Yes, once,” he said.
“What about llamas. Does that mean anything to you?” I asked.
“Hmmm, no,” he said. “I like them, but no, no llamas in my life.”
Another strike out. Bummer, I think. But I also know this process is inexact and rarely produces the results I hope for.
The evening ends and I head home. And I forget about the llama.
The next day is Saturday and my wife Kay runs some errands. Now you should know we like animals at our house. We have a fun image of an elephant balanced precariously on a kitchen table in our dining room and a stylized picture of our Golden Retriever Charley on the living room wall.
While Kay is out she pops into “Restore”, a retail outlet for Habitat for Humanity, which sells used home goods, furniture and the like. She comes across a framed photo of a llama. It’s cute and funny. And it’s $15.
She brings the framed image home and when she comes through the door, she says, “hey look what I found at Restore.” She turned the frame she was carrying toward me...
It’s the EXACT LLAMA WITH AN ODD EXPRESSION AND SAME CROPPING that I saw the night before in circle.
I stare at it for a moment, flabbergasted. Then Kay told me the rest of the story.
When she took it to the cash to checkout, the man working there commented. “Oh a llama. My wife is from Peru, so I‘ve been there many times. I love llamas.”
I am stunned. Lost for words.
And that is how I conjured a llama in my life.
A few days later, I told Andrew the full story, seeking answers. “So what was that?” I asked. He shrugged and smiled. “I think the Universe just winked at you,” he said. “You’re on the right path.”