I am excited to introduce to my blog a new column featuring young “Warriors of Light” to complement my newly released book series. I am hoping to make this a weekly feature, and am looking for your help finding kids and teens who are shining their inner light out into the world in some way, whether it is through community service, being a compassionate friend to someone in need, cleaning up trash on the roadside, etc. If you know of a child or teen you feel is a Warrior of Light and whose story may help inspire others, please contact me.

In the meantime, I’d like to introduce you to Ethan Wasiejko who is becoming a well-known presence as a young Warrior of Light in the metaphysical communities around where I live. Ethan graciously agreed to be my first interviewee for this column. Here is what he shared with me:

Hi Ethan, thank you so much for being my first Warriors of Light interviewee, and to your mom for agreeing to the interview. Can you tell our readers how old you are and what you believe to be your life purpose? Or, are you still figuring that part out?

I am honored and grateful to be your first guest! I am 17-years-old, and I am a high school student. I believe my life purpose is to help others discover who they are, and help them learn how to embrace their human experience and enjoy their journey, in both the positive and negative moments. I am forever grateful and blessed for the opportunities that come my way to live out my purpose every day. Being there for my fellow human beings is not something I believe to be an obligation, but something that is within me. It is who I am!

How old were you when you started realizing you had a unique gift, or set of gifts, to offer the world?

When I was 13-years-old, I was at my family lake house. I was with a family friend of ours who practiced Wiccan practices and I was fascinated when he read my aura and performed mediumship. I immediately knew that I needed to learn more, and I did. My Aunt Sam, who works closely alongside me, gave me a book by Elizabeth J. Foley, an Angel Healer, and I reached out to her to get a reading of my own. She told me this was my purpose, and gave me a deck of oracle cards to practice with. I read my family, friends, etc… and before I knew it I was giving psychic readings. I have taken many other classes and courses, I have read many books, and I kept practicing everyday, which helped me greatly. So, yeah, at age 13 I began my awakening, and now at 4 years later, it was worth opening my eyes to say the least!

*I think it’s rather cool that Ethan had a spiritual awakening at the age of 13, which happens to be the age of the protagonists in my coming-of-age middle-grade fantasy series, Warriors of Light. They, like Ethan, discover their paths as they open to their unique gifts. 

Did this make you feel different from your peers?

Well, in a way, I have always felt much different than many of my peers. I always felt a little different, even before I realized the gifts I have. I have always walked to the beat of my own drum, and I have always been truly proud to do so. I believe that awakening to my gifts helped me realize who I really am, and I know now that everything in my life has happened for a reason. I have had many people, adults and teens, who have made me feel badly for my gifts. Every time I heard them say something negative to me, I immediately had an opposite reaction. I would wish them well, and I would remind myself that one day, they will understand why I do things the way I do them. I know who I am, and that is all that matters at the end of the day.

Have you had any challenges bringing your gifts into the world and your community?

I would say the biggest challenge I have had so far with my gifts and bringing them into the world is actually my age. Many people tend to think that because I am young, and because I am still in high school, I don’t really know what I am doing. I understand the concern, of course. But, it has been a difficult time in terms of feeling like I have to “earn” someone else’s trust in a more difficult way than if I was an adult. I have not been practicing for 40 years nor have I taken many intensive classes or college courses, however, I have been able to develop a very great self-made practice and everyday I continue that practice. I am proud of the “work” I do!

You are still in high school, have you ever experienced misunderstanding from your peers or teachers?

I most certainly have experienced some misunderstanding in my high school career thus far. I would say it is mostly with those who do not necessarily believe in the gifts that I have. I do not mind, nor are they judgmental about it. As for peers, I know there are many who really love and embrace the gifts that I have. I know a lot of them who are happy to know that they aren’t alone, and that if they feel they have gifts too, they can open up about it. It is more common to see teens and kids these days embracing spirituality, which I am thrilled about. I would say the only thing that bothers me is when I am asked if I can read their minds, see their grandparents who have passed away, or tell them how many fingers they are holding behind their back, to name a few. And yes, I have been asked this by students and teachers. I encourage and do not mind the curiosity, but I certainly wish for people to understood that I am a human too, and I do not have a “try me!” sticker on my forehead.

If there was one thing you could tell kids or teens who are struggling to find their place in the world, what would it be?

To every child and teen who is struggling to find out who they are, where they are going, and what their purpose is, this is what I have to say: forget everyone and everything that has ever made you feel like you are not living your truth. Be strong, be bold, be powerful, and love yourself. Even if you do not know what your truth is right now, the moment you get to know yourself better, you will see exactly who you are. And, know that there will always be someone who is out there supporting you. And finally, always remember this: I am powerful, just like you.

What, or who, has been your biggest source of strength and/or inspiration?

First and foremost, I must honor my Aunt Sam here. She has helped me awaken to my gifts and understand what it means to be psychic and a medium. We both began to understand our gifts together 3 years ago, and we are grateful to have one another! My mother is hands down the strongest person alive, so I am truly honored to have her as a mom. My family is wonderful and their support is the best thing I could have! I have many incredible mentors, and I am so grateful for them all. I have the most amazing friends who truly support me every day, and even when we annoy each other, the love is real and it is something I would never trade for the whole world. I must, as always, pay my respect to Lady Gaga, as her message of kindness, love, and acceptance is truly incredible. I have loved her from day one, and I always fight to carry her message to everyone I meet.

How did you find the resources you needed to develop your gifts?

As I continued awakening to my gifts, I collected a lot of books from many different places. I learned everything from angel healing to mediumship, to Reiki and even table-tipping. I would search YouTube for hours learning about other people’s journeys, I would learn how to meditate, and I would even watch mediums and psychics giving people readings to understand how it works. I also work with a wonderful group of people that I have known for many years now. Chrissy Masterson is a mentor whom I work with regularly, and I am very honored to have her by my side.

If you could change one thing about this world what would it be?

This question, in some ways, is challenging for me because a few big ideas come to my mind. I would like to see a world where people are able to at least try and understand one another. We move so fast in this world, and we often forget to take a moment to honor and empathize with one another. If we could all, just for one moment, pause and try to understand what someone is going through, we would be able to work together rather than against each other.

What do you love most about life?

Well…I am young, and I have a feeling I have a great amount of time ahead of me before I leave the earth plane. However, with all that I have been through in my life so far, I have learned there is always something to love in life. I have always thought it was interesting to think that I am here on earth during the same time as everyone else that I know, personally or not. It is truly incredible to me that I am able to be here at the same time as the amazing people I have in my life, my family, my dearest friends…it is almost unfathomable to me, when I think about it, that we chose to be here on earth, all together, at the same time. I would not want to live my life without the beautiful, amazing and monumental relationships I have formed with my friends and family. That is what I love most about life-the people I am able to enjoy life with.

Thank you again, Ethan, for being who you are and sharing your light with the world. If you would like to learn more about Ethan, his social media links are below: