Have you ever thought about someone, only for them to call moments later? Or felt a quiet nudge not to take a certain path – and later realised it was the right decision?
We often brush these moments off as coincidence. But according to psychic medium Julia Cartagena, they’re something much more familiar.
“People think intuition is a rare gift,” says Julia.
“But we’re all born with it. It’s not reserved for psychics – it’s part of being human.”
As Julia prepares to tour New Zealand with the show Two Psychics And A Medium, she shares what she’s learned from thousands of readings – and how you can strengthen your own intuitive muscle…
We’re wired for connection
Whether people come to Julia with questions about love, career or a loved one who has passed, she says the themes are surprisingly universal.
“No matter who sits in front of me, the questions almost always circle around the same three
Areas – love, work and wellbeing,” she explains.
“Underneath that are deeper fears: Am I safe? Am I chosen? Will I be OK?”
From a psychological perspective, she says readings often reveal more about human behaviour than about the future.
“Human beings are wired for certainty. When life feels unpredictable – after a breakup, a death or a career change – anxiety rises because control feels lost. A reading can become a structured space where uncertainty is contained. Even sitting with someone calm can regulate the nervous system.”
In other words, sometimes what we’re seeking isn’t prediction – it’s reassurance.
Why we long for signs after loss
One of the most common reasons people seek out a medium is grief. “When someone we love passes, the hardest part is not being able to see them or hear their voice,” says Julia.
“We’re wired for physical connection. When that’s gone, we question whether the bond is still there.”
She believes the desire to connect isn’t about spectacle – it’s about continuity.
“In thousands of readings, one truth stands out: People aren’t just searching for proof – they’re searching for peace. When they receive a specific detail or message that resonates deeply, it can restore a sense of closeness and ease their grief.”
But she’s quick to address a major misconception. “The biggest myth is that only a psychic medium can connect to the afterlife,” she says.
“If anyone tells you that, run the other way. We can all receive signs – through dreams, songs, scents and memories that surface at just the right time. Connection doesn’t belong to one person.”
She adds that genuine communication, in her experience, is calm and loving – not dramatic or fear-based.
“It feels consistent with the person’s character. It’s not chaotic or threatening. The intention is reassurance and healing.”
Why not everyone gets a message
For those who attend group readings or live shows, there can sometimes be disappointment if they don’t receive a direct message.
“It can feel very personal,” Julia acknowledges.
“But it’s not a reflection of your worth or how loved you are.”
She compares it to tuning a TV. “If the broadcast is interrupted, you get static. Communication can be like that. Timing, environment and even raw grief can affect how easily someone recognises or receives information.”
Importantly, she says, a message delivered to someone else can still resonate for a reason.
“Sometimes the message you needed comes through for another person. Pay attention to what moves you.”
5 ways to strengthen your intuition
You don’t need to step on to a stage to develop your intuitive side. Julia shares her practical tips for everyday life…
- Slow down – “Intuition is subtle,” she says. “It doesn’t shout over noise. Constant distraction will drown it out.” Even five minutes of quiet reflection a day can help you recognise your inner voice.
- Notice body signals – Pay attention to physical reactions – a tight stomach, goosebumps or a sense of calm. “Your body often responds before your logical mind catches up.”
- Journal your hunches – Write down strong impressions or dreams and revisit them later. “You’ll start to see patterns and realise how often you were right.”
- Ask yourself what you already know – After readings, Julia often hears clients say, “I already felt that.” She explains, “That tells me they weren’t looking for new information – they were looking for permission. Before asking others, ask yourself, ‘What do I already sense is true?’”
- Release fear – “Much of our anxiety lives in imagination rather than evidence,” she says. “When fear softens, intuition becomes clearer.”
Premonitions & trust
Julia says trusting her own intuition has shaped her life, including moments on tour. Ahead of a Queensland gig last year, she sensed travel plans would unravel. Acting on that inner nudge, she organised insurance and later made the call to cancel flights – days before severe weather grounded travel across the region.
“It wasn’t dramatic,” she says.
“It was just a quiet knowing. Intuition often feels like that – steady rather than loud.” Julia believes we all experience similar nudges but often override them with logic or doubt.’
What people really want
After thousands of readings, Julia has reached a simple conclusion.
“People don’t truly want predictions,” she says.
“They want hope. They want reassurance that their pain has purpose, that their loved ones are OK, that they’ll love again and that they’ll survive what they’re going through.”
Hope, she explains, is psychologically regulating. “It increases resilience. It shifts how people make decisions. It can change behaviour long after a reading ends.”
Whether you view intuition as spiritual, psychological or somewhere in between, Julia believes one thing is undeniable: “It reveals how profoundly human we all are. At our core, we just want connection, certainty and to know that we’ll be OK.”
Two Psychics And A Medium tours New Zealand this month.
- Thursday 12 March – Auckland (SkyCity Theatre)
- Friday 13 March – Wellington (Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre)
- Saturday 14 March – Christchurch (James Hay Theatre)
For tickets, visit www.twopsychicsandamedium.com.au.
