It is but a fact that when we speak of the birth of spiritualism we think of the Fox sisters and start of the spiritualist movement. But we forget that spiritualism as its roots since the dawn of mankind the same as mediumship. There are many instances of mediums within many of the world religions and Christianity being a prime example. In the Hebrew Bible, the Witch of Endor was a medium who apparently summoned the Prophet Samuel’s spirit, at the demand of King Saul of the Kingdom of Israel in the First Book of Samuel, chapter 28:3–25. A prime example of an early Séance. The argument also now amongst Scholars that Moses was a medium who had the ability of automatic writing in connection to the Ten Commandments. These being just a small example. So mediumship and spiritualism as deep rooted roots in the history of mankind. So really we should look at the Fox sisters as the birth of just Modern Spiritualism and the spiritualist organisations that exist today which in its self opens up another area of debate.
When I first came into mediumship eleven years ago I faced then, like many do now but I feel at a greater disadvantage, the lack of good mentors (teachers) and development circles. The circles I did attend I never felt something was right, of course at the time I could not put my finger on it mainly because I realise now it was the lack of knowledge around the subject that I did not have. I decided to do what many of our great pioneers did in the past and find the direction with spirit the old ways. This arose especially after being taken onto the rostrum by a medium far too soon which I now find is an ongoing occurrence within the movement today. This incorporated putting into place the time to study, read and research especially the many great literary works that were written by Maurice Barbanell through his guard Silver Birch, Ivy Northage and Chan, Arthur Findley and the list goes on. Setting up a Home Circle which still going strong today and because the group as put so much time and effort into this we have developed Trance and Physical. Sitting with spirit and sitting to build the power which is an area I find today is not carried out by many within the movement or not relayed by tutors to their students. The importance of attending Open Circles and not just at the your regular church or centre but further afield because it is within these you will gain valuable experience by working in a different environment
The teachings that were once presented to us all by many of the mediums of the past have now either been forgotten or watered down to the point that true mediumship is but a shadow of its former self. Stardom and fame seems, to many, more important than proving the continuation of life through concreate evidence. I am seeing that a message now is more important, instead of evidence, which itself can open up a quagmire of difficulties. For example time and time again counselling is being witnessed during demonstrations by mediums who usually have no, or very little, knowledge around this area. We have personal responsibility to other people, ourselves and of course spirit. The time of self-development, unfolding and understanding ourselves and the spiritual side of self seems to be a forgotten part of being a medium or developing to be a medium Like Gordon Higginson once said “development should be split into three areas, theory, getting to know one’s self and then the spirit world. “ It takes time, effort and discipline to nurture such qualities. This should be pointed out by all tutors to their students.
But look also how we have brought into mediumship what my team called “newisms”. Or in lay man’s terms new age practices and rituals. Look at the mediums of the past and you will find that things such as grounding, chakras and protection were not mentioned all of which started in the early to mid-90’s. Chakras are connected to Eastern practices and especially Reiki. The term grounding just means bringing yourself back from the spiritual side of your work to your physical life which can be achieved by participating in normal every day activities, such as watching tele, housework, going out with friends to name a few. But to say you have to put roots etc. really means nothing at all. Yet this is still being taught in many development groups.
One area which seems to cause a lot of controversy is the idea of protection. But what are we truly protecting ourselves from? Being a highly advanced species the question is why we still revert to bygone practices created by mankind during their infancy of evolution.
If we were to look at the spirit world around science instead of religion we would start to understand more about energies and the creation of energy. Like electricity, which is energy, there is a positive and a negative. Our actions, thoughts and words create a vibration or energy in other words. If we are positive in such things we create a larger amount of positive, or good energy, and vice versa when we are negative in such actions. These negative energies can be picked up by sensitive, mediums, but then the problem arise where some see this as a negative, or evil, spirit.
This negative energy can often be felt in buildings where some trauma or past event as created this negative energy and it is really easy to disperse by counter acting this energy with positive energy.
Many people were aware of the existence of Spiritualism even before it was generally discovered, but they could not explain it scientifically. Now, however, with our deeper knowledge of the constitution of matter and our increasing knowledge of wavelengths and vibrations, we can, in the main, do so. We can show that the claims of Spiritualists are more and more confirmed by every advance in our knowledge concerning the nature of matter.
Of course the finger of suspicion can be pointed at orthodox religion which created evil, demons and hell. But can it not be argued that we make our own heaven and hell here on the physical plain. We talk about spiritualism being a religion? This comes once again from man and not spirit. In fact Silver Birch states “Spiritualism means nothing in the spirit world for it is but a name”.
If you walk into many spiritualist churches and centres crosses, bibles and Christian artefacts adorn walls and corners of such places. We have adopted Christian scriptures and hymns. Not to mention the new thing where some are wearing Christian uniforms such as dog collars and vestments. We see the spiritualist movement following the same path as the Christian Church branching off into sub groups and following Christian ideology or their own ideology.
Look at how new age practices, created again in the early to mid-90’s, have ingrained themselves into mediumship. Crystals and Angels to name two. They have nothing to do with mediumship and the development of individuals and should be kept separate. There were many great spiritualists that were scientist and carried out some amazing and fantastic work around the whole subject, such as Sir William Crookes, Sir Oliver Lodge and Arthur Findley. But the scientific areas of research is not highlighted like it once was. For example the great scientific work over a five year period by Arthur Findley with John Campbell Sloan (Where Two Worlds Meet) brought so much information to the fore front in regards to spirit and the spirit world.
Too often now it comes down to money within mediumship, stardom and fame which are the architects and building block of materialism. We no longer explore the spiritual nature of ourselves. The time to spend with those who work with us from the spirit world. Those invisible friends who never judge us and who unconditional love for us at all times. Let us get back to how spiritualism and mediumship was first presented to us in its simplest and purest form. We just need to remember it is about Dedication, Discipline, Commitment and Perseverance which were the words spirit gave to me when I first started. There was a line in an old book about spiritualism I will never forget ‘Spiritualism is not a religion, it is a discovery of an actual fact in nature. Like other facts in nature it always existed and operated, even before it was discovered.”
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