Mediumship and Beyond

Sometimes when you attend a circle or service at a Spiritualist church, the medium may ‘give’ you a guide. Basically, they come to you and say that they have a guide with you and go on to tell you about your guide.

In my own opinion, it happens far too often. The thing about guide giving,  is that there is no proof whatsoever that this is your guide. You only have the givers opinion that this is your guide. Unless of course,  you are already aware of the guide.

It is too easy to go to a person and say ‘I have this nun with you’, or, ‘I have this native American Indian with you’.  Without any proof at all. It may fill out a scant message and appear to give it substance. But there is no substance here.

There are also far too many people sitting in the churches who will believe anything a medium tells them. Thus, a person could end up with dozens of guides given to them from the platform. What to do with them all eh!

My advice on being given guides is:

wait until the same guide has been given to you by three different mediums

on three separate occasions

the information and description should be the same each time

you should not share the information until you have the proof

Of course, you may well know the guide they describe, which is fair enough.  But, be careful here, as it is so easy to believe the information about the guide that it may lead to you imagining you see them.  This often happens.  A medium gives a person a ‘new guide’ and then the person meditates and ‘sees’ the guide. This could be because the description has been so real that it fixes in your mind. The guide probably does not exist.

Guides will come close to you and get to know you during meditations. You will get to know them and learn to work together. It is usually when the partnership is working that others may become aware of their presence. Their influence may be apparent too.

If you are aware of your guide and have asked for some sort of proof from them, they may well use another medium to give it to you. That is an entirely different matter.

Take most guide info with a pinch of salt and seek the proof for yourself.

It is only a short time now to the start of my new development circle. As I already told you in earlier posts, Iwill be running the circles at my own church. There is a link to it on the page.

There will be two circles running through the Autumn into Winter and beyond.  The Friday circle is for total beginners. The Tuesday Circle is for the more advanced novices.  You will know where you are and where you will best fit in.

At the very beginning you learn about spiritualism and mediums. What  mediumship as all about. How to take care of yourself whilst sitting for development. How to open up to spirit and how to keep yourself safe by closing down.  Some novices may be asked to move to the other class if they are at a level which the rest of the circle is not.

The more advanced group will not  be sitting for psychical mediumship as such, but rather they will  advance their mediumship. For which purpose they will work through exercises and one to one activity. The aim is for the group to progress and for some to take part in the November Fledglings evening at my church. They will chair, read, give philosophy and lead the prayers. They will all be asked to contribute to the demonstration of mediumship.

Obviously, if I feel a person is not yet ready for this group, I will ask them to go into the beginners group. This being for their own benefit. You should not try to rush or to force your development. Slow and gradual improvement is all that is needed.

If you are interested in my groups and can get to Sheffield, please email me with any questions you have or to put your name down. The contact link for email is on this page.

There is a Special tomorrow (Saturday) evening at our local church.  International Medium, Sue Cunningham @ 7.30 with an evening of clairvoyance   £3 on the door

Sunday: I am the guest speaker for the Divine Service 6.30 and will demonstrate my mediumship

All the evening services and circles begin at 7.30 except for the Sunday Divine Service which is always 6.30pm

Lots of interesting Monthly Workshops and Specials coming up. There is usualy one of each per month, but occasionally we do have an extra one here and there.  Specials are usually £3 and Workshops usually £10

Tickets go on sale this weekend for our September Astrology Workshop, run by Drew Biggin. So this is a good opportunity to get one early so as not to miss out.  Numbers are limited.

I am the Booking Secretary for our Specials and Workshops. If you wish to talk to me about it please email me at the link on this page.

Some of you may be forgiven for thinking that the psychic on the platform at your local spiritualist church, or hall, is an actor or actress.  Sadly this comes with the territory.  Some are just that, or at least use a bit of that.

You sit in your chair hoping that the medium speaking today will come to you and pass on a message from your loved ones in the spirit world.  One to make you believe that they are still watching over you.  You really want to believe there is life after death and a message would help you to make up your mind.

You expect the subject to be taken seriously, if not by the general public, then at least by the spiritualists.  Most spiritualists do take proving life after death very seriously.  That does not mean that they cannot be happy, or laugh and smile whilst they give proof.  There are some who can give proof whilst still being entertaining and amusing, without acting.

What you do not expect, is for the person on ‘stage’ to behave in an unseemly manner and appearing to put on some sort of act.  This though is sadly sometimes what you get.

Sometimes, though not all times by any means, the medium on the platform will affect a stance that is not their usual.  This may take the form of implying that spirit are making them behave oddly.  Some will affect a limp or hold their hand and arm at a funny angle and say that their guide has a disability.  Their guide may well have had a disability whilst on the earth plain but certainly not in the spirit world.  They have no physical body once they have passed over.

Use your own intelligence here.  If it seems to you that a spirit would not make a medium look foolish by ‘making’ them hold their body in an odd way, then do not accept it.

You have to understand that spirits do not have physical bodies.  Therefore, they cannot possibly make any able bodied physical person do anything with their body.  It is purely showmanship.

Shockingly for me, I have witnessed the leader of an open circle behaving as if drunk.  She was falling around, swaying and flinging her arms about, whilst saying that the spirit who was coming through was forcing drink down her.  She insisted that the spirit was drunk and now she was drunk too because the spirit was giving her whiskey.  What a load of codswallop!  Whiskey in the spirit world!

You must always use your own intelligence to help you realise when you are being had.  Some do this on purpose and it is obvious as it is a regular occurrence.  Others are deluded into thinking they have to affect these positions.  What utter nonsense!

Spirit would never, ever make a medium look foolish.  The only person who can do that is the supposed ‘psychic’.  Please be discerning.  You should be able to spot when showmanship is happening if you just use common sense.

When you hear the crowds coming out of church or the theatre, saying things like ‘Oh what a laugh, wasn’t it good’.  Ask yourself was it music hall type good or was there really good evidence of survival of the spirit.  Remember, laughter can, and often does, go hand in hand with spirit work.  This is acceptable.  Showmanship is not.

Here are a few tips on how to run your own circle at home.  This will help you get your circle started and running properly and safely.

Most importantly, please choose your sitters carefully. A good blend is needed for the circle to run well and there needs to be trust.  No jealousy either. So you should choose the sitters who are not competitive. Mediumship is not a competition and we all develop at our own rate.

It is important that all your sitters arrive for the circle early and that they are not under the influence of either drink or drugs.  This is very important as the mind can play tricks on you, even when you are not under the influence and you need a clear mind when working with spirit, as always.

All your circle members should agree with you on the intent of the circle.  Is your intent to develop mediumship further, or are you going to sit for higher things?  The higher things being physical mediumship.  This can be gifts like trance, transfiguration or direct voice.

When you are all in agreement and you have laid down your rules about length of time sitting etc  You can sort out your seating arrangements.  Make sure you are all comfortable and that you are neither too hot nor too cold.  Where possible try not to sit too close together.  If you get too close to each other and your auras are overlapping you may feel very uncomfortable. It is that feeling you get when your personal space is invaded.

I am sure you know what I mean about the aura.  Think about how you feel if a stranger stands too close to you in a shop or else where, and you feel odd but cannot put your finger on it.  Well, that is when your aura may be overlapping the space of another.

You have your circle leader and you have your seats.  I find it is best to either sit in the dark or in a fairly dimly lit room.  Candle light or a small lamp with a red bulb will be ideal.  You may also want a CD player within your reach to play meditation music.

It is important to open your circle in prayer.  This is best done by the circle leader who should ask for spirits protection.  You may, if you prefer, have a communal prayer.  A prayer can also be used to ask spirit for advice and assistance within the circle.

Suggestions here are, to ask for your guides to come close and work with you.  To ask for a circle spirit guide to protect the circle.  Ask for advice on the ideal conditions for spirit to work with you.  These are just a few ideas but as you get more involved with developing your circle you may need to ask for more advice from the guides.

I trust you have enough details to think about here.  I will continue this theme in further posts.  Enjoy!

This is another question which makes me feel that most of the public do not understand what mediums are all about.  Most think we have something to do with religion. Others think we are just spooky.  Some think we are psychic and others think we talk to ghosts.  Most think we do it all in church.

It seems the public think that events in a spiritualist church replicate the old advert for Toffee Crisp, which showed a toffee wrapper floating down.  The all favourite is the picture of levitation.  Do you really believe we levitate in church?  I wish!

Most services in our churches are just like the ones in conventional churches.  We pray, sing and ask for healing. The only difference is that we also demonstrate mediumship, to offer proof of life after death.

Of course we take our gifts outside the church. We go to peoples homes. We give private readings. A church is not always needed for our work.  Healing also can be given outside the bounds of church.

Spiritualists live their beliefs. We are Spiritualists in church and out.  We will work where we are needed. And, if you need us, just email and let me know.

Today’s post is not actually about psychic gifts, rather about the places where it is demonstrated.  I like to cover all the subjects which I get email about.

There are hundreds of Spiritualist churches and therefore, hundreds of church committees. The committee represents the whole of the church membership. The church as a whole is also representative of the SNU (Spiritualist National Union).

It is so important that the church runs smoothly and therefore the committee must be united in their purpose.  They need to work together in unison to provide a friendly, welcoming, and caring church.

This unfortunately,  does not always happen. There always seems to be one person who causes strife and unrest in the church. ( Often this is a person who wants to have their own way and get a bit of so called power.  By trying to show self importance, they get in a strop if they don’t get it ).  This happens everywhere and not just in church.  If  that person is also on the committee it increases the chance of committee breaking up and therefore, instability in the church.

My own feeling is that such a person should not  be allowed to serve on the church committee.  Once a church trouble maker always…………..    This is not being unspiritual but being realistic.  It is hard to believe that such stuff happens in the name of spirit, but it does. There is always someone with a chip on their shoulder.

We have to consider everyone of our members. The committee should keep a watchful eye out and make sure people behave with decorum in church.  Also to make sure that no one over steps their mark either.  Only the committee should act as committee, unless invited by the committee to help out in some way.    I know it sounds obvious but from the emails I get, it just is not obvious to some.

I personally could not serve on a church committee where one person undermines others on that committee.  I am sure most of us feel the same.  We are, after all, working for Spirit.  We must aim to run our churches smoothly and friendly. In harmony, with a wonderful aura.  It starts and ends with the committee.

This is a general observation from years of working and serving churches.  I am happy to say that both my church and our committee is happy as I write.  Long may it stay that way.   We are working hard to improve our church and raise funds to pay for it’s  refurbishment. We work together and all help each other. This creates a lovely aura in the church and committee room.  We are a friendly team.

Thanks to those who have written to me about troubles in church and church committee. I hope you are able to sort out your problems and remain as one.   I hope some of these examples have helped you.  I have come across most in my time.

If the committee makes you feel unworthy and will not sort it out,  then my advice is to leave it behind you.   Spirit will take you else where. Somewhere that you will be loved and appreciated.

There are some interesting events coming up at my local Spiritualist church during the next few weeks.

Saturday 27th August is a Special Evening of Clairvoyance with Sue Cunningham – 7.30 – £3 on the door

Sunday 28th August is a Divine Service with myself, Barbara Biggin – 6.30 – free will collection

Saturday 17th September is a Special Evening with Carl Parker – 7.30 – £3 on the door

More to come………..keeping watching this space or email me for further details.

There are some people who can see the auras of others as if it were just as regular as seeing the stars.  Theirs is a gift which not many of us have.  I believe they are given this gift for a purpose. It is a gift not to be wasted.

Others of us can learn how to ‘see’ auras, but not as well as the natural viewer.  It is more like a sense of seeing. Some see the aura colours by means of clairvoyance.  Others, like myself, ask my guide to show me what colours are prominent in a particular person’s aura.

It is possible to give a person a reading by viewing their aura.  Also, there are those who draw aura-graphs and give psychic readings from them. You often find these at psychic fairs. This is usually done with the use of an aura camera. Watch out for them an try it for yourself.  Although, the reading will only be as good as the medium or psychic is, of course.

Aura reading comes into its own when used for healing. The healer can view the aura and sometimes tell by the situation of the colour, where healing is needed.  They may see a particular colour, which tells them of an health problem, around a particular area of the body.  The healing can then be directed to that place.

If I ask my guide to show me where a person is suffering pain, they will show me a particular colour around the correct spot.  I can then direct the healing energies directly to it.

It would be very good if more people would learn to do this as it is so helpful both in giving readings and in giving healing.  I will be writing more on this subject and look forward to your comments.

There is much interest in developing psychic ability.  Not least of all in Sheffield, England, where I live.

Generally, the interest in psychic gifts and Spiritualism as a whole, is increasing all the time. People are no longer afraid to speak about their belief in such matters. They are no longer deemed to be stupid or insane, to believe in such phenomena.  The 21st century has brought more freedom to those who wish to seek the truth. And of course, ‘the truth is out there!’

The development groups I run at my local church are very popular. There is a need for regular classes. So, this year instead of running the one weekly class, I will be offering two.

The Tuesday circle will begin on Tuesday 4th October, 7.30-9.30pm.  It will be an Advanced Development Circle. So, definitely not for complete beginners.

Every Friday, starting on Friday 30th September, 7.30-9pm, will be an Awareness and Development circle for complete beginners.

Both circles are £4 on the door and regular attendance is essential.

If you are interested and would like to put your name down, or you need more information, please email me.