by Karen | Aug 30, 2016 | Karen's Korner
As I was contemplating today’s blog, I came across a book by Harry Edwards called A Guide for the Development of Mediumship. Edwards became a spiritual healer in 1936. His early attempts at spiritual healing were met with some success. Gradually, his fame spread. He moved to Surrey just after WWII and used the front room of his house as a healing sanctuary.
In his book, he wrote that it’s not necessary for a person to have an extensive education or training, or to be versed in psychic science, to become a medium. There are many instances of simple folk becoming outstanding mediums and healers.
He does insist that mediumship be approached with the right goals in mind. Many people wish to become mediums to speak with the spirit people in order to obtain counsel, to heal the sick, to help the bereaved, or to give advice and assistance to those who are in need. Others wish to become mediums to satisfying their own egos, to be different from other people, or to command respect. Self-promotion and aggrandizement should be prevented at all costs. The medium is not there for their own goals, but to demonstrate the existence of the spiritual world.
Edwards reminds us that Spiritualism came into being to reveal to man that he is not just a physical being. Man is a part spirit and life is an apprenticeship for a greater and fuller life that commences with physical death. It is by receiving spiritual knowledge that mankind will receive and adopt an enlightened code of values that will lead to the end of war, poverty and the other troubling trends in our present world. The medium’s true motive is a spiritual one. If this is not the case, then it is fruitless for spirits to use humans as instruments for the progression of all souls.
Students of mediumship should possess an inner yearning to be used for the higher purpose, and to view mediumship as a means to help others. It should be a denial of selfishness and a giving of self to a spiritual purpose. A true medium becomes a participant in the divine plan for the furtherance of good. Mediumship needs a mind that is strong, purposeful and capable of self-discipline.
Mediumship was born as an exact Spirit Science, but it cannot be assessed by analysis or material values; it cannot be put under the microscope. Because of our inability to fully comprehend the science of mediumship, an air of mysticism has surrounded it, and this has at times given rise to questionable practices and opinions. It has been attacked, ridiculed and opposed, but still survives. As understanding of the process evolves, it becomes more respectable and acknowledged by scientists, religious leaders, and the press.
Today, there are a great number of classes being held in Spiritualist churches and in home circles. The mediums who conduct these are sincere, good people, but it is understandable that all sorts of practices have arisen. These practices have been handed down from medium to medium, and have become accepted as being true, when in fact they may not be. The overlap between mediumship and psychic readings has also increased, leading to a blurring of goals and expectations.
One must remember that a medium’s true goal is a spiritual one, to be a conduit between the physical world and the spiritual world, to stand as an example to others and to be proof of man’s spiritual nature. Without that goal, one is neither a Spiritualist nor a medium.
by Karen | Aug 24, 2016 | Karen's Korner
Lily Dale is a hamlet located on the east side of Cassadaga Lake in southwestern New York state. Incorporated in 1879 as the Cassadaga Lake Free Association, it was first a camp and meeting place for Spiritualists and other free thinkers. It eventually became the Lily Dale Assembly in 1906, with the purpose of furthering science, philosophy and Spiritualism.
I first visited Lily Dale in August of 2004. At that time, I was new to the concept of Spiritualism and mediumship. I had mustered the courage to go to Fredonia, NY to take my first mediumship classes with Rev. Leonard Young. After class one day, he announced that we were having dinner at the house of a friend in Lily Dale. My first thought was, what and where is this place? I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about visiting a town full of Spiritualists. But as I entered the grounds and strolled around the lake, I was overwhelmed by calming energy.
I had had a connection with the spirit world since having a near death experience at the age of five. I soon discovered Lily Dale was a place where this kind of activity was wide open and accepted. I was really intrigued by Harmony House located in the center of town. It was built in 1895 and was originally the Temple of Health and the site of healing services in the early 1900s. The current owners have renamed it in honor of Andrew Jackson Davis and his Harmonial Philosophy, but it still retains its aura of healing and peace.
That didn’t prepare me for my visit to the current Healing Temple which was opened in 1955. The new temple was dedicated to be a place of peace to all those who come to renew their energy through healing, meditation and prayer. I was truly amazed when I first entered the building. I had never had an experience with spiritual healing, and I was changed by my experience there.
Lily Dale was where I first learned about Spiritualism and what it truly meant. I remember going into the Maplewood hotel and seeing all the precipitated paintings. These are works of art which appear on canvas without the use of human hands during a séance. All the pieces were very professional looking and some very large. I could not believe that they were done by the spirit world.
I next visited Inspiration Stump. Found at the end of a quiet trail in the Leolyn Woods, the old stump has been the site of mediumship demonstrations and services since 1898. My first time walking down the path was one of wonder. I thought of all the people who had demonstrated there and were true to their beliefs in Spiritualism. Today, I find that sitting alone in silence at the Inspiration Stump always restores my energy.
I watched numerous mediums demonstrate at Lily Dale, and I must admit, I was in awe. For the first time, I felt I had found a place with likeminded people. Later, I read that Susan B. Anthony was supposed to have given a speech at Lake Chautauqua, but when they turned her down, Lily Dale opened its doors to her. It has also been said that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini used to sit on the porch of one of the guest houses, involved in conversations about life beyond death.
Lily Dale is certainly a place that makes you look within yourself and trust your inner feelings and thoughts. It is a place that is one with the spirit world. When I think of all the great Spiritualists who walked the very grounds that exist today, I realize what they had to give up to follow their faith. The library offers a large collection of books on Spiritualism. Reading about subjects like inspirational writing, automatic writing, mediumship, spirit guides, home circles, physical mediumship, and mental mediumship, opened my mind to what is possible.
If you have never been to Lily Dale, I urge you to make a trip there just once in your life. Lily Dale’s year-round population is about 275. During Summer, they offer classes, workshops, public church services and mediumship demonstrations, lectures, and private appointments with mediums. Take advantage of what they have to offer. I’m sure some part of you will be changed in a special way, just as I was changed.
by Karen | Aug 17, 2016 | Karen's Korner
Gordon Burroughs said, “Spiritualism shows the seeker the way, the open door to attainment.” Attainment of what?
Spiritualism teaches that continual change is the only truth in life. Man is constantly progressing or retrogressing. Each of us is born into an ever changing environment. As children, our bodies grow and age. Our relationships with others mature. People come and go. Jobs are obtained and lost. The only constant in the midst of the turmoil is our at-one-ment with the Infinite Intelligence.
If we are to understand ourselves and life, we must see beyond everything that is changing. We must attain a state of consciousness that allows us to recognize the Infinite Intelligence as the only intelligence, to understand our oneness with God, the only presence.
Spiritualism points the way to that higher state of consciousness. It enables us to see that man is a soul animated by spirit, a dweller in ever present eternity, co-eternal with God, occupying a physical body on the earthly plane. “Man is not a body with a spirit, but a spirit with a body and a mind to serve him.”
Why seek to develop the higher within one’s self? For two reasons. First, so that we may take our place on the higher planes of consciousness in spirit life after passing on. And secondly, that through developing ourselves while still on the earthly plane, we may assist others who may have lost their way. For, in helping others, we help a part of the Infinite Intelligence, a part of ourselves.
Our hearts must go out to all men in every walk of life. We must put ourselves in every man’s place so that we may understand his viewpoint and motives. “With true sympathy manifest in our lives, knowledge, as has been said, is born.”
Expressing true sympathy produces within us a subtle power, poise. Poise is a great tower of strength to body and to spirit. It cannot be seen in the physical sense, but it controls all of our actions. It enables us to deal with life, not as a temporary stay here on earth, but as an eternal manifestation.
Three attributes; knowledge, sympathy, and poise create success, health, happiness, and true greatness. They allow us to conserve our energy so that each act counts and each deed accomplishes its purpose. As we develop these qualities through correct and constructive thinking, we will radiate love, health, and success to others.
We will lift ourselves and others.
Inspirational reading: Becoming a Spiritualist by H. Gordon Burroughs, Port City Press, 1962.
by Karen | Aug 10, 2016 | Karen's Korner
In today’s fast paced world, people are so caught up with living day to day, they barely have time to think. Electronic media bombards us with information constantly, but what does it say to us? Buy this. Choose that. Get involved with this drama. Don’t ignore this. Never rest. Never be quiet.
What happens when we pause to think? Do we have a philosophy of life? Do our lives have purpose? Do we have goals and direction?
Spiritualism can add focus and direction in today’s hectic world by allowing us to see the bigger picture, to see not only our short physical life on this world, but that we are part of a longer spiritual journey.
All religions have taught about the existence of the soul after death. In early religious history, leaders demonstrated man’s contact with the dimension beyond and the continuity of the spirit, but that was lost over time. Religions became more materialistic, focusing more on the physical. Connecting with the spiritual realm by lay people was discouraged, and even forbidden.
In wasn’t until Spiritualism began in the 1840s that people were again encouraged to connect with spirits beyond in an effort to demonstrate the existence of the spiritual world. Spiritualists taught that individuality continues, the personality endures after the change we know as death.
Spiritualism is almost 200 years old, but it exists in today’s world with a clearly defined philosophy. We find it in the first lines of the poem: “Born I am. I am what I am, A soul immortal, garbed as man.”
Spiritualism teaches a broad philosophy. It takes all into its arms, and folds into its heart the philosophies of all mankind. If finds the good in all. We are all brothers and sisters.
Spiritualism accepts the presence of a Divine Energy or God. The immortal soul cannot be separated from God, and always manifests with God. God does not condemn us or cast us out of His divine plan. Garbed for the moment as part of mankind, we retain all our experiences along our immortal path. They cannot be taken away from us.
Spiritualists believe we must all take on the responsibility of our own lives. “As a man thinketh, so is he.” Life owes us nothing; we owe the world everything. We get out of the world just what we put into it, nothing more or nothing less. As we sincerely think, so will our actions become. It makes no difference how straight or narrow the way. We are the masters of our fate; the masters of our souls; we are the ones who pave the way. We all make our own heaven or hell. We cannot find happiness until we create happiness; there is no possible way of finding joy unless we create joy.
The full realization of these simple truths makes life a magnificent activity. H. Gordon Burroughs said, “What a marvelous time we are living in at the present moment: the time of challenge, the clear, definite clarion call to humanity to reach up and throw off the shackles of ignorance, selfishness, and woe, and to come into the realization of at-one-ment with God- the realization that all souls are of equal importance to the great, the eternal manifestation of life; that they cannot be lost; that they play their part, well or ill, but have the power within to be masters of the part they are playing.”
As Spiritualists, we must teach the non-existence of death. Death, like birth, is just an event in the great eternal plan. All the things through which we pass are experiences along the pathway of soul. We must teach the world peace at all times. It is our place to remain poised and calm in times of stress; to continue to manifest God in action; to meet birth and death as incidents in the great plan of life.
Our goal must be to always serve humanity. We must continue to work with God to attain self-illumination so that we may show the way to others that they may find the truth. In truth, we will walk unafraid, living with God, an “immortal, garbed as man”.
As the old teachers said, “Let there be many windows to your soul. One pane cannot catch the thousands of scintillating truths that radiate from the kingdom of God. Lift the blinds of superstition; let the soul open wide the windows through which the truth may enter. Attune your ear to the wordless music of the spheres; and your heart, like a flower seeking the sun, will reach out for truth and a million unseen hands will reach down to help you up to piece-crowned heights. The glory of the firmament Will sustain you.”
Inspirational Reading: Becoming a Spiritualist by H. Gordon Burroughs, Port City Press, 1962.
by Karen | Aug 5, 2016 | About Our Church
- The Fatherhood of God.
The core belief of the religious philosophy of Spiritualism is the acceptance of a Divine Energy. This force, whatever name given to it, has created all there is and sustains all its creation. The ‘Spirit of God’ exists within and around everything. It is within all of us: we are all children of God so are part of one family. We acknowledge God as our Father.
- The Brotherhood of Man.
We are all part of the universal creative force and therefore one family in God. The operation of true Brotherhood throughout the world would create betterment to the lives of many, bringing equality, security and peace. Spiritualists try to understand the needs of others and help all people regardless of race, colour or creed
- The Communion of Spirits and the Ministry of Angels.
Communion with divine energy is a natural and essential part of existence. Communication between Spirit itself and its creations is an inbuilt ability. Spiritualists use this ability for communication directly, or via a medium, between those in the spirit world and ourselves. This is not supernatural; it is a normal activity. The main purpose of communication with the spirit world is to provide the evidence which supports our philosophy. The Ministry of Angels brings enhanced wisdom to enlighten the individual, society and the world in which we live. This includes those who are dedicated to the welfare and service of mankind bringing inspiration guidance and healing.
- The Continuous Existence of the Human Soul.
Spirit is part of the ‘Creative Force’ and thus indestructible. Energy cannot be destroyed; it can only change its form. After death the physical body is left behind whilst the soul continues to exist in a different dimension that we call the spirit world. The individual personality continues unchanged by the event we call ‘death’.
- Personal Responsibility.
In His wisdom, God has given us enormous potential; we can use that potential to improve our own lives and the lives of others. We have the ability to make decisions throughout our lives as we see fit. What each of us makes of our life is our Personal Responsibility no one can replace or override that right. No other person or influence can put right our wrong doings.
- Compensation and Retribution Hereafter for all the Good and Evil Deeds done on Earth.This Principle expresses the natural law of ‘cause and effect’. This law operates now, on earth, as well as in the spirit world. As we move through life making choices, the outcome of those choices affects our soul growth. When we leave this earthly life there will be no divine judgement. We will have the opportunity to reassess, take stock and decide what might have been done differently.
- Eternal Progress open to every Human Soul.
Eternity does not begin at death; Progress is open to all now! Any action, or intent to change, to promote soul growth and progression, creates a positive reaction. There will always be the opportunity to develop and move forward, no one is ever deprived of the all embracing love of God.
