Gordon Higginson Trance Demonstration 1992

James Van Praagh does audience readings from his "Beyond" TV show

The Journalist,The Titanic & Spiritualism

Britain's first great investigative journalist William Stead (5 July 1849 – 15 April 1912) is to be honoured  by The Chartered Institute of Journalists - to mark the 100th anniversary of his death aboard the Titanic.

Less well known is that William Stead was also a Spiritualist.

The Chartered Institute of Journalists is to honour Britain’s first investigative journalist - on the 100th anniversary of his death aboard the Titanic. President Norman Bartlett will lay a wreath at the memorial to W.T Stead on the Victoria Embankment in London on April 15.
William Thomas Stead was acknowledged as Britain’s leading campaigning and investigative journalist in the late 1800s, particularly for his work in exposing the white-slave trade and child sex abuse in London’s brothels by the nation’s upper classes. This resulted in the passing of the Criminal Amendment Act which raised the age of consent from 13 to 16.
As part of his campaign, Stead “bought” a chimney sweep’s 13-year-old daughter (Eliza Armstrong) for £5 which earned him a three-month prison sentence. He continued to edit the Pall Mall Gazette (which later merged into the Evening Standard) from his prison cell.

After his death on the Titanic, the Institute of Journalists launched an appeal to raise funds for a memorial. So much was raised that two memorials were erected, one opposite Temple Tube station and the other in Central Park, New York.

Stead was a pacifist and peace campaigner and started a Spiritualist quarterly  magazine  called Borderland.

 Before Stead boarded  The Titanic, he said 2 spiritualist friends had warned him the journey would not end well but Stead dismissed their fears stating that whatever was to come, he could not avoid fate.

Throughout his life he claimed he would either die by lynching or drowning. When the iceberg struck the Titanic in 1912, Stead is said to have assisted women and children into the lifeboats and then retired to the sitting room to smoke a cigar and read a book.

Psychic News to be re-published

A ripple of excitement has swept around the world of Spiritualism after it was announced that the assets of the 80 year old newspaper PN Psychic News have been purchased by the Spiritualist organisation, the JV Trust under the auspices of the chairman, the respected Minister Eric Hatton.

The JV Trust issued the following statement today:
" My fellow trustees and I are absolutely delighted to announce that yesterday, 4th October 2011, ownership of psychic News , it's archives and other assets passed to the J.V Trust".

Rev Cleary

In 2010 Psychic News published the front page story that Reverend Patricia Cleary had been vindicated in the NSW Supreme Court after several persons had made false claims about her tenure of the Enmore Spiritualist Church. 
False and bizarre claims were made that local police and the Fraud Squad were investigating the church when no such investigation happened or was ever contemplated by the police as they aknowledged in writing to Rev. Cleary.

The article vindicating Reverend Cleary was firstly vetted by a retired British judge (who worked on Psychic News) to confirm accuracy and the legality of the article.

The Psychic News went into administration with a complicated legal situation occurring over ownership of it's assets that were thought to be owned by the Spiritualist's National Union (UK) who own and operate the famous Stansted Hall.
Prominent members of the SNU gave invaluable support and advice to Reverend Cleary, who enjoys a world-wide reputation for her promotion of the religion.

Near Death Experiences

NDE Light from Near Death Experiences

Rene Jorgensen on the Call the Doctor Show

NDE expert and researcher Rene Jorgensen appeared on the TV show Call the Doctor along with Dr. Jeffrey Long and David Benneth to discuss the scientific evidence for near-death experiences, research and insights from the experience. Jorgensen also shared his research from his book "The Light Behind God," which investigates the parallels to religion.

Enmore Spiritualist Church medium in Falconio murder mystery

Caterina Ligato, (left) a medium who attended development and meditation classes at Enmore Spiritualist Church has said in an interview in the Daily Telegraph that she has contacted the murdered back packer Peter Falconio and that he has given her a message that the wrong man has been jailed over his murder:

 

Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio

Psychic: I know what happened to Peter Falconio

Ten years after the mysterious disappearance of English backpacker Peter Falconio, Australia’s leading psychic medium, Caterina Ligato believes she can shed some new light on the case, including the revelation that John Murdoch, the man convicted of Falconio’s murder, is innocent.

“I contacted Peter through my guides to attempt to ascertain exactly what happened. I was asked by a media agency to see if I could speak with him and I have” said Ligato who is famous for her ability to talk with the spirit world and perform exorcisms.

“He told me he got involved with some bad people and agreed to be a part of a deal which involved drugs. However, he did not keep his part of the deal and fled the UK with Joanne as he was worried that the people involved might go after her.”

read the rest of the interview here.

The Enduring Arthur Conan Doyle

No author n modern history has been as popular as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who created Sherlock Holmes. Every decade there is either a new feature film or TV series based upon his works.

Sir Arthur is one of the most well know Spiritualist and he wrotes books on the subject some of which can be accessed for free here :
http://www.spiritwritings.com/doylecitations.html
Here is the first part of an amateur film about him titled :No Place Like Holmes: The Reluctant Spiritualist

New Paranormal Investigation TV series

A new program is being screened on the community TV station TVS.

Called Paranormal Investigators : Australian Paranormal Media the show can be seen on TVS on Monday evenings at 9.30pm

From the producer Attila Kaldy :

OK, so here it is: I’m a freelance producer and research coordinator of a paranormal investigative organisation in Sydney.

You can say that I have been to some really freaky places over the years. Besides chasing the unexplained, my passion is to convey the weird side of this great continent to a large audience. I guess this was the main motivation for my interest in production.

I have taken a lot of journeys, experienced many adventures while exploring the unexplained (hauntings, UFOs, … you know the things folks don’t really like to talk about).

Kanova Productions basically says, ‘Hey, it’s OK to come out and share your experiences with others’. And the people who do are normal everyday folk looking for validation. That’s all!

So what if certain individuals are judgemental? Think of it this way: they are the ones lacking the valuable experience that you had.

Back to the story. In 2002 I produced a low budget UFO doco called The Oz Unknowns. I guess we all have to start somewhere. This was two years after establishing an investigative group in southwest Sydney. The Oz Unknowns featured three stories about Aussies experiencing bizarre aerial phenomena (UFOs).

When branching out into afterlife research, I released PI – Paranormal Investigators. Again, it was limited in the way we expect to see such a production. The material used was raw footage, taken from investigations, so it gave it that rustic, spooky feel.

When PI was aired in Sydney and Melbourne I was surprised how popular the series was.

After producing some trial documentaries, I decided to take an innovative approach to ghost hunting and created, produced Paranormal Investigators – The Challenge in 2008. A trainee was introduced, someone with no experience, chasing the paranormal through dark corridors and creepy forests.

Go to their website to read more about the show.

Website that documents the Afterlife

Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife  (click name to go to website) is a fascinating site that documents all aspects and personal experiences in near-death experiences where people who have been through that experience often describe similar experiences-the white light, tunnel etc.

Here is one that appears on the site :

A Moment of Truth

Jayne Smith's near-death experience

Thirty-five years ago, Jayne Smith was in the hospital in labor with her second baby. In the process, she experienced clinical death and had a near-death experience. The following is taken from her video entitled A Moment of Truth where she describes her near-death experience. In my opinion, her near-death experience is one of the most profound near-death experiences I have ever come across. After reading about her near-death experience, I am certain you will agree. Information on how to obtain a video tape of her describing her near-death experience can be found below. On the video tape, she answers some very profound questions concerning life and life after death. The Ecstasy of God I was totally aware. I was in blackness. I couldn't see anything. I was thinking to myself, "This isn't the way it is supposed to be. I'm not supposed to know anything and I do. What on Earth has happened?" At that point I felt something leave my body. It was a whoosh. It went up through the top of my head. I could feel it and I could hear it. Just a gentle whoosh. At that point I found myself standing in a kind of gray mist. Then I knew I had died. To read all of this and many more go to : http://www.near-death.com/smith.html

Studying Spiritualism at Lily Dale

One of the best ways to 'study' Spiritualism is to attend large numbers of services although this can be a bit difficult in Australia because of the scarcity of churches. There are however a number of fine Spiritualist churches in every Australian state capital as well as some country areas.

Over the coming weeks we will bring you a list of churches known to Enmore who provide facilities for persons to train as a medium and attend meditation classes-often where people start to get a good feel for the religion. There really is no one place better than the other in that training to be a medium is a very personal thing but discipline and a calm atmosphere can make all the difference !

Many Australians, great world travellers that they are, travel to some of the world's best areas to study or experience Spiritualism in a new land. It can be a richly rewarding experience.

Lily Dale in New York State is not only one of the oldest US centres for Spiritualism, it is a charming hamlet with a hotel and cottages to rent so you can spend time there in an 'atmosphere' of Spiritualism.  The countryside is beautiful. All the small houses in Lily Dale are owned by Spiritualists and when they are sold on, they must be sold to another Spiritualist.

From Lily Dale's own website :

"Center for Spiritualist Studies
Welcome to the Center for Spiritualist Studies (CSS) in Lily Dale, New York. We are fortunate to be located within Lily Dale Assembly where many very famous spiritual leaders have walked upon the grounds. Lily Dale is one of the most recognized sites of Spiritualism in the USA, and perhaps the world.

The Center is incorporated as a religious seminary by the New York State Board of Regents. The goal of the curriculum is the training of Spiritualist Clergy, Teachers, Mediums and Healers. Enrollment information and catalogs are now available for all CSS Diploma and Certificate programs.


Our Purpose and Mission
The Center for Spiritualist Studies is structured with a threefold purpose:

• To provide for the spiritual needs of the individual.
• To train Spiritualist clergy, teachers, mediums and healers to be equipped to effectively serve humanity in a religious capacity.
• To serve the practical educational and certification requirements of the National Spiritualist Association of Churches and other Spiritualist organizations.

In the broader sense the curriculum are designed to educate students to contribute productively to society while extending and enriching the Science, Philosophy, and Religion of Modern Spiritualism.

What is Spiritualism ?

Often people are unaware that some Spiritualists are not psychic, and some psychics are not Spiritualists although the 2 often overlap.

As an example, the well known TV psychic John Edwards until recently never referred to himself as a Spiritualist. In the last 2 years he has.

For a brief history of the beginnings of Spiritualism with the famous Fox Sisters in the USA go to the Wikipedia  website.

Most of the Churches in Australia are run independently of each other although most hold  the same types of services.

In England the religion has always been more organised with 2 umbrella groups -the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain-SAGB located in a beautiful building in London's Belgrave Square (although they are moving at present to a nearby more modern building) and the  Spiritualists National Union SNU headquartered at Stansted Hall, about 40 miles outside London.

In the USA many churches belong to the National Spiritualist Association of Churches NSAC at the wonderful Lily Dale in New York State.

It is difficult to work out the numbers of Spiritualists in Australia. In the UK Spiritualism is the 6th largest religion but with around 42,000 adherents it is still small compared to the population of approx 61 million people.

All Spiritualist Churches have the same 7 principals (from the NSAC ). However the wording may differ :

1. We believe in God.
2. We believe that God is expressed through all Nature.
3. True religion is living in obedience to Nature's Laws.
4. We never die.
5. Spiritualism proves that we can talk with people in the Spirit World.
6. Be kind, do good, and others will do likewise.
7. We bring unhappiness to ourselves by the errors we make and we will be happy if we obey the laws of life.
8. Everyday is a new beginning.
9. Prophecy and healing are expressions of God.

Stansted Hall

For a greater explanation of these principals go to their website here. 

The SNU gives this definition of Spiritualism :


" Spiritualism is a religion that gives an understanding of God and encourages us to act with a high sense of duty towards others. Spiritualism stimulates spiritual growth and prepares us for eternal existence in the spirit-world.

Spiritualism is a science because it is based upon proven facts that can be demonstrated and scientifically classified. Spiritualism is the science of life as it encourages the search for truth in every department of existence, in nature and in human psychology. 

Spiritualism is a philosophy that attempts to understand people, their physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual being. As Spirit is the moving force of the Universe, so Spiritualist philosophy embraces the whole realm of nature."

"Life in the World Unseen" : a free download

"Life in the World Unseen" by Anthony Borgia  
gives one of the most comprehensive accounts of what follows physical death. Received through the clairaudient mediumship of Anthony Borgia, an old friend to the author, Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson, who was himself a son of a former Bishop of Canterbury.  It strongly supports and  emphasizes the cause & effect relationship that exists between this life and the next.  The information contained in this book was conveyed from the spirit world to a friend and acquaintance,  so it is told in the first person, as one who now resides in the spirit world.  
This book can be downloaded in PDF form for free by going to this link :   http://new-birth.net/booklet/Life_in_the_World_Unseen.pdf

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at the Enmore Spiritualist Church

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was one of the world's foremost proponents and believers of Spiritualism. He was also the author of some of the most enduring books in modern history-the tales of Sherlock Holmes.

In 1921 Sir Arthur visited and toured Australia. He gave his farewell speech to an audience of members of the then Enmore Spiritualist Church.

In future posts we will bring you the text of his speech. Here is an interview with Sir Arthur :

" No-one Dies In Lily Dale"

Lily Dale in Chautauqua County in New York State is one of America's oldest and most famous communities that is devoted to Spiritualism.

Below is a film featuring Lily Dale and you can find out much more by going to their website here.

The community provides a series of seminars and meetings throughout the year. There is a fee for admission to the grounds, which include a museum.  The Marion Skidmore Library. Lily Dale Museum & Historical Society, bookstore, shops, and a snack bar. Also of note to the potential tourist is the Lily Dale pet cemetary. The pet cemetery is located at the entrance to the LeoLyn Woods a towering old growth forest.

The town of Lily Dale has its own Volunteer Fire Department, water supply and two swans named Lily and Dale. Visitors must pay a gate fee of $10 per person during the summer season which runs from mid-June until Labor Day. Gate fees are waived on Sunday morning to allow nearby residents to attend church services. Included in the gate fee is admission to a variety of daily and weekly scheduled events: mediumship demonstrations, thought exchange meetings, and healing services, among others.

What Is Spiritualism ?

"Spiritualism is the Science, Philosophy, and Religion of continuous life based upon the demonstrated fact of communication by means of mediumship with those who live in the Spirit World".

Spiritualist believe that those in the Spirit World can and do communicate after they have made the change called death.  Through mediumship, we can connect with loved ones, guides, and teachers on the other side of the veil.  We can be comforted by talking to our loved ones; we can be helped by instructions from our guides; and we can be taught important life lessons by Master Teachers.

Spiritualism is much more than communicating with those in the Spirit World.  Spiritualism is a way of living our lives to the fullest extent possible through an understanding of Natural Law.  We believe in a Father-Mother God that loves us and works with us to provide a progressive incarnation.  We understand that we are responsible for our own actions and, due to the Law of Karma, harvest the rewards.  We strive to be non-judgmental.

We know that there is a thread of truth that runs through all religions and by being familiar with many religions, we come to celebrate the similarities of all.  We consider Jesus the Christ to be our Wayshower and Elder Brother and also embrace the teachings of other Masters.  We believe that all sacred texts all valid and worthy.

We understand that there are many paths to the Divine and encourage each individual to find his/her own way.

Spiritualism

• 
  
  Teaches personal responsibility.
• Removes fear of death, death is just a change of personal existence and identity.
• Helps us communicate with those beyond in the realms of spirit.
• Brings to the surface man's spiritual gifts and potentials, allowing us to demonstrate mediumistic skills, healing, prophecy, and to learn more of who we truly are.
• Teaches as a flower unfolds in beauty, so does the spirit of man unfold in the spirit spheres.
• Brings the understanding that man is a spiritual being now, even while encased in this physical body.
• Teaches the spark of divinity dwells in all things.
• Brings comfort to man knowing that we can connect to others in spirit, because of the continuity of life after death.
• Opens the doorways to many other worlds beyond our perspectives on these planes.

 courtesy-First Spiritualist Church of Lansing

Oprah Winfrey under attack over her Spiritual beliefs

 It comes with the territory for one of the biggest names on television but Oprah Winfrey is being attacked again for her beliefs in a new book by an evangelist considered to be from the 'Christian Right" in the USA.

The book's blurb goes:

'O' God: A Dialogue on Truth and Oprah's Spirituality provides an in-depth look at one of the greatest media influences of all time: the empire of Oprah. Between The Oprah Winfrey Show and O Magazine, millions of people are exposed to Oprah's spiritual beliefs. Christians and those of other faiths are asking tough questions and looking for answers. McDowell and Sterrett approach the spirituality of Oprah by means of a fictional narrative featuring conversation between two friends. The spiritual conversation begins when the two girls get together to discuss spiritual issues. By using stories to address the deeper issues raised in the spiritual conversations held by Oprah and her friends, McDowell and Sterrett disarm and entertain their readers while also revealing biblical truths and exposing the errant teachings and misconceptions of Oprah. McDowell, a mega-bestselling Christian author and evangelist, teams up with Sterrett, a gifted writer and popular speaker, to broach a serious subject with a wise, balanced, easy-to-read approach. McDowell and Sterrett help readers to discern the truth about the spirituality of Oprah.

Spiritualism and the ouija board-a warning

We thank the excellent website Spiritualism.com.au for this article on the dangers of using the ouija board. It's a popular belief by those who are not experienced in Spiritualism that ouija boards are used to communicate with spirit. Spiritualists do not endorse them or promote them. Even  people who have no connection to Spiritualism should avoid ouija boards at all costs.

Recently a 'digital' version of a board was released and it was sad to read a purported spiritualist discussion board endorsing it.
                                    *****************************

The Dangers of the Ouija Board


Do they work? Absolutely. How? Whether using a planchette or a glass, the participants are focusing their energies onto a very small space. They are giving power to these tools. It is this power and the open invitation for anyone to communicate that opens doorways. The difficulty is once these doorways are opened you cannot always close them and the experience can last long after the game has ended. A planchette or glass is like a shining beacon; unfortunately the communicators they usually attract are the occupants of the astral world. This is plane where entities reside who have departed from this world, but not transcended to the other world. It is also where entities or beasts not of this world live. If you are lucky a loved one or guide will come through, but most people are unlucky. It is also nearly impossible to tell the difference between someone of the light and someone pretending to be. Why? Because the game removes the safety features associated with spiritual communication. When a Medium/Clairvoyant communicates they do so through their own energy field, so they can feel and sense the link. With or without protection they will know immediately if the link is of the light or merely feigning to be. But if they were using a glass or a planchette they lose the closeness of the connection and their ability to be able sense the energy of the communicator.

Participants of the game have given away their right to be protected from the dwellers of the lower planes. They have invited them. Once they are here they have no intentions of going back. So long after the fun has gone they can live on, in the space where the activity took place. With the added advantage of being invisible they can wreak havoc in peoples’ lives, by creating fear, anger and dis-harmony. For those foolhardy enough to try out this type of communication the affects can be disastrous. If you are still not convinced I suggest you read my own book ‘Spheres of an Unseen World’ where I tell story after story of people whose lives have been affected by disincarnate entities. From mild disturbances around the house, knocking, banging, through to physical assaults on people. Not all but many of these events start with the use of these boards. Even after the culprits have long moved on, unable to cope with the unearthly disturbances the chaos lives on.

If you have used a board and believe it has caused a problem in your home seek out a local spiritualist church, they will offer you advice and assistance. For ‘would be communicators’, remember there are no short cuts to developing your ability to communicate with the other side. If you are interested again visit your local spiritualist church or spiritual/psychic centres. Most will offer development courses, where you can learn to communicate properly and safely, without the dangers of attracting unsavoury entities into your home.