Why Johnny Can’t Come Through

May 022013
 
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Over twenty years ago at Temple Heights Spiritualist Camp in Northport, Maine, I had a lady from Manhattan come to me for a private session.  I did not know at the time that she desperately wanted to make contact with her deceased mother. The session was quite emotionally stirring and tearful to say the least as her mother was able to communicate through me.  The daughter gratefully expressed how meaningful and healing the session had been for her.
Mediumship is not an exact science and it very much dependent upon the psychic atmosphere and conditions present which allow communications to take place. Since we are dealing with telepathic, mind to mind communication between personalities in the spirit world and the medium.  The medium must be properly attuned and receptive to the mental impressions conveyed by the spirit communicators. Mediumistic communication is a delicate procedure requiring energetic harmony between all parties involved in the process. If there is enthusiasm and positive energy the conditions will be favorable.  Any type of antagonism or negativity results in less than satisfactory conditions that affect the results.
Over the years thousands of spirit personalities have communicated through me.  As a medium I am an imperfect instrument and I am always striving to improve my abilities and strengthen my connections with the spirit world.  Many people, like the lady described above, come to a medium such as myself seeking direct contact with specific loved ones and others in the spirit world.  Such individuals may be emotionally distraught and genuinely seek closure and healing over the deep pain they are experiencing. Unfortunately, many mistakenly believe that a medium can call up any particular person in the spirit world, and are greatly disappointed when the one or two special loved ones do not come through during the session. This is understandable since the average person knows little about the mechanics of the process and what actually has to take place in the spirit world to make it happen.
The fact that someone is physically deceased does not instantly enable that individual to communicate through a medium.  Nor does it mean that they would even want to come through depending upon the circumstances.  What many do not realize is that anyone from the spirit world coming through a trained medium is being permitted to communicate by the higher spirit teachers and guardians, who orchestrate the session, and determine, who will come through and what information will be conveyed.
Popular television programs that feature mediumship in a sensationalistic manner, while amusing to watch, are entertainment first, and rarely educational regarding the mechanics of the process.   It is also important to remember that such shows are highly edited, resulting in a gross misconception of how mediumship works.  When people see a television medium such as John Edward bring through a recognizable spirit loved one, they automatically conclude that every session with a medium will result in the loved one they want to hear from coming through. They do not realize that every mediumship session is highly experimental, and if the conditions are not right, then the results will be affected.  They do not know that the loved one that they want to hear from may not be available or may be unable to communicate during that particular session.  No medium, no matter how much money they are paid for a session,  can guarantee contact with a specific spirit.  One can always ask, but the results are never guaranteed. The spirit world sets the agenda and determines the content of the session. The medium is only the instrument through which the information is conveyed.

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What are some of the main reasons that someone may not come through? A person newly arrived in the spirit world may need to work on themselves emotionally or spend a period adjusting to their new environment, or for personal reasons they may simply not desire to come through. There are so many factors involved and each case is a unique situation.  Since mediumship is a carefully planned process, orchestrated by the higher personalities in the spirit world, some spirit personalities, for various reasons, may not be permitted to come through, and for those allowed to communicate the process must be studied and rehearsed.
Often during a mediumship session, I have been aware of spirit personalities, not connected in any way with the recipient,  observing the proceedings for the purpose of learning about the mechanics of mediumistic communication. Undoubtedly the loved ones of such spirits would be consulting a medium at a future date and such study would help familiarize the spirit with the nature of the process.  I have, also, been informed by some, very talkative spirit personalities during sessions that they spent extra time rehearsing the process and practicing.  I have experienced that such communicators are generally able to convey information mentally much stronger and clearer than the communicator who has not made the effort to study and practice the process.  Of course, the best communicators in terms of easily coming through tend to be the personalities who were the most outgoing and good as communicators while living physically.

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It has been my experience that the more frequently a spirit personality comes through a medium, the easier it is for them to communicate in successive sessions.  Since mediumship is telepathic communication, dependent upon harmonious mental conditions, it is helpful if the spirit personality is on the same mental wave length as the medium.  If the spirit personality does not relate to the medium, or does not connect well with them on a personal level, the results may not be as dramatic or evidential as in the case of working through a medium possessing a similar mindset or compatibility. Once a medium is found who is able to effectively channel a particular loved one, then this medium should continue to be used as the results will be most favorable.
All spirit personalities that come through a trained medium are not only permitted to come through the medium, they also come through the spirit team, who function as intermediaries for the medium. A medium may  describe a grandmother in the spirit world and convey verbatim, the exact words and details she wants to get across to her loved ones in the physical world, but what most people do not realize is that the information given by the grandmother is being transmitted with the assistance of the mediums spirit team.  The spirit team is a group of highly developed specialists, who have trained and worked with their medium for a considerable period of time.  Their energetic and mental attunement with the medium is especially powerful and as a result they are able to assist the medium in the channeling process.

Running from one medium to another in hopes of contacting a deceased loved one is a waste of time and generally results in failure and disappointment. Frequently, people coming for a session are surprised when the communicating spirit is not the person they had hoped for, but a loved one they did not know well, or even an individual they did not like very much.  Remember the spirit world sets the agenda of the session and determines who will come through.  Sometimes the session is more for the person in the spirit world than the person recipient of the communication.
Can they communicate immediately or soon after physical passing? This question is frequently asked by many people investigating the possibility of working with a medium and, in my experience, it really depends upon the situation.  Generally, it is common for a recently passed individual to attempt to make contact with their loved ones in the physical world.  I have had people, who have passed over, come through a few hours after their physical death. Other individuals I know in the spirit world have never come through, and I am around mediumship all the time.  Usually, if the need is there for one or both parties, then attempts at communication will be made. I know for myself, with loved ones and others coming through, that generally those closest to me communicate through mediums, when I least expect it and am not even thinking about them.  They will communicate to me through a medium on the other side of the country, or through one of my students during an experimental class room exercise.  I personally do not seek contact with specific individuals in the spirit world, but when they do come through it is welcomed and appreciated.
For those desperately wanting to make contact with a loved one who has passed going to a medium is certainly a means of providing proof of life after death.  Learn about the mechanics of the process first. Know that if there is a genuine need the spirit world will try to provide.  Going to a medium expecting or demanding certain results is counter productive, as it inflicts damage upon the delicate psychic atmosphere necessary to achieve satisfactory results.  Most people do not realize that the attitudes and energy they bring to the session greatly affect what takes place. So often, when the recipient does not receive what they want out of the session, the medium is blamed.
The spirit world is all around us and communication with those who have passed over is possible with the right conditions.  If a particular spirit loved ones does not come through right away, there are likely good reasons for it.  Experiment with the spirit world on a regular basis. Besides consulting with mediums, learn how to be receptive to their love and influence.  The more we open up to the spirit world the easier it will be for them to communicate with us directly as well as through mediums. The easiest people for me to work with are other mediums. The reason for this is because mediums possess the right energy and attitudes that create the best possible conditions for telepathic communication between the two worlds.

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Leading American Spiritualist Tells of “Dead” Mother’s Materialization

Feb 102013
 
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joe merrill medium

The following article is an interview that I conducted with the Reverend Joseph Merrill in October 1989 at the 97th annual convention of the National Spiritualist Association and was originally published in the British Spiritualist weekly Psychic News in February, 1990.  Joseph Merrill performed the ceremony for me when I was ordained as a minister with the National Spiritualist Association of Churches at the Mediums League building at the Lily Dale Assembly in Lily Dale, New York, USA in August 1992.  I was serving that week at Lily Dale as a guest speaker and medium and I am blessed that Joe was able to do the ceremony for me.  I used to give out copies of this article to participants in my mediumship development classes years ago.  I think that the information is pretty good and I hope that readers of this blog enjoy it.  Let me know what you think.

It is always interesting to read the views of other Spiritualists, all the more as when they live some thousand miles away in America. 

When medium Stephen Hermann attended the Ninety-Seventh annual convention of the National Spiritualist Association of Churches (NSAC) in Washington, DC, he took the opportunity to interview the Rev. Joseph Merrill.

Mr. Merrill has been active within Spiritualism for over seven decades.  Since 1973 he has served as NSAC president.  This is the oldest and largest Spiritualist organization in North America.

Previously, Mr. Merrill served various administrative positions with state Spiritualist associations, as well as secretary and vice-president of the NSAC.  From 1975 to 1981 he was vice-president of the International Spiritualist Federation.

Stephen, of Alexandria, Virginia, put various points to Mr. Merrill.  His questions appear in italics.

How did you become interested in the teachings of Spiritualism?

There came a time when I was bothered by what I was repeating at the Congregational Church, of which I was a member.

I had an appointment where I talked with the minister.  I told him that every Sunday when I went to my parents I repeated the Apostles Creed.  In that Apostles Creed we said we believed in life everlasting. I asked the minister what he could give me to cling to as I was growing up and wondering about this life everlasting. But the only thing I got was that it was a blind belief you must have; there was nothing concrete that he could give me. Within the Apostles Creed is a line in which the congregation say they believe in the Communion of Saints.

My question was this: who are the saints we are in communion with? They were a group of people who lived at one time on Earth; they did some miraculous good, died and went to heaven. The saints, said the minister, are nearer to God than we are so we can pray to them and they will intercede for us. I said that if that small group of people can be prayed to and intercede, where are the billions of people that are not of that particular faith? Why can’t we pray to them? Where are they? Where is heaven?

I couldn’t get any satisfactory answers, but found them in the religion of Spiritualism.

Did you find through Spiritualism that your perspective of God changed from the view you held as a Congregationalist?

I learned in Spiritualism that my concept of the deity changed.  I could not accept the fact that God was a personal deity. I questioned my inspirers and sent out a thought to them to give me an explanation of what our Infinite Intelligence was.  The answer came to me, and has satisfied me down throughout the years. It was that Infinite Intelligence is something that is back of, part of, and cause of the universe.

To me Spiritualism is a religion of evolution. If there was a creator, then there must have been a creator to create the creator and so that wouldn’t satisfy me. So I have lived with-and have been satisfied with-the fact that we have a much broader concept of the deity.

When did you become interested in Spiritualism? What was your background?

I became interested in Spiritualism in 1918, and joined a church in 1926.  My background could best be summed up saying that “Spiritualism was my vocation, while photography was my profession.”

In what direction do  you see Spiritualism currently moving?

It is moving in the direction that was predicted by one of the pioneers of Spiritualism, Emma Hardinge Britten, who foretold that there would be three 50-year cycles in Spiritualism.

The first would be centered around physical phenomena that would give to the world proof.  In the next 50 years Spiritualism would not be accepted and mediums were arrested.  They were scoffed at during this period. Finally there is the third 50-year cycle which we are currently in. This Cycle would move from the physical into the mental phenomena, “the age of the mind.”

It is popular today for many to speak of the New Age. What are your feelings about the New Age?

We are in the New Age, but there’s nothing new about it since every age is a new age. For instance, when man stepped on another planet and telephoned a communication from the moon to the White House, that was a new age.

There’s nothing new as far as New Age metaphysical thinking is concerned.

How about trance channeling? It seems that many people are interested in this phase of mediumship.

Currently we are in a period in which channeling is becoming very, very prominent and everybody wants to become a channeler  A channeler is very psychic. The world is getting full of psychics, but psychics are not mediums.

So there is a difference between a psychic and a medium. Could you elaborate on this further?

A psychic is one who is sensitive to the atmospheric conditions and can tune in on things pertaining to the material world. That is why we have a bad image in Spiritualism of telling fortunes.

As I always say, if you went to a medium to have your fortune told, they’d tell you their own before they’d  tell you yours. Channeling and psychism are not mediumship because mediumship is actual proof that life continues.

There’s no such thing as an extinction of life. Life knows no extinction. Life does not know extinction, only transformation: it transforms into a different form of energy. No one can tell you what “mind” is. Within every single one of us the mind is the dominant factor. We are the infinite respondent to this factor.

The deity within ourselves is what we in Spiritualism try to bring our people to understand. It is they themselves who are responsible for everything they do; they can make or break their own lives.

What do you see as the future of the Spiritualist movement?

Spiritualism as an organization will lessen because all organized religions do so over time.

Spiritualism as an organization may lessen, but the knowledge and understanding of Spiritualism will reach the heart and mind of every living individual that wants to listen.

It is popular for many New Agers to make use of crystals. What are your feelings concerning this sort of device?

Everything is a New Age, like crystals and tarot cards, and so fourth.  They’re being used as crutches.  We in Spiritualism teach you to rely on   your own faculties, then you do not need crutches if you can think.

Over time we learn how to understand and what to expect from our spirit teachers. They are there to guide us and to keep us in our material conditions; they are not there to live our lives for us because live our lives ourselves.  We are responsible. Man is responsible for himself.

Would you say there is a difference in the quality of mediumship today as compared to your early involvement?

Yes, definitely. In the early days mediums delivered messages from the platform and so fourth. It was far more evidential than it is today. Mediumship is moving into the psychic realm without the in-depth working of proof of spirit.

I have seen mental mediums who would give fourth full names-first, middle and last names.

Have you ever seen any examples of physical phenomena that you can describe to readers?

I sat in a darkened room with soft lights on. Present were 32 people with chairs against the wall on three sides.

The mother of a friend of mine had passed away about a year before this happened.

The chairs we sat on were the wooden folding type that had a crossbar underneath. We were up against the wall. If a medium wanted to fake this operation we would have seen so. He would have to go behind the chairs and into the wall.  Neither could they crawl under the chairs.

I felt a nudge at the foot of the chair so looked. Right at the floor by the foot of the chair was a white substance the size of a golf ball.  I said to my friend; “Oh, something wants to manifest. Let’s try to give it room.”

We tried to move the chairs, but couldn’t. By then the golf ball was seen by everybody in the room. Soon the golf ball started to expand. It grew to the size of an orange.  It continued to grow in size; and wax; it took form and had arms and limbs which moved.

It was a woman. She moved in circles around my friend’s back so that the spiritual form was in the wall. It was his mother, who was recognizable to all present. I could not say “That was fake.”

What are the differences between Christianity and Spiritualism?

We say we are not Christians in the sense of the orthodox theological definition of Christianity.

We believe there was a great spiritual teacher that came to the world whom we know as Jesus.

We believe he was a great teacher and healer. We differ with the Christians in believing that “what he did, we too can do.”

 What are some of the rewards Spiritualism has given you over the years?

I’m 86 years old-and people think that at 86 you’re on your way out. I was asked by friends a year ago what was my secret for longevity.

I thought for a moment and said, “Well, I don’t know.” Really, I don’t know. I don’t eat right, I don’t live right, but I think right. Thought and mind are tow of the most powerful things we have. We don’t understand the possibilities of the mind, and the mental powers we have.

Divine Messengers of the Holy Spirit

Feb 102013
 
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Rev. Steve Hermann MediumAs I write this I am in the Philippines teaching mediumship and healing.  Spiritism is massive in the Philippines with about 2000 Spiritist centers around the country, at least half of them affiliated with the Unión Espiritista Cristiana de Filipinas.  Established in 1905 the founders of the Union were greatly influenced by the writings of the French Spiritualist Allan Kardec.   Presently there is much debate in the Union over the correct approach to mediumship development between the many members heavily influenced by mainstream Christian doctrine and orthodox ritual and the more scientifically oriented, adherents of Kardec’s writings.  The Spiritists within the Union who are largely Christian oriented believe that mediumship is a gift of the Holy Spirit and as a result mediumistic development does not require education or training.  The Mediums Book and other works by Kardec played an important role in the approach of the founders of the organization.  Kardec was an intellectual and an educator who like other of the pioneers of the Spiritualist movement emphasized learning and scientific inquiry in regards to the practice and study of psychic phenomena and mediumship. A problem that arises within the Union concerning the practice of mediumship is that mediums tend to be placed on a pedestal by many Spiritists, who do not question their ability as mediums or the communications purported to originate from higher spirit teachers using the vocal chords of an entranced medium to speak.  This is largely due to an overall lack of formal training in the mechanics of mediumship along with the common belief that the individuals chosen by the Holy Spirit to function as mediums are infallible.  Many of the Union mediums claim to receive messages from spirit teachers who are Biblical personalities, Christian Saints and Archangels.  Instead of questioning the identities and the messages being delivered many within the Union blindly accept what is given as being authentic without testing the medium and the message and validating the information that has been presented. At one of the centers located in a remote providence in the northern region, there is one official medium who regularly delivers messages at the meetings held several times a week.  A friend of mine who is a member at this center mentioned to me the great inconsistency in the messages given by this medium.  In one message the communicating spirit will repeat several times that they are the Lord coming through and need to be listened to and followed.  Then in the next sentence the same personality will say that they have been sent by God.   My friend is not sure what to say as there is no time allocated within the period of the trance address to ask questions of the communicator.  Are you God or are you are messenger of God? Or better yet:  Please give me some evidence of  your identity?  If the phone rang and a female voice on the other end claimed to be Barrack Obama calling, I would most likely doubt that the President of the United States of America was calling me.  But like Kardec and other early pioneers within the Spiritualist movement, I would want verification of the identity of the alleged spirit communicator even if the voice of the caller sounded like Obama.  What is sad in the situation commonly found with the Filipino mediums is that they can claim to channel any personality they chose and say practically anything without being challenged.   Unlike the National Spiritualist Association of Churches in the USA, the Spiritualist National Union in the United Kingdom and other groups that have formal educational standards and examinations for mediumship, there is no standardized training offered or required for the Filipino mediums to operate.  Although fraud and delusion have always been a problem when it comes to psychic phenomena regardless of the geographical location,  the lack of higher educational standards within the Filipino Spiritist movement creates an environment where mediums can get away with claiming practically anything without being held accountable.   P. T. Barnum was correct when he stated that a sucker was born every minute.  Gullibility and a lack of rational thinking have always rightfully been condemned by genuine spirit teaching communicating through mediums.  At practically every trance session that I have attended, or conducted as a medium, the spirit communicators have encouraged those listening to participate by asking intelligent questions about their identity as well as philosophical. Authentic spirit communicators from a higher level do not beat around the bush or give unreliable messages nor do they attempt to impress their audience with important sounding names.  This is a basic concept generally emphasized in any development circle for beginners.   As far as I am concerned mediumship is a science and should be approached as such.  Is mediumship a gift?  Yes it is, the same way that artistic or musical talent is a gift that may be greatly enhanced through practice and education.  The idea that mediumship does not require education and that mediums only need to rely on the direct influence of spirit teachers is not unique to the Spiritists in the Philippines.  This misconception has been around since the beginning of the Spiritualist movement and continues largely due to the laziness of the part of mediums who want to do the work without improving their abilities as mediums.  An educated mind is ideal for the spirit teachers to work with.  Ignorant mediums with a weak connection greatly restrict what the spirit personalities may express through them.  Mediums must do their part and meet the spirit world at least half way.  Physical, emotional and mental health are essential for mediumship development.   It is not enough to reach a certain level as a medium and then slack off and stop training. Regardless of how long someone has been involved in practicing mediumship there is always room for improvement.   Sitting in circle for development, daily personal prayer and meditation along with continuing education are mandatory for the serious student of mediumship.   A well known British medium I know is friends with several popular Television mediums.  He told me that one of the famous TV mediums suggested to him that he should never been seen by anyone attending other mediums workshops as it would give the impression that he was not the best and needed to learn from others.  While this may be true I think that the more training and ideas that one gets in regards to mediumship, the better. Sadly my friend listened to him and as a result never does any continuing education or training with other mediums. I love teaching in the Philippines as there are so many people sincerely interested in developing their mediumship.  While I cannot change the mentality of those who deliberately avoid continuing education, I will continue to encourage those at my programs to constantly strive for higher levels of perfection with their mediumship.  Kardec’s approach to investigating the practice of spirit communication was in accordance with the scientific laws that govern the mechanics of mediumship.  The founders of the Filipino Spiritist movement were highly educated and well cultured as individuals and would not appreciate the lack of education currently found within the organization.  Unfortunately if they were physically present, their ideas would likely be disregarded by many of those currently involved in the movement.   The philosophy of Spiritualism/Spiritism teaches progression in all areas of life.  Greater education expands the mind and improves the intellect.  A mind with substance within it is a better mind for the spirit teachers to influence and work through.  A medium with training, discipline, and understanding of the process will also always be a more effective instrument. 

How to Consult a Medium for the Possible Best Results

Feb 102013
 
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Rv. Stephen Hermann Medium

Many people fail to realize when coming to a psychic medium for a session that they have much to do with creating the conditions necessary for obtaining the best possible results. The following are some pointers for making your session with a medium a rewarding experience.
  • Love and enthusiasm create a psychic atmosphere conducive to obtaining good results.
  • Be open to what comes through. The fact that a person has passed over does not necessarily mean that they are ready or able on their own to come through. People who expect or demand that things be done a certain way may actually ruin the atmosphere and make the process much more difficult.
  • It is important to be on time when consulting a medium. Rushing to the session or arriving late with a tense or harried state of mind will do little to assist the delicate process.
  • Preparation through prayer and meditation prior to the session is essential for the best results. Invite your spirit loved ones and guardians to be with you during the session.
  • Never “feed” the medium or provide information about yourself or people you want to contact in the spirit world. The best mediums never ask the people they are working with to questions such as “Is your mother in spirit?” or “Does anyone on this side of the room know someone who passed with the initial J?” The bottom line when going to a medium is tell them absolutely nothing. Let them tell you.
  • As you are part of the session your participation is essential. If you are unsure of what the medium is talking about, ask for further clarification without revealing information about yourself. A simple “yes” or “no” is sufficient. Don’t just sit there being confused.
  • When consulting a medium it is wise to tape record the session or at least take good notes for future reference. Often we may not recognize the people coming through, as they may not be the people we might expect to come through or, in many cases, even physically have known or been close to. This is especially true if we do not know our family tree well. Information not understood at the time of the session ought to be able to be validated.
  • Always approach spirit communication with an open, yet questioning mind. Never let yourself be gullible and believe everything purported to be channeled from the spirit world. People claim to channel ascended masters, space aliens, and even penguins. Besides the massive amount of fraudulence found within the field, there is a fine line between genuine mediumistic communication and the delusion of sincere people who cannot distinguish their own imagination from true psychic impressions. If it sounds like science fiction it probably is.

Highly acclaimed for his detailed and accurate mediumship, the Reverend Stephen Hermann is a world famous medium with extraordinary talent.  Based in Auckland, New Zealand,  Stephen travels extensively teaching and demonstrating spirit communication and spiritual healing. Contact him directly for in person or phone mediumship sessions at steveradhe@gmail.com