KIlmarnock Church SNU Open Day... Meditation - start at the begining... Angela's Awareness... Dali Lama's Award....

A two week break from church services did not mean I was idle, well not for the first week.  That was busy with voluntary work, seeing those who had contacted our churches and some psychic investigation.  The second week we had a few days break in Eastbourne.

Hours after returning home I took part in Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church’s (SNU) Open Day.  This year it was a Charity tea in aid of Parkinson’s Research .and an amazing £1216was raised.

A lot of praise has to go to President, Morag Deverell and the wonderful committee and members who worked hard to make this day such a successful.

Mediums: taking part were Mary Reynolds: Chris Bachelor Elizabeth Halliday Margaret Beattie June Harrison Ann Armstrong: Steven Scott: Robert Cairnie: Ricky Arthur: and myself.  

Churches of all denominations hold tea or coffee days in aid of charity, but few spiritualist churches do this, our churches are more in favour of psychic demonstrations.  But I think we should go more along the road of the charity tea because it brings in those in the local community who would not go to a psychic night.  It gives the local community an insight into their local spiritualist church but not needing to take part in anything on the psychic side.  Many turned up at the Kilmarnock church for the first time and were impressed.  I am sure that this was a perfect introduction for them and they may return for a service. 

...Meditation...

I constantly hear.... “I cannot meditate”....”It is just impossible for me to meditate”.   Since I opened up this site I have lost count of the number of times I have received emails saying “Can you recommend a book that will help me to meditate?”

Like everything, else we have to learn to walk before we can run, meditation being no different.  Before one can meditate one has to learn how to relax, something not so easy in this day and age.  One cannot just sit down after a busy day and expect to go into a meditation after reading a few pages of a book.  .

Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or mode of consciousness or self-induce to obtain some benefit.   During meditation, one detaches their thoughts, keeping relaxed, and focuses only on one thing such as a sound, music or an object, or pay attention to breathing.  Through meditation, one can achieve tranquility and peace of mind which is difficult to attain in today’s  busy urban life

Before meditation is ever thought off or attempted one should try just to slow one’s mind down for a few minutes.  I know of many who started out on this trail by taking a few minutes during the lunch break at work and even sitting on a bus or train.  To meditate or even relax one has to find the key that helps one’s mind to relax. That key to this is personal to you and no book can tell you what the key is for you.

Over the past few years when being asked to take meditation groups I have always insisted that I start of right at the beginning with the basics. Forgetting about actual meditation in its true sense and getting each person to find ‘their own key to relaxation.  This ‘key’ as I have mentioned earlier can come in the form of a sound, music, an object, or pay attention to breathing. 

Let’s take each of these in turn…

Sound - waves and birds singing are the favourite way of many to relax and there are many CDs on the market to choose from.

Music is probably the favourite ‘key’ of many but we all have different tastes in music and what is a perfect piece of music for one to relax too, will stress out another.  Even with music written for relaxation I have seldom found at all in the group who are happy with it.

It was in this area I started to experiment in and found out that some music, even from the top-10 could be just perfect to set me off on that few minutes of relaxation.

Three tunes I found just right for me were Wonderful Land and Atlantis by the Shadows and theme from the Carl Sagan TV series Cosmos.  Later I found a more relaxing version of Wonderful Land by Mike Oldfield. 
As time went on I found that TV themes turned out to be the ‘key’ that could help many to relax. Themes from programmes they watched when they were much younger and when life for them at that time was not so stressful.   Themes from programmes such as All Creatures Great and Small, Howard’s Way, Dallas…

So experiment with music and find if a particular song or piece of music is your key.

An Object…  This can be anything but usually something which holds a special memory for you.  I have been told by thoses who have found their key in this category to be an item handed down or a present from a loved one.   

Colour I feel comes into this category. The colour of an ornament, cushion or flower etc. 

Paying attention to breathing…  This can be difficult for many at the beginning but give it a try.

There is also sitting in silence but not easy in this day and age to get a place where there is complete silence…

So experiment and find the key that will help you to relax.

In an earlier blog after the following words of wisdom we gave four people the task of being ‘aware’ of all things around them for three weeks and to comment if it had made them look at life from a different angle....

                    “All A Learning Process”

 There will always be what you call problems…

They are what we call lessons to learn
If you lived in a walled garden where the sun was always shining… There was always plenty to eat and drink… and good shelter… Would you want to venture far?
No… most people would not…
So how could they learn what life was all about?
They would leave this life knowing little more than when they entered it…
The more you learn… … The more equipped you will be for the next part of your existence…
For the next week… Look on everything… and I mean everything… as a learning process…
Think what you have to learn from this… and what you have to learn from that…
It will amaze you by the end of the week… how you will see so much… in a different light…
A whole new world…
A whole new dimension will open up to you…
You will see things like you have never seen them before…
Never give up… Never give in to the negative side… of what unfolds in front of you
Tom/Alan…

First to get back was Angela – a lady in her 40’s who spends many hours helping out her local church – one of the orthodox religions

 “The three weeks happened to coincide with a very busy period in our own little church’s life.  Several activities had been arranged  where we all had too muck in to make them a success.  Standing back and looking at all that was going on suddenly dawned on me for the first time that there were those who made all the decisions and those who done the hard work.  Those who made all the decisions would never get their hands dirty and those who were allays washing dishes and moving chairs were never listened too.  But I suppose all this reflects society and probable those who do the actual hard graft would not want to be in a position of power anyway.  They would have the ability but would feel they were not capable or want the responsibility.

Of our religion, it suddenly dawned on me that we have to accept and to question even in debate is frowned upon.

As far as my own life is concerned, I have missed out on doing so much only because I have told myself that “I cannot do this and I cannot do that.

Family – they are drifting apart and this is something I am going to try to change.

Work; - only part-time and I moan and groan about it all the time.  But when I sit down and think about it I have just got into the habit of moaning and given the chance of another job, I don’t think I would move.

I know that part of this experiment I was to think on spiritualism and maybe even go to a spiritualist service, but I could not attend the service or even read a book on the subject..  I just cannot seem to take that what you call spirit I have always been brought up to think of as ghost, is for me.   I know Tom well, a nice and genuine person who takes time for others, is a spiritualist and does a lot for his religion but I just cannot accept spiritualism as a religion.

The exercise will hopefully make me change my outlook in life.”

 

The Dalai Lama is best known for his commitment to Tibetan autonomy from China and his message of spirituality, nonviolence and peace that has made him a best-selling author and a speaker who can pack entire arenas.

The Tibetan Buddhist leader and Nobel Prize laureate has also had an abiding interest in the intersection of science and religion. That interest won Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, the 2012 Templeton Prize on Thursday (March 29), a $1.7 million award that is often described as the most prestigious award in religion.

The Dalai Lama is the highest-profile winner of an award that in recent years,  physicists and theologians not well known to the general public, but earlier had been given to the likes of evangelist Billy Graham and the late Mother Teresa

 

Katrina Murphy - Spiritualist Medium... Spiritual Contact

22^nd April I was at the Love & Friendship Spiritualist Church,  Langside Halls, Glasgow.  This is always a well attended church and the 22^nd was no exception.

25^th saw me return to the Langside Halls to take the development circle at the Love & Friendship Spiritualist Church.  This circle has great talent and is being slowly nurtured by President Maureen Land.

26^th I travelled again to Glasgow to The White Dove Spiritualist Church, Toryglen,.  Although I have served this church for many years I was entering new territory as the church has moved from the hall they have been in for many years to the Toryglen Community Halls which is only a short distance away.   Since the move numbers attending the church has increased 3/4 fold.
29^th We enjoyed the pleasant drive to Dunfermline Spiritualist Church, (SNU) 3 Lady Campbell’s Walk, Dunfermline…
3^rd May it was a visit to the coast to Gourock in fact and to the Gourock Lighthouse Spiritualist Church…
5^th…  I was taking a workshop at the Glasgow Association and I hope those attending enjoyed it as much as I did.
6^th I was taking the service at Falkirk Spiritualist Church, (SNU) Burnhead Lane.

…Katrina Murphy – Spiritualist Medium…

The announcement of Spiritual Medium Katrina’s Murphy’s passing shocked all who knew her. 

I have known Katrina since she was a small girl as my sister and Katrina’s sister were friends.  Yet when Katrina and I met as ASK in Stewarton all those years later we did not instantly recognize each other although we both thought “each other seemed familiar”.  Believe it or not months after we first met at Stewarton it dawned on us both at the same time who each other was.

Katrina’s nature never changes from the first time I met her all those years ago.  Always such a bubbly person Katrina had time for everyone, never making more of one person than another.

The turnout at Ayr crematorium showed just how much Katrina was loved and respected.  In this day and age when it is difficult to get off work for the funeral of a family member, many did take the time off to pay their respects to Katrina.  Many of the spiritualist churches in Scotland were represented from as far afield as Stirling and Perth.  I apologies to anyone who came from further afield.

Where there was Katrina, Stephen her husband was always close.  They were such a well suited couple, soul mates.  I am sure all out thoughts will be with Stephen at this time and in the coming months.

So many amazing tributes to Katrina and I will just use one at the moment

I've just been blown out of my low mood by the sudden shock of some news. One of my Mentors & Circle leader passed away yesterday. Katrina Murphy was a brilliant Medium, a fantastic woman & a friend. Her words of wisdom would keep you going strong however down you were. The knowledge she passed on was better than any book. The world of Mediumship has lost a BIG personality; the spirit world has gained a new leader. RIP Katrina. You will be missed by many. But we know we can talk soon. Xx    ......Emz Fish Fullagar

The music played at the service was The Indigo Girls “Fare Thee Well”

Fare Thee Well"

Fare thee well my bright star
I watched your taillights blaze into nothingness
but you were long gone before I ever got to you before you blazed past this address
and now I think of having loved and having lost you never know what it's like to never love
who can say what's better and my heart's become the cost
a mere token of a brighter jewel sent from above

fare thee well my bright star
the vanity of youth the color of your eyes
maybe if I'd fanned the blazing fire of your day to day
or if I'd been older I'd been wise
too thick the heat of those long summer evenings
for a cool evening I began to yearn
but you could only feed upon the things which feed a fire
waiting to see if I would burn

fare thee well my bright star
it was a brief brilliant miracle dive
that which I looked up to and I clung to for dear life
had to burn itself up just to make itself alive
I caught you then in your moment of glory
your last dramatic scene against a night sky stage
with a memory so clear it's as if you're still before me
my once in a lifetime star of an age

so fare thee well my bright star
last night the tongues of fire circled me around
this strange season of pain will come to pass
when the healing hands of autumn cool me down

When spirit makes themselves known there is always a reason. The first aim for anyone investigating such an incident is to discover WHY. 

An individual or family becoming ‘aware’ of spirit, especially for the first, time, it can be frightening.  When I am asked to go out in such situations I don’t go with the sole intention of moving spirit on but trying to find out why spirit has made themselves known.  It may be family members who have passed over and are concerned or even happy at what is going on in the family at the present time.  It could also be a previous owner/tenant of the building who has not moved on or there are many more reasons as to why spirit is active.

It is up to the investigator to get to the root of the situation and this done by examining the area at first hand and questioning those who have had the experience.  It can be like a police investigation.  Question after question to see if the ‘experiences’ fits a regular pattern of spirit activity.  If not I have to look in other directions, even that what had been experienced had not been a spiritual nature but someone’s overactive mind.

One case which I was asked to investigate three years ago is only now beginning to make sense.  It shows how close spirit can be to us at times and how the bond between us need never be broken.    I have changed the names of those involved

In 2009 I was contacted by Denise a psychic whom I have known for several years.    She told me that Sarah had contacted her with the following story...

Sarah, her husband John and their two children had been perfectly happy living in a house that they had moved into just after they were married ten years before.  Then one morning their son, 8-year-old Aaron came down to breakfast and told his mum an unusual story.  He said that there had been a lady in his room during the night and she just sat in a chair at the side of his bed looking at him and saying nothing.

This was an unusual comment from Aaron as he is a quiet young lad who his mum said in the past never seemed to have any imagination.  To humour him Sarah asked what the lady looked like.  To her surprise he gave a full description, even the colours of a scarf the lady had been wearing. As his mum had just finished doing a crossword and was doodling in the crossword book, she wrote down the description her son was giving and then forgot all about it.

The following morning Sarah’s five-year-old daughter Louise came down saying the same thing and when her mother asked what the lady looked like she got roughly the same description.  Sarah thought that her daughter must have heard her brother talking about the lady in his room the morning before and was just repeating what she had heard.

But over the next few days Sarah said that it started to get scary around the house.  She felt there was someone in the house when she was there alone and she also said that it was as if she saw a shadow moving around.  This all cumulated in Sarah seeing the figure of a lady for a few seconds.  The lady seemed to be in her early fifties, slim, dark hair, dressed in dark attire with blue/grey silk scarf around her neck.  When Sarah overcame her shock she suddenly thought it was the same vision as the children had seen.    

She panicked. “THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED!”... “THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED!”she screamed.  For the next week Sarah and the children stayed with her parents.  John the husband/father had sensed nothing but was concerned that his wife would not stay in the house alone so he confided in a friend who gave Denise’s telephone number.

This psychic investigator was immediately convinced that this was a genuine spiritual experience. And because of the state of the mother she suggested that she contact a spiritualist church.  Sarah would not do this, although came half way and got a preacher from one of the orthodox churches in the area to bless the house. 

The family moved back in and although John, Aaron and Louise carried on as normal, Sarah was unhappy.  The house was not the same as it had been before the ‘sightings’ and she wanted to move.

This is where I was asked to help and as this was happening 300 miles away, contact had to be made by phone instead of the usual visit.  My first comment would have been to contact a spiritualist church in the area, but as this had already been refused.  So I spent a lengthy time on the phone questioning Sarah over the incident but no real pattern was emerging.  No matter how much I tried to assure Sarah that the situation had calmed down she was still stressed out.  The sighting of the lady had stopped three days before the preacher blessed the house and had not returned. But it was only natural that this mother was still concerned for the safety of her family and was expecting the lady to appear again at any second.  Sarah felt she would never be happy in the house again and wanted to move.  But with the slump in the housing market that was not an option at that time.

A week after I got involved Isobel and I were looking at coach holidays, and as |I saw one was close to Denise and Sarah’s area I felt that this was too good an opportunity to miss. 

Both Denise and I spent about three hours in the house and like Denise in her many visits before, I did not sense spirit.  But the visit did a lot of good as I managed to convince Sarah that when there had been no spirit activity for several weeks and it would probably stays that way.  Whatever the reason for the lady in spirit showing herself was gone and even while the making herself known there was never any threat to the family.  The children had not been distressed and the pet dog and cat had acted as normal...  Sarah slowly accepted this and as the months passed the memories of the ‘sightings’ slowly faded away...

Although the situation had died down and Sarah was slowly getting back to normal, the investigation as far as Denise and myself was concerned was not over.  I did an extensive check on the internet and Denise did her best to check up on former owners of the house but nothing of note came to light.  So we filed this away as what some might refer to as a ‘cold case’ a case that we could not find any answers as to why there was spirit

One should never say a case is closed where spirit is concerned.  At the beginning of this year John contacted Denise and myself with an amazing story -and the answer to who spirit was and why they were making themselves known to his wife and children.

Sarah had a happy childhood, good parents with strong religious values.  She met John when she was eighteen and they got married two years later.   What Sarah did not know was that she was adopted.  On the day she came to her adopted parents they decided that they would not tell her that she was adopted till she was twenty-one.  When Sarah was told she took it well and after talking the whole situation over with her adopted parents and John she decided not to seek out her natural mother, well, at that time but not ruling it out in the future. 

Then last autumn she thought about tracing her natural mother for the sake of her children.   she felt that they had a right to know who their natural grandmother was.  Sarah did trace her natural mother but the sad fact was that she had passed over two years before.  She made slight contact with two of her mother’s brothers but it was only by brief emails.  Then a letter arrived from New Zealand, Sarah had a third uncle which the other two had not mentioned.  This third uncle showed much more interest in his niece and he had sent several photographs of his sister.    All but one was taken when Sarah’s mum was little.  The only one of her natural mother was dated 2005 and Sarah was stunned when she looked at this photograph.  There was a strong resemblance to the lady she and the children saw in the house and the scarf in the photo was a grey/blue pattern....

The so-called ‘cold-case’ was reopened and the first question we set to John was “Please check out the time of your mother-in-law’s passing and the time Sarah and the children were being aware of spirit.  As we expected the dates corresponded.  The mother passed on the 13^th and the ‘experiences started from the 15^th to the 19^th of the same month.

Should Sarah have told us of the adopting?  She did not think it was relevant and only once before did I ever come across something similar so it is not a question Denise or I would normally ask.

If it really was Sarah’s mother coming forward to her daughter after she passed why did she give up so easily?   I don’t think she gave up easily as it takes a lot of energy and determination for spirit to show themselves as the mother/grandmother did.  If she was as caring and loving she would have stepped back when seeing the state her daughter, Sarah was getting into.  Maybe not giving up but waiting for the right moment to try again if the right moment presented its self. 

I asked Sarah why she decided to trace her natural mother when she did and her words were “I was washing the dishes one evening and the thought just came into my head that the children had a right to meet their natural grandmother”.  So.......... could this have been Sarah’s mother guiding her daughter in that direction? 

Now Denise and I can put the file of this case in the ‘solved drawer’

In my last blog I mentioned that the Culmodden Drive Spiritualist Church has not only moved premises but also changed its name. You will now find Angela at

Lambhills Eternal Light Spiritualist Church
Lambhill Stables
Canal bank north
Lambhill bridge
Balmore rd
Lambhill
G22 6RD

Service Tuesdays 7pm

Well there is another change – an extra service that will take place at the same venue every Sunday at 6.30 pm starting 20^th May 2012.

Spiritualism.... Good and bad news of the week.... Spiritual Healing.... Church News....

The flu virus meant that I had to cancel bookings at the beginning of April and it was the 10^th before I took my first service, which was at the Dalneigh Spiritualist Church in Inverness.  There is always a good turnout at this church, in fact a good turnout at all the churches in the north-east.  Spiritualism is always well supported in the NE.

The 12^th saw me at the Arbroath Spiritualist Centre and again there was a good turnout.

The 16^th – 20^th we took a holiday the Isle of Wight travelling by coach.

 Spiritualists come from every walk of life.

Spiritualism is a place you will find thinking men and women coming together...

Spiritualism is a science, philosophy and religion that satisfy your logic, your mind and your heart. 

As the population contemplates the current conditions in the world today, they are seeking a greater understanding of the purpose of life and what can be done to improve individual life situations and the circumstances of the world.

Spiritualism gives a person the key that can be used to find the answers she/he seeks.

Spiritualism provides the knowledge that by using prayer and meditation, we can become more aware of our responsibilities to ourselves and to others. Through this inner awareness and guidance received through spirit communications, a person takes the necessary actions to improve his or her own life and contributes to the improved welfare of the entire human race.

Spiritualism is the KEY that sets humanity free! Free to live and grow in the physical through love and law; and free because we know that life is continuous, the spirit never dies. "There is no death, there are no dead."

 Sad news of the week; -

The BBC’s stark video footage of Tibetan monks and nuns setting themselves on fire, in protest against the Chinese’s treatment of the Tibetan people and the Tibetan way of life.  I have heard some say that what was shown was too stark, but as the persecution of the Tibetan’s has been going on for the past fifty years and little has been done to help the Tibetan people.  Maybe such horrific video footage will make ordinary people of the world sit up and notice, even if world leaders will not.

Good news of the week; -

Seeing all those runners in the London marathon doing their bit for charity.

 Several emails have been suggesting that I am neglecting the Healing side of Spiritualism on this blog.  I have to admit that I should have been commenting more on Spiritual Healing which is equally as important as the clairvoyance and philosophy.

I have said in the past that Spiritual Healing APPEARS to be the poor relation of Spiritualism.  In many of our churches the Healing Service is after the Divine Service and after a cup of tea.  Many will wait on for the tea and a chat but the numbers fall when it comes to the Healing Service.  In fact I know of those who have attended our churches for years but never once waited on for the Healing Service.  Never experiencing what such Healing was like.  Although I must say the numbers for Healing have increased greatly recently in recent years.

I have looked through emails to this site and picked out two questions on healing this week.

“G” asks – Does spiritualist healing involve massage or manipulation?

No.  Spiritualist Healing is administered by a simple application such as laying on of hands, or the direction of thought from a distance.  Massage and manipulation is not part of Spiritual Healing.

H – “Will I be asked to remove any clothing?”

Again the answer is no, with the possible exception of an outer coat, and then only for comfort.  The removal of clothing is completely unnecessary with this form of healing. Although you may be asked to remove spectacles.

I remember at a question and answer evening on Spiritualism, the heating in the hall was not working so we were all wrapped up in our outdoor clothing.  One gentleman asked roughly the same question as “H” and he was not convinced that Healing energies could get through to a patient wearing a lot of clothing.   All of a sudden his mobile phone rang.  This phone was in his shirt pocket and the signal had to go through a heavy overcoat and a jacket for the phone to ring out.  I mentioned the comparison to the phone signal and the power of Spiritual Healing but he was still not convinced.  I wonder if Spirit was trying to put a point over to him.

There are always arguments whether Spiritual Healing works or not.  Many cases are laid on the table by each side on this issue and it is like politics, each tries their best to destroy the evidence presented by the other.

 “The medical profession must have got it wrong the first time around”   The number of times I have heard these words  when someone’s health has dramatically improved after receiving Spiritual Healing, could easily make one a little uneasy about  the ability of the medical profession.  But if we take into account that Spiritual Healing MAY have played a part in the patient’s improvement then, the medical profession’s reputation is quickly restored.   But on saying that – NO ONE should ever stop medical treatment and rely solely on Spiritual Healing as both can complement each other. 

Two cases I have recently heard about and this is not just hearsay.  There has been a big turnaround in two patient’s health after receiving Spiritual Healing, but neither of the patients would be willing to have their details all over the media.  A cop out some may say, not according to the patients and their families and friends.

But I prefer to stay away from the dramatic side of this and rely on my own judgment and the comments of patients and their families as far as this type of healing is concerned.

Here is one example; -

I constantly saw an elderly gentleman at many different Spiritualist Churches in the Glasgow area.  He was a poor looking soul, thin, no colour about his face and he always looked as if he was in pain. 

After coming in contact with him for many months he suddenly was absent from the churches I saw him at on a regular basis.  I wondered if he had passed over or decided to give Spiritualism a miss. 

Then one day I met him.  What a surprise I got, he had colour in his cheeks; the pain I always seemed to see in his eyes was gone.  He told me that his intake of painkillers had halved per week.  Not only did I notice the difference in him but his sensible words helped to show that Spiritual Healing could have been part of him having a better quality of life.

After no change in his condition for eight years he started going for Spiritual Healing.  Although at first there was no difference in his condition as the far as the pain was concerned, he immediately did feel more relaxed.    Then after a few months of Healing he suddenly realized he was taking fewer painkillers than he had done for the past eight years.  The intake of painkillers went down and down and at one stage he felt that he may be able to stop taking them altogether.  That has not happened and he now admits it never will as the injury he received all those years ago can never be repaired.  Neither the medical profession nor Spiritual Healing will bring him back to full health, between the two his quality of life had got much better.

I asked him what his family and GP thought of this improvement.  He said that he had no close family but his friends have been amazed at the change in him and his GP told him to keep up with his regular appointments for the surgery but also to keep going for Spiritual Healing.

On leaving him he said “You Spiritualist should do what you are good at – giving healing to the sick – and stop all this mumbo jumbo about talking to the dead”.

This comment goes to show that Spiritualism has many different facets and mean different things to different people…….

 Church news… …Two churches have been on the move… new venues for two churches in Glasgow

 White Dove Spiritualist Church

Toryglen Community Hall

199 Prospecthill Circus

Torygeln

Glasgow

G42 0LA

Service Thursday 7.30pm… Healing 8.50…

 ………………..

 The Culmodden Drive Spiritualist Church has not only moved premises but also changed its name.  You will now find Angela at

Lambhills Eternal Light Spiritualist Church
Lambhill Stables
Canal bank north
Lambhill bridge
Balmore rd
Lambhill
G22 6RD

Service Tuesdays 7pm

...................... 

And a church that could do with some support is

Angel Light Spiritualist Church

Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre,

Daisy St,

Glasgow.

G42 8JL

Church service Fridays 7.30pm,

So if you have spare time on a Friday please go along and you will receive a warm welcome from Nancy, Elizabeth and Christine.