13/3/11 - After the AGM at Glasgow Spiritualist Association it was down the M77 to Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU) for the Divine Service.  There was a heavy downpour just as those going to attend the church would be thinking of leaving home, but that did not deter them as there was a good attendance.  Next time I am at the Church I must ask the committee if I can take a photograph of their amazing stain glass window and put it on this site for you all to see.

On Wednesday as I made my way to the Culmodden Drive Spiritualist Church, Maryhill, a hazardous journey in dodging pothole after pothole on the road, missing them all but the largest... grrr .  Has the Glasgow City Council Road’s department forgotten all about this part of the city?      But it was worth it as there is always a friendly welcome awaiting all who enter the doors of this church.  Angela (President) made an interesting comment while we were having a cup of tea.  It was about how the Japanese people in the areas of their country stricken by the massive earthquake and tsunami, were all pulling together and helping each other.  There were no media reports of looting that usually follows such disasters. 

Maybe the world would be a better place if we all took a more general sense of social responsibility that's very fundamental to Japan.  Part of that is self-regulation on the part of individuals; part of it is a society in which people are very conscious of their reputations in the eyes of their neighbours.  I have a friend in Japan and I have always been amazed at the high sense of responsibility she has to keep up the good name of her family, community and country. 

On Saturday I travelled to the SNU church in Albany Street, Edinburgh, for the Scottish and Irish District Council’s AGM.  Although this DC covers a wide area it would be nice to see a few more members attend this meeting and getting into meaningful discussion on how we can promote our religion as a religion, separating it from so much that seems to pushing towards entertainment and commercial business. 

Sunday 7^th saw me over in Fife taking the service at Dunfermline ASK (Association of Spiritualists).  Jock McArthur and the church committee work hard to promote our spiritualist movement.  On every visit to Fife churches I always stop of at Ilarno’s in Kincardine for a fish tea.  They serve up the best fish supper in Scotland, well in my opinion.

On the Tuesday was off to the Coatbridge Spiritualist Church in Sunnyside Road.  A church that has been serving the local community for many years.

On Thursday it was an honour to attend Toryglen Church, a church whose founder and president moved to the spirit world only a short time ago.  I have mentioned Helen McEwen in an earlier blog.  Helen, although in poor health for many years, gave great inspiration to us all as she always had a smile on her face and I never once heard her moan.  It is great to see Bobbie keeping the church going and the people of Toryglen supporting the church.

Friday was a shorter trip to the Pyramid Spiritualist Church, Pollock, Glasgow. There is always a warm welcome from Jean, Sarah and Isobel and the rest of the committee.

Still on my travels on Saturday, leaving Beith with several inches of snow on the ground, the destination Glasgow Central Spiritualist Church to do sittings at their coffee afternoon.  Although the weather was terrible there still was a good turnout.

With all that and visiting those who have asked for help from churches I have been burning the midnight oil when writing a couple of articles on spiritualism but I am certainly not complaining.

One thing that amazes those looking at the spiritual movement for the first time is that in Scotland every night of the week there are spiritual services taking place.  Yes, even Friday and Saturday nights and they are well attended. 

The scenes on our television screens of the earthquake and tsunami that has devastated Japan are worse that any scenes from a Hollywood disaster movie.  After watching such a movie we can walk away knowing that all those on screen were actors and came to no harm.  But what we are seeing unfold on our TV screens involves real people, people like you and me.  After the fear of the earthquake and tsunami those who have survived have to face the reality of having lost family, friends, homes and all their possessions.  I cannot begin to image that what it would be like to be in the survivor’s shoes.  Then there is the coming weeks without clean running water, electricity and all that entails.  PC, TV, electricity, tap water, forgo anyone of these for twenty four hours and see how we would feel.  I doubt I would last a full day without turning on a switch or a tap.  The Japanese people caught up in this disaster will have to put up with all of this and more for many years to come.  The media are quick to show scenes from natural disasters, rightly so, but soon drop the story although years of suffering lie ahead for those involved.

Let’s send out a prayer to all horses taking part in this year’s Cheltenham National Festival (?) which starts tomorrow. Thirty-two horses have died at this meeting in the past ten years.

Last Sunday I was at the   Love and Friendship Spiritualist Church, Langside Halls, Glasgow.  As is the norm there was a large turnout.  Maureen Land is President and she runs an excellent development circle (closed).  Maureen is one of the ‘old school’ who believes as I do that it takes time to develop for ‘platform work.

Thursday saw me at Gourock’s Lighthouse Spiritualist Church.  My first time at this church as its has only been open for a month.  Jenny Laferty is the President; she has been an active member of the Spiritualist movement for many years and is a week ken’t face in Gourock.

In my last blog I mentioned being close to a fatal accident on my way home. Well, on leaving Langside Halls on Sunday there was a cyclist lying on the road a few yards from my car.  I would have expected both ambulance and police to have been at the scene quicker than they were.  As far as I know the cyclist was not too badly injured Then on Thursday morning as I was on my way to see someone I come across a serious accident on a B road where either a police or ambulance helicopter was in attendance. . Many of us look on ourselves as good drivers and maybe become too complacent.  In the second it takes to change a CD or look at our navigational system a hazard can loom up in front of us and it may be too late to take evasive action. 

The AGMs at many of our churches take place this month and although it may seem appealing to get on a church committee and make decisions on the running of the church, it is a lot of hard work.  It is a commitment without much, if any praise.   There have been times when our churches have closed because they could not get enough people to come on to the committee.  I am still shocked at the closure in 1998 of the Langside SNU Spiritualist Church which had been flying the flag of spiritualism in that area for sixty-two years, because of lack of committee members.  A few years before it closed it was renamed but I cannot remember its new name.  Maybe someone can remind me.

Two victims of the Afghanistan campaign were flown home on the same aircraft, a dog handler and his dog, well done the MOD.    This should not be a surprise to anyone as the  MOD do take good care of their dogs injured in active service. Dogs injured in the field in Afghanistan are flown to Camp Bastion, just like human soldiers and then flow on to bases in Germany and Britain for further treatment if needed..  It has now been accepted by many vets that dogs can return from the front line suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder

Hmmmmm I have just found out that I am a character in my friend Kirsten’s book.   "The Firefighter" is a short ghost story with a spiritual twist. Available to buy from lulu.com for £6.99 + postage. Look under the name Kirsten Campbell.   The book is expensive for a short story; this is not the fault of the author.  If it is ever made into a film I wonder who would play my part?

From Friday 18^th to Tuesday 22^nd I was busy at the Glasgow Association of Spiritualists (SNU).    This Association has been running since 1866 and have been occupying the present building since 1970.  The church building is used five days a week and that means a lot of hard work for the committee.  The church also has a very interesting museum.  Anyone wishing to know more about the Glasgow Associating should click on to their web site. 

http://www.glasgowassociationofspiritualists.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=53

No more churches for the remainder of the week but I was busy with what I believe to be an equally important part of being a medium, taking time for those who contact churches and ask for help. 

There are many who find it interesting or even surprising at Spiritualism’s reaction to animals.  Many other religions certainly mention animals in their prayers but there is little mention of our pets moving to “their heaven”, as we know they move to our spirit world.  Many among us find this world a lonely place and their only friend is a pet.  Look at the stories over the years of dogs and cats that have travelled countless miles to be reunited with their beloved owner.  Surely that strong bond will not be broken forever when one or the other leaves their physical body?  Surely if man/woman moves to a higher plain then the creatures who have given them so much love and loyalty will be with them also on the other side? 

I am really impressed with Annette Lavelle’s book of poems “From Spirit with Love”...  It would make a wonderful gift or be great for a church which reads out a poem at their service each week.  Another of Annette’s poems can be seen on the poetry page this week.  Anyone interested in purchasing this book can contact;-

We have all seen terrible scenes unlevel in New Zealand and Libya this week where the death toll in both counties has been high.   One incident caused by nature and the other by man’s inhumanity to man, but tragedy is always just around the corner for someone.  The other night I was travelling on the motorway just after midnight and I was muttering away to myself at having to leave the motorway because of diversion signs.  The following morning I discovered the reason for the diversion was a fatal accident.

The healing book is slowly starting to fill up, remember to contact me if you know anyone that could benefit from being in the ‘healing book’.

19/2/11...

Last Sunday saw me at the Ayr Spiritualist Centre (SNU).  I always find this church very bright and cheerful.  Many of you will remember, or at least have heard off, Margaret Nicolson a well known medium who was president of this church for many years.

Monday I left Beith with snow falling to go the short distance to Saltcoats Spiritualist Church.  Wendy, Irene and Jean are dedicated to running their church.

Wednesday it was another short journey to the Paisley Spiritualist Church (SNU).  Isobel the president was taking a back seat this week and chairing was another well know medium and long time member of this church, Janet Lyons.

All three services were well attended, as are most spiritualist services these days..

Friday I took Glasgow Association’s Awareness Group. And I hope everyone attending the evening enjoyed it as much as I did.

It was the same venue for private sittings on Saturday.  I will also be at the Church Sunday, Monday and Tuesday

This is the busiest week I can remember with people contacting me because they have become aware of spirit around them.  It can be a frightening experience for many but usually a talk over the phone or a visit to the house can allay their fears.  I find as each year passes I am working more and more in this area.

I was reminded this week of the strangest question I have ever been asked concerning spiritualism.  A gentleman asked me, “How would it go if you were wired up to Jeremy Kyle’s lie-detector machine and asked if you believed beyond all doubt that there is a spirit world, and there can be communication between the two worlds?”   There is no question there would be a positive result unless I was one of the 4% where the machine gets it wrong.

Many people are still missing the Psychic News.  It had its faults but it kept spiritualist in touch with what was going on in the spiritualist movement and home and abroad.  No matter the leading story I always turned to the letter’s page first.

13/2/11

Last Sunday I was again lazy and took the train to Perth Spiritualist Church (SNU).  This church has its own premises, using them four nights a week...  Ivy and the committee have put a lot of work into getting the church all fitted out but then they suffered problems with burst pipes.  Why do these things not happen before work is done?  It always seems to happen once we have everything the way we want it.

Tuesday I travelled up the new stretch of the A80 to ASK Cumbernauld (SNU) and as usual the church was full to capacity.  It is five years + since Joan and Isobel started the ball rolling with spiritualism in Cumbernauld and the it has always been well attended by the people of Cumbernauld.

Wednesday saw me at the GSA White Rose Fellowship in Gourock.  There was a really good turnout considering the torrential rain that had been falling for most of the day.  The White Rose is still in the Gamble Halls but has changed days from a Thursday to a Wednesday evening.

With local councils having to make cutbacks in their services and in many areas Community Centres are being targeted, this may soon have an impact on Spiritualist Churches who rent out these halls.  Not only that, but if the rent of these halls increases too much then it is going to put sever pressure on our churches also.  I have heard it said from committees of churches which rent out premises “I wish we had our own building” but the upkeep of your own building can be a problem also.

Annette Lavelle – whose poem “No Need” is printed on my ‘poetry’ page – has a book of poems published tomorrow.  “From Spirit with Love”.   Not only has this little book  twenty-two poems but is also well illustrated and costs £4.50.  All profits from the book will be shared equally between the Hessilhead Wild Life Rescue Trust and the church’s charity fund which helps many organizations in the local community.  .  Anyone wishing a copy of this book should contact mysteriousbeauty@live.co.uk .

6/2/11

The 30^th January saw me at the Edinburgh Spiritualist Society (SNU) in Edinburgh and instead of driving, this time I let the train take the strain.  This church has a lovely building, is situated in the heart of our capital city and one always receives a friendly welcome.

On Monday I was at Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU) and I always look on this church as special as it is the only church I serve that has a stain glass window.  Not just any stain glass window but one of the nicest I have seen.  I always find I get great inspiration from looking at the window during the service, whether it is daylight or the street light that is shining through.    But feel it would be better if the window faced the congregation instead of the medium...  The window if in memory of Duncan Bicket who was president of the church for close on three decades. 

Wednesday was not the best of days for me as I pulled a muscle in my back and it is still giving me a lot of pain.  I did not want to cancel my booking at Patrick Spiritualist Church so I set off giving myself an extra fifty minutes because of road works in the Clyde tunnel.  But being held up at an accident and the queue to get through the tunnel saw me arrive 25-minutes late.  I thank Janet for taking the platform till I arrived.   It was good to see John Graham is in better health than he has been of late.

Then on Friday it was back to Kilmarnock to the New Dawn Church and there was a good turnout especially as the weather was so bad.

A budding author asked me to look over a novel he is writing, his words, “Spiritualism comes into it quite a bit”.  It soon became obvious that the author knew little about spiritualism as a religion and I was right in thinking that he had never attended a spiritual service, so I told him so.  I was really surprised at his comment.  As well as being fiction I want it to be as accurate as I can”.  So he now has this story on hold and working on another story-line till he finds out about “Spiritualism the religion”.   Actually the story was unusual and interesting, so if he gets his facts right on spiritualism, this could be a good read.

Australia seems to be getting hit by one tragedy after another these days and it is really great to see how communities down-under are all pulling together, but that is always the same in times of trouble. I also heard of a personal tragedy in Australia where a friend’ nephew has been seriously injured in a road accident and I send healing out to all those involved in this accident. 

Anyone wanting to add a name to the healing book please contact me.  This section should be up and running in a few days.