Spiritualism - A Simple Religion.... Farm or Factory... .The Purple Poppy... I Want - I Want... Quote from Anne Frank... A Life to Live by Barbara Willson...

 

31^st October I took the service at the Paisley Spiritualist Church, Glenburn, Paisley...

November 1^st my allergy played up again and I had to cancel the Johnstone Spiritualist Church.

3^{rd -} Yes - a Spiritual service on a Saturday evening - at the Falkirk Spiritualist Church (SNU).  Only two churches I know hold services on a Saturday evening, Falkirk and Dumfries and both are always busy.

4^th - It was the busy afternoon service at the Largs Spiritualist Church.

7^th – The White Rose Spiritualist Church, Gourock...

8^th -  Balloch Spiritualist Church...

11^th – Saw my furthest trip of the month so far to the Kirkcaldy Spiritualist Centre (SNU)

12^th – It was an evening of clairvoyance at the Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church. (SNU)

17^th – I took a workshop at the Perth Spiritualist Church (SNU).  I was impressed by the ability and knowledge of those attending.

 

 

Spiritualism is a simple religion, a religion that is different from so many other mainstream religions.  The difference stretches much further than the clairvoyance side of things.  Most mainstream religions have ancient holy books which contains countless thousands of words.  One holy book has over 700,000 words.  They include historical narrative: stories about historical people and events.  Poems or songs: lyrics, songs, and prayers that express emotions and ideas using distinctive language, literary styles, and rhythm.  Prophecy: poetic messages conveying divine blessing or judgment on people and calling for a response Letters: written by one or more individuals to others, often addressing specific issues.  Proverbs and wisdom literature: pithy sayings or discourses about living life well and making wise choices.  Legal codes: laws, both general and specific, for ordering a just society.  Parables: imaginative stories that are true to life and illustrate a point.  Apocalyptic literature: vivid portrayal of the cosmic battle between good and evil.

But spiritualism has only Seven Principles; -

 1.   The Fatherhood of God.

2.   The Brotherhood of Man.

3.   The Communion of Spirits and the Ministry of Angels.

4.   The Continuous Existence of the Human Soul.

5.   Personal Responsibility.

6.   Compensation and Retribution hereafter for all the Good and Evil deeds done on earth.

7.   Eternal Progress open to every Human Soul.

 As a retired clergyman said to me recently, “The more words in a holy book the more ammunition there is to be turned against that religion.  Those inside the religion may manipulate the holy words to suit their own agenda, and outsiders use these words as ammunition to ridicule that particular religion. 

It is no use having Seven Principles of forty-seven words if they do not make sense.  In my opinion the Seven Principles make a lot of sense and we can use them in our everyday life to make Spiritualism more than a religion but a way of life. 

The Fifth Principle –“Personal Responsibility” was not only the first one that was of interest to me, the elderly clergyman remarked on this as well.  If we all took a bit more ‘personal responsibility’ then the world would be a better place.  I have always thought there should be an Eighth Principle and that should be ‘common sense’.  ‘Common Sense’ added to ‘Personal Responsibility’ would make us all better human beings.

 One of my earliest memories was getting for Christmas was a few toy farm animals, made from metal not like the plastic ones today. As I played with these small toys regularly the following Christmas, too big for my stocking but Christmas present from Santa just the same, was a large wooden farmyard.  This was my pride and joy for many years.  So it may come as no surprise that one of my favourite programmes of all time was the BBC’s“All Creatures Great and Small”.   Later in life my work took me around farms which I always found enjoyable.

But word ‘farm’ is being abused these days.  We see the word ‘farm’ being used for areas which can keep up to 500 dairy cattle which never get out into a field.  Massive numbers of farm animals never see the light of day or breathe in fresh air.  I will not go into the horrors of factory farming but surely as spiritualists we can do something about it?

The first thing we can do is include animals treated in such a way in our prayers.  Then if one wishes to write to their local supermarket asking about their animal welfare policy.   The more letters a big business receives from compassionate and caring customers to how  animals are treated before its flesh appears on supermarket shelves, the more notice will be taken in supermarket board rooms.

 

 

Next year...

Wear a red and purole poppy...

 

 

One of my earliest memories was getting for Christmas was a few toy farm animals, made from metal not like the plastic ones today. As I played with these small toys regularly the following Christmas, too big for my stocking but Christmas present from Santa just the same, was a large wooden farmyard.  This was my pride and joy for many years.  So it may come as no surprise that one of my favourite programmes of all time was the BBC’s“All Creatures Great and Small”.   Later in life my work took me around farms which I always found enjoyable.

But word ‘farm’ is being abused these days.  We see the word ‘farm’ being used for areas which can keep up to 500 dairy cattle which never get out into a field.  Massive numbers of farm animals never see the light of day or breathe in fresh air.  I will not go into the horrors of factory farming but surely as spiritualists we can do something about it?

The first thing we can do is include animals treated in such a way in our prayers.  Then if one wishes to write to their local supermarket asking about their animal welfare policy.   The more letters a big business receives from compassionate and caring customers to how  animals are treated before its flesh appears on supermarket shelves, the more notice will be taken in supermarket board rooms.


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      I saw this on facebook...

 I WANT ... I WANT ... I WANT...

Every day you hear people saying what they want.  Well, this is what I want.

I want people who are sick to be healed...

I want children with no families to be adopted...

I want people never to worry about food and shelter and heat...

Most of all I would like to see people start to care for each other...

 

 

 

Jenny Lafferty 1949 - 2012...We can learn plenty from the Crow Tribe.... 150 Years by Jim Brown...

 14^th October - I was taking the service at the Perth Spiritualist Church.  (SNU)   A small but busy church in the centre of the town.

16^th - ASK Cumbernauld and as usual almost every seat taken.

17^th - It was unfortunate that I had to cancel my trip to Stranaer because of a hospital appointment.

21^st I only had a short journey to Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)  Founded in 1936 this church has long been a place of welcome, support and learning for all those who have entered its doors .  A quote from the church’s  website “We offer an open door to all who wish to enter and hope the saying “...there are no strangers here, only friends who have yet to meet” holds true for all who do.  The church is only a short distance from the A77.

23^rd... My diary had down the Cambuslang Spiritualist Church but because of refurbishment of its original hall this church has moved to the Fernhill Community Centre, 12 Auchenlarie Drive, Fernhill, and Glasgow, G73 4EQ.  The church is slowly but surely finding its feet in the area.

25^th – A full house at The Lighthouse Spiritualist Church Greenock.   A sad night as it had only been four days since the passing of founder and president of this church,  Jenny Lafferty.  More about Jenny later

27^th I was at the Edinburgh College of Parapsychology for an evening of clairvoyance. 

29^th Because of a nasty allergy that will just not go away I had to cancel the Lamb’s Hill Spiritualist Church, Glasgow.

 

Jenny Lafferty founder and President of the Lighthouse Spiritualist Church passed to spirit on 21^st October 2012.

Jenny Lafferty was well known and respected in the Spiritualist movement in Scotland.  She was in poor health for several years but seldom if ever moaned about her own condition.  She was always thinking of the plight of others and could always find something nice to say about those who she disagreed with or those who gave her a hard time.

Jenny served as booking secretary at the White Rose Spiritualist Church in Gourock for sixteen years and then after a break she opened the Lighthouse Spiritualist Church with a few of her dedicated Spiritualist friends.  This was not just to be the opening of another Spiritualist Church, renting a hall and booking mediums.  Jenny and her committee meant this church to be part of the community, to be there for those in the community who needed a little help etc.  And that Spiritual Healing was to play as important a part as the clairvoyance.  From the first service at the church has gone from strength to strength.

The passing of Jenny’s daughter earlier this year hit her hard and although we spiritualists know that is not the end for a loved one, we are only human and can grieve as much as those who don’t believe.  To Jenny; Spiritualism was not just her religion but a way of life.

Jenny will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

 

 

The North American indigenous people were much maligned by Hollywood’s western movies. The indigenous peoples of North American were very spiritual in their own way.  Their beliefs have a strong reverence for animal life, the environment, and each other.

Organized religious meetings are not a part of Native American spirituality.  History shows that originally, Native American spirituality was more of a way of daily life.  Just like many in Spiritualism today who consider Spiritualism is a way of life for them and not a religion.  History books show us that the white man viewed Native American spirituality to be nothing more than superstition.  Yet maybe we in Spiritualism and society as a whole could learn a lot for the customs and beliefs of the Indigenous North American tribes.

One in particular, the Crow Tribe, has interested a friend of mine.

The Crow Indians were a little different from most of the other tribes in that women often played very important roles within their tribal community. Descendants for various roles in the family and tribal community come from the women. And when they got married, it was the male Crow Indians that accommodated the women and moved in with her and her family. Females within the Crow Indian tribe could even be chief.

Human life with the natural kingdom around them.  They said there was a mother goddess and a father god and believed in holy communion they were not predominantly patriarchs or matriarchs .they were warriors but believed in necessity they were great hunters and gatherers ... in all actuality the order of the Crow is of most ancient origin and means that together we can face all obstacles and challenges an live in peace and prosperity.  The Crow Indians were simple pagans they believed in the natural organics of life and the balances of you already possess everything necessary to become great. –

Native American Ten Commandments

1.    Treat the Earth and all that dwell therein with respect

2.    Remain close to the Great Spirit

3.    Show great respect for your fellow beings

4.    Work together for the benefit of all Mankind

5.    Give assistance and kindness wherever needed

6.    Do what you know to be right

7.    Look after the well-being of Mind and Body

8.    Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater Good

9.    Be truthful and honest at all times

10  Take full responsibility for your actions

 

 

 

Jim and May Brown may no longer grace the platforms of our Spiritualist Churches but that does not mean the necomers to our movement should miss out on the wise words of Jim's addresses...

150Years ago                               28/11/2003

In the past few hundred years this physical world has received a lot of signals such as rapping’s that have come from the spirit world but unfortunately, they were never picked up by the people of this world.

This may have been because they were afraid or perhaps it was just because they didn’t understand that they could communicate with spirit.  For instance it is recorded that there were rapping sounds heard in 1716, in the home of John Wesley the founder of the Methodist religion at Epworth Vicarage in England.

These sounds were similar to the rapping’s at Hydesville, New York State which started the Spiritualist Movement.   Throughout the centuries all the different religions of this physical world did speak of another life in what was then believed to be the ‘hereafter’.  Although they were unable to give any definite proof that such a place did exist.

It wasn’t until about 1847 after centuries of what was at that time known as supernatural happenings that we became aware of spirit through the antics of two young girls and that the first two-way communications with Spirit were received.   It was only through these early messages that we became more certain that we lived after the death of the physical body and we learned from spirit that we would survive in another dimension known now as the spirit world.

Time has passed since these first communications, until once again we have in this modern age rediscovered the ability through mediumship to communicate with the people who have passed into the spirit world.   For in the centuries before 1847 it was not uncommon for spirit contact to be made and you only have to read in some the ancient records such as the Bible of spirit communication between the people of this world and the people of the spirit world.

Today there are many people who can make this contact, and it’s through them and the information they have been given from spirit teachers that we have learned about spiritual philosophy and spiritual religion.  These spiritual teachings have told us how we should behave towards each other and how we should live our lives here on this earth.

If we allow ourselves to be brought under the influence of Spirit we will begin to understand the truth of the Spirit messages and allow that truth to change our attitudes, and our sense of what is right, and what is wrong.  Those of us who have already been influenced by Spirit and are sincere in our thoughts and actions can see what has been accomplished since the first communication was received and message from Spirit is that there is a need for more people of earth to have faith and belief in spirit.

We can now realise what can be accomplished in the days that lie ahead, for the message from Spirit is that there is a need for more people to act as instruments for Spirit, instruments that will have perfect faith in the power of Spirit to guide and inspire them so that others may benefit.  Those who allow themselves to come under the influence of Spirit and to go forward in this work needs to apply the Spiritual truths they will have learned to their everyday life so that other people who they come in contact with will recognize that they are messengers of Spirit by the type of life that they live.

In this short address, I hope I have managed to convey to you the message of the Spirit Guides. Which is to consider other people and to freely give of your love and service to them?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPIRITUALIST OF THE YEAR GOES AGAINST OUR RELIGION....SPIRITUALISM AND REMBERANCE DAY SERVICES AT THE CENOTHAPH... GIVE MEDIUMS FROM THE HIGHLANDS A CHANCE...PSYCHIC ABILITIES - START OF WITH THE BASICS...

24 th September saw me driving the short distance to Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU) for an evening of clairvoyance.  This church has its own premises and is a stalwart in promoting spiritualism with its excellent workshops etc.  Anyone interested in learning more about spiritualism and their own psychic abilities should keep an eye on this church’s website for forthcoming events.

27^th I was heading north and east to the Arbroath Spiritualist Centre.  (SNU) 

30^th I t was my first visit to the Milngavie and Bearsden Spiritualist Sanctuary.   Although the sanctuary only opened its doors a few weeks ago it is already a firm favourite with the local community.  This new spiritual venture has its Divine Service on a Sunday afternoon, like Largs Spiritualist Church (SNU). These are the only two Spiritual services I know which take place on Sunday afternoons and as both are well attended, so it may be worthwhile other churches thinking of a Sunday afternoon service.

The sanctuary veers away slightly from our normal service with no opening prayer.  In its place it has five minutes of contemplation which gives us our own personal space to link with God, our loved ones in Spirit, or just to reflect on our week. Not something I would have done if I had a church of my own but I must say that I was impressed  as each minute of the ‘time for reflection passed’ I could feel the atmosphere getting stronger and spirit drawing close. But not only that – this Sanctuary has taken another bold step which I will comment on later in the blog.

 1^st October I was heading north to the well supported Inverneness Spiritualist Church, Smithton Halls.  (SNU)  The interest in spiritualism has been growing for many years now and I am impressed by the enthusiasm for our religion in this area.  I have another comment to make about this enthusiasm later in the blog...

5^th – 9^th I was at the Glasgow Association of Spiritualists. (SNU)  There was a big turnout at the Awareness Group on the Friday evening and all four services were well attended.

 

 

 

 

SPIRITUALIST OF THE YEAR GOES AGAINST OUR RELIGION....

The new Psychic News will receive many letters and it will be impossible to print them all.  I sent in a letter a few weeks ago and it was not printed, maybe because of the limited space or because I was criticising the magazine.

Here is the letter: -

Dear PN,

I am shocked that the New Psychic News revised Spiritualist of the Year.

No disrespect to this year’s winner, Mr. Eric Hatton, but surely by reviving such a thing, goes against all that Spiritualism stands for?  I thought that we were all equal in the eyes of God and Spirit?  That we are all going along our own spiritual path as best we can.  To pick one in front of another is not what we preach from the platform, so why do we not practice what we preach?

I believe the biggest danger to Spiritualism as a religion these days is that many look on it as entertainment.  Look how the entertainment industry has an award for almost everything.  Well, we certainly are going down the entertainment path with this award. 
How long before we have a televised “Spiritual Medium of the Year” and if we are going to go down that trail we cannot leave out our Healers and have a televised “Spiritual Healer of the Year” also.  The next step would be the “X- Factor” for fledgling mediums to show their talents to the viewers.  

We are already playing into the hands of our critics as more and more mediums names go up in lights outside of theatres.  We are only shooting ourselves in the foot with this award.  What other religion has such an award?  If we continue in this direction we will be leaving religion behind and entering the world of entertainment.

I wonder what Spirit has thought of all this?  Has anyone thought to ask them?

Tom Johnston.

 

 

              SPIRITUALISM AND REMBERANCE DAY SERVICES AT THE CENOTHAPH...


Since I have come into spiritualism I have constantly heard the comments “We are never part of the official parade on Rembrance Day”.  

Laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in Whitehall has for a long time been an issue between the SNU and the British Government, considering that other major UK religious denominations are represented at the annual national service of remembrance.  More about this in my next blog...

But I have often wondered at a local level why our churches do not take part in remembrance Day Services.   Stirling Spiritualist Church has taken part in the local Remembrance Service for many years now and on asking Stirling’s President  how this came about,  I was told the church was invited to take part.  There will be other Spiritualist churches scattered about the country which also take part.  But if we are not invited then we should we not ask  to be part of this service?  I know of one church who asked to be involved and were turned down, the reason for that being they were late in applying or permission for that particular year.  I don’t know if they asked to be part of the ceremony the following year. 

But this year the Milngavie and Bearsden Spiritualist Sanctuary which has only had its doors open for a few weeks will be laying a wreath at the Milngavie Precinct at the Remembrance Ceremony.    Maybe at local level we Spiritualist have been complaining rather than asking?  Maybe we have lacked the determination of the pioneers of modern-day.

 


 

                                GIVE MEDIUMS FROM THE HIGHLANDS A CHANCE...

 

 

In the past and even today, churches in the north of the country have had to rely on mediums from the central belt of Scotland to take many of their services.  That means on most occasions an overnight stay at cost to the church and there is also travelling expenses.  With the enthusiasm in that area for several years many excellent mediums are coming on the scene in our northern regions.  But they seldom seemed to get asked to take services in the central belt.  That may be because in the central and southern areas Scotland we’ve always had a plentiful supply of mediums on our doorstep and the churches have not thought of looking north.  Yes, it will add to the expenses with the medium travelling further and could entail a night in a B&B, but the churches in the north have coped with this on a regular basis for years so it should not be beyond the purse strings of many churches further south.  After all we have visiting mediums from England and Northern Ireland.

 

 

                       PSYCHIC ABILITIES - START OF WITH THE BASICS...           

 

Bernard emails “It seems as if everyone wants to be mediums these days.  Soon the platforms will be full with only one or two sitting in the pews”.

Hi Bernard, I can see where you are coming from but let’s look at it another way.  More and more people are becoming aware of spiritualism these days and realizing that we all have some degree of psychic ability.  They are drawn to open-circles and workshops to try to understand and develop these abilities.  That I find encouraging.  

But... many of these open-circles and workshops are geared to platform work and sittings instead of starting off with the basics.   First we have to understand what these abilities are and slowly building on this, as we do with any learning process.  But at the moment a great many of these development circles and workshop seem to start at primary 7 instead of in the infant class. 

These days it is not uncommon for anyone showing any ability to be pushed on to the platform of a church or at a charity night at a very early stage in their development.  This is usually detrimental to the pupil’s development and on many occasions to the person getting the message.

To give you a few examples of this to try and explain it from all angles;
A mother was happy that her daughter decided to join a group at a small church because she knew from an early age her daughter had psychic abilities.  All went well for six months; the young lady was developing well and becoming much more confident in her everyday life.  Instead of feeling different from others around her she was slowly starting to understand why she had felt this way.  Then one night the medium’s car broke down and he could not get to the church on time.  The young lady and another circle member of limited circle experience were told they were taking the service and were pushed on the platform.  According to the mother the night was disastrous in every way for the two young ladies.  Neither has gone back to the church or any church since.  This should not have happened and would not have happened if those in charge of the church had acted as they should have and shown a little common sense.

Another case where a young gentleman is very talented and sensible.  He realises he has a lot to learn as he goes quietly along his spiritual path having no plans for the platform.  In fact no plans to stand on the platform for many years yet, as in the next two years he is expecting promotion at work and hoping to start a family.  He is happy to sit in what many would call an old fashioned church circle where development takes at a slow pace.  Yet some are to trying to ‘poach’ him away from his circle to take part in charity nights or church work.  Luckily this young man has his head screwed on the right way and is standing his ground, refusing to give way to the pressure.

But there are two sides to this as there are also many who want after a few months the glamour of being on the platform, taking part in a charity nights or the lucrative side of private sittings and psychic parties.

How long does it take for a medium to be the finished article?  How long is a piece of string?  It depends on the training and the time the person has to give to his or her development.  Some mediums have said that they sat in circle for sixteen years before they were asked to take the platform.  Many will say this is far too long and in most cases I will agree with them.  In the past there were fewer opportunities so one may have had to wait till a medium retired from the circuit or passed over before a place became vacant.

I feel that more responsibility should be taken by those taking development circles and workshops.  There should be many more opportunities for those who just want to understand their psychic abilities and how they can affect their everyday lives.  This to be before and separate from platform training.

Whoever is taking the workshop has a lot of responsibility on their shoulders.  As ‘psychic’ means sensitive and there will be a lot of sensitive people relying on them to put them gently on the right path, not to force march them into areas they are not ready for.

But there are those as I have said earlier who see a lucrative market in jumping on the ‘spiritualist bandwagon’.  This is where spiritualist churches, centres etc that are true to their religion should be strong and make sure that those who take their services look on spiritualism as a religion first and foremost.