My Diary... Saying Grace... Prayers from around the world with food being the theme... Harvest Service... Sir Nicholas Winton.

                                            

                                                    My Diary...

August

9^th – Falkirk Spiritualist Church (SNU)

12^th – Perth Spiritualist Church (SNU)

13^th – Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU) The first of four workshops on “Understanding the Basics of your Psychic Abilities”.

16^th – Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)

18^th – The Association of Spiritual Knowledge (ASK) Cumbernauld.

20^th - “Understanding the Basics of your Psychic Abilities”. Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)

27^th - Understanding the Basics of your Psychic Abilities”. Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)

                                                     Saying Grace

In a restaurant recently I saw a family quietly saying Grace before starting their meal.  It took me back to my childhood when one or two older members of the family did say Grace.  When I got home I looked this up on the Internet and found that a poll a few years ago asked if people said Grace before eating.  Most of those who said ‘no’ commented that they were lucky to just have the whole family sit down together to eat, let alone say grace.   So it looks like saying Grace has become a thing of the past.  That may not be surprising as those connected with religion are becoming fewer as each year passes.

But do we need the whole family around the table before we can say Grace?  It need not be of religious content we can take thirty or so seconds contemplation before we eat.  In this day and age most of us are rushing about and those few quiet seconds may let our brain drop down a gear so we can savour the taste of the food more than we would have done. . People who do it tend to eat more slowly, aiding digestion,

 Taking a few seconds to think how the food has reached our plate. From the moment the seed was planted, the minute the animal was born, all through the food chain process so you don’t starve and you enjoy your meal.  Making you appreciate what you are eating and not to take it for granted or waste it.

I have always felt that Spiritualism should have a Harvest Service and the produce donated could be given to local food banks.  I am sure Spirit would be in favour of this.  Many of our grandparents relied on their vegetable plot to supplement their meals.   I am sure our forefathers would think of the Harvest festival as a great idea especially if some of it came from our own gardens.

                                                            Harvest Service

In a restaurant recently I saw a family quietly saying Grace before starting their meal.  It took me back to my childhood when one or two older members of the family did say Grace.  When I got home I looked this up on the Internet and found that a poll a few years ago asked if people said Grace before eating.  Most of those who said ‘no’ commented that they were lucky to just have the whole family sit down together to eat, let alone say grace.   So it looks like saying Grace has become a thing of the past.  That may not be surprising as those connected with religion are becoming fewer as each year passes.

But do we need the whole family around the table before we can say Grace?  It need not be of religious content we can take thirty or so seconds contemplation before we eat.  In this day and age most of us are rushing about and those few quiet seconds may let our brain drop down a gear so we can savour the taste of the food more than we would have done. . People who do it tend to eat more slowly, aiding digestion,

 Taking a few seconds to think how the food has reached our plate. From the moment the seed was planted, the minute the animal was born, all through the food chain process so you don’t starve and you enjoy your meal.  Making you appreciate what you are eating and not to take it for granted or waste it.

I have always felt that Spiritualism should have a Harvest Service and the produce donated could be given to local food banks.  I am sure Spirit would be in favour of this.  Many of our grandparents relied on their vegetable plot to supplement their meals.   I am sure our forefathers would think of the Harvest 

festival as a great idea especially if some of it came from our own gardens.

Here are some prayers from around the world with food being the theme...

Buddhist Tradition--From Thich Nhat Hanh...

“The plate is filled with food. I am aware that each morsel is the fruit of much hard work by those who produced it”.

Native American Tradition...

“Preparing to Eat Now that I am about to eat, O Great Spirit, give my thanks to the beasts and birds whom You have provided for my hunger; and pray deliver my sorrow that living things must make a sacrifice for my comfort and well-being”.

Islamic Tradition... As we sit at table and rejoice in the mercy and goodness of the one God, may the bonds of friendship be strengthened, may our fellowship be a light in the darkness, and—most importantly—may we remember that in opening ourselves to each other we open ourselves to God”...

Jewish Tradition--Adapted from an Haggadah of Liberation...

“We dedicate this meal to our hopes and dreams for the future. We dream of a world not threatened by destruction. We dream of a world in which all people are free to be themselves. We dream of a world at peace”...

From the Native American Iroquois Tradition...

We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters, the beans and squashes, which give us life. We return thanks to the bushes and trees, which provide us with fruit. We return thanks to the Great Spirit, in who is embodied all goodness, and who directs all things for the good of his children.

Buddhist Tradition--From Thich Nhat Hanh

“With the first mouthful, I promise to practice loving kindness. With the second, I promise to help relieve the suffering of others. With the third, I promise to see others’ joy as my own. With the fourth, I promise to learn the way of non-attachment and equanimity”...

Buddhist Tradition--From Thich Nhat Hanh...

 “All living things are struggling for life. May they all have enough food today”.

                                              

                                                   Sir Nicholas Winton.

In today’s a celebratory mad-world we are forgetting the really special people who have lived among us.  Those who have risked or given their lives in trying to help others or their country.  Men and women on many occasions who’s heroic acts will never be made public.

One special gentleman in this category passed on 1^st July this year, Sir Nicholas Winton.  Sir Nickolas organised the rescue of 669 children destined for Nazi concentration camps.  Then a stockbroker, he arranged for trains to carry Jewish children out of occupied Prague.  A no mean feat considering what was going on in the area at that time.  He died on the anniversary of the departure of a train in 1939 carrying the largest number of children - 241.  Sir Nicholas brought the children to Britain, battling bureaucracy at both ends, saving them from almost certain death, and then kept quiet about his exploits for a half-century.  He organised a total of eight trains from Prague, with some other forms of transport also set up from Vienna.

Truly amazing, but one other thing connected with saving the lives of these children is that the world did not know of this for over 40-years.  This ‘Great Escape’ by the ‘Kinder transport trains’ this only came to light in 1988 when Sir Nicholas appeared on BBC’s “This is Your Life”. 

Sir Nickolas Winton a truly amazing and modest man.

As I have said there will be others who have carried out humanitarian tasks, many losing their lives and yet we will never hear about them.  Maybe all of our Spiritual Organizations should meet and decide on a date each year where we can have a commemoration service for “Unknown Heroes – ones  whose deeds will never be known.

My Diary ... All Three in One Service ... The Most Inspirational Words Ever? ... How could mankind do this?

My Diary

June...

24^th - The Kilwinning Temple of Light Spiritualist Church. A church that has been in the town for at least forty-years and one of the first churches I took a service at.  Remembering back I was so nervous that I asked another medium to share the platform with me.  This was Fay McMillan and although Fay was an excellent medium she decided to work with Spirit in other ways.

26^th - Angel Light Spiritualist Church. Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre. Daisy St, Glasgow, G42 8JL.   A small church which has been running for a good many years now thanks to the hard work of Nancy, Christine and Liz.

28^th - My booking at The Love and Friendship Spiritualist Church. Couper Institute, Clarkston Road, Glasgow G44, had to be cancelled.  Even when renting a hall all the year round there are times when our churches have to give way for a very special local event and this was one of them. I am not complaining as it would have given this hard-working committee a break, a rare Sunday off.

July...

7^th – The Free Spiritualist Church, Kilmarnock.

27^th –  The Saltcoats Spiritual Church, Argyll Community Centre,  Saltcoats, KA21 5AF.  Another church which has been running for many years and again one that I took a service at in my early steps along my spiritual path.  I have to mention Wendy, Jean and Irene for their hard work over several decades to make this a very busy church.

 

29^th - Edinburgh College of Parapsychology : 2 Melville St, Edinburgh EH3 7NS.  Check out  http://www.edinburghpsychiccollege.com      for forthcoming attractions.

                                          All Three in One Service

Since I came into Spiritualism twenty-five years ago there have been many changes, some positive and others negative.  Personally the most positive change is including the Healing Service with the Divine Service.  The first time I experienced this was at the Milngavie and Bearsden Spiritualist Church and although it is slowly catching on 

 I would like to see a quicker transition.

Spiritualism is a package, a package which includes Philosophy, Clairvoyance, Healing and much more.  Surely having our three main ingredients at a Divine Service makes sense?  Speaking as a medium I feel the healing being incorporated lifts the energies within the church compliment each other and makes for more powerful energies throughout the service. 

Why should healing and our healers be pushed to a slot before or after a divine service, or even  .on a different day?  OK – there may be so many wanting healing that time might be a problem, but surely we can add fifteen minutes to the service for healing.  If there is a greater demand for Healing, then it could continue after the service or those who have their own premises on a different day as well.

Maybe some churches could give this a month's trial.

P.S.  The other positive change I have found was instead of an opening prayer was five minutes contemplation.  This I also experienced for the first time at the Milingavie and Bearsden Spiritualist Church.  A church that is no longer with us, but left a legacy of positive changes to our Divine Services...  All this is down to the Founder and President Elizabeth Halliday who is also an excellent Spiritualist Medium.

                                              The Most Inspirational Words Ever?

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a £20 note. In the room of 200, he asked. "Who would like this £20 bill?"

Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this £20 to one of you - but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple the “20 note up. He then asked. "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped it on the
ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?"

Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No
matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth £20.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still
priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know, but by ...WHO WE ARE.
You are special - don't ever forget it. 

Author Unknown  

                                          How could mankind do this?

I have got to the stage in life where I felt that nothing could shock me.  I have long believed that man’s inhumanity to his fellow man and other creatures on this planet knows no bounds.  But last week an article by Liz Jones in the Mail on Sunday (15/8/15) left me feeling upset for days.  How can such a thing are going on in 2015 in a Commonwealth country I kept asking myself.

The article described the treatment of elephants at a Temple in Southern India.  I put the link on facebook, but removed it in seconds as it would have upset so many people  Anyone who feels they would like to read this article please go prepare to be extremely shocked.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3199391/Tortured-tourists-Chained-spot-20-years-Beaten-submission-secret-jungle-training-camps-terrible-plight-Indian-elephants-LIZ-JONES.html

As you will all know we are no angels at home as far as the treatment of animals are concerned.  Our factory farms (Animal concentration camps) ... Fatalities and injuries on or horse/dog racing tracks ... Puppy farms ... Dog fighting.

Benita emails; -  We owe so much to the animal kingdom yet our laws are weak if in place at all to punish someone who abuses an animal.

I hope that those who only get a slap on the wrist for abusing another species in our courts are dealt with in a stricter way when they reach the Spirit World.  What do you think about  Karma where the person who has committed such an act returns as that animal and receives similar treatment?

The above reminded me of an email I still had to answer and here it is...

Hi Benita – At first glance I entirely agree with what you say ... BUT ... that means more and more creatures will in suffer and it will create more and more abusers.  And in turn will mean the vicious circle of animal abuse will not end.  What we need is for sentencing to fit the crime in our courts'.  For such sentences to be a deterrent and make people think twice before abusing an animal.  We have to sort out our won mess and not leave it all to Spirit.

My Diary ... The International Medium ... Hunger ... A nasty protest ... Forthcoming events at Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church SNU ...

My Diary...

May

10^th – It is always an enjoyable visit to the Coatbridge Spiritualist Church.  This church has been on the go from the mid 1940s and still going strong.

11^th – Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church.  ** More about up and coming events at the church further down the blog**

20^th – Another class at the Glasgow Association of “Understanding your psychic abilities”.

22^nd / 26^th – I attended the Glasgow Association and during that time I took a workshop, four services and private sittings.

28^th – My furthest journey of the month to the Arbroath Spiritualist Church. (SNU)  It was a lovely warm evening but that  did not stop a good attendance.

June

6^th/7^th – Aberdeen Bon Accord Spiritual Church (SNU) Where I had a busy two days with a workshop, a lecture and two services.

10^th - Saw the last of my four classes on “Understanding your psychic abilities” at the Glasgow Association.  Thanks to all who attended.

11^th – It was a real pleasure to help out at Kilmarnock Church’s (SNU) Open Day in aid of Touched by Suicide.  The sum raised  was £915.

21^st – I was over in the Kingdom of Fife taking the divine service at Dunfermline Spiritualist Church. 

22^nd -  Pollockshaws and District Church in the Langside Halls Glasgow.  This church has been running for close on 40-years and has been of great service to the local community.   Recently numbers have been dropping so why not give this church some support.  But, hold on the church is closed till the first Monday in August... 

                                             The International Medium

Constantly I get a drip, drip of emails concerning the subject of International Mediums.  Here are a few; -

“What are your views on those mediums who want to be billed as International mediums?”  LB.

“A church may announce that the medium who is taking the service is from say Germany, but surely not as an International?” M

A medium freelancing can call themselves what they like, but I find it out of place when a church advertises or announces a medium as an International medium?”  Blair.

A Spiritual Medium links with another dimension and relays messages from there to love-ones here,  a wonderful achievement uniting the two worlds.  Adding “International” only means that they have stepped over a man-made line drawn in the sand.  I don’t think Spirit recognizes International borders. 

In sport an International whatever is picked as the best in that country at their particular sport.  With mediums it is that you have been recommended, noticed, or happen to be in another country and a church becomes aware that you are there.  Not all mediums who work abroad use the “International” title.  I know of two who were extremely angry when “International” was used in their introduction.  Both male mediums of the old-school said it went against all they had worked for in the service of spirit.

                                                             Hunger

When we think of hunger we think of that happening in other countries not here in the UK, even though so many are using food banks in this country these days.  The other night a young gentleman approached me showing me some coins in his hand.  He asked if I could please add seventy-pence so he could buy something to eat.  As I had only minutes to catch a bus I said “sorry” and walked on.  Already that day I had given to two people begging in the street so I did not feel guilty.  Yet, something made me stop and miss the bus.

I looked back at the young man he did not look under the influence of drink or drugs he was shabbily dressed, but clean.  Putting my hand in my pocket I found that the coins I had added up to exactly 70p.  So, I took it as a sign that I had done right to miss my bus and give the young man the coins.  As we walked along the road together he said that being homeless was terrible to cope with, but having an empty stomach was hell on earth.  He went on to say that he was not going to buy trash food, but something that was good for the body and left me at the entrance to a Sainsbury’s store.  I was interested in what he was going to buy and out he came with yoghurts.

I will not forget the look on that young man’s face when I  I hope that things are now looking up for him.  This is not the first time I have heard a homeless person say that hunger is harder to bear

 than being homeless.

                                                           Protest

What should have been a special day for the members of a newly-formed Christian Spiritualist Church in England turned out to be a very upsetting time to say the least.  Their first service in new premises with invited guests included the Mayor, Mayoress, representatives of the local council and local MP was marred by an unsavoury protest.  The church committee had also invited three other local churches, two apologised for not being able to attend as they were already running their own services at that time   The third refused and said they intended to protest on the day.

Protest they did  ... It is alleged they formed a human chain and accused the Spiritualists of being devil worshipers who were corrupting ignorant and uneducated minds.  It was not only church goers who fell foul of this mob, but others visiting the building for other purposes...  It was reported  that a really vile comment was made to a pregnant lady, who was visiting the building at the time..   It says a lot for the committee after having had to put up with such a situation that they still invited the protesters into the church service to experience what we are all about...  Needless to say they refused.

The following evening another protest and the police attended the scene. 

This time the police took an interest into it being a potentially a religious hate crime. After a discussion with both parties no further action was taken.     I suppose the correct action to take for the sake of peace in the community ... but should it happen again........

At least local dignitaries experienced the love and reverence of a Spiritual service and were able to compare it with the wrath of another religion.

                           Forthcoming events at Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church SNU>

I will be taking a series of 4 workshops on “Understanding Your Psychic Abilities” at Kilmarnock Spiritual Church on 13th, 20^th, 27^th August and 10^th September.  Admission free... 

also....

The highlight of the Spiritual year in Ayrshire is The Kilmarnock Experience held in Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU) 7^th – 9^th August.

This year sharing their wealth of knowledge is  Stansted Tutor Paul Jacobs and Linda Bennett CSNU.   Friday evening there is a double demonstration of mediumship, Saturday workshops from 10.00am-4.30pm, Saturday evening 7.00pm The John Findlay lecture, followed by a double demonstration of mediumship, Sunday 10.00-4.30pm workshops, and to close the weekend both these wonderful mediums will be taking our divine service. Bookings are now being taken at the church, or call 07988688620. The cost of this weekend will be £75; there are tickets available for part of the seminar 

                          

My Diary... Spiritualism... The Inconvenience of Suicide... Your Comments...

                                                      My Diary...


April...

18^th – Falkirk Spiritualist Church (SNU) Burghhead Road FK.  Even on a Saturday night, our churches can attract a good attendance.  It was a pleasure to see two little ones in the congregation, one under a year and the other would not have reached their second birthday.  They helped raise the atmosphere and as I was working, I was amazed at the older lad’s eyes looking all around and sometimes pointing as if he saw something that was invisible to the rest of us.

20^th – It is always a pleasure to take the trip north to the Inverness Spiritual Church.  (SNU).   I have been serving this church for thirteen years and always receive a great Highland welcome.

22^nd - The first of my four classes on “Understanding Your Psychic Abilities” at the Glasgow Association.

23^rd – A short trip to ASK Dreghorn.  A friendly little church where the always smiling Caroline Blair President and Medium make everyone feel so welcome.

26^th – Perth Spiritualist Church (SNU).  President Ivy Campbell’s great enthusiasm in Spiritualism rubs off on all who attend the church.  Ivy who has been active in the administration side of our religion for many years  now and is starting to blossom as a Spiritual medium in her own right.

28^th – The Ascension Christian Spiritualist Church has now moved premises to The Maryhill, Central Community Centre, Maryhill Road, Glasgow, G20 7YE. Service on a Tuesday evening at 7.30pm.

May...

3^rd – It is always a pleasure to serve the Ayr Spiritualist Centre.

6^th - Understanding Your Psychic Abilities” at the Glasgow Association.

7^th – The Pyramid Spiritualist Church, Pollock, Glasgow.

 

 

Spiritualism.

 

Spiritualism is a religion, a philosophy and a science that celebrates Eternal Life and recognizes that our true nature is spirit.  As such, we continue to live after physical death in a higher dimension known as the Spirit World.  As Spirit, we can communicate with those in the Spirit World through the link of love.

Spirit communication is not unique to Spiritualism.  It has existed since human beings first walked on the planet and will exist long after our own steps are no longer imprinted in the sands of time.  Spiritualism is life itself, here and hereafter, and it exists naturally whether we call it a religion or not.  

Spiritualism has its 7 Principles; -

The Fatherhood of God.

The Brotherhood of Man.
Communion of Spirits and the Ministry of Angels.

Continuous Existence of the Human Soul.

Personal Responsibility.

Compensation and Retribution hereafter for all Good and Evil Deeds done on Earth.

Eternal Progress open to every Human Soul.

 I always feel that an 8^th Principle should be added “Common Sense”.

 After the reading of the 7 Principles at our services we should continue with; -

We believe...

 “All men are my brothers, all women are my sisters, all children are my children”.

and

“My country is the universe,

My home the world,

My religion is to do good,

My heaven wherever a human heart beats in harmony with mine.”

Then maybe we should start a clean-up of our religion by putting it before ego.

Stop the infighting which dogs our religion.
 

 

 

 

                         The Inconvenience of Suicide

 Looking through facebook the other day I was appalled at comments concerning a tragic incident.  A 70-year-old man died when he was hit at Chatham station trying to pull a woman off the rails. (The lady survived)

Yes, Thousands of train users were delayed as trains were held up for more than an hour.

Yes, Rail workers cleared up the mess -  not a nice job for anyone.  The driver of the train who will have to live with this incident for the rest of his life.

But I am appalled at the accompanying comments; -

“I find this highly fashionable and public form of suicide to be tiresome and attention seeking”.

“Everyone has the right to end their life but not to inconvenience others in this apparently self-centred way”.

I was surprised that the person making these comments would have written such a thing and then made them on public on facebook.  To be fair, I emailed them and asked if their facebook account had been hacked.  I have received no reply and have been taken of their  fb friend list like others who complained.

The comments lack compassion and understanding on what drives people to suicide.  I say no more on the matter as my blood pressure is on the rise.

 

 

                                       Your comments

I received several emails on my comments on this blog on 29^th March “Cashing in on Grief”.  I was surprised that commercialism has found a niche in making human ashes into all sorts of products.  Here are a few; -

Dan – “When I heard of this I felt this was a great idea and thought not only of part of my grandfather living on, but living on connected with his great interest, betting on the horses.   I would write my daily bet out with a pencil made up of my granddad’s ashes after cremation.  I read that ashes from an average human body can produce up to 240 pencils.  Granddad would be involved in betting on the horses for evermore.

The smile was soon knocked of my face when I mentioned it to the family.  The look of horror on their faces was frightening. I was in the dog’s house after that and I still am as far as some members of the family are concerned.  On hindsight it was not as good an idea as I first thought”.

Jane – “I thought it a horrible idea and was shocked my friend decided to go in this direction with her mother’s and gran’s ashes.  But, she put a lot of thought into it and decided on hand blown glass vases for both her loved one.  She has placed both in a window that looks out onto the garden they both loved so in this case such a thing has my approval.  An extra plus is that the window that gets a lot of sun and it is as if the brightly colours vases come to life”. 

And on my last blog on Karma... Stephanie Wilson comments...

“I agree with you about the Karma approach.  I have always remembered a quote that my Yoga teacher gave us to think about.

"How different our life would have been if we had been born into another body,".

Jacquie McC wrote...

"I too have read many books saying we choose our parents and wonder if there is truth in this statement.  Who would choose to be born into a family, only to suffer abuse whether it be physical or emotional, to suffer hunger and starvation not only of food, but of love?  It seems a strange choice.  Yes, I can see that it may be a path on the road to redemption, to suffer and therefore grow more spiritually pure, but that is not necessarily the case.  Suffering often leads to hatred and acts of terror. Do unto others as they have done to you? Perhaps it is the idea that if/when we return to earthly life we are better equipped to deal with certain situations we did not cope well with the last time round.  Who knows?  Maybe at some point after death we are given the choice to redeem ourselves, to move up to a higher spiritual plane, equipped with the knowledge of how to succeed this time.  Would we then, as human beings with our own free will, make use of such knowledge?  Perhaps that is the test.

Karma is an interesting theory.  What goes around comes around.  Good Karma, bad karma.  I liked your theory that if you lived a good life you did not need to come back to prove yourself, if you did come back, then you suffered the same fate as those you'd wronged in a past life.  For some things that makes sense, but when I think about those poor children, babies, you mentioned in your blog I find it hard to believe anyone would volunteer for such a fate.  The little lost boy, known only unto God, and the day old baby savagely attacked by a paedophile.  (most distressing, I hadn't even heard about that)  I remember hearing  about someone who had given Healing to patient a long time ago.  This person had a club foot and according to the Spirit Guide who was helping , he had this impediment because in a past life he had caused someone to lose their foot by running them over in a carriage!  There is perhaps truth in both versions.  Those coming back to 'suffer' karma, may in fact be able to choose their parents"

 Thanks to all who emailed.