Norway... Forgiveness ....

On Sunday 10^th I took a break from driving and went by train to Edinburgh, to take the service at the Albany Street Church (SNU).  There was a good turnout for the last service before the summer break.

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On the 12^th another good turnout at Neilson Spiritualist Church especially as the weather was so good.   Sheila Caruthers is President of this church which originally started out in Barrhead then moved up the road to Neilson.

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I was at the Glasgow Association (SNU), Somerset Place, Glasgow from the 16^th – 19^th.  The usual Friday evening open circle was cancelled because of the start of the Glasgow Fair...  Even though it was the local holiday period there were still big turn outs at three of the four services.  That would be partly due to Berkley Street being closed, but there was a good number visiting the church for the first time.  A few from abroad...

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On the 25^th it was north to Inverness for the service at Smithston Spiritualist Church (SNU).  I stayed over to attend the Dalneigh Church the following evening. I have always been impressed how enthusiastic the people in the NE are as far as spiritualism is concerned.  Anyone thinking of going to Inverness for a few days I can recommend an excellent B&B.

Braeside B&B

12 Midmills Road

Inverness

IV2 3NX

It is only a few minutes from the city centre and you will be well looked after by Hazel.

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22/7/11 is a day that will never be forgotten by the Norwegian people.  The day tragedy struck a small peace loving nation.  But I feel that as well as thinking of the tragedy, there will be many of us around the world who will also think back in awe at the way Norway and its people responded they the two barbaric acts that took so many innocent people.

Many other nations struck by terrorist acts have responded quickly with heavy security-force deployments and clampdowns on civil liberties.  Yet that was not evident in Norway.  A friend who was in the country at the time said it was amazing how calm, and how easily accessible, Norwegian citizens and institutions remained.  He commented that in the days following, leaders of the government and the royal family continued to visit the scenes of greatest tragedy, the area of the bombing, hospitals, hotels where parents were waiting for news of their children.  And yet there was barley any security.

The suffering is still there, the suffering will be with this small nation for a long time to come, so let our prayers for the victim’s families not end when reporting of the tragedies disappears from the media.  We can all learn from the people of Norway....

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This week a brave rape victim forgives a knife-wielding stranger who walked into her home and put her through ninety minutes of hell.  Many will fail to understand how a victim can forgive such an act.   For most of us “forgiveness” always seems to be so difficult, almost impossible.  But those who can forgive in the face of severe adversity I look upon as brave and close to sainthood. 

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Colin, Barry Anne and Myra all ask the same question; - “We get bombarded with emails or “postal readings” do they really work?”

I always advise anyone who feel they need a private-sitting to go along to a spiritualist church.  I am going to write about this in the next few weeks...

Joan wants to know if I will comment on dowsing.  Yes, that will be coming up also.

Eddie Docherty...

....Eddie Docherty....

The 21^st of this month was the fifth anniversary of the passing of one of the most popular mediums in west/central Scotland and also Australia, Eddie Docherty. Eddie passed a month before his 58^th birthday. The words “A great ambassador for Spirit” is often used these days, Eddie earned that title with his tireless work for Spirit and giving comfort to those who came to him for help. Eddie was very ill at the end of his life but strove so hard to fulfil his bookings at churches for as long as he could.

It was my sixth visit to a Spiritualist church when I first saw Eddie on the platform. He was not alone, at that time he shared the platform with Len Alleyne, Len giving the address and Eddie the clairvoyance. Although I had been impressed with all the mediums I had seen, on the platform, this night were two very special gentlemen. Before that night I had looked on those who could communicate with Spirit as being magical and mystical yet here were two very ordinary people who were so down to earth. And what impressed me even more was that after the Service, Eddie and Len sat in the kitchen with the rest of the congregation. Up to this point all the mediums I had seen, disappeared to a room with the committee for their cup of tea.

 Len, I believe hailed from Barbados and had served in the R.A.F. This jolly man sadly passed away within a couple of years of me meeting him and Eddie found himself alone on the platform. Both men had complimented each other very well, to the delight of congregations. This was around the time when I was starting out taking services at our churches and there is one evening I will never forget.

I was booked to take a service at a church, and on the way there I dropped in at the church I was a member of, for a few moments. It was dark and as I approached the church I saw Eddie, but not the Eddie I had come to know. This was one of the few times I had seen him with no smile on his face and he was shaking like a leaf. I asked him what was wrong and he said that having to do an address on his own really was getting to him, he missed Len. I immediately said “Eddie, here is me worrying about my prayers, address and clairvoyance, you have made me feel so much better seeing you of all people in such a state.” I worried about my comments for a long time afterwards; I felt I had been really out of place. It was many years later that I mentioned this to Eddie and he said he also remembered that night. He had not thought my words were out of place, infact they had inspired him to get over his fear of addresses.

Eddie had a dream, a dream that was fulfilled on Sunday 15th July 2001, which was the first night The Friendship of Love and Light Spiritualist Church opened its doors. This was not just to be a church, but a church that was fun loving and would raise money to put back into the community. This was a great day for Eddie as he had finally made his dream a reality. Eddie lived for his church and the Spiritualist movement; he was truly a great medium. He always aimed to bring help and comfort to many people from all walks of life, whether it was through his gifts of the spirit or that cheeky smile that he so often adorned.

Sadly, only a few years after Eddie’s dream materialised his health started to fail, but not before this church was a little oasis for all who needed help. It was fitting that the cremation service was taken by a medium, church member and friend, Paul Erroch. The big turnout was no surprise as Eddie had touched the life of so many people

Eddie’s church is in good hands and President Doreen Polson, along with the committe members, Annette Lavelle, Linda Walker, Kathleen McGinty, Mary McDonald, Sandra Patterson, Anne and David McAlpine.

Rather than me prattling on I felt it right to let others who knew Eddie, have their say too.

Maureen Brown – “Eddie was a legend; he will always be missed....

Sandra Patterson – “I joined the circle after Eddie had passed but was fortunate to meet him at the night Maryhill had for him (to send him and his sister Maureen away for a wee holiday) even although I didn't sit in his circle, I do know he's there on a Sunday and feel his presence often and know he is a lovely soul."

Linda Walker – “Eddie was an inspirational teacher; he loved to watch as natural talents progressed and developed, as we learned to tune in and to work with spirit. He was the most unassuming person, in respect of his mediumship, he worked for spirit. As a person, he was like everyone else, human, he was our best friend,”

Jojo Carr – “He was always there when I was down, he taught me right from wrong, but most of all he taught me what I know today. I love and miss you Eddie, more than words can say."

John Beattie – “Eddie had his own unique way of working & was a really nice guy who would help anyone. He h ad a lot of respect from all churches.”

Caroline Blair – "I would like to say that Eddie was a inspiration by answering all the questions I had about spiritualism. He also told me about A.S.K. Dreghorn, so I thank him from the bottom of my heart for the spiritual journey that he helped me find.

Bob Macintosh – “Although I didn’t get to know Eddie Docherty as well as I’d like to have done, I have several happy memories of chairing a service for Eddie, when he was giving a demonstration of mediumship. I remember Eddie Docherty as a worker who was respectful of those he worked with – on both sides of life - a man who knew exactly when and when not to use humour when working the platform – a true inspiration."
Sadly for us pancreatic cancer called Eddie to the Spirit World. Not to be thwarted from his new position on the other side of the veil – he still managed to get a message through to several of us who were blessed to be sitting in an open circle that evening. I will always remember Eddie Docherty with fondness, as a tireless worker and terrific ambassador to our movement – may his soul find everlasting peace, joy and contentment.”

Kerry New – “I sadly never had the chance to meet Eddie; I think he passed over just before I came into the Spiritualist movement, 4 years ago. However, I have attended the last 2 "specials" to celebrate his life at the church he founded at Foxbar and it’s obvious that the people there love him very much.”

Angela Hodgkinson – “In a few words I would say Eddie was a great man and a true ambassador for spiritualism.”

Stephanie Roy – “He was an inspiration to everyone he met and a genuine ambassador for Spirit”.

Ellen McCann – “Eddie was one of the best people who cared for others and he didn’t know how much people’s hearts he touch in all the years he was in the movement and he was loved by everyone”.

Jacqueline Coleman – “I only had the pleasure of meeting Eddie a few times but he seemed to me a man with a big heart,”

Sarah Wood – “I heard a lot about Eddie when I was at Caroline’s church, she thought very highly of him and I see from Facebook how much he was respected by all who knew him”.

Mary McDonald – “He was a very nice loving man, our Eddie, l miss him loads and a great worker for Spirit. God bless him.”

Margaret Jamieson - “Eddie is so sadly missed.”

The above comments show how much respect that others had for Eddie, once he touched your life, you never forgot him.

Eddie never wrote a book, but how many mediums who become authors, will be remembered like this, once the reader has read the last page of the book?

Eddie’s name never appeared in bright lights above a theatre, but how many mediums that travel the theatre circuit will be remembered five years after the curtain comes down?

 Eddie, a good friend, missed by all.

Annette Lavelle, a good friend to Eddie and on the church committee has had several of her poems on this site, so this time I thought I would give another committee member and someone new to Spiritual poetry, Sandra Patterson a chance. See Poetry page...

Also Linda Walker, the Churches’ Psychic Artist has two of her drawings on the photograph’s page.

On Sunday 3^rd July it was a pleasure to take the service at The Friendship of love and Light Spiritualist Church, Foxbar, Paisley.  This church was founded by Eddie Docherty, who I will be mentioning on this blog either next week or the following week.

The following day I reluctantly had to cancel a booking at Spiritwise Spiritualist Church, Muirkirk.  I never like to cancel a booking and seldom do, but although I tried to change this personal appointment it was impossible to do so.   My apologise to Robert, Kate and the Muirkirk congregation. After my appointment was over I was not that far from the church I was at the evening before so I just made it with a few minutes to spare to sit in their circle.

Then on the 7^th it was my first visit not only to the Bo’ness Spiritualist Church but also to Bo’ness it’s self.  Thanks to Barbara and her committee who all gave me a friendly welcome.  Maybe one day i will have time to explore the town which has an interesting history.

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Stan asks “Why does Spiritualist churches close during the summer?”

Not all spiritualist churches close during the summer, only a few do so.  With most it is usually only for two or three weeks during the local summer holiday period  We have to remember that all our churches are run by volunteer committees and those with small committees would not have sufficient numbers on duty during some weeks in the summer.   But Spiritualist churches are not the only churches to close at this time.  There are churches of the mainstream religions that have joint services with a sister church so that one can close one month and the other the following month.  With so many Spiritualist Churches in Scotland if one near you closes there should be another that is open not too far away.

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Being retired I have time to do voluntary work and I have great admiration for those who do a hard day’s work and then go out and do some form of voluntary work.  In the past few weeks I have been amazed at those I know who are going to give up some of their leisure time to help those unfortunate than themselves.  The areas they have chosen are befriending, and helping those with learning, mental or physical disabilities.  Also a friend, whose cat passed away a few weeks ago, is going to apply to foster cats when their owners are in hospital etc.  The country would be a poorer place without the volunteers.

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Chief Seattle, 1786 - 1866, spoke of religion in his famous speech:

"Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors, the dreams of our old men, given them by the great Spirit, and the visions of our sachems, and is written in the hearts of our people."

All tribes believe in a Supreme Being which they call by different names depending on their culture: The Creator, Wakan Tanan, The Great Spirit, The Great Mystery, The One, Grandfather, and many other names. They all mean the same - The Supreme Being , the Creator of all life and nature.

There is not a religion called Native American . Their religious beliefs are cultural, based on each individual tribal customs and traditions. Not all tribes speak the same language and not all tribes have the same identical beliefs. Protestants, Baptists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Catholics, Jewish, etc., all believe in God, but do not all have the identical beliefs. This is true of Native Americans also".

As I said only a few weeks ago, wise words spoken so long ago and yet mankind has not listened. Why can religions not live in harmony, if they are all worshiping the same Supreme Being? Thankfully there are many in all religions who strive to understand each other's ways, and live in peace and harmony with them. But there will always be those who not only believe that their way is the right and only way to God, but they try and force their way on others. At times via the gun, the bullet or the fist.

Maybe all this will slowly disappear as younger generations grow up and think for themselves.  Not being brainwashed like has happened in the past. They will become part of a religion because they feel is right for them.  Attending a church of their own free will, rather than have to attend a church because they were born into that religion.

In the twenty years I have been in Spiritualism I have see a massive improvement in the way that the general public look on Spiritualism and how other religions are more tolerable towards us.  Let us hope that this trend continues and that if there is a step back to the old ways, we will not be responsible for this.  We all must put Spiritualism the Religion before our one own desires and to separate our religion from entertainment.

Spiritualism has waited on the other religions mellowing towards us, but is it not time that we play our part in having closer relations with other local churches.  I don’t mean the SNU, Greater World, and other Spiritualist organizations which should also be striving towards this, but each individual church having closer ties with other churches in the area.

Like Christian Spiritualist Churches making it known that they would like to be part of services on Christmas Eve where local churches have a joint service.  Of course our participation would not include clairvoyance.

Laying a wreath at the local Cenotaph h on Remembrance Day.  I know some churches either attend or have applied take part in the Service of Remembrance.

Joint coffee mornings for a local charity...

While at ASK, Stewarton, we had representatives of the Quakers, I think I have got it right in saying an American Minister of the Unitarian Church.,more than one Buddhist Lama* giving us an insight into their beliefs.  In turn several ASK members accepted the invite along to their places of worship. 

We can all play our own little part to achieve better understanding between all Religions of this world.

*In the past year, ASK< Dreghorn and The Glasgow Association of Spiritualists have hand Buddhist Lama giving a talk and answering questions.

Tuesday 27^th saw me visit a family who were putting all the bad luck that has been surrounding them, down to the house they had moved into two years ago.   

I must admit that when I sat down in the living room I felt a bit flustered and fed up, but that could have been down to me sitting in a traffic jam for thirty minutes and then another thirty minutes of trying to find the address. 

So, why was this house being labelled an “unlucky house”?

The family were happy for me to put this on the blog and they were given the opportunity to change anything I had written

The father had lost his job six months after moving into the house, with his wife also becoming unemployed a few months later.  Neither has been able to get the same quality of work since in fact both are unemployed at the moment.  The son, who was promised a job on leaving college, found out it the post was no longer available.  The daughter who had always done well in exams had failed miserably when it came to the exams that really counted... Add to that two car accidents with the car, the first accidents with any vehicle they’ve ever owned, and several health problems to add to their woes...  One can understand why the family had felt that everything had went downhill since they moved house, but had their problems anything  to do with the building?

As I walked around the house all I could detect was a great deal of negative activity, but from any spirit connection?  I did not think so.  The family then told me that they had another medium out who said he had cleared the house of all Spirits, but he had not done a good job as conditions around the family remained the same.  This medium had not asked any questions but just did his thing and left. 

I gave the house a blessing and then went on to suggest to the family that what had happened to them in the past two years could be more to do with the financial and work situations that is affecting the country at the moment rather, than anything to do with the house... That could be the cause of the situations surrounding three of them, and the fourth, the daughter, may have taken her eye of the ball as far as studying was concerned.  Then I told them like I always do in such situations, never to believe what any medium says, including myself, unless it makes sense to them in some way.

The family then said that when they come to think of the wider picture many families in the area had several members who were out of a job, and that health problems and a boyfriend could be more to do with their daughter failing her exams.

It is easy to put the negative situations down to some form of paranormal activity, but before we do that we should always look towards logic first.  If logic cannot explain what is going on then we can start looking in other directions.

I will keep in touch with the family and see how things go with them but I am sure their problems have nothing to do with where they live.  I could be proved wrong, but let us wait and see.

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 Wednesday 29^th I paid my first visit to Edinburgh’s Psychic College and what a great welcome I received from the committee and congregation.

The minute I stepped through the door I was met with a lovely atmosphere.  It was like going back in time, high ceilings with many portraits hanging on the walls, of those who had worked hard for the College in years gone by.   A new committee has recently taken over at the College so let us wish them luck as they start off on a new era for the College...

The College has a very interesting web site which I believe will be updated at the end of the month... Wait till then and then take a look at it.  www.edinburghpsychiccollege.com/

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The following evening I attended the Larkfield Spiritualist Church in Blantyre.  One might have expected the good weather would have meant a drop in the numbers attending but that was not the case.  The local community have supported this church since it opened over four years ago.  President Jackie Coleman is also an excellent medium as is Fiona Boyle who has recently emerged from the ranks of fledglings (New Mediums) and is now getting bookings on her own right at churches in the area.

This church and Falkirk (SNU) Spiritualist Church are the only two in Scotland that the service does not start till 8pm.  I feel that this gives one time to get home from work, have something to eat without gulping it down and then go to the church.

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Last week I commented on the fact that I personally had proof that there was such a thing as a Spirit World and there could be communication from this other dimension.  But I had no similar proof that anyone could predict in any great detail my future.  Well, this has not gone down too well with some of you.  Maybe they have got this proof that I am still waiting on.  I will look their comments in-depth in the next few weeks. 

Let me this week comment on how I believe we get guidance from Sprit to prepare us for what may about to occur.  But it is not usually in a direct way.  One of the best personal instances I can give is the following...

I had been driving since the age of twenty-one and apart from before and just after my driving test I never felt scared to drive.  That was until one day about fifteen years ago.  I was driving along a road when I suddenly felt really scared to be behind the wheel the car.  It was a quiet road but as every car approached, from the front or the rear it really stressed me out.    Maybe the best word would be “panic” rather than “fear”.  This got so bad that I quickly returned home and tried to figure out what was happening. 

Could this have been spirit warning me of an accident that was about to happen to me?  A fatal accident, an accident that would cause injury, or just a bump?  By the way I felt I thought it could be the worst scenario.  And then what about my new car which had only 800-miles on the clock?  Believe it or not my main concern all that afternoon was about the new car being damaged.  Up till that time a car was just something to get me from A to B, but this was my first brand new car and I am ashamed to say that I put the vehicle before other people’s lives or my own.  I eventually dismissed this had been some form of warning ... but... I decided not to attend a circle that evening. 

Although I dismissed that an accident was imminent, all afternoon relived what it would be like to have the new car damaged, how I would feel, it would never seem like a new car after an accident.  I seemed to cover every angle of such a situation

Then the voice of reason came in as Isobel said “How long will you refrain from driving?” “If the accident is going to happen it will whether you have a break from driving for a week, a month or a year.”  That made up my mind not to be silly and to attend the circle which was in Glasgow.

Off I went, driving carefully and all went smoothly.... I turned out of Wellington Street onto Clyde Street and was surprised to see that there were no cars in front of me right to the junction with Howard Street, something I have never witnessed before that night or since As I was braking for a red light at the junction, all of a sudden a large car that had been parked on the pavement drove off, came straight into the outside lane and hit the side of my vehicle with great force.  To cut a long story short after exchanging details the other driver he drove off and phone calls from his company made it clear that they were not going to take the blame.  The lawyer hired by the insurance company on my behalf made it clear that the best I could hope for was ‘knock for knock’ which I was not happy with. 

The more I thought about the whole situation the more I felt that if Spirit had given me a warning then I should stand up and fight for my rights.  So I told my lawyer that I would do without his services and do my own investigation.  Door to door enquires in the area led to me hearing about someone who had seen the accident from his balcony.  But he had moved to another flat in the city the day after the incident and was now on holiday.  I managed to trace him on his return and his statement swung the case in my favour.

Was that a warning from Spirit?  I believe it was but it is up to the individual to make up their own mind.  But I doubt if I did not have advanced warning, and going over and over in my mind what it  would be like to have a new car damaged I would not have went out to prove my innocence.

There have been many who have had similar experiences but is that the way we get guidance?  I think it is?

Tuesday 14^th I was at the Glasgow Association of Spiritualists (SNU) for private sittings in the morning and the service in the afternoon.  The latter was well attended as usual.    I have always found it interesting that two Spiritualist Churches in Glasgow can have good attendances on Tuesday afternoons yet many other churches struggle to get a reasonable attendance on Sunday morning. 

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Then we had a few days break going to Germany by coach and having a cruise down the Rhine.  I had enough of flying last year with the volcanic ash causing havoc by grounding aircraft.  While sitting on the banks of the Rhine we were treated to a magnificent flying display by a Red Kite.  The hotel had been a convent for many years but no sign of any Spirits, not that I expected any.

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I got a good bit of feedback on my comments on animals in the Spirit World.  Most seem to think that unless all species were part of this other dimension, then it would not be as good as it is made out to be.

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There are many who are still of the belief that Spiritual Mediums are similar to fortune-tellers. I agree that Spirit can to a degree prepare us for certain situations but not in a direct way, rather in a way that we have to think and act on our own to make things happen.

The following is my own opinion and there will be those who will disagree with my comments.

Many years ago a group of mediums, fledgling’s, psychics, fortune tellers and those who had never thought of anything connected with Spirit or psychic activities, were asked to take part in a test.  We were to meditate, then ask for help from whatever source we wanted,  to predict what would happen in the next six months. We wrote down our predictions, sealed them in an envelope and all were enclosed in a larger envelop and put in a safe.

Six months later they were opened and at a quick glance the predictions were reasonably good, till we looked at them in depth. E.g.:_-

"An earthquake in Japan", which there had been, but there are constant earthquakes in Japan. Maybe what would have been more interesting, if it had been predicted that there would be no earthquakes in a six month period, in that country and that then had been the case. 

"A serious terrorist attack in Asia"... Again general, maybe would have been worth looking into if the country or town had been given.

I am not saying during this test anyone was cheating but most of us agreed, that where we were getting it right in a loose sort of way, were areas that we were individually interested in. (In my case, incidents about foreign affairs.) When I asked Spirit for predictions they did they not answer as that is not what they are there for, and my own mind cut in. 

Next part of the experiment we were paired off and asked to give predictions as to what would happen to the person sitting in front of us during the next six months. When we met up six months later, there was little of real accuracy, even from those who called themselves "Fortune Tellers".

But that proved nothing as maybe all in the group did not have that ability to predict the future.

Then three of us were singled out to go to fortune tellers and see what transpired.  Again little or no accuracy.  In my case there was no mention as to an accident that was to befall me a month later, which would affect my arm and shoulder for the rest of my life. Also, no mention of anything of actual importance that occurred around me during the next year.

I tried to be fair in my evaluation of all this but maybe I was being a bit too hard to please, so next we will look at the situation surrounding a lady who contacted fortune tellers on a regular basis.

Over the years she has spent several thousand pounds on trying to find out what the future held for her. She wanted to know when she would meet her soul mate and get that special job she wanted. She was constantly told that both would come to pass at the end of the month, year etc.  Yet years down the line neither has happened. She is disillusioned but yet still willing to pay out for a prediction. Has anything she has been given turned out to have come to pass? I cannot say for certain as we are not in contact so much these days but the small loose items that she can bend and twist to make fit, seemed to spur her on for another session.

It took me a long time to believe there was a Spirit World and there could be communication from this other dimension. A lot longer to accept "Spiritual Healing" and even longer to accept "distant or absent healing, so maybe in time I will get the proof to be able to accept fortune telling.

What are your views on predicting the future?

Next week I will comment on how Spirit in a subtle way can prepare us for certain situations exciting and accurate way in my opinion.

On Monday 6^th it was my pleasure to take the service at Pollockshields and District Spiritualist Church.  This church opened in 1988 and has been a really busy up till this year, when the numbers have for some unexplained reason has fallen away.  A lot of people in the area have received support and comfort over the years from Bill, Ellen, and others who have helped them out, so please try and give this church some support.  Maybe try and go along one evening or let your friends who stay in the area knows about it.  After the service Linzie will be on hand to serve you with a cup of tea and a smile...  The service is held on Monday evenings, 7.30pm, Langside Halls. (downstairs)

On the 8^th it was a talk on Spiritualism, which I will comment on later.

Thursday saw me travel to the Lighthouse Spiritualist Church, YAC Halls, George Road, Greenock.  Although only opened a few months ago it has been very busy from day-1. Jenny Lafferty at the helm and she is supported by several enthusiastic and willing helpers.

Friday it was nice to meet up with Nancy, Liz and Christine at the Angel Light Spiritualist Church, Daisy Street, Govanhill, Glasgow.

A week with much less travelling than the week before which saw me drive 700-miles in five days.    BUT.... as I constantly say a medium cannot be judged on the number of services they take or the miles they travel.  We all have commitments, some more that others and family, health and work, have to come first.  Then there is the availability of transport.

Last week I said that I would leave the info about Kirkcaldy Spiritualist Church to this week.  Here it is; -

President Lyn Redpath and the committee put a lot of hard work into making this Centre a success. Their weekly programme is as follows.

Sunday: Divine Service 6pm - Healing is available after the service

Monday: Evening of Mediumship 7.30pm

Thursday: Awareness circle - 7pm till 8.30pm.

Private sittings can be arranged must be booked in advance.

They also have an excellent website; -  www.kdysc.moonfruit.com

 I was interested to see on the website “Light a Candle Memorial” where one can insert the name of a loved one who has passed.  There is also a memorial page for our pets/little friends that have passed over.

Well done Kirkcaldy Spiritualist Centre...

What the discussion ended up mainly about on Wednesday evening was “What will it be like in the Spirit World?" and "Do animals apart from pets go to the Spirit World

I don't know exactly what will meet me and I will wait and have a pleasant surprise.  I am sure that all species on earth will be there and that we will have to toe the line in giving all species more respect than we do on Planet Earth... 

These days man looks on himself as the most intelligent creature on this planet but is that not arrogant and self-limiting?  In years gone by Native Americans saw it differently, respecting all of life, the ground, the plants and the animals. Many cultures worshipped certain animals and birds; they built temples to these other species, holding them in great esteem. However, the Native Americans held all life equal, believing that worshiping any one particular thing above another would cause imbalance. That I am happier with, as every species has its role to play on this planet and I have no doubt it will be the same in the Spirit World.

In many respects we (mankind) have lost our way and the strain is telling on our planet. We concrete over more and more land each year and then wonder why we have floods. Where is the water to go?

Each year we see the rise in the use of fertilisers and pesticides, and then we wonder why numbers of other species are falling. We have had a scare recently, the dramatic fall in the number of honey bees around the world. That stark warning, that without this busy little creature, man will eventually fail to exist does has not put the brakes on our wanting more and more at the expense of the flora and fauna of our planet.

There are those in our society today that  worships the fastest racehorse, the bull that's offspring produce more meat or milk that any other, but at the same time look on hare coursing as a sport.  The humble hare which would harm no one is looked upon as an object for sport and pleasure.

I am sure that all who respect all that is on Planet Earth will progress in the Spirit World at a faster rate than those who disregard the importance of all that we have on this planet.

One charity that I have supported over the years is The Brooke.   An international animal welfare organization dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in some of the world's poorest communities. The provide treatment, training and programmes around animal health and wellbeing, operating across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Even if one does not wish to donate to this organization I am sure you will be fascinated by the wonderful work they do. Details can be found on www.thebrooke.org

I hope to have a different poem and new photos on the site each week starting from next week.

On Sunday 29^th May I made the journey to the Kirkcaldy Spiritualist Centre. (SNU).  This Centre is right in the middle of the town, 12 Kirk Wynd.

More about Kirkcaldy in next week's blog


Monday evening was meant to be a night off but I got an urgent request from a family to come to their home as they felt a ‘ghost’ was present.  More about that further down the blog...

Tuesday I was at ASK Cumbernauld.  I was surprised to hear that this church is in its sixth year as it seems only like yesterday that I took a service at this church two weeks after it opened.  The people of Cumbernauld certainly took this Church to their heart as from Day-1 this has always been a busy Church.  Over its short life Joan and Isobel have arranged several charity evenings which have aided needy local charities.

Wednesday I was off to the Perth Spiritualist Church (SNU), whose committee have done a lot over the past year in renovating their church from top to bottom.  As you approach the premises you will see a sign “A Small Church With A Big Heart” and that says it all about this friendly little place.  President is the always smiling Ivy Campbell.

It was such a lovely evening on Thursday and as I was early for the Balloch Spiritualist Church I decide not to turn into the town but to take a run up the side of Loch Lomond.  I made sure I stopped before the village of Luss because if I had turned into the village I would have started taking photographs and would forgotten about the time.  Luss one of the most scenic villages in Scotland. The Balloch Church has been running for only a few years and I find such a great enthusiasm from all who attend.  Tam Conroy is President.

On Friday I only prised myself away from this PC to visit Beith‘s Annual Art Exhibition.  Exhibits are always of high quality and this year I felt that the standard was even better than in previous years..  Most of the works in the adult exhibition are for sale at very reasonable prices.  This exhibition is held in Beith’s Community Centre at the beginning of June each year so maybe put an entry in your diary to attend next year.

On Saturday the voluntary work that I was scheduled for was cancelled at the last moment so we decided to take a trip to my home town, Prestwick.  The town seems to have fewer empty shops than seems to be the norm these days in other towns.  This is a busy little town where not much has changed over the years.  The Over -65 Club  had an exhibition of old photos of the town which we found very interesting. 

After my comments on “circles” last week I got a few interesting emails on the subject.

“As I work shifts I find it difficult to get accepted for any closed circles because I can only manage every second week”

It is up to the church/individual who they let into a closed circle and the conditions for those attending.  But I feel that it would be unfair to bar someone because they could only sit every second week because of work commitments.  I doubt Spirit would wish someone to be refused entry to a circle for this reason alone.

“I have been told that a development circle should be held weekly, at the same time and in the same place”.

A church will use its own premises or usual rented hall and at the same time but the development circle need not be weekly.  I was in an excellent development circle for almost four years and it was held fortnightly.  At one stage we had to move premises for several months because of building renovations and I never noticed a difference with our link with Spirit...

“I have left three development circles through the years because there was always some noise or other that disturbed me”. 

Our development circle was held in a room in our church where the window looked out on to a main road.  Although it was not the busiest of roads there were always cars or people going bye and we got used to it.  It is difficult to find a place that will be devoid of all noise I once sat in a circle  in a house in the country and even there, there was not complete silence.  Cows mooing, sheep bleating, hens clucking, crows squawking,  tractors/harvesters working away.  We must seek the quietest place we can but we have to share the planet with others and we should not be too sensitive to noise, even in circle.

Now back to the family who asked me to visit their home because ‘unusual things’ were going on around the house. (The family have given me permission to mention their situation)

I regularly get asked out to similar situations but I doubt you will ever see me on TV because in most cases an answer can be found and sorted out without any theatrical performance or the dramatic “house clearing” comment.  In such incidents one has to treat what is going on like a police investigation.

So on the 24^th I visited the scene of what the family called a “disturbance” – a “ghostly disturbance”.  This was a detached bungalow in a quiet street.

The family had lived there for 24-years and in their words “We have had no ghostly experiences until 14^th May, then again on 16^th May. ^y


What had frightened this family?   Footsteps on the stairs.... the light in the kitchen coming on... the sound of a chair moving... The sound of cups/mugs gently hitting together. r This happened several times during both the nights of the 14^th and 16^th...

Who witnessed this?  Father (52), mother (46), son (22) and daughter (16) on the first night and on the second night a family friend (64) a retired dentist who had left a letter with what he had experienced on that night.   All claimed that on these nights they had not been drinking, taking drugs, prescribed or otherwise. 

At this stage I always ask if there were any children or pets in the house and if so how they reacted during any disturbance.  But there were no kids or pets. 

This family were terrified as according to their religious beliefs any spirit or ghostly activity is evil. So if there had been nothing like this in the bungalow in almost quarter a century, why now?  The answer must be connected with the present.

I took a walk around the house and could not sense any spirit presence, there was one thing I was aware of but I did not think too much about it at the time and I did not mention it to the family.

I did believe there had been a spirit presence and it was not the family’s imagination, so I felt the most probably answer would be something connected around the family at this moment in time.  For the next ten minutes I asked question after question about their lives and got “No”, “No”, “No”.  I was really floundering for an explanation then the mother said “It could not be in connection with?”....   and all started to become clear.

On the 4^th the son got the offer of a job abroad.  As soon as Uni was over he could jet away to a job he would like to have taken but it was only a two year contract, if he stayed at home he had a lesser job waiting for him and if he worked hard he could make a good life for himself.  Remember the second awareness of spirit was on the 16^th – well on the 17th he had to make up his mind about the job abroad.  Could this be the answer or just a coincidence?  Too often such visits to a family follow this pattern for it to be just a coincidence.

Then I remembered what I had sensed on the stairs “A smell of oil – engine oil”.  When I mentioned this all the family looked at me and said the grandfather, three-years deceased, had been a ships engineer all his life.

So could there be a connection with what happened on the two nights and the grandfather?

Yes, according to the family.  He was a great one for holding family conferences sitting around the kitchen table after he had made them all a cup of tea/coffee.  Every situation to crop up big or small there was this family conference when he was home from sea.

So could that be the answer?  Was I clutching at straws?

If our loved-ones were still here with us would they not come around when there is family problems and family joy.  So if we believe in a Spirit World and Spirit communication then there is no reason why they should not continue their role in caring from the family.

But as I said to the family “Never believe anything a medium tells you, including myself, unless it makes sense to you”.

I gave the family my views and now it is up to them whether they accept it.  The disturbance” had gone before I appeared at the house so there was no need to ask any Spirit to move on, if the family had wanted them to move on.

Maybe it is a pity that I did not get to the house earlier and mention the grandfather so the family could have looked at the job situation in the cool, calm and collective way that they said the grandfather would have looked at it 

Can I ask you to send you thought out to Albert Woodfox,  and Herman Wallace,  who have been in solitary confinement in an American prison for almost forty-years.