Spiritualism Part One

During Spiritualism’s heyday, philanthropists, political activists, (including vegetarians and animal welfare activists), and all kinds of intellectuals and Establishment figures believed that spirits in the Afterlife could be contacted to aid learning and help those in the physical world live a better life. Queen Victoria and the royal family are said to be ardent believers. Spiritualism’s ‘Pope’, the flamboyant socialist Hannen Swaffer (who opposed capital punishment and always wore a hat) was an ardent campaigner for Spiritualism. 

Last Chance to See!

Stephen Fry’s ‘Last Chance to See’ and David Attenborough’s ‘Madagascar’ both highlight the extreme plight of some of the world’s most endangered species that are teetering on the edge of extinction due to hunting, mining, crop plantation for animal feed, habitat loss and climate change. 

If the great philosophers, spiritual teachers and wisdom keepers of the past could speak, what would they say? How would they speak and with what level of urgency in their voices? For those who believe in eternal life, many want to contact waiting spirits. Noisy stimulation of the outside world prevents the hearing of the 'still small voice', of those who provide advice, counsel, challenge and support.

Cognitive Dissonance

 

What is cognitive dissonance?

Cancel Culture Explained

 

Ladder of Learning

There are 4 stages of the ladder of Learning. 

Unconsciously unskilled

Consciously unskilled

Consciously skilled

Unconsciously skilled

The Bee Blessing - A Tradition

 In the distant past, country people had a tradition...

Whenever there was a death in the family, someone had to go out to the bee hives and tell the bees of the terrible loss that had befallen the family.

The bees were kept abreast of all important family matters including births, marriages, and long absence due to journeys. This peculiar custom is known as “telling the bees”.

The practice of "telling the bees" may have its origins in Celtic mythology that held that bees were the link between us and the spirit world. So if you had any message that you wished to pass to someone who was dead, you needed to tell the bees and they would pass along the message.

The typical way to tell the bees was for the head of the household, or “goodwife of the house” to go out to the hives, knock gently to get the attention of the bees, and then softly murmur in a doleful tune the solemn news. 

7 Habits

Personal Mission Statement: 

Succeed at home first. Seek divine help. Never compromise with honesty. Remember the people involved. Hear both sides before judging. Obtain the counsel of others. Defend those who are absent. Be sincere yet decisive. Develop one brand-new proficiency a year. Plan tomorrow’s work today. Hassle while you wait. Maintain a positive attitude. Keep a sense of humour. Be orderly in person and in work. Do not fear mistakes, only the absence of creative, constructive, and corrective responses to those mistakes. Facilitate the success of subordinates. A listen twice as much as you speak. 

These Are The Hands - A Poem

  By Michael Rosen

These are the hands That touch us first
Feel your head Find the pulse
And make your bed.

These are the hands That tap your back
Test the skin Hold your arm Wheel the bin
Change the bulb Fix the drip Pour the jug Replace your hip.

Convergent & Divergent Thinking

 

There are two types of thinking:

Convergent thinking focuses on arriving at a single well-established answer to a problem. Convergent thinking is used as a tool to problem-solve. When someone uses critical thinking to solve a problem, they consciously use standard probabilities to make judgements. This contrasts with Divergent thinking where several possible solutions are sought.

Invocation of the Graces

Gaelic Blessing for a Young Girl

I bathe the palms in showers of wine, in the lustral fire, in the seven elements, in the juice of the rasps, in the milk of honey, and I place the nine pure choice graces in thy fair fond face, the grace of form, the grace of voice, the grace of fortune, the grace of goodness, the grace of wisdom, the grace of charity, the grace of choice maidenliness, the grace of whole-souled loveliness, the grace of goodly speech.

Circus - A Story

 “When I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. In front of us there were eight children, probably under the age of 12. The way they were dressed, you could tell they didn't have a lot of money. The children were well-behaved, standing in line behind their parents. They were excited about the acts they would be seeing.

The ticket lady asked the man how many tickets he wanted? He responded, "I'd like to buy eight children's tickets and two adults." The ticket lady stated the price! The man's lip began to quiver. Then he leaned a little closer and asked, "How much did you say?" The ticket lady again stated the price. He didn't have enough money. How could he tell his eight children?

Journey of the Soul Extract

In all my transactions today, I intend them to come from a place of love within me, to a place of love within others. From a place of honesty in myself to a place of honesty within others. From my integrity to the integrity of others. From a place of openness, as I respect the rights of all living things. I intend to be gentle, kind and forgiving. I intend to be aware of the wonders of the universe and to greet them all with gratitude and awe. And I welcome whatever flows into my life to teach me today, and to listen to the conversation that the universe is trying to have with me. I intend to be inspired, to have joy, to be grateful for all that I have in my life, and for every opportunity I’m given. I intend to use my intuition and all my other spiritual gifts in all transactions today and to help wherever I can, even if that help is in standing still and doing nothing, or letting go of someone I love. I intend for peace and harmony, and that, wherever I can make restitution, I shall have the courage and willingness to do so. I intend to live my humanity and divinity simultaneously today and move further along my path to enlightenment. I dedicate my life to love, to peace, to harmony, to healing, to teaching, to my spiritual growth, and the spiritual growth of others.

Midsummer Thoughts

St John’s Day is a fire festival, three fires are created, one of bone (the bonfire), one of wood (the wake fire) and one of bone and wood (the fire of St John). Goatsbeard and masterwork used to be made into crosses, but crosses can also be made from hypericum branches. It is a day to bathe in the water of holy springs (I used to bring home water from the springs in Springfield Park, from my mother’s home in Glengarriff, or from my local spring at the Elizabethan Hunting Lodge, and put the water in with my bath water with some Hypericum flowers! 

It is a day to collect fennel, rue, rosemary, lemon verbena, mallow, laburnum seeds, foxgloves, and elderflower to make an incense/smoke sticks that are said to repel all evil. Yarrow is also burned, a herb sometimes used for the I Ching divination. It is likely that the red antibiotic juice of Hypericum was used by the Knights of St John, where it’s common name, Wort of St John could have originated. The Wort of St John is a medicinal plant that blooms at midsummer when the feast of the Baptist is celebrated often by ecstatic dancing, carnival processions and costumes as the plant is also known to have antidepressant qualities. St John is known as the Sacred Clown possibly because of his wild living style of wearing goatskin and eating locusts and honey and crying out for repentance and to prepare the way for the messiah. 

The Great Bell Chant

For peace, truth, justice, kindness, compassion, and all spiritual values

Psychic Discovery - Free YouTube Video

Find out if you are clairvoyant, clairaudient or clairsentient by listening to this video. 
Do not drive or operate machinery. You might experience relaxation and a light trance state.  Make yourself comfortable. Ensure you will not be interrupted for 15 minutes. This is your time to relax and enjoy the inner world of spirit. Written by Wendy Stokes, presented by Dawn Ramsey of The Shakra Centre. 

If Nobody Smiled - A Poem

IF NOBODY SMILED

 

If nobody smiled and nobody cared, and nobody helped us along; If every fellow looked out for himself, and the good things all went to the strong; If nobody cared just a little for you, and nobody thought about me; And we stood all alone in the battle of life, what a dreary old world this would be.

Life is sweet because of the friends we love, and the things that in common we share; And we want to live on, not because of ourselves, but because of the people who care. It's giving and doing for somebody else - on that all of life's splendor depends; And the joy in the world, when you've summed it all up, is found in the love of our friends.

Church Visits

When you visit a church, take a compass. When you arrive at a church look up to see a weather vane if there is one. This was for pilgrims who needed to know the direction and weather for their next walk. 

Walk around the outside of the building. You may see a covered lychgate some 40 paces from the church door. When the coffin arrived on the carriage, the coffin was removed here and placed on the shoulders of the pallbearers. Take a walk around the graveyard if there is one. In the past, Christians were buried with their feet to the East. On the last day, when Jesus comes in majesty, the Christians will stand to face the rising sun. Priests were buried with their feet to the West so that, when they stand, they will face their flock. The northern side of the church is a cold and dark spot where the unbaptised were often buried. Because of limited space, this is sometimes not possible. 

Shrines of France - A Visit

I left London with my travelling companion, Laura, firstly to visit the chapel and castle of St Mesmin. The traffic was congested so we continued on to the city of Orleans. This was an ancient town in 1424 when an illiterate girl, only 12 years old, saw visions and heard voices of the saints, Michael the archangel, Catherine of Antioch and Margaret. She also communed with the archangel Gabriel. Their voices inspired her to lead French armies in victory against the English during the Hundred Years War, restoring the crown to Charles VII. Shockingly, she was betrayed by the British, tried in court and burnt at the stake as a witch in 1431. We wondered why Michael and Margaret, both dragon slaying saints and therefore both related to leylines, were involved in Joan’s mission and we discovered strong leys in the area of Orleans. We visited the house in Donremy where Joan or Jean - the female form of John - was born and said mass in the thirteenth century church where she prayed. The original statue of St Margaret is there before which Joan prayed. It is a particularly powerful statue and myself and my colleague received an outpouring of love and strength, and we also received a message about the pointlessness and poisonousness of war, it's swings and roundabouts, and losses that last for generations. The energies in the forest where Joan received her first messages from the saints we’re still there to experience.  The spring - which in ancient times provided healing for those with fever and which the judge questioned her about during her trial - registers extraordinary energies. In the local town of Greux is a special shrine to St Margaret whose energies are very powerful.

Song for the Earth

 

Sharing this beautiful song for the Earth. You are welcome to share!

Peter Pan

 Who was Peter Pan? 

Peter had grandiose tendencies, and lack of care for others, showing a lack of empathy and understanding for other people. These traits make him a danger to himself and others. 

Wendy met him for the first time when he was sobbing on the nursery floor. He couldn’t attach his shadow and denied that he had been crying, soon persuading himself that he had never cried.

 Peter deals with emotional conflict by pleasing himself at all times. Everything is either all good or all bad and he does not recognise the grey areas of life. This is a defence mechanism.  On meeting Wendy, he declared that mothers are ‘very overrated’ and that he had not the slightest desire to have one, although his vulnerability was apparent. While denying his need for mother, he appears on a deep level to realise he and the lost boys (a group of male children who have fallen from their prams and ended up in Neverland), need some kind of nurturing relationship, one that traditionally a mother would provide. 

He manipulates Wendy by suggesting that girls are much too clever to fall out of their prams and that one girl is worth more than 20 boys! It is interesting to note that in making such comments he was appealing to her vanity, a trait that is strong in him. He persuades her to go to Neverland, a place where there are no responsible adults and the children run wild. 

Medicine & Spirituality Congress Review

I had the pleasure to attend the 2nd British Congress on Medicine and Spirituality and would like my readers to know about the conference.

Tim Wheater is a New Age musician and he delighted us with an enchanting opening to the conference.  The speakers came from many disciplines; psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, researchers, medical doctors and scientists. There were six from Brazil and three from the UK. The auditorium was filled with people from many nations, including Ireland, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden. Many Spiritists attended because the Brazilian speakers are all practicing Spiritists, a faith aligned to Spiritualism. Spiritism is highly popular in Brazil where there are many automatic writing mediums and inspirational speakers. They have entire hospitals that are based on Spiritism, a religion that accepts life after death and that spirits want to contact us. It is based on channelled answers to questions which were posed and codified by Allan Kardec, a French educator of the mid eighteen hundreds. These teachings explain where we come from, what the purpose is of our existence, and where we go after physical death. Also explained are other factors, such as spirit possession and how to protect the self against psychic attack.

Postbag: Questions and Answers

Dear Wendy How can I walk the path of a spiritual person? I have read lots of books and taken courses but still feel confused. Kris, Kent.

 

Dear Kris, Across the world, from ancient religions to the New Age, all believe that the adoption of spiritual values in your everyday life is the best way to walk a spiritual path. Generosity, honesty, humility, kindness and tranquillity are the basis, and to avoid jealousy, greed, egotism and manipulation, make the world a better place. This is all we need to do to be a spiritual person.

 

Dear Wendy,This may seem a strange question to ask someone connected with a spiritual magazine but can you honestly say with hand on heart that you believe we don’t die? Kate Brown, Lingford, Norfolk

Meditation

What does meditation do? Meditation strengthens our concentration and allows clearer thinking. It reduces stress and tensions, relieves frustration and anger. It lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. It helps us to realise our addictions and obsessions and helps us to relieve them. We can gain greater creativity. It helps us with understanding ourselves and develops greater resilience to illness. You will have more joy and appreciation. You will develop greater intimacy with others, more being the real you and less falseness and lack on congruency. 

How to: Find a quiet place, sit comfortably and close your eyes. Take some deep breaths, allow your breathing to return to normal, and relax your body. Choose a word or phrase that is especially personal and meaningful. Breathe through your nose and repeat the word or phrase. Continue for five minutes. 

Famous Superstitions - Part 1

The root of the word ‘superstition’ is Latin and means ‘to stand over in awe’. It relates to an irrational belief that defies a logical explanation. Many primitive beliefs date back a thousand years and more. They were originally created to try to overcome fear of the unknown and the loss of control over life and death events. Many people believed that the future was influenced by ordinary, everyday mistakes and that the future could be foretold by carefully watching simple actions of daily living. These odd ideas were deeply embedded in the minds of people across the globe. Many superstitions in North America were taken by early settlers from Britain and Ireland. Once a belief becomes part of the tradition of a country, it is almost impossible to remove it.

Homeless Dog Adoption

Canine rehoming centres are full of homeless dogs this winter. Many were very expensive to buy as puppies, the most fashionable breeds cost up to £2,000! 

These, once loved dogs, can end up homeless for many reasons; those who bought a dog during lockdown are now returning to work and are not at home for long hours all during the week, and the increase in the cost of living, so the high cost of some dogs can no longer be afforded. Big dogs cost more to keep than smaller dogs and this means that larger dogs wait longer to find an new owner. 

What to look for when adopting a dog from a rehoming centre: First, research the needs of the breed - most have special needs of some kind. Some breeds are not easy to train, some can never be let off the lead, some need huge amounts of exercise, some need visits to parlours for clipping, etc., some struggle in the heat, some shed hair and might cause allergies, some are guard dogs and bark a lot, maybe too much for neighbours, some need expensive vet treatment if they have genetic illnesses. The rehoming staff will be able to advise on these matters and on any emotional needs, such as a dog that is unhappy to be left for long periods alone, or feels anxious around other dogs. 

If - A Poem

 

Steve Hutton - An Interview

"I grew up near Leeds, West Yorkshire, enjoying a childhood that spanned the 1970s. Drawing was always important to me and from an early age. I wanted to be an illustrator, even before I knew what the work entailed. Art and illustration were the subjects I studied after I left school, culminating with a MA in 1998. My early commissions were illustrating reading schemes for Oxford University Press and that started a twenty year-long working relationship with primary schools across the UK, running workshops for pupils. Later, I wanted to develop my figure drawing skills, so I dedicated my spare time to creating my own fictional characters and magical world, and the narrative these inspired, snowballed into my first fantasy novel, "Raven's Wand", and from there, I produced a book series. These days, I split my time between writing and drawing, and when possible, getting out to walk the hills nearby.

A Channelled Message

 Around the time of the release of the Seth books by Jane Roberts, I had read that Hillary Clinton had, with Jean Houston and others, been channeling and this impressed me. However, there was no channeling training course in London that I could attend. I decided to try to channel alone then I decided to start a home group which I found much easier. After some time, I wrote a booklet for those in the group which then became a distance learning course.  My channeling work has been an amazing journey and I have met some remarkable people. The spirits that I have channeled have told me about the need for each individual to lead a life of responsibility, maturity, truth, justice, caring, tranquility and generosity - we have no quality of life here on the earth plane unless these values are practiced. My spirit guides have told me that, as the most intelligent life form on this planet, human beings must create a healthy future by reducing pollution of the air, soils and seas and care for the creatures that are powerless to survive without our assistance....

A channeled message that I received is below:

Channelled Messages

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle communicates through the trance medium, Aurora de la Bachelard

"Good day to you, as I come from across the Great Divide with this message.

As a young child, I had quandaries and there were many things I did not understand. When at school, I was introduced to the great religious mysteries, and, as a man at University, I learnt of the mysteries treatment for those of ill-health. I was especially interested in the uses of herbs, and experimented at length upon myself.  

You have been given a world of inspiring wonder that stimulates you to develop your intellect and communicate your findings with others. But do not accept immediately, at face value, all you are presented with, or even accept what others tell you, but search first hand, for yourself.

Your judgments should be based on your own powers of observation, examination, scrutiny, investigation, research, analysis, detection, deduction, interpretation, and diagnosis, and then the conclusion which eliminates and discards what is not of the most profound logic and reason.

Seek for answers to the most important questions of life. What is your purpose? You are on this plane for a few short years. How can you make the best of your time here?

Innocent people need protection as they always have. Innocence is a delight to God. Treasure and protect it and do not allow it to be marred or tarnished.

Search through for what is of highest relevance. Be mindful. Concentrate on one thing at a time.

The Temple! Of course there will be wonderful mysteries there to uncover.

I leave you with this emblem (drawing of a bee)

in faith

Arthur Doyle

(Aurora de la Bachelard was a pseudonym for channelling mediumship of Wendy Stokes)

Lions Led by Donkeys

WWI

The last soldiers went over the top at 4:20 am on the 11th of November 1918. The armistice was signed at 5 am in a railway carriage in the forest of companion in France. Then, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns of Europe fell silent. The great war was over. On that morning alone there were 10,944 casualties and 2,738 deaths on the Western Front. The following year, King George V issued a proclamation which called for two minute silence. “All locomotion should cease so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on the referent remembrance of the glorious dead.” Each year since then at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month the two minute silence is observed by the Royal British Legion and in Commonwealth countries remembering the end of the First World War. A million from Britain, 6 million worldwide. 

Pals battalions were recruited in World War I so men could fight alongside their friends, work colleagues and neighbours. The impact of heavy losses from these battalions can still be seen on memorials in workplaces and schools today. Whole communities lost their sons and fathers.

Channelled Messages

If the great philosophers, spiritual teachers and wisdom keepers of the past could speak, what would they say?

Many wise spirits want to contact channelling mediums. They are waiting patiently for us to move our attention within to the place where the ‘still small voice’ can be heard, and where the wise words of Spirit can provide advice, counsel and support.