(A Discussion given circa March 1957 to the General Spiritual Church congregation from Reverend Delores of Chicago)
(A Guide To Mediumship)
When wisely cultivated and rightly used, mediumship seldom has any ill effects. It tends towards the harmonizing of the individual both physically and morally. With pure aspirations and a reasonable amount of common sense, a medium - even of only moderate power - may maintain his health, refine and expand his intellect, and become a substantial helper to his fellows.
A mediumship, to be healthy, must be progressive. There is no standing still for maintaining the integrity of either spiritual or physical powers. There appears to be no limit to the individual development of the earnest and intelligent medium.
The power on the spirit side is practically unlimited. All that is required is an instrument sufficiently perfect to express it.
(Spiritual Science & Religion)
Spiritual science prompts us to make the best use of this life, and impels us to the attainment of the power to recognize and realize the beauty and divinity of our own being - of life, here.
A spiritualist is first of all, one who has proven for himself, or has accepted as proven on adequate evidence, the fact that death does not kill the spirit. When a man becomes assured that he will live after his probation here, he naturally seeks to know where and how, and equally naturally, he seeks his information from those who, having passed to that state, are qualified to give it. He finds that there is a broad agreement as to the essential points which most concern him, and he has arrived at the conclusion that belief is little and life and conduct is much. He learns that his character is his own production as it is his own property, and that each act of his daily life is a factor in its evolution. When the probation of the earth life is over, he goes to the place that he has prepared for himself.
(Rational Course in Mediumship)
A medium should observe himself, his own feelings and study his experiences. He should try to understand and cooperate with the spirits but never yield servile or slavish service, nor permit to be swayed by flattery, nor be dominated by either spirits in a circle or as an individual.
Spirit friends respond most easily to a spiritual frame of mind, and it is when the sympathetic spiritual relationship can be established that they are able to make the most successful demonstrations of their power. Spiritual association depends largely upon the law and power of love - the unselfish spiritual emotion which prompts one to give. True love of the soul knows no reservations. It gives itself unhesitatingly and with complete faith.
If we open the doors to communicate with the unseen we must remember to expect all sorts and conditions of spirits to press forward to reach us. Both should be tested by reason and common sense, and accepted or rejected accordingly.
(The Duty of Spiritualists)
It is the sacred duty of believers in spirit communion and angelic ministrations to protect and assist, counsel and encourage conscientious and earnest mediums, and so, save them from the disgrace of being classed with unscrupulous pretenders.
(Responsibility of Mediums)
It is important that mediums should recognize that they must share the responsibility for their utterances, and not seek to evade it by blaming the spirits. A medium who continues to attract low influences should not be countenanced or sustained by decent people, nor be permitted to practice as a teacher of truth. It is within the power of mediums to attract a class of controls who will protect them from low spirits.
Cultivate faith in the angels, and make your aspirations for the good and the true wall of protection from all evil. The delight of doing good, of helping others, of lifting the load of care, of ministering to the mind diseased, of wiping tears from the mourners eyes and making life worth living, because there is no death is a perpetual joy. Surely, difficulties and danger are worth facing and overcoming in service of humanity and the angels, and for the good cause of truth.
(A General Observation)
It is generally affirmed that Indians are natural spiritualists, and are experienced in controlling. When they reach the other side, they are able to exact a more powerful influence upon mediums than the spirit friends and relatives of the sitters can do. Indians lived a more physically natural life, with fewer strains and drains upon their psychic and vital forces than Europeans are compelled to endure, and are therefor more magnetically positive. They also have less to unlearn, and are more apt to adjust themselves to new environments.
Many Indian spirits become true and faithful friends. They act as protectors and door keepers. They do the hard work of development in a circle. They prevent the intrusion of undesirable spirits. They generally possess strong healing power, and frequently put their mediums through a course of calisthenics exercises.
(Semi-consciousness)
In a state of semi-consciousness, the influence will stimulate your breathing. It will become rapid and irregular. Your eyes will close and you will be unable to open them. Your hands and body may twitch and jerk as if you were being subjected to a series of galvanic shocks.
Sitters should keep calm and sympathetic, but they should check any tendency on your part to undue noise, or violence or absurdity. You will be aware of what you are doing, but unable to exercise the will to interfere or try to stop.
You will most likely become conscious of an impulse to do something, or to blurt out certain words. If you resist it will only make the task more difficult and hinder the attainment of the end you have in view. Your best course is to hold your judgment in suspension. Do not be hostile or critical, but act out your impressions. Let influence have its course. Say what you feel you must say and never mind about your own state of consciousness. You will be much more likely to pass into the unconsciousness of trance (if you desire to do so). If you can say, "Now, spirit friend, I trust myself to you and will yield my body and brain to your control, for you to do the best you can, with and through me, I am willing to cooperate with you for the time being, and trust you to do your utmost for the good of others."
It is not necessary that you should be entirely unconscious, although you may think it is, to prove that another intelligence is operating upon and through you.
(For Cultivation of Clairvoyance)
Take a clean glass tumbler. Fill it with clean water and place it upon a stand or table over which a plain dark cloth has been spread, in such a position that it will not reflect any of the surrounding objects. Also protect the glass from the direct rays of light. Then seat yourself so that you can gaze easily upon the glass or down into the water. Now look steadily at it - not to strain your eyes, but with sufficient intensity to fix your attention. Mentally, ask the spirits to show you something or to reveal themselves. About a quarter of an hour, at first, is sufficient. The time may be lengthened as you become accustomed to the effects of the effort. If after a dozen settings, you do not perceive figures, symbols, faces, or writing appearing in the water, it will be well to discontinue. But if you are rewarded with some degree of success, you will no doubt, feel inclined to persevere.
(Clairaudience)
The great requisites for development of this phase of mediumship are attention, concentration, desire, listening, response. The inward hearing can be cultivated by training of oneself to be on the alert to catch the echoes from the spheres. We are frequently absent minded and do not realize what is being said around us. We are too often inattentive to the sights and sounds as we go through life - even upon the ordinary plane. And there need be no wonder that we are blind and deaf to our spirit surroundings.
Spiritual associations arouse and quicken dormant sensitiveness, and indeed, some mediums are only clairaudiant while the spirit people assist or control them.
(To Cultivate Psychometry)
One must self study, experiment and cultivate. Every seer has his qualifications and his limitations. It is well and wise for each to discover what he can do, what sphere he can best occupy and endeavor to feel it.
Present; Past; and Prophetical - the reader should not be antagonistic nor frivolous. Neither should he desire special information, nor concentrate his thought forces upon any given point. Otherwise, he may dominate the sensitive, and by suggestion, mislead him or only receive a reflex of his hopes or fears. He will do well to preserve an open mind, and an impartial but sympathetic attitude, and await results.
It is unwise to interrupt, explain or question during the time that a delineation is being given. It will disturb the psychic sphere and thought projections, acting like the breeze upon the surface of a lake, producing confused and distorted appearances.
Do not ask questions, once on the trail. Follow it. State definitely what comes to you or what you think comes to you. Go right through to the end, then ask if you are right.
When you receive a letter from a person, remove envelope, and without reading it, take it in your hands or place it to your forehead, and center your thoughts upon the writer. Whatever your sensation is, mention all of them. They may come as a flash or they may only come piecemeal. You may have to speak of one thing before receiving another.
(Other Considerations)
"Fear hath torments, and the dread of the unknown is a sign of weakness born of ignorance."
"Patience and perseverance will save both mediums and inquirerers from many misconceptions and enable them to avoid the errors of others."
"Where self is forgotten, love and goodness are supreme."
"A sound body is needed through which a sound mind may operate. And physical cleanliness, equally as much a moral purity, is next to godliness."
(Concerns)
When it is evident that a sensitive is under the influence of a spirit who cannot or will not withdraw from the association, there are three courses open to them for treatment.
1st: Try to ascertain who the spirit is, what he wishes to do, and why he persists in exercising his control over the medium. Talk to him kindly. Help him. Reason with him. Pray for and with him. Carry out his wishes as far as they are reasonable and enlighten him to the best of your ability.
2nd: Invoke the assistance of strong, helpful, healing spirits, and call in a healer who is also a clairvoyant, or a medium who possesses the power to deal with undeveloped spirits. Build up the physical strength and the psychic nature of the sensitive and encourage him to resist and break the (spell) that has been thrown over him.
3rd: This is the most important course. The medium must, by determined and persistent effort of will and spiritual aspiration, learn how to be confident and possess himself and refuse to be held in psychological captivity by, or be made the sport and plaything of unseen beings. He should not surrender to the idea that he is obsessed or discuss the subjects too freely with others and should not seek the sympathy and condolences of his friends.
He should not go to "this", "that" or "the other" person for advice and cure. The power is within himself to overcome. "I can and I will be free!" should be the affirmation, strongly felt and boldly proclaimed, and then he will speedily say, "I am free!" and know it is true.
Keep body and mind pure and healthy and control your thoughts. Fear makes cowards of us all - The remedy is knowledge and pure purpose.
(Practicing the Art of Concentration)
By introspection, retire into oneself and become so preoccupied on the inner plane of your consciousness as to be entirely oblivious to external surroundings. By this process of self-abstraction the outer senses are overcome and all the energies are centered upon the soul, which becomes intensely conscious and sensitive, and its powers of intuitive perception are liberated and psychical experiences of a rich and varied character may be enjoyed. Such delights are the rewards for fidelity and purity and service and cannot be expected to be enjoyed continuously. They should act as stimulants.
While we are on "this side", we must not expect to be able to take the kingdom of heaven by force. We must keep in touch with the world and maintain our equilibrium.