GENUINE MEDIUMSHIP /PART 6
PART VI
MEDIUMSHIP
Among the higher
categories of Nature's Finer Forces is included that which is popularly known
as "mediumship." Although this term has suffered more or less by reason
of its misappropriation by certain charlatans and the unprincipled exploiters
of sincere investigators of the phenomena of the higher planes of existence,
and also by reason of a certain prejudice against the term arising from
misrepresentation and general misunderstanding, the term still remains a
perfectly legitimate one and one clearly indicating the nature of the general
class of phenomena sought to be embraced within its limits. Therefore there is
no valid reason for its rejection in our consideration of the subject of
Nature's Finer Forces in this book; and, accordingly, it is used here in a
general way, although the more scientific term "higher plane
communication," or similar terms, are employed herein in some cases.
What Is Mediumship?
Let us see just what
is meant by the term "mediumship." The term "medium" is
defined as: "That which lies in the middle, or between other things:
hence, that through which anything is conveyed from one thing to another."
In a special sense, a "medium" is "a person serving as the
channel of communication between decarnate entities and human being still in
the flesh," in "spiritualistic phenomena." The suffix
"ship," of course, denotes state or office; and in the case of
"mediumship" it indicates that the designated person possesses the
state or office of a "medium," the latter term being used in the
special meaning above defined.
Of course, the term
"mediumship," as above defined, lacks a clear meaning unless the term
"spiritualistic," or "spiritualism" be defined. The term
"spiritualism" (or as many of the best authorities prefer to state
it, "spiritism") is applied to "a system of communication with
the unseen world, or with the inhabitants thereof, the latter being usually
known as 'spirits,' through persons called 'mediums,' which has attained
popular favor in Europe and America since about 1850." Or, as another
authority states it, "Spiritualism is a term employed to indicate the
belief that departed spirits hold intercourse with mortals by means of
psychical phenomena, commonly through a person of special susceptibility called
a 'medium.'"
Ancient Mediumship.
It is, of course,
unnecessary to state in detail the fact that communication with decarnate
entities has been known and practiced by the human race from the earliest days
of recorded history, and probably long before that time, and is far from being
a modern discovery. Moreover, such communication has been known and practiced
by races of human beings other than those inhabiting Europe and America—particularly
in the oriental countries. In the oriental lands such communication has been
well established for many thousand years, and the most ancient records give
evidences of it. The Hebrew Scriptures contain many instances of such
communication, showing that the same was an accepted fact of the life of the
race at the time and in the places at which these records were written.
Mediumship and Religious Belief.
The careful student
will of course notice that this communication with the higher planes of life
and being—this so-called "mediumship"—does not depend upon any
particular form of religious belief, or teaching, concerning the nature of the
state or place of abode of the departed spirits of men; but, on the contrary,
is common to all form of religion and to all phases of belief in the survival
of the human soul. Therefore, a scientific consideration of the general subject
does not necessitate the acceptance of any one particular phase of religious
belief, or of any particular system of teaching concerning the nature or state
of "life after death." All that is required of the person accepting
the general fact of "higher plane communication" may be stated as
follows: (1) Acceptance of the fact that the human soul persists after the
death of the body, and independent of and removed from the dead body; (2)
acceptance of the fact that the decarnate souls of human beings may, and do,
establish communication with human beings still dwelling upon the earth-plane
of existence.
We may state here
that the term "decarnate" means "away from the physical
body," or "out of the flesh;" the term being the opposite of
"incarnate," meaning "clothed with flesh, or embodied in
flesh." We may also state here that the teachings of most philosophies of
the life after death hold that the decarnate human soul is not entirely devoid
of a body, but rather occupies a body composed of some ethereal substance; this
ethereal body being called the "astral body," or the "spiritual
body."
The Ideals of Modern Spiritualism.
A writer well
expresses the ideals of modern western spiritualism as follows: "Through
the gateway of mediumship for upwards of fifty years the world has been
catching glimpses of the glory of the land immortal, and visitants from that
'bourne' from whence it has been erroneously said that 'no traveler returns'
have made their presence known beyond all doubt or denial, thus proving the
continued conscious existence of human beings and the sequential chapter of the
life hereafter. Though the messages from the unseen have at times been
imperfect and fragmentary, still they have been messages. If but
telegraphic dispatches, so to speak, instead of voluminous letters; or like
telephonic snatches of conversation rather than face-to-face outpourings of
thought and feeling, still they have been greetings and comforting assurances
of undying affection from the people living in the land 'beyond the veil.'
Although many a sorrowing soul has longed for further revelation, and regretted
the inability of the spirits to comply with the requests for fuller
information, still the gates have been ajar, and sometimes it has truly seemed
as though they had been flung wide open—so clear and consoling were the
messages from the loved ones on the other side of death's valley of shadow. The
manifestations of the presence of spirits and the evidences of their identity,
which have been accumulating during all these years, have solved the 'great
secret,' and we know that death is not a cul-de-sac, but a
thoroughfare. The dread of death disappeared altogether with the mists of
ignorance, as, through the gateway of mediumship, the shining presence of
ministering spirits, 'our very own dear departed,' illumined the pathway which
we must all tread to our great promotion.
Immortality Demonstrated Through Mediumship.
"'Immortality
demonstrated through mediumship' should be inscribed upon the banner of
spiritualism, for the fact of life beyond the incident of death has been proved
beyond all peradventure to millions of intelligent and enlightened people since
the new spiritual era was inaugurated. To mediums—the modern
mediators—therefore belong the office and honor of rolling back the stone from
the tomb and establishing faith upon the firm basis of knowledge
(scientifically ascertained and proven) of the continued intelligent existence
in the spiritual realms of those who went forth through the death change into
light and liberty 'over there.' Mediums, as intermediaries, have enabled spirit
people to comfort the sad and encourage the weak; to relieve the doubter and
console the bereaved; to confirm the old-world traditions regarding bygone
spirit intervention and revelation, and supplement our hopes and intuitions
with proof palpable. Present day experiences of inspiration and spirit
manifestation make credible and acceptable many things in ancient records which
must otherwise have been discarded as superstitious and false. Spiritualism
redeems the so-called 'supernatural' and 'miraculous' occurrences of the Bible,
by explaining them and proving the naturalness. The capability claimed for
old-time seers and prophets to see angels and hear voices is now known to be a
natural faculty, which, in certain people, is perfectly normal while it can be
induced in others by the influence of operators in or out of the body. It
can also be cultivated to some degree by most people who care to study the
necessary conditions for its development and exercise. The famine,
'not of bread, nor of water, but of hearing words from the Lord,' and the loss
of 'open vision' of the spirit, which afflicted Christendom for so many years
(because of the blind intolerance of zealots who, in their adherence to the
'letter,' crushed out the sensitives through whom the 'spirit' might have been
revealed), that famine is rapidly passing away, and we are being fed with the
living bread of spiritual inspiration, and are growing strong enough to welcome
the messengers who come to us through the gateway of mediumship from their
after-death home.
The Truth of Personal Survival.
"When once there
is established the conviction of the truth of personal survival of our loved
ones, and the actual and satisfactory demonstrations thereof through mediumship
(and we know of no means whereby such evidences can be obtained save through
mediumship), we are thrilled and delighted; and when this conviction is
borne upon us and driven home by the evidences, and the truth of spirit
ministry has been realized, nothing can destroy it. The spiritualist stands
upon firm ground—the impregnable rock of ascertained fact. He knows that
intercourse between the two worlds is real, continuous; therefore he is proof
against all speculations, denunciations, and adverse theories. Dogmatic
condemnations, 'bogey' cries, charges of fraud against mediums, fail to move or
frighten him. He can 'speak what he knows and testify to what he has seen;' his
positive and affirmative experience and testimony outweigh all the opposition
of 'doubting Thomases' who do not know.
The Gateway of Mediumship.
"Through the
gateway of mediumship the spirits make themselves known in a variety of ways.
There are many phases of mediumistic phenomena, and the student will find that
he must be patient, painstaking, and persevering if he would make sure of his
facts. Careful investigation, possibly prolonged research, under many
difficulties and with many discouragements, will be required, but 'success is
certain if energy fail not,' and the results will adequately recompense him for
all sacrifice and struggle! For in the light of the demonstrated fact of
continued existence after death, it is clear that man is even now 'a spirit
served by organs'—that consequently the basis of all religious experience and
affirmation is the spiritual consciousness of mankind. There could be no
revelation to man of spiritual truth or moral duty if he were not a spirit
possessing the capabilities of receiving and comprehending, of interpreting and
applying, the revelations and inspirations which appeal to and quicken the
inner (and higher) self."
The Mediumistic Character.
The following
quotations from eminent modern spiritualists will further serve to illustrate
the accepted general principles of "spirit communication" on the part
of western spiritualism. E. W. Wallis says: "Spiritualism deals with a
higher range and a wider field of supersensuous phenomena than mesmerism,
hypnotism, telepathic psychometry, clairvoyance, etc., because the natural
susceptibility of man in these directions is increased and intensified, and
exercised upon a superior plane, when it is utilized by intelligent spirit
operators. It is not true that sensitiveness is confined to those who are
diseased, weak of will, neurotic, or hysterical. Those who are susceptible to
psychic influence may be impulsive, warm-hearted, spontaneous, sociable, and
not by any means, or of necessity, weak-minded or vicious." Dr. Dean Clake
says: "The word mediumship, as understood and used by spiritualists,
technically speaking, means a susceptibility to the influence, and more or less
control, of decarnated spirits. Physiologically, it means a peculiar nervous
susceptibility to what may be termed the 'psychic force,' which spirits use to
move the mind or body or both, of their mortal instrument. Psychologically, it
signifies a passive or negative state of mind and body which renders a person
subject to the positive will-power of spirits who influence him or her."
The spirit control who employed the hand of Stainton Moses, M.A., to write his
thoughts, said: "The mediumistic peculiarity is one of spirit solely,
and not of body, seeing that it occurs in all varieties of physical frames, in
the male and in the female; in the magnetic and in the electric; in the stout
and robust as well as in the puny and thin of body; in the old and in the
young; in all conditions and under all circumstances. This alone would lead you
to see that it is not a physical matter; and that conclusion is strengthened
for you by the fact that the gift is perpetuated even after death of the earth
body. Those who on your earth have been mediums retain the gift and use it with
us. They are the most frequent visitors to your world; they communicate most
readily; and it is through them that spirits who have not the gift are enabled
to communicate with your earth."
Mediumistic Sensitivity.
Emma Hardinge Britten
said: "Whatever that force may be which constitutes the difference between
a 'medium' and a non-medium, it is certainly of a mental and magnetic
character—that is, a combination of the subtle elements of mind and magnetism,
and therefore of a psychological and not of a purely physical character. Whilst
the spiritualists of this generation have had no one to teach them either what
spiritual gifts are, or how to use, or how to abuse them, experience has shown
that the conditions under which spiritual phenomena are produced through
mediums are not only helped or hindered by their mental states, but also by the
will, magnetism, and mental states of those who surround them." E. W.
Wallis says: "The same laws govern the relations between the sensitive and
the spirit operator as between the hypnotist and his subject. Therefore,
mediumship is not necessarily spiritual; it may be of all kinds; there may be
psychical relationship of a high grade and of a low one. There may be messages
from beyond that prove the identity of spirits, and give evidence of the
continuity of life, of the survival of mind, and yet they may not minister to
spiritual growth, nor awaken any exalted desire to be of service to God and
man. There may be psychical sympathy and not spiritual fellowship; there may be
spirit intercourse and not that sweet spiritual communion which should be the
goal of all who seek for evidences of life beyond the valley of death. It is no
longer possible to regard mediumship as a supernatural endowment. It is, as
regards the psychic susceptibility upon which it depends, the common property
of the race, and is therefore as natural as are the 'gifts' of song or oratory,
or the ability to paint or construct. But as certain gifts and graces are more
developed in some individuals than in others, in like manner the sensitiveness
which is called mediumship is more highly developed (or is capable of such
development) in certain peculiarly constituted persons who may be regarded as
supernormally gifted, yet as naturally so as are geniuses in other
directions."
The Higher Vibratory Forces.
The student who has
carefully read what we have said in the earlier portions of the present book
regarding the subject of Nature's Finer Forces, and those concerned with
"vibrations," and "planes of being," will be able to
harmonize the apparently somewhat conflicting opinions of those authorities
above quoted concerning the nature of mediumship and spirit communication.
In the first place, the student will remember that there exist planes of being
higher and other than our own earth-plane, and that the rate of normal
vibration on such planes is much higher than are those upon our own
earth-plane. In the second place, he will remember that beings dwelling and
manifesting on these higher planes are able to communicate only by means of
their higher vibratory rate of manifestation. And, in the third place, he will
remember that a person dwelling on the earth-plane will not ordinarily register
and interpret these higher vibrations of communication; and that it is necessary
for such a person to have originally, or else have developed, the capacity to
raise his or her own vibrations to the key necessary to "catch" these
higher vibrations. In short, we have here once more another instance of that
"attunement" between sender and receiver the most common instance of
which is the wireless telegraph.
Psychic Attunement.
The entity, or
spirit, dwelling on one of the many higher planes of being who wishes to
communicate with persons on earth through a medium, must first select some
person capable of raising his or her own vibratory rate of consciousness to
become "in tune" with that of the spirit himself. Then he must learn
to project his own mental vibrations with sufficient intensity and force to be
"caught" by the sensitive perceptive organism of the medium. These
things are beyond the understanding and accomplishment of many decarnate
spirits, and unless they are taught by some one on their own plane of existence
they are likely to fail in their attempts to communicate through a medium
on the earth-plane. But at the present time, in view of the great interest
being manifested "over there" in the communication with the
earth-plane, an earnest, persevering spirit will usually have comparatively
little difficulty in finding a proper instructor, and in acquiring the art of
"earth-plane communication," as it is called on the spirit plane.
The Development of Mediumship.
As regards the
acquirement of mediumship qualities, information and scientific instruction is
much needed, particularly at the present time. In this book we shall endeavor
to throw much light upon this particular matter, and to give such instruction
and information in a plain, practical form. We may begin by reminding the
candidate for mediumship that the methods of development of mediumship are
entirely different from those designed to develop ordinary psychic powers. In
the case of development for ordinary psychic power, the person must acquire the
power of concentration in the direction of sensing in his inner consciousness
the impressions coming to him from the outside world, such impressions not
being consciously directed to him. He must be able to so concentrate that he
will be keenly sensitive to these impressions, and to interpret them intelligently.
On the contrary, the person wishing to develop the power of mediumship must
learn to develop the power of negative receptivity to the vibrations coming
from the spirit planes. As has well been said, he is the acted upon, and not
the actor. While he requires concentration, patience, and perseverance in
developing the power to raise himself to the proper vibratory key, when the
actual work of communication begins he must passively allow himself to speak
and act, more or less unconsciously, under the guidance, direction, and control
of the communicating spirit.
Unconscious Mediumship.
The student will do
well, however, to remember that as a popular writer has said: "It must
not, however, be supposed that spirit influence is limited to, and exerted solely
upon, those who are known to be mediums; or that the spirits do not assist
those who use their own psychic faculties. It is probable that all people who
are psychically sensitive and open to impressions are indebted to spirit
helpers, whether they are conscious of the fact or not. There is undoubtedly a
greater degree of influx from the spirit side than even spiritualists are
aware. Many persons are indebted to spirit friends for spontaneous impulses,
which, while those persons act upon them and reap the consequences, they can
neither explain nor trace to their source. Spirits frequently associate with
and serve their earth friends, although the recipients of their benefactions
are unaware of the fact. There would be very much more of this kind of guidance
from the unseen, if, instead of being frightened, or repellant in their mental
attitude toward the spirits, the great bulk of people were prepared to accept
such assistance from the other side as perfectly natural and to be
expected."
Mediumship and Individuality.
The student will find
it desirable to acquaint himself with the best opinions concerning the possible
or probable effects of the practice of mediumistic powers upon the medium
himself. There is evidenced a disposition in certain quarters to hold to the
idea that mediumship, or control by spirits, is more or less injurious,
mentally or physically or both, to the medium. It is also frequently asserted
that the medium tends to lose his individuality and personal strength of
character. Again, there are some who would teach that the medium should be of a
low order of intelligence, and should beware of exercising his intellect, the
idea seeming to be that under these conditions the mental path will be freer
and clearer for the spirit control. All of the aforesaid notions are erroneous,
as will appear as we progress in the statements in this book concerning true
and efficient mediumship.
Co-operation of Medium and Spirits.
The medium who
observes certain simple and plain rules and habits of conduct will not suffer
any loss of strength of character or individuality from his exercise of his
mediumistic power; on the contrary, an intelligent exercise of the power of
mediumship often tends to develop the intellectual power of the medium. As to
the idea that the medium must be ignorant, we have but to call your attention
to the fact that many of the most efficient mediums are intelligent, and even
brilliant individuals. As a writer has said: "There may be some mediums
who are ignoramuses, but it is doubtful if there will be any great degree of
intelligence or great spiritual illumination presented through their agency. It
is possible that some mediums act foolishly when in their normal state, for the
purpose of accentuating the difference between their ordinary and supernormal
conditions of mental activity; but there is a more rational, intelligent, and,
indeed, a more spiritual conception of the relations which should exist between
mediums and their spirit guides, which is rapidly finding favor with thoughtful
mediums and spiritualists alike. The proper method of communing with the
spirits of the unseen realm is conducive to good, and not evil, to the medium.
The co-operative association of medium and spirit on the plane of thought and
purpose, emotion and motive, ethics and inspiration, results in the education
and elevation of the medium."
Mediumship Not Dangerous.
The following
additional quotations from spiritualistic writers on this point, serve to throw
important light on this subject. J. J. Morse says: "Andrew Jackson Davis,
Hudson Tuttle, and other writers, if I correctly understand them, claim that
mediumship is a constitutional condition, and depends upon nervous adaptation,
i.e., 'sensitiveness' and the quickening of the subjective (psychical) faculties;
and, personally, my own firm conviction is that there is nothing dangerous in
mediumship. The mere dabbling in mediumship, as either the means of a new
sensation, or for the gratification of personal vanity, is to be thoroughly
deprecated, as a perversion of some of the most wonderful possibilities of our
natures; while the prosecution of mediumship, or anything else, to the
detriment of mind, nerves, or health, in any direction, is a sin against
oneself, and will inevitably call down the resultant penalties of physical and
mental deterioration. I have many times advised inquirers who wished to know
how to develop mediumship, unless they desired to do so for serious use, and
within proper limits, not to seek its development at all. And in cases where I
could see it would prove personally detrimental, I have strongly advised the
inquirer to let the matter entirely alone."
Wallis says:
"Very much depends upon the objects entertained by the medium and the
sitters, as also upon the character and intentions of the spirit who seeks to
manifest his presence; but, on general lines, where people of average
intelligence and rectitude seek communion with those they have known and
esteemed, or loved, the results are almost invariably beneficial. There is
every reason why this should be so if the common-sense precautions are observed
of keeping a level head, exercising patience, exhibiting unselfishness and
sincerity, and desiring good spiritual counsel and fellowship."
A. Morton says:
"Elevated spirits do not require mediums to surrender their reason; on the
contrary, they advise that every new thought should be tested in the crucible
of reason, and that it be rejected if not in accordance therewith; but the
control of domineering spirits, claiming the name of celebrities, who present
unreasonable theories, and in a dictatorial 'thus saith the spirit' manner,
demanding unquestioning compliance with their commands, must be rejected by all
mediums as debasing and inconsistent with self respect. Any associations or
concessions which have a tendency to lower the spiritual standard must be
carefully avoided, for there is no growth in any relations which can only
be maintained by the sacrifice of self-respect and self-justice."
Rational Mediumship.
Wallis says:
"The rational course for mediums and inquirers to follow is assuredly that
of avoiding the extremes alike of credulity and sceptical incredulity, by
letting the spirits do their best and then collating the facts observed and
drawing conclusions. Care, patience, and perseverance will save both mediums
and inquirers from many misconceptions and enable them to avoid the errors of
others. Above all, mediums should observe their own feelings, study their own
experiences, try to understand and co-operate with the spirits, but never yield
servile or slavish service, nor permit themselves to be swayed by flattery nor
dominated by any spirit (in the circle or on the spirit side) who claims
obedience, poses as an 'authority,' or refuses to recognize the rights of
others. No medium should remain ignorant, or refrain from giving effect to his
(or her) natural desire for knowledge and self-improvement under the erroneous
idea that he does not need to think, study, or learn, because he is a medium;
and that the spirits will provide and teach through him all that is required.
On the other hand, while thoughtfully observant of favorable conditions, and
intelligent in self-study and culture, the medium should avoid 'getting up'
certain subjects, or thinking along certain lines with the purpose and
expectation that such information will be employed while under control. Such
action, proceeding from a wrong motive, cannot fail to injure the psychic
relations between the spirit and the medium, and will render the work of
control doubly hard, because such thoughts will have to be cleared away before
those of the spirit can be transferred to, and have free course through, the
medium."
The "Home Circle."
Mediums are born or
made. That is to say, many persons are born with the gift of mediumship, while
others, lacking this natural power, are able to develop the power by practice
and gradual unfoldment. Some of the world's best mediums have been developed,
while others in the same class have been born with the gift. At the same time,
it must be remembered that there is a wide range of power existing between
different individual mediums of both of these classes. In the opinion of the
present writer, perhaps the very best way of developing mediumistic powers is
that of actually participating in "circle work." The wonderful
results of earlier spiritualism in America and in Europe were undoubtedly due
to the casual and general practice of holding "home circles." These
home circles were the nursery of some of the world's greatest mediums. Here the
born medium was made aware of his or her natural powers; and, likewise, here
others were enabled to gradually unfold and develop their latent mediumistic
power.
The Cure for Fraudulent Mediumship.
At the present time
we have too few mediums, and this fact is attributable largely to the gradual
discontinuance of the home circles. Present time folks are too fond of having
everything worked out and presented to them, and they flock to the
sensational public demonstrations, some of which are undoubtedly
"faked" in order to meet the public demand for sensational features;
and at the same time the honest, careful, conscientious mediums are often
overlooked, and the home circles almost unknown. Many so-called investigators
of spiritualism are feverishly anxious to "see something," and are
impatient and the comparatively slow order of developments at the home circle
or at the careful mediumistic circles. Many earnest spiritualists lament the
present tendency, and predict that in time there will be an almost complete
dearth of honest, careful mediums, owing to the demand for "quick
action" and the temptation to furnish fraudulent counterfeits of the
genuine phenomena resulting from this feverish public demand.
Warning to Young Mediums.
Wallis says
concerning this point: "After a time, as the development progresses, the
medium and his spirit friends may be strong enough to undertake public work
without the assistance and protection of a circle, in the same manner as did D.
Home, Slade, Eglinton, and other noted public mediums; but they should be in no
hurry about doing so, and they need to be very self-possessed and level-headed
to hold their own against the 'phenomena hunters' on the one side (who sap the
very life of the sensitive), and the know-all, conceited sceptics on the other side
(who freeze up all the psychic conditions), and before whom it is worse than
foolish to cast these pearls of great price.
"The lot of the
public 'physical,' 'test,' and 'clairvoyant' medium is not to be envied or
lightly chosen. Such sensitives frequently suffer a martyrdom that none
but sensitives can realize. What with foolish flatterers; the sitters who are
never content, but cry 'give, give, give;' the injudicious friends, who seeing
the exhaustion of the worn-out mediums, in mistaken sympathy urge them to take
stimulants (instead of securing them rest and change of surroundings), they
have a hard road to travel, and our sincerest sympathy goes out to them all. We
plead for them. We bespeak kindly and human consideration. Too frequently they
are tried and condemned unheard. They are expected to prove that they are not frauds,
instead of, as in other cases, being accepted as reputable people. So much has
this been the case that some mediums of unquestioned power have retired into
private life and business pursuits, where they meet with the respect and
recognition which were denied them while they were public workers in the ranks
of spiritualism.
"Let us not be
misunderstood. In saying this we are not apologizing for, or palliating fraud
or wrong doing, but merely asking for fair and considerate treatment—not hasty,
unreasoning condemnation. While it is true that mediumship has many
compensations, and the medium who takes pleasure in his work has many pleasant
experiences, it is also true that the professional medium is too frequently
subjected to treatment which makes his task more difficult and thankless than
it need be. The kindly and appreciative treatment which he receives from some
sitters is a welcome stimulus, and affords good conditions for the spirits, who
are thus enabled to operate to the best advantage."
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