HARMLESS CRACKPOT? OR SHOULD WE WORRY?

The article below is from the Daily Mail and not the usual articles I sometimes post on here, but I am in the business of Holistic Medicine and Psychic Mediumship so under that umbrella comes beliefs. 

Now I had thought I had heard the last of this guy, David Icke in the UK years ago when he was prevalent, we just laughed and thought he was a harmless crackpot, obvious to all that he just wasn't right and who would believe him, but this headline in the Daily Mail caught my eye, "America now falling at his feet". Frankly I was flabbergasted.

He pokes fun or is it fun? nope I think he's deadly serious, at our Royal Family claiming she is half Lizard and part of an alien sect. He also claims this of the US president Obama, now I know there may be a percentage of Americans who dislike president Obama, each to there own but to find he has sell out tours of the US where Americans are hanging on to his every word is worrying. He even claims the highest ranking UK Clergy had the mark of Satan on his robes and they lap it up.

Why are people, well especially Americans listening to this twaddle? and worrying they are supporting him? My theory is they need something to believe in. Man from time immemorial had a need to worship something, so you will find this common thread throughout all civilizations. Sadly many are disillusioned with present day religions, which have lost the impetus of sticking to the real purpose of religion, which is to care for others and treat others as they themselves wish, present day religions seem to have developed more in the way of power and control, and people have been searching for something different. David Icke is somewhat a manipulator at using those gullible searching people, he refers to such terms as "U.S. government weapons, the satanic paedophile politicians leeching ‘energy’ from children" and there are many especially in the US who are  susceptible to conspiracy theories, Icke plays on this. As far as I can see he is no different from any other organisation who tries to manipulate people with power and control. Sadly these gullible people in my opinion should look internally at themselves to their own soul and conscious.

No matter what religion you believe in take it back to grass roots, we should care for our fellow man as we would expect ourselves to be treated. Love is unconditional, it does not judge others. OK you may say I am judging him, well hes free to choose what to believe in and if he wants to believe HM the Queen and President Obama are half lizard half alien, who want to take over the world let him. But he should not be trying to convert others to his beliefs, that is a dangerous precedence. I would have more respect for him if he were to talk about Universal Love for mankind, instead he claims to be the son of God and the next Messiah.

The second coming of David Icke: Claiming he was the son of God made him a national joke. So why is America now falling at his feet?

Making a comeback: David Icke and his outlandish views are continuing to sell out tours in America, yet he is still one of the most ridiculed men in Britain

Americans love to hear about the mysteries of the Royal Family and David Icke wasn’t about to disappoint his 2,000-strong audience.
A seemingly innocuous picture of the Queen being greeted at the gates of Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding flashed up on the giant TV screen on the stage behind him.
‘He’s got the inverted pentagon on a circle, the classic symbol of Satanism,’ said Icke, ringing the decoration on one of the clergyman’s robe with his laser pointer. ‘It’s so obvious, I thought it must have been Photoshopped.’
But the devil-worshipper helping to officiate at the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton is apparently the least of the Royal Family’s faults. Later, the screen was filled with a photo of the Queen with slanted eyes, next to an image of a green lizard-man. This shows her Majesty in her true form, Icke explains, as a human-lizard hybrid.
Incredibly, Icke believes that the world is being run by a race of child-sacrificing, shape-shifting, reptilian aliens — and thousands of people seem to believe him.
Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of David Icke. But while wild claims such as these forced Icke to flee the spotlight 20 years ago — after he declared on a BBC chat show that he was the son of God — his conspiracy theories are now proving lucrative.
Icke, now 59, is, sadly, a man for our times. The messianic figure in the turquoise tracksuit (which supposedly channelled positive energy) was once the most ridiculed man in Britain. But looking at the 2,100 people who had paid £45 a head to listen to him in New York at the weekend, it seems Icke has had the last laugh.

Delusional: Icke makes his extraordinary claim that he was the son of God during an interview on Terry Wogan's chat show in 1991

The audience — many wearing Icke T-shirts, others taking down notes on their phones or posting minute-by-minute updates on Icke fan forums — sat and listened attentively as the former Coventry City footballer spent eight hours railing against U.S. government weapons, the satanic paedophile politicians leeching ‘energy’ from children and, of course, the lizard people and their plot for world domination.
He got a standing ovation and his audience headed back home to switch on their computers and immerse themselves in their world of conspiracy theory sites and chat forums.
No matter how hard they search, they’ll find few stories as unlikely as Icke’s. Goalkeeper for Coventry City before severe arthritis forced him to give up football at just 21, he became one of the BBC’s most high-profile presenters, before being sacked for refusing to pay the poll tax.
He then became a spokesman for the Green Party. By 1990, he was having mystical experiences. A psychic’s claims that Icke would ‘heal the Earth’ were widely reported, while Icke visited a burial ground in Peru — where he said a hill ‘talked’ to him.
His personal life was equally bizarre. He married Linda Atherton in 1974, but had an affair with psychic Deborah Shaw, and moved his mistress into the marital home in 1990 to live in a polygamous ménage à trois.

He subsequently divorced both Atherton and his second wife, Pamela Leigh Richards. 
When, in 1991, he announced on Terry Wogan’s BBC1 chat show  that he was the son of God and that the world would end in 1997, his own world fell apart.

Half lizard? Icke has bizarrely suggested the Queen and Barack Obama are part of an alien sect that run the world.

Dawn-till-dusk lampooning followed and Icke retreated to his Isle of Wight home to develop his outlandish ideas. It also set him free to make far more money than he could have dreamt of staying in the Green Party.
He has written 18 books, published in 40 countries, under such titles as And The Truth Shall Set You Free and Infinite Love Is The Only Truth. His website receives 600,000 hits a week and he has a lucrative sideline selling DVD recordings of his performances for £35 a copy.
He is using his latest sell-out tour — which takes in Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia, a string of dates across the U.S. and a grand finale at Wembley Arena next October — to promote his new book Human Race Get Off Your Knees.
Americans are his biggest fans — it might explain the transatlantic accent Icke now seems to have — and it’s not hard to see why. 
They have always been especially susceptible to conspiracy theories, which now constitute a multi-million dollar industry of radio shows and websites in the U.S.
Much of this is founded on a suspicion of people in power. Indeed, in a recent poll, only a quarter of U.S. adults said they trust their government. 

Superstitious: Icke used to wear this fetching turquoise tracksuit as it supposedly channelled positive energy to him

So what, apart from a sore rear, does one take away from eight hours with the self-proclaimed son of God?
There’s some New Age waffling about overcoming negativity and humanity’s ‘infinite consciousness’ which cheers up listeners — but rather a lot more which alarms them.
Yet Icke’s scaremongering about a ‘New World Order’ of politicians, Zionists, financiers and secret societies — including the Jesuits, Templars and Freemasons — all plotting together to take over the world, is not all that original.
What’s different is that few of even the most wild-eyed conspiracists believe invisible alien lizard people are calling the shots.
Icke tells people we cannot ‘decode’ the reptilians because, conveniently, they are visible only on a light frequency that humans cannot detect.
Meanwhile, we have been brainwashed so that what we think is reality is only a hologram. Icke’s vision is all eerily reminiscent of the Matrix series of sci-fi films, starring Keanu Reeves, about a man who discovers we are all living in a dream world manufactured by evil supermachines.
He has plenty more of this hokey scientific gobbledygook, together with carefully cherry-picked quotes from scientists and rather longer extracts — which he laboriously reads out — from rather more dubious sources such as science fiction writers, fictional characters and even New York’s most famous serial killer, the ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz.
Icke’s revelations include everything from the fact that the moon was built by aliens to the fact that the Rothschild dynasty of Jewish bankers are responsible for everything from the Russian revolution to the 2008 economic meltdown.

Popular: Icke has written 18 books while his website receives more than 600,000 hits a week. He also sells DVDs of his show at £35 a time

The lizard hybrids Icke believes in include every royal family in Europe, Tony Blair, Barack Obama, Henry Kissinger, Arnold Schwarzenegger and — most mysteriously — the singer Kris Kristofferson.
The list includes plenty of Jews. Although Icke insists he isn’t anti-Semitic but only anti-Zionist, his diatribe against Jewish bankers such as Goldman Sachs and their ‘control of global bloody finance’ has alarming echoes of what the Nazis used to say.
His bombardment of ‘facts’ is so rapid that listeners barely have time to consider if they ring even remotely true. And so he argues that the New World Order is so obsessed with symbolism that it chose to assassinate Princess Diana in Paris’s Pont de l’Alma tunnel. Why? Because Pont de l’Alma means ‘passage of the moon goddess’ and Diana was named after the Roman goddess of the moon.
It sounds good — but it’s tripe: the Pont de l’Alma was named after a Crimean War battle. But who cares, Icke is on to his next revelation: that the reptilians are obsessed with twin towers. The Royal Family get married in Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s which both have twin towers and, yes, that’s why the lizards blew up the Twin Towers on 9/11.
Interviewed last week on a radio show, Icke couldn’t hide his delight that in parts of the world where he has previously ‘talked to a phone box’, he is now filling out 2,000-seat auditoriums.
For anyone who stops sniggering at Planet Icke long enough to think about that, it may not be a laughing matter.

Maggie Brown (Author)

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WHAT IS WICCA?

The article below describes how Wicca draws from the Old Traditions of Witchcraft. While this is true, we would simply like to clarify that Witchcraft and Wicca, while similar in many respects, are not the same.  One can be a Witch, without being a Wiccan, just as a person can be a Christian, without being a Baptist.  Wicca is a recognized religion, while Witchcraft itself is not considered a religion.  Thus, Wicca might best be described as a modern religion, based on ancient Witchcraft traditions.

What Is Wicca

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Contrary to what those who choose to persecute or lie about us wish to believe, Wicca is a very peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of life which promotes oneness with the divine and all which exists.

Wicca is a deep appreciation and awe in watching the sunrise or sunset, the forest in the light of a glowing moon, a meadow enchanted by the first light of day.   It is the morning dew on the petals of a beautiful flower, the gentle caress of a warm summer breeze upon your skin, or the warmth of the summer sun on your face.   Wicca is the fall of colorful autumn leaves, and the softness of winter snow.   It is light, and shadow and all that lies in between.  It is the song of the birds and other creatures of the wild.   It is being in the presence of Mother Earths nature and being humbled in reverence.   When we are in the temple of the Lord and Lady, we are not prone to the arrogance of human technology as they touch our souls.   To be a Witch is to be a healer, a teacher, a seeker, a giver, and a protector of all things.   If this path is yours, may you walk it with honor, light and integrity.

Wicca is a belief system and way of life based upon the reconstruction of pre-Christian traditions originating in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.   While much of the information of how our ancestors lived, worshiped and believed has been lost due to the efforts of the medieval church to wipe our existence from history, we try to reconstruct those beliefs to the best of our ability with the information that is available.

Thanks to archaeological discoveries, we now have basis to believe that the origins of our belief system can be traced even further back to the Paleolithic peoples who worshipped a Hunter God and a Fertility Goddess.   With the discovery of these cave paintings, estimated to be around 30,000 years old, depicting a man with the head of a stag, and a pregnant woman standing in a circle with eleven other people, it can reasonably be assumed that Witchcraft is one of the oldest belief systems known in the world toady.   These archetypes are clearly recognized by Wiccan as our view of the Goddess and God aspect of the supreme creative force and predate Christianity by roughly 28,000 years making it a mere toddler in the spectrum of time as we know it.   

Witchcraft in ancient history was known as "The Craft of the Wise" because most who followed the path were in tune with the forces of nature, had a knowledge of Herbs and medicines, gave council and were valuable parts of the village and community as Shamanic healers and leaders.   They understood that mankind is not superior to nature, the earth and its creatures but instead we are simply one of the many parts, both seen and unseen that combine to make the whole.   As Chief Seattle said; "We do not own the earth, we are part of it."   These wise people understood that what we take or use, we must return in kind to maintain balance and equilibrium. Clearly, modern man with all his applied learning and technology has forgotten this.   Subsequently, we currently face ecological disaster and eventual extinction because of our hunger for power and a few pieces of gold.

For the past several hundred years, the image of the Witch has been mistakenly associated with evil, heathenism, and unrighteousness.   In my humble opinion, these misconceptions have their origin in a couple of different places.

To begin, the medieval church of the 15th through 18th centuries created these myths to convert the followers of the old nature based religions to the churches way of thinking.   By making the Witch into a diabolical character and turning the old religious deities into devils and demons, the missionaries were able to attach fear to these beliefs which aided in the conversion process.    Secondly, as medical science began to surface, the men who were engaged in these initial studies had a very poor understanding of female physiology, especially in the area of a women's monthly cycles.   The unknowns in this area played very well with the early churches agenda lending credence to the Witch Hunters claims and authority.   The fledgling medical professions also stood to benefit greatly from this because it took the power of the women healers away giving it to the male physicians transferring the respect and power to them.

Unfortunately these misinformed fears and superstitions have carried forward through the centuries and remain to this day.   This is why many who follow these nature oriented beliefs have adopted the name of Wicca over its true name of Witchcraft to escape the persecution, harassment and misinformation associated with the name of Witchcraft and Witch not to mention the bad publicity the press and Hollywood has given us simply to generate a profit.

What Witchcraft is:
Witchcraft is a spiritual system that fosters the free thought and will of the individual, encourages learning and an understanding of the earth and nature thereby affirming the divinity in all living things.   Most importantly however, it teaches responsibility.   We accept responsibility for our actions and deeds as clearly a result of the choices we make.   We do not blame an exterior entity or being for our shortcomings, weaknesses or mistakes.   If we mess up or do something that brings harm to another, we have no one but ourselves to blame and we must face the consequences resulting from those actions.   No ifs, ands or buts and no whining...

We acknowledge the cycles of nature, the lunar phases and the seasons to celebrate our spirituality and to worship the divine.   It is a belief system that allows the Witch to work with, not in supplication to deities with the intent of living in harmony and achieving balance with all things.

The spells that we do involve healing, love, harmony, wisdom and creativity.   The potions that we stir might be a headache remedy, a cold tonic, or an herbal flea bath for our pets.   We strive to gain knowledge of and use the natural remedies placed on this earth by the divine for our benefit instead of using synthetic drugs unless absolutely necessary.

Wiccan believe that the spirit of the One, Goddess and God exist in all things.   In the trees, rain, flowers, the sea, in each other and all of natures creatures.   This means that we must treat "all things" of the Earth as aspects of the divine.   We attempt to honor and respect life in all its many manifestations both seen and unseen.

Wiccan learn from and revere the gift of nature from divine creation by celebrating the cycles of the sun, moon and seasons.   We search within ourselves for the cycles that correspond to those of the natural world and try to live in harmony with the movement of this universal energy.   Our teachers are the trees, rivers, lakes, meadows, mountains and animals as well as others who have walked this path before us.   This belief creates a reverence and respect for the environment, and all life upon the Earth.

We also revere the spirits of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water which combine to manifest all creation.   From these four elements we obtain insight to the rhythms of nature and understand they are also the rhythms of our own lives.

Because Witches have been persecuted for so many centuries, we believe in religious freedom first!   We do not look at our path as the only way to achieve spirituality, but as one path among many to the same end.   We are not a missionary religion out to convert new members to think the same as we do.   We are willing to share our experience and knowledge with those who seek our wisdom and perspective however.   We believe that anyone who is meant for this path will find it through their own search as the Goddess speaks to each of us in her time and way.   Wiccan practice tolerance and acceptance toward all other religions as long as those faiths do not persecute others or violate the tenant of "Harm None."

What Witchcraft is not:
More information about Witchcraft is available in the Frequently Asked Questions section, but in the interim, here are the main points.

• Witchcraft or Wicca is not a cult.   We do not proclaim ourselves to be spokespersons for the divine or try to get others to follow us as their leaders.
  
• We do not worship Satan or consort with Demons.   Satan is a Christian creation and they can keep him.   We do not need a paranoid creation of supreme evil and eternal damnation to scare us into doing the right thing and helping others.   We choose to do the right thing and love our brothers and sisters because it IS the right thing and it feels good to do it.   I suppose it is a maturity thing.
  
• We do not sacrifice animals or humans because that would violate our basic tenant of "Harm None."   Anyone who does and claims to be a Wiccan or a Witch is lying.
  
• We have no need to steal or control the life force of another to achieve mystical or supernatural powers.   We draw our energy from within, our personal relationship with the divine and nature.
  
• We do not use the forces of nature or the universe to hex or cast spells on others.   Again, "Harm None" is the whole of the law.
  

Witches have a very strict belief in the Law of Three which states that whatever we send out into our world shall return to us three fold either good or bane.   With this in mind, a "True Witch" would hesitate in doing magick to harm or manipulate another because that boomerang we throw will eventually come back to us much larger and harder then when we threw it.

This is not to say that Witches are perfect, we are human too just like everyone else and make mistakes and errors in judgment.   Just as there are parents who love and nurture their children, there are parents who abuse their children.   As there are many who devote their lives to giving and helping mankind, likewise there are those who devote their lives to taking advantage of and using people for their own gain.   Unfortunately the same flaws in human nature applies to witches too.

Most of us continually strive to consider all potential outcomes of our thoughts and actions pausing to seriously consider the consequences before undertaking a ritual, spell or rite that could go astray.   It is when we follow the path with the love of the Goddess in our hearts and adhere to the basic tenant of the Reed that our works are beneficial and we achieve harmony and balance with all things.

The heart of Wicca is not something summed up into a few short words and can often take on different meaning to each since the Lord and Lady touch us in different ways.   To gain a fuller understanding of the Craft, I urge you visit the other pages on this site as well as following the links to a select group of exceptional Wiccan and Witchcraft sites.   Through the wisdom and words set down through the ages, you will find that you are able to understand the basis of our beliefs and how they may apply to you.   Your inner voice will also quickly let you know if the intent of what you are reading is for superficial purposes to benefit self instead of working to benefit the whole.   Remember to read with your heart, for it is when you see life and the world with your heart and spirit that you truly gain an understanding of what Wicca is.

Blessed Be!

Herne

Q.  Do Witches cast spells?

A.  Some do and some don't. Spellwork should never be the focus of following this path and those who seek our ways only for this purpose are very misguided. A spell is a ritual formula, or series of steps, to direct psychic energy to accomplish a desired end. This energy is drawn from the Earth with the aid of elementals, concentrated and sent out into the world to achieve a positive goal. Since Witchcraft teaches that whatever one sends out is returned threefold, Witches are very careful to never send out harmful energy carelessly. The Christian word for this is "Prayer". The only real difference is that Witches also invoke the aid of spirit guides, familiars or other elemental energies to add strength to the process as well as using ritual tools.

Q.  Do Witches worship the devil?

A.  No. Satan, or the Devil, has absolutely no place in Wicca or Witchcraft. The worship of Satan is the practice of profaning Christian symbolism and is thus a Christian heresy, rather than a Pagan religion. The Goddess and God of the Witches are in no way connected to Satanic practices. Satan, or the Devil, is a Christian creation and they are more than welcome to keep him.

Q.  If Witches don't have a bible, what do you use?

A.  Most modern Witches keep a Book of Shadows, (BOS) or Grimoire, which is more like an individuals workbook, journal, or diary, meaningful to the person who keeps it. This book contains rituals, discoveries, spells, poetry, herb lore, etc. Covens almost always keep a similar group book. I am not exactly sure how the name "Book of Shadows" came to be, but I would assume that this also ties into the Burning Times when the church set out to eliminate all texts along with the followers of the old ways. The writings that existed were more than likely were taken into the shadows and hidden with the survivors.

Copyright and taken from 'The Celtic Connection, wicca.com.' 

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Maggie Brown (Author)

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I FEEL I SHOULD ENLIGHTEN AND OPEN THE DEBATE ABOUT A FEW MISCONCEPTIONS

A FEW MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SPIRITUALISM

I was sent this in my mail bag. Firstly I think when you disrespect someones views and then do not give them the right to reply it is cowardly. Secondly I believe everyone has the right to free speech and their own opinions. Thirdly I do not believe in pushing my views and religion on to others. Everyone is entitled to believe in what they wish. And lastly it is because of bigoted and closed views world wars have begun. There are many religions in the world and that is fine but do we have the right to push our beliefs on to others because we disagree? I would hope we all have a common goal to treat each person as we would treat ourselves and to love one another unconditionally. The only one who is entitled to judge us is our God.

Spiritualism is a religion that gives an understanding of God and encourages us to act with a high sense of duty towards others. Spiritualism stimulates spiritual growth and prepares us for eternal existence in the spirit-world.

Spiritualism is a science because it is based upon proven facts that can be demonstrated and scientifically classified. Spiritualism is the science of life as it encourages the search for truth in every department of existence, in nature and in human psychology. 

Spiritualism is a philosophy that attempts to understand people, their physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual being. As Spirit is the moving force of the Universe, so Spiritualist philosophy embraces the whole realm of nature.

These words are based upon a chapter entitled 'The Nature of Spiritualism.'
from the Spiritualists' Lyceum Manual

EMAIL BELOW

QUOTE
Between You and (I have removed her name because she is entitled to her views this does not mean she has the right to disrespect mine)

"06 March at 02:04  We've all seen the television commercials with the colorful character telling us that he or she can unlock the secrets to your future. These are psychics and they claim that they can help you but for a fee of course. The Bible has much to say about seeking out psychics as they have been around since the beginning. The Bible refers to them as mediums and spiritists. In modern day we call them fortune tellers, witch doctors, soothsayers, and counselors in addition to psychics. The Bible is very clear about turning away from psychics. In Leviticus 20:6 (NIV), it says not to go to "mediums and spiritists." Isaiah 8:19 (NIV) asks why anyone would want to consult a dead spirit instead of the living God? Let's see what else the Bible has to say about psychics.

Psychics in the Bible and today seek financial gain more than they want to help. In Acts 16:16-19 (NIV), we see the story of Paul and Silas followed by the fortune-telling slave girl. The slave girl kept shouting to the crowds that these were the servants of God and were coming to preach the message of salvation. She did this several times until Paul lost patience and commanded the demon to come out of her. But when the demon spirit left the slave girl, she no longer had the ability to tell fortunes which infuriated her owners because of the loss in revenue. It's much the same way today. Psychics set up telephone hotlines to have you call for a reading and you end up paying hundreds of dollars for it. Psychics will tell you they are here to help, but if they truly wanted to help they would do it for free. 

Psychics set up telephone hotlines to have you call for a reading and you end up paying hundreds of dollars for it. Psychics will tell you they are here to help, but if they truly wanted to help they would do it for free.

"My Reply to this point
Psychics do this for free, you are paying for their time not their advice, most of the cost of these calls are taken up by the phone companies the lines are rented from and agency overheads, the actual readers get a small percentage of the fee. Because the readers time is taken up giving advice, it prevents then working in other occupations and the vast majority of these psychic advisers are highly trained counsellors with professional qualifications. Would you expect to go to a therapist and get this service for free?

When entering a debate its essential to firstly get your facts right and give the other you are debating with a chance to challenge your debate as this makes the view unbalanced, bias and prejudiced"

Psychics oftentimes speak half-truths. Notice in the Bible that the slave girl in "Acts 16 (NIV)" spoke the truth initially because Paul and Silas were actually there to preach the Gospel. Keep in mind however that Satan and his demons usually present themselves as angels of light in the beginning. If this were not so, then they would not be able to pull in such a large following of people. The slave girl was merely establishing credibility by speaking a truth and then there would be no problem getting people to believe anything (truth or lie) she said after that.

Saul died because he sought out a psychic. The one Bible event that should make anyone fearful of seeking out psychics today is what happened to King Saul in the Old Testament. In "1 Samuel 28 (NIV)", King Saul was approaching the end of his reign. He had not been in God's will and God basically was not answering his prayers (Saul had prayed for an answer for what to do about the Phillistine Army surrounding the camp at Gilboa). So, Saul disguised himself and went to see the psychic (medium) at Endor. Of course Saul displayed his double standard having already decreed the illegality of psychics. The medium brought up the spirit of Samuel and he told Saul that the next day he would die in battle along with his sons--devastating news for Saul. In 1 Chronicles 10:13 (NIV), the Bible says that one of the reasons Saul died was because he sought out a psychic.

06 March at 02:11 No need to reply, I've blocked you. You scare me. God has heard my prayer for you" UNQUOTE

History - Ancient Spiritualism

The belief in, and practice of communication with, spirits has existed in all nations. Spiritual phenomenon have occurred throughout human history, with people being entranced, inspired and influenced by spirit intelligences. During moments of ecstasy, in dreams, reveries, drug induced states and deep meditations people have experienced spirit awareness. In fact, mankind’s history, literature, folk law and fairytales are full of mystical spiritual beings both good and bad.

In ancient times, primitive man had no doubt that his ancestors survived death and ancestor-worship was a form of religion. Some people had psychic abilities, similar to modern mediums, and were aware of psychic forces the spirit world, and could communicated with spirit peoples.

The Greeks consulted oracles and the Egyptians and Romans practised fortune-telling and prophecy to obtain guidance from the gods. Even today some cultures have their witch-doctors and shamans, who invoke the powers of the spirit for healing and giving guidance.

Christianity and Spiritualism

The Christian Church was founded on spirit communication and phenomena that could be described as mediumship. Throughout the bible are many examples of spiritual happenings, inspirational speech, speaking in other languages, spiritual voices, and angel messengers foretelling the coming of prophets. Many Spiritualists believe that Jesus had an exceptional psychic and mediumship ability as illustrated in the reports of his healing powers, inspired teachings, the transfiguration, and the many so-called ‘miracles’ that occurred in his presence. After his death, Jesus was seen and heard by his followers and it seems that mediumship played an important part in the spreading of the new religion.


However, in the 4th century, Christian leaders decided that the use of psychic and mediumship abilities was wrong unless performed by the Christian priesthood. All others who demonstrated spiritual abilities were denounced as ‘false prophets’, evil sorcerers, heretics and were liable to punishment.


In 1484 the Pope strongly denounced mediums. The Church also sanctioned the publication of a book entitled, Malleus Maleficarum or ‘Hammer of the Witches,’ that described all people who communicated with spirits as witches and stated that they should be severely punished. After this, there was a long period of persecution where people suspected of using psychic abilities were in danger of trial, torture and execution. During these times thousands of mediums were put to death by the church-sanctioned ‘witch-hunters’.

18th Century

Emmanuel Swedenborg

In the 18th century a Swedish scientist and astronomer, Emmanuel Swedenborg, become
well-known for his philosophical writings that, he claimed, were received from spirit teachers
and inspirers.

Andrew Jackson Davis

Emmanuel Swedenborg died in 1772 and later he communicated from the spirit world through
the mediumship of a young American, Andrew Jackson Davis.

Wesley family - Epworth Rectory

Spiritual phenomena in the form of knockings also occurred in the 18th century in England at the Epworth Rectory, home of the Wesley family.

My religion is SPIRITUALISM, it is not dissimilar from Christianity in that we believe in God and the hierarchy or Angels and we follow The 7 principals.

Seven Principles of Spiritualism

Our Seven Principles are legally accepted and a lawfully recognised definition of the religious philosophy of Spiritualism. A brief explanation of each one follows:

1.The Fatherhood of God

By the study of Nature - that is, by trying to understand the Laws of Cause & Effect which govern all that is happening around us - we recognise that there is a creative force in the universe. This force, or energy, not only created the whole universe, but also life itself in its many forms and is continuing to create today. The effects of this eternal creation can be seen around us and this leads us to the evidence that 'God' - 'The Creative Force' - manifests directly, or indirectly, in all things. We know this power as God and as we are part of the Life created by God, we acknowledge God as our Father.

2.The Brotherhood of Man

Because we all come from the same universal life source we are, in effect, one large family, small individual offshoot from the whole. This means that all mankind is part of a brotherhood. A brotherhood is a community for mutual support and comfort. We are all members of the same divine family. We need to share our joys as well as our burdens; we need to understand the needs of other individuals in order to assist them as part of our service to each other. As we learn to give so must we also learn to receive thereby achieving the necessary balance for our life. We must look not only to the material necessities of our fellow creatures but also to their spiritual needs and help those in need to become strong and worthy of their relationship in the Family of God.

3.Communion of Spirits and the Ministry of Angels

All religions believe in life after death but only Spiritualism shows that it is true by demonstrating that communication with departed spirits can and does take place. Spiritualist Churches provide one of the venues where communication, through mediumship, is possible and many loved relatives and friends take advantage of this opportunity to continue to take an interest in our welfare. There are also spirit people/teachers who are dedicated to the welfare and service of mankind. Some (e.g. Silver Birch) bring inspiration and teachings whilst others work within the healing ministry.

4.Continuous Existence of the Human Soul

It is scientifically proven that matter (being part of the creative force, or energy) cannot be destroyed; it merely changes its form. Spirit, as part of the Creative Force is, therefore, indestructible. On the death of the physical body, the spirit continues as an integral part of a world, which interpenetrates our world but in a different dimension. This world is referred to as the Spirit World. In spirit life we have a spirit body, which until we progress far enough, is a replica of our earthly body. We are the same individuals in every way with the same personalities and characteristics and we change only by progression, or otherwise, as a result of our own efforts. Our personal responsibilities do not stop at death.

5.Personal Responsibility

This principle is the one which places responsibility for wrongful thoughts and deeds where it belongs - with the individual. It is the acceptance of responsibility for every aspect of our lives and the use to which we place our lives depends entirely upon ourselves. It is not possible for any other person, or outside influence, to interfere with our spiritual development, unless we are willing to allow this. No one can put right the wrongdoing except the offender. As we are given freedom of choice (freewill) so also are we given the ability to recognise what is right from what is wrong. We are totally, as well as personally, responsible.

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

As with all the other Principles, the natural laws apply and this one echoes the law of Cause and Effect (as you sow, so shall you reap). One cannot be cruel and vindictive towards others and expect love and popularity in return. It must be understood that the compensatory or retributive effects of this law operate now -on earth - they do not wait until we begin to live in the Spirit World.

7.Eternal Progress open to every Human Soul

In every heart there exists the desire for progress and to every human spirit belongs the power to progress in wisdom and love.

All who desire to tread the path that leads to perfection are able to pursue it. The rate of progress is directly proportional to the desire for mental and spiritual understanding. If we do our best in earth life to follow our inward prompting or intuitions; we shall find progress very easy, on earth as in spirit; if not, every step in advancement will follow a struggle against imperfections, which we ourselves will have worked into our natures. Within the Family of God, with all the advantages that our realisation of that state can give us, we are all given the opportunity to be responsible for our own eternal progress.

History - Modern Spiritualism

A family who moved to a homestead in Hydesville, New York State, USA were disturbed by noises, knockings, movements of objects and other unusual phenomena.

The two children Catherine and Margaretta discovered that if they spoke out then the mysterious noises seemed to respond and it became clear that the phenomena were not just random manifestations of energy but were under the control of some invisible intelligence. In a world where such happenings were feared and where religion labelled them as evil, these happenings soon gained the attention of neighbours and family friends. The news of these happenings spread far and wide, at times many bystanders came to marvel at the unexplained knockings and noises.

On March 31, 1848, the two sisters, Margaretta and Catherine Fox, established intelligent, two way  communication with a spirit person who was responsible for producing the phenomena.

Farmstead of the Fox Family

A committee of investigation was formed and communicated with the spirit who had been harassing the Fox family. The committee listened out for the response signal knocks and they established that the communicator was Charles Rosna, who had been murdered and buried beneath the cellar of the homestead. An excavation of the cellar later proved that there was indeed the remains of a body buried there.

The publicity which these events aroused and the investigations carried out at the time led to mediumship being discussed openly. The Fox family suffered scorn, ridicule, and persecution but because of them advice came from spirit people as to how to encourage spirit communication. The printing press, cheaper newspapers and books, the improved literacy amongst the people, the rail road and improved postal service meant that many learned about this new spiritual phenomena and how it could be achieved. In many homes, groups of people met and, following the advice, were successful in obtaining spirit communication for themselves. And, once communication was established, the spirit people could direct the process and give specific guidance to further help the process.

It became clear that certain people were naturally mediumistic and the new forms of communication enabled strikingly accurate and detailed information to be communicated. Spiritual phenomena flowed from the many Spiritualist groups which provided, time after time, personal joyful evidence confirming the existence of a spirit world that could communicate with those still on earth. In just a few years many groups of Spiritualists formed in America to seek psychic phenomena and to consider the religious implications which lay behind the teaching received from spirit.

In time, both the phenomena and the teachings attracted the attention of eminent scientists and intellectuals in America and Britain. A Mrs Hayden brought the new knowledge to England and openly demonstrated mediumship here. She was persecuted and insulted by the press and by some in the established Christian church, however her mediumship was defended by public figures, such as Robert Owen, who embraced Spiritualism after witnessing successful spirit communications with her.

In 1853 the first Spiritualist Church was established in the Britain at Keighley in Yorkshire, and the first Spiritualist newspaper, The Yorkshire Spiritual Telegraph, was published in 1855. By the 1870s there were numerous Spiritualist societies and churches throughout the country.

Today, Spiritualism allows all people to witness, and learn for themselves, communication with the spirit world. Before, information about such practices was banned and considered dangerous and evil. However, by the events at Hydesville, ignorance and fear concerning the spirit world is passing away and all people can benefit from the love, guidance, and wisdom from those who have gone before who are now progressing in the spirit world

FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK THE FOLLOWING LINK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritualism

Maggie Brown (Author)
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