The place in the picture above (Kettering SNU Spiritualist Church) holds a very special place in my heart …
It’s the first ‘proper’ Spiritualist Church I set foot in approximately 16 years ago when I was around 32 if I remember rightly. I went along with a friend who was hoping for a message from Spirit … ‘whatever that may mean’, I remember wondering at the time. Until that day, I honestly didn’t even know what Mediumship was. Certainly it was nothing I had grown up with.
My upbringing had been fairly traditional … I attended Sunday School from around 7 to 11 (albeit very reluctantly), as it never sat right with me. One day however, I got my reprieve when I was told by the Sunday School teacher to go home early and not come back the following week. On enquiring, my parents were apparently told that I was argumentative, rude and ‘asked too many awkward questions’ … Curious indeed, as this was definitely not in my nature!!
Anyway, I digress so back on track … Little was I to know that on the day I first went along to Kettering Church with my friend, my life would change.
“All my long held personal thoughts, views & questions I had about Life, ‘Death’ and even the Universe, fell into place during the Philosophy part of the Service and suddenly make perfect sense.”
Boy was I mesmerised!! The Medium’s Voice changed from the lady that she was, to that of a very knowing, ancient sounding gentleman, and the spoken words held such a resonance, and had such a depth and love for all humanity and indeed every living being. From what I can remember it was very deep and profound, but Spiritual Philosophy however, is not at all preachy, or dogmatic . Instead it is always enlightening, relevant & uplifting. I will be forever grateful!! At long last, my personal understanding, feelings and thoughts were no longer isolated … they were being validated.
“Spiritual Philosophy however, is not at all preachy, or dogmatic . Instead it is always enlightening, relevant & uplifting.”
That day woke me up to infinite possibilities, ingnited a passion, a ‘Calling’ if you like, and unwittingly awakened my Vocation that until then had truly laid dormant in my heart. A genuine Spiritual Awakening … Perhaps no coincidence then, after that day, it seemed as if the proverbial window of opportunity opened Spiritual doors to me, doors I had never known existed. Tentatively, consciously I began to tread the pathway I had been unwittingly walking towards all my life …
“I found out later that on this occasion the Medium that day worked within the ‘Trance state’ as the Philosophy was given. The Philosophy part of the Service I suppose would equate to a ‘sermon’ in a regular church service.”
Literally a few days later, I overheard a conversation mentioning a Spiritual group ‘Phoenix’, that met once a month in my local town. Curiosity piqued, I found out where it was held and started going along. The meetings were always very interesting … one month a Medium would be there giving messages from Spirit to people in the audience, and the next month someone would give a talk on a Spiritual topic, say Astral Travel or Passed Life Regression. It wasn’t long until I was invited to join their open Development Circle.
“The first time I went along I was really nervous as I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Being honest, I was actually quite scared.”
On arrival, each circle member was given a flower; it turned out we would be doing ‘Flower Readings’. I really was nervous when it was my turn. The man I ‘read’ for was much older than me and asked I how long had I been doing it for as I was spot on. He said I must be a natural (whatever that meant). I replied that it was my first attempt, and was baffled, as it did seem that things came quite naturally to me. I say ‘things’. as back then I had no clue what I was doing, let alone how I was managing to do it!!
I became a regular at the Circle, and soon after, another Circle member invited me to join a long established Home ‘Trance’ Circle, which I agreed to, even though I had no idea what Trance work was!! To be honest, I found it most bizarre at first, sitting in the dark and waiting for Spirit to communicate with and through us. But I grew to love this group, and still sit in it to this day, when we are guided by Spirit to sit. It is a real privilege to experience Spirit so close.
So, for around 14 years I attended weekly (sometimes twice weekly) Spiritual Development, as well as sitting weekly for Trance. Over the years I took additional day long or weekend Development Workshops, and attended several week long Residential Mediumship Development Seminars. At one point for a couple of years, I found myself sitting in the same Circle as Sharon Hall, the lady who had been the Medium at Kettering that day. I still hold her in the highest regard, and am also proud to count her as one of my friends.
By taking my time and developing slowly, with the various well respected tutors I have been blessed to develop with and learn from, I feel benefiting from their experience and support, has enabled my connection with Spirit to develop, enhance and strengthen.
“Everyone’s Spiritual Development is individual, as we all walk different pathways through life. Take your time, there is no hurry … what’s the saying? The best comes to those who wait? I believe that is especially true in regards to Spiritual development … Enjoy your journey!!”
I have always had a very open mind as to how my Spiritual Development may unfold, and the direction(s) Spirit guide me to take. I place no expectations on Spirit, instead I merely set my intention to work with them. I really do view it as a genuine partnership between the two worlds.
Fast forward a decade from 2002 and I found myself Serving as a Fledgling Medium on that same Church Platform in Kettering Spiritualist Church, alongside my first Development Tutor from the Open Circle, and I was absolutely terrified!!
“Back then, although I believed and trusted in Spirit implicitly, I had yet to allow myself to ‘grow’ into that space personally …”
I know that I have been very fortunate in the Tutors and Mentors I have so far been able to Develop with. I feel blessed, as I know not everyone is as lucky in that regard … There can be a lot of jealousy, which I personally find very hard to fathom, for surely it is a vocation that should hold Love at it’s Heart?
“Certainly when I work with people now, supporting others’ development, I strive to work with the same ethos and generosity of Heart that I received.”
Personally I feel great joy when students have their own ‘lightbulb’ moments, when something clicks and they make sense of or experience something for the first time!!
“I can honestly say that it wasn’t until around 16 years after I first walked into Kettering Spiritualist Church, that I could now allow myself to refer to myself as a ‘Medium’ … Now I can’t imagine doing anything else. I truly do believe we spend a lifetime unfolding Spiritually.”
Each aspect of what I do, be that Mediumship, Ceremonies, Tutor, Counsellor, Writer, all are Heart-led and guided by Spirit … and they are all done in Love.