Find out how mediums contact the spirit world and communicate with our loved ones.

How did mediumship start?

Psychic predictions and phenomena can be traced back throughout history, but the first professional mediums date back to 1848. The Fox family of Hydesville, New York, were visited by friendly spirits eager to prove life continued even after death.

The two daughters realising a talent for this communication, hired a hall to demonstrate their abilities. The sisters also travelled to further demonstrate their unique talents and before long similar groups sprang up across the country. This was probably the beginning of the Spiritualist movement which has become so popular today.

During the 1850`s a new ambassador arose in the form of Emma Hardinge Britten. Born in England, but moved to America to work. Emma became famous as a trance medium, (see medium skills). She toured America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand spreading the word. But mediums of this era were subjected to ridicule and persecution from both the Church and other sceptics.

The first medium to operate in Britain was a Mrs. Hayden, who took residence in London and held séances. But it was a group of Cambridge scholars who, in 1882 founded the Society for Psychical Research, pushed the subject further into recognition. Their aim was to `investigate debatable phenomena without prejudice`, even if that claim itself was debatable.

The early demonstrations of mediumship were all very physical, rapping's, table-tilting, materialisation's etc. but over the years these declined in popularity to be replaced by the type of mediumship we witness today. Nowadays modern mediums work by using the mind as receiver and relaying information to those who need it. The evidence given of the after-life can be even more convincing in this manner.

How do modern mediums work?

How does a medium work? If we accept that dying is not the end of our existence, just the end of the body that carried our consciousness and that our soul survives and exists somewhere else, then it might be possible to make contact with that consciousness and all the emotions and memories that made that person what they were.

But where are they? Not as far away as some would think! The world of spirit exists all around us, but just out of reach. It might be better to think of it as a dimension rather than a place. Most believe that this world exists on a different vibration to our own. It might also help to think of it as different frequency, much like a radio has different frequencies. The medium has learned to attune to this different and higher frequency or vibration. Likewise, those in the spirit world can tune into us, it is this joint effort that enables communication.

When a medium sits with a client, the medium is in a highly receptive state. Our spirit family and friends can see and hear us, they may even have accompanied you to the meeting! But it is the mediums ability to slow down and alter their perception, raising their awareness to a subtle energy that allows them to perceive the messages from spirit.  

This contact is conducted through thought, these thoughts are then transmitted by the communicating spirit person to the medium. Although mediums mainly give the messages they are given, it is possible for the medium to ask questions and receive an answer. After all this is a live communication! It is also important to realise spirit people have a choice of communicating with us, a medium cannot in any way force the spirit person to make themselves known.

This initial contact is often referred to as `making a link`. The medium has made a request, by thought, for a communicator to come forward. Just how successful the communication is depends on the experience of the medium, although other factors come into the picture. Once a link is established, the spirit person will often want to prove their identity. The spirit communicator will transmit thoughts about themselves to the medium, the medium will be able to interpret these thoughts and describe the person back to the client.

To be able to interpret any information a medium has to learn how to attune to the spirit world. While some mediums have grown up with the ability others have to train their minds to accept information in this way. This is often done by means of meditation, a process of calming the body and allowing the mind to become receptive. This can, to some extent be taught to anybody, but not all who try will become mediums.

Our scientists who have studied the human brain, insist we see more with our brain than we do with our eyes, the eyes being just a window. This might help explain how mediums can 'see' our spirit friends, the data has simply arrived in an alternative way, the brain processes the data and 'sees' the information.

What are the different skills of a medium?

A medium usually has a variety of psychic skills, but the underlying purpose behind them is threefold; to prove the existence of life after death, to console and advise others and to further develop their own spirituality. How a medium comes to be is based on many factors. Some are born to it, having been able to see spirit people when they were children, and simply developing those abilities in adulthood. Others come to it later because of a bereavement, when they seek the services of medium, and then go on to learn the skills themselves. Even curiosity can lead to the development of psychic abilities.

A medium may have any number of skills, though it is more usual for them to excel in just one or two. If we take the late famous medium Doris Stokes for example, she specialised in clairaudience, hearing spirit voices. Generally most mediums work by seeing pictures in their mind, it is this initial image that allows the medium to describe a person in spirit. But often it the combination of senses that make up the whole picture. Spirit communicators are able to send feelings, known as clairsentience, to the medium. This is particularly useful if they are trying to indicate what ailment caused them to pass over. They may for example send a mild pain to the heart of the medium, the medium would then be able to tell the client how their loved one died. This is used as excellent evidence. These thoughts, feelings, voices and pictures can be all be used together, but also range in intensity. Sometimes the information flows so easily that the medium has no doubts about the information being given, but on other occasions the information can seem a little patchy, and the medium needs to work harder to resolve what comes through. One explanation for this variation in intensity or quality could be to do with how well the the spirit communicator has learned to communicate. But could also be due the mediums ability to tune-in and the rapport with their spirit guides, who play an important role in the proceedings.

It is commonly believed that mental pictures are the easiest format to recognise, after all we are used to seeing images in our every-day lives. But many mediums work with symbolic images, these images represent what the spirit person is trying to communicate, but often not directly. You could think of it as a cryptic visual puzzle. For example if the medium is shown water, it could be that the spirit person had connections with water in his or her life, such as being in the navy or coastguard. The medium requires some interpretation skills when passing on messages of this kind.        

It is common to find crystals, Tarot Cards, candles, Native American symbols and other such objects on the table of a working medium. These articles may represent something that interests that medium, such as Native American artifacts. The Native Americans have long been associated with with mediums, as their culture, or certainly their beliefs, are similar to those of spiritualists. Many Natives choose to work as spirit guides, helping the medium to develop and use their skills. Crystals and Tarot cards also aid the medium to tune-in, and therefore give a better reading.

How can a medium do a reading over the phone, by letter or email?

Mediums work with their spirit guide (see page on spirit guides) who play an important role in the communication process. But each and every one of us has our own spirit guide, they protect and help us. Part of this protection is to ensure that the information given to a medium is something you yourself would be willing to divulge. It may be a deep problem, that you might not normally share with a stranger, but ultimately would like to discuss and solve. But I have never received information that I was not supposed to know, so they must be doing their job!

For a reading to take place over what we consider a great distance, say someone in America writing to someone in England, there must be a link in spirit. When I receive a letter my spirit guide is as aware of it's contents as I am. My guide then makes contact with your guide and the two converse. This begins a series of thoughts that stretch out into spirit, these thoughts are recognised by those we know and hopefully they can make contact with my guide who will help them to communicate with me or any other medium. So when we say the power of thought is powerful, it really is!

In the spirit world, all spirit people are connected, telepathically for want of a better word or description. It is a wonderful way of communicating and helps to explain how we are able to make the links we do. Individual personalities still exist in spirit, but it is this deep understanding and linking that bonds them together.

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Types of Mediumship  There are a number of ways a medium interprets the information sent to them, and not all mediums work the same way or have the same gifts.
CLAIRVOYANCE
Clear seeing.	The vision in the mind of pictures.
Clairvoyance is the psychic ability of being able to 'see' pictures, people, places,  objects and colours sent from the spirit world. It is this particular gift that allows mediums to describe those they communicate with. This will also include symbolic images, which are visual clues from the communicating spirit person.
CLAIRAUDIENCE
Clear Hearing	Hearing the voices of spirit people.
Clairaudience is the mediums gift of hearing spirit voices, remember though this is still an interpretation. They may for example hear a voice in one ear, but it is also possible to hear via thought. Accents, age, tone and speed are all detectable.
CLAIRSENTIENCE
Feeling	Being able to sense feelings
Clairsentience is the art of sensing and feeling the impressions of spirit, especially in cases of letting the medium know how they passed. They may send a sensation to the heart area for example, or pressure in the chest to indicate breathing problems, even joint pains can be sent. They can even include how the spirit person felt, emotions like euphoria, fear, panic or well-being can be interpreted.
CLAIROMA
Smell	Scents associated with people in spirit.
Clairoma is yet another way for spirit to help us recognise them, everything from cigar smoke to smelly feet! Different smells may link a spirit person to his job when on Earth, further establishing their identity.
Trance
Channel	A spirit communicating directly through a medium
Trance or channel mediums work very differently to any of the above skills. The communicating spirit person uses the medium's body to speak directly with whoever is present with the medium. For more on this topic click here.

Also see our FAQ page

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On the Road to Mediumship..

For many the road to mediumship will not have been an easy one. All too often some suffering has taken place in their lives. It is through these experiences the soul can be made aware of a greater plan, and our reception to this knowledge better received. Most mediums are caring, sensitive people, it is this unique attribute which allows them to be open enough to hear the thoughts of spirit communicators. Mediums also need to realise they have a great responsibility when dealing with the myriad of emotions of the people that come to them. Mediums continually strive for better communication, no medium can ever consider themselves an expert.

Why do mediums and psychics charge fees? 

This is a common question, especially as they are supposed to be doing their work in spiritual way, for the good of others. The fact is that many mediums decide to dedicate their life to mediumship, this entails travelling the country, visiting churches and various other events.  It also means that at some point, holding down a 9-5pm job becomes impossible. Unfortunately, bills, rent, mortgage and food bills still need to paid, and their spiritual `work` also becomes their income. But beware of those charging too much, and premium rate phone numbers, there will always be those ready to exploit the vulnerable and give the genuine a bad name.

The Job of a Medium

Although mediums and psychics may have an eye into your soul, are able to foresee some future events and generally advise you, they are not there to tell you what to do. The task of psychics is to help you take direction and control of your own situations. Sometimes the advice my sound a little vague, but they may simply be suggesting a new set of experiences that will be of benefit to you.

Meeting With A Medium

Deciding to meet with a medium could be because you have lost someone close to you, because you seek guidance in your life or simply out of curiosity, all valid reasons. Whatever the reason, most people find it a fascinating and rewarding experience.

But unfortunately, many is the sad tale of someone who sought out the services of psychics and mediums, only to come away disheartened and disappointed, vowing never to return.

Mediumship, like many other skills, need to be perfected, an inexperienced medium may not be able to give as much evidence as a medium who has been working 10 years. Therefore if you are seeking proof that your loved one is indeed in spirit, it might be worth seeking out the services of more than one medium. The information may be different on each occasion and it this 'picture building' that usually convinces.

There are unfortunately, many frauds willing to take your money, as a medium myself, I am saddened by how commercialised this subject has become. Also, some of the best mediums can have an off day, but those who are genuine will generally tell you and offer a refund. A good medium should be able to give you solid evidence of survival, this might include a description of your loved one, height, build, hair colour etc..  In may also include  character, accent, clothes, likes or dislikes, things they used to do, their job, certain mannerisms etc. There are no rules here, and it can depend on how strong the communication is and how long it lasts, but you should have no doubt that the medium is talking about someone you recognise. 

Try to find a medium of good reputation, you could try asking friends and work pals. But perhaps the best place to start would be a local Spiritualist church, you may find one advertised in your local paper. They will put you in touch with a medium of good repute and will understand and help with any questions or concerns you may have.

What can I expect?

Modern day mediums will often explain how they work and do their best to put you at ease. If you can approach the reading with an open mind it will help things go better. Generally after the explanation the medium will tune-in to see what they can receive. This could result in two things, either they will immediately describe a person to you, and ask if you recognise the description. After which the medium may be told by the person they are in contact with about current or past events in your life. Once confirmed, you may be given advice concerning those or future events. Or, the medium will start on a psychic level, they will again tell you of you current situation, pick up on feelings that you have, career, relationships or other matters. It may be that later on in the reading they will then get further advice from those in spirit. It really is quite a simple affair, no spooks will dance round the room, no table rapping, just an intimate conversation about you, your life, and advice given with sincerity.

If you have considered consulting a medium, but still have reservations, drop me an email and I will try to answer any questions that you have.

Click for Physical Mediumship

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Finding A Medium

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Learn to hear your own spirit guide & develop your own mediumship

Most people meet or at least become aware of their spirit guide at a development circle and this is still one of the best ways. But these circles are not to everybody's taste. Developing your psychic gifts is usually for the benefit of other people, for that reason much care and respect needs to be learnt.

Developing psychic gifts is a little like learning to play a musical instrument, we start slowly and practice regularly. Funnily enough mediums are referred to as instruments of spirit. Some mediums know their guide like a family member while others can describe them, but not converse so readily or easily. Yet the guide is there to aid the work of the medium and to try to point the way forward.

In short, there is no magic key, no simple or quick way, just a slow progression in the right way. Things will and do happen but could take between 3 weeks and 1 year. It's more about how we are ready to receive, what we have learned, how we want to use it.

Your guide will call upon your knowledge, give him / her something to work with. Do you have answers when someone asks you a question, can you accept that mediumship can be hard, that people may explode in emotions, can you settle them? Do you have the right words? Do you have the right to create such emotions without control? - Do you see why this is a long journey, I do not mean to be condescending far from it, but I consider what we do with our gift is that important. In fact I encourage you to learn, we need more ambassadors of spirit.

You have two courses, that of learning on your own or within a group. Groups are often advertised, but may cost. Spiritualist churches have learning circles, but you may have to wait to be invited. So for now decide which is best, and read all you can.  Reading books will help you discover techniques for making contact with your guide, how other mediums work, what is possible, what is fantasy and how to tell the difference.

This will take commitment, if you can go the journey you will experience wonders beyond that which thought possible and your heart will be lighter for the help and hope you can give. For that may God bless you.

Try our Psychic Development page for more advice!

Russel

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     email: psychic.wonders2001@virgin.net

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