Drawing Back: Service In A Different Way

drawing of fox sistersFor a while I’ve been drawing back. Encountering endings with a tinge of sadness but a heart full of hope. It’s the year when I needed to make changes. Ready for a fresh start in a few weeks.

I’ve found myself drawing on all my reserves this year. As I head to the end, in this last couple of weeks, I’m noticing how weary I have become. Never weary of serving the Spirit and Energy people. But definitely weary of the way people demand that I give and give. Then turn round and demand that I give their way even more. Funnily enough, my Guides have never demanded anything of me. They asked me if I was willing to serve their higher purpose and, after a lot of thought, I said yes. Then they showed me where to go, what to do and who to connect with. Always with the respect that I could say no to anything they asked.

This evening my work in the Spiritualist churches and Centres was drawing to a close. I visited a lovely place in Sale to do my last public service. I know it will be some time before I return to public demonstrations of message mediumship. Because the Guides have asked me to work on the kinds of mediumship that offer evidence rather than messages. And I have agreed. With some relief. I have loved meeting people across the country in all sorts of Spiritualist groups. But I was, and may always be, a reluctant medium. Standing on a stage giving messages is something I’ve done as a service. Not because of a religion. A service to my Guides and the Spirit people who queue up to console their loved ones. And the people who have received comfort from what evidence and messages I can give them.

I won’t miss drawing back from those people who have seen this service as only to themselves. Who have let Ego blind them to the wonder of getting a message at all.

That really does happen. My messages are judged, and sometimes found wanting, by people who have never tried to communicate this way. The evidence I bring has been scrutinised, pulled to bits and rejected because a loved one didn’t say a particular word. Or, worst still, although my message has been correct it’s not what the person wanted to hear so they have dismissed it completely. What a waste. For all of us involved. I feel the worst of the worst though, is the expectation that I am there to entertain. Drawing on a common misconception, that it’s all a bit of fakery or foolery, some people expect to watch the people getting the messages. They want tears and laughter, often embarrassment or secrets revealed, all as long as it’s not them.

The Spiritualist Movement has missed a big opportunity. The chance to show what good and excellent mediumship can be. Out in the grass roots there are many honest, ethical mediums working day in and out to serve the Spirit World. Drawing on the best of these unsung heroes would go a long way to showing people what is at the heart of mediumship. The dedication, love and thoughtfulness with which each medium works to serve a loving purpose. Yet many places are driven by the Ego needs of individuals who are not mediums. Both in the management and attendance. I’ve talked before about educating sitters, the people who get the messages, drawing on all that knowledge contained in the Movement. But still we struggle to get people to understand what is happening.

Drawing back to serve in a different way is my answer. I know that my Guides want to educate people about connecting with the Energy Beings. Once it is better understood they hope that people will value the communication in a more reflective and considered way. Not as something to pass an hour on TV, in a theatre or in a Spiritualist venue. But as a genuine experience of comfort. And support for the notion that life does continue after physical death.

Day 748 of my blogging challenge

A Warm Welcome for Spirit

img_2363My blog is a little late tonight because I’ve been out most of the day.  I have been to Harley St Spiritualist church in Barrow in Furness to do the services. With a warm welcome waiting for me it was a pleasure to connect with the Spirit World in this lovely church.

Driving home I started to think about all of the churches I have been to over the last 10 years. When I took my first tentative steps into doing church services I’m not sure I realised how many times I would be the one passing on messages to others. It was more about exploring a new ability I had discovered than being the medium on the platform. Yet over the years I have had many a warm welcome and the support of the people attending that evening.

However, I also thought about the churches where the welcome wasn’t so warm. Sometimes the church was struggling to stay open so people were stressed. Occasionally there were only a few stalwarts left to run the church so there was more stress. Now and again there was a distinct atmosphere. A sort of ‘this is how we do it here’ energy that cooled even the warmest smile. In some of these churches the welcome didn’t even include the congregation.

Of course I recognise that it’s not easy to run a church or centre. I’ve been involved in doing both and certainly at the start of this year was stressed about both. Creating a warm welcome is based on every one of the team focusing on the same things. Again not always easy.

So what are the churches doing right when I feel like I’ve had that welcome? I love it that people smile at me. Even better if they offer me a cup of tea. I might not have one until after my service but an offer is always a kindness. Also I love if the people running the church are smiling at everyone who comes in. I know there are jobs to do before a service but a ‘meeter and greeter’ kind of person can get everyone feeling relaxed. Especially if it’s the first time someone has been to a church.

A church is a family too. For someone who needs the connection to their loved ones feeling comfortable with the people at a church is important. Families do fall out. But I feel it’s best to save disagreements for later. Falling out creates low vibrational energy that can affect the medium, the Spirit visitors and the church congrgation. And as in any family disagreements need to be resolved with an eye on loyalty. Nothing is solved by trying to get people on one side or another. The church is much more welcoming if everyone strives to be loyal to the church not factions within it.

I also feel that the people running the church, the helpers, members, mediums and supporter have to remember something very important. The church represents the Spirit World.

When someone new to the Spiritualist movement steps over the threshold do the feel that the place they have stepped into is peaceful and loving? Do they find people who are there to serve on behalf of loved ones in Spirit? That is the only reason to offer mediumship demonstrations. So it is on all of us involved in churches and centres to take responsibility for creating that warm welcome no matter what. After all, spirituality is something lived, shown through action and behaviour. Not just talked about and then ignored.

I also feel that my thoughts about a warm welcome carry over into other aspects of my life. We seem to find it really hard to work together. To welcome the differences between us as a rich source of choice. I know I have rejected others because I didn’t value their abilities in connection with our joint work. But the Spirit people haven’t given up on me. They prompt my thoughts. They draw my attention to being of service. And they are helping me to change so that I can do better, serve better and live better with the people around me.  Next time you are in disagreement with someone ask yourself if you are being loyal to your spiritual beliefs. The answer might surprise you ?

Day 378 of my blogging challenge.