Tom – Page 4 – Tom Johnston

My Diary … All Three in One Service … The Most Inspirational Words Ever? … How could mankind do this?

My Diary

June…

24th – The Kilwinning Temple of Light
Spiritualist Church. A church that has been in the town for at least
forty-years and one of the first churches I took a service at. Remembering back I was so nervous that I
asked another medium to share the platform with me. This was Fay McMillan and although Fay was an
excellent medium she decided to work with Spirit in other ways.

26th – Angel Light Spiritualist Church. Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre. Daisy St, Glasgow,
G42 8JL. A small church which has been running for a
good many years now thanks to the hard work of Nancy, Christine and Liz.

28th – My
booking at The Love and Friendship Spiritualist Church. Couper Institute, Clarkston Road, Glasgow G44,
had to be cancelled. Even when renting a
hall all the year round there are times when our churches have to give way for
a very special local event and this was one of them. I am not complaining as it
would have given this hard-working committee a break, a rare Sunday off.

July…

7th – The
Free Spiritualist Church, Kilmarnock.

27th – The Saltcoats Spiritual
Church, Argyll Community Centre, Saltcoats, KA21
5AF. Another church which has been
running for many years and again one that I took a service at in my early steps
along my spiritual path. I have to
mention Wendy, Jean and Irene for their hard work over several decades to make
this a very busy church.

29th – Edinburgh College of Parapsychology : 2 Melville St, Edinburgh EH3 7NS. Check out
http://www.edinburghpsychiccollege.com for forthcoming attractions.

All Three in One Service

Since I came into
Spiritualism twenty-five years ago there have been many changes, some positive and others negative. Personally the most positive change is including the Healing Service with the Divine Service. The first time I experienced this was at the Milngavie and Bearsden Spiritualist Church and although it is slowly catching on

I would like to see a quicker transition.

Spiritualism is a package,
a package which includes Philosophy, Clairvoyance, Healing and much more. Surely having our three main ingredients at a
Divine Service makes sense? Speaking as
a medium I feel the healing being incorporated lifts the energies within the
church compliment each other and makes for more powerful energies throughout
the service.

Why should healing and our
healers be pushed to a slot before or after a divine service, or even .on a different day?
OK – there may be so many wanting healing that time might be a problem,
but surely we can add fifteen minutes to the service for healing. If there is a greater demand for Healing,
then it could continue after the service or those who have their own premises
on a different day as well.

Maybe some churches could
give this a month’s trial.

P.S. The other positive change I
have found was instead of an opening prayer was five minutes
contemplation. This I also experienced
for the first time at the Milingavie and Bearsden Spiritualist Church. A church that is no longer with us, but left
a legacy of positive changes to our Divine Services… All this is down to the Founder and President
Elizabeth Halliday who is also an excellent Spiritualist Medium.

The Most Inspirational Words Ever?

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a £20 note.
In the room of 200, he asked. “Who would like this £20 bill?”

Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this £20 to one of
you – but first, let me do this.”

He proceeded to crumple the “20 note up. He then asked. “Who still wants
it?” Still the hands were up in the air.

“Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” He dropped it on
the
ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up,
now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?”

Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No
matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease
in value. It was still worth £20.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by
the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as
though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you
will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still
priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we
do or who we know, but by …WHO WE ARE.
You are special – don’t ever forget it.

Author Unknown

How could mankind do this?

I have got to the stage in life where I felt that nothing could shock
me.  I have long believed that man’s inhumanity to his fellow man and
other creatures on this planet knows no bounds.  But last week an
article by Liz Jones in the Mail on Sunday (15/8/15) left me feeling upset for
days.  How can such a thing are going on in 2015 in a Commonwealth
country I kept asking myself.

The article described the treatment of elephants at a Temple in Southern
India. I put the link on facebook, but removed it in seconds as it
would have upset so many people Anyone who feels they would like to
read this article please go prepare to be extremely shocked.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3199391/Tortured-tourists-Chained-spot-20-years-Beaten-submission-secret-jungle-training-camps-terrible-plight-Indian-elephants-LIZ-JONES.html

As you will all know we are no angels at home as far as the treatment of
animals are concerned. Our factory farms (Animal concentration
camps) … Fatalities and injuries on or horse/dog racing tracks … Puppy
farms … Dog fighting.

Benita emails; – We owe so much to the animal kingdom
yet our laws are weak if in place at all to punish someone who abuses an
animal.

I hope that those who only get a slap on the wrist for abusing another
species in our courts are dealt with in a stricter way when they reach the
Spirit World. What do you think about Karma where the person who
has committed such an act returns as that animal and receives similar
treatment?

The above reminded me of an email I still had to answer and here it
is…

Hi Benita – At first glance I entirely agree with what you say …
BUT … that means more and more creatures will in suffer and it will create
more and more abusers. And in turn will mean the vicious circle of animal
abuse will not end. What we need is for sentencing to fit the crime in
our courts’. For such sentences to be a deterrent and make people think
twice before abusing an animal. We have to sort out our won mess and not
leave it all to Spirit.

My Diary … The International Medium … Hunger … A nasty protest … Forthcoming events at Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church SNU …

My Diary…

May

10th – It is always an enjoyable visit to
the Coatbridge Spiritualist Church. This
church has been on the go from the mid 1940s and still going strong.

11th – Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church. ** More about up and coming events at the
church further down the blog**

20th – Another class at the Glasgow
Association of “Understanding your psychic abilities”.

22nd / 26th – I attended the
Glasgow Association and during that time I took a workshop, four services and
private sittings.

28th – My furthest journey of the month
to the Arbroath Spiritualist Church. (SNU)
It was a lovely warm evening but that did not stop a good attendance.

June

6th/7th – Aberdeen Bon Accord
Spiritual Church (SNU) Where I had a busy two days with a workshop, a lecture
and two services.

10th – Saw the last of my four classes on
“Understanding your psychic abilities” at the Glasgow Association. Thanks to all who attended.

11th – It was a real pleasure to help out
at Kilmarnock Church’s (SNU) Open Day in aid of Touched by Suicide. The sum raised was £915.

21st – I was over in the Kingdom of Fife
taking the divine service at Dunfermline Spiritualist Church.

22nd –
Pollockshaws and District Church in the Langside Halls Glasgow. This church has been running for close on
40-years and has been of great service to the local community. Recently numbers have been dropping so why not
give this church some support. But, hold
on the church is closed till the first Monday in August…

The International Medium

Constantly I get a drip, drip of
emails concerning the subject of International Mediums. Here are a few; –

“What are your views on those mediums who want to be billed as
International mediums?” LB.

“A church may announce that the medium who is taking the service
is from say Germany, but surely not as an International?” M

A medium freelancing can call themselves what they like, but I
find it out of place when a church advertises or announces a medium as an
International medium?” Blair.

A Spiritual Medium links with another
dimension and relays messages from there to love-ones here, a wonderful achievement uniting the two
worlds. Adding “International” only
means that they have stepped over a man-made line drawn in the sand. I don’t think Spirit recognizes International
borders.

In sport an International whatever is
picked as the best in that country at their particular sport. With mediums it is that you have been
recommended, noticed, or happen to be in another country and a church becomes
aware that you are there. Not all
mediums who work abroad use the “International” title. I know of two who were extremely angry when
“International” was used in their introduction.
Both male mediums of the old-school said it went against all they had
worked for in the service of spirit.

Hunger

When we think of hunger we think of that happening in other countries not
here in the UK, even though so many are using food banks in this country these
days. The other night a young gentleman
approached me showing me some coins in his hand. He asked if I could please add seventy-pence
so he could buy something to eat. As I
had only minutes to catch a bus I said “sorry” and walked on. Already that day I had given to two people
begging in the street so I did not feel guilty.
Yet, something made me stop and miss the bus.

I looked back at the young man he did not look under the influence of
drink or drugs he was shabbily dressed, but clean. Putting my hand in my pocket I found that the
coins I had added up to exactly 70p. So,
I took it as a sign that I had done right to miss my bus and give the young man
the coins. As we walked along the road
together he said that being homeless was terrible to cope with, but having an
empty stomach was hell on earth. He went
on to say that he was not going to buy trash food, but something that was good
for the body and left me at the entrance to a Sainsbury’s store. I was interested in what he was going to buy
and out he came with yoghurts.

I will not forget the look on that young man’s face when I I hope that things are now looking up for
him. This is not the first time I have
heard a homeless person say that hunger is harder to bear

than being homeless.

Protest

What should have been a special
day for the members of a newly-formed Christian Spiritualist Church in England
turned out to be a very upsetting time to say the least. Their first service in new premises with
invited guests included the Mayor, Mayoress, representatives of the local
council and local MP was marred by an unsavoury protest. The church committee had also invited three
other local churches, two apologised for not being able to attend as they were
already running their own services at that time The third refused and said they intended to
protest on the day.

Protest they did … It is alleged they formed a human chain
and accused the Spiritualists of being devil worshipers who were corrupting
ignorant and uneducated minds. It was
not only church goers who fell foul of this mob, but others visiting the building
for other purposes… It was reported that a really vile comment was made to a
pregnant lady, who was visiting the building at the time.. It says a lot for the committee after having
had to put up with such a situation that they still invited the protesters into
the church service to experience what we are all about… Needless to say they refused.

The following evening
another protest and the police attended the scene.

This time the police took an
interest into it being a potentially a religious hate crime. After a discussion
with both parties no further action was taken.
I suppose the correct action to take for the
sake of peace in the community … but should it happen again……..

At least local dignitaries
experienced the love and reverence of a Spiritual service and were able to
compare it with the wrath of another religion.

Forthcoming events at Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church SNU>

I will be taking a series of 4 workshops on “Understanding Your Psychic
Abilities” at Kilmarnock Spiritual Church on 13th, 20th, 27th
August and 10th September.
Admission free…

also….

The highlight of the Spiritual year in Ayrshire is The Kilmarnock
Experience held in Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU) 7th – 9th
August.

This year sharing their wealth of knowledge is Stansted Tutor
Paul Jacobs and Linda Bennett CSNU. Friday
evening there is a double demonstration of mediumship, Saturday workshops from
10.00am-4.30pm, Saturday evening 7.00pm The John Findlay lecture, followed by a
double demonstration of mediumship, Sunday 10.00-4.30pm workshops, and to close
the weekend both these wonderful mediums will be taking our divine service.
Bookings are now being taken at the church, or call 07988688620. The cost of
this weekend will be £75; there are tickets available for part of the seminar

My Diary… Spiritualism… The Inconvenience of Suicide… Your Comments…

My Diary…

April…

18th –
Falkirk Spiritualist Church (SNU) Burghhead Road FK. Even on a Saturday
night, our churches can attract a good attendance. It was a pleasure to
see two little ones in the congregation, one under a year and the other would
not have reached their second birthday. They helped raise the atmosphere
and as I was working, I was amazed at the older lad’s eyes looking all around
and sometimes pointing as if he saw something that was invisible to the rest of
us.

20th – It is
always a pleasure to take the trip north to the Inverness Spiritual Church.
(SNU). I have been serving this church for thirteen years and
always receive a great Highland welcome.

22nd – The
first of my four classes on “Understanding Your
Psychic Abilities” at the Glasgow Association.

23rd – A
short trip to ASK Dreghorn. A friendly little church where the always
smiling Caroline Blair President and Medium make everyone feel so welcome.

26th – Perth
Spiritualist Church (SNU). President Ivy Campbell’s great enthusiasm in
Spiritualism rubs off on all who attend the church. Ivy who has been
active in the administration side of our religion for many years now and
is starting to blossom as a Spiritual medium in her own right.

28th – The
Ascension Christian Spiritualist Church has now moved premises to The Maryhill,
Central Community Centre, Maryhill Road, Glasgow, G20 7YE. Service on a Tuesday
evening at 7.30pm.

May…

3rd – It is
always a pleasure to serve the Ayr Spiritualist Centre.

6th – Understanding Your
Psychic Abilities” at the Glasgow Association.

7th – The
Pyramid Spiritualist Church, Pollock, Glasgow.

Spiritualism.

Spiritualism is a religion, a
philosophy and a science that celebrates Eternal Life and recognizes that our
true nature is spirit. As such, we continue to live after physical death
in a higher dimension known as the Spirit World. As Spirit, we can
communicate with those in the Spirit World through the link of love.

Spirit communication is not
unique to Spiritualism. It has existed since human beings first walked on
the planet and will exist long after our own steps are no longer imprinted in
the sands of time. Spiritualism is life itself, here and hereafter, and
it exists naturally whether we call it a religion or not.

Spiritualism has its 7
Principles; –

The Fatherhood of God.

The
Brotherhood of Man.

Communion of
Spirits and the Ministry of Angels.

Continuous Existence of the
Human Soul.

Personal Responsibility.

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

Eternal Progress open to every Human Soul.

I always
feel that an 8th Principle should be added “Common Sense”.

After the
reading of the 7 Principles at our services we should continue with; –

We believe…

“All men are
my brothers, all women are my sisters, all children are my children”.

and

“My country is the universe,

My home the world,

My religion is to do good,

My heaven wherever a human heart beats in harmony with
mine.”

Then maybe we should start a clean-up of our
religion by putting it before ego.

Stop the infighting which dogs our religion.

The Inconvenience of Suicide

Looking
through facebook the other day I was appalled at comments concerning a tragic
incident. A 70-year-old man died when he was hit at Chatham station
trying to pull a woman off the rails. (The lady survived)

Yes,
Thousands of train users were delayed as trains were held up for more than an
hour.

Yes,
Rail workers cleared up the mess – not a nice job for anyone. The
driver of the train who will have to live with this incident for the rest of
his life.

But
I am appalled at the accompanying comments; –

“I find
this highly fashionable and public form of suicide to be tiresome and attention
seeking”.

“Everyone
has the right to end their life but not to inconvenience others in this
apparently self-centred way”.

I
was surprised that the person making these comments would have written such a
thing and then made them on public on facebook. To be fair, I emailed
them and asked if their facebook account had been hacked. I have received
no reply and have been taken of their fb friend list like others who
complained.

The
comments lack compassion and understanding on what drives people to suicide.
I say no more on the matter as my blood pressure is on the rise.

Your comments

I received several emails on my comments on this blog on 29th
March “Cashing in on Grief”. I was surprised that commercialism has found
a niche in making human ashes into all sorts of products. Here are a few;
–

Dan – “When I heard of this I felt this was a great idea and thought
not only of part of my grandfather living on, but living on connected with his
great interest, betting on the horses. I would write my
daily bet out with a pencil made up of my granddad’s ashes after
cremation. I read that ashes from an average human body can produce up to
240 pencils. Granddad would be involved in betting on the horses for
evermore.

The smile was soon knocked of my face when I mentioned it to the
family. The look of horror on their faces was frightening. I was in the
dog’s house after that and I still am as far as some members of the family are
concerned. On hindsight it was not as good an idea as I first thought”.

Jane – “I thought it a horrible idea and was shocked my friend
decided to go in this direction with her mother’s and gran’s ashes. But,
she put a lot of thought into it and decided on hand blown glass vases for both
her loved one. She has placed both in a window that looks out onto the
garden they both loved so in this case such a thing has my approval. An
extra plus is that the window that gets a lot of sun and it is as if the
brightly colours vases come to life”.

And on my last blog on Karma… Stephanie Wilson comments…

“I agree with you about the Karma
approach. I have always remembered a quote that my Yoga teacher gave us to
think about.

“How different our life would
have been if we had been born into another body,”.

Jacquie McC wrote…

“I too have read many books saying we choose our parents and wonder
if there is truth in this statement. Who would choose to be born into a
family, only to suffer abuse whether it be physical or emotional, to suffer
hunger and starvation not only of food, but of love? It seems a strange
choice. Yes, I can see that it may be a path on the road to redemption,
to suffer and therefore grow more spiritually pure, but that is not necessarily
the case. Suffering often leads to hatred and acts of terror. Do unto
others as they have done to you? Perhaps it is the idea that if/when we return
to earthly life we are better equipped to deal with certain situations we did
not cope well with the last time round. Who knows? Maybe at some
point after death we are given the choice to redeem ourselves, to move up to a
higher spiritual plane, equipped with the knowledge of how to succeed this time.
Would we then, as human beings with our own free will, make use of such
knowledge? Perhaps that is the test.

Karma is an interesting theory. What goes around comes
around. Good Karma, bad karma. I liked your theory that if you
lived a good life you did not need to come back to prove yourself, if you did
come back, then you suffered the same fate as those you’d wronged in a past
life. For some things that makes sense, but when I think about those poor
children, babies, you mentioned in your blog I find it hard to believe anyone
would volunteer for such a fate. The little lost boy, known only unto
God, and the day old baby savagely attacked by a paedophile. (most
distressing, I hadn’t even heard about that) I remember hearing
about someone who had given Healing to patient a long time ago. This
person had a club foot and according to the Spirit Guide who was helping , he
had this impediment because in a past life he had caused someone to lose their
foot by running them over in a carriage! There is perhaps truth in both
versions. Those coming back to ‘suffer’ karma, may in fact be able to
choose their parents”

Thanks to all who emailed.

Latest on my website… My Diary… Planned or a Lottery?.. I Believe… Legalised Suffering….. “My Angel” A poem By Rachael Hunter a talented and brave young lady from Northern Ireland… Wise words from Archbishop Tutu… www.tomjohnstonspiritualistmedium.com

My Diary…

March…

2nd Pollockshaws and
District Spiritualist Church , Glasgow.

4th My first visit to the
Dunoon Spiritualist Church. I thank
Carol Stirling and the members for a very warm welcome.

8th Unfortunately I had to
cancel my visit to the Edinburgh Spiritual Society because of the flu.

15th It is always a pleasure
to travel to ASK Dunfermline. A busy
church and an excellent centre for learning can be found at 30 Mercer Place,
Dunfermline KY11 4UG

17th Free Spirit
Spiritualist Church, 22 London Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 7AQ.

23rd A short distance to a church that I have been
serving for twenty-years – Saltcoats Spiritualist Church, Argyll Community Centre, Campbell
Ave, Saltcoats KA21 5AG. This church
meets Monday evenings at 7.30.

24th It was a full house as usual at ASK
Cumbernauld, Greenfaulds Community Centre, Lochinvar Road, Cumbernauld,
Glasgow, North Lanarkshire G67 4AR, UK.

30th It is always a pleasure
to head south to the Cumnock Spiritualist Church. This church is now back in its original
venue… Cumnock Town Hall, Monday evenings at 7.30.

Planned or a Lottery?

Babies
have been at the forefront of the news these past few days… William and Kate
now have a little daughter…… Hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their respects to a
“precious” baby boy they never knew and whose name remains
unknown…A paedophile was found guilty of raping a day-old baby… A baby pulled from Nepal earthquake rubble
after 22 hours…

All four
born into the world innocent and within a short time they have already been
subject to the highs and lows this planet has to offer. One will be known all over the world as a
Princess fourth in line to the British Throne.
Another who has her face shown all around the world but will some leave
the limelight and be just another earthquake victim. A little soul who will
always be known as the ‘nameless one’ who no one came forward to claim. And a little soul who hardly had time to
become aware of his surroundings before he experienced such evil.

There are
those who believe that before we are born we choose our path in life. I hear this mostly for those who have written
a book on the subject or crave the limelight. They put forward theory without proof.. I seldom hear such comments from those who
are at the sharp end of what this world has to offer.

Personally I believe
it is a lottery as far as the parents we
are born too and which part of the world we arrive in. A baby could be born into a wealthy family
and receive no love but one born into a poor family and be given so much
love. Money is not the be-all-and
–end-all but it does help. I find it difficult or impossible to accept that anyone
would have chosen to end up in a WWII Concentration Camp, living in
Cambodia when Poll Pot was in power, or to volunteer to be a peasant in
North Korea during the past fifty or so years.

I prefer
the Karma approach where a person returns to this life to suffer in the same
way that they made others suffer. And
those who tried to do good in this life, helping those who were less fortunate
than themselves will not need to return The latter I hope will travel on
through the Spirit World from stage to stage as they gained more
knowledge. I would be happier with this
and feel that this is true justice.

One of the most popular songs in Spiritualist churches these days;-

“I BELIEVE”

I believe for every drop
of rain that falls a flower grows

I believe that somewhere in the darkest night our candle glows

I believe for everyone who goes astray someone will come to show the way

I believe, I believe

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard

I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky

Then I know why I believe

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky

Then I know why I believe.

What wonderful words one would have thought it was written as a hymn,
but it was not. I have always like this song since it was recorded by The
Bachelors in1961, but I usually concentrate on the music and I did not look at
the words seriously until I first heard it being sung in one of our churches. In fact, that night was the first time
I heard a pop-song being sung in a church. The words seemed so special that I
decided to do a little research.

“I Believe” is
the name of a popular song written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl
and Al Stillman in 1953.

“I Believe” was
commissioned and introduced by Jane Froman on her television show, and became
the first hit song ever introduced on TV. Jane, troubled by the uprising of the
Korean War in 1952 so soon after World War II, asked those mentioned above to
compose a song that would offer hope and faith to the populace.

“I Believe” has been recorded by
many singers over the years as diverse as Roger Whittaker, David Whitfield,
Perry Como, Barbra Striesland, Elvis Presley and Andy Williams and many more. My favourite
versions being The Bachelors.

Legalised Suffering

The
Horrific sight immediately following the 2015 Grand National. of the winner
Many Clouds staggering about completely exhausted and had to be doused with gallons
of water for at least ten minutes after the race. If my memory serves me right
the word ‘exhausted‘ was not mentioned
and replaced by ‘overheated’ and ‘staggering’ was replaced by ‘wobbly’. I wonder if it was a spin
doctor who thought all this up? What made the scene worse was that yards away
from the stricken horse race goers were back slapping and congratulating one
another.

Three
horses that I saw had crashing falls with Baltizar King being unable to get to
his feet for 20-minutes. As soon as the poor creature got to its feet we
continually heard from racing pundits that Baltizar King was fine. It was later
announced that the horse had three broken ribs. I wonder if those in the racing
world who claim they love horses would like to suffer the pain that Many Clouds
and Baltizar King suffered. What I find incredible is the praise for a top NH
jockey for holding up a flag to warn those still in the race to avoid the
stricken Baltizar King. Everything to
take the attention away from the plight of the horse.

My Diary…Become a Member and Have Your Say… Cashing In On Grief?… A Common Lesson by Moira McMillan A peom by Shellie Nicholl, Belfast and a Spiritual message by the Dalai Lama…

Sorry my blog has been much longer this time in being updated. From now on I will get back to the 3 ½ weeks
that was usual in the past. And thanks everyone
who emailed asking if I was OK because of the delay. My mother-in-law passed to Spirit and I have
had flu symptoms for over a month but hopefully all is now running smoothly.

*** Please note my new mobile number is 07729993130 ***

…My Diary…

Jan…

11th – My first service of the year at the Friendship
of love and Light Spiritual Church, Foxbar, Paisley…

18th
– The Stirling Spiritualist
Church…(SNU)

21st
– A little further north this time to the Perth Spiritualist Church…(SNU)

29th
– I was much closer to home at the Pyramid Spiritualist Church, Pollock…

Feb…

1st
– Is is always a pleasure to take the Divine Service at Kilmarnock Spiritualist
Church. (SNU)

4th
– I had a busy day at the Edinburgh College of Parapsychology
with a demonstration of Clairvoyance and private sittings…

10th – ASK Neilston…

15th – 17th – Glasgow
Central Spiritualist Church, Berkley Street, Glasgow. (SNU)

18th – Prestwick Spiritualist Church.

… Become a Member
and Have Your Say…

This is the AGM season as far as Spiritualist churches are concerned. At
this time of year members leave committees and new members takes over It does not take long for the dust to settle
and then it is clear to see who is giving 100% commitment to the church and who
likes to wear the badge, ‘committee member’ yet leaves all the work to
others. As I medium I know full well
that committee members are the unsung heroes of Spiritualist keeping church
door open.

All members can have a vote and their say at these meeting. No use sitting in the church after a service
and moaning over a cup of tea as this lowers the good vibes in the church and
causes a lot of resentment. . Become a
member and you become an important part of the church. Any complaint, praise or suggestion you can
mention to a committee member, or better still write a letter to the
committee. I know at the church where I
am a member – The Glasgow Association of Spiritualists – all letters received
by the committee are fully discussed.

As far as the SNU is concerned become an Individual Member and you can attend
the District Council’s AGM and again have your say. If you are not happy with your answers you
can also write to the National Executive Council (NEC) at Stanstead. Although I am a SNU Individual member I am
not happy with all the rules and regulations.
On many occasions I have written or emailed members of the NEC. On all occasions I have impressed by the swift
and detailed replies. Judith Seaman
deserves special mention for this.

But vote sensibly; ask Spirit for a little guidance and that goes for
those on committees as well.

Cashing In On Grief?

We Spiritualists know that we move on to a new life
when we leave this physical body. The physical
remains are usually disposed off with the wishes of the individual or the
family, burial, left to medical science or a cremation. Recently I have been shocked to find out that
businesses have been built around human ashes after a cremation.

The remains of your loved one being used to nourish
a young sapling as it grows in a Memorial Tree Urn.

Fireworks – Angel
Flights can turn your cremated remains into an amazing light show for all to
see.

In Helium Balloons – remains placed inside a helium
balloon that floats up into the atmosphere. The balloon travels to a height of
5 miles where at the temperature of -40 below zero – it crystallizes and
bursts, scattering the ashes to the four winds.

Also as …a Coral Reef…….. An Hour Glass… a Diamond…….. Mixed in Paint
and used in for a portrait of the deceased…In Teddy Bear…….. A Pencil… Hand
Blown Glass… Put into a Vinyl Record… Tattoo ink….Stained Glass….. Memorial
Jewelry…. Glass Paperweight….

All to their own but I must admit I personally I
find apart from the tree, the rest is gruesome.
I hope that big business is not going to target grieving families making
them feel that they have to do something like this in memory of a loved one
that has passed. Many families find it
hard with the cost of the funeral cremation without this added extra. I remember at one time many felt that
although they loved a family member it was putting a strain on those left to
have a headstone to add to the funeral cost.
So the cremation became more popular.
Then many felt that there was no recognition of those who had passed
away so ‘remembrance books’ and planting a flower or a rose bush at the
crematoriums came into play. Now this is
again the moving on in remembrance of those who have been cremated.

COMMON LESSON

A situation around
me gave my guide the reason to speak out re this lesson; the lesson involved is
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!

This
word is so often used with ease, but just how easy is it to live it daily.
????

We
under estimate the emotional content in our relationships–, we feel hurt,
anger and Can be overwhelmed by resentment as situations challenge
US… Yes we are tested to show unconditional love and
overlook and perhaps forgive those that “ROCK OUR BOAT’ so to speak.

Can we really say
unconditional love is present all the time or just when it suits us? ????

As we get older we
realize that we all make mistakes.   Do we love our friends any less
because of this mistake or error of judgement?    Sadly we often
do, we judge them for it, we think a little less of them and sometimes we allow
it to ruin a good friendship or relationship.    What happens to
all that unconditional love we profess to have for them???    Can
we not open our hearts to them and offer our love unconditionally?

Moira McMillan

Spiritualist Medium
Australia…

My Diary…Looking back and forward… A Sanctuary closes its doors…Holocaust Remembrance Day… Anne Franks…

As you will see this blog is a few weeks coming
on-line…

My Diary…

December…

1st… Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU). This was the night I was to share the
platform with members of the Kilmarnock development group which I have been
helping along their Spiritual path throughout the year. On the night only one felt they wanted to take
the platform and it was a privilege to share the platform with Andrew .

7th… It is always a pleasure to take the platform at Ayr
Spiritualist Centre (SNU)

8th… My final booking of the year was at the Pollockshaws and District Spiritualist Church.

Looking back on 2014..

I am happy I have to have been able to
run classes for those who only want to learn the basics of our religion and their
psychic abilities… The feedback from
those attending has been extremely positive.
This is something Spiritualism in general has not had on offer.   Open circles, workshops and studying for
exams are no substitute for a gentle and structured introduction to our
religion and our sixth-sense.   Spiritualism at the moment is geared up to
platform and healing training and ignoring others who do not wish to go along
those paths. Even those who do want to be a healer or medium, they jump into
training without having nursery level education.

In 2015 I hope that all connected with
Spiritualism will; – Consider what Spirit will think of how they conduct
themselves in connection with our religion.

Will Spirit be happy with you putting
your, ego and finances before the religion that you claim to be part off?

Choose whether you want to be part of
a religion or part of an act in cabaret.

Churches also have an important task
of who they put on the platform.

… A Sanctuary Closes its Doors…

The year had hardly begun when it was
announced that because
of ill health Elizabeth Halliday founder and president of the Milngavie and
Bearsden Spiritualist Sanctuary was closing the Sanctuary. Health comes first and we wish Elizabeth a
quick recovery. The
Sanctuary was like a breath of fresh air sweeping through Spiritualism in this
area when it opened 2 ½ years ago. During that time they were immediately
accepted by the local community and asked to take part in the Remembrance Day
Service, laying a wreath at the local cenotaph. They made changes to the normal
Spiritualist Service, not outlandish changes, but getting the congregation more
involved with the proceedings. Then on Christmas Eve the Sanctuary opened its doors for a get-together
and meditation. But
Elizabeth will not be disappearing from the Spiritual scene. Both Elizabeth and Agnes McDonald will be
teaming up to take services many churches throughout the year.

The terrorist attacks
in Paris were horrendous and our thoughts go out to the families who have lost
loved ones. But how many in the Western
world stopped to think that such happenings are part of everyday life in many
parts of the world. But for the grace of
God we could have been born in
Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq etc. Where
shootings and bombings as I have said part of everyday life. Just think what it would be like having many
family members killed. Your house and
all that you owned destroyed. Having to
flee your country and live in a massive refugee camp with little hope for the
future. That is life for so many people
on planet Earth today.

What can we do apart
from donating to charities that help in such situations? Maybe you would expect me on a blog like this
to say – pray. – Which I do suggest. But
also to make your thoughts known to our leaders, that you want – talk before
the bullet and the bomb. For those who
represent us to think long-term before taking any action. So many actions in the past has made situations
worse and caused new atrocities. So much
that has been done by all sides in the conflicts that affect us today that have
meant misery, suffering and death to the innocent.

This
week events took place around the world for The Holocaust Memorial Day and my
mind went back to… our visits to Auschwitz- Birkenau and concentration camp in Poland and The Anne
Frank Museum in Amsterdam.

The Auschwitz- Birkenau camps are
places where everyone should have the opportunity to visit. Once leaving I am sure that most will have a
new perspective in life.

Anne Franks had a short life of only thirteen years but the
words from her diary will live on forever. A couple of years
ago we visited the Anne Frank’s house which is now a museum. It was a
very moving experience. I find Anne Frank’s
diary so important because it depicts her experience of the Holocaust – from a
child’s point of view. Representing the face of innocence, Anne Frank’s story
is so heartfelt and sincere that it appeals to the world. A book that all
mankind should read…

My Diary….Mankind’s biggest threat… No – to Caberet… Ban on Dalai Lama… My Favourite Hymn… Relaxing/Inspirational Music.

My Diary…

November…

1st – Bearsden and
Milingavie Spiritualist Sanctuary which has changed the time of its service to
12.30 pm…

Then in the evening it was a privilege
to take the service at the Love and Friendship Spiritualist Church, Couper Institute,
Cathcart, Glasgow, G44 3DA.

Both above have a structured
development groups that take time to let their members slowly develop their
psychic abilities and understanding of Spiritualism.

2nd – It was quiet an
adventure to get to the Largs Spiritualist Church. The weather was really bad so I thought I
would leave the car at the station and travel to Largs by train. The train only got as far as Kilwinning when
the journey was terminated because of overhead cable problems further up the
line. Shuttle busses had to be called in
and as I was not sure they would get me to the church on time so I had to
travel to Largs by taxi. The medium must
get to the church on time.

7th – 11th I was
at the Glasgow Association, Somerset Place, Glasgow.

12th – I was back to the
Glasgow Association for the last of my five classes on “The Basics of
Spiritualism and your Psychic Abilities.
These classes were well attended and proved my point that there are many
within our religion want to have a simple structured introduction to our
religion without attending expensive workshops which usually are targeted at
those who are seeking to set foot on the platform

13th – I was off to the
Blantyre Spiritualist Church.

16th – 18th – I
took the three services at the Glasgow Central Spiritualist Church, 64
Berkeley Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G3 7DS.

19th – I
headed east to take an evening of clairvoyance at the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Centre in Edinburgh.

20th –
Once again sitting with the Kilmarnock Spiritual Church’s fledglings.

24th– It
is always a pleasure to take the trip north to the Smithton Hall,
Smithton, Inverness, IV2 7NP. An
extremely enthusiastic committee and members.

The Biggest Threat to Mankind

The British Home Secretary commented
last week “Britain is facing the biggest terrorism threat in its history”. Yet the biggest threat to mankind is cancer
and surely we should be doing more to eradicate this disease. We can send a man to the moon, land a probe
on a comet millions of miles away from Earth, but for decade’s cancer has been
acting like a terrorist, attacking the young, old, rich and poor alike. Few of us will have been close to a terrorist
attack or know someone who has, but we all know many who have been diagnosed
with cancer. Maybe if we paid as much
attention to preventing the onslaught of cancer as we do preventing terrorist
attacks then we could beat this disease.

Yes, we are making in-roads in the
treatment of many types of cancers but not fast enough. People all around the world are donating to
charities to fight this disease and to comfort those in the final stages of
this illness, but should not governments be doing more in the battle against
cancer? We need to get our priorities
right – and fast.

No – to Cabaret…

A long time ago I decided to work entirely
within churches and any night out with a church was a no-go-area for me. I felt that I could not expect churches to
ask me to take a service if I was taking part in events that were more like
entertainment etc. Through the years I
have been asked to take part in such nights and I have politely explained my
position and refused, with the refusal being accepted in good grace.

Three times this year I have been
asked to take part in three events which has went a stage further, with two of
them being working alongside entertainers such as could be seen in a circus or
fairground etc… Again I politely
explained by position and it was accepted with good grace.

Those who have this heightened ability
6th sense have the free will to do as they wish. They can take the path of Spiritualism the
religion or that of entertainment. They
cannot serve two masters. If they do
then Spiritualism is the loser. and the pioneers of our religion will have
suffered in vain. Maybe we should all
think of Spiritualism’s 5th Principle – and take “Personal
Responsibility” for our actions –
making it clear whether we are Representatives of Spiritualism / Ambassadors of
Spirit or going into the entertainment industry. Churches have a big responsibility in this
issue, they need to stand up and be
counted. Think twice before they put some on their
platform who is.

We can live comfortably together all
we need to do is to take one path and stick to it – not keep jumping the fence
whenever it suits us. Make it clear to
the public whether we are psychic or spiritualist mediums, Ambassadors for
spirit or entertainers.

Ban on Dalai Lama

One of the great men of our time His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has again
been refused entry to South Africa where he was scheduled to attend the 14th
world summit of Nobel peace laureates.
Because of this ban other delegates have refused to attend forcing the
organizers to move the summit to another country. The gentleman of peace frequently states
that his life is guided by three major commitments: the promotion of basic
human values or secular ethics in the interest of human happiness, the fostering
of inter-religious harmony and the preservation of Tibet’s Buddhist culture, a
culture of peace and non-violence.

How such a man of peace could be banned unless
South African is trying to align its self closer to China. I am sure that Mr Nelson Mandela would not have
approved of such a ban.

Marie emails “What is your favourite hymn from the Spiritualist hymn book?”

Marie – many churches have their own hymn books but
if you mean the Spiritualist National Union’s Hymn Book one stands out a mile
as far as I am concerned. It is the
“Absent Healing Hymn” not often sung in churches these days with the “Healing
Hymn” being more popular. That is one of
the reasons why I like to attend the Ayr Spiritualist Church (SNU) as my
favourite hymn is sung at every service.

Absent Healing Hymn…..

Enter in the Silence

Pause a while to pray

Take the best that’s in you

Give it all away

In our healing minute

Everyday we blend

Loving thoughts we sent to

All our absent friends

People tired and weary

Hurt by grief and pain

Sick in mind and body

All the world’s the same

Father we would help them

Loving thoughts we send

Helping all thy children

With thy love to blend

Father we are learning

How to live each day

Helping all our brothers

As we sit and pray

There is much within us

We can always find

Willingly we give it

Helping all mankind

Music: In the Bleak-Mid-Winter.

Words: Ron Bowers…

Rhona – I have mentioned music that I find inspirit and relaxing of my ‘recommended page’ but I will also
mention some here on my blog starting with…..

Paste the following on to a search page – Vangelis –
Cosmos (Theme from TV Series) – as I cannot get the link on
this site at the moment.

I wish everyone

A Merry Christmas…

Health, Peace and
Happiness in 2015….

My Dairy… “Our Daughter” (An amazing story in a father’s own words of his daughter’s illness, passing and proof of survival)… A Psychic Investigation Beneath Glasgow Central Station…. The Inter Faith Network and Spiritualism… The Duration of a Spiritual Service…

…My Diary…

6th – 10th We were down in Warickshire and spent a day
in Cambridge…

11th – It was a pleasure to
help out at the Glasgow Association’s Bring and Buy Sale… (SNU)

12th – I took the service
at popular Coatbridge Spiritualist
Church.

16th – 18th – We
are heading south again this time to Oxfordshire…

21st –In the opposite
direction to the well attended Dalneigh Spiritualist Church in Inverness.

23th – It is always a pleasure to join
forces with the Kilmarnock Church Development Circle. (SNU).

25th – A busy day with first helping out at Glasgow
Central’s (SNU) coffee afternoon and then on to Falkirk Spiritualist Church
(SNU) in the evening. The latter could
be doing with a little more support, so if you stay in the Falkirk area why not
pay the church a visit.

Sunday – 6.30-8pm Divine Service…. Tuesday – 6.30 – 8pm Healing .8 – 9pm Service with mediumship…. Saturday – 7 –
8.15pm Service with mediumship

26th – Atrocious weather
conditions meant that my journey to Largs Spiritualist Church (SNU) did not run
smoothly. Instead of my usual mode of
transport to Largs I left the car at Glengarnock station and went by train. But
that was only as far as Kilwinning as overhead cable problems and I had to take
a taxi on the final lap to the church.
The medium must get to the church on time.

29th – The fourth of my
five well attended classes on “The Basics of Spiritualism and our Psychic
Abilities”.

30th – A short journey to
ASK Dreghorn. A very welcoming church
that could do with a little more support.
So Spiritualist in the Dreghorn and Irvine areas why not pay the church
a visit at Townend Community Centre, 15 Townfoot, Dreghorn, KA11 4EQ.

Our Daughter.

Beautiful, sensitive with a lively
interest in others. This young woman was
29 years old with a husband and two small children. Well loved by all, her cheery manner
brightened up many a sad time. The diagnosis
of inoperable cervical cancer was all the more shattering because inoperable
means it’s bad but she looked so well. The next two years were a roller-coaster of
emotions as treatment gave hope, tears, relief, then again worry, anger and
helplessness as we watched our beautiful child bravely lose her battle.

The surgeons eventually told me and
her husband that there would be no more chemotherapy but the painkillers would
be increased. I was devastated and on our return home I
felt afraid to enter her bedroom. She
asked me “What did he say dad?” I told her “Love isn’t going to be enough
this time”. She said “I have been trying to tell you but you that
but you wouldn’t accept it”. I broke
my heart and we cried together as my child tried to reassure me, her father who
had always fixed things before. She
seemed calm, at peace and even slept better.
I know that some of you have been in the same awful situation but this
explanation is needed in order to tell about the extra ordinary happenings
later.

We were advised to try healing and
contacted the Glasgow Association of Spiritualists in Somerset Place. The healers were so helpful and kind to
us. As our daughter weakened they came
to us on home visits only asking for a cup of tea for their valuable time and
commitment. The temporary pain relief,
more colour to her cheeks and brighter eyes testified to the benefits of these
visits… She asked so many questions
like “What do you see when you die?” “What will I feel” and “What will I do at the
last moment?” My wife and I sat by
her bed and played haunting songs of Charles Lansborough. He is a very special performer who writes
good songs like “My Forever Friend”. Our daughter commented on seeing her
grandmother who had passed on and who she was very fond off. We couldn’t see anything but as her last few
days passed she began talking to her granddad too. She hugged them and was hugged by them,
describing them as we sat wishing we could see and hear them. She was now off all medication saying to her
doctor that healing was all she needed.

The Hospice sent the senior doctor to
check why; when the pain should have been unbearable she was not taking
anything. He left accepting the strange
circumstances. Our daughter smiled
through her ordeal and apologised to her mother for the personal care that she
needed day and night, having refused the available nursing volunteers. It was difficult watching my wife tend the
baby she had given birth too. Our
daughter seemed to spend hours in a quiet dream like state, but when she spoke
to us she told us that she had been in a wonderful place. As she described it her eyes lit up. I now believe she was lifting in and out of
her body in a sort of trial run. As she
talked, we as her parents were forced to admit that the greatest loss we ever
had to cope with was about to happen. My
wife asked our daughter “If there is life
after this, let us know”, and the reply “Watch for the butterfly”.

She passed at 6.15 on a cold snowy
morning in January. My wife minded me to
observe that our daughter was covered by what looked to be a haze of steam or
mist. We felt that we had to say goodbye
and told her we loved her. I previously
believed that death was slow shutting down of the body as it died. Now I felt, holding her hand, and my wife
holding her other hand, a powerful sensation like a whoosh of energy as she
left her body. It felt similar to
sitting on a plane at the end of a runway, then whoosh – you feel it go. Powerful and strong, yet leaving a frail body
that could not possibly have supplied the energy to blast out of it in that
way. “She
has gone” we told each other. Gone
yes, but not died but actually gone somewhere.

The weather for the week of her
funeral was the coldest for a century, minus 18 degrees according to the
press. The service was taken by the Rev
Jim Biggins, Minister of Glasgow Association of Spiritualists of Somerset Place
and close to 300 attended. The coffin
lay between two open curtains. The
minister told us to all be happy because the body is just a shell and the spirit
flies free. As if on cue a Red Admiral
butterfly flew out from between the open curtains, dancing and fluttering over
the first few rows of people. As they
pointed to it, the buzz of conversation caused the Minister to pause and look
around. The butterfly seemed to be
excited and wanted to be noticed, not behaving like usual types. Our granddaughter said “Sure that’s my mummy isn’t it.

Many people went on to the reception a
few miles away. There a friend came up
to me and said “You must see this”. Outside on the frosty glass window was
another butterfly wings beating and very much alive. This one was larger but an unlikely visitor
in the extremely cold conditions outside.
We thanked our daughter for the pure love that crosses between this word
and the next. I checked the butterfly
world and was informed that no Red Admiral would be alive in minus 18o of icy conditions let
alone fly so energetically. The
reference library tells me that the Red Admiral is called “the messenger”. I believe
the Greek word for it is “psyche”. The Native American sign for spirit is a “butterfly”.

On the morning she passed our
telephone rang a few times despite being unplugged from the wall socket. Our daughter promised “to set dad up with the phone – you watch” in a letter we received later. Her children saw her in the woods just
briefly on a family visit.

We are ordinary folk still trying to
come to terms with all this, but we consider ourselves lucky that we were shown
something that perhaps others are more aware off by study or natural
awareness. Until we see our daughter
again we have been helped.

I hope that our story will have helped
you a little. A little piece of a huge
jigsaw is all we see for now. Someday we
will all understand the bigger picture.

Our thanks to the Glasgow Association
of Spiritualists.

Name withheld for family reasons.

Glasgow’s Central Station has started
running behind-the-scenes tours taking in everything from the huge glass roof
to derelict tunnels deep underground. I felt
privileged to be asked by the Scottish Ghost Club to take part in an
investigation – note ‘investigation’ not ‘ghost hunts’ as many paranormal
organizations call such evenings. So on
31st August 2012 I descended into the depths of Glasgow Central Station. Full official report
can be found on the www.ghostclub.org.uk/gc_invest_main.htm

The SNU is one of the four new
organizations recently accepted to the Inter Faith network. The others being the Pagan Federation, the
Druid Network and the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints.

The
Inter Faith Network for the UK works to promote understanding, cooperation and
good relations between organisations and persons of different faiths in the UK. The IFN provides opportunities for linking
and sharing of good practice, providing advice and information to help the
development of new inter faith initiatives and the strengthening of existing
ones. It also raises awareness within wider society of the importance of inter
faith issues and develops programmes to increase understanding about faith
communities, including both their distinctive features and areas of common
ground.

David Hopkins, SNU Minister, author
and broadcaster is the Inter Faith Ambassador for the SNU. I have great respect for the Rev Hopkins who
writes some excellent articles in his regular monthly contributions to the
Psychic News”.

Bryn: – ideally, how long should a
Spiritual service last?

An interesting question… I would say
75-80 minutes. 10/15 minutes for the address, 40 minutes for the clairvoyance
and 15 minutes for the reading, hymns/music and for absent healing.

My Diary… Spiritual Harvest Festival… Psychic Suppers… Comments…

My Diary…

September…

21st
– I attended the Edinburgh Spiritual Society, 34 Albany Street, EH1 3QH. (SNU)

22nd
– I travelled north to the Inverness Spiritualist Church (SNU). A very hard working committee and
enthusiastic members keep Spiritualism very much alive in the north.

25th
– Again my route is north and this time to the Arbroath Spiritualist Church,
20-22 Commerce Street, Arbroath, DD11 1NB.
(SNU) Service is at 7.30 on a
Thursday evening. A church that could be doing with some support.

28th
– My third trip north in seven days.
This time to the Perth
Spiritualist Church, Methven Buildings, 40 New Row, Perth, PH1 5QA. (SNU).

30th
– I received a great welcome from The Ascension Christian Spiritualist Church, Fred Paton Day Care
Centre, 19 Carrington St, Glasgow G4 9AJ.
Services Sunday 6.30 and Tuesdays 7.30.
Another church that could be doing with a bit more support.

October…

1st A
good turn out once again for my class “A
Basic Introduction to Spiritualism and
our Psychic Abilities” at the Glasgow Association.

2nd – There
was a good turnout at the Pyramid Spiritualist Church, Leithland
Neighbourhood Centre, Kempsthorn Road, Pollock, G53 5SR. A friendly little church that is always well
supported by the local community.

A Spiritual Harvest Festival…

Looking
at a website memories of Scotland the
words ‘harvest festival’ brought back
many memories for me. I have never been
aware of a Harvest Festival taking place
in Spiritualist churches in this area so I searched on Google. I found that several English churches have such a
service. One website did catch my eye it
was the Progress Spiritualist Church, Mount Lawley, Western Australia.

HARVEST FESTIVAL – SUNDAY 24th AUGUST

The Churches annual Harvest Festival will be held on Sunday 24th
August.

On this day the Church celebrates both the physical harvest and
spiritual harvest of workers.

Dedications

Dedications are held on the day. Here a dedicant offers their life to God,
Divine Truth and in service of humanity. Please see Andy for further
information or offer yourself for dedication.

Here
is a Spiritual Harvest with a difference – a Spiritual difference. With a little tweaking to the Australian version we
could format a service that would be ideal for our services in this part of the
world. We Spiritualists have no special
days like Orthodox churches and maybe if we could adopt a Harvest Festival for
mind as well as body. Not to make a
public dedication of our beliefs – but in private. To bring produce that can later be shared to
local homeless charities and food banks.
And during the service for each individual to silently look back at the
past year to see what we can harvest from it in terms positive spiritual
progression

Here
is a Spiritual Harvest with a difference – a Spiritual difference. Something with a little tweaking to the
Australian version that would be ideal for our Spiritualist Churches. We
Spiritualists have no special days like Orthodox churches and maybe if we adopt
a Harvest Festival for mind as well as body.
Not to make a public dedication of our belief – but in private. To bring produce that can later be shared to
local homeless charities and food banks.
And during the service for each individual to silently look back at the
past year to see what we can harvest from it in terms positive spiritual progression

Psychic
Suppers…

In the past psychic
suppers used to be quite popular but over the years they have almost
disappeared. Recently a church asked me to take part in a psychic supper which I agreed too, only for a few weeks later to be
told it had to be cancelled. The reason was mediums were not too keen on
taking part. I have noticed in the past, the public have been keen on such an
evening but mediums have not. I wonder why? Surely this is a night with a
difference but at the same time keeping within the boundaries of Spiritualism
as a religion. Such nights would help to keep church finances healthy and
some of the proceeds could go to a local charity. Of course it is
hard work for the committee but it doesn’t seem to be the committees that are
complaining. I am sure Spirit would be happier with psychic suppers than
mediums giving evenings of clairvoyance in pubs’ clubs and theatres

My comments on “Do we really live in a civilised society” in my last blog have
caused quite a bit of controversy.

Gwen emailed: – Tom, you call yourself a spiritualist yet you can only see the dark
side of life. There’s a lot of good going on out there and yet you concentrate
on all that is negative. You maybe have to look at your own self.

Mark – Tom, not a balanced article. You dwelt on all that
was negative and never mentioned anything positive about the civilised society that
we do live in.

D – Were you having an off day when writing your last blog?

Pepper – In my world the good by far outweighs the bad.

Parker – Tom I agree with your 100%.

Brent – if politicians and others in charge took personal
responsibility for their actions I am sure the world would be a better place.

My Diary…. Do we really live in a civilized society? Kirsty Campbell’s comments on the Seven Principles…Service of Acceptance for Irene McGilvray….

My Diary….

August

17th – A short journey for me to take the
service at Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)

18th – Only a little further south to the
Cumnock Spiritualist Church.

30th –A few hours after returning from holiday
in the north of Scotland and Orkney when we were off to the Glasgow
Association. This was for the Service of
Acceptance for Irene McGilvray.

31st – It is always a pleasure to travel
to Fife and ASK Dunfermline. As always
there was a good turnout. The committee
work hard to promote Spiritualism at its best.

September…

2nd – Neilston Spiritualist Church.

3rd –
Prestwick Spiritualist Church.

Is the human race really civilised? With
what we see on television and read in our newspapers we believe we in the West
are – and the others in many parts of the world are not. But we have to
remember that not too long ago we were in many ways just as barbaric.

In 1727 Janet Horne was the last
person to be executed in Scotland for witchcraft. Janet and her
daughter were imprisoned in Dornoch jail where they were both tried and found
guilty of witchcraft. Despite being old and confused Janet’s neighbours
had accused the old soul of witchcraft. The simple fact that Janet’s
daughter had a deformed hand may be the only reason why people accused her of
this crime. Mother and daughter were found guilty and sentenced to death.
The daughter managed to escape but poor Janet was not so fortunate. The day
after sentencing she was stripped and rolled in tar, then placed in a barrel
and taken in a procession to where she was burned alive. Janet was the
last person to be burned in Britain for witchcraft. So I am sure that
Spiritualists are counting their blessings that they were born in more enlightened times as far as Scotland is
concerned.

Although
we have most certainly moved on from those dark days we still have much to do
before we can accept the accolade of being a civilized nation.

In my life time; –

Look at
the massive abuse of children, and even worse the cover-ups that kept all this
silent. These abused children had nowhere to turn for help as many of
those in authority let them down

The
introduction of factory farming that is hell on earth for the animals that live
their entire lives in these massive buildings…

Allowing
renditions flights to refuel at our airports, knowing that passengers were on
their way to be tortured.

To have
bombed Iraq when there was no need too, and in doing so killed so many innocent
men, women and children.

To be
part of an alliance that is regularly killing and maiming innocent men, women
and children with drone attacks.

The
number of horses that drop dead during or after a race yet we call it a sport.

We hear
almost every hour of the day on 24-hour news channels new barbaric acts
somewhere in the world… Many countries that we call our friends and
allies have torture chambers where each torturer tries to outdo each other by
inventing new forms of torture to inflict extreme pain on their
victims…

Human trafficking
is on the increase.

Certain
parts of the world are living as we lived several hundred years ago. So
as well as criticising those who commit evil deeds we should have at the back
of our mind about our past and we are still not perfect today…

We in our
infinite wisdom have done our best to educate and hurry other countries and
peoples along to be more civilised, to have more compassion and
understanding. But this fast-tracking in many cases has sadly failed,
creating a vacuum making situations worse. There are other times we have
been involved with the sole criteria of politics or securing oil rights rather
than thinking what is best for that particular country and its
people…

So it is equally as important to pray for
wisdom for world leaders as it is to pray for help for the victims.
Politicians, in solving one problem usually end up creating another.
One innocent man woman and child killed is one too many. In every
country there are good and bad and we have to pray that the good of all nations
are given the strength, courage, wisdom and determination to conquer the evil
in their area, then not to replace one evil with another.

So many put their lives at risk I hope
that the Honours system from now on take notice of those who put their life in
danger assisting Humanitarian organizations.

Some may think maybe my
words are a bit too graphic for such a blog, but if others are willing to sweep
the truth under the carpet we should not follow suit. Spiritualism the religion
does not get involved in politics but we as individuals can play our part. I have always been opposed to protest marches
but we can do so much as individuals in other ways. We can join pressure group like Amnesty
International and Animal protection groups. We can also enter into debate with
our elected representatives and keeping on with our complaints till something
is done.

I have asked friends if they would like to contribute something to the
site and here is; –

Kirsty Campbell’s views on our Seven Principles.

Within
S.N.U. Spiritualist centres and churches you will often hear reference given to
“The Seven Principles” and
in particular, the fifth principle “Personal
Responsibility” Often mentioned together with the phrase,
“That we are all responsible for all we think, do and say.” But
this is a very glib way of explaining this principle and really doesn’t explain
much at all. This principle has a hidden depth to it and to be understood needs
to be studied alongside the philosophy of our religion and should also be
quoted alongside the 6th principle “Compensation
and retribution hereafter for all good and evil done on earth”
Why?

The Seven
Principles are neutral, they do not TELL us how to live or behave. They
suggest. They operate no matter what we think of them, they just
are. So if you disagree with them, it makes no difference because
they are in effect anyway and none of us can escape our responsibilities.
This is what separates Spiritualists from Christians, because Christians
believe that they can take their transgressions to Jesus and he will wipe them
clean. The fifth principle says that this is wrong; we do not escape out
responsibilities.

So if we
have responsibility for all we think, say and do- how far does this
extend? It extends for as long as time. What you do today has the
potential to affect the experience of all around you and beyond. You will
often not know the result; it’s a chain reaction which will extend ad
infinitumn. It’s only when we die that we are shown the results of what we
did, thought or said.

So as a
Spiritualist, who understands this principle, we realise that to avoid the
retribution of our negative behaviours we should strive to always think and
behave in a positive way. But we always have some measure of free choice
and because this principle is neutral we can say “Ok I chose to behave negatively,
I will still have to accept the consequences of my actions, either in this
life or the next.”

Spiritualism
is not the only religion to have this principal; most other religions have it
in some form. Indeed Christianity is one of the few who doesn’t.

Isobel and I felt privileged to attend Irene McGilvray’s service
of ‘Acceptance for the position of Officiant or Celebrant as is the term in Scotland,
at the Glasgow Association.
The Officiancy, is granted to
those who are considered capable of conducting services such as marriages,
funerals etc and is by invitation from the National Executive Committee.

The service was taken by Judith Seaman Minister and Vice President (Spiritual) of
The Spiritualists’ National Union. SNU Officiants
or Celebrants in Scotland
are very thin on the ground in Scotland and Irene is a welcome and much needed
addition to the ranks.

The phrase “A great Ambassador for
Spirit” is often abused but not in this case. Irene has worked tirelessly for
Spirit and the SNU for many years. Irene works in churches throughout the
UK and overseas. She has dedicated her life to the Spirit World. She is
passionate about education, demonstrating and teaching within and out with the
Spiritualist movement. She believes that education is the seed that
eradicates fear and ignorance, exposing and promoting the “knowing”
that life truly is eternal and that Spiritualism is not only a religion but
religion based on scientific fact that promotes a wonderful philosophy
positively and profoundly changing people’s lives. Irene also does a lot of
charity work, especially the work she does in South Africa, between raising
money here and working with the people out there, she is totally devoted to
this cause.

Irene’s Qualifications & Awards; –

Award holder SNU, DSNU speaker, DSNU demonstrator, DSNU
academic,
Advanced academic, CSNU speaker and demonstrator, Arthur Findlay Collage tutor, Awarded Olive Hayward prize, Course organiser for SNU courses: SD2, SD3,
SD4, S5, D5, Marking tutor, SNU Education committee member, SNU National Warden – S/I District, a member
Scottish, Irish District Council.

The above shows that Irene has put her
heart and soul into Spiritualism and will continue to do so in her new role.

With all mentioned above one would
wonder when Irene had the time to play a big part in setting up Glasgow
Association of Spiritualism’s Church Museum. Irene was responsible for
instigating and developing and ongoing development of the museum

29th – Edinburgh College of Parapsychology : 2 Melville St, Edinburgh EH3 7NS. Check out http://www.edinburghpsychiccollege.com for forthcoming attractions.

29th – Edinburgh College of Parapsychology : 2 Melville St, Edinburgh EH3 7NS. Check out
http://www.edinburghpsychiccollege.com for forthcoming attractions.