23rd – February… There was a good turnout for my workshop
at the Glasgow Association of Spiritualists. 
Workshop-1 was starting off from the basics, something that I feel is
neglected today.  Even many development
circles these days seem to start off from the first senior school level and
those taking part have missed out on nursery and primary school

27th – Paisley Spiritualist Church, Glenburn Community
Centre….

8th – 12th March I had a
busy few days at the Glasgow Association of Spirituists. 

During my days at the Glasgow Association I was
tempted so often as a mountain of Easter eggs grew higher and higher in the
church.  The eggs are being donated by
churchgoers to a Children’s Charity.  The
church also hosted a night of clairvoyance with Nita Saunders on the Platform
and a donation was given to this charity. 

                                                              Fledglings…

? Emails –
“Spiritualism became entertainment when tutors at our colleges, churches, and
circle leaders forgot that they should be working in harmony with Spirit for
the betterment of all mankind.  What we
are trying to develop is a gift and a privilege that we should not abuse.  There are a lot of actors (I am not prepared
to demean true Mediums by giving these people the “M” title) who discover if
they put on a show that is what the enlightened people want, it would reflect
on themselves rather than Spirit.  They
only want to hear that their loved one is OK nothing else.  The actors only want their egos polished and
money as new people coming in do not know any better.    The best Mediums of MODERN Spiritualism
were the ones from the older era of the lower classes or the uneducated…  Why? 
Because they could not pull the wool over people’s eyes as they believed
that they were of lesser value to the social elite and that kept their egos in
check.  They understood that they were
there to aid and assist NOT to demand anything. 
All religions are suffering from actors”’

“Tom you are a
dinosaur and if Spiritualism listens to you it will disappear like those large
creatures.  Orthodox religion is on the
wane because like you it will not change, it will not come into the modern
world.  In fact we should stop using the
words “Church” and “Religion” when communicating with those who have moved on
from the Earth Plane. I read an article that you wrote comparing dying with
emigrating to another part of Planet Earth. 
We can communicate with those who have moved to America, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand and the likes without ‘religion’ or ‘churches’.  So should we not open up the Spirit World to
all?  Surely it does not matter whether
it is a pub, club or in the open
air.  Let those who have this gift be
free to communicate to the whole of society without you trying to shackle them.  Tom I know you will not put this up on your
website but I have to send it just the same”.

“There is no need for
conflict but I agree a line should be drawn between those who are on the side
of religion and those who look to use their gifts in other ways.  A medium usually does not ask a church to put
them on their platform they certainly did not in the past.  So each church has the power to select who
they want on their platform.  Should
churches not give their blessing to those who wish to go down the entertainment
and financial path their blessing but not allow them on the platform of their
church.  It is then up to the medium to
decide what path they take”.  So
simple…

The
museum was instigated by the discovery of photographs of Spirit extras, which
also coincided with the celebration of Glasgow Association of Spiritualist 140
years. A number of committee members then worked together and created the
museum as you see it today.



Many
of the items on display at the museum were donated by Minister James Biggin, Mr
George Biggin and his wife Irene. The Association are grateful to them for
their generosity which will allow future generations of Spiritualists to see
some of the wonderful experiences that had occurred.

A
personal visit to the museum is very much worthwhile in order to appreciate
some of the history of modern spiritualism. 

Mondays – 7.30pm

Tuesdays – 2.00pm

• Saturdays
  (six readings) starting at 10.00 am.




• Mondays
  (eight readings) starting at 10.30 am.




• Tuesdays
  (four readings) starting at 10.30 am.

4th – I was at the Cumnock Spiritualist
Church and although there was a good turn out one little fellow was missing –
Jack young, son of founders of the church Jacqueline and Iain McConnachie. Jack
has been a little poorly recently and it was felt that staying cozy at home was
best rather than taking the little lad out into the frost and snow. Jacqueline
is an excellent Spiritual Medium and Iain when called upon gives a wonderful
Spiritual address. Jack is a little star in his own with the article in the
Scottish Sun “The Bravest Smile in the World”. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/scottishnews/4768271/The-bravest-smile-in-the-world.html.

I look forward to seeing Jack on my next
visit.

11th
-15th  I combined a few days
holiday in Yorkshire with meeting up with a psychic researcher who is working
on an unusual case at the moment.

17th
_ It is always a pleasure to attend the Friendship of Love and Light Spiritual
Church, Foxbar, Paisley.  This church is
also referred to as “Eddie’s Church” after
its founder Spiritualist medium Eddie Docherty.

18th
– I had the short drive to Saltcoats Spiritualist Church which holds its
service in the Argyll Centre.  Wendy,
Jean and Irene are always at hand to greet all who enter the church.

                                                  Photo by Stephanie Wilson

To some 13 is an unlucky number – and to
Spiritualism – The Religion – the 13th year of the twenty-first
century could be a crucial year.  This
could be the year that as a religion we sink below the waves and a year where
many of our churches become looked upon as little more than places of
entertainment.  If things go on the way
that they are doing, then there will be no
comeback.

We in Spiritualism have a great responsibility on our
shoulders.  By “WE” I mean all of those
who have anything to do in the name of Spiritualism.    We
must cast aside all the dross that has attached itself to Spiritualism the
Religion.

 ·      
We must separate the psychic from the
spiritual.  

 ·      
The entertainment from the
religion. 

 ·      
The ego from the caring and pastoral
side.

 ·      
The money making ventures from Spiritualism
the Religion. 

We must be strong in our endeavour to separate the religion
from the money making ventures and “Entertainment”

 According to The Spiritualist National Union; –

Spiritualism the Religion = 7 PRINCIPLES – PHILOSOPHY – RELIGION – SCIENCE – THE HISTORY….

The Nature of Spiritualism as a religion…

Those who are at the helm of the
main Spiritual organisations should ask these questions, before they vote on
changes.  ”What does Spirit think?  How
would Spirit act in such a situation?” 
If mediums on church platforms are
working with Spirit, should it not be the same for those on various committees?

26th I was off to the Pollockshaws and
District Spiritualist Church, Langside Halls, Shawlands, Glasgow.  This is a well established church that has
helped so many people over the years. 
Recently numbers have been dropping because of rumours that the church
had closed.  This church has no intention
of closing and apart from a two week festive break.   Its doors will open in early January to
welcome all who wish to attend.

27th I was taking a workshop at the Milngavie and
Bearsden Spiritualist Sanctuary…This Sanctuary
only opened in August is already part of the community.  Not only was there a good turnout at the
workshop but all those who attended were very enthusiastic and talented.

28th –
Taking part in a Psychometry Experiment. 
Still waiting on the final results but early reports show that the
evidence given was accurate.

29th – It
was a welcome return to ASK Dreghorn.

1st
December – Still not travelling too far from home I was at The Ayr Spiritualist
Centre.

9th – The
Friendship of Love and Light, Foxbar, Paisley. 
Founded by one of the most popular mediums in West Central Scotland,
Eddie Docherty.  Sadly Eddie past in 2006
but the church still is run  in true
Eddie Docherty tradition of being a place where love, comfort and help is
always available. 

10th –
Taking part in a debate “Can Spiritualism be Taken Seriously?”

I could see where the old soul was
coming from.  Although one can have a
rose bush or a tree planted in the crematorium grounds with a little plaque of
the name of the deceased, to many it is not the same as having a grave stone
and a plot in a cemetery.  There are
those who will plant a tree or a bush in their garden in memory of a loved one
something they can look out on every day. 
It is all down to personal preference but it can cause a lot of strife
in families.

Somewhere to go, something to look at
in memory of a loved one can take many forms… here is a novel way that we
could all think about and maybe use our own version as far as remembering a
loved one is concerned.

Although Stephanie treasured the
lovely gift from her close friend, after Josephine’s passing it took on much
more significance.  In all her suffering Josephine
took time to seek out a gift for a good friend. 
Not only a gift for her good friend – but a special gift – a gift with
such lovely words that would be coming from Josephine’s heart.  The gift has pride and place in Stephanie’s
house, always noticeable when anyone walks into the lounge.  Josephine’s light shone in this life and the
love that she put into selecting this gift still shines on when a candle is lit
in the holder Stephanie is sure that her good friend draws close.

I am ashamed to say I could have
screamed that night “I know, I know that
there will be countless people have a much stronger link with spirit than I
will ever have.  I will never appear on
the platform, I have never any ambition to appear on the platform”. 

But these two ladies were right and
their comments above are something I have always taken on board and think of
their words every time I appear on the platform.

“Whenever you step on the platform and you have no nerves in the
pit of your stomach just think, Spirit could be on strike that evening or there
is a public holiday in the spirit world”.

I don’t think there are any better words of wisdom to help a medium about to
step on the platform for the first time and also throughout their years serving
spirit…

Vince your email reminds me of an incident at a spiritualist church almost
twenty years ago.  A medium said in her
address said roughly what you mentioned in your email.  A 11-year-old lad took exception to
this and shocked the congregation by making his thoughts known.  He said that five years before his father had
died on the first day of the school summer holidays and the young lad always
dreaded the break from school in the summer.  
It was the same at Christmas.  “So I dread both summer and Christmas” said
the young man.  The medium and chairwoman
were not too pleased at the interruption but I could see where the young man
was coming from and I am sure most of the congregation did also.

There are those who will say “It
must be great to be a spiritualist as you will not go through the grieving
process.  You believe your loved ones
live on and there can be communication with them”.  Alas that is far from the truth.  Even though we believe we are only human and
we can grieve as long as or even longer than those who don’t believe in life
after death.

No matter how long we are in this life we will always have memories of
loved ones that have passed on before us. 
I am sure those in spirit would prefer us to have happy memories instead
of sad ones.  Instead of those memories
dwelling on the time of the passing which may have been a traumatic time, think
back to a happy moment you enjoyed with them.

But word ‘farm’ is being abused these days. 
We see the word ‘farm’ being used for areas which can keep up to 500
dairy cattle which never get out into a field. 
Massive numbers of farm animals never see the light of day or breathe in
fresh air.  I will not go into the
horrors of factory farming but surely as spiritualists we can do something
about it?

Next year…

Wear a red and purole poppy…

16th – ASK Cumbernauld and as usual almost every seat taken.

17th – It was unfortunate that I had to cancel my trip to
Stranaer because of a hospital appointment.

23rd… My diary had down the Cambuslang Spiritualist Church
but because of refurbishment of its original hall this church has moved to the
Fernhill Community Centre, 12 Auchenlarie Drive, Fernhill, and Glasgow, G73 4EQ.  The church is slowly but surely
finding its feet in the area.

27th I was at the Edinburgh College of Parapsychology for an
evening of clairvoyance. 

 1st October I was heading north to the well supported
Inverneness Spiritualist Church, Smithton Halls.  (SNU) 
The interest in spiritualism has been growing for many years now and I
am impressed by the enthusiasm for our religion in this area.  I have another comment to make about this
enthusiasm later in the blog…

But I have often wondered at a
local level why our churches do not take part in remembrance Day Services.   Stirling Spiritualist Church has taken part
in the local Remembrance Service for many years now and on asking Stirling’s
President  how this came about,  I was told the church was invited to take
part.  There will be other Spiritualist
churches scattered about the country which also take part.  But if we are not invited then we should we
not ask  to be part of this service?  I know of one church who asked to be involved
and were turned down, the reason for that being they were late in applying or
permission for that particular year.  I
don’t know if they asked to be part of the ceremony the following year. 

But this year the Milngavie and Bearsden
Spiritualist Sanctuary which has only had its doors open for a few
weeks will be laying a wreath at the Milngavie Precinct
at the Remembrance Ceremony.    Maybe at local level we Spiritualist have
been complaining rather than asking? 
Maybe we have lacked the determination of the pioneers of modern-day.

 

 

                                GIVE MEDIUMS FROM THE HIGHLANDS A CHANCE…

 

 

In the past and even today, churches
in the north of the country have had to rely on mediums from the central belt
of Scotland to take many of their services. 
That means on most occasions an overnight stay at cost to the church and
there is also travelling expenses.  With
the enthusiasm in that area for several years many excellent mediums are coming
on the scene in our northern regions.  But
they seldom seemed to get asked to take services in the central belt.  That may be because in the central and
southern areas Scotland we’ve always had a plentiful supply of mediums on our doorstep
and the churches have not thought of looking north.  Yes, it will add to the expenses with the
medium travelling further and could entail a night in a B&B, but the
churches in the north have coped with this on a regular basis for years so it
should not be beyond the purse strings of many churches further south.  After all we have visiting mediums from
England and Northern Ireland.

 

 

                       PSYCHIC ABILITIES – START OF WITH THE BASICS…           

 

Bernard emails
“It seems as if everyone wants to be
mediums these days.  Soon the platforms
will be full with only one or two sitting in the pews”.

Hi Bernard, I
can see where you are coming from but let’s look at it another way.  More and more people are becoming aware of spiritualism
these days and realizing that we all have some degree of psychic ability.  They are drawn to open-circles and workshops
to try to understand and develop these abilities.  That I find encouraging.  

But… many of
these open-circles and workshops are geared to platform work and sittings
instead of starting off with the basics. 
 First we have to understand what
these abilities are and slowly building on this, as we do with any learning
process.  But at the moment a great many
of these development circles and workshop seem to start at primary 7 instead of
in the infant class. 

These days it
is not uncommon for anyone showing any ability to be pushed on to the platform
of a church or at a charity night at a very early stage in their
development.  This is usually detrimental
to the pupil’s development and on many occasions to the person getting the
message.

To give you a
few examples of this to try and explain it from all angles;

A mother was
happy that her daughter decided to join a group at a small church because she
knew from an early age her daughter had psychic abilities.  All went well for six months; the young lady
was developing well and becoming much more confident in her everyday life.  Instead of feeling different from others around
her she was slowly starting to understand why she had felt this way.  Then one night the medium’s car broke down
and he could not get to the church on time. 
The young lady and another circle member of limited circle experience
were told they were taking the service and were pushed on the platform.  According to the mother the night was
disastrous in every way for the two young ladies.  Neither has gone back to the church or any
church since.  This should not have
happened and would not have happened if those in charge of the church had acted
as they should have and shown a little common sense.

Another case
where a young gentleman is very talented and sensible.  He realises he has a lot to learn as he goes quietly
along his spiritual path having no plans for the platform.  In fact no plans to stand on the platform for
many years yet, as in the next two years he is expecting promotion at work and hoping
to start a family.  He is happy to sit in
what many would call an old fashioned church circle where development takes at
a slow pace.  Yet some are to trying to
‘poach’ him away from his circle to take part in charity nights or church work.  Luckily this young man has his head screwed
on the right way and is standing his ground, refusing to give way to the
pressure.

But there are
two sides to this as there are also many who want after a few months the
glamour of being on the platform, taking part in a charity nights or the
lucrative side of private sittings and psychic parties.

How long does
it take for a medium to be the finished article?  How long is a piece of string?  It depends on the training and the time the
person has to give to his or her development. 
Some mediums have said that they sat in circle for sixteen years before
they were asked to take the platform. 
Many will say this is far too long and in most cases I will agree with
them.  In the past there were fewer
opportunities so one may have had to wait till a medium retired from the
circuit or passed over before a place became vacant.

I feel that
more responsibility should be taken by those taking development circles and
workshops.  There should be many more opportunities
for those who just want to understand their psychic abilities and how they can
affect their everyday lives.  This to be
before and separate from platform training.

Whoever is
taking the workshop has a lot of responsibility on their shoulders.  As ‘psychic’ means sensitive and there will
be a lot of sensitive people relying on them to put them gently on the right
path, not to force march them into areas they are not ready for.

But there are
those as I have said earlier who see a lucrative market in jumping on the
‘spiritualist bandwagon’.  This is where
spiritualist churches, centres etc that are true to their religion should be
strong and make sure that those who take their services look on spiritualism as
a religion first and foremost.

 

We in the West usually only see donkeys these
days in a field, taking part in a donkey derby at a fete or giving rides to
children.  But there are 40,000,000 in
the world today and 96% of these are used principally as pack animals or for
draught work in transport or agriculture. After human labour, the donkey is the
cheapest form of agricultural power. They may also be ridden, or used for
threshing, raising water, milling and other work. Working donkeys are often
associated with those living at or below subsistence levels.

As you will imagine in these underdeveloped
countries working conditions and medical treatment for humans is basic to say
the least, so just imagine what it will be like for the donkey.  The Brooke Foundation, a non-profit making
organization   operate
across 10 countries to relieve the suffering of horses, donkeys & mules
working to improve the livelihoods of people living in some of the world’s
poorest communities. www.thebrooke.org

 

Their mission – Healthy working animals
for the world’s poorest communities

Company Overview – International animal
welfare charity working to relieve the suffering of horses, donkeys and mules
working for some of the world’s poorest communities through a combination of
veterinary treatment and animal health education.

I have
just read a heartwarming story of two blind brothers on The Broke Foundation
website.

Through the
eyes of a donkey

Two brothers blinded
by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, now rely on their donkey to
be their eyes to guide them to work.

Afghanistan
tradition discourages women from working outside the home, so when their father
was killed by a rocket, Moqim, 14, and Momin, 12 had to go to work to support
their mother and younger sister.

The brothers run a
small shop selling fruit, vegetables and cigarettes in the local market, three
kilometres away.

But there’s no local
transport between Dehsabz village in Kabul and the brothers’ shop, so they
travel on the back of their donkey.

He acts as their
eyes, guiding them to the shop early in the morning and returning them back
home in the evening.

During the day the
donkey continues working, delivering packages from the brothers’ shop to the
village.

Dehsabz village is
part of the Brooke’s expansion programme for 2012 and at the moment, a Brooke
trained paravet is providing services to animal owners.

The Brooke has advised them to give the donkey
more rest breaks during the day and not to overload the donkey.

Wise words from Carolyn Crockat…

 

                                             The
sun, the sea, the sea shore

How
I love to remember the days spent on them,

Busy
doing nothing

But
absorbing the sunlight on my head,

The
colours through my eyes

The
smells through my nose

Feeling
the sand beneath my feet

The
water on my skin,

Absorbed
with the thing in the rock pools,

Fascinated
with the lives of the creatures therein.

 

Do
limpets cling to their rock all their lives?

Have
any become curious about the possibilities of another place?

Can
they/do they sometimes let go and allow the sea to carry them to another place?

 

We,
as human beings start off in small pools

Some
stay there all their lives, never straying from the area they live,

Happy
in their place,

Content
with what they have

Some
are not content,

 They want to experience other places and
people in their lives,

To
change what they have

To
find out what else there is on this planet.

Others
want to conquer this world,

To
climb the highest mountain,

To
be the first in some remote place.

When
asked why do you want to climb that mountain?

They
say, because it’s there!

Some
people want to dominate,

Feel
power over others and their lives.

Some
want to be of Service, to help and protect,

To
heal.

Some
want nothing to do with people

And
grow close to the natural world

Look
to animals for the companions

Some
grow close to their god and lock themselves away

From
everything except prayer.

 

None
of us are exactly the same, in thought, in word or deed

None
of us are exactly the same in size, in shape, in colour or creed.

We
don’t all think alike or dance alike or smile alike.

 

So
what?  Why does it matter? Look at
everyone around you; imagine that they all look like you,

Are
wearing exactly the same clothes and shoes,

Talk
about the same things, have the same house and garden,

Car
(or no car), are exactly the same as you.

Have
had exactly the same experiences as you

How
do you feel?

What
would you talk about?

Really
when you think about it

We
should be grateful for all the differences in the people in the world

And
if we don’t always agree or like others –

Remember
they are their own unique person,

On
their own unique journey,

Just
as we are

Honour
their difference,

Keep
our thoughts to ourselves

And
love all humanity,

All
life on earth

For
their unique place in God’s plan.

Carolyn
Crockart

May
2012

That got me wondering why we
don’t have more people with disabilities being involved in the spiritualist movement.  At the moment onlyfour come to mind..

 Glasgow medium Helen McEwen who is now in
spirit.  Helen founded the Toryglen
Spiritualist Church which is still going strong.  She was confined to a wheelchair for the
latter part of her life but had a great determination and I am sure I am not
the only person who felt uplifted after a chat with Helen.

It would not be obvious to many
that medium Maureen Brown has hearing and sight problems.  A hearing aid certainly kept Maureen in touch
with what was being said but her sight made it difficult to see clearly those
at the back of the church.  Yet that did
not stop Maureen going direct to whom. Spirit was trying to contact.  The only way one would notice Maureen had a
sight problem was when she would say “Can I come to you madam?” when it was a
gentleman and vice versa. But her messages were always accurate and of high
quality.  We can never mention Maureen
without mentioning her late husband Archie. 
The couple was always together and often Archie would joke that he was
the medium’s chauffeur.  It was a great
loss to the Scottish Spiritual circuit when because of health reasons Maureen could
not travel to our churches.  But Maureen
is one of these people who will not lie down to anything and for a while she
was going to  schools explaining to the
pupils what it was like to be blind and deaf.

We have also within our ranks
Ivy Campbell President of the Perth Spiritualist Church.  Ivy is a great ambassador for spirit and
displays as much courage and determination as many of the Paralympics
competitors.

We have also Irish medium
Sharon Neil who is blind. 

Of course there will be many
with some form of disability which is not noticeable working in committees etc,
but maybe we should look into why there are not more disabled people attending
our churches and taking part in our work.

BBC2 got the time just right
for the drama “Best of Men”.  The true
story of Dr Ludwig Guttmann, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany who founded the
Paralympics Games

Up till Dr Guttmann arrived at Stoke
Mandeville Hospital in 1944 patients were heavily sedated and largely written
off.  The spinal unit was not so much a
treatment centre as a dumping ground for bedsore-ridden invalids.  Fighting against much prejudice from fellow
doctors; Dr Guttmann came out with what seemed at the time crazy ideas to
transform the lives of those with spinal injuries.  The crazy ideas were to get the patients to
be involved in sports.  As soon as Dr
Guttmann got the ball rolling a great transformation was seen in the
patients.  Their fitness, and self-esteem
improved immensely and their depression started to wane. 

Eventually the Paralympics were
born – initially in 1948 with the Stoke Mandeville Games, and then in earnest
in 1952.  Look how  these games have grown in sixty years.  Who would have believed ten years ago, never
mind sixty years, how successful such games would become. That such vast
numbers would pass through the turnstiles and the amount of media time given
over to theses games.

Dr Guttmann efforts were the
start of turning around what was a death sentence for those with spinal
injuries to having an 80% success rate of survival.  He made the patient realise they were not worthless;
they had much to offer to society. He made society realise that those with
spinal injuries were not cripples, they were not a burden of society, but they
had so much they could put back into society.

What a great acting performance
by Eddie Marsan and he looked so like the real Dr Ludwig Guttmann.

First on the scene were a medium
and a researcher who both claimed to have seen a white figure during their
visit…  They felt this warranted an
all-night vigil, in fact in two overnight stays, but there were no sightings on
these nights.   Over the next few weeks
the family were again aware of this figure several times and I was asked go out
and see if I could find out what was going on.

The sightings all had taken place
in the living room.  This room was 24ft
long and the figure always appeared at the opposite end from where the family
usually sat.  Lights in far side of the room
were on a dimmer switch so that part was darker than where the family would
congregate.

I looked out of the back window and
I could see little…. The garden was in complete darkness… I could not see
the lane which ran along the back garden, but the lights of the houses behind
and the street lamps behind these houses were shining brightly…. 

As we drove away we entered the
street behind the ‘haunted house’ and I noticed something that maybe could give
us some answers.  There was a small road,
well it only run for 50yeards and went nowhere, maybe it was in preparation for
further development which had never taken place.

We went back round to the house and
after dropping my colleague off to sit with the family; I would go back round
and reverse into that short road several times.     

The incident would have remained
unsolved and I believe that the family would have decided to move elsewhere if
the following situation had not happened. And it was solved without a medium,
psychic or psychic researcher.

Over Christmas the family had
relatives from abroad staying with them and unexpectedly their eldest son had
returned home on leave from the RAF.  The
son had to sleep in a couch in the living room.

Two nights later he had the same
sighting and this time he thought more about it.  It suddenly dawned on him that just a few
minutes before when he saw the ‘white figure’ he heard the sound of a car with
a faulty exhaust or from a car that young ones drive about in that’s engine
roars more than the normal engine.  Not
only that but he felt he may have heard the same noise at the first sighting.

He did a little investigating and
found that a daughter of a family in the houses in the street being was often
driven home by her boyfriend and he had one of those ‘growling engines’.  A little bit more investigation and he found
that this vehicle had its headlights out of alignment.

So the RAF lad asked the young
driver if he would keep reversing into the small road just to see if it was his
lights that was causing what appeared to be a white ghostly figure at the end
of the living room.   Bingo! That was it
– no ghost but a reflection from a car’s headlights.   But there was more to this story; the faulty
lights alone would not have caused the problem. 
The house next door to the so-called haunted house had a large
greenhouse and the faulty light beam was hitting off the panes of glass and
shining through the living room window.