subject: A Quest For Good Mediumship [print this page] It was a terrible yearIt was a terrible year. I suffered the loss of my wife, which hit me like a sledgehammer, despite my strong faith. Nothing can prepare you for a sudden bereavement, with its raw pain and the void that is left behind. Three months later my heart sank even further when my sister was took ill and I feared the worst. These unfortunate circumstances uprooted me away from London, to care for my only living relative. As both our partners had passed over we were sharing a house again, in the winter of our years, as brother and sister, we had come full circle.
My faith in Spiritualism gave me strength, because I knew the reality of the spirit world. Upon the foundations of my faith rested the knowledge, from mediumship, of the evidence of survival that proved life after death. In London I was a regular attendee of many churches over a period of about thirty years, witnessing demonstrating mediums who could bring spirit so close that you could almost feel their vibration. Placing messages into congregations like they were handing out sweets; the ease, the accuracy and the frightening realisation that we are not alone, brought clear reassurance from the other side.
After settling away from the capital, I sought the same experiences that I had in London by going to Spiritualist churches. My expectations were mixed, but at the back of my mind I was not anticipating momentous mediumship, as I appreciated that good mediums tended to gravitate towards London. I suspected that I had been spoiled by the London Spiritual Mission, the SAGB and the other great Spiritualist churches I had so enjoyed visiting, and that what awaited me further afield would be a lesser experience. It transpired that my theory was sadly correct, and after spending many church going months, not to mention countless gallons of petrol, depression started to set in. There was no lack of people working as mediums, in fact it seemed that a great many people had labelled themselves as such, but unfortunately their definition of mediumship was not mine. Their words were certainly beautiful, their philosophy gripped my heart and I was moved to tears many times, but I could have found these moving words in any Catholic or Anglican church sermon. As a Spiritualist I craved evidence, for that is what sets Spiritualism apart from the traditional religions. Evidence of survival from a real medium.
With all good intentions, their touching words could only be taken in faith and if you were a person new to Spiritualism, and it was your first time in a church, you would be sadly cheated. Was evidence of survival too much to ask? Is the third principle of Spiritualism optional? A typical barnum statement would be, Your father loved you very much. This is not evidence, however comforting or true the statement may be. I sat through countless divine services and evenings of clairvoyance, absorbing the wonderfully ornate philosophy, which sadly had partnered itself with mediumship that was clumsy at best and cruelly fabricated at worst. The churches appeared to endorse these mediums, which only added to my exasperation. My experience told me that I would make no friends by questioning their choice of mediums, but if something is not right, do we help or hinder Spiritualism by pointing it out? The Communion of Spirits and the Ministry of Angels is key to the religion of Spiritualism and without good spirit communication we may as well be Church of England. I languished in the doldrums, but continued to attend the churches, becoming a member of the nearest church to my sisters house. I enjoyed the philosophy and nothing was going to keep me from at least being with semi-like-minded people.
But then one evening my patience was rewarded, as a visiting medium started to give real evidence. It was a pleasure to watch and I remember feeling a warmth that I thought I would never experience again. Precise and evidential, it was obvious that the medium trusted spirit and was able to connect in a way that was clearly true mediumship. As time went on more gifted mediums punctuated the dearth of moderate cold readers that flowed through the churches. I made note of the good mediums and made some effort to visit other churches where they would be demonstrating, as my attendance became more selective.
I do not want to set myself up as an arbiter, but I consider it a human quality to warn others of the pitfalls they may encounter. This is a positive aspect of social behaviour, and is hard-wired into our brains to assist in the survival of the species. But as a Spiritualist it would be very wrong of me to criticise specific churches or mediums. My opinion may be subjective and perhaps my standards higher than most, but I have invested years of my life into the churches of Spiritualism, and from this I feel that I have earned the right to give my fellow Spiritualists a little push in the right direction. So rather than pointing out the pitfalls, I will attempt to identify the more preferable pathways.
My mediums list is made up of mediums who I have seen outside of London and every medium mentioned has specifically impressed me with their evidential mediumship from a church platform.
I start my list with Darren Brittain, a medium who is accurate and compassionate. His messages are always evidential and I would highly recommend going out of your way to see him.
Linda Bennett is another medium who has ability. Ive seen her produce some undeniably specific evidence, much to the delight of her congregations.
Eamonn Downey also impressed me with his solid confident messaging, which contained a great level of accuracy.
Anji Wylde is a highly gifted natural medium who provides excellent evidence of survival and has consistently delivered accurate messaging, whenever I have seen her on platform.
Libby Clark is a very articulate lady who offers great evidence of survival, and often has congregations in the palm of her hand.
Gerard Smith is a fantastic medium, who provides excellent lucid evidence and is well worth seeing if you get the chance.
Jo Allen is an accomplished medium who has a great mediumistic gift and has given clear detailed messages, which are both compassionate and evidential.
Tim Abbott is another who gives great evidence, a good all round medium who is well worth seeing.
Billy Cook, a very talented medium who impresses me time and again with his precise messaging and honest approach.
I sincerely wish that my list was longer, but my circumstances have, to some degree, tethered me to a region that is not representative of the whole of Britain. The above mentioned mediums deserve to be on my list, and I challenge anyone in the Spiritualist movement to question their ability. The intention of this article was to inform, to share my accumulated experience, and as a student of good mediumship, a long serving speakers secretary and an expert in the psychology of cold reading, I feel somewhat qualified to have an opinion.
And for those who may be offended by this article, I apologise and wish you well in your delusions.
