mediumship and charged-for services

[mac]

"Mac, you're right that the difference between the U.K. and the U.S. is pretty striking when it comes to mediums and belief in the afterlife. One interesting thing is that mediums here are incredibly overpriced and often they are frauds. In the U.K., they seem more reasonably priced, at least. The one that I saw was very inexpensive and I am sure she was authentic."

As we appear to have many 'lurkers' reading the Afterlife boards I thought it might be particularly helpful for them to look at certain issues. Regular contributors will likely have firm views about them.

The central theme of this section, copied from one of Bella's threads, is that of payment for services offered by practitioners. (I use that word deliberately because there's much confusion about psychics, channelers and mediums so I'm not going to use any of those words to avoid the distraction they can cause.) In the UK there are regular and often heated arguments about this on discussion boards and in the press.

In one camp we have those who say that mediumship or healing etc are 'gifts of the spirit' and their benefit should be given freely or with minimal charge. Others argue that practitioners have the same bills to pay as the rest of us and often give their time to the extent they are unable to hold down regular jobs as well. Somewhere in-between there are arguments about what constitutes a reasonable charge!

There can be no doubt that high-profile, platform mediums (as we call 'em in the UK) often spend large amounts of time on tour, traveling to venues and giving performances like any other public figure. Such tours are expensive to run and entry charges must reflect it. Then the medium needs an income and how much that income should be is unlikely ever to be agreed upon! Even with practitioners who work in private there are likely to be widely differing views about what constitutes a reasonable charge. Add to that an expectation influenced by confusing advertising (eg, medium or psychic) and things can get ugly when folk feel they've been short-changed.

25 years ago as a newbie I found myself defending a very well known touring medium when some of our group were bad-mouthing his ability and his life style. I made the point that even if he was not at his peak every night, at every venue, even at his 'worst' he might still make more reliable and predictable contact with the departed friends and family of those in the audience than those who criticized him!

plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose...

[Bella]

Thank you for your response, Mac.
I am going to explain a bit about this medium and answer Roberta's question as well. The woman that I went to told me that she began to see spirits at the age of two when her mother passed, and up until about two years ago actually did not charge anything. After consulting with her pastor, she was told that, at this point in her life when her husband was undergoing financial difficulties, the bible sanctioned the charging of a nominal, small fee for her gift. My therapist, who was the new pastor at this very same church, recommended this medium but would only give me a first name and had to get permission from her to give out her phone number. She limits her readings (she explained that she needs to conserve her energy) and chooses them very carefully on recommendation. She is a housewife with many children, a very spiritual woman. Once I was given her number and told that I must not give it out to anyone, I called her from a phone that did not have "caller i.d.", and she only wanted my first name. The reading was an experience like no other.
I have been told that I am easy prey right now and appreciate the warning, Mac. I am a newbie, like you were 25 years ago, and have learned some things. One is that there are good mediums, even students, at Spiritualist churches, and it is here that I feel better, as I am among people who believe there is no death. This helps a lot, and it helps to see these mediums give validating messages to those attending the service. I agree that professional mediums have a tough time. They have bills to pay and must experience a tremendous drain on their energy. Seeing the highly paid professionals is not something I can afford right now.

[Bella]

I am going to revive this thread about mediums because I have a related question. Two mediums (one inexpensive and the other free and a friend) told me that my dear hubby is a sportsman. This was not a surprise because he played soccer, watched sports all the time, and was up on all sports current events. I was told that he was playing tennis, lacrosse, and even polo (He did not like the Brits while on this earth - imperialism issues - lol, Mac, but those are not of consequence in the afterlife). Most recently, I was told that he was doing squats. That was free information, but pretty accurate. He tried doing those when his physical body but he had trouble with his thigh strength due to the disease process. Then my son dreamed that my husband was speaking through him: My son dreamed that he felt a coldness in his chest, then static, like a t.v.. Then my son dreamed that my husband was speaking through his chest, and that he came to speak to me in my room to tell me that my hubby was doing some kind of exercise - one that began with the letter "s". I am baffled because, if we pass into energy form, why would physical development be so important to the healing process? Is it because he was ill prior to passing and longed to have that health back (Roberta, like the soldier who needed to feel whole again, as in your book and interview?)? Why are the mediums and dreams pointing to physical well being when we are light beings? Can someone please answer this?

[Roberta Grimes]

I am going to revive this thread about mediums because I have a related question. Two mediums (one inexpensive and the other free and a friend) told me that my dear hubby is a sportsman. This was not a surprise because he played soccer, watched sports all the time, and was up on all sports current events. I was told that he was playing tennis, lacrosse, and even polo (He did not like the Brits while on this earth - imperialism issues - lol, Mac, but those are not of consequence in the afterlife). Most recently, I was told that he was doing squats. That was free information, but pretty accurate. He tried doing those when his physical body but he had trouble with his thigh strength due to the disease process. Then my son dreamed that my husband was speaking through him: My son dreamed that he felt a coldness in his chest, then static, like a t.v.. Then my son dreamed that my husband was speaking through his chest, and that he came to speak to me in my room to tell me that my hubby was doing some kind of exercise - one that began with the letter "s". I am baffled because, if we pass into energy form, why would physical development be so important to the healing process? Is it because he was ill prior to passing and longed to have that health back (Roberta, like the soldier who needed to feel whole again, as in your book and interview?)? Why are the mediums and dreams pointing to physical well being when we are light beings? Can someone please answer this?

Great question, dear Bella! As you know, of course, there is nothing really material anywhere - all that exists is energy, some of which we perceive as solid matter. The Summerland levels seems as solid to their inhabitants as this level seems to us, and we have solid bodies there which seem to be of a finer texture - think something like soft alabaster. Many of those who live in the Summerland enjoy cooperative team sports and things like hiking and horseback riding, and we know that those who died in a debilitated condition are delighted to find themselves in healthy bodies again. If you knew that your husband had wanted to do squats but had been too weak before his death, then what better way could there be for him to show you that he is now perfectly well than for him to get word to you that he is able gloriously to do squats at last! He wouldn't need to do them for exercise, but he is sending you this image as further proof that he is entirely healthy.

[ravensgate]

Bella, when did your husband die?

[ravensgate]

Bella, I am asking because I read (from sources I consider quite "reputable") that when we move on to the spirit world, some of us need periods of adjustments, especially if we went through a sudden, unexpected death, if we suffered a long time with a crippling, debilitating disease. These sources tell us that such new arrived souls are still carrying a lot of their "earthly baggage"., which they eventually discard as they develop in their spiritual realm. Some take longer than others, but all will eventually graduate from their earthly "needs". For example, although there is no need to eat, some newly arrived souls continue to take pleasure in such activity, and so it is provided to them. Same with hobbies they enjoyed while on this plane.
If memory serves me correctly, one book where this is mentioned is "Matthew tell me about heaven"; please note this is not one of the "reputable sources" I mentioned earlier, but it's a start. I will check the books I have and report back, so you'll know exactly what I am talking about. hth

[ravensgate]

I just found one of the books I own, and suggest you read chapter 4; interestingly in that chapter the term "valence" is brought up. Here is the link (I was very surprised to find it on the 'net!):

http://arbid.co.uk/views/wp-content/...neyofSouls.pdf

If this link could be useful in another/different sub-forum, I ask the mods to please move it :-)

[Bella]

Dear Roberta and Ravensgate,

Thank you so much for these great responses. This is why I love the forum. It makes sense that my hubby would need a period of adjustment. Ravensgate: He transitioned in early May from cancer and he had not been well since September 2011, gradually getting worse. I have often thought of the fact that some souls need rehabilitation, but I had never read about sports being rehabilitation. Roberta, I am going to have to find and touch soft alabaster to see what you mean, but I am so thrilled that he would feel that his body there is as real to him as his body here was. No wonder he is so happy.
I had heard that my husband had a gold aura, but he still is working through his earthly needs, apparently, because he loved to eat and cook, and showed the medium an ice cream sundae. Is it possible to be in a high level of heaven and still have to work through rehabilitation for earthly pain due to long illness?

I am curious, Roberta, about the voicebox. Is there something left of the earthly accent in the spirit world? How is it that we get a message in a voice that is distinctly theirs?

I have Michael Newton's book, Ravensgate, but I had begun to read it prior to my hubby's passing and will have to reread it now. I had read differing sources regarding eating and earthly preoccupations. The thing is, that I took care of my hubby's food and other needs and wanted to make sure that he had what he wanted, so I wrote these questions, about food and how he felt, in a journal. After writing these, the mediums, and my son's dreams, would confirm that he was getting what he needed. It puzzled me, Roberta, about the sports, because I had never read of team sports in the afterlife. Which source(s) provide this information?

Once again, thank you so much, Roberta and Ravensgate.

[ravensgate]

Bella, I copied and pasted a few brief paragraphs from the Matthew book; it may help answering a few questions. I will continue to looks in my books


"Mother, the reception and care of arrivals is so crucial for people on Earth to know that I want to explain the entire process starting at the beginning, with what you call death and we call transition. When the physical body dies, there is an instantaneous adjustment in the electrical system of the etheric body so it can leave Earth intact and arrive in Nirvana already attuned to the higher frequency here. That adjustment is made in the lightning flash moment when the etheric body separates from the physical body and clothes the soul for its alignment on the way to that light passage often described as a tunnel in the "near-death experience."

There is absolutely NOTHING stressful or fearful about that journey! But it happens so quickly that the arrival's memories of circumstances immediately prior to transition are as real upon entry here as they were when the person was experiencing those circumstances on Earth. The memories profoundly affect the arrival's capacity to adjust to his etheric body, and when the memories are of traumatic experiences, a personalized and usually long healing process is required.

Since the etheric body has been with the soul throughout its physical lifetime, it is intact when it enters with the soul into this realm, but it needs assistance to usher in its strength. When the arrival is in sound condition, that ushering-in process can be accomplished with ease. In the case of a severely traumatized arrival, the process requires the combined energy of a highly trained medical assister and an attendant group of ten aides.

It is the unique soul energy stream of each arrival that lets us know his identity and psychic condition. Through an energy correlation process, each arrival enters the station appropriate for his immediate needs. The energy streams also let us anticipate the number of arrivals so that sufficient assistance always is at the ready.

Although telepathic communication can be understood by arrivals, native speech is important, particularly in a stressful entry, so the welcomers and assisters converse with them in their native tongues."

[mac]

I am going to revive this thread about mediums because I have a related question. Two mediums (one inexpensive and the other free and a friend) told me that my dear hubby is a sportsman. This was not a surprise because he played soccer, watched sports all the time, and was up on all sports current events. I was told that he was playing tennis, lacrosse, and even polo (He did not like the Brits while on this earth - imperialism issues - lol, Mac, but those are not of consequence in the afterlife). Most recently, I was told that he was doing squats. That was free information, but pretty accurate. He tried doing those when his physical body but he had trouble with his thigh strength due to the disease process. Then my son dreamed that my husband was speaking through him: My son dreamed that he felt a coldness in his chest, then static, like a t.v.. Then my son dreamed that my husband was speaking through his chest, and that he came to speak to me in my room to tell me that my hubby was doing some kind of exercise - one that began with the letter "s". I am baffled because, if we pass into energy form, why would physical development be so important to the healing process? Is it because he was ill prior to passing and longed to have that health back (Roberta, like the soldier who needed to feel whole again, as in your book and interview?)? Why are the mediums and dreams pointing to physical well being when we are light beings? Can someone please answer this?

It seems to me that there's a misunderstanding about our etheric forms. It's something that seems to come from 'New Age' approach to the so-called afterlife....

The reality must surely be that we're neither the physical beings that we were whilst still incarnate but neither do we become light-beings, at least not until we've progressed spiritually further than the stage we presently are. In these following environments it's been taught that our appearance gradually becomes one of light rather than anything 'solid' - these are relevant terms, of course, and the closest descriptions we can use.

After passing over I suggest there's no longer any need for any of the physical exercises we might have used to keep fit (or just for enjoyment) whist incarnate but there's nothing to stop us continuing to do them should we so desire. And if we feel that such exercises will help us to regain vigor lost through chronic illness or degeneration of our physical bodies then there's every reason to do what we feel will help.