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Let us begin
by reiterating what we said in the final article of our series,
Why Seek Spirit Communication? You may wish to read or
review this article: "Physical
mediumship is the process whereby someone, in Spirit, usually known
as a spirit operator (as compared to a spirit communicator), works
or operates through the mental AND physical energies of the medium
and causes something physical to happen on the Earth plane. Physical
mediumship is objective in nature; that is, when the phenomena occur,
everyone is able to see and/or hear them." The implications,
here, are really quite staggering: Mind is capable of affecting
matter. Perhaps this is the most pertinent implication lying at
the foundation of physical mediumship. So, let us
look at some of the elements of physical mediumship. We shall do
this, in part, through a question-and-answer format. What makes
a physical medium? Mediumship
is an inherent element of the Spirit. Therefore, to some degree,
everyone can develop the ability to link with Spirit and, thus,
be receptive to the influences coming from those in Spirit. But,
not everyone can become a physical medium. Unlike evidential mediumship,
which can, to some degree, be developed within most people, physical
mediumship requires certain elements to be present within the physical
organism of the medium. Either you have those elements or you do
not. First, there
must be an abundance of what is known as etheric matter within the
etheric vehicle. The etheric vehicle is a subtle counterpart of
the physical body which performs two basic functions: One: It
acts as a battery, or storehouse, for certain types of vital
energies which come from the sun (prana) and from the earth
(kundalini). This energy vitalizes the dense physical body,
in a way which compliments the energy which we receive from
the various foods we eat. Two: It
acts as a bridge of consciousness between the spirit and the
body. Specifically, it acts as a bridge of energy and consciousness
between the astral body and the physical body. We will not discuss
the astral body in this article. The etheric
vehicle is comprised of matter which is far more refined and subtle
than the rarest of physical matter (hydrogen). To the clairvoyant,
the etheric vehicle appears as a thin, luminous band of light and
energy surrounding the physical body by approximately one inch.
It tends to have a silvery-blue-grey color and varies in intensity
and brilliance, depending upon the general health and energy disposition
of the individual. Illness and
physical exhaustion tend to weaken the etheric vehicle, as do long
periods of cloudy weather. On the other hand, good health and vigor
cause the etheric vehicle to appear more brilliant and energized.
Anton Mesmer,
the father of modern-day hypnosis, conducted a great deal of research
on etheric energy-matter. He called it "animal magnetism." In his
researches, he ascertained that certain people had an abundance
of this vital energy-matter. Furthermore, this energy could be transferred
from those who had an abundance of it to those who seemed lacking
in it. They could do this through mentally directing this energy
as they moved their hands over the individual's aura. He called
this type of activity "magnetic passes." It forms the basis for
the laying-on-of-hands. Finally, he
discovered that certain people could be put into a state of sleep,
or trance, through these magnetic passes; and, in that condition,
they exhibited paranormal abilities, such as clairvoyance, etc.
This was called Mesmerism and, later, became the foundation for
modern-day hypnosis. A person who
has an abundance of this vital energy-matter has the potential of
becoming a physical medium. How does Spirit
work with a physical medium? In physical
mediumship, the Spirit operators use this abundance of etheric energy
and matter in order to produce the various manifestations. They
do this exactly as Anton Mesmer discovered: through the directed
use of mind, they release this energy-matter from the physical medium's
body and use it. Most often,
although not always, the medium must be in a state of rather deep
trance. This helps place the medium's mind
on the sideline, so to speak, thus allowing the intelligence of
the spirit operator to work with and manipulate the etheric energy-matter.
Spirit tells us that they assist the medium in attaining this trance
state through a process not unlike that of Mesmer's magnetic passes.
During the
manifestations, the physical medium usually sits within an enclosed
area, called a cabinet. This helps focus the energies and creates
a type of battery from which the phenomena can be built and energized.
There is usually a curtain in front of the cabinet which can be
spread apart in order for people to see what is going on within
the cabinet. Another condition
which seems to prevail in physical mediumship is that of darkness.
Most physical phenomena take place in darkened quarters, with a
dim red light providing the only light source. Spirit tells us that
white light tends to inhibit the phenomena, while dim red light
energizes it. Unfortunately, this condition has, over the years,
tended to foster an amazing barrage of cheating and fraud within
the realm of physical mediumship. These conditions do not allow
people to see very well and can create a psychological effect which
fosters the seeds for figment of imagination. Having said
this, I should add that darkness is not a requisite for good phenomena
to occur. Our founder, Marcellus Ayer, insisted that all demonstrations
of physical mediumship, taking place within our Church, be performed
in fully lit quarters. And some amazing phenomena occurred in his
day. What is ectoplasm? When the spirit
operators withdraw the etheric energy-matter from the medium's body,
it is known as ectoplasm. It is through the use and manipulation
of ectoplasm that the physical phenomena occur. Ectoplasm can be
created in many different forms -- both visible and invisible; white
and colored -- all depending upon what the Spirit people wish to
do with this amazing substance. Once created,
the ectoplasm generally emerges from the medium through some bodily
orifice (nose or mouth) or through a psychic center, located near
the navel, known as the solar plexus. This article
is continued in Part Two. Photographs of
Physical Phenomenon Home | About the
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This feature
article comes, in part, as a response to many requests that we offer
a more comprehensive look at physical mediumship and some of its
implications to the Spirit. 