Tuesday 13th November.

It’s now just over 10 months since the physical circle first came together. In that time we have all tried out in the cabinet more than once (with the exception of Chris, who prefers to stay well clear of that area herself –providing a source of endless amusement for the rest of us!) and have discovered that we have one member who is particularly well suited to physical mediumship. We have 2 new trance mediums, a mental medium and an established Healing Circle.

The physical circle is starting to make real progress now and this week was particularly interesting.

We started off with nearly a full house of sitters –only Paul was missing due to work commitments. Chris’ mum-in-law had knitted an oversize ‘tank-top’ as a contribution to keeping Brian (the physical medium) warm during the séance as winter is setting in.
We thought it would be interesting to ask if Spirit could remove the sweater during the evening. I’m not sure what we really expected to happen but it seemed like a good idea to at least ask.
Brian, now attractively sporting a black sleeveless jumper, sat down and to relieve Chris of the task of having to get too close to the cabinet, I threaded the cable ties through the loops on the chair and secured his wrists and ankles firmly. More firmly than usual as Brian was keen to eliminate any possibility that he could ‘escape’, as our newest member was joining the circle for the first time in blackout.

The waist belt I also tied up closely around his waist and pulled the knot tight.
With the curtains closed and jokes still emanating from behind the curtains, we took our seats and Chris opened the circle with the prayer.

I was sitting with my back to the door next to the ‘north corner’ and as soon as the lights were out I felt the now familiar swirling sensations as energy built up rapidly in the room. Within 30 seconds, the cable ties were heard to ‘pop’ in quick succession. Rocking and banging sounds followed and the two large rings landed in the room.

The webbing strap with bells attached (velcroed to the base of the chair) then appeared to be gently thrown or dropped into Chris’ lap. Chris sits immediately to the right of the cabinet at about 45 degrees to the front of it. This is the first time that anything being ‘ejected’ has come out at anything other than a straight line.
Thinking that this had been done quite deliberately but wanting more confirmation, she asked if something else could be similarly done for someone else in the room.

About 10 minutes later, there was a clear and distinct sound of something landing right next to me and falling to the floor.
Later, at the end of the session when the lights came on, the new black sweater was found to be lying by my side.
Was this a near miss at repeating the soft drop of the bells in Chris’ lap? I don’t know for sure, but I can be certain that I was not aware of anything being ‘thrown’ towards me. But then again, there were no bells on the jumper so would I have noticed the difference between a thrown object or a dropped one?

Does it really matter though? I mean, I had personally tied Brian into the chair with plastic cable ties and a 2 inch wide judo belt.
What I found most interesting about the whole evening though, was the awareness that I had that there was actually someone ‘else’ in the room with us.
This was the first time that I had felt the ‘physical’ presence of the spirit team in the room.
Probably sounds a bit odd to say this, considering everything that’s happened over the past 10 months and the 24 times we’ve sat with Brian for a physical séance, but this actually felt as though there was another person in the room.

All this aside, the rest of the evening was fascinating as the direct voice became tantalisingly close. For the first time we actually had 2 way communication and could make out clear attempts at speech (go to the Spirit Lodge Journal and follow the link in the official report to hear for yourself)

Then later on, when the Chief came through to update us, we had an opportunity to ask our own questions about what was going on, the energies being used, different forms of physical evidence and the practical aspects of ‘thought’ as an energy in the physical world –both for positive and negative use. The answers we had were detailed and concise. Everything was recorded on tape for reference and if anyone has any questions, feel free to either post them here or send me or Chris an email and we’ll be happy to answer as best we can.

Jon

Tuesday 6th November

Tonights circle consisted of myself, Chris, Sandy & Alan (Chris' husband)

Brian was back this evening in the ‘cabinet’ and as we settled down and he was secured into the chair, humour was running high –as were the spirits.

A slight change this week was the addition of soft cords tied firmly around his wrists, as well as the standard plastic cable ties that we’ve been using for some 6 months or so now.
The waist tie has also been replaced with a stout red cotton belt –the same kind as is used for a Judo or Karate Gi.

Chris tied him in and I went up to check on everything, tightening the tie wraps and also re-tying the waist belt. I have been practicing Judo myself now for over 25 years and as many who have worn a Gi will now, there is a particular shape to the knot used to secure the belt.
Without mentioning to anyone else, I re-tied the knot as would with my own Judo belt.

Each week now for several months, Brian has been removed from the chair and the belt has appeared to remain tied to the chair, suggesting that either Brian has been “transported” through the belt or that belt had been “de-materialised” to allow Brian to be moved out of the chair –or the belt has been untied and re-tied during the blackout.

I’ll come back to the details of the séance shortly, but when the lights came back up at the end of the evening, Brian was out of the chair, lying on his back stretched out under the chair -looking quite comfortable for a change!
The cable ties had been popped off (within the first few minutes of the blackout) with the fastening mechanism turned inside out.
The ropes that were around his wrists were still in place on the chair and the toys were in the main room where they had been thrown earlier in the evening.

But when I looked carefully at the waist tie, I excited to see that my knot not been touched and was still in place exactly as I had left it. The ‘tails’ of the belt were hanging down vertically just as a perfectly tied Judo belt should be. Either Brian has a black belt in one of the Martial Arts or Spirit truly did “de-materialise” either him or the belt.
I know this is seemingly a minor point, but it’s the smallest things sometimes that give the greatest proof.

Within the first 30 seconds of the blackout we heard the first cable tie being stretched. Precisely what happens is not completely clear, but the sound is a short “creaking” noise for a few seconds, followed by a dull ‘pop’. When you look at the cable ties afterwards, the plastic ‘ratchet’ that provides the one-way self locking mechanism has been turned inside out. –I took one home once, put it in a bench vice and with a pair of heavy duty pliers did my very best to physically duplicate the broken locking ratchet.
I eventually gave up. I’m not overly small (13 stone / 180 pounds) but there was no way I could duplicate the effects on the cable ties at room temperature!
& given that Brian is secured by one of these at wrists and ankles, once again the only feasible explanation is that Spirit Energy is manifesting into the room and proving their existence through undeniable physical evidence.
….Way to go Spooks!

Once our spirit friends had released Brian from his captivity, there were a few very loud bangs and sounds of the bells (secured with Velcro to the base of the chair) being removed. They were then ejected from the cabinet and landed in the north corner of the room next to me.
A pair of rubber rings (about 4 inches/10cm in diameter) joined together by another strip of bells on Velcro then came flying out into the room, knocking the upright trumpet (a 2 foot long aluminium cone) for six. Four pairs of cheeks left their respective chairs by a couple of inches when that bang happened!

Immediately after, knocks and bangs could be heard from the cabinet, most of which were clearly in time with the music and the singing. The sounds of a strange, resonant humming was then heard which sounded very much like an attempt at a voice. This then became a odd echoe’y ‘whistling’. All we needed was the clanking of chains and the picture would have been complete!!

After about 15 minutes or so, things quietened down and we soon heard the familiar chuckle of the chief as Brian’s trance level was brought back to a point where he could be used as a channel for communication.

I had a chance to ask some questions about ‘connecting’ with the circle when we were absent from a sitting for whatever reason (I often miss a night or two once every few months due to work/travel) and was interested to hear that depending on our mood and intent, focusing thought and energy into the circle, even when physically absent, could still help build the energy within the séance and assist spirit in their work.

I also asked how the Lodge was perceived from the spirit world, whether the sprit team saw it as a ‘physical’ place with dimensions as we do. The answer was clear, that it is seen as a physical location and that when we sit, a light emanates in the spirit dimension from the mediums and sitters that attracts/notifies the spirit team to our intention and presence.
He also explained that he himself is already ‘with’ Brian before hand and enters the lodge ‘with’ him, just as we do.

There was more detail and the Chief took time to make sure that we clearly understood the finer points and nuances of what was being explained. If you’d like more detailed review, or indeed if there are any particular questions burning in your mind, drop me an email or leave a comment and I’ll answer as best I can.
..and if I can’t, well, I know a man who can!

Tuesday 30th October

This weeks circle was dedicated to development of the sitters. As I ended up taking an active part in the evening I won’t describe what took place myself, but I want instead record my thoughts and some opinions on mediumship and also.
We should be back to business as usual next week

It was my first time back having missed the last three weeks due to work and holidays and it was great to be back in the familiar surroundings of the Lodge and to see friends again.
Over the past few weeks I had decided that I was no longer really interested in ‘being’ a medium and that to a large extent I felt happy to leave Spirit to the spirit world – We’ll all be there soon enough anyway and the general quality of communication through most of today’s ‘mediums’ is of such a variable standard that I felt that if I was going to do this work I would either do it with clarity and accuracy or not at all.

There are far too many people out there today who claim to be having guidance from spirit and to have the authority to offer that guidance to others. Yet when you look carefully, the vast majority of what is offered as advice and messages from loved ones and from guides, is one the whole predictable and banal. At worst it is self serving and self aggrandising ego flattery.
How many times have I heard mediums telling the attentive listener that Grandma or Mum wants to wrap you in love, or in ‘the colour pink’ or that she’s ‘giving you flowers’ etc etc.
It’s hardly surprising that the sceptics have such a strong platform on which to stand.

It’s easy to be sucked into this kind of comforting advice and believe that you have to act on the advice from Granny. Or that the search for enlightenment is more important than the living of your physical life.
Always remember that you are here in the physical form to live a physical life. Not to be lost purely in the search for the non physical.

Having said all that, I was somewhat surprised as I left work on Tuesday evening to find that I was aware of the presence of a spirit energy with me as I was driving down towards Bristol.
Still, regardless of my intentions not to be a medium for the benefit of others, I was happy enough to feel their presence even if I had no desire to pass on any ‘messages’.

When I finally arrived at the circle I was not totally shocked to hear that Brian (the physical medium) wasn’t able to make it and so with our reduced numbers we were going to have a Trance night. Just Paul, Chris and myself.

As we sat chatting in the house before going on into the lodge, time was passing and we’d not noticed that 8pm had arrived. Oddly enough, at 8pm on the dot, Chris’ phone rang just once. Probably just a wrong number but it caused us to notice that we were about to miss our ‘agreed’ start time with Spirit and we made it into the shed right on time.

Once in, we looked to Chris to see what FC had given to her as instructions for the night. Nothing! Zip!
OK, so it was up to us. I suggested to Paul that he take the cabinet (I was still of the mind that I had no desire to do anymore mediumship work) and I decided to take the north corner to see if I could experience the increased levels of energy that the others had reported feeling there as I’d never sat there myself.

As the first track started on the CD player, I felt myself drifting off almost immediately and I was very aware of the different feeling of energy again as the same presence that had been with me earlier came close again.
I had no problem with this and welcomed ‘him’ to come as close as he wanted -at this point I still thought that Paul in the cabinet was going to be the medium for the evening.

However, it turned out the spirit who was close to me had other plans :-)
After maybe 10 minutes I felt my head –which had been drooping forward as I relaxed and drifted into a kind of meditative state- raise up and sit straight on my shoulders. I was completely ‘aware’ as usual. I felt much as I do when meditating, kind of ‘there’ but ‘not there’, so when Chris started asking if there was a spirit person who wanted to communicate, I was still expecting Paul to finally break his silence and get going.
But as Chris asked the second time, I felt and ‘urge’ to start talking and simply say hello.

I’m actually very new to Trance myself, having only been actually practising for about 6 months now since my very first attempt. However, I’ve noticed the pattern for me is to start drifting off, then feel compelled to lift my head up and say something. As soon as I start to use my voice, I feel the energy increase dramatically around the top and sides of my head.

This evening –maybe because of my position in the north corner- the energy increase was tremendous. So much so that the main focus of my attention was drawn to the physical sensations in and around my body, rather than ‘thinking’ about what was being said.
I think that it was this that allowed me to become much less ‘involved’ in the process.

The details of what actually went on for the rest of the evening are recorded in the on-line journal and I’ll leave you to make of it what you will.
I’m glad to say though that my decision to leave mediumship behind has now also been left behind. I’ll still stay away from any form of ‘readings’ for others as I strongly believe that 95% of mediums today tend to be 70% medium and only 30% spirit. When in Trance, the ratio comes much closer to 50/50. A really top medium (and there are some around) will be more like 70% or 80% spirit and only 30% or 20% human filter.

So all in all, an interesting evening again. Thanks again to the support of the spirit team and in particular the one energy who came forward to work with Paul.
Without their commitment and work, we’d all just be sitting in the dark.

Tuesday 24th September.

By 7.45pm the (physical) team had gathered itself together and after much mutual Mickey taking, at 8pm on the dot we headed outside to the shed (sorry Chris, I meant of course the Spirit Lodge!)

Myself, Paul & Lynne sorted out the usual housekeeping –doors, light seals chairs etc whilst Brian settled himself into the chair.
Then just as we were settling down, Brian leant forward and was trying to say something about Paul not sitting on a wooden chair (he was sitting down having been just secured into the cabinet by myself, but then seemed to become quite agitated). Paul was just settling into his chair, one of the plastic garden chairs in the room.

As I’d just completed securing the straps not a minute or two earlier, I could see the change in him quite clearly. Something that the others didn’t pick up on I think.
It was only a small thing, and I was surprised that he seemed to be so ‘out of it’ before we’d even all finished sitting down.
However, once the opening prayer had been completed, the light extinguished and the first music track started, we immediately heard the distinctive sounds of the tie-wraps being popped off, followed by more banging and thumping coming from inside the cabinet.

This showed that even though Brian was physically conscious, Spirit had already started to take him back into a trance state, had noticed the plastic rather than wooden chair (we’d been told some time ago that natural materials were preferable to plastic, but not essential) and was trying to bring it to our attention.
Is this linked to Paul’s tendency to blank out during the séance? Maybe, maybe not, time will tell.

Voice production was really coming on nicely with a very wide range of what can best be described as quite tuneful humming. Almost as if they were at first experimenting and then practising the potential vocal range. I must admit that it did occur to me that it sounded a bit like Brian’s own voice was being used.
Later, when the Chief came through to update us on progress, he explained that what had actually been happening was that they were ‘moving’ the voice creation are, up from the Larynx into the back of the nasal passages. Which explained why the ‘tonal’ qualities were so clear and yet there seemed to be no attempt to create words.

The plan (apparently) is to gradually move the voice creation region up and forward slowly to allow a much clearer and stronger end result than might be achieved if they used purely ectoplasm to build an external voice box.
But as the Chief said himself, it’s all an experiment, as much -if not more- for them as it is for us.

Each week, sets new levels of achievement and new levels of excitement and fun (I’m even starting to enjoy the singing –or I would do if our esteemed leader could drag her music taste kicking and screaming out of the 1950’s and 60’s ;-) )

I’ll be away on business the next 2 weeks, so will have be back at the circle in 3 weeks time. In the meantime, keep up to date on progress via the Spirits Aloud - Journal. The Link's on the left of the page.

Jon

Tuesday 19th September

Last night was an excellent evening. Our friends inspirit are making real progress and since the circle was closed for the development of direct voice, we heard for the first time what really sounded like the beginnings of a recognisable voice.

The evening started off well with much Mickey taking and joking around, so the energy was buzzing when we went into the Lodge.
Our two guests, Sylve and Terry joined in easily and soon Brian was strapped in securely to the chair.
Last week (which I’d missed due to work) the wrist strap –electrical cable ties- were secured to the chair through small metal loops screwed into the wood.
At the end of the evening, these small metal loops were found to be long straight and twisted pieces of metal. So, this time, the tie wraps were secured through screwed in brackets to the chairs arms and legs.

The music started and before the second song had finished playing, we had heard the distinctive bangs of the straps being removed.
Once again, these large cable ties were simply undone as if they had never been secured in the first place and left hanging from the brackets on the chair.

Then as the séance progressed, we began to hear spirits attempts at communication through direct voice start to take shape.
Before, we have witnessed lots of choking, gurgling, coughing and spluttering. But this time Brian/Spirit -who has been starting to sound over the last month or so something not too dissimilar from a dog being strangled- sounded relaxed and comfortable.
We could here his breathing, calm and steady.
And then at first a high pitched attempt at voice and then later on a deep, powerful throaty voice. Attempts at speech were clearly audible and at one point, several of us felt we could hear the words “my name is” coming through.

Not long after this, the atmosphere changed an the dark shapes that had been seen and felt moving round the room (remember this was in total blackout and the only light source was the faint glow of the luminous tabs each sitter wears on their lapels) faded away.
Soon, we heard “the Chief” coming through who was in a very jovial mood. We were kept up to date with the Teams’ progress and encouraged to continue the good work.
Both Terry and Sylve were welcomed and the Chief mentioned that he had already met them both back in Feb (confirmation of this will follow) – we think it was when Brian attended one of Warren Calylor’s open séances, of which T & S were close members)

When the lights were brought backup, Brian was found tilted back on his chair with a cushion comfortably placed behind his head.
-just as I was strapping him in an hour earlier, we had been joking together that as the medium, the least he could expect was a nice comfy wing backed chair to relax in (we use wooden dining room style chairs –a vast improvement on the green plastic garden chairs we started off with)
Obviously, spirit had decided to play on the joke as well J

The bells that are attached to the bottom of the chair with a Velcro strip, were found in the middle of the room where we had heard them being thrown about 15 minutes into the séance.
Brian was in good spirits (no pun intended ;-) and was pleased to find himself in a comfortable position for a change.

All in all, a very good evening and we were all delighted with the amazing progress that the Team are making. At this rate, we will be having casual chats over a cup of tea with 200 year old Native Americans by Christmas!

Many, many thanks again to Brian, who gets little personal gain out of the whole experience and whose only reward is to find out afterwards what new levels have been achieved while he’s been away with the fairies.

Next update in 7 days and don’t miss the new addition to the progress reports at Spirit Lights

The clarity of understanding

The following is extracted from an email I received this morning. I’ve edited a few details in order to maintain anonymity but there are some key thoughts within this that deserve to be shared.

The person relating this true story is a medium –albeit a reluctant one. Who tends to receive guidance and messages from Spirit at the most unfriendly hours (probably because these are the only times the poor spirits can get a word in edgeways!)

That said, as you read through this you will see that she was deeply moved by the visions that she witnessed. I’d also add here that this particular lady is not easily given to hysterical behaviours or seeing ‘visions’ in the dark. This was a very clear message from Spirit which they have asked us to share publicly, and as she had no really suitable forum to do this I’ve posted it here.



This morning I was woken by a friend in Spirit. I was definitely awake as I looked at the clock and saw it was 5.15. I was 'given' a visualisation (with thought-sound) of a little girl aged approx 3...by size. She had pale skin and dirty blonde hair and a faded grubby blue dress, no shoes. She was stirring some grit in a bowl, with a spoon/stick. This was pretend food, because there wasn't enough food to eat. She said all the children did this because it helped. She looked smiling and was chatty and jumpy. I asked what she was doing there. She said "I'm a foundling child." and gave me her name. She said it is ok there, but some of the other children cry a lot for their mothers and fathers, but she hasn't ever had a father and her mother got sick (and died) so she's ok....but others cry.

An older boy, aged about 10 maybe, was dressed in a light brown shirt and dark brown shorts, with brown leather old-style sandals. He sat at a table and was holding a baby, which was unblinkingly wide-eyed and silent and looked almost dead. The boy had tanned skin, maybe multi-racial, or maybe Indian. He spoke with a well educated voice, saying that this was a Foundling Centre. He'd been lucky in life so far as his benefactor had paid for his education, but had now died. He could leave this place, but was staying to help. He worked by begging, taking a sick child with him on the streets so sit near tourists....but this was becoming harder now as the men moved him on. He showed me a non-healed almost-scar across his shoulder and arm, caused by beating. He was calm and matter-of-fact about it. He indicated another child, who had a badly healing deformed leg (it looked as if it was broken and mangled in some way). He said "I will take that one out tomorrow, so he will be fed tonight." I asked how the boys leg was damaged and was told calmly that he had been begging and had been beaten and will probably die when infection catches hold. Apparently none of them were fed unless they were working. He said that the blonde girl was unfed for three days as she was not working, was too healthy to use for begging and was ill-formed for other work (sex). She relied on what food was left by the others and there was none left.

I was then shown another place. There was a 'flat' with three children. This looked to be in a big town, but poor, like typical of what we see on the TV news. The actual flat looked like a very run-down council block. Twin girls (4 or 5)) went to school. Baby, 6 months (actually later Spirit told me it was almost two years old) laid on the floor. Boy aged about 7 was unable to attend school as he was at home with the baby and looked after the twins. He had NO income and lived in fear of the family being taken to the Foundling centre. He was old beyond his years but had the 'knowledge' of a child. These were white kids. The door was open and a woman in a filthy apron came forward and said that she is doing her best to feed the family but hadn't enough food for them all. She was apologetic and seemed to feel that I was blaming her. She was a neighbour. She was doing her best. I asked about the children's parents and she said "No matter. It is done".

The pictures cleared. Spirit said that it was important that I had already forgotten the little girls name. This name has been offered to me with pride, as it was all that this child has to hold as her own and she had offered me this. She wished him to pass her name to me again, it is Ellie. Spirit said she is still of the earth plane. At this point I was feeling 'zapped' and in tears.

Spirit was firmly telling me to stop crying, that crying was unimportant.

Mankind is not meant to be divided, there are no divisions upon the earth plane nor in any other place, other than divisions created by the selfishness of mankind. A child is born to those who feel joy, and should twins be born their joy is doubled. Yet few persons with one birth consider taking into their heart a child born to another who cannot feed it. Homes are plenty, with room to spare, but few consider offering a room to a person who is without a roof. Spirit wish this to change. For it matters not that a person cannot speak a certain language, it matters that a person is suffering and can be helped, but for the selfish thoughts of mankind.


I told Spirit that I understand what he is saying and will not forget. Obviously, this is true.

Tuesday 4th September

It’s been a while since I’ve posted regularly here. I’ve still been actively involved with the circle but work and other personal stuff has limited the time available to do the write ups –let alone the audio transcriptions that I’ve been promising for weeks!

Mind you, Chris has kept everything running with the introduction of the ‘official’ diary blog which has kept everything up to date.

This week’s events were actually quite quiet by our normal standards. As was predicted by our spirit team a month ago, activity appears to have been much reduced over recent weeks; although we are assured that there is a great deal going on that we don’t have visibility of.

This week, we were much reduced in numbers as David and Brian, were unable to make it to the circle. So there was only myself, Paul and Christine in the Lodge.
It was indicated by FC (via Chris) that we would have a development evening which involved Paul be placed in the North corner with myself next to him on one side and Chris on the other.
The intent was for Paul to go into ‘trance’ and with my support and encouragement allow him to bring through someone to speak to us. Chris was to act as the witness.

The music was started up and almost immediately I felt myself falling away backwards toward the now familiar half asleep/half awake sensation.
I could feel ‘energy’ building up around me but couldn’t really create enough intent to wake up and see where Paul had got to.
-one aspect of this ‘altered’ level of consciousness is that once there, the inclination to come back is decreased. A bit like soaking in a warm bath. You know you can come back at an instant if necessary, but you’d really rather not!

After a while, I was aware again of the increase in energy around and in me and I could feel my body starting to tense up (this happens now much less with each time I practice trance, but it is strong enough still to make me aware that someone is trying to get through. If left to my own devices I’d probably just drift along quite happily until it was time to go back indoors for tea and biscuits!)

Someone came through and after some initial messages, started to speak directly to Paul who was drifting in and out (he later told me) of a kind of trance/meditation state.
With coaching from the spirit who was with us, Paul was able to identify and see for the first time a spirit guide that was with him.
From my own level of awareness at the time, I thought that they were trying to get him to go deep enough into trance for him to allow a communicator to come through but it now seems that the intention all along was to bring him another step forward in his own personal development –which they did with flying colours.

There was some other stuff said I believe, but as the ‘medium’ there’s not much I recall of that part. You’ll have to email Chris and ask for more details if you want them.

Brian’s back next week. I’m off to Eindhoven for a few days for work but will be back again the week after.
See the Spirits Aloud Journal, for further updates next week.