Value of Understanding Real Evidential Mediumship
Mediumship has enjoyed remarkable growth in the recent decades. More people are realizing the importance of real evidential mediumship in helping those who are suffering start the healing process. In reality though, everyone you meet these days is a medium. Many people don't really know what mediumship is or its long and diverse history. They rely on what they see in the media.
They believe they can save and heal people, but it's not true. What they think is evidential mediumship is not, and they call themselves evidential mediums, not really understanding what constitutes evidential mediumship. We then settle for poor standards and accept psychic intuition as spirit communication, and they are not communicating with spirit in any way. The communication is not flowing, consistently poor and has no pattern of an evidential story.
We cannot believe that what we see in the media constitutes the real story of mediumship. One person may have a little intuitive insight and wrongly think they are in communication. More now than ever, there is a real need to understand the process of mediumship and what constitutes good, supporting evidence. The lack of real evidence is just cannon fodder to our skeptical brethren, and who could blame them? If we are to stand any chance of being accepted as a legitimate practice, science or dare I say even a spiritual based philosophy, then there must be a certain standard of evidence that is easily accepted. However, there is a caveat and that may have to be the content of a part 2 “One persons’ evidence is another’s failure.”
Recognizing Evidential Mediumship
There are many self-proclaimed psychic mediums out there who do not understand the values of evidential mediumship or what constitutes evidence, and who, unknowingly, often read the auric energy, and talk in general terms about life issues and personality traits, rather than give real, valuable evidence.
I am not suggesting this is fraud, as the individual may be well-meaning and slightly ignorant of the mechanics of mediumship. Consequently, those experiencing the reading remain unaware and untrained, and do not understand what constitutes real evidence from a communicating spirit. So the sitter is more likely to accept certain validations as fact when in reality, they are rather general, including descriptions and personalities that could fit almost anyone, unless it was something unusual.
Our Rich History In Mediumship
Communicating with the other side has existed for thousands of years within tribes and varied cultures. The history of mediumship is rich with characters whose mediumship has even changed the course of history. In fact, most people think that spiritualism started with the Fox Sisters, but in reality, it was going on way before that. There have been many remarkable mediums in the past who shaped the history of spiritualism.
Leonora Piper
One of the most remarkable mediums of her time was Leonora Piper, whose level of evidence was astounding. She was one of the most tested mediums of her time and offered herself as a subject of inquiry for members of the Society Of Psychical Research (SPR). For many years, renowned psychical researchers such as Sir Oliver Lodge and philosopher William James collaborated closely with Leonora. She was able to give veridical evidence of life after death using her mental mediumship and unique ability with deep trance mediumship. Unlike many other mediums of her time, she was never caught in fraud.
Daniel Dunglas Home
Another remarkable medium of his time was Daniel Dunglas Home, who was a Scottish medium that was considered to be one of the finest physical mediums of his time and was witnessed to have levitated many times during séances. Like Piper, Daniel was never found fraudulent even though there were claims of fraud. The claims were often unfounded and the result of 3rd party gossip.
Real Evidential Mediumship
Real evidential mediumship is characterized by the delivery of specific, verifiable information that could not have been known to the medium through ordinary means. This includes details such as names, dates, personal anecdotes, and other precise facts that are unique to the spirit being communicated with. The accuracy of these details often provides comfort and validation to those seeking connection with their loved ones who have passed on. Furthermore, authentic evidential mediums typically demonstrate a consistent ability to produce such evidence across multiple readings and clients, which helps distinguish genuine practitioners from those relying on generalities or cold reading techniques.
Examples Of Communication
Consider the following two messages and identify what you perceive to be the best type of validation:
First Medium: “I have a father figure here, and he is coming around you with a great deal of love. He passed with a heart or chest condition. He is saying that you were very special to him and that you found it difficult when he passed. He is about 5 ft 10 and a bit rotund, wears glasses and smokes, and has a great personality. He says sorry for what you went through and identifies that you stepped up to help the family. You could always wrap him round your finger and that he would give you anything he could. He is strong in stature and looks like a powerful man. Do you understand?”
This message is perceived by many as good, and the sitter feels validated because certain pieces of information have been covered – especially if they are grieving badly and reaching for anything. Due to the sitter’s need to hear the information, they accept it and begin to open up more – offering leading answers that feed the medium such as, “yes he had a heart attack, and I was the one dealing with everything”.
Second Example
The medium confirms that is what they were getting and feels good because they think they have a hit. The reality is that the medium has offered no real evidence for the grieving individual.
Second Medium: I have a male figure coming through with the name Micheal and what sounds like Thompson or Johnson. He says thank you for talking with him when you were walking through the park yesterday and that you thought about him when you stood by the bed of flowers with the statue in the middle. He also says that you were in a store like Macy’s, and you nearly bought a new pair of shoes but changed your mind, placing them back. He often comes around you and notes that he was with you when you were mending the chair that you recently broke in the kitchen. He was trying to tell you how to do it and laughs at your attempt. He mentions the name Mateo or a name that sounds like this, and also I have to give you Anaheim road or place. Can you understand this? He also tells me that you have an anniversary in July and another on the 5th May. He wants to send love to his wife and the name I am given is Mary. He also shows me that you have his watch with you now. Can you accept that?
Validation
If this information is validated by the sitter in its entirety or at least 80%, it would be considered as stronger evidence; even better, if more evidence is given that the sitter can’t validate until much later by a third party. This would suggest the sitter had no knowledge of the imparted information and would have to wait until it was validated by a third party, thus suggesting the information could only have been derived from a communicating entity that previously knew the third party.
Considerations
Obviously, how one delivers this type of message has some bearing on how the evidence is offered, but generally, there should be no questions or assumptions. The medium should be able to give the name or a name that is as close as possible. It is not good practice to throw out a random letter unless the evidence that supports it is overwhelming. Like a jigsaw puzzle or a map, the evidence will be a unique and precise part of a larger story. As human beings, we are built for story telling and its how we communicate and learn. This is no different in the world of spirit. The evidence is often built upon stories that come together to make a cohesive evidence trail.
Inadequately Trained Working Mediums Risk Early Failure
Many inexperienced individuals that claim to be spiritual mediums, choose to work with clients or give public demonstrations long before they are ready, and risk becoming unbalanced very quickly. They get caught up with their own egos and also fall into the trap of feeding from the sitter, jumping on with link stealers and making what they believe is evidence, fit. This has been exemplified by well known mediums in the spotlight who are dismally unprofessional, but got the break because they know someone who knows someone.
This is true in all forms of mediumship. A consequence of media and ignorance of the mechanics, and having never received professional training in delivering messages or etiquette on how to act and work as a professional medium. In these circumstances, failure has a tendency to loom and skeptics lurk like hungry hyenas waiting to pounce on their next meal. Moreover, the damage that can be done to someone who is on a grieving journey is unimaginable.
A Medium’s Responsibility
It is a great responsibility to do the work of a professional medium. Therefore, you should be appropriately prepared and trained to operate within the highest standards possible and know what constitutes good evidence. There are many organizations that exist to test, validate, and investigate mediumship. Organizations such as the Windbridge Institute, ISSMPI and the Forever Family Foundation share a common goal of encouraging professional mediumship standards.
Unfortunately, there are many individuals who remain deluded and do not understand real mediumship nor the mechanics, such as knowing the difference between spirit contact and reading psychic energy. They promote themselves as mediums but have no prior history or training. They have no idea of real mediumship and are often giving misleading or false information. They may well have a good heart and want to help, but just do not have the ability to communicate with spirit.
From time to time, even professional mediums will not be able to communicate consistently. This can be due to personal circumstances, the conditions and the needs of the sitter. However, it is important to recognize real mediumship for what it is.
Take these notes on board when looking for a medium
- Always try to identify with a professional medium who has a relevant history and experience.
- Check the testimonials. If you have been recommended by someone - even better.
- If the medium asks too many questions before the appointment, leave well alone.
- Do not feed the medium information.
- Check if the medium is involved with professional organizations or has served in spiritualist churches.
- If you are not sure, ask if you can approach any of the testimonial authors. If this is possible, the medium should put you in touch with a couple of people who will validate them.
- A professional medium should never tell you negative things and if you are faced with someone who tells you that they can sort out your life, bring your lover back or clear a curse – run and run far. Remember there is really no such thing as ‘Best Psychic Mediums’ but there are great evidential mediums to be found.