What constitutes evidence of survival?
Names of the communicators.
Relationship of communicator to recipient
Age at passing, or age they are discussing their life at.
Physical Description, unusual or outstanding features.
Character Description.
Health Issues through life, prior to passing someone has now.
Cause of Passing, illness, accident etc.
Place of Residence and or profession.
Shared Memories.
Knowledge of Recent events, things that have happened around the recipient since the communicator passed away.
Define evidential mediumship.
The primary objective of demonstrating mediumship is to identify a spirit communicator, with a body of information which identifies them beyond reasonable doubt, and who is known to the recipient.
In addition, there should also be a meaningful communication that is relevant to the recipient’s current life situation.
What is the purpose of evidential mediumship?
Giving evidence of survival of physical death.
Mediumship can provide evidence to support Spiritualisms belief that life is eternal.
That the human soul continues to live in the spirit beyond the physical world.
It helps others to become aware of their inner spirit.
It can bring comfort to the bereaved and upliftment to those observing.
It gives everyone hope of the future.
What does not constitute as evidence for survival of the spirit?
Describing a guide or spirit helper is not evidence of survival.
Prescribing anything – medicines homeopathic remedies, even a glass of water could be dangerous to some people.
Telling people to stop taking medication.
Predictions of any kind – death, future accidents, illnesses.
Fortune Telling – lottery wins, babies due to be born.
How would you prepare for a service?
Come early to the church, take the order of the service, dressed appropriately, prepare energetically for the demonstration / sit in the power
How do you correctly identify a recipient in an audience?
TPS2 source
There are 3 ways:
- Go directly to a specific recipients and then give the evidence. (we don’t do that)
- Give few evidence and then feel where the recipient is, in which area of the room, in which row, etc.
- Give few evidence and open to everybody.
In all cases:
- Feel the reaction of the spirit to the yesses and noes
- Let the evidence find the correct recipient
Name some “don’ts” of mediumship.
Use colourful language or offensive remarks.
Use personal remarks to a recipient which may embarrass them or make them feel harassed.
Bully recipients or force information upon them.
Give your own personal advice.
Prescribe or diagnose.
Predict the future.
Name “do’s” of Mediumship.
- Ensure that a practical knowledge of Spiritualism is achieved
- Correctly identify the recipient.
- Give what is received without embellishment.
- Monitor communications.
- Make evidence of survival a first priority within a demonstration.
- Ensure that anything that needs to be researched at a later date is a very small part of an evidential communication.
- Observe the audience and try and include everybody as far as possible.
- Monitor the time.
- Continue to work on future development which is ongoing.
Name three things a demonstrator must not do?
Claim an ability to contact a particular individual in spirit.
Make predictions during mediumistic communication.
Prescribe remedies or treatments.
What are some of the responsibilities as a medium?
Not to bring disrepute to themselves, Spirit, Spiritualism, the SNU or any organisation that has booked the medium.
Mediums who are members of the SNU are representing all of the above at all times.
Presenting to the highest standard at all times.
Evidential mediumship should be a priority.
Adhering to the SNU Code of Conduct.
When taking a booking what must you tell the body booking you?
Your expenses Your SNU Ǫualifications.
Describe how you perceive the spirit and how you find the sitter
- Clairs
- Specific information -> open to everyone; General information -> go direct
- Let the evidence find the sitter
- yesses and noes, but then check with the spirit, how does their answer makes you feel
Explain the difference between general information and specific evidence.
Information is general, like the spirit description and doesn’t add anything to the communication. They can be accepted by a significant number of the people present.
Evidence is what is relevant to the sitter and to the communicator. Evidence is about why the communicator came for. They can only be accepted by a limited number of people present.
What are the responsibilities of mediumship?
- to find the correct recipient
- to respect the Code of Conduct
- to behave in such a way as not to bring Spiritualism, the SNU, themselves or the SW into disrepute by how exponents present their mediumship
- to give what spirit give
- not to force the evidence
- to demonstrate that life continues
- not to work psychic
Describe the importance of gestures, pauses, eye contact, and maintaining the interest of the audience.
- involve everyone
- not pointing at people
- speed control to let people remember and understand
- etc.
Describe voice and presentation skills for demonstrating
- Tone of the voice, not being monotone
- Volume, enough laut
- Be softer during emotional moments
Describe special needs for demonstrating online
Working with SW is the same, working with the audience is different. (TPS2 source) Working remotely there is no psychic draw upon the medium, while in churches the audience energy is different, they can be distractive and the psychic draw plays a role.
Online, the medium must stay connected with the spirit while the chairperson is looking for hands on.
Plus:
- Check wi-fi
- Check equipment
- Check the light
- Appropriate background
- Look at the camera to involve everyone
- minimize noises (people or pets in the house)
What is the role of the chair for an online demonstration?
- Letting people in/out
- Helping people with technical difficulties (like how to unmute, etc.)
- Explaining how the electronic hand works
- Mute people
- Handling the recipients
As an Award holder, in which occasion you are not allowed to demonstrate?
Where alcohol is served.
Describe the differences of your work in a public meeting and in a church/divine service
public meeting:
- no address, no prayer (on TPS2 is written that prayer should be included), you have to prepare the audience and explain well how you work, what is going to happen and what you expect from them (yes, no, I don’t know).
What are the typical misunderstandings of mediumship?
- we can connect with a specific person in spirit
- spirit come to tell them what they want to know
- spirit come to give them advice
- Spirit don’t come in the communication because they are stuck
- etc.
If you are invited to work in a no spiritualist church, are you going to tell them that you are an award holder?
Yes.
What is the role of the chairperson?
They are in charge of the Service and is their responsibility to deal with any interruption or disturbances.
The exponent on encountering a heckler or any disturbances should return their seat and hand-over to the chairperson to deal with it.
List some of the disturbances you may encounter during a Service and how to deal with it.
The latecomer: continue to talk, but if the person wants to sit in the centre of a row which involves everyone standing up, then pause until everyone is settled.
The cougher: It is the chairperson’s responsibility to ask for some water. You pause until the water is delivered.
The sweet tooth: Pause and look at them until they stop.
Donna’s answer: we, as mediums, are expected to handle the minor disturbances.
e.g. people talking - “Is there any question there?”
If someone insults you, firstly you ask the person to sit down. If they don’t, then you sit down, stop the demonstration and say, “I cannot continue if…..” and let the chairperson to handle it.
