How do Development Circles Run?

The development of mediumship requires, time, rather hard work, study, and, above all, patience. Despite what so many weekend intensives may promise, there is nothing “instant” about mediumship. If you are interested in developing mediumship and channeling, here are a few suggestions which will help you get started:

ONE: Always work with a group of people who share your interests. Mediumship is developed in what is known as a “development” or “spirit” circle. The development circle should, if at all possible, be under the guidance and direction either of a qualified medium or someone who has studied mediumship and knows the “ins and outs” of mediumistic unfoldment and development. It is called a “circle” because people sit in a circle.

How many people is a matter of choice or circumstance. I feel that sitting with fewer than four simply does not offer adequate energy and opportunity to work with Spirit. Seven or eight is ideal. Of course, where two gather in the name of God, Spirit will join in. There is really no hard and fast rule concerning numbers.

TWO: Decide what type of mediumship your circle will work with. It is not advisable for any person to sit in more than one circle or to have your circle working with more than one form of mediumship. The circle should sit either for the development of mental mediumship or physical mediumship. Each requires a specific general format and a very specific type of energy to be present.

THREE: Once the group has been established and you have determined which type of mediumship you will be working with, decide upon the day and time you will be sitting. This is very important: meet at the same day and time every week. Ideally, circles should meet once a week. People should arrive at the meeting a bit early and be prepared to sit at the appointed time of your meeting. You are making an appointment with Spirit. They will be there; you should be on time.

The seating arrangement should be determined at the first meeting. Each person has an assigned seat, which should not change unless the circle teacher feels that a shift in energy is necessary. In time, others may be invited to join the circle, and a change in seating might be necessary then.

FOUR: Every circle leader has his or her preferred circle format. Regardless of what that format may be, the circle meeting should consist of the following segments:

Opening prayer or connecting to Spirit through the total relaxation of the body and mind. Centring yourself and bringing about a complete state of peace. Sensing Spirit, the Angels and our Loved Ones in Spirit drawing near. It is my experience more so now than before, that we have Spirit People who come to join in our group whom we do not know – they are neither guides nor loved ones, but we welcome them anyway. The reason for this is that I have come to understand over the many years of running development circles that Spirit People can learn and benefit from being in the circle as well as the sitters benefit from them being there.

An exercise or guided meditation which will help stimulate sensitivity. This I do through allowing the guides to channel a healing meditation. Healing is incredibly important to the development and growth of our souls for it is ultimately what we are all doing – working on healing our soul to arrive at a state of complete perfection and ultimately find ourselves residing back in God’s kingdom, free of the commitment to living another incarnate life.

A period of message work, where the students work with Spirit and Spirit messages. Here everyone is left to go off with their guides and loved ones to see what they have to share with them or show them.

Remember, the purpose of the circle is to stimulate development and challenge the sitters to step beyond their current limitations and to achieve this, I will prompt the group to see something specific that the guides may have to show them or pick up on a specific song, flower or colour which will be shown to them by the guides and then to see if they can interpret what the message is.

FIVE: Circle meetings should run at least one hour, but no longer than 75 minutes. Of this time, a total of about 20 minutes is allotted to connecting with Spirit and when I call everyone back, we sit for the remaining time discussing what we all saw and experienced. This way, we are all able to see firstly that what we are getting is not just a figment of our imagination, and secondly that it is Spirit with whom we are connecting. And we know this because very often, everyone in the circle will get either the same or very similar message.

SIX: Patience is so important. Mediumship is a most beautiful pearl of the Spirit. But, like any pearl of great price and value, its growth and maturity requires time, patience, hard work, and discipline. Work hard, study hard, be patient, and you should see results.

And remember you are working with Spirit. Mediumship is a cooperative effort. God is the ultimate Guide, and you and your Spirit guide work together in this great adventure. Never forget this all-important fact.

Finally, here are some other important points to consider.

People should plan to arrive around 10-15 minutes before the circle meeting begins. This will allow them to unwind a bit and relax. Conversation should revolve around mediumship, not the cares and/or worries of the day. It is advisable that sitters don’t eat before a circle so that all physical energies can be focused on raising our vibrations and connecting rather than breaking down food in the body. If you do find that you are too hungry and need to eat, I highly suggest that you do not eat meat on a circle night.

I always strongly advise that sitters keep a journal especially when you are still learning to connect. The reason for this is that it helps you to see if a pattern is developing within each of your meditation sessions or whether you got a similar message before and perhaps Spirit are now elaborating or bringing through more with regard to that specific message. It also helps you to see how far you’ve come and you won’t find yourself feeling like you’re stagnating and not getting anything for weeks on end. Remember that even if you don’t feel it, Spirit is working with you all through your meditation – sometimes you may only recall a while afterwards. When you do, make sure that you do record what you remember to keep consistency and not miss out on things that you’re being shown.

Accompany your circle work with study; not just in mediumship, but in other related areas of thought.