What is Mediumship?

Mediumship can be defined as follows: The process whereby a human instrument, known as a MEDIUM or CHANNEL, is used by one or more discarnate, spirit personalities, angels or guides for the purpose of:

Presenting information, verifiable or otherwise.
Causing so-called paranormal activities to occur.
Channeling forth certain types of energies.
Manifesting themselves for objective examination and/or identification.

From this definition, we see the following:

Mediumship involves a cooperating effort between a person on the Earth plane (the medium or channel) and a person in Spirit (the communicator). There are several objectives behind the manifestation of mediumship. In addition to this, we see that mediumship is used by those in Spirit for the following purposes:

To present information, which may or may not be verifiable.
To cause certain types of paranormal activities to occur.
To channel forth certain types of energies.
To manifest themselves materially.

Therefore, mediumship involves the cooperation between at least two individuals:

An earth-plane channel or medium
A spirit communicator or operator.

You will note that we distinguish between a spirit communicator and a spirit operator.

Communication

Manipulation of energies and energy systems

A spirit who uses a medium for the purpose of communication, either verbally or visually, is known as a spirit communicator. A spirit who uses a medium for the intent of working with and/or manipulating energies or energy systems is called a spirit operator. This distinction is very general, and it should be noted that a spirit operator can, and often does, communicate.

Thus, mediumship can be distinguished as two basic types:

Mental Mediumship
Physical Mediumship

Mental mediumship involves the relating of information, through communication, via the varied aspects of thought transference, or mental telepathy. Mental telepathy is the relaying of information via thought, without using any of the five physical senses. Mental mediumship takes place within the consciousness of the medium. The results are expressed verbally and must pass through the medium’s mouth. Because of its telepathic nature, mental mediumship is sometimes referred to as telepathic mediumship.

In a demonstration of mental mediumship, it is the medium who hears, sees, and feels what the spirit communicators are relating. Furthermore, it is the medium’s function to relate the information, with minimum personal influence and prejudice, to the recipient of the message, also known as the sitter. The medium receives this information under various states of control.

Physical mediumship involves the manipulation and transformation of physical systems and energies. The spirit operators, in this case, are causing something to happen upon the Earth plane. What it is that actually happens varies with the style of mediumship involved, but the results can be seen and heard by others.

Phenomenal Mediumship: A Look at Physical Manifestations

By Rev. Simeon Stefanidakis

“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 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 vitalises 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 colour 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 vigour cause the etheric vehicle to appear more brilliant and energised.

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.

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 energised. 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.