Spiritual Gifts

I was recently asked about spiritual gifts, how one can recognise one's own and the effect they have on our lives. Here is my answer:

What are spiritual gifts?

The definition can be very wide and will include all the arts, music, poetry, literature, inspirational speaking, painting, drawing, designing beautiful buildings etc., etc. To me a spiritual gift is any gift that causes other people to become more aware of their higher, inner self and focus more on the needs of others rather than themselves. It will also include the sciences where research uncovers explanations that help us to understand and appreciate more the beauty and majesty of the world in which we live and the marvellous symmetry and order there is in nature. Even listening with a sympathetic ear to those who are in difficulties can be a spiritual gift; it is certainly not one that is possessed by all!
In this wider context, because all human beings are spirit beings, all gifts must be spiritual, for the physical body can do nothing without the presence of the individual spirit to bring life to it.

However, in the context of Spiritualism, I guess most people mean mediumship when they talk of spiritual gifts. The gifts are many and varied as I explained in certain chapters of my book “Please God Why?” I also pointed out that how mediumship is used is what determines whether or not the gift is spiritual. I have known some mediums who do not use their mediumship in spiritual ways and who are far from being spiritual themselves. It is important not to assume that mediumship bestows spirituality. It does not. For this reason, I deliberately chose in the book to refer to ‘The Gifts of the Spirit’ rather than spiritual gifts.

How do I know what my gifts are?

Some people are such strong natural mediums that their gift is quite apparent at an early age, whether it is physical, mental or healing but most only learn gradually what their own gift or gifts are. Some good mediums can sense the potential of another’s mediumship and give advice on its development but they can only really be sure of the potential. Whether that is fully realised or not is up to the possessor. Other mediums I have known, whilst not showing strong psychic abilities when young, seem to know within themselves they have a particular gift and work hard to develop it. Healers, for instance, will always have had a strong empathy with sick people and an overwhelming desire to help them. Sometimes such people become doctors or nurses, where they can exercise their gifts professionally and I am convinced many such people are used by spirit during their professional life.

Most people come into none of these categories and must discover for themselves whether or not they possess an innate gift of mediumship. How? In a Home Circle, I deliberately avoid saying “in a Development Circle” because such a circle only becomes effective if the gift to be developed is known. A Home Circle should be a small group of friends meeting for the joy of being together in the company of spirit friends. There should be no plan to form such a circle with a view to developing mediumship, that should be left in the hands of the spirit people, who know who has which gift. In modern Spiritualist society it is unfortunately the case that far too many people wish to decide for themselves what mediumistic gifts they have. Anyone thinking this way should be gently disabused of the thought.

The first step is to learn to be still, even to meditate followed by the sharpening of your psychic and spiritual awareness. There are many exercises that can be conducted in circles or groups in order to do this. Psychometry is the most commonly used because it can teach students to differentiate between what is psychic and what is mediumship. All of us are psychic to a greater or lesser extent but not all of us are mediums. In any case for every medium whose gifts, whatever they are, need developing there must be several others willing to give their time and their psychic and spiritual energy to assist in that development. It is also true to say that mediums develop at widely differing speeds and I guess this is due to the strength of the innate gift in the first place.

In the peace, love and harmony of a good home circle, many differing gifts of mediumship will appear over the years. Spirit will guide everything. All the sitters need to do is to create the essential harmony and love. If a need to develop physical mediumship or trance becomes apparent for instance, spirit will advise the circle leader what physical changes are needed in the organisation of the circle. The important thing is to sit for the joy of being with spirit and not to develop mediumship. If the conditions are good, mediumship among some or all will follow but gradually.

Always discourage the desire to develop mediumship quickly and I only wish leaders of groups and churches were more honest in their assessment of new mediums who offer themselves to serve on the platform. Far too many are encouraged to work in public before they are ready, to the general disadvantage of Spiritualism. Also the need to promote the philosophy of Spiritualism is frequently overlooked in the rush to become a medium. Much work should be put in by the aspiring medium to learn about spiritual matters, from the widest viewpoint, not just Spiritualism. Learning to speak well and inspirationally in public is also important.

A lovely little book that will help all teachers and aspiring mediums is by Harry Edwards and is called “A Guide for the Development of Mediumship” ISBN 1 898680 06 X and I am pretty sure it is available from the NSAC bookstore at Lily Dale, as well as The Arthur Findlay College Bookstore and the Greater World Bookstore in London. It only has 38 pages but is a gem. It includes a sensible introduction to the subject of potential and I have been recommending it for years.

How will Mediumship affect my life?

To a large extent this is up to you. However, do not think only your spiritual life will be affected. The development of awareness followed by mediumship will make you more sensitive to EVERYTHING. It is vital that your loved ones are made aware of this from the start, so they can understand the changes as they occur. You will become more sensitive to noise and to atmosphere. You may find your tastes in food and drink change too, although this is not invariably the case. You will need to devote time to your development, time that you may formerly have devoted to other things and you will also need to find the time to be still for a short period each day. If you succeed in becoming a working medium then you will need to be prepared to travel and spend some time away from home. You will also have to learn to guard against becoming overly conceited and to deal with the inevitable flattery that follows a successful demonstration or talk. Remember, you are just the channel; the real work is done by the spirit people.

If you develop your mediumship properly, it will add a wonderful dimension to your life, in that the power of the spirit flowing through you will strengthen and uplift you. However, because spirit will always use mediums who offer themselves, you must take care not to overtax your strength by taking on too great a burden by way of bookings. Although mediumship does give you spiritual strength from those using you in the spiritual world, it can also lead to physical strain if you are not careful. This can be particularly true of Private Readings. Sitters will often, quite innocently, pass their problems onto you and just as in all professions, mediums must guard against becoming personally involved. Emotional detachment is a vital skill for mediums to learn.

Those who are Physical mediums are particularly susceptible to health problems, for this type of mediumship makes extensive use of the pancreas. Diabetes is a special risk for physical mediums and they must guard against it very carefully. It can be physically draining and such mediums should be protected against those who would have them working constantly because they enjoy the ‘spectacle’ of physical mediumship.